The Film Daily (1945)

Thursday, June 7, 194 -Cf ^ Reviews Of THE neui fiLins i^ t "Don Juan Quilligqn" with William Bendix, \/oan Blondell 20th-Fox ' 75 Mins. COMEDY WILL BE APPRECIATED BY THOSE WHO CRAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN SCREEN FUN. While "Don Juan Quilligan" may> q^pt make full use of its opportunities, — and that's debatable — it must be given credit for trying to present comedy entertainment that veers from the norm. Audiences fed up with the formula type of comedy diversion will find much to claim their interest in this William Le Baron production, which was directed competently by Frank Tuttle. The Arthur Kober-Frank Gabrielson screenplay, based on a Herbert Clyde Lewis story, has a good amount of delightful fun. However, it is not the sort of thing that the ordinary fan will take to enthusiastically. To be sure, the story is on the preposterous side, but that shouldn't stop the discerning person from enjoying the film. William Bendix is cast as the name character, 3 dumb but sentimental barge captain who gets hitched to two gals, Joan Blondell and Mary Treen, each of whom reminds him of something he cherished about his dead ma. The complications at times become somewhat confusing and the whole muddle is solved a bit too conveniently for our hero. The acting is good for the most part. CAST: William Bendix, Joan Blondell, Phil Silvers, Anne Revere, B. S. Pully, Mary Treen, John Russell, Veda Ann Borg, Thurston Hall, Cara Williams, Richard Caines, Hobart Cavanaugh, Rene Carson, George Macready, Helen Freeman, Charles Cane, Anthony Caruso, Eddie Acuff, Joel Friedkin. Charles Marsh, Emmett Vogan, James Flavin, John Albright, Charles D. Brown, Lee Phelps, Tom Dugan, Carey Hari'ison, Genevieve Bell, Jimmy Conlin. CREDITS: Producer, William Le Baron; Director, Frank Tuttle; Screenplay, Arthur Kober, Frank Gabrielson; Based on story by Herbert Clyde Lewis; Cameraman; Norbert Brodine; Art Directors, Lyie Wheeler, Ben Hayne; Set Decorators, Thomas Little, Frank E. Hughes; Film Editor, Norman Colbert; Special Effects, Fred Sersen; Sound, Alfred Bruzlin, Roger Heman; Musical Score, Davis Raksin; Musical Director, Emil Newman. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Disney Org. "Thinking" On Steps For Tele Pix Details relative to distribution of company product are the principal matters on the agenda of Roy Disney, executive vice-president of Walt Disney Productions, Inc., it was declared by him yesterday on his arrival here from the Coast. He plans to remain in New York for about three weeks, during which period he will hold conferences with officials at the RKO Radio home office. Asked concerning the reported plans of the Disney studio to actively enter the field of production for television film, both 35 mm. and 16 mm., as a post-war activity supplementing: its features and shorts for theatrical consumption, Disney said that he^ could not discuss the matter at this time, but conceded that currently there is exploratory "thinking" along that line. Hoskins Covering Pix Chicago — Adele Hoskins is now writing film reviews for the Chicago Daily News. 'Put oiThia Worm" iwith Eddie B.rackeit, Veronicfa Lake, Diana \ I % l-ynn v >, • ; Paramount ) ' 96 Mijns. 5SWELL MUSICAL COMEDY? ENTERTAINMENTWILL PLEASE EVERYONE; BRACKEN AT HIS BESt. I f / I :Once more Paramount scor|s solidly w»th a picture starring Eddie Bracken, for sheer unadulterated fun this musical comedy rates plenty of attention, relating a deliciously humorous story with all the trimmings required to make it a box office hit. Ingenuity and imagination have been employed in a highly diverting take-off on the bobby-sock worship of the swooner-crooners of the Frank Sinatra school. And Bracken applies all his comedic talents to make the gags come off resoundingly. The comedian is in his finest form and is ably abetted by Veronica Lake, Diana Lynn and Cass Daley in making "Out, of This World" a grand dish of entertainment for everyone, everywhere. He ifid his