The Exhibitor (1961)

4806 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 5. 1961 cide to strike out on their own when Zulus attack. After they are beaten off, the Boers hold a victory dance despite the fact that Massey has been woimded. During this, Scott makes a play for Browse. This leads to a fight with Whitman and Scott’s banishment from the trek. Massey names Whitman as leader before he dies. David now hates Whit¬ man all the more. Scott turns traitor and leads another Zulu attack. During this, Scott is killed, as is David. After Johnson kills the Zulu chief. Whitman leads the Boers into their “promised land.” X-Ray; This emerges as pretty much of a wagon train trek with Zulus replacing the usual Indians in several attacks. Peopled with newcomers, along with a few old timers including Massey, this has some sales points, with Browse in her first dramatic role and the debut of Negro Olympic star Rafer John¬ son. All turn in capable performances with Whitman, outstanding. It is action of the western type all the way and should do okay as part of the program. This is based on a novel by Stuart Cloete. The CinemaScope and the color, of course, help. Tip On Bidding; Fair program rates. Ad Lines; “Across A Thousand Miles Of Excitement — The Mightiest Of African Ad¬ ventures!”; “Stuart Cloete’s Mightiest Afri¬ can Adventure Scorches The Screen.” MISCELLANEOUS The Horse With The Flying Tail documentary ^ ^ 48m. Buena Vista (Technicolor) Estimate: Okay novelty featurette, espe¬ cially for horse lovers. Cast; Nautical, Hugh Wiley. Produced and directed by Larry Lansburgh. Story; This is the true story of Nautical, palomino colt, broken as a cow horse by New Mexico cowboys at the age of three. His life as a western cutting horse doesn’t last long. He is turned over as a jumper to an ex¬ cavalry officer; then to a Virginia couple as a fox-himter; and eventually to a trainer whose only interest in horses is to make a fast dollar. He is spotted by Bertalan de Nemethy, coach of the U.S. Equestrian team, and Hugh Wiley, ace U.S. rider, who recog¬ nizes his possibilities as an international jumper. Wiley buys the palomino, who be¬ comes a member of the U.S. team. After months of expert care and training, the horse is sent to Paris for his first major test. Next is a horse show in Germany, followed by Belgium, and then London for competition for the world-famous King George V Cup. Following a run-off against the Spanish con¬ tender, Nautical is named the winner. X-Ray; This beautifully photographed true story of a horse holds the interest and should prove exciting and especially interesting to horse lovers. The early scenes are especially good, with the latter sequences of horse races a trifle lengthy and repetitious. As a supple¬ mentary featurette, this should readily serve as part of the program. Screenplay is by Janet Lansburgh, with commentary by Dorian Wil¬ liams. Bearing the magic name of “Walt Dis¬ ney presents,” it is a high standard sports subject. Ad Lines; “The Fabulous True Story Of A Jump-Happy Cowpony That Sailed To Glory With A Wave Of His Golden Tail”; “With A Saucy Wave Of His Golden Tail He Sailed To Glory!” Shadows drama 87 m. Lion International Estimate: Off-beat entry for art and spe¬ cialty spots. Cast: Lelia Goldoni, Ben Carruthers, Hugh Hurd, Anthony Ray, Rupert Crosse, Tom Allen, Dennis Sallas, David Pokitellow, David Jones. Directed by John Cassavetes; produced by Maurice McEndree. Story: In a Negro family living in Man¬ hattan, there are two brothers, Hugh Hurd, a singer with not much of a future, and younger Ben Carruthers, who hopes some day to play a trumpet in a beind. Meanwhile, he and his white friends wander about aimlessly picking up girls, getting into fights, etc. There’s also their sister, Lelia Goldoni, who has very light skin as does Carruthers. They can both pass for white. She moves in bo¬ hemian circles, and at a literary party, she meets Anthony Ray, who seduces her. It’s her first experience and it’s a shocking one. Afterwards, he insists on taking her home, and when he meets Hurd he realizes that she is colored. It’s his turn to be shocked. Hurd throws him out. He tries to talk to her again, but his efforts are fruitless. She meets a col¬ ored boy who waits fqr her even though she insults him. Thus she reestablishes her con¬ fidence in herself. Hurd reluctantly accepts a week’s work in Chicago arranged for by his manager -friend. Meanwhile, Carruthers and his friends get into a fight and are brutally beaten, after which they decide that they have had enough of aimless drifting and go their ways toward what is hoped is a solid future. Carruthers is still imcertain how to make his way in the world. X-Ray: This search for identity by a trio of humans, Negro though they may be, is unusual, interesting, and at times fruitful, while at other times it is fruitless. It also lacks the polish of a typical film production, which has both advantages and disadvantages. While it makes much of on-screen realism via impromptu acting, it is somewhat fuzzy. Unlit photography ^so has a tendency to interfere with the story-telling, which has been put together through improvisation. In other words, the director and producer gave a brief outline of what was expected from the cast and they took it from there, making their own conversation and governing