The Film Daily (1943)

THI' DAILY Wednesday, April 28, 1943; £ Wednesday, April 14 £JjC €<tC0t1t<t CttttCS Glory Be! All the news isn't bad news nor have all the good things of life been taken from us ... we still have our annual edition of the "Film Daily Year Book" . . . that Webster of screenland which supplies all the answers ! As a reader of this column you might be saying, "So what?" . . . but you wouldn't allow such a thought to enter your head if you knew that from the "Film Daily Year Book" come mos£ of the answers to the questions Tacoma Times subscribers ask this reporter concerning the movies past, present and future No human being . . . not even a drama editor . . . could possibly supply the information requested by letter and over the telephone which the readers of. this newspaper obtain throughout the year . . . and in nearly every case, the low-down on what is bothering them, comes from between the covers of this one-volume library. So precious is this annual flood-tide of information that the "Year Books" for the past five or six seasons are kept right in my desk drawer and when anyone borrows an edition, I send a police dog along with it . . . just in case! Truly . . .there isn't a sensible question one can ask about the film industry, the products It makes or those who exhibit them that the annual "Film Daily Year Book" can't answer . . . but quick! What have these hectic times done to the movie attendance? . . . How have foreign f Urns been affected by the war? . . . How much have higher labor costs influenced Hollywood budgets? . . . How does the film industry spend its advertising dollar? . . . From what source is Hollywood drawing its story material? . . . Are the "Four Horsemen" riding romance right off the screens of the nation's theaters? ... In how many pictures did Loretta Young appear last year? . . . Who directed "Mrs. Miniver" ? The answers to these . . . and thousands of other questions are at the finger-tips of the lucky guy who has his sight and a copy of the "1943 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures." And if mine doesn't arrive in tomorrow's mail, I'm going to see my attorney . . . they just can't do that to me . . . and to you! * * * The 1943 FILM YEAR BOOK is now being distributed to all subscrib to ers THE FILM DAILY 1501 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY REVIEWS Of new "Presenting Lily Mars" with Judy Garland, Van Heflin M-G-M 104 Mins. ROMANCE, COMEDY AND MUSIC ARE UNITED IN FILM OF POTENT BOXOFFICE VALUE; GARLAND, HEFLIN TOPS. The Booth Tarkington novel has been used as the foundation for a production of definite boxoffice weight. The film packs a heavy load of entertainment in its romantic comedy plot in which music has a large place. Especially powerful is the picture's appeal to women. The ingredients in "Presenting Lily Mars" are ideally suited to the popular taste. Love, humor and song have been merged into a smoothly flowing unity in which the hold on the interest of the younger people is clinched by the presence of two name orchestras — those of Tommy Dorsey and Bob Crosby. Joseph Pasternak's hand in the production as producer is evident by the good taste, richness of settings and smartness of treatment. Pasternak's insistence on nothing but the best is noticeable in every aspect of the production. Judy Garland and Van Heflin wield a potent force in the top roles. Both performers are at their very best. Their romantic association is certain to make a tremendous hit with the ladies. Miss Garland has been given a chance to display every facet of her talent, and she comes through with high honors in everything she has been called on to do. Fay Bainter, Richard Carlson, Spring Byington and Marta Eggerth lend the stars superb support, with praise particularly heavy for the last-mentioned. Miss Eggerth does an impressive job that makes it easy to understand the starbilling that she enjoyed in the German music films. She carries the song burden with distinction. Connie Gilchrist makes a small role stand out; ditto for Leonid Kinskey. The screenplay of Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman, a first-rate job, has Miss Garland as a small-town gal aching to be an actress. She inveigles