The Film Daily (1948)

tfr ^Mjf4v"** Tuesday, January 13 19"] ==^=====^========^=== 1#"A DAILY H f ILfll DAILY REVIEWS Of HEW FEATURES A' =^r» Mu T.nvp" "Th^ GftV Rnnrhem" "Glrrm^nr rtirl" "TTnHor r^l^rrr^o "Sleep My Love' with Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings Triangle-UA 97 Mins. SHOULD BE A SURE FIRE MONEYMAKER: POTENT, WELL TOLD AND PLAYED DRAMATIC YARN; BEST ROGERS-COHN EFFORT TO DATE. Spectacle of a husband doing his wife in by devious means has always been an intriguing subject for dramatic treatment. "Sleep My Love" is no exception to the rule and it might be said too, that this variation on the theme has much to recommend it to the adult audience. It is an intelligently brought forward yarn. The production values, direction and performances are what the audience demands and rates. For the good money that they spend here, they get ample return. Don Ameche is spurred on to kill Miss Colbert, his wife, by his clandestine amour, Hazel Brooks. His method of operation is to drug his wife and then by suggestion which is translated into action when she is under narcotic influence, tries to have her kill herself accidentally — like falling out of a window. It so happens that after one session Miss Colbert winds up on a train headed for Boston. There she meets Robert Cummings who accompanies her back to New York and his interest is primed. The audience is fully aware of what is in store for Miss Colbert at Ameche's hands. Cummings' probing and footwork corrals the clues, adds up his findings and in due time he confronts Ameche. The y.arn.-ejids excitingly with a shooting match that leaves Miss Colbert an unrepentanF widow^ and with Cummings handy to fill the marital vacancy. Douglas Sirk did well in his direction. The Charles Buddy Rogers-Ralph Cohn production is the best to date. This one should add up as a moneymaker. CAST: Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings, Don Ameche, Hazel Brooks, Rita Johnson, George Coulouris, Anne Triola, Queenie Smith, Keye Luke, Fred Nurney, Maria San Marco, Raymond Burr, Lillian Bronson, Ralph Morgan. ^~ CREDITS: A Triangle Production presented by Mary Pickford; Producers, Charles Buddy Rogers, Ralph Cohn; Director, Douglas Sirk; Screenplay, St. Clair McKelway, Leo Rosten; From a novel by Leo Rosten; Photography, Joseph Valentine; Art director, William Ferrari; Production manager, Robert M.— Beehsr Set-4eGor*tjon,^Howwd Bristol; Sound, William Randell;: Musical' supervision, David Chudnovy; Mus+cal score and direction, Rudy Schragef; iFilm editor, -Lynn Harrison. DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, fine. ! Planning Reissue Circuit Of 10 Chicago Theaters Chicago — A reissue circuit of 10 or more theaters is under consideration by the H & E Balaban Circuit and other theater owners, Harry Balaban revealed. Problems facing the proposal are the selection of the proper houses, arrangements to assure re issue product, and formulation of plans for joint advertising of day and-date showings. The Gay Ranchero with Roy Rogers, Jane Frazee, Tito Guizar Republic 72 Mins. GRADE "A" WESTERN FARE HAS EVERYTHING THE AUDIENCE DEMANDS. What generally happens to a stagecoach in horse operas this time happens to an airplane. The baddies have their agent tinker with the fuel gauge. This causes the ship to come down where they lay in wait. Ship carries gold ore. After this happens a few times Sheriff Roy Rogers gets his wind up and he fixes it so that Andy Devine goes aloft with sticks of dynamite and makes like a dive bomber. Said maneuver corrals the crooks. The treatment is vivid, pictorially exciting and just the thing the Rogers following ■ requires. Action is complemented by Trucolor. Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers get off a couple of western ditties. Guizar, between piloting a plane, capably renders the title song, and "Granada," and passes himself off as a retired bullfighter. Devine generates the comedy. This is one of the Class A variety of westerns and has every ingredient to satisfy the clientele. William Witney directed. CAST: Roy Rogers, Jane Frazee, Tito Guizar, Andy Devine, Estehta Rodriguez, George Meeker, LeRoy Mason, Dennis Moore, Keith Richards, Betty Gagnon, Robert Rose, Ken Terrell, Bob Nolan and The Sons ot the Pioneers. CREDITS: Associate producer, Edward J. White; Director, William Witney; Original screenplay, Sloan Nibley; Photography, Jack Marta; Art director, Frank Hotaiing; Musical director, Morton Scott; Film editor, Tony Marrinelli; Sound, Herbert Norsch; Set decorations, John McCarthy, Jr., Helen Hansard; Special effects, Howard and Theodore Lydecker. DIRECTION, Very Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Court Holds Fox Need Not Arbitrate SPG Dispute N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Henry Clay Greenberg on Friday granted a motion by 20th-Fox to stay arbitration in its dispute with SPG over the discharge of nine former members of the advertisingpublicity department. Justice Greenberg ruled that the power of 20th-Fox to discharge, under its contract with SPG, is unrestricted except for those reasons specified as just cause under an article of the contract. Discharge for economic reasons, he said, was not specified in the pact. Nine members of the department were let out in August, with the SPG arbitration demand coming in December. "Glamour Girl' with Gene Krupa, Susan Reed (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Columbia 67 Mins. CHOCK FULL OF ENTERTAINMENT: SUSAN REED REGISTERS: SHOULD SCORE WITH PUBLIC AND EXHIBITORS ALIKE. This offering is chock-full of entertainment and is highlighted by the work of Gene Krupa and his orchestra and Susan Reed, Broadway night-club favorite, who scores with her folk songs. Arthur Dreifuss has given the proceedings good directorial guidance and Sam Katzman has provided sound production values. Ira H. Morgan's photography is praiseworthy. Virginia Grey and Michael Duane do well in their roles, while Jack Leonard croons a few numbers, in addition to his thespic efforts. Jimmy Lloyd, a Columbia regular, and Pierre Watkin, Eugene Borden, Netta Packer, Noel Neill, Jean Bell and Carolyn Grey are among the principals. Virginia Grey, a talent scout for a New York recording outfit, is a passenger in an airplane that is forced down in the hinterlands. She has to spend a night in a farmhouse and meets and signs Susan Reed, a hillbilly singer. Virginia and her fiance, Michael Duane, production manager for the recording company, are fired and they open their own business. They are unable to get established names to record for them and they turn to Susan. Virginia and Duane book Susan at New York's Cafe Sffcrety, and, of course, she registers a big success. She scores with her early American, English and Irish folk numbers— and should also do so for exhibitors. CAST: Gene Krupa and his orchestra, Susan Reed, Virginia Grey, Michael Duane, Jimmy Lloyd, Jack Leonard, Pierre Watkin, Eugene Borden, Netta Packer, Noel Neill, Carolyn Grey, Jeanne Bell. CREDITS: A Sam Katzman Production; Director, Arthur Dreifuss; Screenplay, M. Coates Webster, Lee Gold; Author, Lee Gold; Cameraman, Ira H. Morgan; Art director, Paul Palmentola; Set decorations, Sidney Moore; Editor, Charles Nelson; Musical director, Mischa Bakaleinikoff; Songs by Segar Ellis, George Williams, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Praise Hold Parley at Ottawa To End Tax on Gross Minn. Variety Heads Elected Minneapolis — Officers of Northwest Variety Club have been elected by the new board of directors. Board includes Arthur Anderson, Billy Elson, Abe Kaplan, Joe Loeffler, William Volk, Ted Bolnick, Ben Friedman, Charles Rubenstein, Al Lee, Benjamin Blotcky and Pat Halloran. (Continued from Page 1) matters prior to meeting the ministers. Others with him are P. W. Mahon of Regina, Charles Bourassa of Montreal, Floyd Rumford