The Film Daily (1940)

Wednesday, December 18, 1940 <7 *\ DAILY :< :< Reviews of the new fums .v v "Love Thy Neighbor" with Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Mary Martin, Rochester, The Merry Macs, Verree Teasdale, Virginia Dale Paramount 82 Mins. ft sure-fire grosser packed with "laughs, bright situations and melodies. a natural for all STANDS. Riding to the current cinema scene via one of the most intensive advance build-ups a feature film has enjoyed, "Love Thy Neighbor" packs the power to grab grosses in every situation, not only because of the entertainment it offers, and the magnetic names of Benny and Allen in the same production, but, too, the radio "feud" of the comedian-leads which has made them a vortex of public attention wherever there is a receiving set. Here is top-flight diversion,— light, swift-moving, and cleverly presented. Audiences in all brackets will go for and to this one, for nothing can attract them currently as well as a laugh fest. Barbed dialogue, humorous situations, 'riotous invectives, good production numbers and neat melodies pervade the footage. J Benny and Allen are excellent in their roles, as is the lithe, attractive Mary Martin who contributes much to the proceedings visually and vocally, while Eddie Anderson ("Rochester") is at his best. 'Virginia Dale, Verree Teasdale and the Merry Macs also score. Mark Sandrich both produced and directed, with results which beget only admiration. There is a natural note to the sequences, and they are held together firmly, although the story is very simile in structure. This recounts the bitter enmity between Benny and Allen. Mary Martin, cast as the latter's niece, tries to patch matters up with only sporadic success. She joins Benny's show; usurps the name of another girl in the cast (leading to typical musical comedy complication) ; falls in love with Jack; and finally weds him. The Benny-Allen "battle" reaches Ms most spectacular stage in a wild and exciting chase in speed boats, — as hilarious a bit as Hollywood has fabricated all season. [Other elements of the story find Benny "stealing" the Merry Macs, and Allen "stealing" Rochester. Write "Love Thy Neighbor" in date books as a b.o. winner. CAST: Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Mary Martin, Verree Teasdale, Eddie Anderson, Virginia Dale, Theresa Harris, Richard Denning. Jack Carson, Barnett Parker, Russell Hicks, Mary Kelley, Chester Clute, The Merry Macs, Merriel Abbott Dancers. CREDITS: Producer and Director, Mark Sandrich; Original Screenplay, William Morrow and Edmund Beloin, Ernest Pagano and Z. Mvers; Sound Mixer, Harry Lindgren; Film Editor, Le Roy Stone; Art Directors Hans Dreier, Roland Anderson; Director of Photography, Ted Tetzlaff. DIRECTION, Skillful. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. To Film "Flight Surgeon" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Twentieth CenturyFox will film Cameron Rogers and H. E. Halland's book, "Flight Surgeon," dealing with missions of mercy by airplane with most of the filming being done at U. S. Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Fla. "Chad Hanna" with Henry Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, Linda Darnell 20thFox 86 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) EPISODIC STORY OF EARLY CIRCUS DAYS TELLINGLY PICTURIZED WITH EFFECTIVE BLENDING OF ACTION, ROMANCE AND COMEDY. Early circus days in New York State are tellingly picturized in Technicolor, and although the story is rather episodic, Director Henry King has effectively blended the action, romance and comedy. Nunnally Johnson, who produced the picture, had a rather difficult task in scenarizing Walter D. Edmonds' story, "Red Wheels Rolling," but came through with a good job. A rather unusual set of interesting characters are seen during the picture's 86 minutes. Henry Fonda is a country boy working along the canal. When Dorothy Lamour, a dazzling and beautiful circus rider, plays his home town he becomes infatuated with her. Fonda is ideally cast and furnishes an excellent portrayal, Dorothy is highly capable as the performer, who has