Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

SILVER CITY' WELL-MADE TECHNICOLOR WESTERN Rates • • • — in action houses; good dualler generally Paramount (Nat Holt) 91 minutes Edmond O'Brien, Yvonne DeCarlo, Barry Fitzgerald, Richard Aden, Gladys George, Laura Elliot, Edgar Buchanan, Michael Moore, John Dierkes. Directed by Byron Haskin "Silver City" is an interestingly plotted, nctionful and somewhat unusual Technicolor sagebrush drama. Although in the final half hour of its running time, the script degenerates into a crude mix-up and complicated chase. It's a shame, for the best efforts of producer Nat Holt are evident in the excellent physical presentation and high grade cast. Byron Haskin's direction holds the drama in a firm grip until the latter sequences, when the script gets out of hand. There is, however, an excellent action fade-out set against the rugged backdrop of a lumber mill and the fans who go for this type of film will be well satisfied. Returns will be above average in action houses and generally satisfactory in the dualler. STORY: Edmond O'Brien is cast as an engineer who makes tentative expedition into a life of crime, relents and makes restitution. However, his partner Richard Arlen refuses to forgive the slip and badgers O'Brien up and down the West — get -MISTER DRAKE'S DUCK' FAIRLY AMUSING FARCE ftates • • generally United Artists 81 minutes Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Yolande Donlan, Howard Marion-Crawford, Reginald Beckwith, Wilfred Hyde-White, John Boxer, John Pertwee, Peter Butterworth, Tom Gill, A. E. Matthews. Directed by Val Guest An amusing idea is only spottily effective in "Mister Drake's Duck", a farce comedy filmed in England by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., discoursing on the woes of a honeymooning couple when their living quarters are besieged by the Army, the Navy and the Air Force after one of their duck lays an atomic egg. Doctor Val Guest has managed to hang quite a few laughs on this premise, but too many of the attempts at comedy go awry for satisfaction. An important handicap is the plethora of heavy British accents. American audiences will have to strain to sift the dialogue from the dialect and many will be tempted to give up after a while. To its credit, however, the film does move at a good clip and producer Daniel M. Angel has mounted it without any obvious to hold too tight a grip on production pursestrings. It also has exploitation possibilities that, properly utilized, may lift grosses slightly above average. Both principals, Fairbanks and Yolande Donlan, turn in creditable performances. The latter, a Hollywood girl who failed to get a break in this country and went to London where, in the past year or two, she has achieved much popularity, plays the femme lead in a manner that suggests she may be recalled to the U. S. Fairbanks performs with customary polish and zest. But from there on, the performances dip sharply as the other character players muffle and clip their lines in an attempt to assume local English dialects. STORY :Doug Fairbanks is persuaded by JOE PALOOKA IN TRIPLE CROSS1 GOOD SERIES ENTRY Rates • • + as dualler Monogram 60 minutes Joe Kirkwood, Jr., James Gleason, Cathy Downs, John Emery, Steve Brodie, Don Harvey, Rufe Davie, Jimmy Wallington, Mary Young, Eddie Gribbon, Sid Tomack, Dickie Leroy, Jimmy Lloyd, Cliff Clark, Hank Worden. Directed by Reginald LeBorg "Joe Palooka In Triple Cross" is zippy action fare, neatly designed to please the Palooka fans and do excellent duty in supporting position. The story involves Palooka in an adventure with escaped convicts and holds interest right down the line. To carp briefly it does seem that a picture aimed primarily at juvenile patronage could do with less brutality than is found in the several slugging scenes. The plot would 10 play just as well without them. Hal E. Chester's production is craftsmanlike in all divisions, particularly good in spotting excellent players in support of the regulars in the "Palooka" company. Reginald LeBorg direction is paced to draw the best in suspense and action values from the tightly-knit script. STORY: Joe's harrowing adventures begin when he and his wife, Cathy Downs, gives a ride to three hitchhikers, one of them, a woman. Eventually their identity as crooks is revealed and the "woman" turns out to be the toughest of the trio, female impersionator quick with his fists and gun. The top boy of the gang, John Emery, decides to hold Mrs. Palooka as hostage, the ransom money to be collected from Palooka's forthcoming bout. The hoodlums quarrel among themselves, and Steve Brodie ting him fired from every job. Finally! O'Brien sets up shop as an asseyor. Yvonne) DeCarlo and her father hit a strike and try! to urge him to come in as partner and runj things. He refuses until he discovers than he, too, is included in the heavies' plans! to get the mine away from Miss DeCarloJ He battles them through the disorderly com-l plications and, of course, emerges the victorjf Edmond O'Brien's easy going heroics are first rate, and Yvonne DeCarlo is well cast as the fiery miss of the old West. Barry Fitzgerald's presence as a cunning heavy is a novelty. Richard Arlen, Gladys George and Laura Elliot do well. Newcomer Michael Moore is a standout as Fitzgerald': henchman. ANGEL his wife Yolande Donlan to honeymoon or his English farm. At a local auction shi accidently bids for five dozen ducks, oni of which lays an egg containing uranium When the Army hears of it, the farm be comes a prohibited area. Then the Nav; moves in, and finally the Air Force. Thi Cabinet meets to ponder the problem. Then are urgent deliberations at the Unitec Nations. An elaborate plan of isolation i: put into motion to determine the atomii duck and, meanwhile Fairbanks and hi bride, together with a number of othe people, are kept prisoner on the farm. Th honeymoon grows steadily wilder. At loni last, with the place wrecked beyond recogni tion, the offending duck is discovered an the armed forces move out. But, when the have gone, and the duck has been dissectd officialdom learn a mistake has been madi the Army moves back in and the wild pr cess seems destined to start all over agait LEO takes over the operation. He contrives other twist — forcing Palooka to throw th fight so that he can get big odds on a be Joe enters the ring while his wife sits und» Brodie's surveillance. In a desperate try I square the situation, Joe hurdles out of tl ring, konks Brodie, shows him up as crook, then, sails back into the joins | score a victory. Joe Kirkwood, Jr. plays the title role wi the easy style that comes with long ass ation. James Gleason's wry humor is alwa pleasant, and Cathy Downs is good as patient wife of the champ. John En heavy is smooth indeed; Brodie scores his cigar-chewing female impeisona Don Harvey, Rufe Davis, Jimmy Wal ton as a sports caster, and Mary Young addequate in support. JAM I S (More Reticles on Pa, FILM BL'I.I.I-TI