The Exhibitor (1960)

4782 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR January II, 1961 Huffaker snd NuJinalJy Johnson, based on ihe novel by Huffaker. It shovild do well as part of the show. Tips on Bidding: Higher program rates. Ad Lines: “He Turns In His Guitar For A Rifle When Trouble Threatens”; “Suddenly They Were A Family Divided”. The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come Drama 108m. 20th-Fox (CinemaScope) (Color by DeLuxe) Estimate: Entertaining, heartwarming fam¬ ily story. Cast: Jimmie Rodgers, Luanna Patten, Chill Wills, Linda Hutchings, Robert Dix, George Kennedy, Shirley O’Hara, Ken Miller, Neil Hamilton, Lois January. Produced by Maury Dexter; directed by Andrew McLaglen. Story: Jimmie Rodgers is a boy without a family wandering the Kentucky hills. The family who had brought hini up with kindness and love is wiped out by sickness, and Rod¬ gers runs away rather than be bound to brutal George Kennedy. Kennedy pursues, but Rod¬ gers is rescued by Robert Dix, who takes him to live with his family. Rodgers and Luana Patten, Dix’s sister, are drawn to one another, but the boy has a thirst for travel to the city and education. When it comes time to float logs from the mountains to Lexington, Rod¬ gers goes along to enter college. He is be¬ friended by wealthy Chill Wills, who looks on him as a son, helps him through school, and introduces him to the local gentry. Rod¬ gers falls in love with Linda Hutchings, but threat of civil war is in the air. War does come, and Rodgers splits with his new friends, having decided to support the northern cause. He joins the regiment where Dix serves and is made a courier. He distinguishes himself in action. In a battle late in the war, Rodgers and Wnis find themselves on opposite sides. Dix and Wills are killed but Rodgers realizes that both sides had men of honor doing their duty. After the war, Rodgers returns to the mountains and Patten. X-Ray: This is a well-made, heartwarming tale that should appeal to all members of the family. Rodgers is natural and appealing in his film debut and his strong band of fans from his record fame will assist playdates as well. Word of mouth should be fine, and ex¬ hibitors should attempt to get church and community support. This is the kind of pic¬ ture groups concerned with the nation’s morals have been asking for. Let’s hope they support it, Rodgers sings two songs, and photo^aphy is fine, capturing some lovely scenic vistas. There is adventure, romance, and above all, plenty of heart in this one. Screenplay is by Barre Lyndon, based on the novel by John Fox, Jr. Tip on Bidding: Better program rates. Ad Lines: “The Thrilling Adventures Of The Kentucky Mountain Kid Who Fought . . . And Captured The Heart Of The South.” MISCELLANEOUS A Cold Wind In August Drama 80m. Aidart Pictures Estimate: Sizzler for adults only. Cast: Lola Albright, Scott Marlowe, Herschel Bernard!, Joe De Santis, Clark Gordon, Janet Brandt, Skip Young, Ann Atmar, Jana Taylor, De Gee Green. Produced by Philip Hazelton; directed by Alexander Singer. A Troy Films production. Story: Strip tease artiste Lola Albright, about 30 or 35, seduces Scott Marlowe, 17 year old son of apartment house caretaker Joe De Santis, and they have a most torrid affair. Her long time boy-friend and sucker Herschel Bernard! shows up, but she de¬ ceives him about Marlowe, whom he con¬ siders just a boy. Clark Gordon, her former husband, also comes around and persuades her to take a stripping job in a burlesque house, which she does. Some of Marlowe’s boy friends see her abandoned performance, and force him to go with them to see her. Marlowe sees in her stage performance a pro¬ fanation of their love. He breaks off with her and reverts to a girl his own age, who is waiting for him on the roof. X-Ray: In censor free locations this will most likely do quite well. It has been satis¬ factorily produced in New York City. The screenplay is by Burton Wohl adapted from his novel. The cast is excellent, particularly the leads, but it is without a doubt, due to both theme and actions, the most torrid piece of film in a month of Sundays. It is down¬ right dirty with a Legion of Decency con¬ demned rating positive. For the sex-ploitation spots and houses that can play it, it should clean up, but it is definitely not for the family trade. Better see it for yourself before exposing it to your public. Ad Lines: “A Torrid Yet Tender Love Between A Teen-Age Boy And A Woman Of Too Much Experience”; “If You Care About Love — You’ll Understand.” The Monster of melodrama Piedras Blancas ^ Filmservice Dist. Corp. Estimate: Horror programmer. Cast: John Harmon, Les Tremayne, Forrest Lewis, Frank Arvidson, Jeanne Carmen, Don Sullivan. Produced by Jack Kevan; directed by Irvin Berwick. Story: John Harmon, lighthouse keeper, lives with his daughter, Jeanne Carmen. He is convinced that a legendary monster lives in a cave near where he keeps the light, and puts food out for the monster. Several local fishermen and a storekeeper are found mur¬ dered, and sheriff Forrest Lewis, doctor Les Tremayne, and young biologist Don Sul¬ livan, in love with Carmen, investigate. Har¬ mon is injured trying to save others from the monster. Forced from its cave, the mon¬ ster creeps up on the lighthouse and Carmen. Harmon saves her