Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID' ESTHER WILLIAMS B. O. WINNER ates • • • except for action hoases I etro-Goldwyn-Mayer 5 minutes ! sther Williams, Victor Mature, Walter iidgeon, David Brian, Donna Corcoran, Use White, Maria Tallchief, Howard Freean, Charles Watts, Wilton Graff, Frank prguson, James Bell, James Flavin lirected by Mervyn LeRoy | A natural for Esther Williams, "Million Jollar Mermaid", based on the career of fnnette Kellerman, is another boxoffice Lick for Metro's water nymph. The story \ the Australian girl who licked a childhood ralysis to become t lie most celebrated trimmer of her era and an idol of millions s been embellished with a lush production Arthur Hornblow, Jr. A powerful cast, hich includes three top male star-, Victor ature, Walter Pidgeon and David Brian, us the gorgeous color, breathtaking proction numbers and a good quota of comy should bring this into the higher b.c. ackets. By far the most spectacular water sequence in screen annals is the Busby Berkeley scene, wherein Miss Williams and a Corps of male and female swimmers work wonders for the Technicolor cameras as they disport in multicolored, undulating fountains and smoke. Unfortunately, however, this impressive spectacle is inserted in the middle of the picture and, while it will be talked about, would have been immensely more effective at the finish to send 'em out raving. Instead, the film peters out to a hospital bed ending in a trite climax. Aside from this handicap, however, there is enough to satiate the eye and funnybone to put the film well into the big boxoffice class. Never has Miss W illiams been seen to better advantage than as the champion of the one-piece bathing suit. Her variety of swim suits is a feast for the eyes, the way she fills 'em, and never has she been accorded more complimentary scenery in which to reveal them. Victor Mature, as a fast-talking promoter; Walter Pidgeon as her music-teaching father, and David Brian as a Broadway impressario, all deliver in fine style. STORY: The crippled daughter of a music teacher, the 10-year-old Annette Kellerman (Donna Corcoran) overcomes her handicap by swimming and develops into an expect. After winning cups as an amateur, the now grown-up Annette (Esther Williams) sails wtih her father (Walter Pidgeon) to London, where he is to take a teaching job. A shipboard meeting with Victor Mature, who is promoting a boxing kangaroo, leads to an offer to swim in his act as an added attraction to the kangaroo. When Pidgeon's job falls through, Williams takes up Mature's offer and swims 26 miles down the Thames to get international recognition. Mature takes her to New York, and after some disappointing experiences, she legalizes the one-piece bathing suit in a couit trial and lands in the famous Hippodrome. Mature and Williams part after a quarrel, and she goes to Hollywood. While filming a swimming sequence in a tank, the glass breaks and Williams is hurtled through the jagged glass. She and Mature are reunited in the hospital. BARN CROWS ON TREES' AMUSING COMEDY FOR FAMILY TRADE ites • • • for family houses; weak for iversal minutes e Dunne, Dean Jagger, Joan Evans, chard Crenna, Edith Meiser, Sandy Desr, Dee Pollock, Les Tremayne, MalcolmBeggs, Forrest Lewis, Frank Ferguson, ib Sweeney ected by Arthur Lubin This lightweight comedy, based on a Cos•politan Magazine story, should go very 11 with family audiences. Bolstered by e presence of Irene Dunne (after too 101114 absence) and a plot gimmick that is {hi y exploitable, "It Grows on Trees" ures to do above average business, except action spots. It should roll up strong osses in the naborhoods and small town nations, especially. The idea of moneyaring trees in the back yard of a typical ily is given a whimsical and laugh-proking treatment in the script by Leonard action spots Praskins and Barney Slater, and a wellbalanced cast gets the most out of the daffy situations that arise. Despite a sag about mid-way in the film, Arthur Lubin's direction maintains a neat comedy pace and provides plenty of human interest, too, which should satisfy the older members of the audience. Miss Dunne is delightful as the slightly screwball mother of the family and Dean Jagger scores solidly as her husband. Livelycontributions are turned in by daughter Joan Evans, Richard Crenna, her fiance, and Dee Pollock and Sandy Descher, the youngsters. Leonard Goldstein's production is economical, but effective enough. STORY: The Baxter family is hardpressed to pay its bills, but the mother, Irene Dunne, buys two trees and plants them in the backyard. Surprisingly, they do not grow blossoms, but five and ten dollar bills. Irene is all for using the HUNDER IN THE EAST' STRONG CAST, SCRIPT NOT SO tes • • + generally; slightly more in action spots . It builds to a predictable, but iramount minutes an Ladd, Deborah Kerr, Charles Boyer, >rinne Calvet, Cecil Kellaway, Leonora omblow, Mark Cavell irected by Charles Vidor [Set in present-day India, "Thunder in the 1 ist" begins with a promise of hard-hitting jiysical and emotional impact, but never I alizes its potential due to a meandering [3t and a too-talky script. With a topflight st, headed by Alan Ladd, this Paramount :ering should get off to a strong start in pst situations, but cool word-of-mouth fig es to cut into grosses in subsequent runs. Swerling'4 screenplay about an Indian cifist leader who attempts to hold in check irauding insurgents by nonviolent persua| >n will fail to convince discriminating audi ences, it builds to a predictable, but effective, climax that will please, at least, the action fans. Substituting talk for action most of the way, director Charles Vidor has allowed the film to wander, with little suspense or excitement being sustained. Charles Boyer manages to be convincing in the role of the pacifist adviser to a Maharajah whose province is under rebel attack. As an American gun-runner, Alan Ladd's assignment is typically unsympathetic and he plays it in his usual stolid manner. Deborah Kerr, as the blind girl, is appealing. Corinne Calvet lends a touch of sex appeal in her brief role. STORY: With a plane load of guns, Alan Ladd lands in the province of Ghandahar and attempts to sell the arms to the Maharajah, who is faced with an insurrection. The Maharajah's adviser, Charles Boyer, ab money, but husband Dean Jagger has qualms. So she writes to Washington. Officialdom thinks the letter is a gag, and writes back saying the money is okay and please to send a few cuttings for the White House garden! Irene Dunn refurnishes the home and pays off the mortgage — and then the bank finds that the money which grows on trees disintegrates like dry leaves. The story becomes a national scandal. Government experts, newsmen and nosey parkers besiege the house. Finally Irene is vindicated when, to the experts' astonishment, the now dying tree yields one last piece of fruit — a crisp ten dollar bill. The tree is confiscated, the sightseers depart, and the household returns to normal. But, we guess, not for long. As the picture closes Miss Dunne is shown opening a box of oddments she has bought at a blind auction. Among the articles is a lamp shaped suspiciously like Aladdin's. COULTER hors violence and not only thwarts Ladd's attempt to sell the weapons, but confiscates the shipment. W;hen the rebels burn a neighboring town, the small English colony — left over from the days of British rule— decide to evacuate to safe ground. Among them is Deborah Kerr, a missionary's blind daughter. She meets Ladd and they fall in love. When the rebels cut off all escape, Ladd offers to fly the refugees to safety— for a price. Kerr is alienated by this display of calousness and refuses to leave. In a rage, Ladd attempts to escape alone, but the plane is destroyed and he is stranded with the rest. When the rebels attack, Boyer tries to pacify them, but events make him realize that sometimes violence is the only way to bring peace. Behind blazing machine guns, Ladd and Boyer cut down the rebels and the safety of all is assured. NEIL FILM BULLETIN November 17, 1952 Page S