The Film Daily (1947)

W 'A DAILY Tuesday, October 1, 1946! ^ flLfn DfllLV REVIEUIS OF nEUI PICTURES ^ "Undercurrent" with Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor M-G-M 116 Mins. SET OUT THE ROPES TO HOLD THE LINES THAT WILL FORM FOR THIS SPLENDID DRAMATIC OFFERING. All the superlatives and very probably a batch of new ones will be called upon to give praise to "Undercurrent." In a season that started in a whirl of lightness and color "Undercurrent" arrives to stir profoundly and provide an emotional impact seldom encountered in the artificiality of the film medium. Katherine Hepburn has a role that lines her up for unquestioned leadership in her chosen line of endeavor and when the conclusion rolls past, the viewer will be limp, exhausted, stirred. 'Undercurrent" for exhibitor and patron is one of those all too rare events. From the outset a scheme of suspense is created in the direction of Vincente Minelli that moves and builds to quite unbearable heights and there is a fairly hair-raising scene most certainly not for the impressionable and thin-skinned. As the story is the thing and as each new role enhances a player's estimation and adds to stature of indicated potentialities so will this film set laurels f:r Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum and the supporting cast that includes Edmund Gwenn, Marjorie Main, Jayne Meadows, Clinton Sundberg and Dan Tobin. The story is a beautiful example of screen writing; intelligent, warm, inventive and given the limit in interpretation. Edward Chodorov has done handsomely and creditably by Theima Strabel's original. On the music side a Brahms piano concerto tinges, emphasizes, heightens and sets off the dramatic content and in this respect, for his taste and contribution to the whole, Herbert Stothart rates special consideration in the distribution of laudatory remarks. Miss Hepburn is a young girl swept off her feet by a rapid marriage to Taylor, a rich, renowned manufacturer, and set down amid the glamor of capital society and the country life of aristrocratic Virginia. And as marital life settles upon her she becomes aware of something not entirely right in her husband's action. His brother is relegated to chance remarks, abrupt dismissal. He speaks little of his family. There's a murder in the background of Taylor's career and a subtle hatred in his business and social life. Miss Hepburn by following instinct and emotion takes up the trail of confusion and without being aware, falls in love with Taylor's brother whom she has never wittingly seen. He's Mitchum. At length Taylor is. shown up and he attempts to kill Miss Hepburn. He fails, however, and is killed himself. Miss Hepburn, recovers and finds a new life with Mitchum. This is one of the best. CAST: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Cwenn, Marjorie Main, )ayne Meadows, Clinton Sundberg, Dan Tobin, Kjthryn Card, Leigh Whipper, Charles Trowbridge, James Westerfield, Bill McLain. CREDITS: Producer, Pandro S. Berman; Director. Vincente Minelli; Screenplay by Edward Cnodcrcv from an original story by Theima Strabel; Cameraman, Karl Freund; Film Editor, Ferris Webster; Sound, Douglas Shearer; Art Director, Ce^ric CiSbons; Set decorations, Edwin B. Willis, Jack D. Moore. D RECTION, Supert!. PHOTOCRAPHV, Excellent. "Gentleman Joe Palooka" with Leon Errol, Joe Kirkwocd, Guy Kibbee, Elyse Knox and Lionel Stander (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Monogram 70 Mins. ABLE CAST, GOOD STORY, DIRECTION AND PRODUCTION ADD TO VALUE OF SECOND OF NEW SERIES. The second Hal Chester offering, based on the well-known comic strip, has been given good production, direction and acting. It has wider appeal than the first picture of the series and does nst depend on fisticuffs alone to create interest. Leon Errol scores as the manager of Joe Kirkwood, who plays the title role, while Lionel Stander is splendid as a sports writer. Guy Kibbee is another important factor in the cast and Elyse Knox is appealing in her rcle. In addition to doing a good job of directing, Cyril Endfield wrote the screenplay. Bernard W. Burton functioned as associate producer. Kibbee sees in Kirkwood, the popular fight champion, a chance to dupe the public and federal government and pull an oilland steal. The unwitting Kirkwcod addresses various youth and other groups and gains strong support for the move to have the federal government relinquish certain land to K.bbee's state. Kibbee feels he can control the state legislature and get the oil rights to the land. However, Errol learns of the scheme and enlists the aid of Stander in exposing Kibbee and his associates. CAST: Leon Errol, Joe Kirkwood, Guy Kibbee, Elyse Knox, Lionel Stander, H. B. Warner, Stanley Prager, Warren Hymer, Richard Lane, Cliff Nazarro, Fritz Feld, Sarah Padden, Louis Jean Heydt, Freddie Steele, Tommy Harmon, Roy Atwell, Ian Wolfe, Sam McDanlel, Eddie Cribbon, Roger Daniel, Marie Blake, William Forrest, Dick Fishell, Jack Ro'per, John Indrisano. CREDITS: Producer, Hal E. Chester; Associate Producer, Bernard W. Burton; Director, Cyril Endfield; Screenplay, Cyril Endfield; Cameraman, William Sickner; Art Director, Dave Milton; Musical Director, Edward J. Kay; Editor, Ralph Dixon. DIRECTION, Good. iPHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Guehl Named Universal Pittsburgh Branch Head Pittsburgh — Francis Guehl, city saleiman for Universal, has ibeen named branch manager to succeed Pete Dana, now Universal's district manager for the Cleveland-Pittsburgh area, it was reported yesterday. Guehl has been with the company for over 22 years in the local exchange, and has held every position possible in the branch before reaching his current assignment. Stem in Indie Production West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Henry