The Exhibitor (1964)

September 2, 1964 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 5211 borough’s actions, but tells him that John, now a colonel, insists he leave the country. Under the new British government policy, Hawkins must comply. Attenborough leaves, looking forward to the future with con¬ fidence. X-Ray: This yam might almost have been taken from today’s papers. It shows a small African country struggling under the con¬ flicts created by its newly-won independence. There is tension and some suspense as a small group of British military men face a large number of freedom-seeking Africans. Performances are very good, with Richard Attenborough particularly impressive. Direc¬ tion and productions are capable. It should fit in well as part of the show in general release situations. It tends to slow down at times because the action is necessarily limited. The timeliness of the subject matter should be a lot of help in selling. Screenplay and novel by Robert Holies. Ad Lines: “Modem Africa Ablaze With The Flames Of Independence”; “Six Ser¬ geants And A Private Stand Off An Army Of Rebels.” UNIVERSAL Send Me No Flowers Comedy 100M. Universal (Technicolor) Estimates Very good comedy. Cast: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Ran¬ dall, Paul Lynde, Hal March, Edward Andrews, Patricia Barry, Clive Clerk, Dave Willock, Aline Towne, Helene Winston, Christine Nelson, Clint Walker. Executive producer, Martin Melcher; produced by Harry Keller; directed by Noiman Jewison. Story: Rock Hudson and Doris Day have been happily married for eight years, residing in suburban San Francisco next to Tony Randall. Hudson is a hypochondriac who con¬ tinually seeks the aid and comfort of Dr. Edward Andrews. One day, while consulting him over a pain in the chest, he overhears him discussing another patient with a special¬ ist. Hudson assumes that the subject’s serious condition is his and concludes that he has but a few weeks to live. He confides in Randall, and the latter feels so bad that he takes to alcohol to forget, his wife being away visiting relatives. Noble Hudson tries to set his affairs in order, including buying a cemetery plot for himself, Day, and her next husband, and he actively sets about lining up her next husband. This is simplified when wealthy Clint Walker apears on the scene, an old swepetheart of Day’s. Hudson also decides to perform a good deed by informing sep¬ arated Patricia Barry of the evil intentions of bachelor Hal March. Barry is so grateful that she kisses him. Day interprets this as his having an affair with her, and she threat¬ ens to leave him. He is forced to confess his condition to her. She is stunned and tries to reach Andrews, but he is away fishing. She decides to take Hudson to the Mayo Clinic. Andrews returns, pooh poohs Hudson’s alleged condition, and Day is convinced that he really is having an affair. Hudson’s efforts to straighten it out only get him in deeper until his cemetery plot purchase convinces Day he thought he was really dying. They are reconciled. X-Ray: When some see the marquee or ads announcing that Doris Day and Rock Hudson are teamed herein, there may be the involuntary reaction — here we go again. What they will see, however, is a bright and funny comedy angled a bit differently as to story content, lavishly presented, ably produced, and well acted. The direction keeps the pro¬ ceedings rolling at a mirthful pace, with a sneak preview audience thoroughly enjoying the on-screen fluff. There’s little logic in the script by Julius Epstein, which is based on the play by Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore, but singe it’s all in fun, no one will take it seriously anyhow. There is one song by Doris Day over the titles, which few will remember. Tips On Bidding: Higher rates in many situations. Ad Lines: “When A Hypochondriac Begins To Worry About His Wife’s Next Husband — The Result Is Fun-Filled Chaos”; “He Took Pills . . . She Took Him For Better Or Worse.” Sing And Swing Comedy with Music 75 M. Universal (English-Made) Estimate: Fair import for program with angles for younger set. Cast: David Hemmings, Jennifer Moss, John Pike, Heinz Burt, Steven Marriott, John Newell, Ed Devereaux, Veronica Hurst, Penny Lambirth, Peter Glaze, David Bauer, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen. Produced and directed by Lance Comfort. Story: David Hemmings, post office mes¬ senger boy, and three of his friends are able to put across musical numbers in entertaining fashion and want to break into show business. They put their money into making a demon¬ stration tape, and Hemmings’ father, Ed Devereaux, gives him a month to make good or forget it. When he is given a package to take to a film studio to a producer, David Bauer, he thinks he may get a chance to ask for an audition. A falling piece of equipment knocks him down, and publicity senses a news story. His picture appeals on the front pages, and the others are disappointed in that he didn’t mention the combo. To further compli¬ cate things, he finds that he has lost the tape. Bauer is disappointed at the lack of publicity his latest picture is getting, and