Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1953)

6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, November 25, 1953 Reviews "Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue" (Disney-RKO Radio) HANDSOMELY mounted and rich in production values, "Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue" is an action-filled picture with Richard Todd and Glynis Johns in the top roles. Produced in color by Technicolor in Scotland, the story should not be confused with the Sir Walter Scott story of the same name Instead, it is a historical account of the Clan MacGregor and its most famous MacGregor, Rob Roy, and their stand against the oppression of the absentee kings and officials. Because of their readiness to join any political uprising that would place the Scotch Stuart line back on the English throne, the MacGregors were classed as traitors and for more than 200 years were deprived of their name and privileges. Todd, as Rob Roy, and Miss Johns, who supplies the love interest, give capable performances and they have been surrounded by a cast of fine players. Basically, the story is that of Rob's clashes with the British forces under the Duke of Montrose, played by Michael Gough, who enforces unjust laws against the MacGregors, drives Rob into outlawry, burns his homestead and tries to shame his bride. Although repeatedly captured, Rob always manages to escape in daring fashion and it is these escapades that provide the action of the picture. Eventually, Rob wins the king's pardon. On the negative side, it could be said that the picture becomes too loaded with dialogue between the action sequences and, in spots, this "wordiness" tends to slow down the fast pace with which the picture gets started. However, this is minor criticism because, on the whole, the production has sufficient action and romance to please the majority of fans. In a sense, the film could be described as a "Scotch Western," because it has all the elements of the so-called "horse opera," plus the historical value in a different setting. Especially fine is the scenery. The authentic Highland backgrounds of lochs and heather-covered mountains have rarely been captured by the camera so vividly. To assure this authenticity, Walt Disnev sent an entire unit to locations in Scotland. In addition, the British War Office provided 600 soldiers from a Scottish regiment to act as Scottish rebels and English soldiers for the gigantic battle sequences. "Rob Roy" was produced by Perce Pearce and directed by Harold French, from a screenplay by Lawrence E. Watkin Others in the cast are James Roberston Justice, Finlay Currie, Jean TaylorSmith, Geoffrey Keen, Archie Duncan, Russell Waters, Marjorie Fielding, Eric Pohlmann, Ina de La Have. Michael Goodliffe, Martin Boddey, Ewen Solon, James Sutherland and Malcolm Keen. Running time, 85 minutes. General audience classification. For February release. AL STEEN "Hondo" (Warner Brothers 3-D) FRONTIER life gets the 3-D treatment in this Wayne-Fellows production, which offers many tense moments for action fans. This outdoor drama, starring popular John Wayne and introducing Geraldine Page, has many of the attributes of stock Westerns, but, in addition it has deeper characterizations, thereby enriching the entertainment. Geraldine Page as a lonely wife of an erring rancher, confronted with the problem of raising a young son, renders a competent performance. Wayne as Hondo the tough, rough-and-ready frontiersman is his usual winning self. Despite the many melodramatic formula situations in the story, the film, in WarnerColor, should do nicely at the box-office. The 3-D medium on the whole is subordinated to the unfolding story with the exception of a few "gimmicks" such as a spear or knife being thrown at the audience. The story finds Wayne, a dispatcher attached to the U. S. Cavalry, wandering on the lonely ranch occupied by Miss Page and her small son, Lee Aaker. Immediately, the two are attracted to one another, although the woman pointedly indicates her bond to her husband, later unveiled as a scoundrel. The ranch is located in hostile Apache country and Wayne attempts to convince the woman that it would be safer to vacate her cabin and, with the boy, move to friendlier territory. Unsuccessful, he rides away to complete his mission with the Cavalry. The action rolls fast and furious following Wayne's return to the Cavalry encampment. Following a fist fight, Wavne finds himself forced to kill the woman's husband in a gun duel while returning to the ranch. In the meantime, the warring Apaches visit the cabin occupied by Miss Page and her son. They are saved only by the pluck of the little boy who wins over the Apache chief and is adopted as the chief's son. Wayne, too, is indirectly saved by the boy, when, following an ambush, he is released when the Apache leader is mistakenly convinced that Wayne is the father of the bov. At the ranch, Wavne struggles to tell the woman that it was he who killed her husband. Finally, prompted by the loose talk of a visiting soldier he does so. Robert Fellows produced, and John Farrow directed, from a screenplay by Tames Edward Grant, based on a story by Louis L'Amour. Others in the cast ar<= Ward Bond, Michael Pate, James Arness and Rodolfo Acosta. Running time, 82 minutes. General audience classification. Release date. Jan. 2. MURRAY HOROWITZ Johnston Says (Continued from page 1) mount president, at the recent annual dinner of the Motion Picture Pioneers. Johnston, in an interview, covered many topics ranging from MPAA's