The Exhibitor (1960)

March 2, I960 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 4681 REVIEWS The famous pink paper 5A VBABU SECTION in whith Experienced Trade Analysts evaluate coming product PublUhad avary tacond waak, at a taparataly bound and aasily tavaable section of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, this axclutiva 24 yaar old tarvica is both numerically more complete, and informatively more candid, than any similar trade analysis. Cumulativaly numbered by film seasons (September to September), it is recommended that readers consecutively save all REVIEWS sections in a permanent file. 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. address all inquiries or suggestions about these two service features to the Editors of MOTION Please address all inquiries or sugges PICTURE EXHIBITOR, 246-48 N. Clarion St., Philadelphia 7, Penna. SECTION TWO VOL. 63 NO. 15 MARCH 2, 1960 COLUMBIA Babette Coes To War‘^““'”' Colximbia (French-made) (Dubbed and titled versions) (Cinemascope) (Eastman Color) Estimate: Comedy adventure yam loaded with entertainment. Cast: Brigitte Bcurdot, Jacques Cheurier, Hannes Messemer, Yves Vincent, Ronald Howard, Francis Blanche, Rene Haveurd. Pro¬ duced by Raoul Levy; directed by Christian Jaque. Story: In 1940, the Germans are over¬ running France, and yoimg French coxmtry girl Brigitte Bardot finds herself on a boat heading for England where she imofficially joins the Free French forces stationed in London. She meets Lt. Jacques Charrier, falling in love with him. British officer Ron¬ ald Howard arrives to discuss a plan for delaying the German invasion of the British Isles. It involves using Bardot as bait to kidnap German officer Hannes Messemer, who is in charge of the plans for the in¬ vasion. She and Charrier receive training and are air-dropped into France. Gestapo leader Francis Blanche notices a resemblance Bardot has for a former girl friend of Messemer and decides to use her to try and trap the General into admitting that he is unloyal to Hitler and the Fatherland. Since the scheme fits in with her assignment, she goes along with him. She meets the general and arranges a later rendezvous which is interrupted by the ap¬ pearance of GestajK) agents. Bardot and Charrier manage to make good their escape and abduction of the general, which results in the required delay of the invasion. She and Chsirrier anticipiate a futime together even though they are not recognized by their government for their heroic efforts on its behalf. X-Ray; Some humorous spoofing of certain aspects of the war and some bits of suspense are to be found here, along with an in¬ terest-holding yam, good performances, and capable direction and production. Naturally, the neime of Bardot seems to be good for quite a bit of revenue at the boxoffice and attention among patrons, and there is no reason to doubt that the same will not be valid for this entry, which has the famed French actress dressed at all times, a dis¬ tinct switch in style and performance. It is only right that the fine acting of Francis Blanche as an over-wrought Gestapo officer be noted as well. The screenplay is by Jean Ferry, Jacques Emmanuel, and Michel Audiard, based on a story by Raoul J. Levy and Gerard Oury. Given a solid supporting campaign, this film could give a healthy accoimt for itself. Tips On Bidding: Higher program rates or better, depiending on situation. Ad Lines: “When Bardot Goes To War . . . Watch Out”; “The Enemy Didn’t Stand A Chance Against The Bardot Charms.” “Brigitte Bardot’s Latest And Best.” Comanche Station Western 74m Columbia (Cinemascope) (Eastman Color) Estimate: Good western for program. Cast: Randolph Scott, Nancy Gates, Claude Akins, Skip Homeier, Richard Rust, Rand Brooks, Dyke Johnson, Foster Hood, Joe Molina, Vince St. Cyr, P. Holland. !l^ecutive producer, Harry Joe Brown; produced and directed by Budd Boetticher. Story: Randolph Scott, searching 10 years for his wife who was captured by Comanche Indians, rescues another white woman in the same predicament, Nancy Gates. While es¬ corting her back to her husband, they are joined by outlaw Claude Akins and his two yoimg followers. Skip