someone finds the tape and plays it. Bauer is excited by the find and the publicity aspects. He tries to interest the papers in helping him find the singers, but they are wary. A columnist does go along with the search and finding the boys makes everybody happy. X-Ray: Lots of music, a story about teen¬ agers with talent, some comic bits, etc., are to be found in this entry for the supporting slot of the program. The performances are ade¬ quate, and direction and production are okay. The presence of trumpeter Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen may be of value in attracting the teens. The screenplay is by Lyn Fairhurst. Ad Lines: “Fun And Music That Really Swings”; “They Try To Break Into Shew Business . . . The Result Is Rhythm And Hilarity.” WARNERS Kisses For My President Comedy 113M. Warners Estimate: Topical farce benefits from good cast. s Cast: Fred MacMurray, Polly Bergen, Arlene Dahl, Edward Andrews, Eli Wallach, Donald May, Harry Holcombe, Anna Capri, Ronnie Dapo, Richard St. John, Bill Walker, Adrienne Marden. Produced and directed by Curtis Bernhardt. Story: Polly Bergen is elected as the first woman President, and this creates problems for her husband, Fred MacMurray, who finds himself the “First Lady.” At loose ends because his wife’s election forced him to give up his electronics business, he seeks some kind of work. Senator Edward Andrews, political opponent of Bergen, wants to arrange a large foreign aid grant for Latin American dictator Eli Wallach. Bergen asks MacMurray to escort Wallach around, and they get involved in a nightclub brawl over a stripper. The unfavorable publicity is embarrassing to Bergen, who is also troubled by the fact that her election threatens to make monsters out of her two children. MacMurray manages to discredit Andrews during a committee investigation. Bergen discovers she is pregnant and resigns to return to her role as wife and mother. X-Ray: Fred MacMurray is an excellent farceur and Polly Bergen makes a lovely lady president. The situation provides some obvious springboards to humorous situations and the film tries to include them all. There are quite a few laughs, but the effort could have been improved by some tighter editing and a bit more imagination in the prepara¬ tion of the script. When the film reaches to make some serious political points, it bogs down in generalizations and cliches. As long as MacMurray is playing the befuddled “First Lady” for comic effect, audiences should enjoy it, and he gets able comic support from Wallach as a heel-clicking, hand-kissing, speed-loving dictator. Basic¬ ally, it’s all in good fun and should be welcomed, particularly at a time when the whole nation has its mind on the White House. Screenplay is by Claude Binyon and Robert G. Kane. Tip on Bidding: Better program rates. Ad Lines: “The Votes Are In . . . And It’s Madame President By A Comic Landslide”; “What Does The First Lady Do While His Wife Is Running The Country? Fred Mac¬ Murray And Polly Bergen Provides The Fun-Filled Answer.” MISCELLANEOUS Castle of Blood Melodrama 85M. Woolner Bros. Estimate: Horror meller provides its share of chills. Cast: Barbara Steele, George Riviere, Margrete Robsahm, Henry Kruger, Mont¬ gomery Gleen, Sylvia Sorent, Raul H. New¬ man. Produced by Frank Belty and Walter Sarch; directed by Anthony Dawson. Story: Journalist George Riviere inter¬ views author Edgar Allen Poe, and they disagree over the question of whether death is the end of life. A nobleman bets Riviere that he can not survive a single night in an old castle from which no living man or woman has ever returned. Each year, the nobleman sends someone to the castle, and invariably they die on the night of the dead, when all who have perished in the castle relive their last violent five minutes of life. Riviere prowls the deserted halls and suddenly is accosted by beautiful Barbara Steele, the nobleman’s sister. They fall in love, but she tells him she has been dead for 10 years. Other characters appeal', and a professor explains that on this night, they will all relive their violent ends. Horrified, Riviere witnesses a series of violent murders and realizes these ghosts must have his blood if they intend to live again next year. Steele helps him escape the castle grounds just as the sun is about to end the night of horror, but Riviere is impaled on a barb of the heavy iron gate. The castle has claimed another victim, and Poe wonders if readers will believe the story when he writes it. X-Ray: Violence and bloodshed fill the halls of a mysterious castle in a horror entry that should please those movie fans who like their entertainment spiced with gore and chills. At times, the story gets a bit confusing and the characters get in each other’s way, but the pace is good and the blood keeps flowing. This compares favor¬ ably with similar entries in the horror cycle, and again the Poe name is a sales factor. The story by Jean Grimaud and Gordon Wilson, Jr., is based on Poe’s “Dance Macabre.” This is being released as part of a package, along with “Hercules In The Haunted World.” Ad Lines: “The Living And Dead Change ( Continued on page 5212)