The Film Daily (1947)

m DAijy Tuesday, April 29, 1947 :< ( ILffl DfllLV REVIEWS Of DEUJ FEATURES -V "Welcome Stranger" with Sing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield Paramount 107 Mins. SET CONTROLS FOR SOCK BIZ WITH THIS ONE; GOOD SHOW ALL THE WAY WITH CROSBY AND FITZGERALD CLICKING SOLIDLY. Gentle humor pervades the story herein. The light touch is always to the fore. To this end laughter will ring as the plot gets humorous punctuation from situations building to that purpose in subtle, neat constructions that most creditably reflect the fine talents of Director Elliott Nugent. In box office parlance "Welcome Stranger" very probably, in the sense of the first word of the title, will be all of that for both exhibitor and patron alike. In the jaunty style of his past performances Bing Crosby crosses swords with Barry Fitzgerald and his characterization is lively, infuses charm, lightness, convincing tones of seriousness where tf(ey are necessarily indicated. The two players complement each other. As a two-man team they have grown on the audience and here again in their latest performances, they should cement that attachment still more strongly. Storywise the plot is an inventive, imaginative offering unfolding with ease and coherence. It is simple for the most part and includes in its various excursions the life of a smalltown doctor, romance, music, wit, characters and the able singing of Crosby. It is cleverly broken up so that bits of story are introduced but never intrude. They polish the production and it finally evolves very easy to take and enjoy. Starting in Boston, the scenario takes up with Crosby and Fitzgerald almost at once. Fitzgerald has been doctor to a small Maine town for 30 years and he engages, sight unseen, a substitute medico, so he can get off to a long contemplated vacation. Unknown to each other aboard a train, the pair get into each other's hair in light style. On arrival they meet up and immediately Fitzgerald does not want any part of Crosby around. A deal is a deal, however, and Crosby is determined to stick it out no matter what the attitude of the doctor or the small town folk. Crosby is a good doctor, however, and his application is rewarded. Fitzgerald has an attack of appendicitis; Crosby operates skillfully. His assistant in the emergency is Joan Caulfield. First thing you know Crosby has set his cap for her and Fitzgerald recognizes the Crosby medical and romantic talents. He connives behind the scenes to bring the two together. From about that point on the plot boils and bubbles merrily for the most part. Crosby is accepted generally and the element that would dismiss him is foiled by its own foolishness. Lastly Crosby is triumphing over the opposition and headed for romantic fulfillment with Miss Caulfield. CAST: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield, Wanda Hendrix, Frank Faylen, Elizabeth Patterson, Robert Shayne, Larry Young, Percy Kilbride, Charles Dingle, Don Beddoe. CREDITS: Producer, Sol C. Siegel; Director, Elliott Nugent; Screenplay, Arthur Sheekman; Adaptation, Arthur Sheekman, N. Richard Nash; Story, Frank Butler; Photography, Lionel Lindon; Art Direction, Hans Dreier, Franz Bachelin; Set Decorations, Sam Comer, John McNeil; Songs, Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen; Music Score, Robert Emmett Dolan; Film Editor, Everett Douglas; Sound, Stanley Cooley, Joel Moss. DIRECTION, First Rate. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. SHORTS "Thrills of Music" (No. 6— Series 1) Columbia 9^2 Mins. Should Please Buddy Morrow, his trombone and orch. go through their musical paces and come up with "You Go To My Head," sung by Gloria King; "Not In Front of All These People," which features the jitterbugging of Ronnie and Rey, and a sweet version of Brahm's "Lullaby." Should please swing fans. "Wild Turkey" RKO 8 Mins. Appeals to Sportsmen Coveted trophy of hunters, the wild turkey, is herein spotlighted. The Woodmont Rod and Gun Club of Hancock, Maryland, provides the background for two in quest of the bird; Henry P. Bridges and Eltinge Warner. Outdoor settings and love of hunting give this appeal for sportsmen. "Community Sing" CNo. 6— Series 11) Columbia 10 Mins. Good Tunes Don Baker and the Song Spinners lead the audience through such tunes as "Ole Buttermilk Sky," "The Things We Did Last Summer," "The Whiffenpoof Song," "Rickety Rickshaw Man," and "My Little Grass Shack in Kealalehua." Good tunes and variation should make it sell. "Vaudeville Revue" Warners 10 Mins. 