The Exhibitor (1959)

August 12, 1959 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBIT REVIEWS The famous pink paper SA VEABLE SECTION in which Experienced Trade Analysts evaluate coming product Publifhad •▼»ry second week, as a separately bound and easily saleable section of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, this exclusive 24 year old service Is both numerically more complete, and Informatively more candid, than any similar trade analysis. Cumulatively numbered by 61m seasons (September to September), It Is recommended that readers consecutively save all REVIEWS sections in a permanent 6le. The last Issue of each August will always contain a complete annual Index to close the season. Combined, the every second week yellow paper SERVISECTION indexes to the past 12 months' product, and the alternating every second week pink paper REVIEWS, represent a unique informative service to theatremen. Please address all Inquiries or suggestions about these two service features to the Editors of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, 246-4* N. Clarion St., Philadelphia 7, Penna. O R 4613 ZSVhFZ AUGUST 12, 1959 i ALLIED ARTISTS Surrender — Hell Allied Artists Melodrama 85m (Filmed in the Philippines) Estimate: Good action yarn for program. Cast: Keith Andes, Susan Cabot, Paraluman, Nestor De Villa. Executive producers, Paul Schreibman and Newton P. Jacobs; produced by Edmund Goldman; directed by John Barnwell. Story: Keith Andes as Lt. Donald D. Blackburn goes into hiding when the Japs take over the Philippines, and he organizes guerrilla bands to harass the enemy. He manages to escape capture despite a huge price set on his head by the Japs. He is aided by native girl Susan Cabot in his initial escape, after which another native girl, Paraluman, fights by his side. They fall in love. General MacArthur prepares to recap¬ ture the islands and word is sent to Andes to capture an important strongpoint. The in¬ vasion is successful, but Paralumen has died in the fighting. Andes is promoted to Lt. Colonel and ordered to rejoin the regular army. X-Ray: Featuring an interest-holding yarn as well as some unusual and realistic battle scenes, this entry is a good one for the pro¬ gram where an action feature with some good dramatic moments is indicated. The per¬ formances are competent, as are direction and production. The screenplay is by John Barnwell, based on the book, “Blackburn’s Headhunters,” by Philip Harkins. Ad Lines: “The Regular Army Was Never Like This”; “An Action-Packed Yarn About Guerrilla Resistance In The Philippines.” COLUMBIA The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock Comedy 73m Columbia Estimate: Okay entry for the kiddies. Cast; Lou Costello, Dorothy Provine, Gale Gordon, Jimmy Conlin, Charles Lane, Robert Burton, Will Wright, Lenny Kent, Ruth Perrott. Produced by Lewis J. Rachmil. Directed by Sidney Miller. Executive producer, Edward Sherman. Story: Everything in Candy Rock is owned by Gale Gordon exceot for the rubbish collec¬ tion run by Lou Costello. Gordon’s niece, Dorothy Provine, is in love with Costello, but Gordon refuses to let them see each other. When Costello is not collecting garbage, he is working on an electronic machine which he hopes one day will make his fortune and ad¬ vance the cause of science. When a TV per¬ sonality appears in town to interview Gordon, the latter is forced to change his nasty char¬ acter to one of sweetness and light for he hopes to use the telecast as a jumping-off place to run for governor. He tolerates Cos¬ tello more than usual. Costello sneaks Provine out of the house and takes her to a mysterious canyon, where she grows to a height of 30 feet. When Costello seeks help from Gordon, the latter suspects that his attentions have been more than casual, and he insists that they get married. They are, by a nearsighted parson who misplaced his glasses. The Army on war maneuvers is bewildered by the huge Provine, but before they can harm her, his electronic machine turns her into a normal sized female, and the future looks bright for the pair. X-Ray: You have to see some of this to believe it, but even so it should prove to be good for the kiddie viewers and for those many adults who were fans of the late Costello over the years. The story makes no sense whatever, the performances are fair, and direction and production are okay. There are a number of laughs built-in, and it should do alright in the supporting slot of the pro¬ gram and/or as a special kiddie show entrant. The screenplay is by Rowland Barber and Arthur