The Exhibitor (1957)

SECTION TWO • VOL. 58, No. 6 JUNE 5, 1957 This yellow paper Check-Up is published every second week, alternating with the pink paper Reviews of all features and short subjects, as a special section of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR. Every issue of the Check-Up serves as a complete reference index to all feature motion pictures reviewed during the past year. Every second issue of the Check-Up also contains a similar reference index to all short subjects. Com¬ bined, the yellow and pink sections represent a unique informative service to theatremen, specially created by the editors of— MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 246-48 N. Clarion St., Philadelphia 7, Pa. The Chechl/p of all features reviewed for a 12-month period Allied Artists ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS— MD— Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan— For the lower ha lf-64m.-41 7-57-43 1 3. BLONDE SINNER— D— Diana Dors, Michael Craig— For the lower half— 72m.— 2-6-57— 4285— (B). CALLING HOMICIDE — MD— Bill Elliott, Don Haggerty, Kathleen Case— Okay lower half meller— 61m.— 919-56— 4225. CANTON RIVER— W — George Montgomery, Marcia Henderson— Okay western — 80m.— 1 1-14-56— 4249— DC— CS. CHAIN OF EVIDENCE— MD— Bill Elliott, James Lydon, Claudia Barrett— For the duallers — 64m.— 2-20-57V-4289. CRUEL TOWtR, THE— MD— John Ericson, Mari Blanchard, Charles McGraw— Okay thriller for lower half-80m.-l-9-57-4273-(B). FIGHTING TROUBLE— C— Huntz Hali, Stanley Clements, Adele Jergens— Lower half filler— 60m.— 12-26-56— 4265— (B). FIRST TEXAN, THE— MD— Joel McCrea, Felicia Farr, Jeff Morrow— Well made historical meller— 82m.— 6-27-56— 41 81— TC — CS. FOOTSTEPS IN THE NIGHT— MD— Bill Elliott, Dan Haggerty, Eleanor Tanin— Okay lower half entry— 62m.— 4-3-57— 4305. FRIENDLY PERSUASION— D — Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Marjorie Main— Fine family entry— 140m.— 10-3-56 — 4229— DC— CS. HIGH TERRACE— MD— Dale Robertson, Lois Maxwell, Derek Bond— For the lower half— 70m.— 2-20-57— 4289— English. HOLD BACK THE NIGHT— MD — John Payne, Mona Freeman, Chuck Connors— Better than average programmer— 80m.— 9-5-56 — 4213. HOLD THAT HYPNOTIST — C— Huntz Hall, Stanley Clements, Jane Nigh— Average Bowery Boys' series entry— 61m.— 3-20-57— 4301. HOT SHOTS— C— Huntz Hall, Stanley Clements, Joi Lansing— Series average— 61 m.— 2-20-57-4289. , „ . LAST OF THE BADMEN—W— George Montgomery, Keith Larsen, Meg Randall— Good, suspenseful western— 80m.— 3-6-57— 4297— DC— CS. MAGNIFICENT ROUGHNECKS— MD— Jack Carson, Mickey Rooney, Nancy Gates— Standard lower half entry — 75m.— 6-13-56 — 4173. NAKED HILLS, THE— MD— David Wayne, Keenan Wynn, James Barton, Marcia Hender¬ son— Off beat program meller— 73m.— 10-3-56— 4229— PatheColor. NAVY WIFE— C— John Bennett, Gary Merrill, Shirley Yamaguchi— Comedy has angles— 83m.— 6-27-56— 4181. . NO PLACE TO HIDE— D— David Brian, Marsha Hunt, Hugh Corcoran— For the lower half71 m.-7-25-56-41 89-DC. NOT OF THIS EARTH — MD— Paul Birch, Beverly Garland, Morgan Jones— Fair horror mel¬ ler — 67m.— 4-17-57— 4313. ROSE BOWL STORY, THE— C— Marshall Thompson, Vera Miles, James Dobson— Reissue has angles— 75m.— 12-12-56 — 4261— Color— RE. SCREAMING EAGLES— MD— Tom Tryon, Jan Merlin— Well-made war meller— 81 m.— 9-5-56 -4213. STRANGE INTRUDER— MD— Edmund Purdon, Ida Lupino, Ann Harding— Good adult post¬ war meller— 82m. — 11-28-56 — 4257. SUDDEN DANGER— MD— Bill Elliott, Tom Drake, Beverly Garland-Interesting program mer— 65m.— 1 -11 -57— 4085. THREE FOR JAMIE DAWN— MD— Richard Carlson, Laraine Day, Ricardo Montalban— Names may help programmer— 84m.