Homeier and Richard Rust. Akins, knowing Gates’ husband has of¬ fered a $5,000 reweud for her return, plans to kiU Scott and the woman, blame it on Indians, and collect the reward. Homeier is killed by Indians, and Akins kills Rust, who wants no part of the murder scheme. Scott beats Akins to the draw in their showdown, and returns Gates to her husband, who is blind. Scott rides off to renew his search for his wife. X-Ray: Avoiding most of the cliches such stories are hamj^red by, this western shapes up as a good action entry for general patron¬ age. It holds interest throughout, and a good cast plus satisfactory direction and produc¬ tion also aid. Color and CinemaScope pho¬ tography is impressive, but it is the better than average scripting that lifts it above most films of its ty^. Scott, stiU a good boxoffice name in many locales, has one of his better roles here, and Gates makes an ap¬ pealing heroine. Akins is a different sort of a villeiin and plays the role to the lult. Writ¬ ten by Burt Kennedy. Tip On Bidding: Fair program rates. Ad Lines: “She Was Worth $5,000 Alive Or Dead. . . . But She Was Easier To Bring In Dead”; “One Man’s War Against The Comanches.” PARAMOUNT Circus Stars (5913) Novelty blM Paramoimt (Color) (Wide Screen) (Russian-made) Estimate: Cute novelty offers circus show on film. Credits: Directed by L. Kristy. Screenplay is by V. Komissarzhevsky and L. Kristy. Story: Some of Russia’s outstanding circus artists are to be seen performing here under the big top as audiences sit enthralled. Among those seen are clown Oleg Popov, ani¬ mal trainer Vladimir Durov, trick rider Alexandre Serge, acrobat Vladimir Davaiko, aerialists, clowns, etc. X-Ray: This import, part of the cultural film exchange with the Soviet Union, is cute and should entertain those who like the cir¬ cus and its acts, which are imiversally un¬ derstood and appreciated. The performers are entertaining and skillful. Yoxmgsters as well as ^ose adults who are young in heart should like what they see on screen. The en¬ try could work out okay as part of the pro¬ gram. Ad Lines: “Fun At The Circus”; “Thrills And Chills Beneath The Big Top.” “World Famous USSR Circus In Action.” 20th-FOX Operation Amsterdam Melodrama 105m 20th-Fox (Rank) (English-made) Estimate: Okay suspense meUer. Cast: Peter Finch, Eva Bartok, Tony Brit¬ ton, Alexander Knox, Malcolm Keen, Jim Turner, John Horsley, Melvin Hayes, Chris¬ topher Rhodes. Produced by Maurice Cowan; directed by Michael McCarthy. Story: T^e British plan to get all diamonds out of besieged Amsterdam before the Ger¬ mans can get them. A destroyer gets in a raiding party consisting of Peter Finch, Tony Britton, and Alexander Knox. They are join^ ^ Dutch girl Eva Bartok, whom they save from suicide, and she chauffeurs them aroimd. They contact the main diamond merchant, and he persuades others to give up their stones for safekeeping. However, it is a holi¬ day and most of the gems are in a bank time vault. Partisans help them blow up the vault and they get out with the diamonds after engaging in a street battle with the Germans. By this time. Finch has fallen for Bartok and promises to come back to her. X-Ray: This is action and chase against time from the word go. Excellently photo¬ graphed on actual location in Holland, the suspense mounts to quite a crescendo. The film holds interest all the way and the cast delivers satisfactory performances. As with many English films, this is full of detail, but it is all potent and fascinating. One confusing factor is that it is hard to distinguish between the German and Dutch troops. This is based on the novel, “Adventure In Diamonds,” bv David E. Walker. Tip On Bidding: Fair program rates. Ad Lines: “A Catch-As-Catch-Can Game With Diamonds The Prize”; “A Thrilling Episode In War Torn Holland.” “Thrills, Sus¬ pense, Action In German-Occupied Amster¬ dam.” WARNERS The Threat (913) Melodrama 66m Warners Estimate: Program detective meller. Cast: Robert Knapp, Linda Lawson, Lisabeth Hush, James Seay, Mary Castle, Barney Phillips, Richard S. Cowl, Lew Brown, Art Lewis, Tom Gilson, Emile Meyer, Nidiolas King. Produced and directed by Charles R. Rondeau.