Heflin, a fellow townsman who is a stage producer, into giving her a chance. The two fall in love despite the fact Miss Eggerth, star of the show which Heflin is putting on, has a prior claim to his affection. The couple has a time with the temperamental and jealous gal, but in the end Miss Garland's rival obligingly retires from the romantic picture. The nature of the yarn offers an excuse for the staging of several lavish production numbers. The film has classy direction by Norman Taurog, excellent camera work by Joseph Ruttenberg, fine art direction by Cedric Gibbons, and meritorious tunes by Walter Jurmann, Paul Francis Webster, E. Y. Harburg, Burton Lane and Roger Edens. CAST: Judy Garland, Van Heflin, Fay Bainter, Richard Carlson, Spring Byington, Marta Eggerth, Connie Gilchrist, Leonid Kinskey, Patricia Barker, Janet Chapman, Annabelle Logan, Douglas Croft, Ray McDonald, Tommy Dorsey and Bob Crosby, orchestras. CREDITS: Producer, Joseph Pasternak; Director, Norman Taurog; Screenplay, Richard Connell, Gladys Lehman; Based on novel by Booth Tarkington; Cameraman, Joseph Ruttenberg; Songs, Walter Jurmann, Paul 1 S DN I "Above Suspicion" with Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray M-G-M 90 Mir HELEN MACINNES NOVEL IS GIVE SUPERB PRODUCTION IN FILM MARKE BY GOOD ACTING. The screen version of the Helen Maclnn novel represents a first-class production i* boasting a cast that should assure the filtboxoffice success. The transfer from boo to celluloid has been achieved with meticu lous and painstaking care. There is om one important fault to militate against com plete enjoyment of the picture. That h; to do with the development of the stoi v/hich has not been accomplished with tot, clarity. The plot line is somewhat confuse:, but fortunately the film's assets are srronj enough to overshadow this liability. Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray hav been excellently teamed. They play a bridi couple that steps out of the halls of Oxfor to do a bit of spying for the British foreig office in the early days of the war. Th British authorities are interested in gettin the secret of a magnetic mine that threaten to play havoc with British shipping. To ge' the information sought MacMurray and Mis Crawford have to reach a mysterious indt^ vidual working for the allied cause in Ger many. How they attain their objectiv makes for a gripping guessing game an plenty of excitement. The plot has all th fascination of a puzzle, each piece bringin into sight another tense and absorbin adventure. It is to be expected that Mis Crawford and MacMurray run afoul of th Nazis, escaping by the proverbial hair afte a terrifying set-to with the villains. Miss Crawford and MacMurray perforr with competence. Basil Rathbone is hi usual dependable self as the chief Na: villain. Satisfactorily arrayed on the sid of Miss Crawford and MacMurray are th late Conrad Veidt, Reginald Owen, Richar Ainley, Felix Bressart, Bruce Lester. Produced under the supervision of Victo Saville, the screenplay of Keith Wintei Melville Baker and Patricia Coleman is load ed with dramatic incidents. Richard Thorpe' direction does wonders in maintaining th' interest at all times. The photography o Robert Planck, the special effects of War ren Newcombe, the art direction of Cedri Gibbons and the musical score of Bronisla Kaper are some of the film's finer assets. CAST: Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurra) Conrad Veidt, Basil Rathbone, Reginald Owen, Richard Ainley, Ann Shoemaker, Sari Haden, Felix Bressart, Bruce Lester, Johann Hofer, Lotta Palfi. CREDITS: Producer, Victor Saville; Direc tor, Richard Thorpe; Screenplay, Keith Win ter, Melville Baker, Patricia Coleman; Base on novel by Helen Maclnnes; Cameraman Robert Planck; Musical Score, Bronislai Kaper; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons; Specie Effects, Waren Newcombe; Film Edtoi George Hively. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY Good. Francis Webster, E. Y. Harburg, Burtoi Lane, Roger Edens; Musical Director, Georgii Stoll; Dance Director, Ernst Matray; Ar Director, Cedric Gibbons; Special Effects Warren Newcombe; Film Editor, Alber , Akst. DIRECTION, Gool. PHOTOGRAPHS Fine. DAN H ±-*f MHZ V CI cl cl IN