Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1948)

'ADVENTURES OF GALLANT BESS' ABOVE-PAR CINECOLORED MUSTANG YARN Rates • • for western houses and s Hciiilc I, ion 73 minulcs Cameron Milcltcll. Audrey I.nng, Fii::zy Kiii</ltt. JiiiiK's Milliatu. Jnliii 1 1 (iriiioii , lid. Garfiaii. Harry I'. Clirsliirr. Cliff Clark, lli'lyiui lialon. Bess. I directed by Leiii Landers. "Gallant Bess" is one of the smartest horses e\er to gallop across a ino\ ie mesa — slie can (!() everything but cook. The true kive between her and bronc-busting Cameron Mitchell sets the sentimental pattern for this conventional horse-opera and witli a plentitude of eye-soothing Cinecolor, jaw-busting action and swift rodeo high-lights, provides good fare for Western fans of all ages. Tiie lack of well all towns kiifjwn names will retard it tx)xoffice-wise, but it will please its audience. It is quite an up-todate Western (these cow-pokes don't wear sixsiiooters and the bars even have television), in every respect a cut above the average oater. The script by Matthew Rapf sticks close to a cornfed formula, but it is neatly constructed, the direction by Lew Landers is smoothly paced and tlie i)liotograph\ is excellent. Cameron Mitchell is a credible cowboy hero, at ease among tlie prancing mustangs, and pretty Audrey Long provides some pleasant romantic interludes. Adequate supp<jrt is given by Fuzzy Knight, James Millican and Kd Gargan. "Bess" is running with a herd of wild horses, when she is captured and tamed by Cameron Mitchell. He quits his job with James .Millicaii's rodeo and, as a roving wrangler, be teaches the mare sf/me clever, i)erforming tricks. He rejoins the rodeo to try for sfime prize money. Millican covets the clever cayuse and fixes things so that Mitchell is injured in a bull-dogging ajntest. He is laid up for weeks and is nursed by Audrey Ixjng, the doctor's flaughter. Meanwhile his horse is put up for auction and is purchased by Millican. When he recovers, he steals the horse, aided by Fuzzy Knight, and they hole up in a mountain cabin. He wants to marry the girl and settle d<nvn to a law-abiding existence, so he decides to turn "Bess" free. Mullican arrives in pursuit and in the ensuing fracas, is almost trampled by the spirited mare and surrenders his bill of sale. "Bess" refuses to leave her master and Mitchell has a happy reunion with' his horse and his sweetheart. Daz'. 'EYES OF TEXAS' GOOD SHOW FOR ROY ROGERS FANS Rates 9 9 n where series clicks Kepiihlic 70 minulcs Roy Roi/ers, Lyitne Roberts, Andy Devine, Xaiia Bryant, Roy Barcroft, Danny Morton, Francis Ford, Pascalc Perry. Stanley Blystonc, Bob Xolan and the Son of the Pioneers. "Triyt/er." I'ircctcd hy William ll'ilncy. It's a liappy da\ for tlie kids when a Roy Rogers movie comes to town and this latest Trucolored adventure won't disappoint them. "Eyes of Texas" is no better or worse than the general run of the series, following the same pattern of Western violence and music. The script, by Sloan Witney, pulls a few surprising switches ; the villainy department, for instance, is upiield b\ a matronly-looking lady, Nrma Bryant, who keeps a pack of wild dogs in her cellar to chew up victims who cross her nefarious schemes! Rogers has an unusually rought time — ■ he gets shot, brutally beaten, horse-whipped and a galloping horse drags him from a rt.pe. But none of this fazes Roy. and he has time to join in harmony with Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers and to win the d'stant admiration of his new leading-lady, vivacious Lynne Roberts. Andy Devine's clowning is giggle-fetching, Roy Barcroft is a most detestable side-winder and. last but nr)t least, ' Trigger" entertains with some horsey histrionics. The plots centers around the orphan-boy's camp supported by wealthy rancher, Francis Ford, in memory of his nephew killed in the war. Lady-attorney, Nana Bryant, cooks up a ph(,ney story alK)ut the nephew being alive and gets him to make a new will Then he is attacked and killed by "wolves," actually her trained dogs. With a phoney impersonator of the nephew claiming the inheritance, the crooks are all set, until Roy, as a U. S. Marshal, drifts into town to visit his doctor pal, Andy Devine, and the cute nurse, Lynne Roberts. He finds and tames one of the canine-killers and starts an investigation that uncorks a series shooting, slugging and hard-riding forays. In the windup, the lady master-crook is stricken by a heart attack, the "nephew" is devoured by the dogs and Barcroft is trapped in a burning stable. Xo sissy he. Roy gets no romantic fade-out and the hapless heroine is dunked by a bucket of water. York. 