The Film Daily (1945)

IHEl DAILY Monday, August 6, 15j 0 ^ Revieuis OF thc new f iims "Lady on a Train" with Deanna Durbin Universal 93 Mins. MELODRAMA WiTH LIGHT STRETCHES AND LOTS OF ACTION, DEPENDS MOSTLY ON CAST NAMES. "Lady on a Train" finds Deanna Durbin a little out of place as the heroine of a melodrama that gives her small opportunity to exercise that part of her talent that has won her popularity. More music and less melodrama would have shown Miss Durbin to better advantage and would have made the production a far more entertaining one. This handicap is overcome to a large degree by the box office value of Miss Durbin's name, plus those of Edward Everett Horton, Ralph Bellamy and several others. The film must lean heavily not only on the three song numbers executed by Miss Durbin, two of which are "Silent Night" and Cole Porter's "Night and Day," but on some light stretches in which Horton is the principal dispenser of mirth. The swell production accorded the story by Producer Felix Jjckson also will help make the film acceptable to the average patron. The picture has a loose and rambling script by Edmund Beloin and Robert O'Brien, full of confusion and lacking in conviction. The film, based on a Leslie Charteris yarn that is basically sound, has Miss Durbin as an amateur sleuth who tries to solve the murder of a wealthy man at the risk of her own safety. The murderer turns out to be Bellamy, a member of the family, aiming to dispose of everyone who stands in the way of his inheriting the old gent's fortune. Charles David's direction is swift, so that there is no lack of action. CAST: Deanna Durbin. Ralph Bellamy, Edward Everett Horton, George Coulouris, Allen Jeiikins, David Bruce, Patricia Morlson, Dan Duryea, Maria falmer, Elizabeth Patterson, Samuel S. Hinds, William Frawley, Jacqueline de Wit, Thurston Hall, Clyde Fillmore, Ben Carter, Mary Forbes, Sarah Edwards, Nora Cecil, Hobart Cavanaugh. CREDITS: Producer, Felix Jackson; Associate Producer, Howard Christie; Director, Charles David; Screenplay. Edmund Beloin, Robert O'Brien; Based on story by Leslie Charteris; Cameraman, Woody Bredell; Musical Score, Miklos Rozsa; Art Directors, John B. Goodman, Robert C. Clatworthy; Set Decorator, Russell A. Gausman; Special Effects, John P. Fulton; Sound Director, Bernard B. Brown; Film Editor, Ted Kent. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. $2,500 For "Tomorrow" Ideas West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — International Pictures will conduct a national poll of showmen for the best exploitation and merchandising ideas for the company's "Tomorrow is Forever." A hundred prizes, in addition to awards aggregating $2,500 in cash, will be distributed. A-Mike Vogel will supervise the stunt, acting in conjunction with Irving Rubine & Associates. Rep's Seattle Booking Record Seattle — What may be a new record for consecutive showings of a company product was set by the First Ave. Theater where Gus Graf played 28 Republic features, 24 westerns and 18 serial chapters during Republic's recent 10th Anniversary Drive. Branch Manager Paul McElhinney reports. I "White Pongo" with Richard Eraser, Maris Wrixon and Lionel Royce (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) PRC 74 Mins. LXPLOITATION PICTURE WELL HANDLED, SHOULD DO NICELY AT THE BOX OFFICE. Here is an exploitation picture that should do nicely at the box office. It was directed by Sam Newfield, and produced by Sigmund Neufeld, well experienced in this type of product. Gordon Richards leads an expedition to the Belgian Congo in search of "White Pongo," an ape. When the expeditionary party gets lost in the jungles, Al Eben, chief guide, abandons members of the group and starts a search for gold. Lionel Royce, another member of the party, joins Eben, and Richard Eraser takes charge of the abandoned group. "White Pongo" kills Eben, and a fight ensues between "Pongo" and a black ape. "Pongo" is finally captured and Maris Wrixon, whom he had kidnapped, falls into the waiting arms of her sweetheart, Royce. Characterizations, if obvious, are well handled, and the story has sufficient suspense and action to satisfy average audiences. CAST: Richard Fraser, Maris Wrixon, Lionel Royce, Al Eben, Cordon Richards, Michael Dyne, George Lloyd, Larry Steers, Milton Kibbee, Egon Brecher, Joel Fluellen. CREDITS: Producer, Sigmund Neufeld; Director, Sam Newfield; Author, Raymond L. Shrcck; Screenplay, same; Cameraman, Jack Creenhalgh; Art Director, Edward C. Jewell; Editor, Holbrook N. Todd; Musical director, Leo Erdody. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Dangerous Intruder" (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) PRC 62 Mins. WELL DIRECTED PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA HOLDS INTEREST TO THE FADEOUT. This psychological melodrama holds interest to the end and has been given good direction by Vernon Keays. Martin Mooney handled the pi'oduction reins. Veda Ann Borg, a stranded showgirl, is hit by a car driven by Charles Arnt. The accident happens in front of his estate and he takes her into his home for treatment. It develops that Arnt, who is a collector of ceramics, is a paranoiac and had caused the death of his wealthy mother-in-law. He poisons his wife. Fay Helm, and on discovering that his assistant, John Rogers, had told Veda of his suspicions, kills Rogers. Arnt was also planning the death of his stepdaughter, Jo Ann Marlowe, but he goes to his death when his auto overturns while he is being chased by Richard Powers, Veda's sweetheart. CAST: Charles Arnt, Veda Ann Borg, Richard Powers, Fay Helm, John Rogers, Jo Ann Marlowe, Helena P. Evans, Roberta Smith, Robert Smith, George Sorel, Forrest Taylor, Eddie Rocco. