The Exhibitor (1960)

October 26, I960 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 4763 UNIVERSAL Midnight Lace (6101) Drama 108m. Universal (Eastman Color) Estimate: Lush, name-filled suspense drama looks like boxoffice winner. Cast: Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Myrna Loy, Roddy McDowall, Herbert Marshall, Natasha Perry, John Williams, Hermione Baddeley, Richard Ney, Rhys Wil¬ liams, Doris Lloyd, Richard Lupino, Anthony Dawson. Produced by Ross Hunter and Martin Melcher; directed by David Miller. Story: Doris Day is happily married for three months to business tycoon Rex Harri¬ son. Suddenly, terror enters her life in the form of obscene phone calls in which a hor¬ rible voice threatens her life. She and Har¬ rison contact the police, who are powerless to help until the criminal reveals himself through some overt act. Day’s aunt, Myrna Loy, urges Harrison to take her away, but the press of business forces postponement of their trip abroad. Day suspects everyone, in¬ cluding Roddy McDowall, her housekeeper’s worthless son; construction foreman John Gavin, who is obviously attracted to her; and Harrison’s treasurer, Herbert Marshall, who seems to be in financial difficulty. It even ap¬ pears that she may be imagining the whole episode to attract additional attention from the sometimes neglectful Harrison. A trap is set for the criminal, who is unmasked as Harrison, who only married Day for her money. The police are close at hand, and with the help of Gavin she is rescued. X-Ray: Dramatically, there are a few loop¬ holes, but the only ones who will be bothered by them are the cinematic purists who don’t go to the movies anyway. Everyone else, with special emphasis on the women, will be fascinated and engrossed as this suspense drama unfolds amid the lush splendor of sur¬ roundings and high fashion elegance one has come to associate with a Ross Hunter pro¬ duction. A cast of high-powered names takes care of the acting chores, and Miss Day is a standout in a nerve-wracking role. Harrison oozes charm and mature appeal, and John Gavin should please the younger set. Miss Day’s clothes designed by Irene are a show in themselves, and the women in the audience will have a great if slightly envious time admiring them. The film is big, luxurious, and colorful, in addition to building suspense ef¬ fectively through good direction by David Miller. There is something for everyone here, and the result should be plenty of boxoffice action. Screenplay is by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. Tip On Bidding: Better rates. Ad Lines: “The Power-Packed Story Of The Most Shocking Game Ever Played With A Woman’s Love . . . And Her Sanity”; “The Woman In The Midnight Lace . . . Target For Temptation Or Terror?”; “Now Fear Pos¬ sessed Her ... As Love Once Had.” FOREIGN Heaven on Earth Drama 84m. JB Film Enterprises (Eastman Color) (Italian-made) (Dubbed in English) Estimate: Interesting tour of Rome with romantic dressing. Cast: Barbara Florian, Charles Fawcett, Gabriele Tinti, Amoldo Foa. Directed by Robert Spafford; produced by Dominick Franco and Fulvio Luciano. Story: Count Arnoldo Foa, widowed and confined to a wheelchair as the result of an explosion during World War II, lives in Rome with his young son Gabriele Tinti, who holds all Americans responsible for the death of his mother during the war. He resents the forthcoming arrival of former American Army Major Charles Fawcett, a friend of his father, and his daughter, Barbara Florian. He takes them touring, but his manner is so ungracious that Florian tells him never mind. He is ashamed and unbends. He helps her discover Rome and its beauties as they also seem to find one another. X-Ray: Papal permission had to be ob¬ tained before the cameras could venture into a number of locations in Rome, and what emerges are scenes of beauty that not many have seen which are especially effective be¬ cause they are in color. The romance be¬ tween the youngsters is something extra which fuses the travelogue effectively, and there is some extraneous footage as well. Of course, the sightseeing may interfere with the desires of those who would see a story and vice versa for those who would strictly tour Rome for its sights. At any rate, it should prove a good entry for the art spots and may even squeeze by in the regulation spots where the subject matter is acceptable. The screenplay is by Robert Spafford based on a story by Murray Hill Topman. A rockand-roll tune, “At Seventeen,” is heard, as well as “Ave Maria” and choral numbers. Ad Lines: “Rome As Never Seen On Film Before”; “An Unusual View of Rome And Its Beauty,” “The Film That Was Made With The Special Permission of the Vatican.” Marie Octobre Drama 98m. Lopert (French-made) (English titles) Estimate: Compelling import for art spots. Cast: Danielle Darrieux, Bernard Blier, Robert Dalban, Paul Frankeur, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, Paul Guers, Daniel Ivernel, Paul Meurisse, Serge Reggiani, N. Roquervert, Lino Venturo. Produced by Lucien Viard; directed by Julien Duvivier. Story: Danielle Darrieux, head of a Paris fashion house and member of a resistance movement during the war, learns that among the underground group there was a traitor. He not only betrayed his comrades to the Gestapo, but was also responsible for the death of their leader, with whom she was in love. She locates the surviving members of the group and invites them to an