Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

JMPINC JACKS' MARTIN Cr LEWIS LAFFER HEADED FOR TOP B.O. Rtes • • • + except for action houses Iramount ■minutes Ian Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mona Freeman, In DeFore, Robert Strauss, Dick Erdman, fy Teal, Marcy McGuire, Danny Arnold. Iected by Norman Taurog. 'heatremen and their audiences have Ise for tin same elation thai accompanied t' la-t Martin-Lewis picture. Hal 1!. Wallis H the comics have done it again, perhaps t n more so, in "Jumping Tacks" which ps the goofy pair into the Paratroopers, ling high on their current crest of poptl■ty, it's impossible to see how this could r-v being one of the top boxoffice films of t year. While the word may sound silly ■ describing a Martin-Lewis film, a more lature" script lias been placed at their disItal. There is still the usual quota of slaps k and zaniness that has characterized the ■Medians' previous film efforts, but a bit r the noise has been toned down in favor ■solid humor and a fast pace, thus widen • POOR • • IAIU • • • coon • • • • iops ing the appeal. Among the standout sequences are a scene where Jerry drops from a plane without bis parachute and lands on Dean's 'chute; Jerry, as a civilian smuggled into the Army, trying to endure the rigors of Paratroop training and the idiot's delight as a favorite of the company's top sergeant. Interspersed are some thrilling maneuvers by the Paratroopers, including a mass jump photographed beautifully from the air. Exhibitors had better widen their doors for this one. While the dauntless Lewis hits the comedy high spots, partner Dean Martin is once again the perfect straight man, as well as a competent purveyor of songs. He delivers four: "Do the Parachute Tumi)", "T know a Dream When I Sec One", "The Big Blue Sky" and "Keep a Little Dream Handy". STORY: Paratrooper Dean Martin, trying to organize a camp show, sends for bis old stage partner Jerry Lewis, who has meantime teamed ut> wi'h Mona Freeman. Jerry, kept oul of the Service by a bad car, is smuggled into cam)), taking the identity of Richard Erdman. The sergeant. Robert Strauss, swallows the story, hook, line and sinker and becomes Jerry's champion. The opening show goes over so well that the general, Ray Teal, singles out Jerry for congratulations and orders the unit on detached duty. This puts everyone in a spot. If Jerry admits he is a civilian, the whole company will be courtmartialed. Kvery time he tries to escape, he is hauled back, and compelled to suffer the rigors of army combat training. During maneuvers Jerry accidentally captures the "enemy" commander, and the general is so impressed that he has the hero sworn into the Paratroops at once. On a routine jump Jerry is thrown out of the 'plane without a parachute, but luckily lands on Dean's and floats to safety. In the end Jerry, his ear trouble cured, decides he prefers army life after all. LEON ' IPLOMATIC COURIER' SUSPENSEFUL SPY MELODRAMA Ftes • • • — generally 2 h Century-Fox 9 minutes Irone Power, Patricia Neal, Stephen Mc Mly, Hildegarde Neff. I ected by Henry Hathaway. ■ Phis Casey Robinson production is offered v h an air of authenticity and realistic action lit makes it a better than average cloak■H-dagger film. "Diplomatic Courier" cont is all the sure-fire elements of murder, felpense, mystery, and foreign intrigue that pjinto spy vs. counter-spy films. Except for ■sine implausible melodramatics in the last ill, the picture maintains an exciting and Ijeresting pace without glut of the usual Mod and thunder techniques. Most of the gdion is set in Trieste, which provides some »ifsh backgrounds for the chase. "Diplo matic Courier" unwinds in a manner calculated to entertain audiences who go for this sort thing. Aided by the Tyrone PowerPatricia Neal names, it should have good grosses in action and metropolitan houses, and will make a good dualler in other situations. Under the guiding hand of director Henry Hathaway, the film unwinds in a senii-documentary style. Tyrone Power, in the title role, is effective as a government messenger who becomes embroiled in espionage activity. Patricia Neal and Hildegarde Neff supply some interesting twists as they alternate their activities between sedition and seduction. The supporting cast, headed by Stephen McNally, fit in well with the nefarious doings of "Diplomatic Courier". STORY: Tyrone Power is a messenger in the State Department, transporting im portant documents between Washington and various European embassies. He arrives in Paris only to be assigned to a top secret mission which involves meeting a US agent who is bringing important information out from behind the iron curtain. Power locates the agent, but before the message can be passed, the agent is killed and the document disappears. Power learns that the agent had been in contact with blond Hildegarde Neff and he thinks she may be an important cog in the mystery. After being assigned to aid Stephen McNally — an Army intelligence colonel — Power traces Neff to Trieste and the plot thickens. Patricia Neal gets into the act as a wealthy widow on the loose, and Power becomes involved with both women and assorted commie agents. The usual melodramatics ensue with the eventual outcome never in dobut. NEIL 4 FOR BEDROOM C SWANSO ftes • • as dualler on Swanson name ^arner Bros. 7j minutea (jria Swanson, James Warren, Fred Clark, Lns Conreid, Steve Brodie, Janine Perreau, I nest Anderson, Margaret Dumont. Irected by Milton H. Bren. '3 For Bedroom C", a "drawing room" dnedy set on board a transcontinental train i its entirety, is about as entertaining as a aw freight on a steep grade. Filmed in 4 tural Color, this Gloria Swanson starrer *s sidetracked by a weak script before it W:r got rolling. The story concerns a flnous movie actress who, with her eightJir-old daughter, takes over the bedroom da college professor on board the Super Mief. Resultant situations never become I COMEDY FOR THE DUALLERS more than mildly humorous, and there is little in this frilly flimflam to interest most audiences. After skyrocketing back to prominance in "Sunset Boulevard", Swanson is about the only solid asset "3 for Bedroom C" can boast, and, in this instance at least, it won't be enough to make this Warner offering anything but program fare — and then only in metropolitan areas. Milton H. Bren has used little imagination in writing and directing "3 for Bedroom C". The cast moves sluggishly, except for Janine Perreau who brightens things considerably as the eight-year-old daughter of Gloria Swanson. The star of "Sunset Boulevard" is unable to overcome the weak and burdensome role of a coy actress who is tired of Hollywood glamour. Supporting players merely waddle around in the mire of a dull and implausible script. STORY: Chemistry professor James Warren enters his compartment on the California-bound Super Chief to find that screen star Gloria Swanson and her daughter have taken over his bedroom. Swanson turns on the charm and Warren, who up to now has only been in love with a few test tubes, bives her his compartment. Later, Warren and Swanson become enamoured over a few cocktails. When the train arrives in Kansas City, Swanson's agent, Fred Clark, gets aboard and matters become more complicated. A see-saw love affair ensues between Warren and Swanson, with some Hollywood hokum thrown in for good measure. By the time the train arrives in California Swanson has succeeded in capturing the chemistry professor. NEIL NE 16, 1952 13