Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

Kramer's Version of Stage w Hit Wins Kudos As 'Major Event' QUOT6S What the Newspaper Critics Sag About New Films There was a seldom-achieved meeting of critical minds as the New York newspaper reviewers unleashed their store of descriptive superlatives in their lavish praise of Stanley Kramer's (for Columbia release) filmization of the Broadway hit, "Death of a Salesman." In fact, most of the critics emphasized moviedom's recent show of superiority in translating stage successes in to screen gems. They also point out that the depressing tone of the script, which does not detract from the picture's excellence, may not meet with the approval with many diversion-seeking moviegoers. Bosley Crowther, of the Times, is high in his praise of the industry for giving the world an opportunity to see "this shattering drama at what is probably its artistic best." It i-. he pointed out, "dismally depressing, but it must be acclaimed a film that whips you about in a whirlpool somewhere close to the center of life." Like Crowther, the World-Telegram's Alton ( ook riiuN it "a more emotionally effective vehicle on the screen than on the stage." He describes it as "one of the richest experiences our town offers just now." "With this picture," says the Post's Archer Winsten, "the Stanley Kramer Company, which has consistently maintained its canny pace one step ahead of the crowd, takes two giant strides forward." He refers to it as "strong, tragic stuff" that has not "been watered down for movie public consumption." In the Herald-Tribune, Otis Guernsey -ay tin "treatment is disturbing only in the good sense." Describing it as "virtually a closeup of the play," Cook says, jn summary "though it has acquired its distinction partly by proxy, it is a major movie event." "A brilliant screen version," comments Kose Pelswick, of the Journal-American, who lists ii ;is "powerful, emotion-shattering drama," an expertly produced, directed and played film that is "bound to be listed among the year's finest." DECISION BEFORE DAWN' 20th CENTURY-FOX "A picture to ^ive patrons an exciting time in the theatre and a thoughtful, perhaps disturbing, aftermath . . . Spurs taut suspense to almost unbearable heights." — Cook, X. Y. World-Telegram. "Kind of spy story that tests the tensile Strength of your nerves . . . Most effective thriller, designed to freeze its audience in d.lectably uncomfortable ed^c-of-the-seat Position . Taut as a bowstring and visually interesting in every scene . . . Firstrate Spy story of the modern realistic ,c| ' Guernsey, X. Y. Herald-Tribune. "Packed not only lots of thrills but a < tear and cold look at Western Germany in tlM la-, y,ar ,„ Worl.l War 1 1."— Crowther, N. Y. Times. "Quality is outstanding . . . Stays within the category of the superior spy thriller, very exciting as an action experiment but nothing to sustain second or third thoughts." — Winsten, X. Y. Post. " Taut iiid absorbing drama . . . Sets and sustains a suspenseful mood." — Pelswick, X. Y. Journal-American. 'ELOPEMENT' 20th CENTURY-POX "Not Belvedere by any means . . . The quicker Webb gets back into the form-fitting role of Belvedere the better for us movie fans." — Pihodna, X. Y. Herald-Tribune. *'In the final addition you'll find that you've been shortchanged on fun and laughter in the plot." — Winsten, X". Y. Post. "In its strenuous attempt to be cheerful and polished, this decidedly obvious comedy of errors . . . merely stresses its pitifully limp story."— A. W., X. Yr. Times. " Takes neither itself nor its subject seriously . . . Just a romantic trifle . . . Almost plotless little comedy." — Creelman, X. Y. World-Telegram. "Romance and laughs highlight this . . . light-hearted comedy . . . Aiming solely at being amusing . . . succeeds admirably." — Pelswick, X. Y. Journal-American. 'FLAME OF ARABY' UXIYF.RSAL "Children are entitled to their entertainment at this time of the year . . . Daddy is very likely to fall asleep." — Cook, X. Y. W orldTelegram. "Burnoosed horse opera, a Western with scimitars instead of six-shooters . . . Technicolor doings are active, flamboyant and simple as "They went thataway' . . . Routine show, neat, gaudy and pleasantly incredible." Guernsey, X. Y. Herald-Tribune. "New Technicolor desert romp . . . Full of horses, sand, rocks, pulchritude, flowing veils and burnooses . . . Has about everything, in fact, except the kitchen sink, which is where it belongs . . . Multi-colored corn hash." — H. H. T., X. Y. Times. "One of those horse-and-houri things with 'thee' and 'thou' dialogue that sickens those it fails to enrapture." — Winsten, X. Y. Post. "Adds ii]) to lightly amusing escapist fare." — Pelswick, X. Y. Journal-American. I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU' 2()th CENTURY-FOX "Piques the curiosity with its supernatural developments . . . Balsa wood rendition of the 'Berkeley Square' theme, a series of inert patterns cut from weak material . . . Stiff period sham." — Guernsey, X. Y. Herald-Tribune. "Such ponderous crudity that all the fragile charm and wistful pathos of the original are crushed beneath mass ... A thoroughly un memorable event." — Crowther, X. Y. 'Times. "Extraordinarily taut drama . . . slides rapidly downhill into the Eighteenth Cen tury . . . Middling effort . . . will stimulate the unimaginative." — Winsten, X. Y\ Post. "Charm of the original has been removed and the lumbering, never quite convincing, melodramatic spirit is no comforting substitute."— Cook, X. Y. World-Telegram. PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN' M-G-M "Curiously mystic and sometimes precious . . . Long and fairly polished drama . . . shines only fitfully." — A. \Y., XT. Y. Times. "Human, or superhuman, element is both pretentious in design and superficial in effect . . . Erratic movie . . . more turbulent than convincing." — Guernsey, X. Y. HeraldTribune. "The talk, those conversations, are simply and overwhelmingly too damned long . . . Assays low in foot-pounds of oomph." — Winsten, X. Y. Post. "Plods along through dialog liberally sprinkled with fancy quotations . . . Occasionally just skirting arty absurdity." — Cook, X. Y. World-Telegram. I LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS' WARNER BROS. "Warm and cheerful . . . Music is most agreeably done . . . It's that Danny Thomas, however, who lifts and carries off this show." — Crowther, X. Y. Times. "Doesn't make an important film, but it has touching sentimental moments, between the well-remembered songs." — Winsten, N. Y. Post. "Carefully designed to please every one in the mildest possible way . . . Bland and innocuous . . . Benevolent trivia." — Guernsey, X. Y. Herald-Tribune. "One of the season's top musicals . . . Warm, melodious picture, sure to gladden the already merry Yuletide." — Creelman, N. Y. World-Telegram. DOUBLE DYNAMITE' RKO "Second-rate screen fare which is all the more disappointing because it was promising . . . Writer ran out of ingenuity and the director helped him throw sand on the flickering fuse." — McCord, X. Y. HeraldTribune. "Whatever that sizzling title is supposed to mean, this thin little comedy is strictly a wet firecracker . . . Those behind the camera . . . apparently were as long on determination as they were short of inspiration."— H. H. T., X. Y. 'Times. "It's good that the picture mystifies. Being neither beautiful nor full of song hits, not very funny and certainly short on excitement, anything that stimulates attention is a help."— Winsten. X. Y. Post. "Frivolous farce . . . Xo musical . . . Scries of comic misadventures . . . Mood is light and gay." — Pelswick, X. Y. JournalAmerican. FILM BULLET IX