Harrison's Reports (1950)

4 HARRISON'S REPORTS January 7, 1950 new or old, that has been or may be televised before they have had the chance to show it. The aforementioned Rank-Standard and WPIX deals are perfect examples of why an exhibitor must take steps to protect himself, for in both cases the pictures involved are being handled by theatrical distributors who have no control over the television rights. "Major Barbara," to mention one of the pictures, has been making the rounds in New York City as a reissue and is currently playing in four theatres. Yet it is scheduled to be televised in the New York area within several weeks and, if any other theatres in the area should be playing it at the time, it is reasonable to assume that their attendance will drop sharply, before as well as after the telecast, which undoubtedly will be publicized well in advance. The film salesman will, of course, assure the exhibitor that the picture he buys will not be telecast until long after he plays it, but as this paper has stated repeatedly a salesman's assurances, no matter how sincere he may be, will mean nothing unless they are written into the contract. It is the only way by which an exhibitor may protect his interests. In cases where the distributor has control over both the theatrical and television rights to a picture, it should be a simple matter for him to warrant in the license agreement that it has not and will not be shown on television for a specified period of time. In cases where a distributor has a good reissue but has no control over the television rights, an exhibitor who books the picture will be taking a risk, for he may find himself playing it at a time when his patrons had seen it or will see it shortly on television as a free show. One other precaution should be taken by an exhibitor to fully protect himself against unfair competition from motion picture telecasts, and that is to insist that the warranty include a provision to the effect that the picture has not been shown on television under any other title, such as happened eighteen months ago with four Hal Roach "streamliner" comedies televised by WPIX. "Hollywood Varieties" (Lippert-Screen Guild, Jan. 14; time, 60 min.) Worth booking on a double bill in secondary theatres. It is a series of vaudeville acts, with well known new and old entertainers, strung together to make a picture of feature length. There is no story whatever connected with the arranging of the approximate twenty acts, which has about everything one expects to see in a vaudeville show — dancing, singing, roller skating, trained seals, comedians, acrobats, trained dogs and a master of ceremonies. Some are inter' esting, some fair, and some just so-so. But on the whole the picture should get by with those who are not too fussy. It stars Robert Alda and the Hoosier Hot Shots, and features the following entertainers in the different acts: Shaw and Lee; Glenn Vernon and Eddie Ryan; Peggy Stewart; De Pina Troupe; Lois Ray; Sandy and his Seals; Paul Gordon; Shavo Sherman; Charles Cirillo; Cliff Taylor; Three Rio Brothers; Britt Wood; Twirl, Whirl and a Girl; The Four Dandies; Hector and his Pals; Johnson Brothers; Dolores Parker; Sammy Wolfe; Aurora Roche; Russell Trent; and the Eight Carlyle Dancers. It was produced by June Carr and Paul Schreibman, and directed by Paul Landres. Suitable for the family. "The Glass Mountain" with Valentina Cortesa and Michael Denison (Eagle-Lion, T^ov.; time, 97 min.) A fairly good British-made romantic drama, best suited for audiences who enjoy fine classical music, operatic singing, and magnificent scenic backgrounds. Its story about a devoted husband, an English composer who is torn between love for his understanding wife and for a gentle Italian girl who had saved his life during the war, is tender and has qualities that should appeal to women in particular. The acting is competent, with Valentina Cortesa outstanding as the Italian heroine; she brings to the screen a refreshing charm not yet caught in the American pictures in which she has appeared. Much of the action was shot in the Italian Dolomites : — Michael Denison, a successful English composer, joins the Air Force with the outbreak of war and, during operations over Italy, his plane crashes in the Dolomites. Badly injured, he is rescued by Valentina, a nurse, who leads him to a partisan's hut in the mountains. A great friendship grows up between the two during his convalescence, and he learns from her the legend of the Glass Mountain, a peak high in the Dolomites, which was supposed to echo the name of your true love. With the coming of peace, Denison returns to his wife (Dulcie Gray), and begins writing an opera inspired by the legend. Away from Valentina, he becomes restless and is unable to recapture the happiness he had known with Dulcie before the war. Dulcie, understanding the situation, suggests that he return to Italy to finish his opera, fervently hoping that he will return to her. Once in Italy, Denison renews his romance with Valentina and completes the opera, which is accepted for production by the officials of the opera house in Venice. Meanwhile Dulcie, having received a letter from Denison asking her for a divorce, tells her troubles to Sebastian Shaw, a Scottish poet and old friend of Denison's. Shaw goes to Venice, where he tries to convince Valentina that she was wasting her time trying to be part of Denison's life. She suspects that he still loved his wife when she learns that he had invited her to attend the first night of the opera. En route to Venice, Dulcie's plane crashes on the Glass Mountain, but Valentina keeps the news from Denison until after he finishes conducting the opera. As he rushes out to join the rescue party and reunite with Dulcie, Valentina realizes that he is not her true love. It was produced by Fred Zelnik and Joseph Janni, and directed by Henry Cass, from a screen play by Mr. Janni, Mr. Cass and Jack Hunter. Adult entertainment. "Blondie's Hero" with Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton (Columbia, no rel. date set; time, 60 min.) A good addition to the "Blondie" series. There are many comical situations, and several that offer thrills. The thrilling situations are brought about by the manner in which Arthur Lake, having enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps, tries to show his wife how to operate a tank; they have many narrow escapes, wrecking barracks, colliding with other Army vehicles, and almost running down people. Audiences will roar with laughter every time Lake swerves the tank to avoid damage. The direction is good, and the photography sharp: — While out walking with his dog Daisy and her five pups, Arthur Lake is beaten by a fruit store man because the dogs had sniffed around his fruit stand. The altercation is noticed by an Army sergeant, who convinces him that Army training would enable him to defend himself against such attacks. Before long, Lake finds himself recruited into the Army Reserve Corps. William Frawley, a confidence man, learning that Lake had made the last mortgage payment on his house, approaches him and assures him that he can sell the house for four times the amount it cost him. Lake believes Frawley, but tells him not to say anything to Penny Singleton, his wife, for he wanted to surprise her. He instructs Frawley how to get into the house without a key. While Lake is training on the first week-end at the camp, Penny, the children and the dogs visit him. Meanwhile Frawley and his accomplices establish themselves in Lake's home, pose as the owners, and offer it for sale at a very low figure. They sell it to a home-hunting couple and make off with a $2,000 down payment. The new owners are surprised to learn that they had been taken for suckers when Lake and his family return. Penny, however, determines to find the impostors and recover the money for the innocent buyers. She eventually succeeds through a clever ruse. Lake, now well trained, beats up the crooks, then gives the fruit store man a similar treatment, thus evening up the score. The story and screen play are by Jack Henley, based upon the Chic Young comic strip. Ted Richmond produced it, and Edward Bernds directed it. Good for the entire family.