The Film Daily (1944)

iVednesday, June 7, 1944 IHEI DAILY teels Carrying Footage -rom Gen. Eisenhower (ConHnued frzm Page 1) possible, today. Laboratories worked all night and will continue grindng out prints today to service the Nation's screens. Footage previously supplied by ':he Government with instructions to lold for invasion day were elimilated from the newsreels last night in order to get the two-reel subject mto the theaters. The new two-reel subject is reported to embody the Activities of all the United Nations leading up to D-Day. Plans Worked Out No word had been received here as to picture coverage of yesterday's fighting by a late hour yesterday. The plans worked out in advance, however, called for inclusion of cameramen among the first units hitting the French coast, and for immediate shipment of their exposed footage to London. Arrangements tiave also been worked out for immediate development and clearance in London, with fast air shipment to this country. If everything works perfectly, it is possible that the first footage could arrive here this afternoon. With a margin for the confusion which will probably accompany many operations at first, it is still hoped that actual invasion footage will arrive here by tomorrow night. The specials set up yesterday by the reels included coverage of practice embarkations and troop [landings, strafings of trains and troop concentrations by Allied planes and other scenes which are being repeated in grim earnest in France. In addition, there are several scenes from the Dieppe raid of two years ago — actual invasion scenes not previously shown. Courier Planes for Pix Fast courier planes are poised in England to fly over here with newsreel footage of the invasion of France which got under way early yesterday morning. Newsreel executives here have no way of knowing when the footage will arrive but they are prepared to insert it as soon as it is released by Washington. The invasion is being covered by the companies' own men, in addition to British units and those of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. Columbia Executives Return Columbia home office executives arrived in New York yesterday following a four-day Chicago sales convention. Group included Jack Cohn, A. Montague, Rube Jackter, Lou Weinberg, Louis Astor, M. J. Weisfeldt, Leo Jaffe, Maurice Grad, George Josephs, H. C. Kaufman, Vincent Borelli, William Brennan, Seth Raisler, Irving Sherman, Joseph Freiberg and Sidney Singerman. 10 Weeks For "Going My Way" -*■ "Going My Way," .stays at the New York Paramount for a total of 10 weeks. REVIEUJS OF n€UJ HLmS "Hailthe Conquering Hero" with Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines Paramount 101 Mins. STURGES RINGS THE BELL AGAIN WITH A COMEDY THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO ATTRACT BIG GROSSERS. Preston Sturges has followed up his admirable "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" with another comedy equally as fine. There is no question whatever that "Hail the Conquering Hero" places at the exhibitor's disposal a piece of screen merchandise that will be lively sought after by the public. As entertainment the production is pure delight, possessing everything that a topflight comedy should. In his new film Sturges, both as author and director, gives free course to his ironic bent, not to say his imagination. For his latest exercise in adult humor he has conceived a tale that is intelligent yet universally diverting. His hand is evident in every phase of the production, resulting in a vivid show rich with a sense of life. Plenty of originality has gone into Sturges' tale of a small-town fellow who, afraid to face his mother and the citizenry after >;is medical discharge from the Marine Corps for hay fever after but a month in the service, is prodded by a group of six Marines on leave to return home in the disguise of a war hero. The hoax works because our hero had his pals in Guadalcanal mail letters to his mother and girl friend from there while he carried on in a defense job. The phoney hero, winning an adulation he never looked for, is offered for mayor, against his wishes. His attempt to escape from the web into which he has been placed by the Marine sextet is productive of laugh after laugh. In desperation he tells the people the truth about himself, but even that doesn't cool their ardor. Their feeling is that a guy with such guts has the stuff to make an honest and courageous mayor. Sturges has squeezed superb performances from his cast. Eddie Bracken is a standout in the top role. As the instigator of the entire hoax William Demarest is terrific. Ella Raines enacts Bracken's sweetheart nicely. The musical score of Werner Heymann and the photography of John Seitz are outstanding. CAST: Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines, Bill Edwards, Raymond Walburn, William Demarest, Jimmy Dundee, Georgia Caine, Alan Bridge, James Damore, Freddie Steele, Stephen Gregory, Len Hendry, Esther Howard, Elizabeth Patterson, Jimmy Conlin, Arthur Hoyt, Harry Hayden, Franklin Pangborn, Victor Potel, Torben Meyer, Jack Norton, George Melford, Frank Moran, Chester Conklin, Merrill Rodin, Marjean Neville, Dot Farley, Julie Gibson, Miriam Franklin, Paul Porcasi. CREDITS: Director, Preston Sturges; Screenplay, Preston Sturges; Cameraman, John Seitz; Film Editor, Stuart Gilmore; Art Directors, Hans Dreier, Haldane Douglas; Sound, Wallace Nogle, Walter Oberst; Set Decorator, Stephen Seymour; Musical Score, Werner Heymann; Musical Director, Sigmund Krumgold. DIRECTION, Aces. PHOTOGRAPHY, Aces. "Christmas Holiday" with Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, Richard Whorf, Dean Harens Universal 92 Mins. STRONG ROMANTIC DRAMA WITH