The Film Daily (1946)

=^^ Monday, February 4, ^ ii Film DfliLV REVIEUIS OF HEUI PICTURES i ^'Ambush Trail" with Bob Steele, Syd Saylor PRC 60 Mins. WESTERN FILM WELL STOCKED WITH SIZZLING ACTION OFFERS KIDS PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT. Bob Steele works overtime in "Ambush Trail" to assure his admirers an exciting time. The whiplash direction of Harry Eraser keeps the western star ever on the hop, with the result that the production turned out by Arthur Alexander is well stocked with fisticuffs, blistering horsemanship, gun spitting and other evidence of violence. The kids haven't been sold short by a film in the writing of which Elmer Clifton has capitalized on every chance, for slam-bang action. Steele is a ranch owner who decides to do something about it when he discovers that the cattle men are at the mercy of a gang seeking to seize their property by preventing them from hauling in supplies vital to the operation of their ranches. Helped by Syd Saylor, his foreman, Steele organizes the ranchers and leads them against the gang. Our hero is handicapped by the gang leader's efforts to cast suspicion on him, but justice triumphs, as it always dees in westerns. The players throw themselves into their roles. CAST: Bob Steele, Syd Saylor, I. Stanford Jolley, Lorraine Miller, Charles King, Bob Carson, Budd Buster, Kermit Maynard, Frank Ellis, Edward Cassidy. CREDITS: Producer, Arthur Alexander; Director, Harry Fraser; Screenplay, Elmer Clifton; Cameraman, Jack Creenhaigh; Musical Director, Lee Zahler; Sound, Glen Glenn; Art Director, E. H. Reif; Film Editor, Roy Livingston. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. SHORTS "Glimpses of Guatemala" (FitzPatrick Traveltalks) M-G-M 10 Mins. Beautiful The Technicolor camera catches some impressive glimpses of a land that sends its good neighbor bananas, India rubber, and mahogany. The tapfping of Chicle sap from trees which offer the precious juice every seven years is also caught by the camera. An engaging musical background adds more color to the people whose religious activities are a dominating factor. "The Flying Serpent" with George Zucco, Ralph Lewis PRC 59 Mins. HIGHLY FANTASTIC YARN IS MADE OF THE STUFF THAT APPEALS MOST TO HORROR FANS. Fantastic is scarcely the word for this melcdramatic tidbit. John T. Neville, whose brain child "The Flying Serpent" is, has devised as an instrument of horror a creature that is a cross between a reptile and a bird. The imaginative tale, produced strictly according to formula by Sigmund Neufeld and aimed frankly at the immature, has the flying serpent guarding a priceless treasure In an Aztec temple of New Mexico. An archeologist who has discovered the treasure and is determined to keep it a secret from the outside world at any cost employs the winged monstrosity as a means of eliminating anyone who becomes too curious about the villain's activities. The winged reptile causes death by draining the blood from its victims. A number of persons are dejuiced before the villain is halted by a radio sleuth. As contrast to the gruesomeness of the tale is a romance between the archeologist's step-daughter and the hero. The direction of Sherman Scott achieves a fair amount of action, not to mention a certain routine suspense. The acting is just what you'd expect in such a picture. George Zucco is the villain; Ralph Lewis, the hero; Hope Kramer, the gal. CAST: George Zucco, Ralph Leviris, Hope Kramer, Eddie Acuff, Wheaton Chambers, James Metcalf, Henry Hall, :Milton Kibbee, Bud 'Buster, Terry Frost. CREDITS: Producer, Sigmund Neufeld, Production Manager, Bert Sternbach; Director, Sherman Scott; Screenplay, John T. Neville; Cameraman, Jack Creenhaigh; Musical Director, Leo Erdody; Sound, Frank McWhorter; film Editor, Holbrook N. Todd; Art Director, Edward C. Jewell; Set Decorator, Syd Moore. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. "Sports Sticklers" (Pete Smith) M-G-M 9 Mins. Swell Fun There's swell fun in this sports quiz which will have the patrons guessing aloud the answers to questions on swimming, bowling, iceskating, and billiards. Trick shots and humorous dialogue to match, puts this out front for one of the better Pete Smith specialties. "Magic on a Stick" (Passing Parade) M-G-M 10 Mins. Matchless John Nesbitt tells the story of the discovery of the first friction match in a dramatic, interesting style. Cyril Enfield's direction is notably effective and adds intrigue to the evolution of the safety match. "Visiting Vera Cruz" (FitzPatrick Traveltalk) M-G-M 10 Mins. Nice Visit This tour of a city, said to be more Spanish than any other in Mexico, is presented in beautiful Technicolor photography. Included in this visit to the oldest Spanish settlement in the Republic is a trip to Mocambo beach where the natives exploit their fishing industrv. Touring Izaac Waltons find a fisherman's paradise. "Gettin' Glamor" (Pete Smith) M-G-M 10 Mins. Funny Pete Smith takes you behind the scenes in watching a couple of young ladies try several home devices for improving nosture, poise, and milady's waistline. The beautiful mode] used for the subject has little trouble in taking the "hints," but the other gal turns out to be the "fall guy." "The Mask of Diijon" with Erich Von Stroheim PRC 73 Mins. A WINNER FOR GENERAL AUDIENCE APPEAL; STORY INTEREST AND PRESENTATION CAPABLY HANDLED. Lew Landers has directed an interesting screenplay by