The Film Daily (1943)

ft*1-* * DAILY Tuesday, May 11, 19 £■ * RCVICUJS Of TH€ ntlU flLfflS £• tS RKO "Mr. Lucky' with Cary Grant, Laraine Day 100 Mins. COMEDY AND MELODRAMA NICELY MIXED IN THIS FILM; BOXOFFICE SHOWING SHOULD BE STRONG. "Mr. Lucky" should prove just that to the exhibitor who plays it. The film is a hefty order of entertainment that will please audiences no end. It is a smart blend of comedy and melodrama that is a credit to Producer David Hempstead's showmanship. The production is a breezy affair containing a wealth of material — most of it of the first grade. In "Mr. Lucky" Cary Grant is presented in another of those tongue-in-cheek roles at which he is so good. His performance will delight his fans hugely. His part permits him to make full use of his ability. The film backs him with a sterling cast. Laraine Day does her best job to date as the feminine lead. The film should do her career plenty of good. As the socialite with whom Grant has to tangle romantically and otherwise she is thoroughly believable. Charles Bickford returns to screen work in fine fettle. Gladys Cooper, Alan Carney, Henry Stephenson, Paul Stewart and Kay Johnson contribute much to the entertaining quality of the film. Not to be overlooked is a brief bit by Vladimir Sokoloff as a Greek priest. The story concerns the efforts of the owner of a gambling ship (Grant) to raise funds so he can put his boat in operation again. He sells a war relief organization on the idea of letting him raise funds for it via a gambling concession at a charity ball planned by the outfit. Grant's idea is to skip with the dough, but at the last minute realization of the suffering being endured by Hitler's victims swerves him from his purpose. Grant has a close brush with the law and a former partner before he succeeds in delivering the money to its rightful owners. The story is complicated by the fact that Grant, in order to escape the draft, poses as a 4-Fer who is dead. This point is satisfactorily cleared up. At the finale, in fact, Grant has made himself somewhat of a hero. Miss Day figures in the yarn as the member of the relief group whom Grant has to convince before he can put over his little scheme. The two, of course, fall desperately in love, despite the objections of Miss Day's grandfather. The excellent screenplay of Milton Holmes and Adrian Scott has received competent direction by H. C. Potter. CAST: Cary Grant, Laraine Day, Charles Bickford, Gladys Cooper, Alan Carney, Henry Stephenson, Paul Stewart, Kay Johnson, Walter Kingsford, Erford Gage, J. M. Kerrigan, Edward Fielding, Vladimir Sokoloff. CREDITS: Producer, David Hempstead; Director, H. C. Potter; Screenplay, Milton Holmes, Adrian Scott; Based on story by Milton Holmes; Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinikoff ; Cameraman, George Barnes; Special Effects, Vernon L. Walker; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Mark-Lee Kirk; Film Editor, Theron Warth. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. 'The Leopard Man" with Dennis O'Keefe, Margo RKO 66 Mins. TENSELY TOLD STORY OF PSYCOPATHIC KILLER STACKS UP AS A GOOD BOOKING FOR MELODRAMA FANS. Lovers of melodrama should take "The Leopard Man" very much to their hearts. The film has been well put together, its story being told with powerful suspense that is sustained effectively nearly all the way. The film breaks down at the end when it fails to give a satisfactory explanation of the reasons that drove the villain to murder. The film, told with a commendable economy of detail, has Dennis O'Keefe in the role of a press agent who has Jean Brooks, an entertainer, parade with a black leopard in order that she may be able to create a sensation in her effort to compete with Margo, star of the elaborate New Mexican nightclub in which she is playing an engagement. The leopard, scared by Miss Margo, breaks loose, killing a young girl. Two other deaths follow, both attributed to the leopard. O'Keefe, concerned over the tragic outcome of his stunt, gets suspicious. He suggests that the two killings were committed by a human being, not the leopard. The idea is scoffed at, but O'Keefe goes about proving his contention. His efforts are rewarded when he reveals the killer to be James Bell, curator of the local museum. Bell is disclosed as a psycopathic murderer. His motives aren't made too clear. This is the one big weakness in the story. The explanation given for his murderous bent is a convenient one. Margo is one of the victims of Bell. The other is Tula Parma, an attractive newcomer. The leopard's victim is Margaret Landry. Miss Brooks and O'Keefe carry the romantic burden of the story. Other players worth mentioning are Isabel Jewell, Abner Biberman, Richard Martin. Produced by Val Lewton, the film was directed by Jacques Tourneur in the proper mood. There is matching photography by Robert de Grasse. The tense screenplay of Ardel Wray is based on the Cornell Woolrich novel, "Black Alibi." The film gains much from its atmospheric treatment. CAST: Dennis O'Keefe, Margo, Jean Brooks, Isabel Jewell, James Bell, Margaret Landry, Abner Biberman, Richard Martin, Tula Parma, Ben Bard, Ariel Heath, Fely Franquelli. CREDITS: Producer, Val Lewton; Director, Jacques Tourneur; Screenplay, Ardel Wray; Based on novel by Cornell Woolrich; Additional Dialogue, Edward Dein; Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinikoff; Cameraman, Robert de Grasse; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller; Film Editor, Mark Robson. