FilmIndia (1946)

Reviewed In New York By: P. S. HARRISON {Editor: HARRISON'S REPORTS) "ANCHORS A WEIGH" (MGM, no release date set; time, 139 min.) Very good mass entertainment. Photographed in Technicolor, the production is extremely lavish, has good comedy, a romance, tuneful songs, and effective dancing. The story is thin, but it has some human interest, and there are so many humorous situations that one is kept laughing most of the way. The music ranges from classical to popular, featuring the brilliant piano-playing of Jose Iturbi, the crystal-clear singing of Kathryn Grayson, and the "crooning" of Frank Sinatra, who, incidentally, should draw many additional squeals from his "bobby sox" admirers because of his dancing in one sequence. While each of these performers contributes much to the entertainment values, it is Gene Kelly who walks off with the honors; he not only joins Sinatra in singing a few songs, but he also figures importantly in the comedy relief, which he handles effectively, and his dancing is the most impressive thing about the picture, particularly the sequence, in which he dances with a cartoon character as a partner. It is a live action and animation sequ ence, superior to the technique developed by Walt Disne) in "The Three Caballeros." Most of the action takes place in Hollywood, with a few of the scenes staged on the MGM lot, giving the picture a colorful background:— Given a four-day leave from their ship, Kelly and Sinatra go to Hollywood in search of a good time. Sinatra, a shy Brooklyn boy, follows Kelly everywhere, much to his annoyance. As Kelly ponders how to get rid of Sinatra, a policeman compels both of them to accompany him to a police station u ielp him with a little boy (Dean Stockwell), who had run away from home to join the Navy. The youngster agrees to go home if Kelly and Sinatra would accompany him to meet his guardian aunt, Kathryn Grayson, a movie extra who hoped to become a famous singer. At the boy's home, Kelly, noticing that Sinatrt was attracted to Kathryn, tries to further the romance b\ telling her that Sinatra was a good friend of Jose Iturbi. and that he could arrange a screen test for her. The boys, to make good this boast, soon find themselves spending most of their furlough in a futile attempt to meet Iturbi in order to arrange for the test. Meanwhile Kathryn meets Iturbi in the studio commissary and. assuming that he knew all about her, talks excitedly to him about the test. Iturbi, baffled at first, soon guesses what had happened, and he obligingly agrees to make good the boys' promise. As a result of her test, Kathryn becomes a star. It all ends with Kelly in Kathryn's arms, and with Sinatra in the arms of Pamela Britton, a waitress from Brooklyn, who spoke and understood his language. Isobel Lennart wrote the screen play, Joe Pasternak produced it, and George Sidney directed it. The cast includes "Rags" Raglund, Billy Gilbert. Carlos Ramirez and others. "CONFIDENTIAL AGENT" (Warner Bros. Nov. 10; time, 118 min.) With Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall heading the cast, "Confidential Agent" may do well at the box-office; as entertainment, it ranges from fair to good, but, because of its anti-fascist theme, which is somewhat outdated, it will probably be received by most picture-goers with mixed feelings. The action revolves around a Spanish Loyalist agent, who comes to England in 1937, at the time of the Spanish Civil War, to prevent agents of the Spanish Fascists from obtaining shipments of English coal. The story is filled with intrigue, has many exciting moments, and is for the most part interesting, but it will not stand up under a close analysis, for it leans too heavily on coincidence. Frequently, the action bogs down. Moreover, too much time is taken to establish the story. As a matter of fact, some judicious cutting could reduce the overlong run ning time. The performances aTe generally good, with Peter Lorre contributing an outstanding characterization of a frightened traitor. Lauren Bacall, who showed much promise in "To Have and Have Not," is somewhat disappointing; she overacts. The production values are first rate: — Arriving in England to negotiate with a British coal magnate to prevent the sale of coal to the Fascists, Boyer. a Loyalist agent, meets Lauren Bacall, the magnate's aloof daughter, who unaware of his identity or mission, offers him a lift to London. They are followed by Victor Francen. a ruthless Fascist agent, whose chauffeur thrashes Boyer in an unsuccessful attempt to steal his credentials. In London, Boyer makes contact with two co-agents. Katina Paxinou, owner of a small hotel, and Peter Lorre. only to discover that both had turned traitor, having been bribed by Francen. When he refuses to join them, they murder a 14-year-old servant girl, whom Boyer had befriended, and frame him on a fake murder charge. Meanwhile Francen's henchmen steel Boyer's credentials, preventing him from negotiating with Lauren's father. Determined to see his mission through, and to avenge the murder of the young girl, Boyer, aided by Lauren, who had become sympathetic to his cause, eludes the police. Through a series of strange adventures, he tracks down both Katina and Lorre and, without being directly responsible for their deaths, has the satisfaction of seeing them die. Then, upon learning that Francen had concluded a deal with Lauren's father, Boyer goes directly to the coal miners and makes an impassioned plea to them not to mine the coal. The English papers publicize his action and condemn the coal magnate, compelling him to cancel the contract. His mission fulfilled, Boyer, still wanted by the police, is helped to escape from England by Lauren, who joins him on a tr/mp steamer. Robert Buc'kner produced it, and Herman Shumlin directed it. The cast includes Wanda Hendrix, George Coulouris, John Warburton, George Zucco and others. Unobjectionable morally. g