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Martin Mooney; Director, Vernon Keays; Authors, PhiKp MacDonald and F. Ruth Howard; Screenplay, Martin M. Goldsmith; Cameraman, James Brown; Art Director, Edward C. Jewell; Editor, Carl Pierson; Music by Karl Hajos. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Bandit and Lady" via Bell Bell Pictures Corp. will handle national distribution of "The Bandit and the Lady," formerly distributed by RKO Radio. "Radio Stars on Parade" with Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Frances Langford RKO 69 Mins. CORN AND SLAPSTICK DISHED OUT BY WHIRLWIND COMEDY OF STRONG APPEAL TO FAMILY TRADE. "Radio Stars on Parade" is a load of ;orn devised especially for the palate of ether hounds. On many occasions the production goes unashamedly slapstick, to the delight of the kids in particular. Mixed in with the low-brow humor are musical sn?tches engaging the services of Frances Langford, Skinnay Ennis and his band, Rufe Davis, the Town Criers and several others of lesser importance. The trigger-fast direction of Leslie Goodwins keeps the film moving breathlessly all the way. The whirlwind pace serves the good purpose of giving the audience little time to think of how flat and old most of the comedy is. The film leans heavily on "Truth or Consequences" for its box office appeal. To be truthful, the sequences based on that popular radio program, with Ralph Edwards supervising the fun, account for the most entertaining portions of the film — certainly the most hilarious. The picture, produced on a modest scale by Ben Stoloff from a Robert E. KentMonte Brice screenplay, requires the comedy team of Wally Brown and Alan Carney to carry the burden. The story finds the comics running a talent agency for a 10-per center who is forced to flee Hollywood to escape the wrath of a gambler to whom he is heavily in debt. Brown and Carney spend most of their time trying to get a break for Frances Langford against the wishes of a gangster admirer. They get in trouble with the thug but succeed in extricating themselves neatly. CAST: Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Frances Langford, Ralph Edwards and company, Skinnay Enn.s and band, Don Wilson, Tony Romano, Town Criers, Cappy Barra Boys, Rufe Davis, Robert Clarke, Sheldon Leonard, Max Wagner, Ralph Feters. CREDITS: Executive Producer, Sid Rogell; Producer, Ben Stoloff; Director, Leslie Goodwins; Screenplay, Robert E. Kent, Monte Brice; Based on story by Robert E. Kent; Cameraman, Harry Walker; Musical Director, C. 'Baka-leinikoff ; Special Effects, Vernon L. Walker; Art Directors, Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter Keller; Set Decorator, Darrell Silvera; Sound, John E. Tribby; Film Editor, Edward W. Williams. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Grainger to Mexico City, Hollywood to Follow James R. Grainger, president of Republic Pictures and world-wide sales head, left yesterday for Mexico City. After a stay there, he will visit the company's North Hollywood studios for conferences with H. J. Yates, Sr., president of Republic Productions, Inc. Fiske O'Hara Dead on Coast IVcst Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Fiske 0;Hara, 67, Irish singing star identified with stage, screen and radio for more than 30 years, is dead here. 5,000 16 mm. Houses Planned by Lawrenc West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DA: Hollywood — Preliminary plans a national organization to constr theaters for the exhibition of 16 n commercial and industrial films b| been revealed by Frank Lawrt production veteran. Based on a he has assembled, Lawrence belie there is ample room for at le 5,000 250-450 seat houses. Theaters would be built into isting properties, such as stoii garages, etc. Lawrence also S there will be several hundred tra'i ling auto trailer theaters, as well open air day and night shows, for 16 mm. It is planned to oj, several of the latter in Los Ang( and Hollywood in the near futui It is planned to offer advertisi a complete package, from writing scripts to exhibition of finished j tures, Lawrence stated. B, UA Production Strength At Peak, Asserts Rafteryj (Continued from Page 1) ward C. Raftery, addressed the fi day's session of the company's thij day Western sales meeting on I day. He predicted that the com year would prove one of the greal in UA's history. "Our three owner-members all our affiliated producers are actl and the product they are deliver is right out of the top drawer." Carl Leserman, general sales m ager, outlined the policy on for' coming product and discussed $100,000 Grad Sears Drive curren under way. George Bagnall, vi president, announced that a new dl for 12 "Daffy Ditty" shorts yea^ had been concluded. Five exchanges — Denver, Los / geles, Salt Lake City, San Francii and Seattle — were represented sessions which were conducted J. J. Unger, Western sales manag and assisted by W. E. Callaway, 1 trict manager. ITAT Gets Pavno Short Larry Lansburgh has sold kodachrome short subject on Pav: the trick horse owned by Mexic| President Avilo Camacho, to IT in a deal for world rights closed George A. Hirliman. Lansburj who writes, directs, shoots and pi duces his own pictures, is now northern California doing anotlj color short, this one on sheep doi for ITAT. Oriental Files Intervention Chicago— The 32 W. Randolph Corp., operator of the Oriental The ter, has filed an intervention in t Monroe Theater arbitration coi plaint against the McVickers The! te rand the five N. Y. consent dec}'! signers.