The Exhibitor (1956)

January 23, 1957 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR world, even to the Scottish Highlands. Upon his return, he has a hard time con¬ vincing Gorsen and the others that it was merely enthusiasm. X-Ray: There is quite a bit of humor here, and art and specialty house audi¬ ences will best appreciate the proceed¬ ings, although there is nothing to prevent a regulation operation from having a try at playing thp import. It’s well done, the story holds interest most of the time, and the cast gives a good account of itself, while the direction and production are good. A little more selling may mean a little more in returns. The screenplay is by Gilliat and Launder, based on the novel by David Walker. Ad Lines: “A Mighty Man Was Wee Geordie Except When It Came To Ro¬ mance”; “Fun For All Who Would See The Adventures Of ‘Wee Geordie’ “A Film Full Of Fun That Shouldn’t Be Missed By Anyone.” FOREIGN Angels Of Darkness Drama 84m. (Excelsior) (Italian-made) (Dubbed into English) Estimate: Exploitation item. Cast: Linda Darnell, Anthony Quinn, Valentina Cortese, Lea Padovani, Giulietta Masima, Lilia Brignone, Carlo Dapporto. Produced and directed by Giu¬ seppe Amato. Story: When one of the inmates of a Rome house of prostitution attempts suicide, it is closed, and the .other girls, Linda Darnell, Valentina Cortese, and Lea Padovani look for other quarters during their enforced holiday. Padovani goes to visit her school-age daughter. Darnell and Cortese find refuge with Giulietta Masima. Darnell takes a ride to her Home town, spends a few minutes with her mother, and then returns to Rome. Cor¬ tese finds an ad in the newspaper columns stating Anthony Quinn is looking for a girl to marry to go to Venezuela with him. They meet and are attracted to each other, but complications ensue when she doesn’t have 'a passport. Padovani re¬ turns with her daughter, determined to change her occupation so she can keep her. Quinn agrees to marry Cortese any¬ way, and his family comes to town for the event. The mayor of Quinn’s home town discovers her past and berates her for not telling Quinn. She runs away and is killed by a truck. Darnell is warned by a doctor to care for her heart which has given her a little trouble, but she ignores this advice until she has a heart attack during a police raid. She decides to go home but realizes her real home is the bordello, so back she goes. X-Ray: Despite the presence of Linda Darnell, playoff on this will still be limited to the exploitation spots and some art situations where the lives and loves of Rome prostitutes may be accepted and condoned. The story is long, sometimes depressing, and the acting, direction, and production are standard. The screenplay is by Cesare Zavattini. Ad Lines: “They Took Their Romance Where They Could Find It”; “Three Girls . . . Their Lives And Loves”; “A Drama For Adults Only.” La Sorciere Drama 97m. (Ellis Films) (French-made) (Filmed in Sweden) (English titles) Estimate: Okay art house entry. Cast: Marina Vlady, Maurice Ronet, Cicole Courcel, Michel Etcheverry, Ulf Palme, Rune Lindstrom, Erik Hell. Pro¬ duced by Netzger and Woog, Iena Pro¬ ductions; directed by Andre Michel. Story: French engineer Maurice Ronet arrives in Sweden to work on the timberlands of wealthy widow Nicole Courcel, who is aloof. While fishing and hunting, he comes across Marina Vlady, lovely and wild young girl who lives with her grandmother deep in the woods. They 'are shunned by villagers and other super¬ stitious inhabitants as witches. They get better acquainted and eventually fall in love. He introduces her to the luxuries 1 of civilization with a trip to town. This causes a jealous rage on the part of Cour¬ cel. Ronet informs her he hopes to marry the girl, but Vlady refuses, half believing she is a witch. When she tries to sur¬ render in the church she is stoned and mobbed and runs off in the forest to die with Ronet brokenheartedly seeking her. X-Ray: Mayhaps art house audiences will be attracted to this off-beat romantic drama from abroad which is done well enough. The cast is good, the direction and production adequate, while the story could stand a bit of reduction to keep things a bit more interesting. Jacques Companeez wrote the script adapted from the novel by Alexander Kouprine. Ad Lines: “The Adventures Of A French Engineer In Sweden”; “He Liked His Romance Wild And Untamed — Qual¬ ities He Found In The Sorceress”; “He Had To Choose Between Two Women — One Wealthy, Refined And Beautiful — The Other Wild, Untamed And Lovely.” MISCELLANEOUS The Big Fun Carnival Novelty 90m. (Artists