The Exhibitor (1962)

December 5, 1962 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 5001 REVIEWS The famous pink paper SAVEABLE SECTION in which Experienced Trade Analysts evaluate coming product Published every second week, as a separately bound and easily saveable section of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, this exclusive 25 year old service is both numerically more complete, and informatively more candid, than any similar trade analysis. Cumulatively numbered by film seasons (September to September). It is recommended that readers consecutively save all REVIEWS section in a permanent file. The last issue of each August will always contain a complete annual exhibit 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. Please address all inquiries or suggestions about these two service features to the Editors of MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, 317 N. Broad St., Philadelphia 7, Penna. SECTION TWO VOL. 68, No. 24 DECEMBER 5, 1962 EMBASSY Constantine And The Cross 120m. Embassy (Totalscope) (Eastman Color) (Filmed in Italy) (English dialogue) Estimate: Interesting, well-made spectacle. Cast: Cornel Wilde, Christine Kaufmann, Belinda Lee, Elisa Cegani, Massimo Serato, Fausto Tozzi, Carlo Nichi, Vittorio Sanipoli. Produced by Ferdinando Felicioni; directed by Lionello de Felice. Story: After a victorious battle in which Cornel Wilde as Constantine helps his father. Emperor Carlo Ninchi, in 303 A.D., he is sum¬ moned to Rome to be honored. His friend, Fausto Tozzi, is seriously wounded when the two are ambushed at the instigation of rival for power Massimo Serato, who sees in Wilde an opponent for one of the top posts of the empire. Wilde leaves his friend in the care of a Christian family in the hills where Tozzi comes to know and love innocent, young Christine Kaufmann. In Rome, the Chris¬ tians are blamed for almost everything that happens. Wilde arranges for the release of several being tried, among them his mo^er, Elisa Cegani. He is forced to quit Rome after his enemies have created a false picture of him, and he returns in time to spark a vic¬ tory against the barbarians. He is proclaimed Emperor of the West after his father dies of woxmds in battle, and he takes as his bride Belinda Lee. Serato, meanwhile, in Rome, inflames the Senate against Wilde when he issues a decree urging tolerance for the Chris¬ tians. Serato is declared Emperor. He has Tozzi arrested and renews the persecution of the Christians. In prison, Kaufman is tor¬ tured and raped and dies in the arms of Tozzi. Lee returns to Rome to plead with her brother, Serato, to halt the blooddied, but she is imprisoned with Cegani. Wilde, given a sign from heaven, proceeds against Serato and his forces and triumphs over them, free¬ ing Lee, Cegani, and the Christians, who are now assured freedom of worship. X-Ray: Had this entry come at the be¬ ginning of the cycle of spectacles dealing with Qie Christians and the early days of Rome, it would have created quite a stir. As it stands now, it emerges as another entry in the group that is impressive of direction, production, and acting, and which holds in¬ terest fairly well throughout. There is a good deal of action and intrigue, and the use of color is a fine assist. Ad Lines: “A Great Action And Adventure Spectacle”; “A Cast Of Thousands Brings Tills Great Story To The Wide Screen.” Complete back sections of these pink re¬ views sections are available to subscribing theatres at $1:30 per set. MGM Billy Rose’s “Jumbo” Musical ^ 125m. MGM (Cinemascope) (Metrocolor) Estimate: Colorful circus yarn boasts top names, great songs. Cast: Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Dur^te, Martha Raye, Dean Jagger, Joseph Waring, Lynn Wood, Charles Watts, James Chandler, Robert Burton, Wilson Wood, Nor¬ man Leavitt, Grady Sutton. Circus perform¬ ers include Ron Henon, The Carlisles, The Pedrolas, The Wazzans, The Hannefords, Billy Barton, Corky Christiani, Victor Julian, Richard Berg, Joe Monahan, Miss Lani, Adolph Dubsky, Pat Anthony, Janos Prohaska. The Barbettes. Produced by Joe Pasternak and Martin Melcher; directed by Charles Walters. Story: The circus owned by veteran Jimmy Durante is in financial difficulty de¬ spite the efforts of daughter Doris Day to make up for his lack of business sense. Martha Raye also stands by. Durante having promised on many occasions to marry her. Drifter Stephen Boyd joins the circus and