Harrison's Reports (1950)

January 7, 1950 3 of her own predicament, Dorothy agrees. She plays up to Mohr and eventually learns the details of how his organisation operated, and learns also that he was buying protection from Larry J. Blake and Charles Cane, two crooked detectives. When Mohr proposes marriage to her, Dorothy comes to the realization that she was truly in love with him. She goes to Rockwell and informs him that she intended to tell Mohr the truth about her spying on him. Meanwhile the two detectives, learning that Dorothy was working with Rockwell, obtain incriminating evidence against Mohr and plan to kill him for "resisting" arrest. But first they tell him that Dorothy was the double-crosser, and that he must leave town immediately. Dorothy, learning of their plot, notifies Rockwell who, aided by the police, pick up the crooked detectives before they can kill Mohr. Mohr himself is brought to justice, but Dorothy, whose own innocence had been proved by this time, promises to wait for him. It was produced by Sidney Picker and directed by Harry Keller from a story and screen play by John K. Butler. Unobjectionable morally. "South Sea Sinner" with Shelley Winters, Macdonald Carey and Helena Carter (Univ.'lnt l, January; time, 88 min.) Although this South Sea Island adventure melo' drama has an involved plot and exaggerated characterizations, it has the ingredients that should put it over with most audiences, for there is plentiful virile action, some comedy, several songs, and romantic interest. It is, however, strictly adult fare, for the emphasis is on sex and suggestive situations, and its atmosphere of waterfront dives, with its brawls and law-breakers, give it a low moral tone. Shelley Winters, as a hip'swinging cafe singer, a sort of "Sadie Thompson" character, plays the role to the hilt and, despite her ribald actions, she manages not to be offensive because of her likeable personality. The story lacks conviction, but the acting is good and some of the photography is noteworthy. The involved plot has Macdonald Carey, a crew man on a tramp steamer, landing on the island of Oraca for medical attention after an emergency op' eration had been performed on him by Frank Love' joy, the ship's tough doctor. Luther Adler, oily proprietor of a waterfront cafe, recognizes Carey as a former employee of a rubber company suspected of selling out to the Japanese. Both Carey and Lovejoy become attracted to Shelley, a singer in Adler 's cafe, but she shows a preference for Carey. Complications develop when Helena Carter, Carey's former sweet' heart, arrives on the island with John Ridgeley and Art Smith, Carey's former employers. It comes out that both Ridgeley and Smith, pretending to be Carey's friends, had secretly made deals with the Japanese but had cleverly thrown suspicion on Carey, who had thus far been unable to clear himself. Adler, learning of the frame'up through a henchman, sets out on a plan to blackmail Ridgeley and Smith. In the course of the complicated events, Adler becomes jealous over Shelley's attentions to Carey, and hits upon a scheme to get him out of the way by framing him for the murder of Smith, whom he (Adler) kills. The plan misses fire, and Adler, to divert suspicion from himself, makes a deal with Shelley to testify at the inquest that she had been with him when they heard Smith "shoot himself." In turn for her coopera' tion, Adler promises to reveal that Ridgeley had framed Carey on the Japanese deal. In the end, how' ever, the authorities learn the truth, arresting Adler for the murder, and Ridgeley for dealing with the enemy. Meanwhile Shelley discovers that Carey was still in love with Helena. She gives him up and turns her attentions to Lovejoy. It was produced by Michel Kraike and directed by Bruce Humberstone from a screen play by Joel Malone and Oscar Brodney, based on a story by Ladislas Fodor and Laszlo Vadnay. Adult fare. "When Willie Comes Marching Home" with Dan Dailey, Corinne Calvet and Colleen Townsend (20th Century-Fox, Feb.; time, 82 min.) A laugh riot! Revolving around the misadventures of a small-town soldier, it is one of the funniest comedies that have been produced in some time, and should go over in a big way with all types of audiences. Thanks to the well-written script, the expert direction, and the competent acting, the picture keeps one laughing throughout, for it abounds with hilarious situations, clever gags, subtle satire and a smattering of slapstick. Briefly, the story has Dan Dailey acclaimed as a hero in his small hometown when he becomes the first to enlist after the attack on Pearl Harbor. His misadventures begin when he turns out to be an expert aerial gunner and the Army decides to station him at an airfield near his home as an instructor, despite his pleas that he be given combat duty overseas. Kept at the airfield for more than two years, Dailey soon finds himself the most unpopular man in town, shunned by his friends and neighbors, who look upon him as a "gold-bricker." He finally gets his wish for combat duty when he is ordered to replace a sick gunner on a B17 bound for England. From then on he goes through an incredible series of adventures, beginning with his landing behind enemy lines in France when the plane runs out of gas and he is ordered to bail out. He is rescued by a band of Maquis, who entrust him with the first films ever taken of German V-2 launching sites and manage to put him aboard an English R-boat, which speeds him back to Army Headquarters in London through a hail of bombs and bullets. After intensive questioning in England, he is shipped by fast plane to Washington, where he undergoes another round of questioning, after which he is given a month's furlough. All this takes place within a period of three days, and, when he returns home and relates his experiences, no one believes that he had been overseas. All become convinced, however, when he is recalled to Washington to be personally decorated by the President for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. A brief synopsis of the story cannot do justice to the plot's many highly amusing details. Dailey 's desperate pleas to be sent overseas, his experiences with the French underground, his questioning by the Army brass, and his fright when he finds himself in a psychopathic ward after being ordered to a hospital for rest, make for situations that will keep audiences roaring with laughter. Dailey does outstanding work as the hapless hero, and is given excellent support by William Demarest, as his father; Colleen Townsend, as his sweetheart; and Corinne Calvet, as the attractive leader of the Maquis. It was produced by Fred Kohlmar and directed by John Ford from a screen play by Mary Loos and Richard Sale, based on a story by Sy Gomberg. The cast includes James Lydon, Lloyd Corrigan, Evelyn Warden and others. Fine for the entire family.