Producers Associates) Estimate: Novelty should please young¬ sters at special showings. Credits: Marian Stafford, Jared Reed, the Bunin Puppets. Written and produced by Louis M. Heyward and Nat Wilkes; directed by Marc Daniels; executive pro¬ ducer, Martin H. Poll. Story: Attractive Marian Stafford, folk singer Jared Reed, and the Bunin Pup¬ pets appear on screen before and after a number of shorts that make up this feature-length presentation. There is an intermission to give the youngsters a rest. The shorts, mostly Paramount releases of a few years back, include: “The Five Hundred Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins,” “Lasso Wizards,” “Crazy Town” (with Betty Boop), “Five Fathoms Of Fun,” “Silly Goose,” “Monkey Business,” “Hoola Boola,” “The Busy Little Bears,” and “Toys Will Be Toys.” X-Ray: This entry is the first of a ser¬ ies of 12 presentations, the running time of which will vary between 90 and 100 minutes, scheduled for theatres at the rate of one every weekend or on alter¬ nate weekends. It provides exhibitors with a project that can be continually plugged if the series is purchased. The distributor controls the theatrical rights for a period of three years, but at the same time, it was admitted that one or more subjects may have played TV at some prior time. The program is designed to appeal to youngsters between the ages of six and 12 and has been ballyhooed enough to get the small fry away from their TV sets, especially if door prizes and other gimmicks are offered. The fact that the film shorts were originally re¬ leased by Paramount some eight to 10 years ago needn’t affect the audiences sought, since they will appear as new realeses to that age group. Otherwise it has enough dash and flash to bring in the cash with a bit of promoting. Ad Lines: “The Youngsters’ Own Show”; “Fun For All Youngsters On The Big, Big Screen”; “Cartoons, Laughs, Screen Songs, Sports, Puppets — Some¬ thing For All Youngsters To See And Enjoy.” Oedipus Rex Drama 88m. (Motion Picture Distributors) (Eastman Color) (Filmed in Canada) Estimate: Strictly for the specialty spots and situations catering to the school trade, drama groups, etc. Cast: Douglas Rain, Douglas Campbell, Eric House, Robert Goodier, Donald Davis, Eleanor Stuart, Tony Van Bridge, Eric House, William Hutt. Produced by Leonid Kipnis; directed by Tyrone Guthrie. Story: The people in the land ruled by King Oedipus are plagued by ill fortune and the gods promise relief if the slayer of their former king is apprehended and punished. The story is reluctantly put together. Oedipus (Douglas Campbell) unwittingly slew his own father and married his mother. He is banished from the land. X-Ray: One set is utilized, and the players all wear horrific and interpretive masks. The tragedy unfolds leisurely at times while at still other times it radiates suspense and the unusual as to story and performance. The voices of the players get across the ancient tragedy first re¬ lated by Sophocles nearly 2,500 years ago, and the settings and atmosphere are un¬ usual to say the least. For those audiences seeking the off-beat and the different in film entertainment, this is it. For college students and others who follow the drama avidly and with thoroughness, this is again it. They will best appreciate the happenings on screen, as will the steady art house patron who is accustomed to the unexpected in his film fare. There is much imagination displayed in the mak¬ ing of the film and the Stratford, Ontario, Shakespearean Festival players are quite competent. This version is by W. B. Yeats. Ad Lines: “A Truly Different And Re¬ markable Film”; “Unusual Entertainment For The Discriminating”; “A Gem For Adult Lovers Of The Drama.” The Shorts Parade THREE REEL Comedy-Drama THE BESPOKE OVERCOAT. George K. Arthur. 33m. David Kossoff and Alfie Bass star in this tale about a ghost who returns to discuss with his tailor-friend an overcoat that he ordered just prior to his death. Recalled is the situation wherein it is no longer practical to repair his old coat so he orders a new one. Be¬ fore it can be completed, the elderly clerk is fired. He dies soon after. Ghost and tailor go to the dead man’s former employer and select an expensive, sheeplined coat, which he feels is due him, after which the ghost leaves to return wherever ghosts are supposed to go. Heavy Yiddish accents do not help in getting across the story. FAIR. TWO REEL Comedy HOOFS AND GOOFS. Columbia — Three Stooge Comedies. 1514m. Joe Besser makes his debut here as one of the Stooges. He reads a book on reincama( Continued on page 4283) Servisaction 5 4281