The Exhibitor (1956)

May 30, 1956 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR learns she really loves him and just used Curtis. He eventually finds that he loves her, too. Curtis blows up when he finds out they are in love and insists to Gomez that Lancaster leave the act. With an American circus owner due to catch the act, Lancaster persuades his replacement to let him go on, and he goads Curtis into doing the triple somersault. Gomez tries to prevent the act from coming off by removing the nets, but Curtis does it anyway to the acclaim of the public and other artists. Though Curtis wants Lan¬ caster as part of the act when it goes to America, Lancaster knows that he would be better off without him and walks away. Lollobrigida runs after him, and together they walk off into the night and the future. X-Ray: Filled with entertainment is this big and colorful entry in CinemaScope. It’s got the excitement of a circus preparing and presenting its show to the public; it’s got behind-the-scenes con¬ flicts of personalities and performers; it’s got powerful romantic scenes and settings; it’s got thrills in the air and on the the ground; and it has the advantage of actual setting and background of Paris and the circus to further stimulate and excite viewers. Further to its credit are the performances by the cast, with par¬ ticular emphasis on the fine work turned in by Lancaster, Curtis, and Lollobrigida, to say nothing of the top support provided by others. Add to this the sensitive and forceful direction of Reed and the smart and efficient production of Hill, the ex¬ cellent camera work and revealing color photography, and you’ve got a film that should do big business. A simple and in¬ teresting script by James R. Webb adapted by Liam O’Brien keeps attention pretty well glued to the screen. A huge advertis¬ ing and promotional campaign is sched¬ uled to present the production properly to the public. Tip On Bidding: Higher rates. Ad Lines: “The Picture They’re All Talking About”; “She Had The Love Of Two Men On The Trapeze”; “A Thrilling Film About Life And Love And Suspense In The Circus.” U-Intemational The Rawhide Years (5622) Outdoor Melodrama 85m. (Print by Technicolor). Estimate: Action entry entertains. Cast: Tony Curtis, Colleen Miller, Ar¬ thur Kennedy, William Demarest, William Gargan, Peter Van Eyck, Minor Watson, Donald Randolph, Chubby Johnson, James Anderson, Bob Wilke. Produced by Stanley Rubin; directed by Rudolph Mate. Story: Three years after he had fled from a small western town to escape being lynched for a murder he didn’t commit, Tony Curtis hits the trail for home to clear his name and marry the girl he left behind, Colleen Miller. Arthur Kennedy accompanies him. When a posse swoops down on them, they escape by jumping into the river. They are picked up by an inland steam boat, but as it nears town, river pirates attack, blow up the safe, rob the passengers. In a scuffle with one of the masked members of the gang, Curtis is brutally beaten with a silver-studded leather belt, an experi¬ ence he previously suffered at the hands of an unknown assailant on the night the murder he is accused of was committed. He is sure the man who gave him the beatings is the real murderer. Finally in the town, Curtis learns Miller is now singing at the gambling casino and that owner Peter Van Eyck considers her his girl friend. She begs Curtis to take her away before marshal William Gargan can jail him on the still pending murder charge. Van Eyck is anxious that Curtis leave without the girl and, while several henchmen hold Curtis helpless, whips him with a silver-studded leather belt. Later, the same two thugs escort Curtis out of town, intending to put a bullet in his back, since it is obvious that Curtis knows the real murderer and leader of the river pirates. Curtis eludes them, and takes refuge on a ranch, but this proves to be property owned by a rancher in with Van Eyck. However, Kennedy comes to Curtis’ rescue. Curtis goes to get Miller, but Kennedy is captured by a mob which is lynchcrazy. Curtis rushes to the aid of Kennedy as the marshal stops the lynching. Confronted by Curtis, Van Eyck puts up a struggle, but is forced out on the balcony where Curtis is about to force him to confess to the townspeople. Van Eyck is shot, however, by one of his own henchmen, trying to hit Curtis from a vantage point across the street. Dying, Van Eyck confesses and clears Curtis, who prepares to leave with Miller. When he goes looking for his horse, he learns that his pal, Kennedy, has appropriated it and is on his way for further adventure. X-Ray: Lots of action, color, excite¬ ment, and a fast pace that keeps things moving are to be found here, along with suitable performances by the cast as a whole and good direction and production which lifts this entry to the better pro¬ gram