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Pioneer K. C. Exhib. Dead Kansas City, Mo. — Orlando P. Rose, 82, who owned the first motion picture theater in this city, died of a heart attack. Rose opened the old Lyric in the north end at 7th and Main in 1907. Rose later placed films in the old Electric theater. "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case" with Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson, Donna Reed M-G-M 89 Mins. LATEST OF SERIES HAS LOT OF HUMAN INTEREST STUFF THAT HAS NO BEARING ON PLOT; SHOULD DO FAIR BUSINESS. "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case," not exactly the best of the series, will appeal to audiences primarily because of the generous amount of human interest stuff it contains. Most of it, however, has no direct bearing on the main premise. And therein lies the fault of the film. The story wanders off in every direction, with the plot lost sight of in the confusion of ideas. The extraneous material in no way advances the plot. Application of the scalpel would help the production, although it must be admitted that the excess footage, most of which bears on the work of the medical profession in alleviating human suffering, is certain to be found interesting by the average fan. The film continues the friendly feud between Dr. Gillespie's new assistants (Van Johnson and Keye Luke). It is this competition between the two men that provides most of the film's lighter moments. For the rest the film is an expounding of medical knowledge that makes the going a bit heavy and not always pleasant. The criminal case referred to in the title is that of the chap who in "Calling Dr. Gillespie" was driven to murder every time he heard a whistle. In the latest of the series the victim of dementia praecox (John Craven) is in jail. Dr. Gillespie tries to convince the authorities that the fellow ought to be in an institution because he is a mental case. Before the doctor can accomplish his mission Craven breaks out of jail, threatens Gillespie and a number of others and finally is killed by the coppers. Barrymore plays Dr. Gillespie in his usual crusty fashion. Donna Reed repeats the role she had in "Calling Dr. Gillespie," that of the killer's fiancee who broke with him at the end. Johnson and Luke continue as the new assistants successfully. Among the other players are Nat Pendleton, Alma Kruger, William Lundigan, Margaret O'Brien, Walter Kingsford. Willis Goldbeck directed from a screenplay by Martin Berkeley, Harry Ruskin and Lawrence P. Bachmann. Mention also should be made of the camera work of Norbert Brodine. CAST: Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson, Donna Reed, Keye Luke, John Craven, Nat Pendleton, Alma Kruger, William Lundigan, Margaret O'Brien, Walter Kingsford, Marilyn Maxwell, Michael Duane, Henry O'Neill, Marie Blake, Frances Rafferty. CREDITS: Director, Willis Goldbeck; Screenplay, Martin Berkeley, Harry Ruskin, Lawrence P. Bachmann; Based on characters created by Max Brand; Cameraman, Norbert Brodine; Musical Score, Daniele Amfitheatrof; Art Director, Cedric Gibbons. Film Editor, Laurie Vejar. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Kate Smith Heads Ball Com. Kate Smith has accepted the executive chairmanship of the Father Duffy Canteen Ball to be held May 29 at the Hotel Astor. "Gildersleeve's Bad Day" with Harold Peary RKO 62 Mi GREAT GILDERSLEEVE FLASHES SAI OLD ROUTINE IN A PRODUCTION TH, WILL APPEAL MOSTLY TO KIDS^#> . Harold Peary no doubt will m( \> radio followers happy with his anticsnfn newest screen vehicle. He gives them plei of the stuff they have come to expect him. That means that "Gildersleeve's E Day" is heavy with corn and Simple-Sim humor. Filmgoers to whom Peary's routi is a source of pain will find all that h; pens in the film hard to accept with ar j thing less than boredom. It must be a mitted that the mannerisms which are t trademark of Peary on the radio become bit wearisome after an hour's workout the screen. We know trouble is in the offing Gildersleeve as soon as he is picked serve on a criminal jury. As is usual in case, he does everything wrong. He is j hot water with both feet when he is si pected of accepting a bribe to vote the acquittal of a gangster and of steali money from the safe of the town judge, friend of his. He succeeds in clearing hi self after a series of comic situations. Peary repeats his mannerisms, especia that peculiar laugh of his, to the point annoyance. He is all times himself and i the character he represents. Assisting h are Jane Darwell, Nancy Gates, Char Arnt, Freddie Mercer, Russell Wade, L lian Randolph, Frank Jenks, Douglas Fo ley, Grant Withers, Alan Carney, all whom are his superior as actors. The Herman Schlom production was I rected at a fast pace by Gordon Dougl who worked from' a script by Jack Tow ley. CAST: Harold Peary, Jane Darwell, Nan Gates, Charles Arnt, Freddie Mercer, Ri sell Wade, Lillian Randolph, Frank Jen Douglas Fowley, Alan Carney, Grant Wit ers, Richard LeGrand, Dink Trout, Han Landon, Charles Cane, Ken Christy. CREDITS: Producer, Herman Schlom; I rector, Gordon Douglas; Screenplay, J a Townley; Musical Director, C. Bakaleii koff; Cameraman, Jack Mackenzie; Art t rectors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Carroll Clai Film Editor, Les Millbrook. DIRECTION, Fair PHOTOGRAPH Good. Artkino Handling "Odessa" "It Started in Odessa," a featu made here by Potemkin Produ tions, will be distributed by Artkin The picture portrays the Russiar. historic motives for their determ nation to smash Hitlerism. Tele Society Meets Thursday The American Television Socie will hold a meeting at 8:30 p.i Thursday at the Hotel Capitol. W: Baltin, producer of DuMont te shows, will be the guest speaker. 1 will speak on tele's post-war activ ties. 76 Fairs for Wisconsin Milwaukee — Seventy-six coun and district fairs have been schedul< for Wisconsin for the Summer a* Fall.