The Exhibitor (1956)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR January 9, 195 7 it will merely be a reflection of the cur¬ rent trend toward integration, showing an ability to live with other races and creeds. The film and theme are daring, intriguing, different, and offer much in the way of unusual entertainment. It can be pro¬ moted and exploited, and it will certainly garner much attention via word of mouth as well as in the press. The perforances are very good, and the direction and pro¬ duction are in the better category. The story and screenplay is by Robert Alan Aurthur, who also wrote the TV play, “Ten Feet Tall,” on which the film is based. Whether the fact that it was a dramatic offering on TV coast-to-coast will help or hinder is also something for theatre operators to consider. Tip On Bidding: Depending on indi¬ vidual situation. Ad Lines: “Trouble Was His Middle Name”; “A Man Can Take Just So Much Before He Breaks Or Breaks His Tor¬ mentors”; “Unusual Entertainment That Must Not Be Missed.” The Iron Petticoat comedy (712) 87m. (Technicolor) (VistaVision) (Filmed in England) Estimate: Fairly amusing Hope entry. Cast: Bob Hope, Katherine Hepburn, James Robertson Justice, Robert Help¬ mann, David Kossoff, Alan Gifford, Paul Carpenter, Noelle Middleton, Nicholas Phipps, Sidney James, Alexander Gauge. Directed by Ralph Thomas; produced by Betty Box. Story: Air Force pilot Bob Hope escorts a Russian plane piloted by Captain Kath¬ erine Hepburn, Russian woman ace, down into the western zone. He is assigned to be her companion, guide, bodyguard, etc., and is ordered to sell her on democracy. He manages to get them assigned to Lon¬ don so that he can be near wealthy fiancee Noelle Middleton, but he finds himself in hot water with the latter when she finds him and Hepburn in several compromising situations. Meanwhile, the Russians, headed by James Robertson Justice, try to get her back but fail until Hepburn starts to fall for Hope and dis¬ covers a marriage license for him and Middleton. She volunteers to go back, is court-martialed, and ordered to return to Moscow disgraced. Hope has fallen for her, too, and when he learns of her pre¬ dicament, he uses a variety of ways to try and effect her escape, including board¬ ing the plane carrying them all to Mos¬ cow. They land expecting the worst, only to find that there has been a change of policy. Their captors are carted off to jail while they are freed to be married and come to America. The Russians hope this will result in favorable propaganda for their side. X-Ray: There are quite a number of humorous scenes and situations to be found here, but there is also quite a bit of slapstick and forced humor. However, it’s all in fun, and with Hope on the rampage most viewers will get a charge out of the proceedings. It’s light and amusing and something for the whole family. The story is adequate, the per¬ formances average, and the direction and production okay. The screenplay is based on an original story by Harry Saltzman. Tip On Bidding: Higher program rates. Ad Lines: “When Katherine Hepburn Turns Spy And Bob Hope Spy Catcher There’s Fun For All”; “Bob Hope Is On The Rampage And Katherine Hepburn’s Got Him”; “It’s Crazy, Mixed Up Fun With Bob Hope And Katherine Hepburn.” THE SERVISECTION is the only service of its kind giving a full coverage, listing, and reviews of all features and shorts in the domestic market. PARAMOUNT The Rainmaker (5606) Di2ul£ (VistaVision) (Technicolor) Estimate: High rating entry. Cast: Burt Lancaster, Katherine Hep¬ burn, Wendell Corey, Lloyd Bridges, Earl Holliman, Cameron Prud’homme, Wallace Ford, Yvonne Lime, Dottie Bee Baker, Dan White. Produced by Hal B. Wallis; directed by Joseph Anthony. Story: Portions of the southwest are in the grip of a drought with the short¬ age of water particularly acute where Cameron Prud’homme has his ranch with his three children, Katherine Hepburn, Lloyd Bridges, and Earl Holliman. Hep¬ burn has been both mother and sister to them all, and the greatest disaster in her life is that no man outside her family has found her attractive. She yearns for ro¬ mance and marriage. Bridges is more like a father than a brother, over solici¬ tous of their welfare and afraid brother and sister might get hurt. The youngest, Earl Holliman, is not allowed to think or act for himself by Bridges, who particu¬ larly warns him to stay away from a cute neighbor gal who likes to flirt. The family sends Hepburn off to distant rela¬ tives hoping a wedding might result, but it doesn’t. Upon her return, they try to interest deputy sheriff Wendell Corey, but he’s shy and cautious. At this point, Burt Lancaster, seemingly a confidence man, shows up and informs them that for a hundred dollars he’ll bring them the needed rain. As a gag, Prud’homme goes along. Lancaster sizes up the family cor¬ rectly. He talks plainly to Hepburn, romances her a bit, changes her hairdo, and gives her the