The Exhibitor (1954)

ALLIED ARTISTS Mystery The Human Jungle Melodrama ' x 82m. Estimate: Well-made program meller. Cast: Gary Merrill, Jan Sterling, Paula Raymond, Emile Meyer, Regis Toomey, Chuck Connors, Pat Waltz, George Wal¬ lace, Chubby Johnson, Don Keefer, Rankin Mansfield, Lamont Johnson, Leo Cleary, Florenz Ames, Claude Akins, Hugh Boswell, James Westerfield. Pro¬ duced by Hayes Goetz; directed by Joseph M. Newman. Story: After a strip tease dancer is murdered, police captain Gary Merrill is assigned to take over from aging James Westerfield, even though Merrill is about to quit having passed his bar exam. Mer¬ rill revitalizes the men under his com¬ mand including veteran Regis Toomey, Lamont Johnson, Rankin Mansfield, George Wallace, and Pat Waltz. Some resent his orders to clean up the district and find the murderer of the dancer. The section is controlled by underworld leader Florenz Ames, assisted by Claude Akins, manager of the club where the dead girl worked, and strong arm boy Chuck Connors, who turns out to be the killer. Another club girl, Jan Sterling, supplies Connors with an alibi for the night in question, but Merrill decides to work on her until she comes clean. Ames orders Merrill framed on brutality charges which ties things up in hearings, etc., but using Sterling as a lever, he and several of the men force Connors to admit the killing by trying to also kill Sterling. A climactic chase winds the case up with Merrill deciding to re¬ main where he is needed, in police work. X-Ray: This is one of the better entries on police in action and the behind-thescene work that goes into the operation of a precinct house in a large city. Inter¬ est is on high with the yam and camera jumping from one high point to another and all integrated into one entertaining result. It should please action, meller, and mystery fans. Performances are capable, »vith Merrill doing very well in the lead, while the direction and production are in the better class. The screen play is by William Sackheim and Daniel Fuchs, based on a story by Sackheim. One song, It Ain’t Gonna Be You,” is heard. Maxi¬ mum aspect ratio: 1.85-1. Tip On Bidding: Higher program rates. Ad Lines: “He Was Ordered To Clean Up The City And Solve A Murder . . . And He Really Did A Job In ‘The Human Jungle”’; “A Thrill-Packed Ac¬ The original Pink Section evaluations of features and shorts Published weekly by Jay Emanuel Publications, Inc. Publishing office: 246-248 North Clarion Street, Philadelphia 7, Pennsylvania. New York: 229 West 42nd Street, New York City. West Coast Representative: Paul Manning, 9075 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles 35, California. Jay Emanuel, publisher; P. J. Greenhalgh, general manager; H. M. Miller, editor; Max Cades, business manager; George Nonamaker, Mel Konecoff, Al Erlick, associate editors. SECTION TWO VOL. 52 • No. 21 SEPTEMBER 22, 1954 tion Thriller Of A City In Trouble”; “He Had To Throw Her To The Wolves To Solve A Killing And Clean Out The Underworld.” COLUMBIA The Black Dakotas Outdoor (721) 65m. (Color by Technicolor) Estimate: Okeh programmer for the lower half. Cast: Gary Merrill, Wanda Hendrix, John Bromfield, Noah Beery, Jr., Faye Roope, Howard Wendell, Robert Simon, James Griffith, Richard Webb, Peter Whit¬ ney, John War Eagle, Jay Silverheels, George Keymas, Robert Griffin, Clayton Moore, Chris Alcaide, Frank Wilcox. Pro¬ duced by Wallace MacDonald, directed by Ray Nazarro. Story: During the Civil War, Frank Wilcox, emissary from President Lincoln carrying a new treaty for the Sioux Na¬ tion, is stopped by a stage hold-up by a group of Confederate spies. He is killed by Gary Merrill, his traveling compan¬ ion, and another spy who takes over his identity. The rebel plan is to promise the Indians anything but then hold out until they declare war which might divert some Federal troops from the battlefront. Also, the rebels hope to capture a shipment of gold. Faye Roope, Confederate leader, is caught plotting with renegade Indians and is accused of being a spy. He is tried im¬ mediately and sentenced to be hung. His daughter, Wanda Hendrix, tries to inter¬ fere. Later, Noah Beery, Jr., reveals him¬ self as a rebel agent ready to help Merrill. The latter and John Bromfield head for the Indians but are attacked by a band of renegades. Bromfield gets away and summons help which arrives in time to save Merrill from being burnt at the stake. The body of Wilcox is found, but before the marshal and judge can identify him, they are killed. Hendrix is blamed for the killings since she promised to kill them for the part they played in the hanging of Roope. Bromfield gets her away but they are made prisoner by Beery and his men, with Beery admitting the killings. Merrill admits his real identity. Merrill disposes of the others so that he can keep the gold himself. Bromfield arrives with a band of Indians. Merrill is captured, the Indians get the gold, the treaty is signed, and peace comes to the area while Brom¬ field and Hendrix plan for the future to¬ gether. X-Ray: Containing quite a bit of action, intrigue, gun play, as well as sessions with Indians, rebel spies, etc., this shapes up as an okeh lower half feature that should round out the program adequately. The cast is efficient and the direction and pro¬ duction are average. The screen play is by Ray Buffum and DeVallon Scott based on a story by Buffum. Maximum aspect ratio: 1.85-1. Ad Lines: “Savage . . . Spectacular . . . * • • 1 in the entire trade press ... MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR . . . both in The Pink Reviews as available, and in the alternating yellow Check-Up, . . . now lists, for your booking and playing knowledge, all pertinent data on the new techniques. Included in such data are: 1. ARE PRINTS AVAILABLE IN STEREOPHONIC SOUND? 2. WHICH SCREEN ASPECT RATIOS ARE AVAILABLE ON EACH PICTURE ? 3. ON WHICH 3-D PICTURES ARE 2-D PRINTS AVAILABLE? 4. IS IT CINEMASCOPE . . . VISTAVISION . . . SUPERSCOPE . . . etc.? 5. ARE THERE ANY OTHER MECHANICAL PLUS-VALUES TO HELP THE GROSS? FIRST AS USUAL! The most useful and "theatre-wise" services will always come from the theatreman's most serviceable weeklyl