— 6-27-56— 4181. THUNDERSTORM— D— Linda Christian, Carlos Thompson, Charles Korvin— Heavy love drama for lower half — 81m. — 9-5-56 — 4213 — (B) — (Made in Spain). YAQUI DRUMS— W— Rod Cameron, Mary Castle, J. Carrol Naish— Fair lower half western -71 m.-919-56-4225. YOUNG GUNS, THE— W— Russ Tamblyn, Gloria Talbott, Perry Lopez— Program western— 84m .— 1 1 1 456—4249— ( B) . American International FLESH AND THE SPUR-W-John Agar, Touch Connors, Marla English— Average western —80m.— 3-6-57— 4297— PatheColor. GIRLS IN PRISON— MD— Richard Denning, Joan Taylor-For the lower half-87m.— 8-8-56 —4201. GUNSLINGER-W— John Ireland, Beverly Garland, Allison Hayes— Fair western— 83m.— 8-8-56— 4201— PatheColor— (B). , , . HOT-ROD GIRL— MD— Lori Nelson, John Smith, Chuck Connors— Programmer has exploit¬ ation angles for some spots— 75m.— 8-8-56— 4201 . > , ,, ... IT CONQUERED THE WORLD— MD— Peter Graves, Beverly Garland— Fair lower half filler -71 m.-l 0-3 1-56-4245. KEY Letters in parentheses ( ) indicate Catholic Legion of Decency ratings where the •' picture is classified either objectionable in part for all (B) or condemned (C). Films without such a rating are either unobjectionable or unclassified by the Legion. Abbreviations following titles indicate type of picture: C— Comedy MD— Melodrama CAR — Cartoon MU— Musical COMP— Compilation TRAV— Travelogue D— Drama W— Western DOC— Documentary Other abbreviations indicate projection and color processes: SS— SuperScope TC— Technicolor TE— Technirama CS — CinemaScope DC— DeLuxe Color EC— Eastman Color MC— MetroColor NA— Naturama RS— Reqalscope RE— Signifies Reissue TR— Trucolor VV-VistaVision WC— WarnerColor NAKED PARADISE — MD— Richard Denning, Beverly Garland, Leslie Bradley— Okay sup¬ porting feature-71 m.-2-20-57-4289-Color. RUNAWAY DAUGHTERS — D— Maria English, John Litel, Anna Sten— For the lower half — 88m.— 1 1-14-56— 4249— (B). SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROCK — MU— Fats Domino, Lisa Gaye, Touch Connors — Exploitable programmer— 77m.— 1 1-14-56 — 4249. SHE CREATURE, THE — MD — Chester Morris, Maria English, Tom Conway— Lower half fltler —77 m . — 1 0-3 1 -56“ 4245. UN DEAD, THE— MD— Pamela Duncan, Richard Garland, Allison Hayes— Overly involved horror entry-71 V2m.-4-3-57— 4305. VOODOO WOMAN— MD— Maria English, Tom Conway, Touch Connors— Inferior lower half entry— 75m.— 4-3-57— 4305. Associated FRONTIER GAMBLER — W— John Bromfield, Coleen Gray, Kent Taylor— Fair lower half filler— 70m.— 9-5-56— 4214. MAN BEAST— MD— Rock Madison, Virginia Maynor, Tom Maruzzi— For the lower half— 62m. -2-2057-4290. NAKED GUN— W— Willard Parker, Mara Corday, Barton MacLane — Lower half western— 69m. — 4-3-57 — 4305. THREE OUTLAWS, THE— W— Neville Brand, Alan Hale, Bruce Bennett— Fair western for filler— 74m.— 8-22-56— 4205— SS235. WILD DAKOTAS, THE— W— Bill Williams, Coleen Gray— Average western— 73m.— 7-25-56 Astor MEN OF SHERWOOD FOREST— MD— Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith, Eileen Moore— Pro¬ grammer has kiddie appeal— 77m.— 9-5-56— 4214— EC— English. Buena Vista CINDERELLA— CAR— Reissue is topnotch Disney— 74m.— 1-9-57— 4273— TC— RE. DAVY CROCKETT AND THE RIVER PIRATES-MD-Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Jeff YorkOkay adventure film will need plenty of push— 81m.— 7-25-56— 4189— TC. IF ALL THE GUYS IN THE WORLD . . .— D— Andre Valmy, Jean Gaven, Marc Casset— Exciting import— 95m.— 51 -57—43 1 7— Titles— French. JOHNNY TREMAIN— MD — Hal Stalmaster, Luana Patten, Jeff York — Family entry has colorful Revolutionary War background— 80m.— 5-15-57— 4325— TC. SECRETS OF LIFE— DOC— Walt Disney True-Life Adventure— Commendable educational effort, dubious entertainment subject— 75m.