The Film Daily (1940)

CtHlOULY Tuesday, September 3, 194 :< ik REVIEWS OF TH6 IKUJ FILfllS :< t, "The Howards of Virginia" with Cary Grant, Martha Scott Columbia 122 Mins. STRONG HISTORICAL EPIC OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY ERA; B. 0. ASSET FOR ALL SITUATIONS. From the outset, Columbia planned this Frank Lloyd-produced-and-directed epic as one of the company's big gun attractions of the 1940-41 season. That it measures up fully to expectations is a matter of threefold importance, — namely, to its makers, to theaters, and to the public. It is a handsomely mounted vehicle recounting a stirring story adapted to the screen from Elizabeth Page's best-seller novel, "The Tree of Liberty." Its appeal to fans is strong and sure, because of the fine love story, the smooth acting and direction, and the patriotic inspiration it evokes via the historical events related, — those which surrounded the birth of the American republic. Film houses great and small will find the picture a credit to their screens and an asset to their box offices. Cary Grant enacts the central role of Matt Howard, tough-fibred Virginia farmer and patriot, whose blustering and unpolished manners earn him the contempt of the Tory Family Peyton whose attractive feminine scion, the role allotted to the capable Martha Scott, is moved to wed him both because of her love for him, and the hope that she could redeem him from his untutored ways. Much of the film's footage deals with their rearing of a home and family, but the latter half of the story is concerned with his role as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses before its dissolution by the British Crown, and his activtiies as a member of the ragged Continental Army which finally triumphed at Yorktown. The flame of patriotism burns brightly in many sequences. There is the rise of Thomas Jefferson, splendidly played by Richard Carlson, to power; the immortal speeches of Patrick Henry; fleeting but adequate glimpses of the Boston Tea Party; the ride of Paul Revere; and the suffering at Valley Forge. Authenticity and efficacy of the settings arise from the filming of many sequences in the recently restored Williamsburg, Va., — a project upon which the Rockefeller family spent some $20,000,000. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Alan Marshal, Paul Kelly, and Irving Bacon are among the principal supporting players who, in common with the rest of the cast, turn in capable performances. The juvenile players both in the prologue and story-proper are likewise effective. "The Howards of Virginia" appears destined to rank well up among the better pictures of the new season. CAST: Cary Grant, Martha Scott, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Alan Marshal, Richard Carlson, Paul Kelly, Irving Bacon, Elizabeth Risdon, Ann Revere, Richard Alden, Phil Taylor, Rita Quigley, Libby Taylor, Richard Gaines, George Houston, Ralph Byrd, Dickie Jones, Buster Phelps, Wade Boteler, Mary Field, R. Wells Gordon, Charles Francis. CREDITS: Producer and Director, Frank Lloyd; Author, Elizabeth Page; Screenplay, Sidney Buchman; Music and Score by Richard Hageman; Photography, Bert Glennon; Art Direction, John Goodman; Interior Decorations, Howard Bristol; Assistant Direc "Stranger On The Third Floor" with Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet RKO 64 Mins. UNUSUAL MYSTERY MELLER IS SUSPENSEFUL THROUGHOUT; O.K. AS GENERAL OFFERING. Revolving around an unusual theme, this murder mystery meller should hold the attention of audiences from beginning to end. It is suspenseful throughout, and it has been competently played by an able cast. With the exception of Peter Lorre, whose part is relatively minor, there are no big names to capitalize on, but exhibs. still should be able to find plenty of exploitable material. John McGuire capably essays the lead role and Margaret Tallichet neatly fills the top femme role opposite him. A fine bit is contributed by Elisha Cook Jr., and Charles Waldron, Charles Halton and other able character players give good support. Lorre is good as an escaped lunatic. Boris Ingster directed, holding his players in line and keeping the outcome of the story cloaked in suspense. Frank Partos gets credit for the unusual story and screenplay. McGuire, a reporter, helps to convict Cook of a murder by his evidence, although he only saw Cook at the scene of the crime and did not see it committed. Later, he begins to doubt that Cook is guilty, and suddenly finds himself in the same sort of a jam when his next door neighbor is murdered. Miss Tallichet finally discovers the real murderer, Lorre, an escaped lunatic, but not without a terrific buildup in suspense until the climax. CAST: Pete Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet, Charles Waldron, Elisha Cook, Jr., Charles Halton, Ethel Griffies, Cliff Clark, Oscar O'Shea, Alec Craig, Otto Hoffman. CREDITS: Producer, Lee Marcus; Director, Boris Ingster; Story and Screenplay, Frank Partos; Cameraman, Nicholas Musuraca; Editor, Harry Marker. DIRECTION, Suspenseful. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Republic Borrows Hubbard West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Republic has borrowed John Hubbard from Hal Roach for the lead in "Who Killed Aunt Maggie?", an original by Medora Field, film critic of the Atlanta Journal. Wendy Barrie, Elizabeth Patterson, Edgar Kennedy, Walter Abel, Willie Best and Victor Killian are in the cast. Production starts on Thursday. Chi. Operator Pact Delayed Chicago — Chicago operators will continue working under the old contracts expiring Sept. 1, renewal meetings having been postponed until later this week. tor, William Tummel; Editor, Paul Weatherwax; Montage, Slavko Vorkapich; Sound Recording, W. H. Wilmarth; Technical Adviser, Waldo Twitchell; Associate Producer, Jack Skirball. DIRECTION, Skillful. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fair. "Colorado with Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Pauline Moore Republic 57 Mins. ACTION AND ABLE PERFORMANCES BY A COMPETENT CAST PUT THIS WESTERN OVER. The Roy Rogers fans should be well pleased with this release. It has a Civil War background, Indians, Secessionists, spies, gun runners and crooked politicians for Rogers to cope with. The outdoor locations are on the plus side and the action is well paced. Story holds together nicely and is plausible. Rogers is supported by George "Gabby" Hayes, Pauline Moore, Maude Eburne, Milburn Stone and Arthur Loft, latter two providing the villainy. Joseph Kane gets credit as the producer-director. Rogers, a lieutenant in the U. S. Army Intelligence, is sent to Colorado to ferret out the reason for Indian uprisings and increased outlawry which are tying up troops needed by General Grant. He meets Pauline Moore on the stage, and also meets his black sheep brother. Stone, who attempts to hold up the stage. Stone is confronted by Rogers and admits he tried the holdup, but he is engaged to Miss Moore and Rogers doesn't want to disclose the fact that he is helping the Southern cause. However, evidence uncovered by Rogers forces Stone to flee from the army post. He and Loft are finally disposed of and Rogers cleans up the whole situation, in addition to winning Miss Moore. CAST: Roy Rogers, Pauline Moore, George "Gabby" Hayes, Arthur Loft, Milburn Stone, Maude Eburne, Hal Taliaferro, Vester Pegg, Fred Burns, Lloyd lngraham. CREDITS: Associate Producer and Director, Joseph Kane; Screenplay, Louis Stevens and Harrison Jacobs; Cameraman, Jack Marta; Editor, Edward Mann. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. First of Six Trovelcade Shorts Now Completed Walter Bibo, head of Atlas Film Exchange, Inc., announces the completion of the English and Spanish version of the first six single reel color travelogues called "Travelcade." The six completed are "Siam," "Holland," "Norway," "Maay," "Celebes-Komodo," and "Borneo-Flores-Bali" and are printed in Magnacolor. Variety Films Acquires Mohawk Foreign Rights Mohawk Film Corp. reports the (dosing of a deal with Amerigo Benefico, Variety Film Distributors, New York City, to distribute all of the former product of Grand National Pictures, Atlantic Pictures and Educational Films throughout the world, excluding the United States of America, its possessions and the Dominion of Canada. "Doomed To Die" with Boris Karloff Monogram 67 Min KARLOFF AS MR. WONG IN A JUS FAIR MURDER MYSTERY. This is a rather unpretentious whodun and not up to the standard of previous M Wong films. Fault lies in the uninsi performances of most of the cast, pll lack of any real suspense or comedy. The players seem to just go through th motions except Karloff who does a goo enough job in a weak part. Story tel how Mr. Wong is called in to solve th murder of a shipowner after the son c the dead man's rival has been accused. Cir cumstances point to the boy's guilt but M Wong is able to run down the real criminal: Grant Withers is the usual dumb detectiv and Marjorie Reynolds the newspaper gi always in the way. CAST: Boris Karloff, Grant Withers, Mar jorie Reynolds, Melvin Lang, Guy Ushe Catherine Craig, William Sterling. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Paul Mai vern; Director, William Nigh; Author, Hug Wiley; Adaptation. Michel Jacoby; Screen play, Ralph G. Bettinson; Cameraman, Han Neumann; Sound, Karl Zint; Film Edito Robert Golden. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHS Good. nCUIS OF THE DAY Warren, O. — With Stuart Cagne; operating the new Drive-in nea here, Spence Pierce succeeds Cag ney as manager of the Imperial, a Associated house. Pierce came o from Oklahoma City where he mar aged the Midwest. Prior to that h was in charge of the Warner th€ ater in Memphis, Tenn. Cresson, Pa. — The newly cor structed Rivoli Theater in Sout Fork, Pa., which is the latest lin in the chain of theaters operated b Ray Allison in Altoona, Johns town and nearby towns, will hav its formal opening on Labor Daj to which the trade has been invitee Minneapolis — The Twin City Vai iety Club will hold its second gol tournament of the current seaso tomorrow, at Breezy Point Lodge i Pequot, Minn. The winner of thi tourney will represent this sectio at the National Variety Club Gol Tournament to be held at Atlanti City on April 18, 1941. Gilber Nathanson and Bill Elson of Min neapolis are in charge. Detroit— Detroit Variety Club wi hold its annual golf tournament oi Monday, September 16, at Tar O'Shanter Club at $5 per head Event is under the chairmanship o John Howard, branch manager o Paramount, and national Variet; golf champion.