their own actions. Some of this is effective, some not so. The cast is good with perhaps Goldoni the best. The direction by actor John Cassa¬ vetes shows promise and integrity, and the production values are okay. The film is one that is best suited for the art and specialty spots, with the word of mouth among sophis¬ ticates and. those seeking the different in film fare possibly helping. Ad Lines: “The Unusual Film That Has Won Many Awards”; “Two Men And A Girl Looking For Their Place In The World.” FOREIGN The Adventure Drama 145m. Janus Films (Italian-made) (English titles) Estimate: Interesting import for art spots. Cast; Monica Vitti, Gabriele Ferzetti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar, James Addams, Renzo Ricci, Esmeralda Ruspoli, Lelio Luttazi. Directed by Micelangelo Antonioni; pre¬ sented by Robert and Raymond Hakim. Story; Lea Massari, wealthy architect Ga¬ briele Ferzetti with whom she has been hav¬ ing an affair, and her friend Monica Vitti join a yachting party. Massari has been feeling un¬ satisfied with her relationship with Ferzetti, but she can’t seem to make her spiritual dis¬ satisfaction tmderstood. The others in the party are jaded characters and seem only mildly interested in what they are doing. They stop to explore a barren, volcanic is¬ land, and when the weather begins to turn, they can’t find Massari. During the search there is friction between Ferzetti and Vitti, but eventually this changes to the point where they are attracted to each other. Vitti is reluctant to take over where her friend left off but does so as they continue to search. Vitti becomes fearful that they will find Massari. The lovers eventually return to their friends who are having a huge party. Vitti goes to sleep while he mingles. She awakens at dawn and finds him with another girl. She is disgusted but she takes him back. Their relationship seems destined to continue. X-Ray: This drama concerning the attrac¬ tion of men and women for each other is suitable for adult audiences in art spots, who should be interested in the goings on in Ital¬ ian society, its romances and other sordid, aimless elements. The story is enhanced by the integration of the coimtryside in the over¬ all action, but even so it’s too long. The acting is convincing, and direction and production are good. The screnplay is by Micelangelo Antonioni. Ad Lines: “Anything Went At Society Parties”; “The Film That Won Raves for Its Report On Men And Women In Italian Soci¬ ety.” Anna’s Sin 86m. Drama Atlantis (Italian-made) (Dubbed in English) Estimate: Fair tale of miscegenation and mystery. Cast; Anna Vita, Ben E. Johnson, Paul Muller, William Demby, Pamela Winter, Giovanna Mazzotti, Oscar Adrianni, Giacomo Rondinella and the Roman New Orleans Jazz Band. Directed by Camillo Mastrocinque. Presented by George Morris. Story: Ben E. Johnson, An American Negro stage actor, arrives in Rome to put on a production of “Othello” and also to find another Negro, William Demby, who had committed a crime in the U.S. some years previously for which Johnson had been ac¬ cused and convicted. Johnson hopes to locate him and make him confess, thus clearing his name. Johnson selects Italian actress Anna Vita to play Desdemona to his Othello, and soon they ^d that they are falling in love. Her guardian, Paul Muller, becomes frantic because he’s in love with her himself, and he attempts to break up the romance with the aid of Pamela Winter, Johnson’s colored secretary. When this fails, Muller locates Demby and finds out from him about the crime. Muller then attempts to blackmail Johnson into giving up Vita. When he re¬ fuses, Muller informs Vita of the crime but he doesn’t tell her that Johnson is innocent. Vita is horrified and refuses to see him again. Johnson closes the show and begins searching for Demby in earnest. Demby, meanwhile, comes to the theatre looking for Johnson but is met instead by Vita, who learns the truth. She locates Johnson, begs his forgiveness, and offers to take him to Demby, only to find that Muller has arrived there before them and murdered Demby to prevent him from talking. Johnson attacks Muller and the police arrive. He breaks away from the police and flees to a nearby church roof intending to jump in the belief that he killed Muller. Vita convinces him that he didn’t kill Muller and that the latter has been arrested for murder. He knows that she really loves him. X-Ray: Featuring a cast of unknowns, this entry will have to rely on the alleged sensationism of the story which dwells on a ro¬ mance between a Negro and a white actress in Italy. Not only are the complications of such a match stressed, but intrigue, murder, and jealousies are thrown in for good meas¬ ure. The cast is only fair, and direction and production are standard, with the entry possi¬ bly best suited for the exploitation spots, "^e screenplay is by Edorado Anto and Camillo Mastrocinque based on a story by Anna Vita. Ad Lines: “Everybody Thought That Their Unusual Romance Was Doomed From The Very Start”; “He Was Black . . . She Was White . . . Could Their Romance Survive And Endure.” Modigliani Of Montparnasse (Continental) (French-made) (English titles) Estimate: Okay art house entry. Cast: Gerard Philipe, Lilli Palmer, Anouk Aimee, Gerard Sety, Lila Dedrova, Lea Padovani, Jean Lanier, Denise Vernac, Lino Ven