The Film Daily (1942)

j| Thursday, September 3, 1942 0*\ DAILY 19 .V .V R€VI€UIS Of TH€ R€UJ flUIS ft .V "One of Our Aircraft Is Missing" with Hugh Williams, Eric Portman, Godfrey Tearle UA 90 Mins. USPENSE-LADEN AND WELL-ACTED DUCTION MAKES WORTHY ADDIION TO LIST OF WAR FILMS. In "One of Our Aircraft Is Missing," a 'British production, Sir Alexander" Korda has added another worthy film to the long list of war pictures. The film, produced with the co-operation of RAF, the British Air Ministry and the Royal Netherlands Government, has an authentic look about it and the story has been well told and superbly photographed against vivid and effective backgrounds. Thrilling action, most of it in the air, and cleverly-sustained suspense hold the attention throughout the length of the film. The story is unfolded in a subdued tone that only serves to heighten the tension. The production again brings before the American public the name of Michael Powell, who had so much to do with the stunning success of "The Invaders." While "One of Our Aircraft Is Missing," on which he served as producer and co-author as well as director, is hardly the masterpiece that "The Invaders" was, it has many of the touches that distinguished the latter picture. Like "The Invaders," the Korda film also has to do with a manhunt, only in this instance it is a group of RAF fliers instead of Nazis who are the hunted. The fliers are downed in Holland after a bombing raid. The story details their escape Sback to England with the aid of Dutch patriots — an escape fraught with terrifying danger to themselves and their rescuers. The acting is first-rate for the most part. The RAF men are enacted by Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, Hugh Williams, Bernard Miles, Hugh Burden, Emrys Jones. Pamela Brown and Googie Withers do fine work as a pair of Dutchwomen who engineer the men's escape. At no time does either of them serve a romantic purpose. In fact romance is wholly absent from the film. Powell's direction is simple and direct. In "One of Our Aircraft Is Missing" he revealed again his understanding of the value of restraint in achieving forcefulness. His collaborator on the screenplay was Emeric Pressburger. The excellent photogaphy is credited to Roland Neame. CAST: Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, Hugh Williams, Bernard Miles, Hugh Burden, Emrys Jones, Pamela Brown, Joyce Redman, Googie Withers, Hay Petrie, Selma Vaz Dias, Arnold Marie, Robert Helpmann, Peter Ustinov, Alec Clunes, Hector Abbas, James Carson, Bill Akkerman, Joan Akkerman, Valerie Moon, Peter Schenke, Roland Culver, Stewart Rome, David Evans, John Salew, William D'Arcy, David Ward, Robert Duncan. CREDITS: Producer, Michael Powell; Associate Producer, Stanley Haynes; Director, Michael Powell; Screenplay, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger; Cameraman, Roland Neame; Film Editor, David Lean; Art Director, David Rawnsley. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. 'Wildcat' with Richard Arlen, Arline Judge Paramount 73 Mins. RED-BLOODED OPUS WHICH WILL SATISFY THE ADVENTURE FANS, BUT IS SHY ON QUALITY FOR IMPORTANT SITUATIONS. Following the pattern of predecessor pix of its type, "Wildcat" is no candidate for originality. Its principal virtue lies in its action, which is red-blooded, boisterous, and of the type exemplified in the dear, dead, silent days by the Farnum brothers. There is not much of a story beyond the fact that Richard Arlen brings in a well, notwithstanding a nip and tuck race with an adjoining wildcatter, and devious disappointments and tragedies, among them the accidental death of his partner-pal, Elisha Cook, Jr., and the discovery that the gal he loves is not the latter's sister but a henchwoman of a cheap gambler. Arline Judge is the aforementioned scheming lady who undergoes a change of heart from swindling her quarry to a degree of affection which prompts her to risk death to save her man, Arlen, from the burning oil well. Characterizations are generally solid; Frank McDonald's direction okay; and the story straight-forward and sincere, but there is an atmosphere about "Wildcat" which smacks of an indie offering made with an eye to serve the not-too-discriminating nabe. Perhaps this impression springs from the fidelity with which the offering is made, or, to put it another way, from the absence of those dramatic qualities and production values which lift life from the plane of absolute reality to one of color and interest. The picture may not be of big key calibre, but it will appeal strongly to the adventure fans and devotees of the brawny, outof-doors yarns. The highlight is the filming of the flaming well. There are some lively fisticuffs and occasional thrills. But "Wildcat" is considerably tamer than a facet of its title implies. CAST: Richard Arlen, Arline Judge, William Frawley, Buster Crabbe, Arthur Hunnicutt, Elisha Cook, Jr., Ralph Sanford, Alec Craig, John Dilson, Ed Keane, Will Wright, Jessie Newcombe, Billy Benedict, Billy Nelson, Tom Kennedy, Fred Sherman, John Fisher, William Hall. CREDITS: Producers, William H. Pine, William C. Thomas; Director, Frank McDonald; Screenplay, Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy; Film Editor, William Ziegler; Art Director, F. Paul Sylos; Cameraman, Fred Jackman, Jr. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fair. First Femme Manager Appointed in Seattle Seattle — John Danz, president of Sterling Theaters, has announced the appointment of Lillian Saxe, as manager of the circuit's nabe, Granada. Miss Saxe thus becomes the first femme manager in the Pacific Northwest. She has been doing executive work in a local business office. In taking over, she relieves Ray Coach, who has been managing both the Admiral and Granada since Warren Butler was called into the service last month. "City of Silent Men" with Frank Albertson, June Lang, Jan Wiley (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Producers Releasing Corp. 64 Mins. MELODRAMA WITH SUSPENSE AND "DIFFERENT" TWISTS SHOULD PLEASE. Here is a good little program picture, with suspense and "different" twists. It has been well directed by William Nigh and given adequate production by Dixon R. Harwin. Frank Albertson, June Lang and Jan Wiley top the cast and do good work. Emmett Lynn is a standout in a supporting role, while William Gould, Dick Curtis, Frank Ferguson, Richard Clarke, Richard Bailey and Jack Baxley are among the capable principals. William Gould, mayor of Landale, believes in trying to rehabilitate ex-convicts, and turns over a cannery to Frank Albertson and Emmett Lynn. Dick Curtis believes Albertson is making a play for his daughter, Jan Wiley, although Frank has told the girl he cannot love her. Curtis has treated his daughter brutally and when she learns Albertson is not in love with her, she starts to leave home. Curtis knocks her down and kills her. He tries to pin the murder on Albertson, but Albertson and his friends force Curtis to confess the crime. CAST: Frank Albertson, June Lang, Jan Wiley, Richard Clarke, William Gould, Emmett Lynn, Dick Curtis, Barton Hepburn, Frank Jacquet, Frank Ferguson, Richard Bailey, Jack Baxley, William Kellogg, Charles Jordan, Pat Gleason. CREDITS: Producer, Dixon R. Harwin; Associate Producer, Bartlett Carre; Director, William Nigh; Authors, Robert E. Kent and Joseph Hoffman; Screenplay, Joseph Hoffman; Cameraman, Gilbert Warrenton; Editor, Carl Pierson; Musical Score by Leo Erdody; Musical Director, David Chudnow. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Four-Point Fall Program For Mich. Variety Club Detroit — Michigan Variety Club ie resuming Fall activity with this four-point program tailored to wartime needs by John McPherson, new Chief Barker. 1. Weekly Sunday Canteen Night, at which the Tent will be host to 20 servicemen, providing an equal number of hostesses. 2. Organization of a Women's Activity Committee headed by David Newman, counsel for Co-Operative Theaters, to co-ordinate the distaff side of the Club's wartime activities. 3. Resumption of regular noonday luncheons, interrupted for the past two years, to allow frequent chancer for informal discussion of wartimf problems. First will be next Tuesday, with Joe E. Brown as guest of honor. 4. Plans for a group donation by members of blood to the Red Cross plasma bank. SHORTS * "Shock Troops For Defense" ("America Calling" Series) Brandon Films 12 mins. Aid To War Effort Technically supervised by New York City's Fire Dept., this reel drives home to film theater audiences the urgent need for volunteers to serve as auxiliary fire fighters during the current war, and shows the public the type of training which is given to achieve safety and protection in the event of air raids, sabotage, and other contingencies. Fundamentally it is a recruiting film; is highly interesting; and will help the Civilian Defense Program whereever shown, — which should be in the maximum number of the nation's theaters. Like its sister reels in this series, it was produced by Thomas J. Brandon; directed and photographed by Leo Seltzer; and narrated by Gregory Abbott of Paramount News. "The Early Bird Dood It" M-G-M 9 mins. Good Gags A very funny Technicolor cartoon, drawing most of its laughs from off-stage remarks and gags, will tickle audiences. Involving the worm, the early bird and the cat, the action is fast and comical as the three try to outwit each other. Tex Avery directed. "Western Whoopee" Universal 7 mins. Better Than Average In the Boulder Dam country, a great transformation has taken place as the result of harnessing the waters of the Colo: ado River. These changes a: e shown via the present subject, produced by Joseph O'Brien and Tom Mead. Turning of the Nevada deseits into fertile gardens, and making the entire section above and below the dam a fine vacation and scenic land, along with natural wonders, are highspots. Las Vegas life is depicted, as well as the beauty of Fire Valley. This is a much better than average travel-scenic reel. "Blitz Wolf" M-G-M 10 mins. Modernized Three Pigs An up-to-date version of the Three Little Pigs with a caricature of Hitler as the wolf has a number of amusing gags and a plug for War Bond and Stamp purchases. This new Technicolor cartoon version has two of the pigs lulled by a non-aggression pact with the Hitler-wolf but the third porker is skeptical so he makes a fortress of his house The blitz, headed by a mechanical huffer and puffer, destroys the straw and wood houses but the three pigs retire to the fortress and throw back the enemy legions. Kid audiences will go for it.