The Film Daily (1948)

Wednesday, September 22, 1948 13 Initial French $$ Due This Month (ConHnued from Page 1) and actual payment is expected late this month. Payments, to be made for the next four years, amount to $61f 00 quarterly. v.=^is amount MP A A will hold a sixteenth quarterly in escrow until the matter of overage and underage, now the subject of foreign department talks, is settled. Realart Will Launch Rogers Drive Oct. 4 (Continued from Page 1) manager and winners will share in substantial cash prizes. Branches have been divided into Eastern, Western and Southern divisions, witji separate prizes scheduled for the winner and runer-up in each division. Drive commences Oct. 4 and will run until Feb. 19, 1949. A committee of nine franchise holders, chairmaned by Sherman S. Krellberg, chose the following 12 pictures to fill out the company's 1948-49 program: "It Ain't Hay," "Who Done It," "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon," "The Scarlet Claw," "Mutiny in the Arctic," "Bombay Clipper," "The Invisible Raym," "The Invisible Woman," "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man," "The Mad Ghoul," and "You're a Sweetheart." "A Song Is Born" Into Astor Oct. 19 "A Song Is Born," new Danny Kaye comedy, will have its world ipremiere at the Astor Theater on Oct. 19. Wakefield. Bronx, Sold Wakefield Theater, 1400-seater, and nine stores at 4206-22 White Plains Ave., at the corner of 234th St., Bronx, was sold by the Daniel Houlihan Corp. to a buyer represented by Sheldon Pollock. Sale was subject to a first mortgage of $118,000 held by the Conn. Mutual Life Insurance. Fans Seeh Relaxation Thru Film Attendance Detroit — Average picture goer attends the theater for relaxation, according to a majority of the answers in the contest conducted by UDT at its Woods and Fisher Theaters. Some 500 replies were received in the contest to express views on "What Motion Picture Entertainment Means to Me," Alice Gorham, UDT exploiteer in charge of the contest, reported. Also emphasized were educational aspects of films, and the opportunity to travel while seated in a theater seat. Average entrant reported he attended the theater about twice weekly. ^ RCVKUIS OF TH€ nCUl f ILmS ^ "Jungle Patrol" with Kristine Miller and Arthur Franz. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) 20th-Fox-Frank Seltzer 72 Mins. CORKING DRAMA OF AERIAL WARFARE FINELY PLAYED AND EXPERTLY DIRECTED PACKS TERRIFIC EMOTIONAL WALLOP. This is the story of eight young American fliers, commanded by an "old man" of 22, assigned the task of protecting a jungle air strip in New Guinea and intercepting Jap planes en route lo attack Australia. Frank N. Seltzer has provided excellent, resourceful production values, while Joe Newman's sympathetic, knowing direction gained splendid performances from a cast of comparative newcomers. Kristine Miller, a USO entertainer, who has come to stage a show for the fliers, and Arthur Franz, are the featured players. Gene Reynolds, former juvenile star; Richard Jaeckel, who was with 20th-Fox; Mickey Knox, Harry Lauter, Bill Murphy and Tom Noonan are among the fliers, and Ross Ford enacts the role of the commanding officer. G. Pat Collins plays a sergeant, veteran of three wars,' who has a paternal instinct for all these young fighters. The squadron has unusually good luck against the enemy, accounting for 54 Jap Bombers and 55 Jap Fighters, while not suffering a single loss. In fact, young Jaeckel, a native of Minnesota, compares their charmed existence to what happened in the picture, "Death Takes A Holiday." The fliers are notified of a big Jap raid and go off to do battle. Ford directs the fight over the radio, with Kristine and Franz, who is crippled, intent listeners. Laufer and Murphy are the first to be shot down. Ford turns command over to Franz and takes off to rejoin what's left of the squadron. . The helpless plight of his mates is too much for Franz, and he, too, takes to the air. The entire squadron is wiped out, with the exception of Ford, whose controls and radio were shot away and who crashlanded to get another ship. Just as the Jap bombers come overhead, headquarters announces that the squadron has accomplished its mission — that they held out until a new strip was completed. As Ford and Kristine, who have fallen in love, crouch in a corner, bombs shatter the field. CAST: Kristine Miller, Arthur Franz, Ross Ford, Tom Noonan, Gene Reynolds, Richard Jaeckel, Mickey Knox, Harry Lauter, Bill Murphy, C. Pat CREDITS: Producer, Frank N. Seltzer; Director, Joe Newman; Production Manager, Lewis J. Rachmil; Associate Producer, Hugh King; Based on play by William Bowers; Screenplay, Francis Swann Adaptation, Robertson White; Photography, Mack Stengler; Art Director, Jerome Pycha Jr.; Musical Score, Emil Newman and Arthur Lange; Set Decorations, Alfred E. Spencer; Editor, Bert Jordan; Sound, William M. '■^d'iRECTION: Very Good. PHOTOGRAPHY: Good. Squadron in Membership Drive Show Business Squadron of the Air Force Association has launched a nation-wide membership drive to enlist veterans of the Army Air Force and the U. S. Air Force, nov/ associated with show business and allied fields. Squadron has headquarters at 152 W. 42nd St. "Road House" with Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Celeste Holm, Richard Widmark. 