The Film Daily (1944)

Monday, January 3, 1944 DAILY .V ik R€VI€UIS Of THE D6UJ flLfllS > .V 2, & "Swingtime Johnny" with Andrews Sisters Universal 60 Mins. MUSICAL COMEDY PACKED WITH POPULAR TUNES IS FIRST-RATE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ANDREWS SISTERS' FANS. Admirers of the Andrews Sisters will find wingtime Johnny" tailor-made fcr them. e g'rls give better account of themselves than in some time. Literally an army of songsmiths was engaged by the studio to provide them with material that would show them to be:t advantage. Plenty of songs in a variety cf moods have been placed at the command of the songsters. An amusing story loaded with laughs has been fashioned for the Andrews talents. The yarn is packed with trmfoolery and livel'ness. The tale may not be new, but it has been put together with showmanship and with a keen understanding of the popular taste. The fast direction of Edward F. Cline extracts every bit of fun from the story. The yarn pairs Harriet Hilliard and Peter Cookson romant'cally. Cookson is a maker of pipe rrgans who converts his plant to the manufacture of shell casings. Miss Hilliard is his secretary. Cookson is a stiff, formal fellow to whose unbending Miss Hilliard dedicates herself. Her job is made easy when the Andrews S sters and Mitch Ayres and his band go to work for Co kson. At the end Cookson has gone thoroughly human. Injected into the story is an attempt at sabotage that is neatly fciled. Warren Wilson has discharged his duties as associate producer creditably. Clyde Bruckman did the screenplay from a story by Wilson. Vic Schoen functioned commcndably as musical d rector. The Andrews Sisters benefit from the fact that they are a bit more subdued than is their custom. Co k:on and Miss Hilliard make their romantic association a source of considerable humor. Tim Ryan, Matt Willis, W lliam Phillips, Tom Dugan and Rsy Walker are some others who perform capably. CAST: Andrew Sisters, Harriet Hilliard, Peter Co kson, Tim Ryan, Matt Willis, William Phillips, Tom Dugan, Ray Walker, Marion Martin, John Hamilton, John Sheehan, M'trh Avres and band. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Warren Wilson; Director, Edward F. Cline; Screenplay, Clyde Bruckman; Based on story by Warren Wilson; Cameraman, Jerome Ash; Art Director, J hn B. Goodman; Musical Director, Vic Schcen; Set Decorators, R. A. Gausman, A. J. Gilmore; Film Editor, Edward Curtiss; Sound, Bernard B. Brown; Ssn^s, Milton Rosen, Everett Carter, Roy J~rdah, Vic Schoen, Johnny Murphy, Jack Ye!len, Milton Ager, Henry Sull van, Fred Soielman, Mitch Ayres Kermit Goell, Don Raye, Huglre Prince, George W. Johnson, J. A. Butterfield, Henry J. Sayers, Joe Dale, Adrian Goldmark. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Reo.'s "Women In War" Again Republic will re-issue "Women In War," made in. 1.940, on Jan. 25. New advertising material, including posters, pressbooks, and other accessories, is now in preparation. "Sing a Jingle" with Allan Jones, June Vincent Universal 62 Mins. MUSICAL COMEDY IS PLEASANT LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT DEVISED TO MEET NEEDS OF FAMILY TRADE. Here is another of Universal's modest melanges of music, comedy and romance concocted for the family trade. The film carries enough entertainment and is unfurled swiftly enough to make one forgive the triteness of the plot. The main attraction in this production is Allan Jones, who is g'ven plenty of opportunity to exercise his fine voice. He delivers his singing assignment in a manner that will win much attention from the femmes. His romantic vis-a-vis is June Vincent, who is considerably overshadowed by the vibrant personality cf Jones. Jones is a popular radio singer who, when he is rejected for Army service, decided to do his bit by working incognito in a defense plant in a small town. The boss (Samuel S. Hinds) takes a shine to Jones, who repays the compliment by falling in love with his daughter (Miss Vincent). Complications arise when a rival (Edward Norris), a no-good guy, starts checking up on Jones with the idea of breaking up his romance with the boss's daughter. The villain almost succeeds in his purpose. It takes a bit of explaining en Jones' part before everything is straightened out. As any one with a nickel's worth of brains is bound to suspect as soon as Jones makes his decision to toil in a defense factory f:r the duration, a show is put on by the boss to help the war effort in his community. Jones' manly tones are the main lure and the show proves a huge success. Jones easily dom'nates the film. Also a standout is Gus Schilling, who supplies the :omedy relief with the assistance of Betty Kean. Prrducer-Director Edward C. Lilley keeps >hings moving snappily. Four writers, John Grey, Eugene Conrad, Lee Sands and Fred Rath, were needed to knock out the screenplay. CAST: Allan Jones, June Vincent, Edvard Norris, Gus Schilling, Betty Kean, Samuel S. Hinds, Jerome Cowan, Joan Castle, Dicky Love, Vivian Austin, Lorin Raker, William Newell. CAST: Producer, Edward C. Lilley; Directcr, Edward C. Lilley; Screenplay, John Grey, Eugene Conrad, Lee Sands, Fred Rath; Cameraman, Jerry Ash; Musical Director, Charles Previn; Supervis'ng Art Director, John Goodman; Sound Supervisor, Bernard B. Brown; Film Editor, Charles Maynard. