Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1953)

"Vice Squad'' SutiKOM 'Rating OOO The rating is for action houses, where it can roll up surprising grosses. Will respond to strong selling in all other situations, except top class situations. Tight, fast-moving story, crisp dialogue should hold attention wherever played. Robinson-Goddard fit in neatly with title for action-sex approach. "B-Girl — cop-killer" angle big pull. Taut, well-made action film in "Detective Story" vein, but on lesser scale. C risp dialogue, tight situations, sexy scenes offer plenty of exploitation angles. Story follows a day in the affairs of a vice-squad police captain | Edward G. Robinson), goes through murder of a policeman, involving an "escort bureau-' headed by Paulette Goddard, bank robber}', kidnapping, lawyer's shenanigans, stool pigeons, dragnet tactics. Robinson delivers solidly, stabilizing and underlining the melodramatics with a quiet, deliberate performance. Excellent characterization by Porter Hall (good for high quota of laughs) as a "respectable" undertaker involved with a floogie, and several other "characters" give the film a flavor well above the ordinary. Pressbook capitalizes "B-Girl" raid, "killer" angles. Ads feature hard-hitting captions : "Stops you . . . like a slug in the chest ! Shocks you . . . like a kick in the face! Hold you . . . like a gold diggin' woman !" Barn United Artists I Sol Lesser). 87 Minutes. Edward G. Robinson, Paulette Goddard, K. T. Stevens, Porter Hall, Adam Williams, Edward Binns, Jay Adler, Joan Vohs. Producers, Jules V. Levy, Arthur Gardner. Director, Arnold Laven. "Latin Lovers" Tailored for deluxers and metropolitan audiences. Light, romantic, escapist fare should also find good market in naborhood family spots. Rates much less for rural and action houses. Turner name, strong cast will help. Light, frothy romantic comedy. Lana Turner's charms, fabulous wardrobe, romantic interludes, Technicolorful Latin-American settings are highlights. Story of poor-little-rich-girl seeking a man who will love her for herself, not for her millions. Chuckling comedy provided by Louis Calhern, old roue fostering the TurnerMontalban romance and Turner's bouts with a psychiatrist. Other assets are songs "I Had to Kiss You" and "A Little More of Your Amour", sung by Montalban, and a sizzling samba danced by the enamoured couple. Pace and dialogue is slick and sparkling. Turner, lavish setting, Latin-American lure are big bally angdes. Neil M-G-M. 104 Minutes. Lana Turner, Ricardo Montalban, John Lund, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, Eduard Frani, Beulah Bondi, Joaquin Garay, Archer MacDonald, Dorothy Neumann, Robert Burton, Rita Moreno. Producer, Joe Pasternak. Director, Mervyn Le Roy. CORRECTION A typographical error in the July 13 issue of FILM BULLETIN resulted in giving a $ boxofficc rating to Walt Disney's "The Sword and the Rose." The correct rating should have been $$. The Master of Ballantrae" gudcneM 'Rati*? OOO Action-packed swashbuckler loaded with exploitation elements. Discriminating audiences will laugh at predictable situations — but will like it. Action fans will get their fill — and love it. Robt. Louis Stevenson story, Flynn name big-scale production are selling points offered in press book, but theatres should tailor campaign to local situation. Something for everyone— action, pageantry, color, sex, humor, drama, romance, all done in grand manner. Violence and a sultry dance by eyeful Gillian Lynne may raise some eyebrows in family market. Proper selling will make the difference. Will be particularly effective on wide screen, and, where used, this should be sold. A swashbuckler to end all swashbucklers. Just about everything that's been tossed into the period action melodrama is melted into this Robert Louis Stevenson adventure tale — in spades. Devil-may-care hero, three (count 'em) busty beauties, hordes of extras, sumptuous production, a family feud, fight against tyranny, sea battles, smugglers, piracy (two ships, two captains, two crews), gory swordplay, pirate hideout in the colorful Tortugas, last minute escape from the gallows. Scotch and English terrain, Mediterranean islands lend admirably to superlative Technicolor photographv. Flynn shines in ideal role, gets excellent support from British and 1 'Tench cast. Barn Warner Bros. 89 Minutes. Errol Flynn, Roger Livesey, Anthony Steel, Beatrice Campbell, Yvonne Furneaux, Felix Aylmer, Mervyn Johns, Charles Goldnei, Jack Berthier, Gillian Lynne. Director, William Keighley. "The Big Leaguer" Su&Utete RathtQ O O Smart baseball film. Should make good dualler for naborhood trade and, especially, the young element. Good ex • ploitation prospects for sports fans in story of N. Y. Giants' "school" for promising prospects. Rural market will enjoy hoked-up story. Fair marquee assets in Robinson and Vera-Ellen names. This is not THE story of the Great American Pastime. Baseball fans will get a kick out of the action and "inside" look into weeding out of future big-leaguers in the New York Giants training farm in Melbourne. Ida. General effect, however, is that of an extended short sub ject. Robinson, as John (Hans) Lobert, a bit incongruous as proud founder of the camp and former star third baseman. Vera-Ellen, tossed in for romantic interest, too mature for the 18-year-olders. Diamond action more realistic than previous baseball films. Typical bases full homer caps hokey story. Bam M-G-M. 71 Minutes. Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen, Jeff Richards, Richard Jaeckel, William Campbell, Carl Hubbell, Paul Langton, Lalo Rios, Frank Ferguson, Mario Siletti. Producer, Matthew Rapf. Director, Robert Aldrich. FILM BULLETIN July 27, 1953 Page IS