Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1953)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 30, 1953 Reviews "Half A Hero" (Metro-Goldzvyn-Maycr) RED SKELTON plays almost a straight dramatic role in "Half A Hero," but the comedy, that he does inject is sly and wistful. Jean Hagen and Skelton make a perfect team in Nat Shulman's light story of a young couple increasing their obligations—first with a baby, then with a house_ then with furniture and doctors and plumbers and television and automobiles—it's humor- ous, wry and told with knowledge. Don Weiss's direction makes the most of Shulman's situations, which at times are character sketches and memorable. Charles Dingle, as Skelton's publisher, is pathetic and funny, in his simple- minded emphasis on "impact" and frugality and thrift. Willard Waterman is perfect as a glib real estate salesman, sympathetic and smooth, with the patter of long practice. And there are Kathleen Freeman, as the "Welcome Wagon" girl, Mary Wickes and Frank Cady, as neighbors, and others. The story brings to every working man and woman patches out of their own lives, for review and some laughter. Skelton is the earnest writer, suddenly landing a job as rewrite man, and made very happy with a pay- check. His wife immediately quits work, then plans a baby and has the baby, then plans to move the family out of a New York tenement and suc- ceeds in landing in a pretty little suburb, with a house which brings happi- ness to her, and worry to Skelton. The bills frighten Red. His wife's insistence on faith and courage annoys him. Her notation that other people also are in debt does not reassure him. When his employer tells him to write an expose on just such housing develop- ments as he lives in, Skelton is compelled to dig into the lives of his neigh- bors. He realizes they are also over their heads in debt, but they are brave. When he attempts to sell his house, he suddenly feels pride of ownership. His attitude changes so much that his article becomes commendatory, and he tells his employer that although the people he interviewed are not thrifty, they are the Americans of today, building everything on faith and credit. He expects to be fired, but his own gamble pays off; his employer advances him. Matthew Rapf produced. There is a "guest appearance" in a night club song rendition by Polly Bergen. Others in the cast are Hugh Corcoran, Dorothy Patrick, King Donovan, Billie Bird and Dabbs Greer. Running time, 71 minutes. General audience classification. Release dated, Sept. 4. ' . "Sweethearts on Parade" (Republic) ASMALL-TOWN (Kokomo, Indiana) musical medicine show, full of colorful entertainment and color by Trucolor, "Sweethearts on Parade" is pleasant material and should satisfy the average moviegoer. The cast appeared to enjoy the work, headed by Ray Middleton, Lucdle Norman, Eileen Christy and Bill Shirley. The respective romances of Miss Norman, a lovely Kokomo music teacher, and her daughter, Miss Christy, are the hub around which merrily spin all the color and interest surrounding an old-time medicine show; the year 1S The show's owner turns out to be Miss Norman's long-lost husband, whom she left years before, when both were on the stage, because she suspected he was being unfaithful to her. In the intervening years, of course, both have learned to rue youthful follies. Paralleling the romantic misadventure is Miss Christy's flirtation with Bill Shirley, the medicine show doctor who doubles as tenor. ... Principal comedy relief comes from Clinton Sundberg, as Miss Normans stuffy Kokomo suitor, and Irving Bacon, the local sheriff whose stuffiness is negated to a certain extent by his obvious appreciation of female beauty. Nice "support is given by Estelita, as the medicine show's top star who loves Middleton not wisely but too well, and by Harry Carey Jr., a young singer with the show. Included in the score are "Romance," "Molly Darling," "Sweet Genevieve," "Young Love" and several other numbers ranging from traditional folk song to an operatic aria. All have appeal. Allan Dwan directed, nicely, from a screenplay by Houston Branch. The music was adapted and directed by Robert Armbruster. The entire produc- tion was photographed to take fine advantage of the naturally color locale and sets. Others in the cast are Leon Tyler, Marjorie Wood, Mara Corday, Ann McCrea, Tex Terry and Emory Parnell. Running time, 90 minutes. General audience classification. Release, date, July IS. ° Expect Four 3-D Films To Gross $15,000,000 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 29. —Financial sources have esti- mated an approximate domestic gross of $15,000,000 for the first four pictures to be released in 3-D: "Bwana Devil," "Man in the Dark," "Fort Ti" and "House of Wax," with the latter, alone, expected to account for half of the total, according to the Polaroid Corp. The worldwide grosses, it is be- lieved, will add another 30 to 40 per cent, bringing the po- tential for these four pictures to more than $20,000,000, it was said. G. & P. Amusement Appeals Trust Suit CLEVELAND, July 29.