The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Ruth Roman, John Mclntire and James Stewart in "The Far Country," Technicolor William Talman holds the gun on Dana Andrews and Piper Laurie in "Smoke Signal," color Susan Ball, John Lund and Victor Mature in "Chief Crazy Horse," CinemaScope-Technicolor Jack Hawkins and Glynis Johns sail to a new country in "Land of Fury," Technicolor Kirk Douglas serenades Jeanne Crain in "Man Without A Star," color George Nader subpoenas Tony Curtis in "Six Bridges To Cross," story of a bank robbery Variety Of Entertainment Available From U-l In Forthcoming Seasons Action and comedy films spark the prod¬ uct line-up of Universal-International, which has planned a “Golden Baker’s Dozen’’ for the first part of 1955. Two of the first eight releases arc in CinemaScope, while six of the pictures have been tinted by Technicolor. A roster of stars, both from within and with¬ out the Universal studio, has been gathered to provide marquee values to exhibitors. First of the releases is “Six Bridges to Cross,” the story of a modern bank robbery. Tony Curtis and Julie Adams play the leads in this Aaron Rosenberg production that was directed by Joseph Pevney. Sydney Boehm wrote the screen play from a story called “They Stole $2,500,000 — And Got Awav Witli It.” Action of an earlier period, set in the wide outdoors, sets the keynote of the next release, “The Far Country.” James Stewart, Ruth Roman and Corinne Calvet are starred in this Technicolor production, with Walter Brennan in the fourth role. Rosenberg pro¬ duced, and Anthony Mann directed the Bor¬ den Chase screen play. The CinemaScope-Technicolor production of “Captain Lightfoot” comes next on the list. Filmed on location in Ireland, “Lightfoot” stars Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush. Ross Hunter handled the production reins, while Douglas Sirk directed. The screen play is by W. R. Burnett and Oscar Brodney. The film tells a sprawling action tale of 19th Century Ireland. Dana. Andrews plays a U.S. Cavalryman to Piper Laurie’s lady in distress in “Smoke Signal,” Technicolor action picture. Howard ! Christie produced, and Jerry Hopper direct¬ ed from a. screen play by George F. Slavin j and George W. George. The picture con¬ cerns an Indian attack on a western fort, ,| with Andrews in' additional trouble of his •! own. A J. Arthur Rank presentation, “Land of Fury,” starring a British cast headed by ( Jack Hawkins, follows next. This Techni¬ color production, set in Hew Zealand, also has Glynis Johns and Noel Purcell in the cast. This picture concerns the bringing of jieace to a land beset by troubles between the white man and the native Maori tribes. Another CinemaScope-Technicolor produc¬ tion, “Chief Crazy Horse,” follows next on J the release schedule. Victor Mature, Susan 1 Ball and John Lund have the leads in this -I western produced by William Alland and ij directed by George Sherman. Mature is cast [ in this title role in the screen play written i by Franklin Cohen. Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride arc once again teamed as ‘‘Ma and Pa Kettle at Wai¬ kiki.” Lori Nelson supplies the feminine in¬ terest in this Leonard Goldstein production. The film was directed by Lee Sholem from j a screen play by Harry Clark and Elwood Ullman. Kirk Douglas, Jeanne Crain and Claire j Trevor have been topcast in “Man Without | a Star,” western produced bv Rosenberg. Direction is by King Vidor with a Borden Chase screen play. Action and romance are highlighted in this production. Rock Hudson and Denis O'Dea flee across a rooftop of 19th Century Ireland in "Captain Lightfoot, CinemaScope-Technicolor adventure romance which also stars Barbara Hale and Jeff Morrow 20 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— February 5, 1955