The Film Daily (1944)

10 7W DAILY Friday, September 29, 194: :< ft R6VI6UJS Of THE R€UJ FILMS ft ,\ Tall in the Saddle" "She's a Soldier, Too' with John Wayne, Ella Raines RKO 87 Mins. SUPERIOR WESTERN DUE FOR ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION FROM LOVERS OF ACTION FILMS. Intelligently and resoundingly produced by Robert Fellows, "Tall in the Saddle" is a western of a superior breed. Plenty of suspense and vigorous action have gone into the development of the plot of this film, which has the benefit of topnotch direction by Edwin L. Marin. The footage contains several fist fights that are lulus, not to mention gunplay and riding that rate special attention. Given production values uncommon to a western, "Tall in the Saddle," boasting a well-ccnstruced screenplay by Michael Hogan and Paul P. Fix, keeps Wayne ever on the go as he runs down the murderer of the owner of a ranch to which he has fallen heir. Wayne is really in his element in this one. His support is of the best. Ella Raines is fine as the romantic interest. Don Douglas and Ward Bond make first-rate villains. George "Gabby" Hayes and Raymond Hatton are responsible for some swell moments of comedy. CAST: |ohn Wayne. Slla Raines, Ward Bond, George "Cabby" Hayes, Audrey Long, Elisabeth Risdon, Den Douglas. Paul P. Fix, Russell Wade, Emory Parnell, Raymond Hatton, Harry Woods, Wheaton Chambers, Frank Puglia, Bob McKenzie. CREDITS: Producer, Robert Fellows; Associate Producer, Theron Warth; Director, Edwin L. Marin; Screenplay, Michael Hogan, Paul P. Fix; Based on story by Gordon Ray Young; Cameraman, Robert de Grasse; Special Effects, Vernon L. Walker; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Ralph Berger; Set Decorators, Darrell Silvera, William Stevens; Sound, John E. Tribby; Musical Score, Roy Webb; Musical Director, C. Bakaleinikoff: Film Editor, Philip Martin, Jr. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Goin' to Town" with Lum and Abner RKO 69 Mins. RUBE COMEDY IS STRICTLY FOR THE LUM AND ABNER ADMIRERS. This screen vehicle delivers another harvest of joy — and corn — for the admirers of Lum (Chester Lauckl and Abner (Norris Goff). Helping to perk up the interest is a production number featuring Nils T. Grantlund (N.T.G.) and a bevy of Hollywood lovelies. Trouble starts for Lum and Abner when they talk the people of Pine Ridge into putting their money into an oil company in the belief there is black gold in the earth. It all turns out to be a bad dream. Thereafter our crackerbarrel heroes are kept busy trying to make amends. At the windup everything is smoothed out. Leslie Goodwins produced in routine fashion. Direction of Leslie Goodwins is strictly pedestrian. CAST: Chester Lauck (Lum), Norris Coff 'Abnerl, Barbara Hale, Florence Lake, Dick Elliott, Grady Sutton, Herbert Rawlinson, Dick Baldwin, Ernie Adams, Jack Rice, Sam Flint, Andrew Tombes. George Chandler, Ruth Lee, Danny Duncan, Marietta Canty, Niles T. Cranlund. CREDITS: Producer. Frank Melford; Director. Leslie Goodwins Screenplay, Charles E.; Roberts, Charles R. Marion; Cameraman, Robert Pittack; Film Editor, Hanson T. Fritch' Musical Director, Lud Cluskin; Art Director, Alfred C. Ybarra; Sound, Percy Townsend Dance Director, Paul Oscard. DIRECTION, So-so. PHOTOCRAPHY, Cood. with Beulah Bondi Columbia 67 Mins. THIS ONE WILL GO OVER WITH THE WOMEN; BEULAH BONDI TAKES ACTING HONORS. "She's a Soldier, Too" is a woman's dish. Its tale of a sour spinster who is made aware that there's a war on and winds up doing her bit for the cause hasn't much to interest the men, except possibly a bit of comedy retailed by the maiden lady's brother, who has a mind for inventing odd gadgets. Melvin Levy's screenplay goes heavy on the human interest, becoming strongly sentimental from time to time. Beulah Bondi plays the spinster who is shamed into throwing her stuffy mansion open to femme war workers unable to find living quarters in the Philadelphia area. Miss Bondi is first-rate, as is Percy Kilbride as the inventive brother. Jess Barker and Nina Foch are prominent among the others. The film produced by Wallace MacDonald, has tight direction by William Castle. CAST: Beulah Bondi. Nina Foch, Jess Barker, Lloyd Bridges, Percy Kilbride, Ida Moore, Erik Rolf, Jeanne Bates, Shelley Winter, Marilyn Johnson. CREDITS: Producer, Wallace MacDonald; Director, William Castle; Screenolay, Melvin Levy; Based on story by Hal Smith; Cameraman, Benjamin Kline; Art Directors, Lionel Banks, George Brooks; Set Decorator, Louis Diage; Film Editor, Aaron Stell. DIRECTION, Cood. PHOTOCRAPHY, Good. * SHORTS * "Machine Gun Mama" with Armida, El Brendel, Wallace Ford PRC 61 Mins. LIGHTWEIGHT COMEDY MAY PLEASE ON DUAL BILLS IN SMALLER PLACES. "Machine Gun Mama" is lightweight entertainment that will succeed in extracting a few laughs from the less discerning in the smaller spots. The film is a fast little item that doesn't give one much time to pause to consider the weaknesses of the story rr the