Modern Screen (Dec 1948 - Oct 1949)

also showing • • • capsule criticisms of films previously reviewed Don't be Half-safe! by VALDA SHERMAN At the first blush of womanhood many mysterious changes take place in your body. For instance, the apocrine glands under your arms begin to secrete daily a type of perspiration you have never known before. This is closely related to physical development and causes an unpleasant odor on both your person and your clothes. There is nothing "wrong" with you. It's just another sign you are now a woman, not a girl ... so now you must keep yourself safe with a truly effective underarm deodorant. Two dangers— Underarm odor is a real handicap at this romantic age, and the new cream deodorant Arrid is made especially to overcome this very difficulty. It kills this odor on contact in 2 seconds, then by antiseptic action prevents the formation of all odor for 48 hours and keeps you shower-bath fresh. It also stops perspiration and so protects against a second danger— perspiration stains. Since physical exertion, embarrassment and emotion can now cause apocrine glands to fairly gush perspiration, a dance, a date, an embarrassing remark may easily make you perspire and offend, or ruin a dress. All deodorants are not alike — so remember —no other deodorant tested stops perspiration and odor so completely yet so safely as new Arrid. Its safety has been proved by doctors. That's why girls your age buy more Arrid than any other age group. In fact, more men and women everywhere use Arrid than any other deodorant. It's antiseptic, used by 117,000 nurses. Intimate protection is needed— so protect yourself with this snowy, stainless cream that smooths on and disappears. Arrid, with the amazing new ingredient Creamogen, is guaranteed not to crystallize or dry out in the jar, or new jar free on return to Carter Products, Inc., 53 Park PI., N. Y. C. The American Laundering Institute has awarded Arrid its Approval Seal— harmless to fabrics. Arrid is safe for the skin— non-irritating— can be used right after shaving. Don't be half-safe. During this "age of romance" don't let perspiration problems spoil your fun. Don't be half-safe— be Arrid-safe! Use Arrid to be sure. Get Arrid now at your favorite drug counter — only 391* plus tax. ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN (Warners) — Errol Flynn, as a sort of Errol Flynn of Old Spain, outwits the enemies of his beloved Queen, Viveca Lindfors. It's neither art nor history — but it "is quite a rousing load of fast excitement. CHICKEN EVERY SUNDAY (20th-Fox)— Dan Dailey is a nice guy who does great things for his town but stays poor doing them while Celeste Holm, his long-suffering mate, keeps the family going by taking in boarders. Colleen Townsend's their daughter, admired by Alan Young and Bill Callahan. A warm and pleasant film. COMMAND DECISION (MGM)— Clark Gable is an Air Force general, sticking doggedly to his heartbreaking task of sending bombers on high-casualty missions over Germany. The all-male cast includes Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Brian Donlevy, Charles Bickford and Edward Arnold. A grim, brilliant and completely absorbing drama. CRISS CROSS (Univ.)— Burt Lancaster finds he still has a yen for his ex-wife, Yvonne de Carlo. So he goes into business with her new husband, Dan Duryea. The business is crime, and you know what that's like— it's noisy and gory and it doesn't pay. Maybe it's time Burt got into something else. EVERY GIRL SHOULD BE MARRIED (RKO) — Cary Grant is finally overwhelmed by the all-out tactics of Betsy Drake, bent on matrimony. Diana Lynn, Franchot Tone and Eddie Albert get caught in the middle of the rumpus. A bright farce. FAMILY HONEYMOON (Univ.) —Fred MacMurray marries widow Claudette Colbert — and then circumstances force them to lug her three tots, Gigi Perreau, Peter Miles and Jimmy Hunt, along on their honeymoon. The picture sags now and then, but there are some memorably hilarious points, too. HIGH FURY (U.A.) —Madeleine Carroll, Michael McKeag, Michael Rennie and Ian Keith in a tight drama laid in the Alps. The climax comes in a mountain-climbing sequence that's one of the most terrifyingly exciting episodes in film history. Extremely well worth seeing. JOAN OF ARC (RKO) — By no means a great movie, yet it does have its impressive moments — some supplied by Ingrid Bergman, but most of them by the Technicolor pageantry. Jose Ferrer is easily outstanding in the colossal cast. JOHN LOVES MARY (Warners) —Ronald Reagan, to oblige pal Jack Carson, marries Jack's English girl, Virginia Field, just to get her back to the U. S., where he plans to divorce her at once and turn her over to Jack. Then it develops that Jack already has a wife and a child. What a fix — for Ronald's engaged to Pat Neal. It all works out, and very amusingly, too. THE KISSING BANDIT (MGM) -Frank Sinatra, as a shy fellow who can't ride, goes out to early California where he's expected to be the dashing outlaw his father was. A diverting Techi, color song-and-dance romp that also employs the gifts of Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, Ricardo Montalban and J. Carroll Naish. KISS IN THE DARK (Warners) —David Niven, a longhair pianist, suddenly becomes owner of an apartment house. He's indifferent to the pleas of ex-owner Victor Moore to make it fit to live in until he meets tenant Jane Wyman, who teaches him about life and jazz music. The story's moderately original, it's nicely performed, and there are a number of chuckles in this so-so comedy. LET'S LIVE A LITTLE (Univ.) —In the course of making up his mind whether to marry cosmetics queen Anna Sten or lose her million-dollar advertising account, advertising executive Robert Cummings becomes a patient of psychiatrist Hedy Lamarr. Lots of laughs here. A LETTER TO THREE WIVES 1 20thFoul — A mischievous lady writes to Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell and Ann Sothern to stale she's leaving town with one of their husbands — which one, she doesn't say. This leads to a flashback examination of the girls' married lives with, respectively, Jeffrey Lynn, Paul Douglas and Kirk Douglas. A fresh and superbly executed comedy. LIVE TODAY FOR TOMORROW (Univ.) — Judge Fredric March goes on trial for the mercy-killing of his wife, Florence Eldridge. Geraldine Brooks is their daughter. If the makers had dared state any honest opinions in this film, it could have been forceful and dramatic. But though the acting's first rate, the result is pretty pointless agony. THE LUCKY STIFF (U.A.) — An exceedingly involved murder mystery-comedy with Dorothy Lamour, Brian Donlevy, Claire Trevor and assorted corpses. If you don't mind not knowing just what's going on, you may enjoy this. THE MAN FROM COLORADO (Col.)— Glenn Ford and Bill Holden are Union officers who, after the Civil War, return to Colorado where Glenn's elected federal judge with Bill as his marshal. Glenn has become kill-crazy in the war, and his reign as judge gets bloodier and bloodier. Finally his wife, Ellen Drew, Bill and most of the citizens turn agin him. A fine Western with terrific pace. MY OWN TRUE LOVE (Para.) —Ex-British Army officer Melvyn Douglas, a widower, is introduced by daughter Wanda Hendrix to Phyllis Calvert, for whom he falls. His son, Philip Friend, returns from the war embittered and resents his old man's chance at happiness. An interesting, mediumweight drama, well acted. THE PALEFACE (Para.)— Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Technicolor, the Old West, and about 16 loud laughs a minute. If you don't love this, we'll hate you. And oh, yes — "Buttons and Bows" originated here. PORTRAIT OF JENNIE ( Selznick ) — A strange and beautiful love story in which Joseph Cotten, a struggling artist, finds his great inspiration in a young girl, Jennifer Jones, who comes to him in Manhattan from beyond time and space. Ethel Barrymore, David Wayne, Cecil Kellaway and Lillian Gish head a distinguished supporting cast. An extraordinarily fine film. THE RED SHOES (Eagle-Lion)— A British-made Technicolor drama dealing with ballet people that rises to a magnificent peak in a full-scale ballet featuring ballerina Moira Shearer. This is something you could enjoy seeing over and over. THE SNAKE PIT (20th-Fox) — Olivia de Havilland loses her mind and goes through the horrors of a typical state mental hospital. Mark Stevens as her husband and Leo Genn as a sympathetic psychiatrist are excellent, as are dozens of others in minor roles — but Olivia de Havilland is even better in one of the finest performances ever given in motion pictures. A great film in every respect. SO DEAR TO MY HEART (RKO) —The ups and downs of a farm kid, Bobby Driscoll, as he strives to raise a tiny lamb to win a county fair blue ribbon. Burl Ives is his uncle. There are several cartoon sequences. One of the best movies Walt Disney has ever created — a thorough delight. UNFAITHFULLY YOURS (20th-Fox) —Rex Harrison is a symphony conductor who suspects his wife. Linda Darnell, is carrying on with his secretary, Kurt Kreuger. As he conducts, he daydreams of various ways of dealing with the problem. Barbara Lawrence and Rudy Vallee are also present in this unusual Preston Sturges comedy. WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME (20th-Fox) — Betty Grable, faithful wife of burlesque comic Dan Dailey, brings him back to respectability after alcohol downs him from the Broadway heights. A corny but effective tale of the Prohibition era, filled with first-rate dancing and songs. WHISPERING SMITH ( Para. ) —Railroad detective Alan Ladd keeps on trusting his old buddy, Preston Foster, until Preston wrecks one train too many Plenty of action in this bang-bang Western. WORDS AND MUSIC (MGM) —Based none too firmly on the lives of the famed songwriting team of Rodgers and Hart, this Technicolor musical is as full of good things as a fruitcake. Mickey Rooney and Tom Drake have the leads, and popping in and out to sing and dance are Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Perry Como, Vera-Ellen, Cyd Charisse, Lena Home, Betty Garrett and a horde of other talented and good-looking people.