20th-Fox 95 Mins. SUSTAINED DRAMATIC FARE. LUPINO, WILDE, WIDMARK, HOLM IN SOLID ROLES. GOOD PRODUCTION, DIRECTION. LEAD NAMES WILL SPELL SALES EVERYWHERE. It's a skillful job of plot triangulation that is attempted and accomplished in this production. The basic plot has been worked over intelligently. It emerges a sustained dramatic entertainment wherein a collection of people, very wise to the way of the particular world they inhabit become a crew of compelling characters. Their lives and purposes are revealed in section after section of story development and thereby a substantial load of entertainment is delivered. Here for the delectation of the varied tastes of the audience is Ida Lupino, a sultry torchsinger. Her role is a solid one considerably heightened in impact by a trio of songs which she gets over very well. Standout among the tunes is one called "One For My Baby," by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, a couple of tunesmithing names to be respected. Quartet of lead names spells sales at anybody's box office. Production details are excellent and Miss Lupino who does not rush from picture to picture, cuts another creditable notch in her career. Wilde is better than previously. Miss Holm is a convincing and hep foil while Widmark, quite normal at the beginning, reverts to style in the last reel blowing his oft blown top when he gets ginned up and goes a-gunning for Wilde who stole his gal, Ida. At bottom a pat yarn, the high spots are ably knit together in the direction of Negulesco who also makes photography count in creating the right moods. Here also is a barroom brawl, a real nasty one wherein Wilde takes on a lumberjack who takes more than a mild fancy to Miss Lupino. Manager of Widmark's road house, Wilde, after falling in love with Miss Lupino while the boss is away on a hunting trip, is framed by the latter. He is arrested for stealing a week's receipts, found guilty and paroled in Widmark's custody. This immediately after he and Ida planned to run off. It is Widmark's scheme to provoke Wilde into a spot wherein he will get the full rap. But events turn out otherwise, Miss Holm finds evidence that will clear Wilde. This last event takes place at a hunting cabin and tragedy stalks and catches up with Widmark as he goes berserk and murderously pursues Wilde and Ida. It has potboiler elements but also some emoting that comes off a better display in the vein of naturalness. CAST Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Celeste Holm, Richard Widmark, 0. Z. Whitehead, Robert Karnes, George Beranger, Ian MacDonald, Grandon Rhodes. _. , CREDITS: Producer, Edward Chodorov; Director Jean Negulesco; Screenplay, Edward Chodorov, based on a story by Margaret Gruen, Oscar Saul; Music, Cyril Mockridge, Lionel Newman; Arrangements, Herbert Spencer, Ear e Hagen; Photography, Joseph La Shelle; Art, Lyie Wheeler, Maurice Ransford; Sets, Thomas Little; Editor, James B. Clark; Sound, Albert Bruzlin, Harry M. Leonard. ,, DIRECTION: Skillful. PHOTOGRAPHY: Very Good. Pryor in Austrian Spot Roger Pryor will handle television at Foote, Cone & Belding following the resignation of Ralph B. Austrian. Golden Back to Supercinema Siritzky Enterprises will no longer operate the Golden Theater, Sam Siritzky announced yesterday. Operation of the foreign film house will revert to Supercinema, headed by Marcello Girosi. "Symphonie Pastoral" with Micheie Morgan, Pierre Blanchar. Films Int'l 105 Mins. CAN JOIN THE GREAT FRENCH FILMS OF PREVIOUS YEARS: HAS DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCES. LONG STAY AT FOREIGN HOUSES INDICATED. TOP JOB ALL 'ROUND. One of the superior new French productions, "Symphonie Pastoral" has the stature of greatness that has distinguished films from abroad in previous years. It can join the illustrious company of the dozen or so pre-war offerings, still remembered, often brought back. Here Andre Gide's story is brought to superb screen life via profoundly moving performances that are individual achievements. They are of an order that makes for greatness, too, in creative characterizations, moving the spectator at every turn of the portending tragic events. Breaking the ice of the new season in foreign film fare, "Symphonie Pastoral" stands to enjoy lengthy tenancy wherever such films attract an audience of sufficient numbers to warrant playing. On the basis of critical acclaim, the picture might a'sa enjoy a profitable run where it has been demonstrated previously that audiences find the addition of a foreign flavor to their film diet a welcome change. Directed by Jean Delannoy, the Gide tale deals with the rescue and raising of a blind child from primitive surroundings in Alpine country by a kindly country pastor. He enables the child to grow up properly and overcome her handicap to a great extent. Miss Morgan plays the girl grown to beautiful young womanhood who has learned to assist as much as she is able about the pastor's household and lavish much innocent affection upon him. Pierre Blanchar, the clergyman, displays an overt paternal love for the girl while his wife does not seem to quite understand his feelings. The pastor's son falls in love with Mile. Morgan and it is arranged that she be examined by medicos in the event her blindness can be cured. It is hopeful and she undergoes an operation which restores her sight. With the world open to her now, the events take a tragic turn when the girl is torn between her love for Blanchar and the physical aspect of her emotion for his son. Sensing the disruption her presence is causing and the outbreaks of violent argument and breast beating that are occurring in the home of her protectors, the girl takes the easiest way out, commits sucide. Mile. Morgan, Blanchar and Line Noro, heading the cast, render vivid, poignant roles that register for strong impact. It is superior in every sense and will very likely be a high spot of the international film year. CAST: Micheie Morgan, Pierre Blanchar, Line Noro, Louvigny, Jean Desailly, Andree Clement, Rosine Luguet, Mona Dol, Robert Demorget, Helene Dassonville, Germaine Michel, Florence Briere, Albert Glado. CREDITS: Producer, Gide, for Pathe Cinema; Director, Jean Delannoy; Screenplay, Jean Delannoy, Jean Aurenche; Music, Georges Auric; Photography, Roger Corbeau; Sets, Rene Renoux; Production director, Louis Wipf; English titles, Justin O'Brien. DIRECTION: Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY: Very Good. Memphis Censor Bars "Rope" Memphis — Transatlantic Films' "Rope," has been barred from exhibition here by movie censor, Lloyd T. Binford, who termed the picture "too reminiscent of a past brutal and shocking murder."