but is flung off the catwalk of the tower by the monster, which is then killed by its pursuers. X-Ray: The trouble with this horror meller is that the monster is not monstrous enough. Otherwise, it is a satisfactory pro¬ gram meller of its type with okay perform¬ ances by the entire cast. Shot on location along a seacoast, it can also boast average production and direction. It should get by as part of the program in most undiscrimi¬ nating spots. Ad Lines: “The Fiend That Walks Lovers’ Beach”; “It Preys On Human Flesh.” Okefenokee melodrama 76m. Filmservice Dist. Corp. Estimate: Novel locale helps program meller. Cast: Peter Coe, Peggy Maley, Henry Brandon, Serena Sande, Walter Klavun^ Pro¬ duced by Aaron A. Danches; directed by Roul Haig. Story: Henry Brandon, assisted by his tough woman, Peggy Maley, who runs a swamp-side dive, heads a ring of smugglers who run dope and aliens into the country via the Okefenokee swamp, using Seminole Indian guides with swamp-planes. To insure their silence, after their task is accomplished the Indians are killed and dumped in the swamp. Seminole Peter Coe’s sweetheart, Indian Serena Sande, is lured into the shack of one of Brandon’s henchmen, Walter Klavun, and attacked. Following the custom of her people, she looks into the sun until blind, the punishment of any Seminole maiden who is betrayed before marriage. Coe, following a fight with Klavun, rescues her from a poisonous snake. Coe also uncovers evidence of Brandon’s criminal operation. With a party of young braves, he chases Brandon through the swamps and captures him. X-Ray: Made on location, this features a lot of interesting Seminole Indian lore and a simple, but attention-holding melodramatic plot in a most unusual setting. The cast of unknowns, both Indians and whites, is satis¬ factory. The original story is by director Haig. There is action in plenty, and this will do as part of the program in the non-dis¬ criminating spots. Ad Lines: “Raw Passions In The Hell Swamps”; “High Adventure In A Place Of Unsurpassed Beauty.” FOREIGN The Angry Silence Drama 95m. Valiant (English-Made) Estimate: Well-made import on union ac¬ tivity. Cast: Richard Attenborough, Pier Angeli, Michael Craig, Bernard Lee, Geoffrey Keen, Laurence Naismith, Russell Napier, Alfred Burke, Penelope Homer, Brian Bedford. Produced by Richard Attenborough and Bryan Forbes. Story: The labor situation is quiet at the tool and machine works in a small British town until a stranger, Alfred Burke, arrives. One of the workers, Richard Attenborough, has his own problems. His wife. Pier Angeli, is pregnant for the third time, and they can’t afford a third child. Fellow-worker Michael Craig rooms with them, ^d nothing much bothers him except entertaining young ladies of which he has a plentiful supply. When Burke gets a job at the plant, he arouses shop steward Bernard Lee and soon an unofficial strike is called. About a dozen men refuse to stop working, including At¬ tenborough. Violence soon brings about the submission of the others but Attenborough continues to report for work. When the strike is settled, all are instructed to give Attenborough the silent treatment, and even Craig has to go along and eventually moves out. The youngsters at school mistreat At¬ tenborough’s son as well. The publicity his case receives focuses nation-wide attention on him, the towm, and the plant. The men are called out again, and once again it is only Attenborough who reports for work. Some of the wilder employees arrange for an accident which causes' him to lose an eye. Craig tracks down and punishes the actual culprit and then talks to the men as¬ sembled at the plant. When he is through, the men are silent and ashamed while trou¬ blemaker Burke gets out of town. X-Ray: An ordinary man independent of thought and action refuses to “go along” with a mob just because it’s the thing to do, and the actions and resulting reactions hold viewer interest firmly. It’s a picture with an opinion as well as one that contains plenty of dramatic impact, naturalness of events and situation, and people who seem to believe in what they are doing. Direction and production are superior. It would seem that because of the subject matter, the re¬ latively unknow cast in the U.S. except for Pier Angeli, and because it’s an import, that it would be most suitable for art house bookings. The screenplay is by Bryan Forbes. Ad Lines: “He Refused To ‘Go Along’ And Life Became Hell”; “An Unusual Tale About An Unusual Man.” A French Mistress 98m Films Around The World (English -made) Estimate: Amusing import. Cast: Cecil Parker, James Robertson Jus¬ tice, Ian Bannen, Agnes Laurent, Raymond Huntley, Irene Handl, Edith Sharpe, Kenneth Griffith, Robert Bruce, Thorley Walters. Pro¬ duced by John Boulting; directed by Roy Boulting. Story: When the French instructor at a British school succumbs to the bad cooking, headmaster Cecil Parker is hard pressed to find a substitute. He accepts the sole ap¬ plicant, who seems suited from an educational background. The staff is a bit leery about the applicant being a woman, and when the students learn of this, they stand ready to revolt to keep her out. Once the youngsters see her there is a change of attitude, with French becoming the most popular subject and instructress Agnes Laurent the most pop