Harrison's Reports (1949)

December 3, 1949 HARRISON'S REPORTS 195 "The Lady Takes a Sailor" with Jane Wyman and Dennis Morgan (Warner Bros., Dec. 24; time, 99 min.) A pretty good romantic comedy-farce, despite a zany story. The comedy stems from the embarrassment en' countered by Jane Wyman, a famous research director with a reputation for telling the truth, who, after an overnight disappearance, is unable to convince the press that she had become involved in a strange but true underseas adventure with a sailor named "Davey Jones." How she goes about finding the sailor and obtaining proof of her adventure is played out in broad style, with the accent on slapstick, but all of it manages to be genuinely amusing. Although the story is nonsensical, it has been developed in so comical a fashion that it holds one's attention throughout. Moreover, the direction is expert, and the acting is zestful: — As the director of a consumer's research institute, Jane Wyman seeks to obtain a permanent endowment from Robert Douglas, a philanthropist. She succeeds, but the ordeal leaves her weary, and she is persuaded by Allyn Joslyn, her stuffy fiance, to go to the beach home of Eve Arden, her friend, for a rest. While sailing on Long Island Sound, Jane's boat is wrecked when Dennis Morgan comes to the surface in a strange amphibious underseas tank. He takes her aboard and submerges because of an oncoming storm. He identifies himself as "David Jones," and tells her that he is studying undersea life. Actually, he was working on a top-secret government project. When Jane takes some snapshots against his wishes, Morgan tricks her into taking two sleeping pills. While she is sound asleep, he removes the film from the camera, deposits her on the beach, and slips away. The Coast Guard, after searching all night, find Jane in a dazed condition. When she reveals that she had spent the night in an underseas tank with "Davey Jones," the newspapers make sport of the story, endangering the grant of the endowment. Meanwhile Morgan is warned by his superiors not to verify Jane's story lest it endanger the progress of the project. Determined to prove that she was not lying, Jane succeeds in locating Morgan and hires Tom Tully, a private detective, to trail him and retrieve her film. This sets off a wild series of slapstick escapades in which possession of the film keeps going from one to the other until Jane discovers that Morgan was trying to cover up a secret government project. By this time she finds herself deeply in love with Morgan, and gladly forsakes the Institute, the endowment, and her stuffy fiance to become bis bride. It was produced by Harry Kurnitz and directed by Michael Curtiz from a screen play by Everett Freeman, based on a story by Jerry Gruskin. The cast includes Lina Romay, Stanley Prager and others. Good for the entire family. "The Pirates of Capri" with Louis Hay ward and Binnie Barnes (Film Classics, Dec. 1; time, 94 min.) A fairly good period adventure melodrama, produced in Italy on a spectacular scale. It should go over well with those who are not too demanding, for what it lacks in the way of a substantial plot and realistic characterizations is made up for by the fast-moving and exciting action, which is replete with hairbreadth escapes, mob scenes, and thrilling swordplay. As a Neopolitan nobleman who secretly leads the people of Naples in a revolt against the monarchy in the year 1799, Louis Hay ward plays the role to the hilt; his swashbuckling bravado and his feats of daring are enough to tax one's credulity, but they should please the adventure-loving fans. The colorful costumes and the actual settings are magnificent: — Hayward, a foppish favorite of the Queen of Naples (Binnie Barnes), is actually the masked leader of The Pirates of Capri, a secret organization of patriots pledged to restore freedom to the people. He leads an assault on a Bourbon ship carrying arms and ammunition to the police, headed by Ralph Serato, a corrupt nobleman. Learning that the arms cargo had been taken, the Queen fears an attack and decides to flee to Palermo, but Serato advises against escape and suggests that she remain and attend a ball given by Hayward in honor of Mariella Lotti, a countess, whom the Queen had chosen as Hayward's fiancee. Mariella, a passenger on the ship that had been raided, had become fascinated with the masked leader of the Pirates without realizing that he is Hayward. Prior to the ball, Serato raids the headquarters of the rebel movement, capturing many participants and falsely announcing that he had made their secret leader his prisoner. Mariella pleads with the inwardly amused Hayward to intercede with the