HIGH BOX OFFICE POTENTIALITIES FOR STANDS OF EVERY TYPE. As a jet-propelled aircraft differs from a youngster's plane model, Deanna Durbin's present power as an actress, — for in "Christmas Holiday" she is wholly adult, screen-wise and glamorous — , differs from her erstwhile histrionics when she was a youthful screen prodigy who moved in an aura of pigtails, gingham and refreshing wholesomeness. It is this difference which makes "Christmas Holiday" a salient picture of 1944. With her embarkation upon the climax years of her motion picture career is linked much profitable playing-time for exhibitors. Remember, here is a star whose rise has meant enought to the public for it to put down more than a score of millions in hard cash at box office windows, and brought most of those millions to theatermen. Consequently, the new Durbin, who comes into her own as a dramatic luminary of vast promise, deservedly has the eyes of the trade and fans upon her. In her final transition she is fortified by a potent story by W. Somerset Maugham; a masterful screenplay by Herman J. Mankiewicz; and fine direction by Robert Siodmak. But still "Christmas Holiday" is Deanna's picture. And that also of Producer Felix Jackson. The latter obviously ruled out any compromise with the past. He has courageously and effectively rocketed the star out of all contact with her juvenile roles of the yesterdays. The result is rugged, convincing entertainment suited to any screen in the land. The cast is small, but Oh, My! It has Gene Kelly in what amounts to the top role, although paradoxically he is the villain, while Dean Haren's, with a less lush part, is the hero. Maugham's story is typical of the mastery which he has always imparted to his novels, delineating characters almost ruthlessly, but ever realistically. "Christmas Holiday" is the account of an Army lieutenant (Dean Harens) who plans crossing the nation by air to spend the Yuletide in San Francisco with his sweetheart. Just before leaving his camp barracks, he receives a telegram from her stating that she has wed another. Shaken emotionally, and trying to create a logical basis in his own mind for revenge, he boards the trans-continental plane which is forced down near New Orleans. Alone in the city and restless to get on with his trip, he figures that it will help pass time if he accompanies a local newspaper reporter to a roadhouse. There he is introduced to Deanna Durbin, who is the star of the floorshow. They go to midnight mass, at the cathedral, after which she tells him that she is the wife of a convicted murderer serving a life sentence. Here the film recounts their happy and finally grim married life. There is a rousing finale as the convict husband escapes, turns up at the roadhouse and threatens to kill Deanna, believing her unfaithful. A happy ending is effected by conveying the idea that she and the young Army officer belong to each other always. "Al 15 'U' Pix Now Ready For 1944-45-S(ully (Continued from Page 1) chief, told a meeting of sales execs, and district managers at the Ambassador Hotel. Scully directed the meeting's attention to these finished pix: "Gypsy Wildcat," Technicolor production starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Peter Coe; "The Merry Monahans," and "Patrick The Great," both starring Donald O'Connor; "The Climax," Technicolor production starring Susanna Foster, Boris Karloff and Turhan Bey; "The Devil's Brood," starring Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney; "San Diego, I Love You," starring Jon llall and Louise Allbritton; "See My Lawyer," starring Olsen and Johnson; "The Pearl Of Death" and "The House Of Fear", Sherlock Holmes pix starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce; "Dead Man's Eyes," Inner Sanctum Mystery, starring Lon Chaney; "Moonlight and Cactus," Andrews Sisters pic; "Babes On Swing Street," starring Peggy Ryan and Ann Blyth; "Murder In The Blue Room," with Anne Gwynne, Grace McDonald and Donald Cook; "Reckless Age," starring Gloria Jean; "The Singing Sheriff," with Bob Crosby and ork. Productions due to be completed soon, are "Bowery To Broadway," with Maria Montez, Jack Oakie and Susanna Foster; "Be It Ever So Humble," starring Martha O'DriscoU and Noah Beery, Jr.; "Raiders Of Ghost City," Western serial, with Dennis Moore and Wanda McKay, and the first of the 1944-45 Westerns, 'Riders Of The Santa Fe" starring Rod Cameron. Scully also outlined these pix just on the stages or about to start: "Can't Help Singing," in Technicolor, starring Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige; "My Baby Loves Music," with Bob Crosby and Grace McDonald; "Queen Of The Nile," in Technicolor, starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Turhan Bey, and "The Frozen Ghost," an Inner Sanctum, starring Lon Chaney. ways, " by Irving Berlin, is the film's theme song. At no time does Deanna use her grand vocal gifts, so strictly is she made to cleave to a straight dramatic pattern. On occasion, she does some informal, incidental singing. "Christmas Holiday" and its big demands upon histrionics find Miss Durbin, et al, doing very capably. CAST: Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, Richard Whorf, Dean Harens, Gladys George, Gale Sondergaard, David Bruce. CREDITS: Author, W. Somerset Maugham; Producer, Felix Jackson; Associate Producer, Frank Shaw; Screenplay, Herman J. Mankiewicz; Director, Robert Siodmak; Cameraman, Woody Bredell; Film Editor, Ted Kent; Special Photography, John P. Fulton; Art Direction, John B. Goodman, Robert Clatworthy; Set Decorations, R. A. Gausman, E. R. Robinson; Sound Director, Bernard B. Brown; Music Score and Direction, H. J. Salter. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Aces.