'THE TIMBER TRAIL' MONTE HALE SINGING AND SHOOTING Rates • • for Western spots Republic 67 minutes Monte Hale, Lynne Roberts. James Burke. Roy Barcroft. Francis Ford. Robert Emmet t Keane. Steve Darrell, Fred Graham. JCadc Crosby. Eddie Acuff, Fay ^Filling and the Riders of tlie F'urple .S'a(/e. Directed by Philip Ford. This latest Trucolor edition of the ^lonte Hale gallopers ofTers the usual quota of fistswinging, lead-throwing action, praire ballads, and assorted skulduggery for stalwart Alonte to set right. But it is a bit below par. Perhaps it's the liaphazard way it's slung together. or the script that reaches pretty far for an involved plot on which to peg the proceedings. Anyhow, it is staple fare for Western fans of all ages and is a pleasant enough attraction for the sombrero circuit. Monte ambles through Iiis shooting and crooning exercises in standard style and red-headed Lynne Roberts shore makes a purty cow-gal. James Burke mugs away at some corny comedy and Roy Barcroft and Francis Ford are the mean varmints. When things get dull, Foy Willing and those Purple Sage Riders whip up some smooth hoe-down harmonies, giving "Xellie Bly" a tuneful goingover. Monte intrudes on a stagecoach hold-up, rescueing its driver, pert Lynne Roberts. She talks him into going to work for her father, James Burke, who runs the express line. He is feuding with his brother, the owner of the telegraph company. They suspect each other of staging those hold-ups, but it is really gunman Roy Barcroft behind the villainy. He and his banker partner plan to seize control of their businesses. Burke is framed for a murder and almost gets killed. Monte advises him to play dead for awhile, until he tracks down the culprits. He almost has the goods on them, when the sherif? arrests him and Burke.^ They escape and make tracks for the bad-man's hideout. There is a show-down gun battle with Monte victorious, and he gets a musical and romantic send-off. Dai'. 'DAREDEVILS OF THE CLOUDS' AERIAL ACTION PROGRAMMER Rates • • diialler generally Republic 60 minutes Robert Livingston. Mac Clarke, James Cardzvell. Grant Withers, Edward Gargan, Ray Teal, Jimmie Dodd, Pierre Watkin, Jayne Hazard, Bob Wilke, Frank Melton, Russell Arms, Hugh Prosser, Chas. Sullivan. Directed by George Blair. \ brisk little package of liigli-fiying derringtlo. this one makes no pretense at being anything more than an hour of snappy action to fdl a slot in action and naborhood houses. Put together with a neat dispatch that could put to shame many flossier pictures, director, George Blair, who shows a very workmanlike ability and its cast is well up to snuff for the rugged doings than concerns a shoe-string airline, operating up in the Artie Circle Its aerial adventures, brawling fisticuffs and romantic rivalries keep things popping at a steady rate. Robert Livingston [s properly robust as the stalwart bush pilot, Mae Clarke adds a pleasing feminine touch. Polar Airways, operated by Robert Livingston up in the rugged north country, is tlie object of a stjueeze-out play instigated by Pierre Watkin of a rival airline. James Cardwell, a Polar pilot, is in his pay and he also sends Mae Clarke to get a job with the outfit. She has a dishonora'Dle discharge from the WASPS and her grounded status fits into the plan to break Livingston's franchise. He gives her a desk job and they make romantic progress until iic suspects her of duplicity. In cahoots with Grant Withers, a mining super. Cardwell hijacks an aerial gold shipment and meets his death when his parachute rigging is fouled. Livingston learns that the girl is on the level and they team up to trap the thieves with some hot flying and sharp shooting. York. 14 FILM BULLETIN