had many admirers, but has not been successful in love. Linda Darnell is very good as the country girl, who is determined to make good and rise above her drab, sordid surroundings. She plays the daughter of brutish Ol'n Howland, who hunts escaped slaves for the reward money. Guy Kibbee is splendid as a farmer who was forced into circus business when he got one on a mortgage and has never stopped bemoaning his fate. Jane Darwell is good as the circus' fearless, fat woman. John Carradine does fine work as the circus' advance agent, while Ted North, Roscoe Ates, Frank Thomas, Sarah Padden, Frank Conlan, Paul Burns and Edward Conrad are among the principals. The story is laid in 1841. Fonda joins Kibbee's circus as a roustabout and wagon driver. Linda also joins the circus, but Fonda's chief interest is in Dorothy Lamour. When Linda's father, Howland, catches up with the circus and upbraids Linda for running away from home, Fonda tells him he and Linda are married. Fonda and Linda do marry, and Dorothy, who had joined another circus, makes an unexpected appearance at their wedding party. Fonda is still infatuated with Dorothy, and when he quarrels with Kibbee and Linda, he runs off and keeps a rendezvous with Dorothy. She finally convinces him that he is really in love with Linda, although he may not realize it. Fonda returns to Linda and also acquires an elephant that saves Kibbee's circus from disgruntled spectators. CAST: Henry Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, Linda Darnell, Guy Kibbee Jane Darwell, lohn Carradine, Ted North, Roscoe Ates, Ben Carter, F^nk Thomas, Olin Howland, Frank Conlan, Edward Conrad, Edward McWade, Edward Mundy, George Davis, Paul Burns. Sarah Padden, Leonard St. Leo, Elizabeth Abbott, Tully Marshall, A'mira Sessions, Virginia Brissac, Si Jenks Victor Kilian, Louis Mason, Charles Middleton. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Nunnally Johnson; Director, Henry King; Screenolay bv Nunnallv Johnson, from storv, "Red Wheels Rolling," by Walter D. Edmonds; Cameraman, Ernest Palmer and Ray Renna * SHORTS * "Raggedy Ann" Paramount 19 mins. Good Cartoon As a Christmas release, this cartoon number should appeal particularly to kids. It is sentimental, and the story is nicely worked out. Max Fleischer produced, with the story adapted from the works written by Johnny Gruelle. A little girl goes to a toy store to buy the Raggedy Ann doll in the window. But she is told by the owner that she must also buy the Raggedy Andy sewed to it, as they go together. She only has the price of one and he tells her the story of why the two dolls are joined together, finally giving her both of them as she dejectedly turns to leave the shop. Subject is in Technicolor. han; Technicolor Director, Natalie Kalmus; Associate, Morgan Padelford; Art Director, Richard Day; Associate, George Dudley; Editor, Barbara McLean; Music by David Buttolph. DIRECTION, Effective. PHOTOGRAPHY, Eye-filling. "Labor and Defense — 1941" RKO-MOT 19 mins. Timely and Interesting Particularly significant and interesting is this comprehensive picture of labor today. With the nation girding itself on every hand for a vast arms program costing billions, the part of labor in this program is the key to its success or failure. The subject deals with the A F of L and the CIO, presents the presidents of bcth unions in action, introduces the late Samuel Gompers, and traces the development of the two big unions. Other outstanding labor leaders get their share of attention, and the subject of strikes is graphically dealt with. The film is important from many standpoints, and the public interest in it should be widespread. "Bagdad" Canadian Bow Aids Coventry Victims Toronto — Canadian premiere of "The Thief of Bagdad" will be held in Ottawa's Elgin Theater on Dec. 23, with the entire proceeds going to the victims of the Nazi raid on Coventry, Eng. Receipts are to be cabled to the mayor of Coventry. Seats will sell for $2.50 top. Ml i ) n t A REPUBLIC PICTURE GENE AUTRY* JIMMY DURANTE ANN MILLER * V H Gene is down r '' *e buil H • • ■ down . So Te w UP' ^ K monotono, "ft ' ■ ' down> "'3 get