Harrison's Reports (1949)

April 23, 1949 HARRISON'S REPORTS 67 and persuades her father to withdraw his legal business from him. She then makes a play for Peggy's boyfriend, McDonald, and Peggy, peeved, accepts the attentions of Vallin. Meanwhile Litel succeeds in barring Peggy and her young friends from Shamrock Hill. The vindictive Trudy goes out of her way to embarrass Peggy and her family at a party. Peggy, enraged, upbraids Litel for having closed the Hill to her and her friends, and obtains his promise to reopen the Hill if the leprechauns should perform a miracle. In the meantime McDonald comes to the realisation that Trudy and Vallin were still in love. On the following day all visit the Hill and find it a mass of flowers, with fountains, benches, and mended fences. Peggy believes it to be a miracle, unaware that it was the handiwork of McDonald. Litel, aware that he had been tricked, graciously keeps his promise to Peggy and reopens the Hill. It all ends with Litel buying a television invention from Peggy's father, and with Peggy and McDonald, and Trudy and Vallin, pairing off. The story is an original by Arthur Hoerl, who wrote the screen play with McElbert Moore. It was produced and directed by Arthur Dreifuss. Suitable for the entire family. "The Lost Tribe" with Johnny Weissmuller (Columbia, May; time, 72 min.) This second in the new "Jungle Jim" series of adventure melodramas is a fair picture of its kind and should make a suitable secondary feature in doublebilling situations. Like most low-budget jungle pictures, the story, though far-fetched, is played straight, but it should satisfy the undiscriminating action fans, for it is replete with wild animal scenes and there are numerous thrilling situations that show Johnny Weissmuller, the hero, in mortal combat with the denizens of the jungle, such as a battle to the death with a huge alligator, and saving the heroine from an attack by man-eating lions. All in all, it is a picture for those who are not concerned with a plot's implausibilities as long as it has a fair share of excitement : — Nelson Leigh, patriarchal head of the secret jungle village of Dzamm, where the adornments of an ancient temple were encrusted with diamonds, dispatches his daughter (Elena Verdugo) to find Johnny Weismuller, who lived in the jungle, and seek his aid in preventing the desecration and pillage of the village by white traders who had learned of its secret. Weissmuller, after saving Elena from an attack by lions, is conducted by her to Dzamm, where he agrees to her father's proposal that he take to the white traders at an African port of call a gift of a sack of diamonds in the hope that it would satisfy their greed and ward off an invasion. Unknown to Weissmuller, Paul Marion, Elena's brother, was the unwitting betrayer of his people because of a passion he had conceived for Myrna Dell, supposed "niece" of Joseph Vitale, a shady trader at the port settlement. Marion's jeweled gifts to Myrna had whetted the greed of Vitale and his partner, Rudolph Dunn. Weissmuller divided the sack of diamonds between Vitale and Dunn, but they overpower and imprison him. They then kill Myrna when she tries to help him. Elena, worried about Weissmuller, comes to the settlement and is captured by Vitale and Dunn, who compel Weissmuller to lead them and their henchmen to the secret village lest they murder Elena. In Dzamm, many wild animals, Weissmuller's friends, come to his aid and either kill off or rout the invaders in a spectacular battle. Although the village had been pillaged and almost destroyed, the peaceful natives look forward with faith and courage that it will rise again. Arthur Hoerl wrote the story and collaborated on the screen play with Don Martin. It was produced by Sam Katzman and directed by William Berke. Unobjectionable morally. "The Stratton Story" with James Stewart, June Allyson and Frank Morgan (MGM, May; time, 106 min.) A stirring, heart-warming human interest drama, expertly directed and flawlessly acted by an excellent cast. Biographical of the life of Monty Stratton, the Chicago White Sox baseball pitcher whose sensational career was cut short following amputation of his right leg injured in a hunting accident, the story, which begins with his sand lot days and ends with his triumphant return to baseball despite his handicap, is, though tragic, highly inspirational. It is a wholesome entertainment, the kind that will have wide appeal, for it has tears and laughter, an exceedingly charming romance, and considerable excitement and suspense in the colorful baseball sequences. James Stewart, as Stratton, gives an outstanding performance; his characterization is highly sympathetic and lovable, and for that reason one is left with a lump in his throat when he is struck down by his tragic accident. June Allyson is completely winning as his wife, and excellent also are Agnes Moorehead, as his mother, and Frank Morgan, as a baseball has-been who recognizes his talent and develops it: — Barney Wile (Frank Morgan), a former big leaguer now a hobo, sees Stratton win a sand lot ball game in Greenville, Texas, and tells him that he should try out with a major league team. Stratton invites Wile to spend the winter as a helping hand on his farm, and during the next few months, between farm chores, Wile coaches him on the fine points of pitching. With the coming of Spring, Stratton, over the objections of his practical-minded mother, hitch-hikes to California with Wile. There, Jimmy Dykes, the White Sox manager and an old acquaintance of Wile's, gives him a tryout and signs him to a contract. During training, Stratton meets and falls in love with Ethel (June Allyson) before the season's opening in Chicago. He is knocked out of the box by the N. Y. Yankees on his first appearance and sent to a farm team for seasoning. Recalled after he makes an impression in the minor league, Stratton marries Ethel and returns to Chicago. He becomes the freshman sensation of the league and by the next season wins great fame and becomes the father of a son. But with a brilliant future ahead tragedy strikes when Stratton, hunting on his farm, accidentally shoots himself in the leg, which is amputated in order to save his life. He loses all interest in life until he sees his young son trying to take his first steps. He resolves to learn to walk along with the boy, and soon masters the use of an artificial leg. Under Ethel's prodding, he learns to pitch with his old-time fire, despite his handicap, and arranges to play in an all-star game. He pitches masterful ball and wins the game. The acclaim of the crowd gives him new courage to live again. It was produced by Jack Cummings and directed by Sam Wood from a screen play by Douglas Morrow and Guy Trosper, based on Mr. Morrow's story. Excellent for the entire family.