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'FOREVER AMBER' MAGNIFICENT TECHNICOLOR SPECTACLE SPELLS SOCK BOXOFFICE
Rates
generally
Twentieth Century-Fox 140 minutes
Linda Darnell, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, Georg^e Sanders, Glenn Langan, Richard Haydn, Jessica Tandy, Anne Revere, John Russell, Jane Ball, Robert Coote, Leo G. Carroll, Natalie Draper, Margaret Wycherly, Alma Kruger, Edmond Breon, Alan Napier, Margot Grahame. Directed by Otto Preminger.
"Forever Amber" is one of those superproductions that happily lives up to its advance ballyhoo and gives visual return for every one of the millions of dollars expended on it. The picture is destined to make box-office history. Already pre-sold to the largest reading public ever attained by a best-seller in recent years, "Forever Amber" will, by word-of-mouth advertising, plus 20th Century-Fox's comprehensive exploitation, score tremendous grosses in all situations. Thanks to the deft scripting by Philip Dunne and Ring Lardner, Jr., the film is a must for adults and, unlike the novel, suitable for juveniles. The settings and costumes are lavish; the Technicolor truly magnificent; the photography, music and recording superlatively good; the cast highly competent, and, most important of all, the story tremendous in its appeal, sweep, pace and humor. Best performance is by George Sanders in the role of King Charles II; Linda Darnell's nov/-blonde beauty is enhanced by gorgeous costumes, and Richard Haydn, Anne Revere and Leo
G. Carroll acquit themselves more than creditably in supporting roles.
EXPLOITATION: Get behind this one with all the showmanship at your command — it will pay off a hundred-fold. Take full advantage of the Kathleen Winsor novel's tremendous popularity. Make mention of the film's truly terrific highlights: London Duiing the Plague. . .Cornel Wilde's Duel with Glenn Langan. . .Amber's Escape from Debtors' Prison... The Fire of London... Amber's Fight to the Death with a Nurse in the Pest House... The Cavaliers' Court in All Its Magnificent Decadence, etc. Don't overlook counter and window displays in pri»ctically every type of store — tieups are virtually limitless. Attire usherettes in the gltxmorous costumes of the Charles II period.
Linda Darnell, left as a waif on Leo G. Carroll's doorstep, flees his Puritanic household 16 years later and foists herself onto dashing cavalier Cornel Wilde, following him to London. Concerned only with obtaining recompense for his troops who have helped to put George Sanders back on his throne, Wilde gets Linda a job as an actress on condition she keep away from him. W^hile Wilde is overseas on a privateering mission, Linda's extravagances land her in Newgate debtors' prison. Her release effected by fellow prisoner John Russell, she joins his footpads and gives birth to Cornel's son. Betrayed by Russell's mistress Margot Grahame, she is arrested by Capt. Glenn Langan, becomes his consort. Wilde retuins, is seen with Linda by Langan and
REVIEWS in This Issue
Forever Amber ^"^
Killer McCoy 1'
Hungry Hill 18
The Girl of the Canal 18
The Swordsman 19
On the Old Spanish Trail 19
The Exile 2»
That Hagen Girl 20
The Lost Moment '20
Linda, Be Good '21
Marco Visconti 21
La Vie De Boheme 21
forced into a duel in which he kills his challenger, then walks out on the girl. Still in love with Wilde, Linda returns to the theatre, later weds titled Richard Haydn, but hearing Wilde's ship has returned, flees the nuptial couch and makes her way through plague-ridden London to her loved one's side. Wilde, stricken by the plague, is taken into a deserted mansion and nursed back to health by Linda. The outraged Haydn finds them there, confronts Wilde and obtains his promise not to bother Linda. Later, infuriated by Linda's flirting with Sanders at a court leception, Haydn drags her home and a fight ensues. Haydn is killed by a servant he has abused and Linda soon becomes the king's mistress, but is later discarded by him when she embroils him in a ruse to win back Wilde. At end, she relinquishes her son to Wilde, bids both a lasting farewell.
'KILLER McCOY' MICKEY ROONEY IN GREAT PRIZE FIGHT DRAMA
Rates • • • -f for all locations
M-G-M
103 minutes
Mickey Rooney, Brian Donlevy, Ann Blyth, James Dunn, Sam Levene, Tom Tull.s, Gloria Holden, Mickey Knox. Walter Sande, David Clarke, James Bell, Eve March. Directed by Boy Rowland.
Here is great entertainment — the kind of picture our industry needs. "Killer McCoy" will have the box-office gals gasping for breath from the arduous ticket-punching. Just about the best prize-fight movie within the memory of this filmgoer, it is crammed to the hilt with all the elements craved by the great mass of people. It has down-to-earth human stuff, heart-tugs, rousing action in the ring and out, a bit of romance and superb performances down to the smallest bits. The entire production bespeaks the talent, intelligence and care poured into it by producer Sam Ziinbalist and director Roy Rowland. There is nothing really novel in the screenplay by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, yet it unfolds in such persuasive, engrossing style that even the familiar, corny climax is stirring and exciting. Mickey Rooney comes of age as an adult actor in the role of the tough, but decent, young pug. Brian Donlevy, Ann Blyth, James Dunn and Sam Levene are all
first-rate, although Dunn is just a bit too pat as the sot of a father. Outstanding in minor roles are Mickey Knox, as the champion who befriends Rooney, and Gloria Holden, seen all-too-briefly as Mickey's mother. Special mention must also be gi\ en here to Eve March for a v/onderful bit as the ex-champ's bereaved wife.
EXPLOITATION: Sell this as a great human drama, the story of a tough kid who fought his way to fame — and heart-break. Don't hesitate to hail Rooney's performance as great — his best. Play up the gallery of finely-etched characters in the story.
Mickey Rooney, a tough newsboy, helps support his parents, James Dunn, who likes to drink and dream about his old days in vaudeville, and his seamstress mother, Gloria Holden. At a church benefit, Mickey challenges and knocks out a rival newsboy in a bout that is refereed by the world's lightweight champ, Mickey Knox. The champ takes Mickey and his father on tour with him to do their song and dance act, meanwhile teaching the youngster how to box. Knox loses his title and retires, while, under the guidance of Sam Levene, the exchamp's trainer, Mickey rises fast, despite his father, who is usually drunk and gambling and whose neglect brings about his wife's death. When Knox tries a comeback, Mickey is reluctantly forced into a match with him and although he tries to "carry"
the ill-conditioned ex-champion, one blow causes the latter's death. Saddened by this incident and the fact that his father has sold his contract to gambler and bookmaker Brian Donlevy, Mickey quits the ring. After wandering around for a while, he returns and offers to fight again. Donlevy, who has learned of Mickey's real ability, cleans up by betting on him, while the sports writers continue to label him "lucky." Sent by Donlevy to train at his country home, Mickey meets the former's daughter, Ann Blyth, who attends a nearby fashionable school. Presumably, she thinks her father is a respectable Wall Street broker. She and Mickey fall in love, despite Donlevy's efforts to keep them apart. When Rooney is matched with the leading contender for the championship, Donlevy cleverly maneuvers his favorite "sucker," Tom Tully, into betting on Mickey's opponent by pretending that he is betting on the same man. When Tully learns he has been tricked, he kidnaps Ann and Mickey's father, sends a note to Mickey's dressing room that he had better lay down in the 8th round. Freed from their captors by Dunn's heroic action, which costs him his life, Ann arrives at the arena after Mickey has taken a terrific shellacking for seven rounds, but in time to have him turn the tables and knock out his opponent. From the ring, he rushes into Ann's arms.
OCTOBER 27, 1947
17