'The Good Old Days' The music, songs and dances of an era when "variety shows" or vaudeville were the rage, are brought back in this short. A. different kind of theater than what we know today, it should hold nostalgia for some and fulfil] the curiosity of others. "Clown of the Jungle" RKO 6 Mins. Hits Comedy Jackpot Donald Duck is discovered in a South American jungle on a "Bird Lover's Photographic Expedition." He is interrupted in his work by an Aracuan bird, known as the clown of the jungle, who frustrates his every attempt at photography. Paced fast and furiously, it should certainly hit the comedy jackpot. "Community Sing" (No. 7— Series 11) Columbia 9 Mins. Rates High The Song Spinners lend vocal assistance to Dick Liebert and his organ as they sing "Open the Door Richard," "The Coffee Song," "There is No Breeze," "The Best Man" and "My Adobe Hacienda." Top tunes should put this one high. "The Jungle Gangster" (Answer Man — No. 3) Universal 9 Mins. Very Good The Answer Man illustrates five questions and answers in an interesting and entertaining way. Typical of the questions is: What was the first movie ever called colossal ? Certain to draw audience interest. "Forgotten Island" RKO 18 Mins. Very Good An American problem, Porto Rico is about half the size of Massachusetts, yet has a population of two million that must find sustenance from her. Employment is meagre and slums are plentiful, but slowly the U. S. is trying to help her into a position where she will be self-sufficient and economically sound. A factual analysis of the problem, it is educational, interesting and a credit to the This Is America series. "Screen Snapshots" (Number 7 — Series 26) Columbia 10 Mins. Pleasant, Interesting Las Vegas, Nevada, is spotlighted in this camera tour of the West's favorite party town. Brian Aherne, Belita, Cathy Carter, Ginny Simms and Joan Edwards are a few of the Hollywood personalities on hand to enjoy the scenery and clime, of, among other things, Boulder Dam. Pleasant and interesting. "Harness Racing" Warners 10 Mins. Racing Thrills Tracing the career of the "standardbred" horse from his vigorous hours of training to the big day of the race is only one feature of this look into harness racing. Highlight of the film is the Western Harness Racing Association's grand circuit meet at Santa Anita. A Technicolor action short to thrill racing fans. "Red Fury" (Answer Man — No. 4) Universal 8 Mins. Has Audience Interest Fourth in the Answer Man series, this footage illustrates five questions and answers which should hypo a typical audience. Questions such as: Was the San Francisco fire the greatest fire we ever had ?, etc., are certain to draw audience interest. "Fright Night" Columbia 17 Mins. For the Stooge Fans The Three Stooges are fight managers in this one. They are warned by Big Mike, a gangster, to throw the fight or take the consequences. They overfeed their boy hoping to weaken his chances. His opponent breaks his hand just before the big fight and they figure they are saved. Big Mike has other ideas, and chases them around a warehouse for about a reel trying to put them across. Stooge fans will like it. "A Boy and His Dog" Warners 20 Mins. Rich Humor Interest Winner of the 1946 Academy Award two-reel division, this Technicolor footage has human interest galore. A country boy finds a dog chained and bleeding on the pr £rty I of a neighbor. He unchains 'liog | but tells his mother he doesn't Know where it came from when the dog follows him home. The neighbor summons him to court but the decision is in favor of the boy. Playing on the heartstrings, it should go over especially well with kids. "Scooper Dooper" Columbia 18 Mins. Good For Laughs Sterling Holloway, a hick newshawk, comes to town thinking he has a job on a metropolitan daily, but finds he is the brunt of a practical joke. The same jokester sends him on a false lead, but the tables are turned when Holloway turns in the scoop of the year. Should prove good for laughs, especially with Holloway fans. "Birth of a Notion" Warners 7 Mins. Gags and Mirth Daffy Duck decides to forfeit his usual Southern vacation and stay North for the Winter. Taking refuge in the warm home of a scientist, things get too hot for him when the doc turns out to be a Peter Lorre character with designs on Daffy for experiments. Full of gags and mirth. "Flicker Flashbacks" (No. 6) RKO 9 Mins. Sure Laugh-Getter This episode of F.F. dusts off a few sequences of two pix made back when acting was pure drah-ma. First part has to do with some thieves who are interrupted by a couple of athletic policemen and a bevy of bloodhounds. Last sequence is taken from an oldie titled "The Violinist," a tender love story taking place all over Venice. A sure laugh-getter on any program. "Out West" Columbia 17'/i Mins. Three Stooges Click The Three Stooges score pretty well in this satire of western films. The boys are told to go West. Once they get there they experience most of the troubles that usually befall our best cowboys, with the U. S. Cavalry arriving to save the day. Quite a few laughs make this one of their best efforts in years. "Smoked Hams" Universal 7 Mins. Good For Laughs Woody Woodpecker and Wally Walrus are night and day sleepers respectively. Each interferes with the other till their feud grows into gigantic proportions and anything goes. Most anything is tried, providing some groans and quite a few laughs.