Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1962)

"BelF Antonio" Katun? O O PI us Italian import uneven in spots, but will engross art and general audiences. Mastroianni, Cardinale head cast. From Italy comes this drama about a young man with a reputation as a great lover who finds his marriage threatened by the problem of his impotence. Under Mauro Bolognini's direction, the emphasis erratically shifts from moments of serious drama to sequences of surprising mirth. This Embassy release will do well in art houses, but some viewers in the general market may find themselves wondering whether they should be laughing at certain sequences or not. The sex aspect will qualify it as a dubbed dualler in situations where imports have proved acceptable. An additional boxoffice plus is the rising power of the film's two stars — Marcello Mastroianni ("La Dolce Vita") and Claudia Cardinale ("Girl With a Suitcase"). Mastroianni brings the right degree of suffering to his role as the emotionally unhappy lover, and Miss Cardinale is persuasive as the daughter of a wealthy and politically prominent family who finally leaves Mastroianni because of his impotency. Pierre Brasseur is a standout as Mastroianni's lusty father, and the supporting performers present an interesting cross-section of Sicilians who run the gamut from the cynical to the naive. The plot finds Mastroianni returning home after several years in Rome, and trading in his wild reputation for marriage to Miss Cardinale. Although he loves her deeply, he cannot consummate the marriage, and when her parents find this out, they have the marriage annulled. Brasseur goes off on a binge hoping to re-establish his family's reputation for manhood. The excesses are too much and he dies. When Mastroianni's mother discovers that the family maid is pregnant and that Mastroianni is the father, she joyfully spreads the news throughout the town. Although Mastroianni is still in love with Miss Cardinale, who has remarried, he agrees to marry the maid. Embassy 101 minutes. Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Pierre Brasseur, Produced by Alfredo Bini. Directed by Mauro Bolognini. "Doctor in Love" Scc4uee44 O O Plus Another in funny British comedy series. Plenty laughs. Those nutty British "Doctors" are with us once again, and American audiences are in for another laugh-filled excursion into the world of medicine. This time the emphasis is on the wild and wacky exploits of two carefree physicians bent on pursuing the study of the female species. Unfolded on a broad slapstick level in attractive Eastman Color, it should register good boxoffice returns in those situations where previous entries in the "Doctor" series have proven successful. The humor is a bit strained in this latest one, but thanks to a competent cast, plus Ralph Thomas' fast-paced, sex-guided direction, "Doctor in Love" shapes up as an overall amusing hunk of entertainment. Michael Craig portrays a jilted doctor who decides to accept a post in a country clinic. Leslie Phillips, his wolf-in-stethoscope-clothing companion, decides to go with him. Bearded James Robertson Justice is back as their bellicose London hospital head. The passing parade of females is headed by Virginia Maskell, an attractive physician who helps Craig forget his recent jilt; Carole Lesley, a shapely receptionist; and Jean Sims and Liz Frazer, two unemployed strip-tease artists Craig and Phillips become involved with. Nicholas Phipps screenplay has Craig and Phillips leaving London and Justice and reporting to Phipps' country clinic. When Phipps suddenly has to go to America, Craig is left in charge. Phillips has a gay time chasing the ladies, but a broken arm lands him in the hospital. Miss Maskell is sent to take his place and Craig falls madly in love with her. She walks out on Craig when his former sweetheart reappears, but the two are broughjl together again by Justice's grumbling appendix. Governor Films. 93 minutes. Michael Craig, Virginia Maskell, Leslie Phillips, Jame Robertson Justice. Produced by Betty E. Box. Directed by Ralph Thomas. "House of Women" 3u4t*e44 'Rating O G Familiar prison yarn will serve as adequate dualler it action-ballyhoo market and for drive-ins. In this Warner release, producer Bryan Foy turns a glaring spotlight on some old-hat ideas about life inside a femak prison. Using as his springboard the fact that in some prisons mothers are permitted to keep their children until the babie; reach the age of three, Foy has put together an old-fashioned prison yarn complete with inmate brawls, mean matrons and a climactic riot. "House of Women' will prove an OK duallei for action-ballyhoo houses and drive-ins. Director Waltei Doniger has managed to stir up a fair amount of interest, but Crane Wilbur's screenplay comes through with that all-toofamiliar prison picture ring. None of the characters achieve any stature. Shirley Knight is an innocent accessory to a robbery who loses her daughter because she cannot find anyone to adopt the child; Constance Ford, a hardened criminal with a son; and Barbara Nichols, a soft-hearted ex-stripper who prefers life "inside" to the tribulations of being a parolee. Andrew Duggan is the disciplinary-minded warden who falls in love with Miss Knight, Jason Evers, the alcoholic young prison physician, and Jeanne Cooper, a sadistic matron. The plot finds Duggan blocking Miss Knight's parole when he learns she's planning to move to the East coast. He also orders children and mothers separated. Miss Ford goes berserk when her son is killed in a fall from the prison roof. Miss Knight helps Miss Ford steal a pistol from Duggan's house. When several hostages are taken, Miss Ford threatens to kill them unless Miss Knight receives her parole. Evers stops the riot, Duggan is dismissed, and Miss Knight is paroled and reunited with her daughter. Warner Bros. 85 minutes. Shirley Knight, Andrew Duggan, Constance Ford. Produced by Bryan Foy. Directed by Walter Doniger. "Don't Knock the Twist" Chubby Checker and popularity of Twist should carry it. Exhibitors will best be able to judge the boxoffice value of this latest Columbia entry into the Twist derby by past performances of its predecessors. Once again there's little plot and lots of song and dance, with Chubby ("Mr. Twist") Checker the stellar name. It should draw the teenage crowd on weekends. James B. Gordon's slim plotline centers around a young TV executive ordered to put together a Twist spectacular in four weeks, thereby getting the jump on a rival network. Lang Jeffries is the harassed young man, and the women in his life are Mari Blanchard, a scheming fashion designer who refuses to marry him, and Georgine Darcy, a shapely 4-H-type dancer he eventually falls for. The Twist personalities include Gene Chandler (The Duke of Earl), Vic Dana, Linda Scott, the Carroll Bros, and the Dovells. Oscar Rudolph's direction is routine. Miss Blanchard decides to promote a new line of Twist clothes on Jeffries spectacular, and she puts Miss Darcy under exclusive contract. She grows jealous of the budding Jeffries-Darcy romance, tips off the rival network about Jeffries' show, then tries to wreck the spectacular by designing a shocking costume for Miss Darcy to wear. But all ends well. Columbia. 87 minutes. Chubby Checker, Vic Dana, Lang Jeffries, Mari Blanchard. Produced by Sam Katzman. Directed by Oscar Rudolph. Page 14 Film BULLETIN April 16, 1962