anniversary dinner at the old chateau where they gathered as members during the war 15 years before. After the dinner, she informs the gathering of the betrayal, indicating that the traitor is still among them. A sort of “kangaroo court” is held, with suspicion focusing on one and then another until the traitor finally gives himself away. Darrieux shoots him when he tries to escape and gives herself up to the police. X-Ray: This is a brilliantly directed and enacted film that fascinates with its subject matter and holds interest as it builds to a most unexpected climax. It is based on a novel by Jacques Robert with screenplay by Robert and Duvivier. Unfortunately, it re¬ sembles a one-set play more than a motion picture. It is all talk, with consequently a profusion of English titles, and very little action. For the art spots and French-speak¬ ing audiences, it should be even more ap¬ preciated as it is a fine example of suspensful drama but the lack of action may limit its appeal. Ad Lines: “There Is One Amidst Us Who Is A Traitor!”; “A Modern Interpretation Of The Finer Points Of Betrayal and Revenge.” Never On Sunday Comedy 91m. Lopert (Made in Greece) (English dialogue) Estimate: Delightful comedy is art house winner and could surprise elsewhere. Cast: Melina Mercouri, Jules Dassin, Georges Foundas, Titos Vandis, Mitsos Liguisos, Despo Diamantidou, Dimos Starrenios, Dimitri Papamikail, Alexis Salomos. A Melinafilm Production; written and directed by Jules Dassin. Story: Melina Mercouri is a beautiful prostitute in the port of Piraeus who chooses her own customers and maintains a happily innocent view of life. American tourist Jules Dassin arrives and is impressed by Mercouri’s beauty. He is convinced that if he can turn her from prostitution and force her to accept the grim realities of life, he will better under¬ stand the fall of the beauty that was ancient Greece. Alexis Salomos, who lives off the earnings of all the other prostitutes, is de¬ lighted by the chance to get rid of Mercouri’s free-lance competition. He finances Dassin’s educational campaign. Much to the dismay of the men of the town, Mercouri gives up her job. When she learns that Dassin has made a deal with Salomos, she goes berserk. She organizes a revolt of all the prostitutes, and the resultant strike forces Salomos to lower rents and improve living conditions. Dassin, not understanding the violent forces he has unleashed returns to the bar where he met Mercouri. Mercouri’s friends poke fun at him, and then he suddenly realizes the ridiculous position he is in. He joins the party, laughing, singing, and dancing with the rest. He has discovered that the only real truth is in the joy of living. X-Ray: Jules Dassin, who has given the screen “Rififi” and “He Who Must Die,” turns his talents to comedy here, and the result is a triple -threat tour de force that is sure, to be an art house winner. The story is charming and never sordid, and Dassin and Mercouri are wonderful in the leads. Supporting per¬ formances are also fine, and Dassin, the direc¬ tor, does full justice to the screenplay by Dassin, the writer. The man does everything, and he does it well. Of course, the theme makes this adult entertainment, but in regular situations that can play it for discriminating audiences, it could very well prove a pleasant boxoffice surprise. This is quality film making on a limited budget and a delight all the way. Ad Lines: “The Beauty That Was Greece And That Nation’s Tragic Fall ... As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Befuddled Pyg¬ malion”; “A Joyous Romp As A Guy With Reform On His Mind Meets A Gal With Love On Her Mind.” Sin and Desire Drama 77m. Atlantis (French-made) (Dubbed in English) Estimate: Import not of art house calibre. Cast: Francoise Arnoul, Andre LeGall, Aime Cloriond, Raymond Cordy, Blavette. Rene Blancard, Ketty Dalian. Produced and directed by Willy Rozier. Story: Francoise Arnoul, singer-dancer of Spanish origin, meets Andre LeGall, deepsea diver in Toulon. He falls in love with her, but she is only interested in furthering her career and making money. He rents a cottage so they can be together and takes a dangerous diving job to obtain more cash. He is injured due to the depth and pressure, and after a hospital stay, finds her gone when he returns to the cottage. Unable to pursue his trade, he takes to drink. His friend, Bla¬ vette, learns Arnoul is living with agent Aime Cloriond who has launched her on a successful career. She returns to appear at the local cafe. Bitter, LeGall goes to the villa in which she is staying, and when she spurns him, he strangles her in a fit of passion. X-Ray: This peculiar import, shot mainly away from the studio on location, is interest¬ ing, despite many shortcomings due prin¬ cipally to the foreign flavor and unhappy ending to the slight story. The catch-penny title may get a buck from the undiscriminat¬ ing, but the film is below average art house standards. The dubbing is a good job, and the performances are okay, with Arnoul and LeGall in some fairly torrid love scenes. While dubbed in English, the several songs by Arnoul are still in French. The script is by Xavier Vallier. Ad Lines: “The Story Of A Girl Who Couldn’t Control Her Emotions”; “Tempted By The Lure Of Wealth and Fame; Out¬ raged By The Mad Passions Of The French Waterfront.” Complete back seasons of these pink service sections are available to subscribing theatres at 52<f per set.