Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1954)

Jivaro "The Command*' Pinc-ThoT3as oroducHon suitable only as dual bill fare in ac?ion market. OrlginalEy intended as 3D release, being distributed in 2D. Offers little for discriminating trade. Routine story and uninspired filming of girl who goes into jungles of Peru to meet her fiancee, presumaljly the ow ner of a ])lantation. P^ernando Lamas, jungle trader, befriends Rhonda Fleming and tries to shield her from fact her boy friend. Richard Denning, is really a drunken sot obsessed with finding lost Indian treasure. F"ilm is slow and talky as it deals with P^leming's mooning over Denning. Pace picks up when it is learned that Denning was attacked by headhunting Jivaro Indians. Lamas, by this time in love with Fleming, sets out to ascertain if Denning is still alive. Accompanied by the girl and a couple of renegades whc) are interested in the treasure, Lamas eventually finds the body of Denning. Hard-hitting action develops when Lamas is attacked by headhunters and most of his party are wiped out. Through it all, the sexy Miss Fleming is filmed to good advantage, but romantic angle is mild because Lamas doesn't get to first base until the last reel. Exploitation gimmick for ballyhoo houses in beautiful girl stranded in jungle with loA e-hungry men and headhunting savages. AV/7 Paramount. 91 minutes. Fernando Lamas. Rhonda Fleming, Brian Keith, Lon Chaney, Richird Denning. Producers Pine-Thomas. Director Cdward Ludwig. "She Couldn't Say No" Rating higher for sma]l townj end rural situations. Mildly amusing small-town tele wiil require smart selling. Title and stars (Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons), on which boxoffice will lean heavily suggest something far from homespun comedy characterizing film. Action fans, accustomed to Mitchum type fare, will be disappointed. Light comedy in rural \ ein about a suddenly-rich girl who returns to her Arkanasa hometown tt) repay kindnesses and causes havoc with her generosity as freeloaders flock to the borough. Ample suiiply of amusing situations and characters to jilease the mass clientele. Director Lloyd Bacon maintains leisurely pace, milks the D. D. Beauchamp screen])lay for chuckles, jean Simmons shines as the heiress who turns the town to])sy-turvy. Mitchum is solid as the doctor who befriends the bewildered girl and finally ])ersuades her to become his wife. Casting, from .\rthur l lunnicutt as the genial village drunk, ICdgar Buchanan's storekee])er. Wallace FordV \eterinarian. and the rest of the players is well calculated, b'.xploitation of the Mitchuni-Simmons names should be careftdly handled on basis of their ])ast films. /''/)// RKO Radio. 88 minutes. Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, Arthur Hunnicutf, Edgar Buchanan, Wallace Ford. Producer Robert Sparks. Director Lloyd Bacon. ^u^iHC^ l^atiH^ O O O First Western in CinemaScope should realize top grosses in action market and good business generally. Impetus of strong pre-selling campaign on CinemaScope, plus WarnerColor, serves to offset lack of marquee names. Frontier story concerns Cavalry medical ofiicer Gu}Madison, who assumes leadership of his troop, two infantry companies and civilian wagon train when Cavalry commander is killed. Pace is slow in opening reels during telling of Madison's problems with soldiers who resent being led by doctor. Hard-hitting action is pro\ ided by Indian battles, ambushes and scare of smallpox ci)idemic. Madison saddled with responsibility of convoying wagon train across wild Wyoming territory, turns in eflfective performance as he vancjuishes redmen and wins respect of his troops. Mild romantic angle is supplied by pert Joan Weldon as nurse in wagon train. Climactic smashing Indian battle is enhanced by CinemaScope. into one of the best actions ever filmed. Typical catchline: "The First Story of the American Frontier in CinemaScope!" Madison will be remembered by kiddies as star of T\' show. "Wild Bill Hickock." Neil Warner Bros. 49 minutes. Guy Madison, Joan Weldon, James Whitmore, Carl Benton Reid. Producer David Weisbart. Director David Butler. "It Should Happen To You" ScMiKCA^ l^atiH^ O O O Comedy hit will strain b.o. records in some situations. Appeal angled at sophisticates and masses alike. Best returns in metropolitan areas, where Holliday name and dialogue subtlety will register most strongly. Judy Holliday 's scatter-brained shenanigans, an olTbeat script, crisp dialogue and smart direction give Columbia and exhibitors another boxoffice winner, in vein of "Born Yesterday". Writer Garson Kanin and director George Cukor, both of whom worked with Judy in her initial success, have collaborated again on gay, adult comedy that runs gamut from belly-laughs to chuckles, with touches of pathos interspersed. Tale has Judy as smalltown nobody coming to New York fired with desire to make a name for herself, .'^he spends her whole bundle on a billboard ad emblazoned with her moniker, is launched into fame and romantic complications via amazing exploitation stunts and public's gullibility, finally gets her guy in a sky-writing message pleading to be just a wife. Performances are on high level, with Judy dominating, Peter Lawford in his best role, and introducing a real "find" in newcomer Jack Lemmon. who wins the gal. Cukor's direction kee])s ]>ace livelv : Kanin's script is full of surprises. Phil Columbia. 87 minutes. Judy Holliday, Peter Lawford, Jack Lemmon, Michael O'Shea, Vaughn Taylor. Producer Fred Kohlmar. Director George Cukor. (See Page 13 for More Reviews) Su4iHe^ '^<itiH^ O O O O TOPS O O O GOOD O O AVERAGE O POOR Page 18 FILM BULLETIN January 25, I9S4