The Film Daily (1948)

^ MIIV: Wednesday, July 14. 1948 Womeko Drive-ins Wiii Ring Miami (Continued from Page 1) Boulevard Drive-In, on the east side of Highway No. 1 at 145th Stxeet, will be built immediately. It will be located on approximately 16 acres and will accommodate 1,000 cars. This wall be the first Drive-In in South Florida to use the design of Park-In Theaters, Inc. The screen, 60 feet in length, will be illuminated by high intensity arc lamps, powered by a motor-generator. The Drive-In will have a supervised playground complete with slides, merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters for the use of children. Franklin C. Marshal is in charge of engineering the project. The refreshment stand will be a major project, its wares running from candy to aspirin, and from cigars to hot dogs. The grounds will be landscaped on three sides and present the appearance of a well kept park. Sidney Meyer said yesterday it is entirely possible that the theater may have future daytime use for telecasts of special events. Wometco is cooperating closely with station WTVJ which will be on the air soon. New Drive-ins Shape Up In Minneapolis Territory Minneapolis — New drive-ins in the territory are planned by the J & M Enterprises headed by Ralph Green. Firm has optioned property in Robbinsdale, Minneapolis suburb, near site of proposed new Volk Brothers $300,000 year-round stand at 36th and France Aves. J & M drive-in project at Rochester expected for late July opening and their Madison, Wis. outdoor stand is due to be ready in August. An additional drive-in by the same firm is being planned outstate Minnesota with site as yet to be announced. Minnesota Entertainment Enterprises have four drive-ins in area either operating or under construction. Morcola Victory Bums Marcola, Ore. — The Victory Theater was razed by fire which started in the projection room. Estimated loss is upwards of $50,000. Mr. and Mrs. Chester D. Johnson are owners. REViEuis Of nciu Films "Red River" with John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, Joanne Dru UA-Monterey 125 Mins. ONE OF THE BEST OF THE FILM YEAR, THIS ONE PACKS A TERRIFIC BOX OFFICE WALLOP, DELIVERING DRAMA, COMEDY AND SPECTACLE. BY ALL MEANS BUY IT. If, as the pundits of film put it, the western is the ham and eggs of the industry, then in "Red River" there is offered up for the delectation of the filmgoing public the dish "aux fines herbes" and any other fine gustatory appellation you care to apply to the genre. It is cooked up and served by an assortment of talent in every department worthy of such gastronomic titles as Savarin and Escoffier. But, of course, here you transpose from the kitchen to the studio or, rather to the open country, and add such as Howard Hawks in the direction -production division; John Wayne in the lead; Montgomery Clift whose first showing in "The Search" showed high promise. Categorically, there are westerns and westerns. Some stem from filing cards as regards plot. Others feature male warbling and juve fan elements. Others aspire to the super duper division. They all rate. But here you have first a basic story that sustains interest, packs action and excitement from the first sequence and holds ontoi the imagination of the viewer from the outset and keeps him hanging on while the proceedings unreel — up to the very end. The horse opera as such or the western cattle drama has been carbon copied too long. That is until "Red River" comes along. Here is something the showman can give his audience with full confidence in their ultimate appreciation and exchange — in terms of money spent for entertainment — drama, comedy, spectacle. It has all that plus a smooth job of story telling, a bit of historical accuracy in the fundamental translation of Borden Chase's Saturday Evening Post story, "The Chisholm Trail." Storywise the plot of "Red River" concerns the first cattle drive over the Chisholm Trail. Otherwise it tells how John Wayne, with Walter Brennan and Montgomery Clift, the latter a mere boy at the start who grows to manhood, with a cow and bull start a cattle empire in Texas which in time proves a vital source of meat supply to the needy North. But between Clift and Wayne there is no seeing eye to eye and there is constant bickering and projection of cross purposes with Wayne always coming out ahead. Brennan is an old codger. He is the sort of