Stern, formerly Eastern district manager for PRC, is entering independent production and will make a picture to be called "Imperial Valley" based on an original .jtory by Gordon Rigby. Pix in Clinton Heights Albany — Norman Pratt, exhibitor, has opened a film theater in Firemen's Hall, Clinton Heights. "Below the Deadline" with Warren Douglas, Ramsay Ames Monogram 65 Mins. PROBLEM OF RETURNED VETERAN BECGMtS FAIR DRAMATIC STORY; DIRECTION IS EcFECTIVE. While this is not probably the ultimate treatment of the problem of the returned veteran who finds himself covered with glory but otherwise neglected in terms of re-acceptance in business and social life, it does hwwever send home its moralizing points and attempts a solution. In this case the story involves itself with a racketeer who was formerly a piloi. He returns to take up the business of his murdered brother which is a slightly illegal dice game set up in cafes and niteries. To remain in his business he requires the benign attitude of the local mayor's oj^fice and contributes to political campaign collections. In assuming the job, Warren Douglas starts out with more than the usual bang, hie doffs his uniform and immediately slugs a couple of birds who were getting out of line. Next he takes up with Miss Arnes, who handles the game in a joint. Trouble looms when an investigator brings word that the girls in the business are underage. Douglas tries to remedy this and in so doing gets more or less romantically involved with Miss Ames. His former commanding officer appears with a scheme for an airplane business. Douglas finances it but the money is optimistically diverted to land a reform mayoralty candidate in office. The rival racket interests learn this and make an attempt on Douglas' life which leads up to a moralistic and romantic climax. The telling is effective and the production hclds up. William Beaudine's direction blends the required elements neatly. CAST: Warren iDouglas, Ramsay Ames, Jan Wiley, Paul Maxey, Philip Van Zandt, John Harmon, Bruce Edwards, George Meeker, Cay Forrester, Alan Bridges. CREDITS: Producer, Lindsley Parsons; Director, William Beaudine;; Screenplay, Harvey Gates, Forrest Judd; Original story, Ivan Tors; Cameraman, Harry Neumann; Film Editor, Richard Currier; Sound, Frank McWhorter; Music, Edward J. Kay. DIRECTION, Effective, PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Republic Pix to Play 130 Theaters of FPC Toronto, Canada — Republic has closed a deal for its 1946-47 program with Famous Players Canadian operating 130 theaters in Canada. James R. Grainger, Republic executive vice-president and general tales manager, flew to Canada to sit in with A. W. Perry, president of Empire Films, Ltd., distributors of Republic product in Canada; John J. Fitzgibbons, circuit president; and Ben Geldsaler, chief film buyer. Maynor Short by Yorke Over the week-end at Fox Movietone Studios, Emerson Yorke Studio completed shooting on "A iMessage from Maynor," starring the concert soprano, Dorothy Maynor, assisted by a group of male singers from the Hall Johnson choir. Burgi Contner handled the cameras on the film which was directed by Yorke. "Outlaw of the J Plains" with Buster Crabbe, Al St. John PRC 56 Min j RELIABLE BLEND OF GAGS, A'^'^IOhi OUTDOORS And bRAWLINo FOR 'Sfj ERN FANS. ' I The western, being staple gcods in tKi screen fare market, can always be g>v^ an additional shot in the arm by the intn duction of a novel twist into the piot. Tn one has that novel twist and by virtue it should send the audience away pieasi and happy. Probably for the first time spirituals ,' becomes the prime mover of western aci tion in a boots and saddles cpus. Al "Fu: zy" St. John dabbles in the occult. He h. a crystal. Gazing into it he summons h spirit guide — a defunct Indian — or so ! believes. Actually the voices St. John hee come from a rubber tube-funnel arrangi ment rigged up by a couple of smart coi nivers who are set to do the local rancne cut of a fair sum of moola. There's a go! claim involved in the telling which is plant for the suckers. St. John desires Crabbe to share in t portending good fortune. Crabbe arrives the scene and immediately the spirit co trol goes haywire and the culprits are so getting tough. Crabbe uncovers the ru; The crooks get the dough and make for t border but are overtaken and taken, tc The money is returned. Justice triump and everyone is happy again. Crabbe riu off to further adventures. While the humor is primitive it nev« theless will find an audience which v, appreciate its ramifications. It is play to advantage by all concerned. i CAST: Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Patti 1/ Carty, Charles King, Jr., Karl Hackett, J: O'Shea, Bud Osborne, Budd Buster, Roy Bie Slim Whitaker. CREDITS: Producer, Sigmund Neufeld; Din tor, Sam Newfield; Original stoiy, E.mer Clirtc Screenplay, A. Fredric Evans; Cameraman, J; Greenhaigh; Sound, E!den Ruberg' Music, 1Zahler; Him Editor, Holbrook N. Todd. DIRECTION, Effective. PHOTOGRAPHY, Go Youngstein's Eagle-Lion Appointment Confirmed Max E. Youngstein's appointme as director of advertising and pi. licity of Eagle-Lion Films was £ nounced yesterday by A. W. Schw berg, vice-president and gene: sales manager. Youngstein recently was gene manager of Story Productions, Irj and vice-president and general ma^ ager of Richard Condon, Inc. Youn stein stants work immediately j completing advertising, public and exploitation campaigns for "I a Joke," starring Kenny Delmar. Wallis's First for 1947 West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAI, Hollywood — Hal Wallis has plat "The Life of Tchaikovski" at ^ head of his 1947 schedule and pU to make it in Technicolor with a c to be drawn from top names in i industry.