Ross, based on a story by Lawrence L. Goldman. Ad Lines: “A Science Friction Master¬ piece In Amazoscope”; “Here’s The Tall And Short Of It.” The Tingler Melodrama Columbia Estimate: Gimmicks will help horror meller. Cast: Vincent Price, Judith Evelyn, Darryl Hickman, Patricia Cutts, Pamela Lincoln, Philip Coolidge. Produced and directed by William Castle. Story: Doctor Vincent Price is experi¬ menting with a phenomenon often witnessed in electrocutions, a “tingler” force in the human body which is deadly unless tension is released by screaming. His two-timing wife, Patricia Cutts, is exposed to him by his sister-in-law, Pamela Lincoln, whose fiancee, Darryl Hickman, is his assistant. Price, in a quarrel wth Cutts, forces her into a labora¬ tory. When she faints, he x-rays her and discovers a definite “tingler” organism. Upon recovering, Cutts swears vengeance on Price. Price continues his dangerous experiments. He is asked by Philip Coolidge, operator of a dingy, silent movie house, to attend his sick wife, Judith Evelyn, a deaf mute. Strange things happen, and Evelyn is liter¬ ally frightened to death. Price performs an autopsy and isolates the “tingler” in a box. Learning of this, Cutts give Price knock out drops, releases the ‘tingler,” which crawls to strangle Price, but his life is saved. With Hickman’s aid, Price tries to destroy the “tingler,” but finds it indestructible. They decide to bury it, but find Evelyn’s body missing. They find it in the apartment over the movie house, but the “tingler” escapes and finds its way to the theatre below. Once more captured, the story ends. X-Ray: Basically a low-budget offering, this horror opus is accompanied by an effec¬ tive campaign, gimmicked to the hilt. This results in audience participation and evident enjoyment. In black and white, there are scenes of a tub full of blood and faucets pouring out blood. The blood is shown in bright red with great effectiveness. Houses where the film is shown are to be equipped with “tinglers,” small buzzer-like cases at¬ tached to every 10th seat, which when oper¬ ated from the booth, titillate patrons at cli¬ matic moments. Another gimmick is halting the show to remove a lady stooge who has “fainted.” Anti-terror kits are handed out, and the film is labelled as in “Horrorscope” and “Gorey-color.” Properly exploited, it should draw audiences who expect and like this type of nonsense. The story is by Robb White. Sequences from the silent 1921 “Tol’able David” are integrated into the picture. Tip On Bidding: Better program rates. Ad Lines: “Scream For Your Life!”; “Percepto — The Amazing Sensation That Makes You Part Of The Action — Guard Yourself Against Attack By The Tingler.” MGM The Big Operator melodrama MGM Estimate: Expose of union racketeering for program. Cast: Mickey Rooney, Steve Cochran, Mamie Van Doren, Mel Torme, Ray Danton, Jim Backus, Ray Anthony, Jackie Coogan, Charles Chaplin, Jr., Vampira, Billy Daniels, Ben Gage, Jay North, Lawrence Dobkin. Pro¬ duced by Red Doff; directed by Charles Haas. Story: Union leader Mickey Rooney keeps his members in line with strongarm methods and employers in line with illegal strikes, etc. When a Senate investigating committee questions him, he hides behind his constitutonal rights except for a slip on one ques¬ tion when he denies knowing one of his henchmen, Ray Danton. He then remembers having talked with Danton in front of the union hall and being seen by union mem¬ bers Steve Cochran and Mel Torme. They are both offered jobs on the staff of the union at more money but turn Rooney down. When Torme questions Rooney’s right to call a strike, he is worked over by Danton and companions. Cochran remembers seeing Danton and Rooney together and offers to testify. Rooney has him picked up and beaten, but he refuses to change his mind. Next Rooney has his son kidnapped to keep Cochran in line. He is taken home blind¬ folded but manages to retrace his steps and finds the house where he was kept captive. The police arrive and arrest Rooney and his henchmen after rescuing the boy. X-Ray: Union hoodlums and their strongarm methods get the full treatment, includ¬ ing the Congressional hearing routine, and the result is a fairly interesting melodrama for the program. The cast consists of many familiar names, all of whom do nicely and di¬ rection and production are acceptable. The screenplay is by Robert Smith and Allen Rivkin, based on a magazine story by Paul Gallico. Tips On Bidding: Program rates. Ad Lines: “Torn From Today’s Headlines”; “A Congressional Committee Takes On Labor Racketeers”.