fight to combat government film censorship to the organization's project to streamline distribution. Regarding the product situation, Johnston emphasized that a picture in today's market must be very good in order to recoup its costs and show a profit. The reluctance of producing companies to turn out pictures of lesser quality is the reason for the production cut-backs, the MPAA president indicated. Would Streamline Distribution On MPAA's long-range project to streamline distribution, Johnston expressed the hope that "some decisions" would be forthcoming in two or three months. He said the initial goal would be to select an area in which the physical distribution operations of many companies would be combined into one over-all operation, thus offering a yardstick as to the savings and efficiencies obtainable under the plan. He said he had the New York area and two other areas in mind for the experiment, adding that initially it may only encompass the distribution of short subjects, educational and documentary films of the major companies. The slowness of the companies to move ahead on the project, he explained, was the reluctance in some quarters to hand over the distribution of a top picture to a "neutral" organization. Regarding censorship, Johnston said the MPAA is still struggling for the same "complete freedom" as afforded American newspapers. The Production Code, Johnston went on, has done a good job in general, despite contentions that the industry no longer needs self censorship. Such arguments, he added, when they come from within the industry, represent a "vocal minority." The Code, he declared, has resulted in a "greater freedom" for the screen, blocking governmental censorship moves. Discusses Foreign Situation On the foreign situation, Johnston said that the revenues realized from the foreign field in 1954 would probably be somewhat less in comparison to the current year. He explained that 1953 foreign remittances, estimated at $170,000,000 by other quarters, has been swollen by the unfreezing of heretofore blocked currencies in such countries as Japan and Brazil. MOVIELAB'S new preview theatre brings TO THE EAST the ultimate in projection. • Three dimensional projection if Three channel interlock projection • 16mm interlock projection MOVIEIAB THEATRE SERVICE, INC. 619 W 54th St., N V. 19, N. Y. • JUdton 6-0367 Finish Para. 3-D Short "Boo Moon," Paramount's second 3-D short subject with color in Techicolor, has been completed. It follows "PoDeye — the Ace of Space," currently in release. "Boo Moon" is a fantasy about a trip to the moon. It stars Caspar, "The Friendly Ghost." Named Coast Editor Dee Phillips (Mrs. Tack Holland) has been named West Coast editor of "Movie Sootlis'ht." "Movie Play" and "Movie Time," all published by Allen Stearn, of Biltmore Magazines, Inc. Ruth Fricson is editorial director in New York. National Pre-Selling "TJOW to Marry a Millionaire," JLl the Cinema Scope production, reports "Life's" current issue, "is a swank fable of three Manhattan models who get trapped by true love while hunting rich men. In it the close-up problem was neatly solved by shooting the stars lying down. By the weekend it was running neck and neck with 'The Robe' at the boxoffice in three cities. It began to look as if CinemaScope was the answer." • "The Glenn Miller Story" reports Ed Miller in the December issue of "Seventeen," "recreates the life and times of a great dance-band leader. "Not the least of the wonderful things about the new U. I. movie tribute to the band leader, 'The Glenn Miller Story,' is that it is on© of the most carefully researched biographical stories to come to the screen. Mrs. Miller approved the casting and okayed each page of the script." • "The Robe," "From Here to Eternity,"^ "Latin Lovers," "The Caddy" and "All American," are some of the pictures recommended in the December issue of "Modem Screen." • In a review of events which were highlights of 1953, "American Weekly" in the Nov. 22 issue reports on motion pictures. "Movie fans had plenty to be thankful for, with 3-D, CinemaScope and stereophonic sound, but one high spot was the 'impossible' job Columbia Studios, with Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed, did to make a lusty book, 'From Here to Eternity,' a hit." • "Kiss Me Kate" was chosen by Florence Somers in "RedbookV' December issue for the annual silver cup award. • A^ suggestion for helping pre-seil coming features is inspired by a nezv model of record-playing equipment just announced by M-G-M Records. The nezv machine is a completely automatic three-speed portable ivhich has a member of nezv advantages in addition to its attractive appearance. The idea is to Play records to patrons ztfaiting in the lounge, and to intersperse them with theme songs from coming pictures. The volume can be adjusted in such a manner that the sound is not too intriits'we. In this zcay, patrons are quietly entertained zt'hitc they are uniting, and at the same time it is helpfid to coming features. • Louella Parsons interviewed Anne Baxter, star of "John Brown's Body," for the "Pictorial Review's" Nov. 22 issue. Anne's impression of "John Brown's Body" : "It's an epic poem and tells the story of a real American." • " 'Botany Bay,' " reports Louella Parsons in "Cosmopolitan," "is the lusty saga, in Technicolor, of a shipload of convicts who braved the cruel sea to settle Australia as freemen. It stars Alan Ladd as a wronged American but the picture is stolen by James Mason as the brutal, sadistic captain." WALTER HAAS