The Exhibitor (1959)

4618 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR August 26, 1959 X-Ray: A sneak preview audience seemed to have fun with the humorous antics of Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds and also seemed to appreciate the Spanish sights and countryside where most of the comic action takes place. The names of Ford and Reynolds should prove attractive lures in bringing in audiences, and they should enjoy the light¬ weight yarn. The cast is good, as are the direction and production. There is a title song. The screenplay is by Charles Lederer based on a story by Valentine Davies. Tips On Bidding: Higher bracket in many situations. Ad Lines: “Fresh Entertainment To Satis¬ fy Any Appetite”; “A Wonderful Recipe For Romance”; “A Fun-Fest Spiced With Hil¬ arious Confusion.” PARAMOUNT But Not For Me (5903) Co““Y 105m Paramount (VistaVision) Estimate: Highly amusing. Cast: Clark Gable, Carroll Baker, Lilli Palmer, Lee J. Cobb, Barry Coe, Thomas Gomez, Tom Duggan. Produced by William Perlberg and George Seaton; directed by Walter Lang. Story: Clark Gable is a dynamic Broadway producer, whose secretary, Carroll Baker, is in love with him despite the fact he is twice her age. Young would-be actor Barry Coe, who attends drama classes with Baker, loves her. Meanwhile, Gable’s ex-wife, Lilli Pal¬ mer, who is getting lots of alimony from him, sees him occasionally, ostensibly to protect her investment but also because she still cares for him. Gable is trying to finance his latest play and trying to get Lee J. Cobb, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright turned drunkard, to write a script. The plot of an old man falling in love with a young girl is not to Gable’s liking, and he decides to give up. Dismissing Baker causes her to admit being in love with him which gives Gable a new twist to the script. He persuades Cobb to try again. Gable uses Baker’s actions and reac¬ tions to guide the play script. He tries to in¬ terest movie magnate Thomas Gomez into backing the play, only to learn that a myster¬ ious source has put up the necessary money. He gives Baker the lead in the play, so im¬ pressed is he with her acting ability. She proposes to him, but he puts her off. A try¬ out out of town is not good, and they go to work to strengthen it, with even Palmer showing up to help. It opens a hit and Baker is a star. Palmer tries to discourage wedding plans by harping on Gable’s age. Coe, also a hit in the play, threatens to resign because Baker has rejected him, but Gable persuades him to remain, promising that Baker will see the light. She does. Gable learns Palmer put up the money for the play from his alimony payments, and he thinks it’s a good idea if they remarry. X-Ray: This is a funny comedy about a Broadway producer and his much younger actress -secretary, with lots of humorous dia¬ logue and amusing situations. A sneak pre¬ view audience had a grand time watching Clark Gable play his age tongue-in-cheek as the balance of the cast goes through its as¬ signments most expertly. The pace is fast and funny, and it shapes up as solid enter¬ tainment for all types of adult viewers. Di¬ rection and production are superior. The screenplay is by John Michael Hayes, and a title song is heard in the film. Tips On Bidding: Higher rates. Ad Lines: “It’s Funny . . . Funnee Fonnie. No Matter How You Spell It— It’s A Riot of Laughter”; “Chase Your Blues Away . . . Far, Far Away.” THE SERVI SECTION is the only service of its hind giving a full coverage listing, and reviews of all features and shorts in the domestic market. 20TH-FOX The Oregon Trail Western 86m 20th-Fox (CinemaScope) (Color by DeLuxe) Estimate: Interesting outdoor entry. Cast: Fred MacMurray, William Bishop, Nina Shipman, Gloria Talbott, Henry Hull, John Carradine, Addison Richards, Lumsden Hare, Ollie O’Toole, Elizabeth Patterson, James Bell, C. N. Fowler, Tex Terry. Pro¬ duced by Richard Einfeld; directed by Gene Fowler, Jr. Story: In 1846, President Polk is deter¬ mined that the U. S. shall hold onto the Oregon Territory, and he warns the British that they face war if they try to take same. As a precaution, he orders a number of Army officers and men to the territory in civilian clothes. Among these is Captain William Bishop. New York newspaper editor Ollie O’Toole learns of the extra activity and sends reporter Fred MacMurray to Oregon to get the facts. He and Bishop are on the wagon train commanded by Henry Hull. Also present is Nina Shipman, to whom both men are at¬ tracted. The train faces hostile Indians, dry spells, and other irritations. Hull is killed by Indians, and Bishop leads the train into Fort Laramie. MacMurray has uncovered the story of military infiltration of Oregon, but Bishop places him under arrest so he can’t dispatch it. He escapes but is captured by hostile Indians. Indian maiden Gloria Talbott falls in love with him and saves him from death. Together, they ride to warn the Fort of an attack by the tribe. The whites successfully defend the Fort after heavy losses on both sides. MacMurray resigns from the paper, heading toward Oregon with Talbott, and Bishop and Shipman promise to wait for each other. X-Ray: Action fans should get their fill of excitement in this well produced entry that introduces a wealth of interesting story ideas as well as some notes of historical import. The taming of the Oregon frontier is some¬ thing that can excite the imagination of most viewers, with youngsters most likely to be pleased with the abundance of adventure, involving Indians, etc. Fred MacMurray, having proven a strong boxoffice attraction in “Shaggy Dog,” heads the cast of perform¬ ers, who do well. The direction is suitable. The film should do fine as part of the pro¬ gram. The story and screenplay are by Gene Fowler, Jr., and Louis Vittes. Tips On Bidding: Fair program rates. Ad Lines: “The Adventure Trail Into His¬ tory”; “Action . . . Adventure . . . Thrilling Drama And Romance All Ride ‘The Oregon Trail.’ ” WARNERS The FBI Story (903) Drama ‘ 149m. Warners (Technicolor) Estimate: Fascinating dramatization should have wide appeal. Cast: James Stewart, Vera Miles, Murray Hamilton, Larry Pennell, Nick Adams, Diane Jergens, Jean Willes, Joyce Taylor, Victor Millan, Parley Baer, Fay Roope, Ed Prentiss, Robert Gist, Buzz Martin, Kenneth Mayer, Paul Genge. Produced and directed by Mervyn LeRoy; Screenplay by Richard L. Breen and John Twist. Story: The Federal Bureau of Investigation is overrun by bureaucrats and political ap¬ pointees until J. Edgar Hoover is named to head it. The new regime appeals to agent James Stewart, who convinces Vera Miles that it is the job he wants to devote his life to. They are married, and Stewart’s varied assignments take them and their growing family to different parts of the country. Miles, fearful for his safety, is horrified when legislation is passed arming the FBI. She leaves Stewart for a time, taking the children, and only returns when both realize how unhappy they are while apart. The Bureau grows and becomes the nation’s leading arm of federal law enforcement. The FBI is instrumental in wiping out the gangs that overrun the country in Dillinger’s era, and following the outbreak of war in 1941, turns its attention to fighting Fifth Column activities in the United States. Ste¬ wart’s son dies in the Marines, and he and Miles realize the value of the work he has accomplished with the Bureau. X-Ray: This history of the FBI, told in the human terms through the eyes of one agent, should reap plenty of attention. Care¬ fully produced and well directed by LeRoy, it also features and excellent cast, with Ste¬ wart and Miles turning in top performances. The workings of the FBI are always inter¬ esting, particularly in scenes depicting the solving of a plane sabotage case, winning equal rights for Indians in an Oklahoma oil boom, and tracking a spy ring through the streets of New York to ultimate capture. The length is a bit excessive, particularly in the gang-busting scenes, but this is a small fault when the worth of the entire produc¬ tion is considered. It seems to have a bright boxoffice future. Tips On Bidding: Better rates. Ad Lines: “The Fascinating Story Of The Men Who Made The FBI . . . Gripping History Through The Eyes Of A Dedicated Man And The Woman Who Loved Him”; “How The G-Men Were Born.” Yellowstone Kelly (901) WEST^J Warners (Technicolor) Estimate: Good outdoor action program¬ mer. Cast: Clint Walker, Edward Byrnes, John Russell, Ray Danton, Claude Akins, Rhodes Reason, Andra Martin, Gary Vinson, Warren Oates. Directed by Gordon Douglas. Story: When trapper Clint Walker comes to town to sell his furs, he is met by Major Rhodes Reason and asked to scout for the Cavalry. He refuses, favoring the Indians. Young, eager newcomer Edward Byrnes asks to join him, but Walker refuses, preferring to be on his own. When a group of soldiers gang up on Walker, Byrnes goes to his aid. They are jumped by Sioux led by Ray Danton and taken to the camp where chief John Russell persuades Walker to remove a bullet from an Indian maid-captive, Andra Martin, as he once did for Russell. She recovers, and they are permitted to leave despite objections from Danton. Martin later escapes and reach¬ es Walker’s cabin before falling unconscious. Danton insists she be returned, but Walker persuades Russell that to move her would cause death. Russell arid Danton are both in love with her, and the chief says she will be permitted to make her choice when she is well. While Walker is away, Danton kills Byrnes. Walker warns Reason of a possible Sioux ambush, which Reason disregards. Walker rescues Martin from Danton. They come across the remains of the Cavalry col¬ umn. Reason is dead and Russell’s men are in pursuit. Russell offers to free Walker if he will turn the girl over to him but he re¬ fuses. She mounts a horse and dashes to Russell, hoping to sacrifice herself so that the others may live. She falls in the crossfire and both Russell and Walker go to her. When the chief sees that they are in love, he' calls off his braves and tells them to go on their way. X-Ray: This action-packed yarn seems right and ripe for audiences of varying ages. For the very young, it has a load of rip-roar¬ ing fighting between Indians and Cavalry. For the teens, it has Clint Walker, Edward Byrnes and John Russell of TV fame. For the slightly more aged, it contains drama and a love story as well as action. The story holds interest fairly well, and the settings and characters are colorful and impressive, while the acting, direction, and production are good.