category. This intrigue and melo¬ drama are lightened by some comedy bits as well as a few musical numbers by Miller, who sings “The Gypsy With The Fire In His Shoes,” “Happy Go Lucky,” and “Give Me Your Love.” Interest is maintained throughout. The screen play is by Earl Felton, based on the novel by Norman A. Fox. Tip On Bidding: Higher program rates. Ad Lines: “He Was Fast With A Card Or A Gun”; “Framed For Murder, He Is Almost Killed Trying To Clear Himself”; “Action Aplenty In This Fast Moving Ad¬ venture Yarn Of The Early West.” WARNERS Dallas (522) Western 94m. Estimate: Good western reissue. Cast: Gary Cooper, Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, Raymond Massey, Barbara Payton, Leif Erickson, Antonio Moreno, Jerome Cowan, Reed Hadley, Gil Donald¬ son, Zon Murray, Will Wright, Monte Blue, Byron Keith, Jose Dominguez, Steve Dunhill. Produced by Anthony Veiller; di¬ rected by Stuart Heisler. X-Ray: When first reviewed in The Servisection of December, 1950, it was said: “Although this does not expand into any new direction, it does have the benefit of name draws, an adequate amount of shooting, riding, and fighting, etc. The story follows the standard formula with¬ out much deviation, but Cooper fans should be pleased with the result, and the boxoffice should react accordingly. The screen play was written by John Twist.” This was originally in Technicolor, but the reissue is black and white. Tip On Bidding: Usual reissue price. Ad Lines: “A Super Cooper Hit”; “Big Reb — -A Man With A Chip On His Shoulder And A Border Lady On His Mind”; “When Texas Was A Powder-Keg They Lit The Fuse!” Distant Drums (523) Mmo™0AI“A Estimate: Reissue should do okay. Cast: Gary Cooper, Mari Aldon, Rich¬ ard Webb, Ray Teal, Arthur Hunnicutt, Robert Barrat, Clancy Cooper, Larry Carper. Produced by Milton Sperling; directed by Raoul Walsh. X-Ray: When first reviewed in The Servisection in December, 1951, it was said: “With plenty of action, colorful scenes in the Florida jungles, Indians, soldiers, the Cooper name, and a different yarn, this should register in the better grosses. The pace is fairly rapid, consid¬ ering the repetitious nature of the story, with action lovers certain to get their share of entertainment. The angles are all there for the selling. The screen play is by Niven Busch and Martin Rackin, from the story by Busch.” This was originally in Technicolor, but the reissue is black and white. Tip On Bidding: Usual reissue price. Ad Lines: “A Super Cooper Hit!” “Blade In His Hand — Blood In. His Eye — Captain Wyatt, Swamp -Fighter”; “The Tom-Tom Beat — The Panther Howl — The Seminole War-Cry!” MISCELLANEOUS Mystery Female Jungle Melodrama 68m. (American Releasing) Estimates Okay for the lower half. Cast: Lawrence Tierney, John Carradine, Jayne Mansfield, Burt Kaiser, Kath¬ leen Crowley, James Kodl, Rex Thorsen, Jack Hill, Bruce Carlisle, Connie Cezon. Produced by Burt Kaiser; directed by Bruno Ve Sota. Story: When an actress is found mur¬ dered outside a night spot, police sergeant Lawrence Tierney had been in the club off duty and drinking heavily. He tries to retrace the time. He questions blonde model Jayne Mansfield, who was his date, and others at the club. He learns that the dead woman had been escorted by dramatic critic John Carradine. The latter is tracked down to the apartment of Burt Kaiser, a caricature artist. Carra¬ dine has disappeared with Kaiser’s wife, Kathleen Crowley. When Carradine is found, he is questioned because the clues point to his being guilty. Further ques¬ tioning shows that Kaiser has been friendly with Mansfield as well as the dead woman. Carradine tries to warn Crowley, and Kaiser almost kills her after disposing of Mansfield. The police arrive in time. In trying to escape, Kaiser is killed. X-Ray: A mixed-up type of mystery meller, this is for the lower half but contains angles that can be sold, such as Jayne Mansfield who has become famous in her own right. The story is fair, as are the performances, direction, and pro¬ duction. Ad Lines: “A Scream In The Night Means Murder”; “The Sexiest Blonde Be¬ comes Involved In Murder”; “She Had A Way With Men That Meant Trouble.” The Oklahoma Woman WeS71mN (American Releasing) (SuperScope) Estimate: Fair western. Cast: Richard Denning, Peggie Castle, Tudor Owen, Martin Kingsley, Cathy Downs. Produced and directed by Roger Corman; executive producer, James Nicholson. Story: Gunman Richard Denning, after serving a prison term, arrives in Okla¬ homa to take over a ranch left him by a relative. He wants only peace and quiet. He finds former flame Peggie Castle owns the largest saloon in town and is power¬ ful enough to control much of what goes on in the area. She is backing a candidate for state senator against Tudor Owen, Denning’s neighbor. She tries to intimi( Continued on page 4171) Servisection 5 ft. ~ 4169