Queen in the masked leader's behalf. On the night of the ball, Hayward, through a daring scheme, sets in motion a jail break. The liberated political prisoners launch an attack against the palace. As the Queen prepares to flee, Hayward reveals to her that he is the secret leader, and guarantees her safety when she agrees to sign a decree granting fair rights to the people. Serato, seeking to retain his power, orders his guards to seize Hayward. This leads to a terrific duel in which Hayward finally kills Serato while his followers subdue the palace guards. Mariella embraces Hayward while the people rejoice in their new-found liberties. It was produced by Victor Pahlen and directed by Edgar Ulmer from an original story by G. A. Colonna and George Moser, based on an idea by Mr. Pahlen. The cast includes Alan Curtis, Mikhail Rasumny and others. Suitable for the family. "The Hasty Heart" with Ronald Reagan, Patricia Neal and Richard Todd (Warner Bros., Jan. 14; time, 101 min.) A powerful British-made drama, brilliantly directed and superbly acted. It will undoubtedly prove to be a strong box-office attraction because of word-of-mouth advertising. Based on the successful stage play of the same name, and filmed almost entirely in the setting of a British military hospital in Burma, it is a gripping character study of a lonely and embittered young Scotch corporal who, unaware that he had but a few weeks to live, repulses the efforts of his five hospital buddies and of his nurse to be friendly. As the surly Scot who is suspicious of every friendly gesture and whose arrogant attitude provokes beyond endurance all who seek to make his last days happy ones, Richard Todd, a British newcomer, turns in a masterful perform' ance. The manner in which he is made to realize that he cannot live happily without human companionship is touching and frequently moving. It is a poignant tale, at once heart-warming and tragic, with just the right touches of comedy to relieve the tension. A most powerful scene is where Ronald Reagan, one of the understanding patients, denounces Todd and brings him to his senses. Patricia Neal, as the nurse, is first-rate: — Wounded in the closing days of the war, Todd recovers after a successful operation but is not told that he will soon die. He is ordered to remain at the hospital for observation and is assigned to a ward with five other soldier patients, including Ronald Reagan, an American; John Sherman, an Australian; Orlando Martins, a Basuto Negro from Africa; Ralph Michael, a Zealander; and Howard Marion-Crawford, a Cockney. Before Todd moves into the ward, the commanding officer informs the five soldiers and their nurse (Patricia Neal) of Todd's condition and asks them to make his last days happy. All six do everything they can to be nice to Todd, but he bluntly repulses them, and tells them that he wants no friends because he refuses to be indebted to any one. He irritates them all beyond endurance, but Patricia, gentle and sympathetic, keeps the others under control and persuades them to make another attempt at friendship by presenting Todd with a full Highland dress, including kilts, on his birthday. Overwhelmed by this gesture, Todd breaks down and reveals that he had been homeless and friendless all his life. He then becomes one of them and even falls in love with Patricia, to whom he proposes. She agrees to marry him. Shortly thereafter, the commanding officer tells him the truth about his condition, and offers to send him back to Scotland, if he so desires, to spend his remaining days. Convinced that Patricia and the others had been kind to him out of pity, Todd reverts to his former attitude and refuses to have anything to do with them. He returns the birthday gift and prepares to go home to Scotland. But he becomes so obnoxious before his departure that Reagan, losing his temper, gives him a severe tongue lashing. The reprimand makes him see the value of true friendship, and he humbly begs them to let him remain so that he may die among friends. It was produced and directed by Vincent Sherman from a screen play by Ranald MacDougall, based on the stage play by John Patrick. Fine for the entire family. The Legion of Decency has announced that 'Warner Brothers' "Beyond the Forest" has been removed from its "C" or "Condemned" classification and placed in the "B" or "Morally Objectionable in Part for All" category. The announcement was accompanied by the following notation and reason: "Revisions made in this film are deemed sufficient to remove, in a substantial manner, the original objection of the Legion of Decency. 'Beyond the Forest.' however, still contains suggestive costuming and situation!."