unbelievability of many of the incidents. Those who like dialect comedy have El Brendel to keep them entertained. Wallace Ford and Luis Alberni are others who contribute to the comedy. The story has Brendel and Ford stranded in Mexico with an elephant on their hands. They dispose cf the animal to a carnival owner, with whose daughter, Armida, Ford is carrying on a romance. Brendel and Ford are accused of stealing the animal but are cleared after quite a mixup. The acting is passable. Harold Young directed at a snappy pace. CAST: Armida, El Brendel, Wallace Ford, Jack La Rue, Luis Alberni, Ariel Heath, Julian Rivero, Eumonio Blanco, Anthony Warde. CREDITS: Producer, Jack Schwarz; Director, Harold Young; Screenplay; Sam Neuman Cameraman, Cus Peterson; Art Director, Frank Sylos; Set Decorator, Harry Reif; Film Editor, Robert 0. Crandall; Sound, William Lynch; Musical Directors, Mort Glickman, David Chudnow. DIRECTION, Snappy. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. New Non-Theatrical Co. Des Moines, la. — General Pictures Producers has been formed by A. A. Scbultz, W. K. Niemann, D. H. Bonine and William H. Schultz. Company will make educational and industrial subjects. "Plane Daffy" (Looney Tunes) Warners 7 mins. Will Get Laughs Put this one down as amusing madness, with Daffy Duck volunteering to fly a secret message as result of the failure of his buddy Homer Pigeon to return to base. Homer, it is shown, is lured to the lair of Hadda Mari, deadly and beautiful Nazi spy. Daffy's heroic offer promises success, for he is a woman hater, — but unable to hate this one who is so magnetic that the sparks fly. It's zany, but will get laughs. And it's in Technicolor. "Monkey Business" (Speaking of Animals) Paramount 9 mins. Loads of Fun A real treat for adults and kids alike. The latest of the Jerry Fairbanks series is an extremely entertaining shoi't produced in co-operation with the St. Louis zoo. A bunch of remarkably intelligent chimps put on a show that audiances will marvel at. Chimply a howl. "Bear Raid Warden" M-G-M 7 Min*. Entertaining A bear finds his activities as an air-raid warden badly handicapped by the tricks of a firefly. The cartoon, filmed in Technicolor, has considerable entertainment value. "Sports Quiz" (Pete Smith Specialty) M-G-M 11 Mins. Good Number eight in the "What's Your I.Q. ?" series, this is as instructive and as well done as its predecessors. Among the sports figures seen are Carl Hubbell, Lawson Little, Fred Perry and Harold "Dutch" Smith. are the various phases of the spoi The film gives a vivid idea of wh: j experts can do on skates. There a: many thrilling moments in this sw« subject. "Birdy and the Beast" (Merrie Melodies) Warner 7 mins. Okay for Kids Introduced herein is a little bird named Tweety. The Leon Schlesinger Technicolor cartoon deals with a cat's efforts to get its paws on the fledgling, which finally beats the villain with the help of a ferocious dog. Ideal for the kids. "Rhythm on Wheels" (Grandtland Rice Sportlight) Paramount 9'/2 mins. First-Rate That popular sport, roller-skating, comes in for attention in a reel that is considerably diverting. Shown "Musical Movieland" Warner 20 mhV Good Entertainment A good amount of entertainmer is contained in this Technicolor sho: directed by LeRoy Prinz. The var ous musical numbers are presented in the course of a studio tour. Tl footage goes in strongly for va: iety. The words and music ai credited to M. K. Jerome and Jac Scholl. "From Hand to Mouse" (Looney Tunes) Warner 7 mini Good Here's a Leon Schlesinger Techn1 color cartoon that will give the kit many laughs. The story is about smart-alecky mouse who makes chump of a dumb lion. Writers Mobilization To Confer Accolades West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL Hollywood — Hollywood Writei Mobilization will give special recog nition to several films a year whic are outstanding examples of t'n \ blending of the best entertainmer}; elements with an important idea, ih was announced by Emmett Laver . chairman. Group plans special pr«j7 mieres calling attention to the film they choose. First selection, Lester Cowan'Ij "Tomorrow the World!" will be give] a premiere late in November, accorc ing to present plans, with the prcfo ceeds to be turned over to the Mobil lzation. Sherman to Pay for Weigh Lost by Cattle in Making Pif West Coast B-ireau of THE FILM DAIL Hollywood — Harry Sherman wi use Bar BH Ranch in Las Vegas fo -i his next "Hop-Along Cassidy" pro duction. The ranch has 5,000 hea> of cattle and Sherman has agree' to pay the current market price fo all weight lost by the cattle durinj: their use in picture. SAG Committee Studies Actor Union's Merger West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL) Hollywood — A. SAG committer has been studying a proposal whicl would provide for a merger of al actor unions, but the organizatioi is not as yet ready to take action oi the matter. It is not thought hen that Oct. 1 is deadline for action oi the proposal.