soon proves himself an invaluable addition to the troup, taking over a dangerous high wire act and taking things in hand generally. Day quickly falls in love with him, but he is re¬ luctant to return her feeling. Actually, Boyd is the son of rival circus owner Dean Jagger, who covets Durante’s operation, particularly Jumbo the trained elephant. Boyd buys up all the debts owed by Durante, all the time hating himself for being false to Day, whom he has come to love. Just as he is determined to tell Day the truth, Jagger arrives to take over the circus. Heartbroken, Day refuses to listen to Boyd’s explanations. She leaves the circus with Durante and Raye. They in¬ tend to begin again. Boyd shows up with Jumbo to cast his lot with them. Soon, the foursome are on their way back up the circus ladder of success. X-Ray: This is a happy, colorful musical comedy featuring top names, a circus atmos¬ phere, and the wonderful music and lyrics of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Adapted from the musical play produced many years ago by Billy Rose on Broadway, the plot shows its age. However, the principals have such a happy time, and the production takes such good advantage of the circus theme that no one will care. Doris Day, as usual, is a delight. Stephen Boyd proves a handsome and dashing leading man. Jimmy Durante and Martha Raye add a generous number of laughs. If people still go to the movies to forget their troubles and escape into a bright, fairyland world of color and fun, then this should create a considerable boxoffice stir. Production and direction are first rate, and musical numbers are well done. Naturally, the top circus performers provide plenty of thrills. No message here, but good film fun. Screenplay is by Sidney Sheldon. Tip On Bidding; Better rates. Ad Lines: “The Greatest Show . . . The Most Fun . . . The Circus Is Coming To Town”; “The Thrills Of The Big Top . . . The Best Songs From Rodgers And Hart ... A Holiday Treat For All The Family.” PARAMOUNT A Girl Named Tamiko Paramount (Technicolor) (Panavision) (Filmed in Japan) Drama llOM. Estimate: Lush romantic drama of mod¬ em Japan. Cast: Laurence Harvey, France Nuyen, Martha Hyer, Gary Merrill, Michael Wild¬ ing, Miyoshi Umeki, Steve Brodie, Lee Pat¬ rick, John Mamo, Bob Okazaki, Richard Loo, Philip Ahn. Produced by Hal B. Wallis; di¬ rected by John Sturges. Story: Laurence Harvey, bitter expatriate in Tokyo, leams that after many years, his application for a visa to go to the United States will be acted upon. He wants des¬ perately to get a reputation which will estab¬ lish him quickly in America. He leams through a friend, Michael Wilding, that U. S. Embassy receptionist Martha Hyer, lives with wealthy protector Gary Merrill, who would be a good business contact. Harvey also meets France Nuyen, daughter of an old Japanese family and librarian at the Foreign Press Club in Tokyo. He launches an affair with Hyer, hoping to get to meet Merrill. He also gets Nuyen to introduce him to her brother, a strict Japanese traditionalist, through whom he hopes to meet a famous Japanese artist. It would be a real coup if he could photograph this artist, who is al¬ ways in the headlines since he deserted the classic Japanese style of painting for modem techniques. Nuyen’s brother refuses to help, but Nuyen takes him to the artist’s home where he sneaks photos with a miniature camera. Juggling his affair with Hyer and his career, he and Nuyen realize they are falling in love. His photos of the artist hit the front pages, and he is suddenly in great demand. He meets Merrill and is commis¬ sioned to photograph a lake resort. He takes Nuyen to a party given by Merrill, and Hyer insults the Japanese girl. She later apologizes and begs Harvey to go to America with her. He agrees, but must complete his assignment first. Nuyen insists on accompanying him to the lake when she learns he is leaving, and they have an idyllic time in the lovely set¬ ting. When she leaves, Harvey realizes how much he loves her. He will not go to Amer¬ ica for he has found love in Japan. X-Ray: This romantic drama of an amoral, bitter man who finds moral and spiritual re¬ generation through the love of a gentle Jap¬ anese girl has been given a lush production in exotic Japan. It is a visual delight, as the scenic wonders of Japan light up the screen. Women should respond best to the drama, which contrasts old and new Japan and de(Continued on page 5003)