Harrison's Reports (1958)

132 HARRISON'S REPORTS August 16, 1958 that another meeting of the committee will be held in the near future at which there will be further discussions." In the opinion of this paper, the executive com' mittee has no right to keep information about the campaign or the progress made to date a secret. The Business Building Campaign is not a project that is being sponsored by a private organisation, but information concerning it is being handled in a way that makes it the business of a favored few. It is an all-industry project, and exhibitors who have either contributed funds or are being asked to contribute are entitled to know just what is happening. They cannot be expected to lend their financial or moral support to an all-industry project that is being guided in secrecy. "A Tale of Two Cities" with Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin and Cecil Parker (Ran\ Film Distr., October; time, 117 min.) This British-made remake of Charles Dickens' classic novel, set in the days of the French Revolution, has been given top production values and has a number of outstanding sequences concerning the turbulent events that took place in those days. On the whole, however, it has a theatrical quality that seems to make the action less exciting than it should be, while the dramatic power in the book does not seem to come through the screen with appreciable impact. As an entertainment, it probably will find its best reception among those who patronize the art houses. But as far as the picture-goer of the rank and file is concerned, the story, as presented, probably will prove too mournful and cheerless for him, and he no doubt will find it difficult to understand much of Dickens' Victorian dialogue because of the thick British accents of some of the players. To be considered also by the American exhibitor in evaluating the picture's possible commercial worth, is the fact that MGM's excellent 1935 version of this Dickens' masterpiece, which starred Ronald Colman, has been made available to television and within the past year has been televised in many TV markets. Set in London and Paris, toward the end of die 18th Century, the well known story opens with Lucie Manette (Dorothy Tutin) traveling from England to Paris to bring back her French father, a doctor (Stephen Murray), who had disappeared in Paris 18 years previously after coming to the aid of a servant family that had been cruelly mistreated by the Marquis St. Evermonde, an evil nobleman. Dr. Manette had been imprisoned in the bastille after reporting the Marquis to the authorities, but Ernest Defarge (Duncan Lamont), who had once been his servant and now owned a wine shop, had rescued him. Enroute to her destination, accompanied by Jarvis Lorry (Cecil Parker), who had managed her father's affairs, Lucie meets Sydney Carlton (Dirk Bogarde), a frustrated lawyer who took solace in drink, and Charles Darnay (Paul Guers), a cousin and heir of the monstrous Marquis, who, appalled by the opporession of the common people in France, had renounced his aristocratic rights and had emigrated to England. Shortly after Lucie returns from Paris with her father, Darnay, framed by an agent of the Marquis, is arrested as a spy. Lucie appears as a witness for him, and Carlton, acting as his lawyer, cleverly wins an acquittal for him. Darnay and Lucie fall in love and marry, much to the disappoint ment of Carlton, who had fallen in love with her himself. Meanwhile the revolution breaks out in France, and Darnay, to save an innocent family steward from the fury of the revolutionaries, rushes to Paris to plead his cause. Instead, he finds himself seized as one of the hated aristocrats and, after a trial before a Revolutionary Tribunal, is sentenced to die. Carlton, answering Lucie's appeal for help, accompanies her to Paris. Determined to render her a supreme service, he bribes his way into Darnay's prison cell, chloroforms him and takes his place, while a friend delivers the unconscious Darnay to Lucie, who smuggles him back to England on Carlton's passport. Meanwhile Carlton calmly goes to the guillotine, stating that it is the best act of his life. It was produced by Betty E. Box and directed by Ralph Thomas from a screenplay by T. E. B. Clarke. Family. "Curse of the Faceless Man" with Richard Anderson, Elaine Edwards and Adele Mara (United Artists, August; time, 67 min.) This horror-type program melodrama has been given a background that is different from the ordinary run of such stories and praiseworthy efforts have been made to present a novel theme. Unfortunately, the result is only moderately interesting. Like most horror stories, this one, too, strains one's credulity, but the main fault lies in the fact that most of the tale is unfolded by conversation, slowing up the action and tiring the spectator. Moreover, those who enjoy horror melodramas probably will find that this one is neither horrifying nor gruesome enough to satisfy them. Much of the photography is in a low key: — During excavations of the ancient city of Pompeii, the body of a man of stone is revealed, apparently buried 2,000 years previously, the day Pompeii was showered by molten lava from Mount Vesuvius. The lava-covered body is carried off to the Museum of Naples, where it is examined by Richard Anderson, a leading skin specialist; Luis Van Rooten, the museum curator; and Felix Locher, a noted scientist. Probing into the background of the mysterious faceless figure, the scientists conclude that he is or was Quintillus (Bob Bryant), the top gladiator of his time. Adele Mara, Van Rooten's daughter, assists in the experiments. Elaine Edwards, Anderson's fiancee and a promising young artist, feels drawn towards the strange creature. She gains entrance into the deserted museum to sketch the man of stone. As she sketches, the creature starts moving in her direction, causing her to faint from fright. From that point on, the police of Naples and the scientists search the countryside for Elaine and Quintillus, who had made his way to the ocean, carrying the girl in his arms. In some strange from of reincarnation, Quintillus imagined that Elaine is his wife and he was trying to save her from the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius. As the man of stone walks into the ocean he begins to disintegrate, dissolving into lava dust. The pursuers notice this, and Anderson rushes into the water and drags Elaine to dry land. The horrifying experience over, Elaine and Anderson prepare to return to the safety of the United States and the perils of married life. It was produced by Robert E. Kent and directed by Edward L. Cahn from a screenplay by Jerome Bixby. Family.