character who plays poker with Chief Yowlachie, loses his store teeth to the Indian, then borrows them whenever there is a chow call. Also, in the comic department, there is an Irish cowpoke who defends his wearing of a derby. The narrative which gets going when Wayne decides to drive his cattle to Missouri, is soon packed with tenseness and a realistic handling of the problems of the drovers who must figure on such details as a stampede. This is a fine job of the handling of the problems of cattlemen whose tasks are loaded with danger and death under trampling hooves of frightened beasts. But Wayne fouls up the deal with his insistance on going to Missouri and Clift takes over. Everybody is constantly snatching at their gunbelts. Clift and John Ireland have a sort of subtle trials at arms session. At length when Wayne declares he will hang a couple of men who deserted the drive, Clift takes over and decides to go to Abilene, Kansas. Before they reach Kansas however, there is plenty of incident, some hot loving, some Indian fighting and some of the best gunplay ever purveyed with as fine a conviction as ever appeared on the screen. With Wayne gunning for him, Clift meets up with the crazed character in Abilene and they have it out. Joanne Dru, popping out with the woman's viewpoint in the proceedings, which are basically stupid, shoots up the place and causes Wayne and Clift to get together once more. Wayne, seeing the fierceness of the woman's purpose, advises Clift to get himself wed to Miss Dru, but quick. This is one of the best things of the year. CAST: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan, Coleen Groy, John Ireland, Noah Beery, Jr., Chief Yowlachie, Harry Carey, Harry Carey, Jr., Mickey Kuhn, Paul Fix, Hank Warden, Ivan Parry, Hal Taliaferro, Paul Fiero, Blllie Self, Ray Hyke. CREDITS: Produced and directed by Howard Hawks; Screenplay, Borden Chase, Charles Schnee; From the Saturday Evening Post story, "The Chisholm Trail," by Borden Chase; Music, Dmitri Tiomkin; Photography, Russell Harlan; Editor, Christian Nyby; Art, John Datu Arensma; Sound, Richard DeWeese, Vinton Vernon; Production manager, Norman Cook. DIRECTION: Tops. PHOTOGRAPHY: Excellent. O'DONNI SICK LIST BILL O'BRIEN, of M-G-M's advertising production department, has returned to his desk after a lengthy illness. J. MAXWELL JOICE, Baltimore and Washington rep. for Paramount, is recovering from an operation on his left leg. CARTER BARRON, Loew's Eastern division manager and Washington studio rep. for M-G-M, is recovering in Doctor's Hospital, Washington, D. C, from a knee operation resulting from an old football injury. Wesley, Gering to Make Sports Pix for Video Noel Wesley and Marion Gering plan a series of sports films for theaters and television, it is announced. Initial subjects are "Behind the Reins" and "Ring Time," and a live video show, "Grantland Rice Sports Hall of Fame." Women Told of "Rebel" In a letter sent to over 6,000 leaders of women's clubs and organizations throughout the United States, Eric A. Johnston calls attention to "Letter to a Rebel," RKOPathe short sponsored by the MPAA. Mayer Stays in France to De-freeze U. S. Millions (Continued from Page 1) mately $11,000,000 in U. S. film coin now blocked here. Mayer's mission thus far has been highly successful; French proposals to impose heavy taxes on U. S. film imports and on admissions have been kayoed. Warner Theater Deal Closed Deal by which the Warner Theater here passed to Anthony B. "Angel" Farrell was finalized Monday by Harry Kalmine for WB and Farrell. Purchase price approximated $1,500,000. ONE OF THE NATION'S GREATEST EXHIBITORSHOWMEI "THE BEST MOST EXCmRG DOCUMENTARY I HAVE EVER SEEN!" ALL REVHEWf SENSATIONALl "More exciting tlion a headline ... has 'Brute Force' wallop." 'NifraSfCiiJn. -.f "Ranl(s with best, thrills . . . explpit unlimited." —Motritoi^n ft»porH 'Red hot right off the press...thrill paclced screen entertainment." "One of best -made most effective 'crime-does-not-pay' pictures in a long time." "inuiiwn rnMWrw i "Should pay off handsomely at turnstiles!" "Straight from page one headlines . . . packs terrific punch." "Eagle Lion has a winner!" '"Canon City' brilliant... told with wallop!" "Plenty of opportunities to cash in!" "Showmanship . . . action ... authenticity-one of the best!" NKWS FLASH! "CANON CITY" SENSATIONAL ...NEW YORK. DENVER, CANON CITY PREMIERES!