The Exhibitor (1960)

March 16, I960 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR REVIEWS The famous pink paper SA VEABLE SECTION in which Experienced Trade Analysts evaluate coming product Published even^ second week, as a separately bound and easily saveabie section of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, this exclusive 24 yeor old service is both numerically more complete, and informatively more ccmdid, than any similar trade analysis. Cumulatively numbered by film seasons (September to ^ptember), 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 tho past 12 months' product, and the alternating every second week pink paper REVIEWS, represent a unique informative service to theatremen. Please address all inquires or suggestions about these two service features to the Editors of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, 246-48 N. Clarion St., Philadelphia 7, Penna. ALLIED ARTISTS The Atomic Submarine Melodrama (5919) AA EJstimate: Okay programmer. Cast: Arthiir Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Hal¬ sey, Tom Conway, Pavil Dubov, Bob Steele, Victor Varconi, Joi Lansing, Selmer Jackson, Jack Mulhall, Jean Moorhead, Richard Tyler, Sid Melton, Ken Becker. Produced by Alex Gordon; directed by Spencer G. Bennet. Story: Top officials in Washington call a top secret conference wherein a niunber of atomic subs and other ships which have disappeared are discussed. Captain Dick Foran, in charge of the latest in atomic subs, is ordered to pro¬ ceed to the Arctic and investigate and eradi¬ cate the cause of the mysterious occurrences. Scientists Tom Conway and Victor Varconi are to accompany him. They spot a flying saucer operating under water which seems responsible for the tragedies, and it is figured that it gets its energy from the magnetic pole at the top of the earth. They lie in wait for it and ram it when they can’t stop it any other way. Arthur Franz heads a boarding party and gets to talk to the thing at the controls, which informs him that sin invasion of Earth is a possibility; A fellow officer is destroyed as he succeeds in temporarily disabling it, allowing Franz to get back and warn the others. As the saucer starts to get away head¬ ing for outer space, they are aWe to discharge a guided magnetic missile which destroys it. The earth is safe a while longer. X-Ray: Interest is well enough maintained in this entry for the program with a fair yam, okay performances, and adequate pro¬ duction and direction being present. The title can be sold in this day and age, which could result in a bit more attention and patronage than usual. Orville H. Hampton wrote the screenplay. Ad Lines: “Tomorrow’s Battle To Save The World Explodes Under The Arctic Ice!”; “The Enemy That Dooms The Nation Lies Hidden Under The North Pole.” I Passed For White Drama 93m. Allied Artists Estimate: Satisfactory programmer lacks names. Cast: Sonya Wilde, Jaunes Franciscus, Pat Michon, Elizabeth Council, Griffin Crafts, Isabelle Cooley, James Lydon, Thomas B. Henry, Max Mellinger, Phyllis Cole, Calvin Jackson, Lon Ballantyne, Temple Hatton, Freita Shaw, Ed Hashim, Ray Kellogg, Eliza¬ beth Harrower. Produced and directed by Fred M. Wilcox. Story: Sonya Wilde, beautiful white¬ skinned Negress, frustrated by her coloring, decides to pass for white, changes her name, and goes to New York City from Los An¬ geles. She meets socially prominent James Franciscus, and they fall in love. Having found an office position, she tells new foimd friend and room-mate Pat Michon the truth about her race. When Franciscus proposes, Wilde consents although she realizes great problems may arise. She begins telling a web of lies, inventing a phantom family, etc. She gets away with things vmtil after the wed¬ ding, even passing over a meetiag with her dark-skinni brother, a jazz musician. When her baby is about to be born, she is frantic lest it be black. Although the baby is still¬ born, Franciscus is now aware of her du¬ plicity and accuses Wilde of being imfaithful She leaves him and goes back to her family. X-Ray: Nicely produced, this story by Mary Hastings Bradley unfolds interestingly in True Confessions style and will serve on the programs nicely. It may have extra ap¬ peal to women and racially mixed audiences. The subject matter is tastefully handled and there is nothing objectionable or censorable. Although there are no known names in the cast, the leads acquit themselves finely, especially Wilde, Franciscus, and Michon. This has exploitation potential with its miscegnation theme adroitly handled. The imhappy ending is logical, as is most of the heart¬ break encountered by the heroine, with whom one’s sympathy remains despite her unsurmountable duplicity. Ad Lines: “A Dramatic Thimderbolt In¬ troducing A New Screen Star — Sonya Wilde”; “The Heart Break Of Today’s Racial Prob¬ lems.” AMERICAN-INT. The Angry Red Planet Melodrama American-International (Color) (Cinemagic) Estimate: Fair science fiction entry for pro¬ gram. Cast: Gerald Mohr, Nora Hayden, Les Tremayne, Jack Kruschen. Produced by ‘Sid Pirflc and Norman Maurer; directed by Ib Melchior; screenplay by Pirik and Melchior. Story: Gerald Mohr and Nora Hayden re¬ turn to Earth from Mars. Their fellow ex¬ plorers, Les Tremajme and Jack Kruschen perished on the trip. Mohr suffers from a growth on his arm that defies analysis. Hay¬ den, tmder drugs, tells of the trip. An in¬ telligence on Mars directed the fantastic life of the planet against the Earth people, finally permitting Hayden and Mohr to escape. It is discovered that Mohr can be cured. A tape recorded message from the Martians warns Earth to stay away until mankind has advanced morally to a point where they will be welcome on other planets. X-Ray: This is average science-fiction fare and contains some interesting special effects. An attempt to capture the other-world qual¬ ity of Martian scenes via a photographic process is called Cinemagic. It’s sort of a posi¬ tive of a negative of a positive or something like that, and a red haze covers what is left. It’s a bit harsh and hard on the eyes, but it is different. The monsters are frightening enough, and while there is a familiar ring to the proceedings, they should satisfy fans of science fiction adventures. Acting and pro¬ duction values are satisfactory. Ad Lines: “Live Spectacular Adventures Beyond Space And Time in Cinemagic, A Venture Into The Fourth Dimension”; “A Strange Eerie New World Unfolds On The Angry Red Planet.” 4685 MARCH 16, 1960 COLUMBIA Because They’re Young Drama 102m Columbia Estimate: Good story of today’s youth should hit the school-age target. Cast: Dick Clark, Michael Callm, Tuesday Weld, Victoria Shaw, Roberta Shore, Warren Berlinger, Doug McClure, Linda Watkins, Chris Robinson, Rudy Bond, WendeU Holmes, Philip Coolidge, Bart Patton, Stephen Talbot, Kathiyn Card, Paul Genge, Susan Odin, Frances Karath, , guest stars James Darren and Duane Eddy. Produced by Jerry Bresler; directed by Paul Wendkos. Story: New high school teacher Dick Clark takes more than an ordinary interest in his students, although the principal would rather he kept more aloof. He is attracted to the principal’s secretary, Victoria Shaw. Clark becomes involved in the extra-curricu¬ lar affairs of tough and potentially delin¬ quent Michael Callin; Tuesday Weld, old for her 17 years and trying to live down a sexual experience with Callin; likeable War¬ ren Berlinger, whose mother is not the model of virtue the youth forces himself to be¬ lieve; and others. To Clark, these kids are people, and he wants to help them all he can. The friendship of the rest of his class starts to soften Cffilin, but he becomes in¬ volved with a holdup ring headed by Rudy Bond. Callin wants out, but Bond forces him to participate. The holdup fails, and Callin escapes, seeking refuge in the school. He is tracked there by the criminals he deserted, and Clark comes to his rescue. Callin proves himself an honorable youth, and the prin¬ cipal comes to realize that perhaps Clark has the right idea about handling students. Clark and Shaw clinch. X-Ray: There is considerable plot in this story of today’s kids of high school age, the pre-sold name of Dick Clark should prove a potent lure to the yoimgsters, and he has been surrounded by some of the brightest young performers aroimd. Some of situations are a bit adult for the yoimger set, but in¬ telligent high-school students won’t be both¬ ered. Clark’s performance is quite natural, and some musical interludes provide an ad¬ ditional lure. The story maintains interest although slightly more tightening could have helped. Screenplay by James Gunn. This will fit nicely in general situations. Tip on Bidding: Better program rates. Ad Lines: “Take It From Dick Clark: This Is The Whole Bit About Today’s Teenagers . . . And It’s A Real Blast”; “The Most De¬ lightful But Dangerous Age There Is . . . The Beautiful But Bittersweet Years Of Youth . . . The Whole Story Of Today’s Teenagers Starring The Man Who Knows Them Best.” DO SAVE . . . pink REVIEWS! They provide a permanent evaluation of all features and shorts, as caught by our skilled reviewers, all cumula¬ tively ninnbered and indexed, and pimched for a standard ring binder. Establish your seasonal set!