Harrison's Reports (1947)

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26 HARRISON'S REPORTS February 15, 1947 "Suddenly It's Spring" with Paulette Goddard and Fred MacMurray (Paramount, March 21; time, 87 mm.) This domestic comedy has its share of foolishness, but it is sufficiently gay and witty to keep audiences fairly well entertained. The story is thin; but it serves well enough as a means of putting across the broad and sophisticated comedy situations, which, though repititious, provoke considerable laughter. Most of the comedy stems from Fred MacMurray's efforts to obtain his wife's signature on a divorce consent. Although one knows that it will all end with their reconciliation, one is kept amused because of the many tricks both resort to — he to obtain the signature, and she to win back his love. Paulette Goddard, as the wife, handles her role in capable fashion, and her elaborate wardrobe should prove an attraction to both sexes: — Paulette, a WAG captain, returns from overseas and finds MacMurray, her husband, who had been released from the army several months previously, waiting for her to grant him a divorce so that he could marry Arlene Whelan. Both had agreed to a separation before the war, but now Paulette, as an army marital relations expert, felt that a divorce would make her look ridiculous. Besides, she still loved MacMurray and wanted to give their marriage another trial. She manages to elude his persistent efforts to get her signature on a divorce consent, and finally escapes him when she is ordered to proceed from New York to Fort Sheridan, Illinois. MacMurray, nagged by Arlene to get Paulette's signature, follows her onto the train, accompanied by his pal, MacDonald Carey, who, too, was interested in the signature, since he wanted Paulette for himself. On the long journey, MacMurray resorts to all sorts of tricks to obtain the signature, but Paulette remains adamant, despite his many attempts to embarrass her by posing as an obnoxious boor, in the hope that such tactics would make her glad to get rid of him. She eventually gives up hope of winning him back and signs the papers, leaving the division of their property to his discretion. As they divide the house furnishings in their New York apartment, with Arlene and Carey present, the estranged couple come across several sentimental souvenirs and begin to reminisce over them. It soon dawns on them that they had been fighting over trivial matters and that they were truly in love with one another. Convinced that they hadn't given their marriage a fair trial, they agree to start all over again. Claude Binyon and P. J. Wolfson wrote the screen play from Mr. Wolfson's original story. Mr Binyon produced it, and Mitchell Leiscn directed it. The cast includes Frank Faylen, Willie Best and others. Unobjectionable morally. "The Thirteenth Hour" with Richard Dix and Karen Morley (Columbia, no release date set; time, 65 min.) This latest in the "Whistler" series is a routine program murder melodrama. The story, which tries to keep the audience guessing, is rather complex and unbelievable, but it will serve its purpose as a second feature in small-town and neighborhood houses, where patrons go for this type of melodrama, regardless of story values. In spite of the fact that the plot is far-fetched, it manages to hold one in suspense because of the mystery twist, which is not cleared up until the end, but most patrons will have no difficulty identifying the culprit by the time the picture is half over:— Richard Dix, a truck driver who owned his own trucking firm, becomes engaged to Karen Morley, who operated a diner with the aid of Mark Dennis, her 12-year-old son. After celebrating the occasion with a drink, Dix drives off in his truck and, to avoid a collision, smashes into a gas station. Regis Toomey, a motorcycle policeman, who, too, was in love with Karen, arrests Dix for drunken driving and brings about a suspension of his license. Jim Bannon, Dix's competitor, trys to buy him out. Dix refuses, and Bannon threatens to break him. Dix operates from his desk until one night, when he decides to drive the truck himself because one of his men became ill. A mysterious assailant, hidden in the truck, knocks Dix unconscious, takes the wheel, and then uses the truck to kill Tourney, who had overtaken it for speeding. Dix recovers and struggles with his assailant, but the man escapes, leaving behind a glove. Afraid that the truth about Tooniey's murder would not be believed, Dix goes into hiding. He gives the glove to Karen for safekeeping, and, suspecting that Bannon had something to do with the crime, arranges for John Kellogg, his mechanic, to obtain a job in Bannon's garage in order to keep a watch on his (Bannon's) affairs. Meanwhile matters become more complicated when Karen discovers a cache of diamonds in the thumb of the glove. After a series of complex events, involving a waitress in Karen's diner, Dix discovers that his mysterious assailant was none other than his own mechanic, Kellogg, who had murdered Toomey because he was on the trail of the stolen diamonds, and wanted his death to appear as a crime committed by Dix. He manages to trap Kellogg with the aid of Karen's son, and the reward for finding the diamonds enables him to go back into business. Edward Buck and Raymond L. Schrock wrote the screen play from a story by Leslie Edgley. Rudolph Flothow produced it, and William Clemens directed it. Unobjectionable morally. "The Arnelo Affair" with John Hodiak, George Murphy and Francis Gifford (MCM, no release date set; time, 86 min.) A strong murder melodrama, with an unusual twist. But, because of the theme, it is strictly adult fare. One cannot help feeling sympathy for the heroine, who, because of a dull married life, accepts the attentions of a handsome gangster, only to find herself innocently embroiled in a murder, which he uses to compel her to continue the affair against her wishes. Through expert direction and capable performances, one is kept in suspense throughout wondering how she will solve her problem. Since there is no mystery about who committed the crime, one's interest lies in the methods employed by the gangster to keep the heroine tied to him, and in the manner in which her husband, made aware of her dilemma, comes to her rescue. And, in spite of the fact that there is more talk than action, one's attention is held tight: — Although devoted to his wife, Francis Gifford, and to their son, Dean Stockwell, George Murphy is so obsessed with his law practice that he finds little time for them. When he brings home a client, John Hodiak, a handsome night-club operator, Francis, longing for a change in her routine life, become pleased with the attentions Hodiak pays her. Almost hypnotically attracted, she goes to him on the following day when he invites her to visit his apartment. Her fascination for Hodiak drives her to see him daily until one day she encounters in his apartment Joan Woodbury, one of his discarded girl-friends, who warns her that she, too, would be cast aside. Just then Hodiak enters and slaps Joan. Francis flees, leaving behind her compact. On the following day Joan is found murdered, with Francis' compact by her side. Hodiak, under threat of revealing that she owned the compact, tries to compel Francis to continue seeing him. Meanwhile Murphy, through a series of different circumstances, learns of Francis' relationship with Hodiak and of her involvement in the murder. He confronts Hodiak, who admits his love for Francis and threatens to turn her in for murder if he (Murphy) interferes. Distraught, but refusing to believe that Francis' was a murderess, Murphy starts an investigation of his own and discovers positive evidence linking Hodiak with the crime. Hodiak, arrested for the murder, tries to escape only to be shot down by the police. Murphy returns home to find Francis recovering from an overdose of sleeping pills, with which she had tried to end her life. Realizing that his indifference had driven her to Hodiak, he assures her of his love. Arch Oboler wrote and directed the screen play, based on a story by Jane Burr. Jerry Bresler produced it. The cast includes Eve Arden, Warner Anderson, Lowell Gilmore and others.