—The G & P Amusement Co. monopoly suit heard last year in Federal Court and decided by Federal Judge Emrich B. Freed in favor of the defendants— Loew's, 20th-Fox, Universal, War- ners, Columbia, Co-operative Theatres of Ohio and Paul Gusdanovic—has been appealed. The plaintiff's attorney, Samuel T. Gaines filed notice of ap- peal in the District Court of Appeals for the 6th District, in Cincinnati. Case Is Unusual The G & P case differs from other monopoly cases in that it involves a co-operative buying-booking agency on its charges of conspiracy to favor the defendant Regent Theatre as opposed to the plaintiff's Moreland Theatre to such a degree that the Moreland allegedly could not secure a steady flow of suitable product and as a re- sult, was forced to close. Defendant attorneys are Jones, Day, Cockley and Reaves, and Ulmer, Berne and Gor- don. IFE's Jacon Leaves For A Field Trip Bernard Jacon, vice-president in charge of sales and distribution for the I.F.E. Releasing Corp., left New York yesterday for a business trip which will cover the Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago and Cleveland ter- ritories. The purpose of the trip it to meet with I.F.E. sales representatives and exhibitors and discuss the release of American language product such as "Anna," "The Little World of Don Camillo," "O.K. Nero!", "The Secret Conclave," "Three Girls from Rome," "The Young Caruso" and subtitled pictures including "Bellisima," "Times Gone By" and the French and Italian versions of "The Little World of Don Camillo." Jacon will be in Atlanta today, in New Orleans on Aug. 5, in Chicago on Aug. 9, and in Cleveland on Aug. 13. He will return to New York on Aug. 18. Puerto Rican Post For Win. Schwartz William Schwartz, who has been in charge of RKO Radio's offices in Japan since 1951, has been appointed manager for Puerto Rico. Schwartz succeeds Melvin Edelstein, who goes to Colombia. Charles Skouras III; Confined to Home HOLLYWOOD, July 29.—Charles P. Skouras, who was flown back from Portland, Oregon, Monday night fol- lowing recurrence of a cardiac condi- tion, today was excused by Federal Judge Harry C. Westover from mak- ing depositions in two anti-trust cases until October 19. Skouras has been confined to his home by doctors. MacLeod Is Lantz Ad-Puhlicity Head Hollywood, July 29.—Tom Mac- Leod has been appointed director _ of advertising, publicity and exploitation for Walter Lantz Productions. MacLeod for the past 12 years was with Universal-International studio's publicity department. Prior to that he was publicity director for RKO and Warner Brothers theatres in Southern California. Report Information Fund Restored WASHINGTON, July 29.— The Senate Appropriations Committee was reported to have restored $20,000,000 of the House cut in funds for the government's overseas informa- tion program. The Truman January budget had programmed $114,500,000 for the program, including the film division. The Eisenhower Administration asked for only $37,900,000, and the House voted only $60,000,000. The Senate Committee was reported as voting tentatively to give the program $80,000,000. 28 Productions in Work on the Coast HOLLYWOOD, July 29. — The production chart shows a total of 28 pictures in work. Five were started and eight were completed. Started were: "Pride of the Blue Grass," Allied Artists; "Top Banana" (Road Show Productions) and "Hollywood Stunt Man" (Bernard B. B. Ray), Independent; "Rangers of the North," RKO Radio; "King of the Khyber Rifles," 20th Century-Fox. Completed were: "Tabloid" and "Slade" (Lindsley Parsons), Allied Artists; "Jesse James vs. the Dal- tons" (Esskay Pictures) ; Columbia; "The Man Who Saved the Earth" (W. Lee Wilder) ; "Crazylegs, All- American" (Hall Bartlett), and "The Bigamist" (Filmakers Releasing), Independent; "Geraldine," Republic; "The Glass Web," Universal-Interna- tional. New Media Adds 50 To Altec Staff Altec Service Corp. within the past two months has added more than 50 engineers to its technical staff throughout the country, an increase made necessary by the growing de- mand by theatres for installation of stereophonic sound. The most recent group of sound technicians added to the staff, _ to- gether with their field-office assign- ments are: W. K. Glodfelter to the Eastern division; M. Revzin and H. M. Armistead, Northeast; W. N. Shearer, J. C. Rhoton, Jr., C. S. Brown and J. E. Skelly, Jr., South; J. E. Hoeft and E. Goad, Central; R. M. Ingraham, Southwest; L. J. Hagaman, West. 'Kine's' '53 Annual Published in London LONDON, July 29.— "The Kine matograph Weekly" has published its "1953 Kinematograph Year Book," annual publication of facts and fig- ures on the British industry. Among the general and specific trade statis- tics contained in the 613-page, thumb- index volume are listings of all films trade-shown in 1952; names of trade organizations, renting companies and studio service companies; a "Who's What in the Industry," and classified trade and general trade directories. Also included are listings of leading circuits and equipment firms.