Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1947)

'APACHE ROSE' SUPERIOR Rates • • • in western spots; OK dua Republic 75 minutes Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, OUn HowUn, George Meeker, John Laurenz, Russ Vincent, Minerva Urecal, LeRoy Mason, Donna DeMario, Terry Frost, Conchita Lemus, Tex Terry, Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers, Trigger the Horse. Directed by WilUam Witney. In addition to plenty of hard riding, sixgun battles, fistic combat and four lilting song numbers, "Apache Rose" has other assets calculated to appeal to filmgoers. Production quality is superior, evidenced by lavish sets and costumes, all enhanced by Trucolor; dances and fiesta routines are well staged; Gerald Geraghty's scenario contains ROY ROGERS WESTERN IN er for naborhoods more than the usual amount of humor, both in situation and dialogue, and the coastline locale is novel — at times the film becomes almost a sea-going western. William Witney's direction defies at least two conventions: six-guns are actually shown to be empty after firing a half-dozen shots, and for the first time, at least in this writer's recollection, hero and heavy battling for their lives have their sombreros knocked off! A capable cast gives Rogers adequate support. Dale Evans, Olin Howlin and Minerva Urecal inject judicious comedy relief into their respective roles. Capitalize the fact this is Rogers' first western in color. Tie-up with music dealers handling records by Roy Rogers and Bob Nolan's Sons of the Pioneers. Screen Romances Magazine's fictionization of "Apache Rose" should obtain newsstand TRUCOLOR coopeiation. Wildcat oilman Roy Rogers joins forces with tugboat skipper Dale Evans when the latter's suitor Russ Vincent is about to lose his ranch's valuable oil rights to gambling ship operator George Meeker. Disguising herself as Vincent's newly arrived cousin Donna DeMario, Dale leads Meeker's wouldbe kidnapers on a wild goose chase, is captured, but later rescued by Roy and Olin Howlin, Vincent's foreman. Subsequently Roy and Olin raid Meeker's office aboard the gambling ship and, after a knockdown and drag-out battle, recover $143,000 of Vincent's lOU's, lost in crooked games. At end, Meeker's men wound and abduct Vincent but Roy, aided by oilmen and ranch hands, overpower the kidnappers in a terrific battle in the surf. 'BACKLASH' WEAK MURDER MYSTERY LACKS SUSPENSE Rates • • in naborhood and action spots, less elsewhere quee names, and the best that can be said for Richard Travis, John Eldredge, Douglas Fowley and Larry Blake is that they turn in adequate portrayals. On the credit side of the ledger is some superior photography. Since the film doubtlessly will be relegated to the lower slot on double bills, exhibitors will confine their campaigns — if any — to inexpensive and routine angles. Radio spot announcements, title teasers ("Beware of 'Backlash'l") via heralds, snipes and cards may prove helpful. 20th Century-Fox 66 minutes Jean Rogers, Richard Travis, Larry Blake, John Eldredge, Leonard Strong, Robert Shayne, Louise Currie, Douglas Fowley, Sara Bemer, Richard Benedict, Wynne Lark, Susan Klimist. Directed by Eugene Forde. This low-cost whodunit quickie will get by in action and minor naborhood houses, but discriminating audiences will find littls entertainment in its synthetic, confused plot and stereotyped performances. There is little suspense and no humor to relieve the dull proceedings. The cast lacks mar Criminal lawyer John Eldredge aids his client Douglas Fowley, wanted for murder, to escape a police dragnet. Later his wrecked car is found, in it a bullet-ridden body, supposedly his own. Detective Larry Blake is assigned to the case. Suspicion points in turn to Eldredge's wife Jean Rogers, his law partner Robert Shayne, Jean's suitor district attorney Richard Travis, Fowley and the latter's sweetheart Louise Currie. Blake uncovers various clues indicating that Jean has tried twice to poison her husband, his partner has embezzled from the firm, Fowley has slain Eldredge when the latter tried to hijack the loot of a recent robbery. Blake discovers Eldredge has faked his own murder, purposely casting suspicion on his wife whom he has suspected of infidelity. At end, he corners Eldredge, kills him in self defense. 'TARZAN AND THE HUNTRESS' AMONG BEST SERIES TO DATE Rates • • • in action houses; good dual RKO Radio 72 minutes Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, Johnny Sheffield, Patricia Morison, Barton MacLane, John Warburton, Wallace Scott, Charles Trowbridge, Maurice Tauzin, Ted Hecht, Mickey Simpson, Cheta the Chimpanzee. Directed by Kurt Neumann. This above-average Tarzan story should match previous grosses enjoyed by this long-popular series. Juveniles will enjoy its action and suspense, adults its fantasy and authentic scenes of wild beasts in their ler elsewhere native habitat, young and old alike, its unforced comedy relief furnished by the amazing chimpanzee, Cheta. Production quality is good, performances by the familiar cast are satisfactory, and associate-producer Kurt Neumann's direction of a reasonably credible script is painstaking and effective. Arrange counter and window displays with bookshops and libraries handling the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jungle lobby and front, with box-offices simulating thatched hut, should prove effective. To restock war-depleted zoos in Europe, hunters Patricia Morison. Barton MacLane, John Warburton and Wallace Scott arrive in Taurange. Their bag limited by native ruler Charles Trowbridge to two specimens of each species, they make a deal with the king's tricky nephew, prince Ted Hecht. Hecht's tribesmen kill Trowbridge and throw his rightful heir, prince Maurice Tauzin, to the crocodiles. Johnny Weissmuller, hating zoos, offers all the animals a safe refuge in his own territory, warns the hunters not to follow. When the expedition defiantly enters his preserve, Johnny frees the captured beasts and hides the hunters' gruns, but his tame chimpanzee reveals the arms cache and the hunters resume operations. Johnny finds Tauzin alive, learns of Hecht's treachery and declares war on the expedition, summoning an elephant herd to rout the invaders. The herd stampedes the expedition's camp, killing Hecht, Warburton and MacLane. 'HARD-BOILED MAHONEY' SUB-PAR BOWERY BOYS FILM DRAGS Rates • • as dualler support in action Monogram 6,3 minutes Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Gabriel Dell, Billy Benedict, David Gorcey, Bernard Gorcey, Patti Brill, Betty Compson, Pierre Watkin, Teala Loring, Bill Ruhl, Danny Beck, Dan Se.ymour, Noble Johnson, Byron Foulger, Bob Faust, Carmen de Antonio. Directed by William Beaudine. spots Monogram's latest Bowery Boys release is below par and will suffice only as a supporting feature in houses where this series has found favor in the past. Production quality reflects the film's obviously low budget; performances are stereotyped; the plot is synthetic, lacking in action and situation, and comedy is forced. Despite William Beaudine's directorial efforts, the film will prove disappointing even to the "Boys' " juvenile followers. Play up Leo Gorcey, in the role of a "private eye," uncovering new rackets and solving several novel crimes. Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall, posing as de tectives, are engaged by Betty Compson to solve the disappearance of her sister, Teala Loring, whose long-lost husband. Bob Faust, is returning from South America. Aided by the rest of his Bowery Boys, Leo traces Teala to the apartment of Dr. Pierre Watkin, arriving in time to witness the latter's murder by an unseen assassin. They learn Watkin was a psuedo psychic who blackmailed his clients. Dan Seymour, head of an underworld syndicate, discovers the boys have information regarding Watkin's murder, goes with his thugs to wipe out Leo and his pals. The police arrive, round up the gang, save Leo and his aides. MARCH 31, 1947 25