of Forest, Ont., and Archie Masion of Springhill, N. S. To Screen for UN Groups Since "Women in the Night" is based on actual case histories from the files of the United Nations Information offices, Film Classics, distributors of the film, will have 29 special screenings for the various UN groups. ills Permitted to Make 4 Installment Payments Chicago — Mills Industries is permitted to pay approximately $1,000,000 in past due obligations in four annual installments, under an order approved by Federal Judge W. LaBuy. Company has arranged a $500,000 loan to tide it over until its plants can be reconverted from wartime manufacturing. Hirsch Mourns Brother Leonard Hirsch, home office assistant to Rudy Berger, M-G-M Southern sales manager, is mourning the loss of his brother, Ned, of Westwood, N. J., who died last week. IATSE in British Columbia Vancouver— Local B-127 covering British Columbia doormen, cashiers, ushers and cleaning staffs, has been chartered by the IATSE. 'Under Colorado Skies" with Monte Hale, Adrian 'S Republic o5 Mir . BETTER GRADE WESTERN HAS FA< PACE, SNAPPY ACTION AND CATCr V. MUSICAL SCORE. This seems to carry more pep and intere K than the usual cowboy output. Story 1 plausible, and is kept rolling. Aided Trucolor, there is enough scenic intere: I Songs are introduced when most needi. and add to the general appeal this foota; I will have. Monte Hale has worked in a bank all Sur mer to earn money to pay his medical cj lege expenses during the coming year. Tl « notorious Marlowe gang robs the bank ai< when the sheriff arrives Monte is standii over the dead bank president, a smokii gun in his hand. To avoid bringing disgra i on his fiancee's family, he doesn't reveal th her no-good brother, Jeff, now a member • the gang, tricked him into opening the bai before the robbery. Since everybody thin Jeff is an upstanding citizen of a dista town, Monte has a hard time clearing hi r self. After being taken to jail he escapes a • flees on the heels of the Marlowe gar Julia, his fiancee, appears on the scene her way to visit her supposedly repufat; brother. Badly wounded in a stagecoa hold-up engineered by the gang, Julia brought to the hotel where Monte is sta ing, where, by the absence of a local doch he gives medical care to save her life. Mi Hi lowe has also been wounded, and when ■<: hears about Monte's skill, hijacks him. L Monte befriends Marlowe, who takes fancy to him, in order to capture the gar . With the help of the hotel owner he dci thus clearing himself. Fast pace, lots of action and a catc^ musical score give it an excellent chance fa do far better than average. CAST: Monte Hale, Adrian Booth, Paul Hur William Haade, John Alvin, LeRoy Mason, Ti London, Steve Darrell, Gene Evans, Ted Adan ' Steve Raines, Hank Patterson, Foy Willing a is;: the Riders of the Purple Sage. L CREDITS: Associate producer, Melville Tucki ; Director, R. G. Springsteen; Screenplay by Lou ;: Rousseau; Photographed by Alfred S. Keller; A : director, Frank Hotaiing; Musical director, Met • Glickman; Film editor, Arthur Roberts; Sour:' Herbert Norsch; Set decorations, John McCartl ' Jr. and Helen Hansard; Special effects, Howo ' : and Theodore Lydecker; Makeup supervision, Bill.. Mark. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. DIRECTION, Snappy. Ritchey Denies Monogranf ■ Plans Denmark Productio Reports from Denmark that Monttj' gram had started negotiations IK produce films in that country hauj been described by Norton V. Ritche m president of Monogram Intern;, tional, as "without foundation hf Plan, as outlined in a Danish new paper, had Monogram negotiating f< P a studio in Odense on the Island (iFyn. Ritchey denied any knowledf; of the project. A. F. Sets Initial Release "La Symphonie Fantastique,* starring Jean-Louis Barrault, will t ; the first "full length -feature to b | ' released here by -'A. F. Films. Pi [ ' is a biography Of Hector Berlioz, on " of France's great composers. ;