Harrison's Reports (1962)

March 17, 1962 HARRISON'S REPORTS 39 ingredients that make the going quite rough for one who seeks the outposts of emotionally calm relaxation when going to a movie, "even perhaps one within the portals of an art house. Produced by Pierre Courau and Raymond Froment; directed by Alain Resnais; screenplay by Alain Robbe-Grillet. Adults. "Rome Adventure" with Troy Donahue, Angie Dickinson, Rossano Brazzi, Suzanne Plashette, Constance Ford (Warner Bros., Current; 119 mins.) GOOD. You know nothing terribly exciting is going to happen in this one romance-wise, in spite of the fact that an excitement-bent librarian from an American college lost her job because she allowed a student to read a forbidden book about love. So, this lovely librarian picks herself up and sails for Italy "where they know all about love." But, the object of her romantic affections is Troy Donahue, and the big, blonde hunk of handsome man plays it as righteously and decently as would the girl's own brother. So, this one as a story laid in Rome, follows a plotstructural pattern that is serene, smoothly spun, nicely told, quite clean, and,-to repeat, nothing to get terribly excited about. But, it has lovely people portraying their roles, producer-director-writer Delmar Daves used some breathtaking exteriors, actually shot in Rome. It all comes to life with vivid beauty via the use of Technicolor. Suzanne Pleshette is introduced in this one. She comes from Broadway and makes her transition to the films with wistful ease. She's a lovely brunette. Troy Donahue is still on his way to dramatic development although his progress seems to be rather slow. He delivers his dialogue sometimes in mumbly-monotone manner and some of the passages get lost. It's to be remembered, however, that Donahue is strong at the box office what with that big teenage following he's built up. Rossano Brazzi is the continental gallant who knows nearly all the answers about love. When the chips are down, he plays it almost fatherly. Angie Dickinson is quite competent, as is Constance Ford. Al Hirt, the bearded trumpet man, makes a brief ap' pearance. All the breath-taking exteriors were shot in Italy. The dismissed librarian (Suzanne Pleshette) is in Rome at last for that great adventure. She stays at a place where Troy Donahue is polishing up on some extra curricula architecture. She means nothing to him, for all her loveliness. He already has a girl friend (Angie Dickinson) . She knows a lot about love, but is returning to America leaving Donahue quite a disconsolate man. In the meantime Rossano Brazzi is trying to make those romantic bells ring in the heart of Miss Pleshette. It's no go. Finally, she dates with Donahue. As a mark of his integrity he buys Miss Pleshette a candelabra. They take it with them wherever they go. Soon, they realize that they are in love. When August rolls around, they spend the holiday together roaming Italy. It's all good, clean stuff. But, suddenly Miss Dickinson returns to reclaim her man (Donahue). It almost breaks the trusting heart of Miss Pleshette. She wants to go back to Brazzi, but he makes her see that true love is quite another thing. Miss Pleshette is ready to return home. When she gets to New York waiting for her are her parents," and Donahue, with the candelabra. Produced, directed, written for the screen by Delmar Daves; based on the novel by Irving Fineman. General patronage. "Premature Burial" with Ray Milland, Hazel Court, Heather Angel (American' International, March; 82 mins.) GOOD. That expert at matters horrible, Roger Corman, who was responsible for such films as "The House of Usher," "The Pit and the Pendulum" and others, has come through again with another real shocker in this film based on the work of that master of the macabre, the poet of horror, Edgar Allen Poe. That deft, smoothly paced actor, Ray Milland, is on hand to help put the tale of terror across capably. He is very ably aided and abetted by a competent cast. As if that were not enough, there is also a bold and able quality of direction present. Added to that are the very impressive production values and settings to help make the release really gripping. There are grisly, ghastly interludes. They should get quite an exciting reaction from the horror fans. Exhibitors have a chance to use all kinds of gimmicks to help in the selling of this one. The resulting box office tally could be impressive. The Panavision photography in Eastman Color is quite good. Ray Milland and Dr. Richard Ney are present in a graveyard as Dr. Alan Napier oversees the uncovering of a coffin. When it is opened it reveals that its occupant must have been buried alive according to the bloody scrapings on the underside of the coffin lid. Milland, who has always had a fear of being buried alive, shuts himself away refusing to see even his fiancee, Hazel Court. When he does see her, he explains that he is afraid to wed her because of the strange ways his ancestors met death. Also because he has a fear of inheriting catalepsy. It's obvious, his sister, Heather Angel, doesn't care for Miss Court and she tries to discourage her. Miss Court insists that she loves Milland and wants to marry him. He finally agrees, but refuses to leave on a honeymoon and concentrates instead on building a tomb from which he can escape should he be buried prematurely. Miss Court convinces him that his obsession is unfounded and that he should destroy the tomb or lose her. Ney uses a laboratory in Milland's home and he tries to calm him. He also tries to dispel Milland's fears by suggesting a visit to his father's crypt. When it is opened, a skeleton falls out and Milland collapses. He is declared dead and buried, but he is actually in a cataleptic state. When grave robbers hired by Napier show up soon after he is buried, he is freed and he kills them and Napier. He then goes to see Miss Court and finds her trying to make love to Ney, who isn't having any. Milland takes her out, ties her and buries her alive in his vacant grave. Ney follows and engages him in a battle. Miss Angel shoots him fatally and admits to the surviving Ney that she suspected it was Miss Court, who was using various devices to brin;4 on Milland's attack and his premature burial. Produced and directed by Roger Gorman; screenplay by Charles Beaumont and Roy Russell based on the story by Edgar Allen Poe. Adults.