Harrison's Reports (1946)

"January 12, 1946 HARRISON'S REPORTS 7 range," the cattlemen, headed by Dick Curtis, burn out their camp and kill several persons. Lloyd Bridges, youthful leader of the homesteaders, convinces his followers that they must block the cattle trail with barbed wire to make the country safe for them and their families. This action incurs the wrath of the cattlemen, causing them to stampede their herds through the wire. Scott, realising that the time for a showdown had come, convinces the merchants that it would be to their ultimate benefit to support the homesteaders and to drive the lawless element away from the town. Keeping his forces in check, Scott permits the cattlemen to riot and wreck their own side of the street before he attempts to arrest Curtis. The cattle baron resists and is slain by Scott. Confused by the loss of their leader, and by Scott's cool but determined warning that they leave immediately, the cattlemen ride out of town quietly. With law and order restored to the town, it all ends with Ann in Scott's arms, and with Rhonda in Bridges' arms. Harold Shumate wrote the screen play from the novel "Trail Town" by Ernest Haycox, Jules Levey produced it, and Edwin L. Marin directed it. The cast includes Edgar Buchanan, Helen Boice, Howard Free' man and others. "Whistle Stop" with George Raft, Victor McLaglen and Ava Gardner (United Artists, Jan. 25; time, 85 min.) A somber, unpleasant crime melodrama. There is little to recommend it as entertainment, for its story about the seamy side of life in a small town is sordid as well as hackneyed, and not one of the characters is sympathetic. The hero is a shiftless gambler with no redeeming features, and the heroine, a woman of questionable background, plays him against a shady bistro owner to win his love. Another drawback, insofar as the masses is concerned, is the slow-moving action. Low-key photography and subtle directorial touches have been resorted to in an effort to give the proceedings tenseness and meaningness, but the picture on the whole is so confused and vague that it fails either to excite one or to hold one's interest : — After an absence of two years in a big city, Ava Gardner returns to her "whistle stop" home-town to take up her romance with George Raft, a shiftless but handsome fellow. Keenly disappointed to find that Raft had not changed his ways, Ava permits Tom Conway, a night-club owner, to resume the lavish attentions he had once paid her. Raft, in love with Ava, realizes that he must have money in order to win her. Accordingly, he falls in with a plan proposed by Victor McLaglen, Conway's ex-convict bartender, who suggests that they waylay Conway, and rob and kill him. Ava, learning of the plot, prevents its consumation and induces Raft to accept a job at honest labor. Conway, insanely jealous over Raft's winning of Ava, and suspicious of the attempt made on his life, engineers an elaborate trap to dispose of Raft and McLaglen. He stages a fake robbery at his cafe, murders his "bouncer," then invites Raft and McLaglen to come to the cafe for a friendly chat. He sets off a burglar alarm as they arrive, forcing both to flee from the police as murder suspects. In the chase that follows, Raft is wounded badly, but he and McLaglen manage to escape on a freight train to St. Louis, where both are given refuge in the home of a friend. McLaglen, to disprove Raft's accusation that he was a double-crosser, in league with Conway, returns to town alone and, after furnishing Ava with evidence to clear Raft, visits Conway at the cafe. They kill each other in the ensuing fight. Raft's name cleared, Ava entrains for St. Louis to start life with him anew. Philip Yordan wrote the screen play from the novel by Maritta M. Wolff, Seymour Nebenzal produced it, and Leonide Moguy directed it. The cast includes Jorja Curtright, Florence Bates and others. Unsuitable for children. "My Reputation" with Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent (Warner Bros., Jan. 26; time, 94 min.) A powerful romantic drama, with a particular appeal for women. It will probably do outstanding business, for it is the sort of picture your patrons will recommend to their friends after leaving the theatre. Dealing with the dilemna of an attractive young widow, who, seeking to make a new life for herself, finds herself torn between love for a kind-hearted, handsome army officer, and her two schoolboy sons' attitude toward her desire for him, the story is one that constantly plays on the emotions, often bringing forth tears. Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow, is superb; she wins the spectator's unbounded sympathy by her devotion to her children and by the manner in which she conducts herself, despite malicious gossip about her romance with George Brent, the officer. The elegantly mounted production, the capable performances, and the intelligent direction make it a drama of distinction : — Grief-stricken over the sudden death of her husband, Barbara, a charming cultivated young woman, finds her life made more difficult by her domineering mother (Lucille Watson), who insists that she wear mourning clothes and lead the life of a recluse. Barbara resists her mother and devotes herself to her two sons (Scotty Beckett and Bobby Cooper). Engulfed by ioneliness when the boys go off to school, Barbara accepts an invitation from friends to spend a week-end at a winter resort. There she meets Brent, who wastes no time pressing his attentions on her. Her stand-offishness causes a quarrel between them, but weeks later, when they meet again in Chicago, Barbara drops her reserve and they soon become deeply attached, despite Brent's assertion that he was not the marrying sort. They have a gay time in the weeks that follow, with Barbara ignoring her mother's unwarranted protests, and dismissing blithely malicious gossip by family friends about her affair with Brent. Eventually, her sons overhear the gossip and confront her with it. When she refuses to make denials, they believe the gossip to be true. That night, New Year's Eve, Barbara learns that Brent had to leave for New York on orders to go overseas. She decides to accompany him, and informs her sons of her decision. Disillusioned, they run away to their grandmother's home. Barbara rushes there and, after pouring out her heart to them, wins back their love and understanding. She keeps her rendezvous with Brent at the railroad station, but informs him of her decision to remain at home with her boys. Brent, appreciative of her dilemna, asks her to marry him when he returns from overseas. Catherine Turney wrote the screen play from the novel "Instruct My Sorrows" by Clare Jaynes. Henry Blankc produced it, and Curtis Bernhardt directed it. The cast includes Warner Anderson, John Ridgely, Eve Arden, Esther Dale, Jerome Cowan and others. Unobjectionable morally.