Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1942)

MOTION PICTURE HERALD December 19, 1942 from a racial group which regarded as one of its champions the historical character who opposed Johnson in life and was depicted accordingly in the film. It is to be noted in passing that the repair was in the nature of correcting an oversight and did not impair but perhaps improved the characterization. The script by John L. Balderston and Wells Root, from a story by Milton Gunzberg and Alvin Meyers, covers the life of Johnson, taking some long steps from high point to high point, beginning with his young manhood and ending with his return to the Senate from Tennessee following expiration of a term as President. It shows his education by the girl who became his wife, his first understanding of the Constitution and his early championship of rights of the underprivileged, his stand on the Union side against his Southern associates, his part in the war, his association with Lincoln, his occupancy of the White House following Lincoln's death and, for the big scene of the picture, the impeachment proceedings which failed by one vote to oust him from the Presidency. It is a long story in fact and in the telling, but it is strong in interest and in its appeal to Americans. Van Heflin's portrayal of Johnson is a compelling performance, as are those of Lionel Barrymore as Thaddeus Stevens, his political adversary, of Ruth Hussey as Mrs. Johnson and of many others in the large cast. Direction by William Dieterle rates with the best of his achievements. Previewed at the MGM studio to a small press audience which manifested approval. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — W. R. W. Release date, not set. Running time, 100 min. PCA No. 8807. General audience classification. Andrew Johnson Van Heflin Thaddeus Stevens Lionel Barrymore Eliza McCardle Ruth Hussey Marjorie Main, Regi Toomey, J. Edward Bromberg, Grant Withers, Alec Craig, Charles Dingle, Carl Benton Reid, Russell Hicks, Noah Beery, Montagu Love, Robert Warwick, Lloyd Corrigan, William Farnum, Charles Trowbridge, Lynne Carver, Russell Simpson, Morris Ankrum. A Night to Remember (Columbia) Fright for Fun For 90 minutes, which contain no suggestion of seriousness, this production by Samuel Bischoff directed by Richard Wallace frightens and amuses the observer by turns, with Loretta Young and Brian Aherne co-starred as a married couple caught up in the swirl of a murder mystery which they seek to solve with or without the aid of the police. It is some while since this type of entertainment has been undertaken on this scale, and the film compares with the best of its kind in any era. The script by Richard Flouroy and Jack Henley from a story by Kelley Roos, places the couple, an author of murder mysteries and his wife, in a basement apartment in New York's Greenwich Village which was a speak-easy during the prohibition years and is continually a scene of killings and related proceedings. Some of the events which occur are designed to frighten the audience and some are designed to amuse, the mixture holding interest and the end result justifying expectation of solid grosses. Sidney Toler and Donald MacBride as detectives are standouts in support. The time is the present but no reference to the war is made. Previewed at the Pantages theatre, Hollywood, to a Friday night audience which indicated in terms of shudders and laughs complete satisfaction with the offering. Reviewer's Rating : Good.—W. R. W. Release date, Dec. 10, 1942. Running time, 90 min. PCA No. 8817. General audience classification. Nancy Troy Loretta Young Jeff Troy Brian Aherne Jeff Donnell, William Wright, Sidney Toler, Gale Sondergaard, Donald MacBride, Lee Patrick, Don Costello, Blanche Yurka, Richard Gaines, James Burke. Ice-Capades Revue (Republic) Musical Ice Show The many thousands who flock to the ice shows each year, and the many thousands more who would enjoy the opportunity, will be delighted with Republic's new "Ice Capades." It is an extravagantly mounted show with the accent on skating, as it should be, and only enough story to weave the spectacular numbers together. For figure-skating devotees there are the names of Vera Hruba, Megan Taylor, Donna Atwood, Robin Lee, "Red" McCarthy, Lois Dworshak, Jackson and Lynam, among others. Featured in specialty and ensemble numbers, they are attractively costumed and admirably skillful. On the plot side are Ellen Drew, as the country girl who inherits the troupe ; Richard Denning, the "front" man for a rival promoter who is won over by the vital earnestness of the performers and the beauty of their producer, and the team of Jerry Colonna and Vera Vague in their usual roles. There is a youthful charm about the whole production for which all members of the cast, their director Bernard Vorhaus and associate producer Robert North are cooperatively responsible. The skating sequences were staged by Harry Lossee, who shows humor and ingenuity in their presentation. The