Arthur St. Claire and Jay Griffon with creditable handling for novelty and action. Erich Von Stroheim's sardonic portrayal of a once-great magician who has neglected his source of income to become a student of the occult arts is also impressive, while Jeanne Bates, as Stroheim's young wife, and William Wright balance well for the supporting roles. A theatrical boarding house adjoining a magic shop presents an interesting setting for most of the action. The story gets under way after a clever opening sequence in the magic shop when Jeanne urges Erich to take a job in a cafe where Wright has a band and she has the singing spot. Erich accepts but fails in an attempt to carry out a new hypnotic act. He leaves the club embarrassed as well as suspicious of a romance between Wright and his wife. Erich recovers his hypnotic powers while witnessing a robbery and mesmerizes the thief to return the money. He further causes a member of the theatrical household to commit suicide and is almost successful in having Jeanne, under his spell, kill Wright. Stroheim, cornered as the suspect in the "suicidal-murder," shoots it out with the police and dies in the magic shop. CAST: Erich Von Stroheim, Jeanne Bates, Denise Vernac, William Wright, Edward Van Sloan, Hope Landin, Mauritz Hugo, Shimen Ruskin, Antonio Filauiri. CREDITS: Producers, Max Alexander, Alfred Stern; Director, Lew Landers; Original story, Arthur St. Claire; Screenplay, Arthur St. Claire, Criffen Jay; Cameraman, Jack Creenhaigh; Musical Director, Lee Zahler; Songs, Carroll K Cooper, Lee Zahler, Lou E. Zoeller, Billy Austin; Sound, Ben Winkler; Art Director, Edward Jewell; Set Director, E. H. Reif; Assistant Director, Lou Perloff; Film Editor, Roy Livingston. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Okay. Toddy Pictures Weighs Expanded Production In addition to the already announced 10 features on the 1946 program of Toddy Pictures Co., producers and distributors of Negro films, the company is contemplating six Negro musical westerns, one Negro serial and a weekly release of the Negro News Review. Three 1946 features are already completed and will be available in February. These are "House-Rent Party," with Pigmeat Markham; "Mantan Messes Up" with Mantan Moreland, and "Fight That Ghost" with Pigmeat Markham. Sam Newfield directed the trio. Schine Arguments Feb. 25 Illness of Willard S. McKay, chief counsel for Schine Theaters has postponed hearing on the motion to modify Federal Judge John Knight's decision, in the anti-trust suit brought by the Government against the company. Hearings scheduled for Buffalo, this week have been postponed till Feb. 25. 'Idea Girl' \ with Jess Barker, Julie Bishop Universal 60 j MODEST LITTLE COMEDY IS A BR ITEM THAT' WILL PLEASE THF /"iit AGE FILMGOER. In "Idea Girl" Will Cowan has" a spirited little comedy that keep tongue very much in its cheek. Will .m. the director, rarely allows the film toot down and has succeeded in exploitin tlit amusing aspects of the yarn to the saticv tion of the average audience. Ope ini under the supervision of Executive Procei Howard Benedict, Associate Producer 7i{ Cowan has given the film as good a rC' duction as one could expect in the insict of so lightweight and modest a screen :in In telling the story of a feud betw i ) femme song plugger and one of the rtners in the song-publishing firm for id she works, Charles R. Marion has s <ei hard to exact comedy from every poM> situation. The battle starts when Barker returns from a road trip to fiti ,\ partner, Alan Mowbray, has hired ijii Bishop, a lovely, to devise ways and tm of putting over their songs. Bark' ii critical of everything Miss Bishop doeini is forced to change his attitude befortbe footage has run its course. The audtce will have no trouble figuring out hi Barker and Miss Bishop will wind i iv love with each other. Most of the fu re volves around a songwriting contest )ii. ceived by Miss Bishop to win attentiolti the firm. The cast gives the impression of en] n itself in discharging its acting chores Bishop is an eye-catcher. Mowbray ; the comedy honors with Joan Fulton, ^ plays a receptionist. CAST: Jess Barker, Julie Bishop, George D:ni Alan Mowbray, Joan Fulton, Laura Deane'ut ton, Virginia Christine, Lane Chandler, <,rll Barnett and orchestra. CREDITS: Executive Producer, Howard V^ct Associate Producer, Will Cowan; Director Vi Jason; Screenplay, Charles R. Marion; Adap ion Elwood Ullman; Based on story by Gladys lel ley; Cameraman, George Robinson; Film itoi Otto Ludwig; Musical Director, Frank She; Art Directors, Jack Otterson, Richard H. Ue' Sound Director, Bernard <B. Brown; Set Deco on Russell A. Gausman, Ted von Hemert. DIRECTION, Okay. PHOTOGRAPHY, Cy. Scuitley to Produce Pic On Life of Corse Peyton West Coast Bureau of THE FILM D ' Hollywood (By Telephonr Joseph Santley will produce '*" Life of Corse Peyton" based upoi career of the famous "rep" t star who billed himself as "A :r ica's best bad actor." Santley is forming his own "Oducing unit and will negotial • major release for the film. The producer is anxious to ,'e Fredric Marsh for the picture ^t will discuss it with him when Ik star arrives in Hollywood soon oi his role in a Goldwyn picture. $2,700 Montgomery Stick-up Montgomery, Ala. — A stictl man, entering the Paramount V-i\ ter as the day's receipts were tni assembled, forced Manager Rap Mann and his assistants to hand '4the bag containing $2,700.