Harrison's Reports (1943)

124 July 31, 1943 "Melody Parade" with Eddie Quillan and Mary Beth Hughes (Monogram. August 27; time, 76 min.) An entertaining progiurn comedy with music and dancing. It has been given better-than-average production values, and most of the individual performances are good. But not much can be said for the story, which is extremely silly and at times tiresome. The action takes place in a night-club, which provides the setting for the lively song and dance numbers. "Tim and Irene," of radio fame, take a prominent part in the action and are good for many laughs. Among those doing specialty number are Armida, Jerry Cooper, the Morgan Boys, and the Ruloff trio. In addition, there is the pleasant singing of Mary Beth Hughes. The music is furnished by Anson Weeks and his orchestra. Obviously included for marquee value is Ted Fiorita and his orchestra, who play one number; this brief appearance may prove disappointing to their followers: — When his financial backer dies, Tim Ryan, night-club owner, is faced with bankruptcy. Eddie Quillan, busboy and would-be agent, tries to get an audition for Mary Beth Hughes, the club's hat-check girl, but Ryan is in no mood to listen to her singing. Ryan is visited by Irene Ryan, scatter-brained grandnicce of his former backer. The night-club owner assumes that she had inherited her granduncle's fortune, and that she would finance the club. Actually, Irene's Aunt was the heir. Ryan succeeds in holding off the creditors, and Quillan sells Irene the idea of engaging Andre Chariot, Broadway impressario, to revamp the show. After Chariot's arrival, Irene's financial status is found out, and the creditors threaten to close the club once again. But Irene receives an offer of two million dollars for one of her granduncle's inventions and, on the strength of this offer, the creditors allows the club to remain open. Quillan and Irene want Mary to sing in the show, but Armida, the singing star, has a contract prohibiting other female singers. Quillan, with the aid of Manton Morcland, a colored porter, manages to get Armida intoxicated, and Mary is called upon to sing in her place. She is hailed by the critics, and the show is an outstanding success. A tdegram arrives for Irene withdrawing the two million dollar offer. But Ryan, on the road to prosperity, refuses to be downhearted. Tim Ryan and Charles Marion wrote the screen play, Lindley Parsons produced it, and Arthur Dreifus directed it. Morally suitable for all. "Here Comes Kelly" with Eddie Quillan and Joan Woodbury (Monogram, August 20; time, 64 mm.) Audiences who are not too discriminating will enjoy this program comedy. Although the story is thin, it is entertaining and holds one's attention, because of the amusing situations and steady action. Eddie Quillan, as a cocky young man with an uncontrollable temper, makes the most of his role; he provokes much laughter by the predicaments he gets himself into. Sidney Miller and Maxie Rosenbloom contribute to the comedy. Quillan, though a militant sort, makes of himself a likeable character. There is some romance. Much to the disappointment of Mary Gordon, his mother, and Joan Woodbury, his sweetheart, Eddie Quillan is unable to hold a job, because of his ungovernable temper. On the advice of Ian Keith, a lawyer for whom Joan worked, Quillan resolves to study law, but the idea soon peters out. With the aid of Sidney Miller, his pal, Quillan becomes a process server. He becomes involved with Armida, a nightclub singer, on whom he serves a summons, thus causing a rift between Joan and himself. Moreover, Quillan resented the attentions paid by Keith to Joan. Quillan and Miller are sent to work for the district attorney on an oil investigation, and are delegated to serve subpoenas on "Trixie Bell" and a mysterious "No. 7." "Trixie Bell" turns out to be Maxie Rosenbloom, a gangster, who, while intoxicated, reveals that "No. 7" is none other than Keith, Joan's employer, who headed the oil swindlers. Learning that Keith and Joan were leaving for Montreal on a business trip, Quillan rushes down to the railroad station, arriving in time to save Joan from Keith's improper advances, and to serve the summons on the swindler. The following day, as Joan and Quillan prepare to get married. Quillan receives his induction notice. Knowing that Quillan never held a job for more than two months, Quillan's mother assures Joan that the war will soon be over. Charles R. Marion wrote the screen play, Linsley Parsons produced it, and William Beaudine directed it. Morally suitable for all. "Headin' for God's Country" with