Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1960)

"The Story on Page One" Strong adult melodrama about infidelity and murder. Will draw in metropolitan markets, but doubtful for family trade. Clifford Odets has written and directed a highly suspenseful, adult courtroom drama about a man and woman on trial for the accidental shooting of her husband. In the Jerry Wald production, Odets raises a morally delicate question: because the pair have admitted being guilty of adultery, will this influence the jury's verdict in their murder trial? Because of its controversial overtones and the marquee power of Rita Hayworth, Anthony Franciosa and Gig Young, this 20th Century-Fox black-and-white CinemaScope release will have strong appeal in metropolitan areas. However, since its people are not punished for their illicit affair and because the dialogue contains such bold terms as "fornication" and "sleep with," it is bound to meet family trade opposition. The boxoffke pattern can be expected to follow that of "Anatomy of A Murder". Odets has created moving situations and believeable people, and his courtroom scenes dramatically combine sardonic battles of dialogue with episodes of continually mounting suspense. From his large cast, he has elicited strong performances: Miss Hayworth is excellent as the careworn housewife unhappily married to drunken and sadistic policeman Alfred Ryder; Franciosa is fine as the young attorney defending her in the face of apparently insurmountable odds; and as her widower lover who has just lost his small son and the accidental perpetrator of the killing, Young comes across sympathetically and persuasively. Mildred Dunnock, as Young's domineering mother and Sanford Meisner, as the unrelenting prosecuting attorney, are standouts. Miss Hayworth and Young are brought to trial for deliberately plotting and successfully carrying out Ryder's murder to keep him from learning from Miss Dunnock about their affair and also to collect the large insurance policy on his life. Most damaging evidence is Young's pre-arranged alibi for the night of the murder — he was supposed to be sick in bed miles away. As Meisner and Franciosa battle away, the latter slowly unwinds the web of circumstantial evidence surrounding the pair, disclosing that the two were drawn together through a bond of mutual unhappiness. He finally wins acquittal by proving that Young, supposedly out of town on business, had flown back to be with Miss Hayworth for a little while and had fabricated his alibi to keep the spying and calculating Miss Dunnock from following him and bullying him into giving up the women he loved. 20th Century-Fox. 123 minutes. Rita Hayworth, Anthony Franciosa Gig Young. Produced by Jerry Wald. Directed by Clifford Odets. "The Gene Krupa Story" /RaU*? O O Plus Biography of drummer will draw teenagers. Columbia is beating a loud promotional tom-tom over this Philip A. Waxman black-and-white production about the life of the man who revolutionized jazz by turning the drum into a solo instrument. Boxoffke returns will lean heavily on the teenage trade, which should respond to the draw of its three youthful stars, Sal Mineo, Susan Kohner and James Darren.. For jazz buffs, there's songstress Anita O'Day and musicians Shelly Manne, Red Nichols and Bobby Troup, the latter doubling for Tommy Dorsey. Krupa himself supplies all the drumwork which Mineo matches with professional skill. Mineo does a first-rate job as a frenzied drummer who couldn't resist fame, women or narcotics and manages to reproduce a number of his now famous mannerisms. Miss Kohner gives a sensitive peryouthful stars, Sal Mineo, Susan Kohner and James Darren, is fine as his trumpet-playing buddy. Newcomer Susan Oliver (destined for stardom) makes an interesting characterization out of the jazz singer responsible for Mineo's undoings. Director Don Weis keeps the yarn rolling, at a fairly good pace, especially the sequences devoted to the jam sessions and Mineo's downfall. The Orin Jannings screenplay has Krupa unable to continue in the priesthood as his father desired, joining Darren's jazz band and falling for Miss Kohner. The trio decide to go to New York, but they are confronted with many failures. Krupa finally makes his mark at a party given by Miss Oliver, starts up the ladder of success. Parties, women and a burning desire for money accompany his climb and by the time he has reached the top he has started using marijuana, broken up with Miss Kohner and parted company with Darren. Federal agents arrest him for possession of narcotics and gets a six month jail sentence. Released, he finds himself blacklisted from work and ends up drumming for strippers under an assumed name. Tommy Dorsey finally gives him a chance for a comeback. Once more on top, he asks Miss Kohner to marry him. Columbia. 101 minutes. Sal Mineo, Susan Kohner, James Darren. Produced by Philip A. Waxman. Directed by Don Weis. "The Rookie" New comedy team of Noonan and Marshall has tepid vehicle for first movie effort. Mild grosser as dualler. Hollywood's newest comedy team, Tommy Noonan (the comic) and Pete Marshall (the singing straight man) have, like their famous predecessors (Abbott & Costello, Martin & Lewis) chosen an army farce to launch their screen debut. Unfortunately, they have failed to come up with that "something special" audiences identify comic teams by. With the exception of one hilarious routine at the end where the two portray a pair of lost Japanese who refuse to believe the war is over, their material is strictly old hat. Noonan produced as well as collaborated on the script with George O'Hanlon, and he must carry the responsibility for the film's shortcomings. Business prospects for this 20th Century-Fox CinemaScope release are fair at best; it figures to play the lower half in most situations. Shapely Julie Newmar supplies a minor sex angle. The plot finds Noonan being given a rough time by the training personnel forced to remain at deserted Camp Clyde on his behalf. Instigator is training sergeant Marshall who only wants out so he can marry starlet Newmar. When her agent, Jerry Lester, decides to cash in on "the last rookie's" publicity by having her play up to him, Marshall's ire is increased to such an extent that he booby-traps Noonan's field exercises. The trap backfires and both are shipped overseas, but they fall off the ship and end up on a desert island. All ends happily (?) when Noonan is made a hero for capturing the lost Japanese and Miss Newmar marries Lester. 20th Century-Fox. 84 minutes. Tommy Noonan, Pete Marshall. Produced by Tommy Noonan. Directed by George O'Hanlon. O POOR ]