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Queens Group to Meet Queens County Chairman Fred Schwartz and his district captains meet at the Treasury Department offices in the Chatham Phenix Building, Long Island City, to plan their "anticipation in the Fourth War Loan Drive. Billy Beeves Dies in England . .Suffolk, England— Billy Reeves, 79, veteran comedian, died in I^orth Ixworth. "Smart Guy" with Rick Vallin, Bobby Larson, Wanda McKay Monogram 63 Mins. STORY ABOUT GAMBLER'S REFORMATION IS A SENTIMENTAL PIECE THAT MAY BE ACCEPTED IN NEIGHBORHOODS. This picture goes sentimental in a big way. However, its plot is so ancient and its unfurling so obvious that the picture will have a hard time extracting tears from persons who aren't hopeless sentimentalists. The production represents the sort of entertainment that has some effect on the women in the neighborhood houses. The story is the old one about the tough guy who goes soft under the influence of a youngster's charm and the love of a gal. The man in this instance is a gambler unjustly accused of a crime. He idopts a kid to have himself appear as a good guy. Soon the kid has made putty of the fellow's heart. The transformation is made complete when the gambler and the kid take refuge at a mountain resort where the man finds love. The man is prevailed upon to give himself up and take his punishment like a man with the understanding that he return to the kid and gal when he has squared himself with society. Charles R. Marion and John W. Krafft banged out the screenplay, which was given no better than fair direction by Lambert Hillyer, who perhaps found the material at his disposal too much of a handicap to overcome. John T. Coyle acted as producer. The players struggle hard with their parts, and only several are able to rise above the level of the story. Rick Vallin plays the main role extremely well. Wanda McKay is the girl, Bobby Larson as the kid. Veda Ann Borg as a former girl friend and Jack LaRue as a mean hombre lend him valiant support. CAST: Rick Vallin, Bobby Larson, Veda Ann Borg, Wanda McKay, Jack LaRue, Mary Gordon, Paul McVey, Addison Richards, Roy Darmour, Jon Dawson. CREDITS: Producer, John T. Coyle; Director, Lambert Hillyer; Screenplay, Charles R. Marion, John W. Krafft; Cameraman, Mack Stengler; Musical Director, Edward Kay; Film Editor, Carl Pierson; Sound, Glen Glenn. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY Okay. Brooklyn Mgrs. Planning "Air Ambulance" Drive A "buy an air ambulance" campaign has been planned by the Fourth War Loan cantains in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, it was revealed at a meeting of Brooklyn managers, circuit men and publicists last week at the Albee Theater. Auction nights and other local ballyhoo techniques will be utilized, including the effigy hanging of Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini at a central point in each locality. Many other events were planned. Winston Ray Dead Greenville, Ala. — Winston J. Ray, 52, theater executive, is dead. * SHORTS * "Salt Lake Diversions" (FitzPatrick Traveltalk) M-G-M 9 mins Diverting Diversions Again James FitzPatrick has come through wiht a gem of a miniature t: avelogue. This time he takes the audience to the Salt Lake area, where he spreads a visual feast in Technicolor. The buoyancy of the water of the lake is demonstrated via some extremely interesting scenes. Included is an excursion to the Bonneville Flats with Ab Jenkins, famous speed driver. Excellent is the word. "Mountain Anglers" (Sportscope) RKO 9 mins. Good Recorded herein is a trip down the turbulent Rogue River of Oregon by a party in search of steelhead trout. The short is packed with thrills and excitement, with vivid action every foot of the way. The scene is untamed country that gives plenty of scope to the camera. A-l photography heightens the value of this short. Frederic Ullman, Jr., served capably as producer. "Radio Melodies" Universal 15 mins. Fair This musical short is below par. Only out-and-out devotees of hot music will accept the short without quibbling. The o: chestra is Stan Kenton's. Several popular numbers are heard. Spotted are Lillian Cornell, songbird; Leo Diamond Harmonica Quintet and Dolly Mitchell and Betty Reilly, warblers of popular tunes. Photographically the film leaves something to be desired. "Stars and Strikes" (Sportscope) RKO 9 mins. Aces of its Kind Here is a short made to order for the bowling fans. Several wizards of the art of bowling put on a demonstration that would. make a good subject for Ripley. The science of the sport is illustrated with the help of slow motion. The presence of several child bowlers aids in putting the short over with women. Fast and interesting. One of the finest shorts of its class. IA Board Meets in Cincy. The midwinter session of the Executive Board of the IATSE will be held on Jan. 24 in the Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati. The meeting is expected to last a week. New Wash, House Opened Black Diamond, Waslu — Leif Lind« strom opened his new Community Theater on New Year's Eve.