Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

MUTINY' ROUTINE PERIOD ACTION FILM IN TECHNICOLOR Rates • • action houses United Artists 77 minutes Mark Stevens, Angela Lansbury, Patric Knowles, Gene Evans, Rhys Williams, Robert Osterloh, Peter Brocco, Norman Leavitt, Gene Roth, Walter Sande, Clayton Moore, Morris Ankrum, Todd Karnes, Louis Jean Heydt, Robin Hughes, Crane Whitley, Emerson Treacy, Harry Antrim. Directed by Edward Dmytryk. Hampered by a thin plot, sketchy story, and overworked material, "Mutiny" is just another melodrama of the swashbuckling, sea-saga era. There are a few good battle scenes, circa War of 1812, but they don't come fast enough or often enough to keep the action moving. "Mutiny" is further weakened because it lacks both substantiality or sympathy in the romantic department. This is confined to a hike warm love affair between a villanous wench and the weakwilled leader of the mutineers. There is little in this Technicolor epic to keep it from being anything more than an action spot dualler. Mark Stevens, in the role of an American ship captain, tries hard to turn in a believable performance, but he is hindered by lack of material. Angela Lansbury does well as a gold-digger who lures Patric Knowles into leading a mutiny. Stevens and Knowles manage to end up in fine style in an interesting though improbable, scene in which they use a small submarine to torpedo a British Man-O'-War— during the War of 1812! STORY: When the War of 1812 breaks out, Mark Stevens is assigned the task of TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY' PAR FOR POPULAR SERIES Rates • • + in action houses and small towns lingers nearby to provide what love-interest RKO Pictures (Lesser Productions) 80 minutes Lex Barker, Dorothy Hart, Tommy Carlton, Charles Korvin, Patric Knowles. Directed by Cyril Endfield. Following the tried and true formula of all the Tarzan films that preceded it "Tarzan's Savage Fury" contains the same elements that have made the indestructible series dependable boxoffice wherever the Ape Man's followers abound. The story is contrived, as always, to allow free display of Tarzan's supremacy over his jungle domain. The lightweight monkeyshines are again ably handled by the chimp Cheeta, and Jane is called for. In this one, Tarzan adopts a new son (Tommy Carlton), wihch is just one more element to appeal to juvenile audiences. This Tarzan entry will probably do no better, nor worse, than all the others that went before, which should mean reliable boxoffice in the action houses, nabes and small towns. Lex Barker handles the Tarzan role in traditional style and Dorothy Hart is decorative and appealing as his mate. Tommy Carlton fits well into his introductory role as Tarzan's foster son. Charles Korvin and Patric Knowles are villainous enough to give Tarzan cause for his fury. The Sol Lesser production is highlighted by some animal process shots that are interesting and create 'GIRL IN WHITE' SLOW-MOVING PERIOD DRAMA Rates + in family houses; less elsewhere M-G-M 93 minutes June Allyson, Arthur Kennedy, Gary Merrill, Mildred Dunnock, Jesse White, Marilyn Erskine, Guy Anderson, Gar Moore, Don Keefer, Ann Tyrell, James Arness, Curtis Cooksey, Carol Brannon, Ann Morrison, Jo Gilbert. Directed by John Sturges. This slow-moving period drama, dealing with the experiences of a woman pioneer in medicine, does not hold much boxoffice promise. A good deal of the overlong 93 minutes is devoted to depiction of hospital methods in the year 1900. While these documentary-style sequences are interesting, they retard the story of the girl medic's efforts to crack the profession's prejudice against women. Despite some fine performances and nice human interest touches drawn from the pages of Emily Dunning Barringer's biographical novel, "Bowery to' Bellevue," this Metro offering fails to stir the spectator sufficiently. Boxoffice returns will be fair in family houses, below average in metropolitan deluxers and action spits. June Allyson is attractive and handles her straight dramatic part in a way that is sure to captivate her admirers. Arthur Kennedy shows well as a fellow student and doctor with more than an academic interest in Miss Allyson. Gary Merrill personifies the male resistance to women in medicine, and Mildred Dunnock, as a woman doctor who has already been through the prejudice mill, provides the inspiration to Miss Allyson in her battle to overcome all obstacles. running the British blockade, and going to France to obtain gold bullion to finance the American cause. Stevens solicits the aid of Patric Knowles, a renegade cashiered from the British Navy. With his help, Stevens manages to evade the British and get to France. Seme of Knowles' men are in the crew and when they learn of the gold bullion, they plan to stage a mutiny and take the gold. When in France, Knowles meets his old flame, Angela Lansbury, and brings her aboard ship where she tempts him into leading the mutiny. The revolt is successful, but Knowles secretly releases Stevens who manages to make it back to American shores. In an unbelievably short time, Stevens enlists the aid of the U. S. Navy, and Knowles and company receive their due. NEWT. suspense. STORY: Tarzan's jungle retreat is invaded by Korvin and Knowles, who, after murdering Tarzan's cousin, pass off Knowles as the dead man. They are in quest of a diamond treasure in the land of the Wazuri tribe, and Tarzan is the only one who can lead them there. They trick the Ape Man into thinking the gems are needed by England to make machine tools. It is obvious, however, that Korvin and Knowles are really Russian agents. After an adventurous trek, frought with danger, Tarzan realizes he has been duped and just in time is able to foil the agent's attempt to escape with the diamonds. Returning the stones to the Wazuri, he saves Jane from a horrible death and all ends well. NEWT. STORY: When June Allyson, as a young girl, looks on as Dr. Mildred Dunnock saves her mother's life, she is fired with the ambition to become a doctor. Despite warnings that women aren't accepted in the world of medicine, she attends medical school and graduates second in an all male class. It is here that she first brushes against the opposition that is destined to plague her career and it is here that she first meets Arthur Kennedy and refuses his proposal of marriage. After many set backs and some string-pulling by Dr. Dunnock, June becomes the first woman doctor ever admitted to a New York hospital. The rest of the story pertains to her successful battle to break down the opposition to women in medicine, and finding that she needs more than a career to gain complete happiness. NEWT. 16 FILM BULLETIN