needed confidence to think she is attractive. He puts backbone in Holliman, who romances Yvonne Lime. Corey arrives to take Lancaster to jail as a confidence man, but the family persuades him to let him go. Lancaster asks Hep¬ burn to go along, but Corey asks her, in¬ stead, to remain as his wife, and she agrees. As Lancaster starts to leave, a thunder storm breaks loose and the much needed rain falls from heaven. Is Lan¬ caster responsible? Who knows? X-Ray: A theatre audience seemed to have a perfectly enjoyable time viewing the proceedings on screen, and the film contained just the right amount of humor, drama, tenseness of situation, and an at¬ mosphere that, kept the circumstance and interest alive throughout. Moods changed as the story progressed, and there were moments of heart warmth and heart¬ break which were in turn followed by laughter and human understanding. Per¬ haps, mainly responsible for the success of the entry are the outstanding perform¬ ances by Katherine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster, who are more than ably sup¬ ported by the others in the cast. The direction and production are of top cali¬ bre. This could be a big boxoffice success when the word gets around that it is better entertainment. The screenplay is by N. Richard Nash, based on his play. This bears a Legion of Decency “B” rating. Tip On Bidding: Higher rates. Ad Lines: “ ‘The Rainmaker’ Must Not Be Missed”; “Excellent Entertainment . . . The One You’ve All Been Waiting For”; “A Story Of People And How One Man Changed Their Lives For The Better.” REPUBLIC _ Above The Waves Melodrama (5601) 92m. (English-made) Estimate: Exciting English melodrama. Cast: John Mills, John Gregson, Don¬ ald Sinden, James Robertson Justice, Michael Medwin, James Kenney, O. E. Hasse, Lee Patterson, Lynson Brook. Pro¬ duced by William MacQuitty; directed by Ralph Thomas. Story: While the battle of the Atlantic in World War II is at its fiercest, many British battleships are forced to keep an eye on the German battleship, Tirpitz, hiding in a Norwegian fjord. Commander John Mills volunteers to try and get at her with torpedos manned by humans, but is robbed of success at the last moment. A second try is intended using midget subs, and three make the at¬ tempt with one commanded by Mills. Two are successful in planting explosives near the vessel, but they can’t get away. The third is bogged down with operating troubles. The men from all three are taken prisoner aboard the battleship and are on deck when she is wounded by the exploding ammunition. The vessel is put out of commission, and the men are pre¬ sumably taken to a prison camp. X-Ray: The cast is all-male in keeping with the proper treatment of the subject matter which is the serious conduct of a certain phase of World War II. How the operation to destroy a German battleship is set up and carried through makes for suspenseful and highly interesting enter¬ tainment with a semi-documentary flavor which is of value here. The cast is good, and the direction and production in the better class. It can do well as part of the program or in the specialty spots as a better import. The screenplay is by Robin Estridge, based on a story by C. E. T. Warren and Lames Benson. Ad Lines: “A Secret Operation Of World War II Revealed At Last”; “The Story Of Human Torpedos”; “A Yarn Of Excitement And Adventure Beneath The High Seas.” 20TH-FOX t Help It Musical ' Comedy 99m. (CinemaScope) (Color by DeLuxe) Estimate: Highly entertaining entry. Cast: Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Ed¬ mond O’Brien, Julie London, Ray An¬ thony, Barry Gordon, Henry Jones, John Emery, Juanita Moore, Fats Domino, The Platters, Little Richard and band, Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps, the Treniers, Eddie Fontaine, Abbey Lincoln, The Chuckles, Johnny Glenn, Nino Tempo, Eddie Cochran. Produced and directed by Frank Tashlin. Story: Tom Ewell, once a prominent theatrical agent and star-maker, is down and almost out when he gets a call from former racketeer Edmund O’Brien, who asks him to make a star of girl friend Jayne Mansfield. When this is done, O’Brien intends to marry her. He offers Ewell good pay but warns him to keep hands off. Mansfield takes a liking to Ewell, and she shows him she can cook, keep house, etc., as well as look beautiful. They are attracted to each other, but Ewell is always mindful of O’Brien’s threat. She tries to convince everyone she has no voice so that she won’t be successful and have to marry O’Brien, but she becomes a hit recording artist despite her belittling efforts with a rock and roll tune written by O’Brien while he was doing time in jail. Ewell and Mansfield are in love, and O’Brien finally convinces himself that Mansfield without a good singing voice may never reach the top and isn’t worthy of him. She surprises Ewell as the climax draws near by sing¬ ing a song in a pretty good voice, and 4274 Servisection 2