associates have been given some fine material to work with in the V^blter DeLeon-Arthur Phillips screenplay. They have been put through their paces by Director Hal Walker with snap and sprrit. Bracken is a telegraph messenger who suddenly finds himself catapulted to fame as a crooner. So many person's hftye<"a' financial interest in him that things get pretty badly gummed up. Largely responsible for his plight is Miss Lynn, leader of a girl-band anxious to get into radio. Everything is straightened out satisfactorily, including a romance between Bracken and Miss Lynn. The use of Bing Crosby's voice in Bracken's singing sequences adds immensely to the merriment. It is a smart twist that audiences will appreciate no end. Sam Coslow functioned excellently as producer. CAST: Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake, Diana Lynn, Cass Daley, Parkyakarkus, Donald MacBride, Florence iBates, Gary Crosby, Phillip Crosby Dennis Crosby, Lin Crosby, Don Wilson, Mabel Paige, Charles Smith, Irving Bacon, Carmen Cavallaro, Ted Fiorito, Henry King, Ray Noble, Joe Relchman, Olga San Juan, Nancy Porter, Audrey Young, Carol Deere. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Sam Coslow; Director, Hal Walker; Screenplay, Walter DeLeon, Arthur Phillips; Based on stories by Elizabeth Meehan, Sam Coslow; Musical Director, Victor Young; Cameraman, Stuart Thompson; Musical numbers staged by Sammy Lee; Art Directors, Hans Dreier, Haldanc Douglas; Editorial Supervisor, Stuart Cilmore; Sound, Gene Merritt, Joel Moss; Set Decorator, Kenneth Swartz. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Injunction Not Yet Served on Strikers West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — The Conference of Studio Union representatives announced that pickets have as yet not been served a restraining order and that mass picketing continued yesterday. Herbert K. Sorrell, CSU prexy, said the fact that an injunction was sought "definitely shows a weakness on the part of the producers association which has been claiming: that the strike is over and production is 95 per cent normal." Defers Norwolk Case ChicagiQ — Arbitrator A. Eulenberg has postponed the Norwalk Theater arbitration case to June 26. "Within These Walls'' • with ThjOmas Mitche)l, Mary Anderson, ' Edward iRyan '■ 20th-Fb3c I 71 Mifts. MODEST BUT WELLiPRODUCEb MELODRAMA CAPABLY, ACTED SHOOlD DO OKAY. A tight little melodrama — such is "Within These Walls." Capably produced by Ben Silvey, the film keeps the interest engaged pretty well throughout and moves at a fast clip under the direction of Bruce Humberstone, who has brought much excitement to some of the incident's in this tale of a warden who is faced with the task of restoring discipline in a prison seething with discontent. Thomas Mitchell carries the acting burden as the embattled warden who gives up a judgeship to tackle the job of re-establishing law and order among the prisoners. The film takes i a strong' dramatic turn "and acquires added human jinterest iwhen the yvarden'^ own boy,' (Edward Ryan!) becomes one of his crimihak charges. D^ath in an attempt^to foil aljail )jreat brihgs the lad redemption. There is the sugg^estion of a romance in which the principals are Mary Anderson, the warden's daughter, and Mark Stevens, a prisoner who has taken the rap for afipther. The ^ilm^s prospects are aided considerably by the acting. Mitchell is forceful as the warden. Others who win attention for themselves are Ryan, Stevens and Roy Roberts, the leader of the attempted jail break. CAST: Thomas Mitchell, Mary Anderson, Edward Ryan, Mark Stevens. B. S. Pully, Roy Roberts, John Russell, Norman Lloyd, Edward Kelly, Harry Shannon, Re)(, Williams, Ralph Dunn, Dick Rush, William Halligan, Freddie Graham, Joseph Bernard, Jack Daley, Louis Bacigalupl, Otto Reichow, Charles Wagenheim, Frank Scanned, Lennie Bremen, Steve Olsen, Harry Strang, Bob Perry, Paul Newlan, James Flavin, Eddie Hart, Dick Rich, Max Wagner. CREDITS: Producer, Ben Silvey; Director, Bruce Humberstone; Screenplay, Eugene Ling, Wanda Tuchock; Based on story by Coles Trapnell, James B. Fisher; Cameramen, Glen MacWIIIiams, Clyde De Vinna; Art Directors, LyIe Wheeler, Richard Irvine; Set Decorators, Thomas Little, Ernest Lansing; Special Effects, Fred Sersen; Sound, George Leverett, Harry M. Leonard; Musical Score, David Buttolph; Musical Director, Emil Newman. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Wonder Man" To Get Typical B'way Opening First of the new pix to enjoy the benefits of a typical Broadway opening since the lifting: of the brownout will be Sam Goldwyn's "Wonder Man," which premieres at the Astor tomorrow. A special marquee has been built with neon outlines and channel letters and there will be 60,000 watts flooding the facade of the Astor with light. Eddie Cantor, RKO Radio starproducer, will head a delegation of top comedians who will pay tribute to Danny Kaye, who star's in the pic. Bruce Humberstone, director of "Wonder Man," in New York for the opening, will have in his party Mrs. Sam Wood, Commander and Mrs. Phil Berg (latter Leila Hyams, former star). Colonel and Mrs. Paul Zuckerman, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kreindler and his father, Frank B. Humberstone. "glonde Ransom' : with Donald Cook, Virginia Grey Universal \ 68 M 'this oWe offers light DIVERSI GEARED to THE TASTES OF FAM AUDIENCES. . Light entertainment garnished with mi is dealth out by "Blonde Ransom," a feath weight production that has its moments the family patronage. The picture, wh romantically pairs Donald Cook and V ginia Grey in the top roles, has the ben< of breery direction by William Beaudine t throws life into the proceedings. Sev£ production numbers have been worked ii the film to bolster its entertainment valu The story, not overly intelligent, has Coi owner of a bistro, matching wits with group of racketeers headed by Jerome Co an. Cook places himself at the mercy the villains when he loses $63,000 to th at cards in a desperate attempt to obt funds to meet the demands of credito He is given a week to pay up or turn oi his night club to the racketeers. Miss Gn heiress to George Barbier's fortune, com to the rescue in a manner that makes for certain measure of excitement for t easily excited. Gene Lewis has given the film a betl production than the story warranted. The performances are par for a film , this type. A fair share of the come burden is borne by Pinky Lee and Collet Lyons, a pair of scatterbrained sweethear CAST: Donald Cook, Virginia Grey, Pinky Li Collette Lyons, George Barbier, Jerome Cow; George Meeker, Ian Wolfe, Joe Kirk, Charl Delaney, Frank Reicher, Bill Davidson, Chest Clute, Janina Frostova. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Gene lew Director, William Beaudine; Screenplay, Coates Webster; Based on story by Robert Shannon; Cameraman, Maury Gertsman; Music Director, Frank Skinner; Art Directors, Jo B. Goodman, Abraham Grossman; Sound [ rector, Bernard B. Brown; Set Decorators, Russi A. Gausman, A. J. Gilmore; Film Editor, Pa Landres; Dance Director, Louis Da Pron. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Loew's Dividends Seen Hitting New Yearly High (Continued from Page 1) tors declared a quarterly 3714 -can bonus on the common stock. Becaus of the recent three-for-one split-u of the common, the dividend corre sponds to a $1.12 1/2 dividend on th old stock, which in effect places th old stock on a basis of $4.50 for th year, which ends Aug. 31. For the same quarter last yeai the board voted a 50-cent regula: and 50-cent extra dividend. Divi dends on the common last yea equaled $4 a share. According to Wall St. estimatei Loew's earnings for the fiscal yea: will approximate $3 a share on thi new stock. Kerske Here from Far East Arno F. Kerske, USN, who wa RKO Radio manager for China, has arrived in New York for his first visit to the home office. Kerske, who is on convalescent leave, was a prisoner of the Japs for almost three years. He has been in the Far East since 1922.