William Lundigan and Virginia Dale (Republic, August 12; time, 78 mm.) In spite of the fact that the story is far-fetched and, in many spots, inconsistent, this program outdoor melodrama with a war angle should get by with the action fans. The .scene is an Alaskan village, and the action, which takes place immediately before Pearl Harbor, revolves around a mysterious young stranger who perpetrates a war hoax on the unfriendly natives, thus causing them to organize defense preparations that eventually enable them to fight off a Ja panese raiding party. The closing scene, where the Japs are beaten, are exciting. It has a good sprinkling of comedy, and the performances are good: — When William Lundigan appears mysteriously in Sunivak, an isolated Alaskan village, the few white inhabitants resent his presence; supplies, which arrived twice a year, were limited. Lundigan, who did not talk, was suspected of having struck a rich claim. Virginia Dale, who operated the local weather station, and Harry Davenport, the town barber and printer, befriend Lundigan, and save him from being sentenced as a vagrant. Virginia's radio receiving set, the only one in town, is put out of commission when Harry Shannon, cannery owner and -secret axis agent, steals the tubes. As a result, the town is cut off from the outside world. To get even with the residents for having treated him badly, Lundigan, using Davenport's printing press, fakes a copy of a Seattle newspaper announcing that the United States was at war. A furor of defense preparations begins immediately, much to Lundigan's amusement. Incensed at Lundigan's unpatriotic behaviour, the residents want to jail him, but he saves himself by pointing out grave defects in their preparations. Meanwhile, known only to Shannon, Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. Eventually, the townspeople learn of Lundigan's hoax, and he leaves town to save himself. In fleeing, he comes upon a Japanese raiding party, led by Shannon, headed for the village. He races back and, after some difficulties, convinces the villagers that he was telling the truth. With the aid of American planes, which Virginia had summoned by radio, the villagers annihilate the Japs. Elizabeth Meehan and Houston Branch wrote the screen play, Armand Schaefer produced it, and William Morgan directed it. Morally suitable for all. "What's Buzzin' Cousin?" with Ann Miller, Freddy Martin and "Rochester" (Columbw, July 8; time, 75 min.) A tiresome comedy with music; at best, it is suitable for the lower half of a double bill. The popularity of Ann Miller, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Freddy Martin's orchestra may help at the box-office, but most patrons will find it a boring entertainment, because of the inanity of the story, the trite dialogue, and the undistinguished music. In spite of the fact that the title indicates otherwise, the music and dancing are not of the "jive" variety; this may prove disappointing to the "jitterbug" trade. "Rochester" gives the film a few amusing moments, but for the most part his talents are wasted on unfunny gags. No fault can be found with Ann Miller's dancing: — Taking along Rochester (Eddie Anderson) as handyman, Freddy Martin and his orchestra travel to New York by trailer. They run out of gas in a ghost town, and spend the night in a deserted hotel. The following morning, Ann Miller, Leslie Brooks, Jeff Donnell, and Carol Hughes arrive to claim the hotel. Ann had inherited the property and the girls had pooled their savings to pay off the debts, intending to operate the hotel. Shocked at learning that the hotel was in a ghost town, Ann is dejected. John Hubbard, wealthy singer with the band, offers to help. He redecorates the hotel at his own expense, and persuades Martin to stay on. Business is poor until Rochester discovers a gold nugget while digging a victory garden. Hubbard publicizes the incident, and the town comes to life. Meanwhile Bradley Page, a gangster, plots to gain control of the property. One day, while Hubbard is away, he succeeds in buying the property from the girls, over Ann's protests. Hubbard, believing that Ann had double-crossed him, quarrels with her. She returns his investment, and leaves him. A few days later, Hubbard discovers that the gold nugget Rochester had found was his own tooth-filling. Hubbard, realizing that he treated Ann unjustly, sings to her over the radio, and wins back her love. Harry Sauber wrote the screen play. Jack Fier produced it, and Charles Barton directed it. The cast includes Theresa Harris, Warren Ashe and others. Morally suitable for all.