— 10-31 -56— 4241— TC— Part CS. WESTWARD HO, THE WAGONS— W—Fess Parker, Kathleen Crowley, Jeff York— Attractive western, especially for younger set— 90m.— 12-26-56— 4265— TC—CS. YANG KWEI FEI—D— Japanese cast— For the art spots— 92m.— 1 0-3 1 -56—4241 — EC— Japanese— Titles. Columbia ABANDON SHIP— D— Tyrone Power, Mai Zetterling, Lloyd Nolan— Highly interesting drama— 100m.— 4-3-57— 5306— English. BEYOND MOMBASA— D— Cornel Wilde, Donna Reed— Satisfactory programmer— 90m.— 5-29-57— 4333— TC. BURGLAR, THE— MD— Dan Duryea, Jayne Mansfield, Martha Vickers— Mansfield name will help over-involved program meller— 90m.— 5-1 -57— 4317, CHA-CHA-CHA BOOM— MU— Perez Prado and Orchestra, Mary Kaye Trio— Pleasant pro¬ grammer— 72m.— 10-3-56— 4229— (B). DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK— MU— Bill Haley and Comets, Alan Dale, Patricia Hardy— For the rock 'n' roll addicts or as filler for the lower half— 80m.— 12-26-56— 4265. EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS— MD— Hugh Marlowe, Jean Taylor, Donald CurtisGood programmer— 83m.— 9-5-56— 4173. EDDY DUCHIN STORY, THE— MU— Tyrone Power, Kim Novak, James Whitmore— High rating entry— 1 23m.— 9-5-56— 41 73— TC—CS. FIRE DOWN BELOW— D— Rita Hayworth, Robert Mitchum, Jack Lemmon— Colorful, slightly off-beat drama benefits from top name values— 1 16m.— 5-29-57— 433— TC— CS— (B). FULL OF LIFE— C— Judy Holliday, Richard Conte, Salvadore Baccaloni— Highly enjoyable entertainment— 9 1 m.— 1 2-26-56—4265. GAMMA PEOPLE, THE— MD— Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, Leslie Phillips— Mild import for lower ha lf-79m .-91 9-56-4225-Eng lish. GARMENT JUNGLE— MD— Lee J. Cobb, Kerwin Mathews, Gia Scala— Tough pro-union story of garment industry is hard hitting melodrama; but will need plenty of push— 88m .-51 -57—43 17. GUNS FOR FORT PETTICOAT, THE— W— Audie Murphy, Kathryn Grant, Hope EmersonGood action programmer— 82m.— 3-20-57— 4301— TC. HE LAUGHED LAST— C— Frankie Lane, Lucy Marlow, Anthony Dexter— Okay programmer —77m.— 10-3-56— 4230— TC—(B). HEART OF SHOW BUSINESS, THE-DOC-Produced and directed by Ralph StaubExcellent story of Variety Clubs International— 40m.— 5-29-57— 4333— TC. HELLCATS OF THE NAVY— D— Ronald Reagan, Nancy Davis, Arthur Franz— Okay pro¬ grammer of submarine warfare— 82m.— 5-1-57— 4317. LAST MAN TO HANG, THE— D— Tom Conway, Elizabeth Sellars, Freda Jackson— For the lower half— 75m. — 1 1-14-56—4250 — English. MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, THE— MD— Japanese cast— Very good entry for art and specialty spots — 158m. — 1 -23-57 — 4277— Japanese-made— English titles— (B). MAN WHO TURNED TO STONE THE-MD-Victor Jory, Ann Doran, Charlotte AustinAverage horror entry for the duallers— 71m.— 2-20-57— 4290— (B). MIAMI EXPOSE— MD— Lee J. Cobb, Patricia Medina, Edward Arnold— Average crime meller for thei duallers— 73m.— 9-5-56— 4197. NIGHTFALL— MD— Aldo Ray, Brian Keith, Anne Bancroft— Suspenseful meller should be welcome addition to the program— 78m.— 12-12-56— 4261. 1984— MD— Edmond O'Brien, Michael Redgrave, Jan Sterling— Off-beat entry can go in art and specialty spots and many conventional situations— 91m.— 9-5-56 — 4189— English. ODONGO — MD— Rhonda Fleming, MacDonald Carey, Juma— Pleasing programmer— 85m.— 1 0-3-56-4230TC-CS. PAPA, MAMA, THE MAID, AND I— C— Robert Lamoureux, Gaby Morlay— One of the bet¬ ter French farces should do okay in the art houses— 94m.— 10-31-56 — French-made— Enqlish titles and Narration. PHANTOM STAGECOACH, THE— W— William Bishop, Kathleen Crowley, Richard WebbMediocre western for the duallers— 69m.— 4-13-57— 4306.