song "Guy in the Polka Dot Tie" accompanies a charming "Gay Nineties" act on ice, but seems tuneful enough to stand by itself. Previewed in the home office projection room. Reviewer's Rating ; Good. — E. A. Cunningham. Release date, December 24, 1942. Running time, 79 min. PCA No. 8701. General audience classification. Ann Ellen Drew Jeff ... Richard Denning Theophilus Jerry Colonna Aunt Nellie Barbara Jo Allen (Vera Vague) Harold Huber, Marilyn Hare, Bill Shirley, Pierre Watkin, Si Jenks, Sam Bernard, George Byron and the Ice-Capades Company including Very Hruba, Megan Taylor, Lois Dworshak, Donna Atwood, "Red" McCarthy, Phil Taylor, Joe Jackson, Jr., Jackson & Lyman, Robin Lee, Dench & Stewart, The Benoits, Eric Waite, Babs Savage. Silent Witness ( Monogram ) Melodrama Monogram's "Silent Witness" deals with the activities of a murderous group of criminals who engage in a black market for silk, and their ultimate capture by a dog after a series of slaytings topped by that of the district attorney. Frank Albertson, as a criminal attorney, and Maris Wrixon, an investigator for the prosecutor, provide the love interest, their paths tangling both romantically and professionally. They are supported by Bradley Page, John Sheehan, Milburn Stone, Anthony Warde, Kenneth Harlan, Jack Mulhall, Evelyn Brent, Henry Hall, John Ince, Herbert Rawlinson and others. This Max M. King production is a well fashioned melodrama, more than suitable for the brackets for which it is intended. Jean Yarbrough's direction builds suspense to a neat climax, and there is plenty of action. The original story and screenplay were written by Martin Mooney, expert in crime narratives. Seen at the Monogram projection room, Hollywood. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — Vance King. Release date, not set. Running time, 62 min. PCA No. 9008. General audience classification. Bruce Strong Frank Albertson Betty Higgins Maris Wrixon District Attorney Holden Bradley Page John Sheehan, Milburn Stone, Anthony Warde, Kenneth Harlan, Paul Bryar, Jack Mulhall, Evelyn Brent, Caroline Burke, Henry Hall, John Ince, Herbert Rawlinson, Edwin Parker, Jean Ames, James Eagles, Harry Harvey, Lucien Littlefield, Joe Eggenton, Lynton Brent, Olaf Hutten, Sam McDaniel. The Great Impersonation (Universal) Why Hess Flew West Now it comes out, in this story by E. Phillips Oppenheim, written by W. Scott Darling, that the reason Rudolph Hess flew from Germany to Scotland was to cement a deal with British fascists for a fascistic peace which would end the war and establish a new order to the liking of those establishing it. And it comes out also that the reason Hess was arrested instead of getting a medal was because the German baron masquerading as an Englishman who brought to Germany the documents in the case, plus British defense plans, was not a German baron at all but a Briton who looked like him and not only succeeded in deceiving the Nazi biggies but also escaped the clutches of the Gestapo and returned to England. All this is the gist of a melodrama which undertakes to set no records in point of investment or personnel but does maintain a degree of suspense and interest not frequently achieved at equivalent cost. Production by Paul Malvern and direction by John Rawlins have much to do with this state of affairs. Ralph Bellamy, who this time not only gets the girl but has trouble in limiting the number to one, plays the dual lead. Credit for competent support should go to a large number of associates. Previewed at studio projection room to a small press audience which appeared impressed. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — W. R. W. Release date, December 18, 1942. Running time, 71 min. PCA No. 8567. General audience classification. Sir Edward Dominey Ralph Bellamy Muriel Evelyn Ankers Aubrey Mather, Edward Norris, Kaaren Verne, Henry Daniell, Ludwig Stossell, Mary Forbes, Rex Evans, Charles Coleman, Robert O. Davis, Charles Irwin, Fred Vogeding, Victor Zimmerman. Dawn on the Great Divide (Monogram) Western Here is a western of the old school, set in the days of the covered wagon and Indians. It is just the sort of western that the late Buck Jones liked. So it is fitting that its release follows closely on his untimely death in the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston. He would have liked his legion of fans to remember him in the kind of role he himself preferred. Buck Jones plays a scout for a railroad supply company. He gets his supplies through, despite well-organized resistance on the part of enemies of the railroad, and, what is more important, does it with the confidence and ability that he has always radiated in these outdoor dramas. A very good supporting cast has been gathered together by Producer Scott R. Dunlap, who was seriously burned in the Boston holocaust. Rex Bell and Raymond Hatton are buddies and fellow scouts of Buck Jones and are at hand when Buck needs assistance. Hatton, as usual, supplies the comedy. Mona Barrie, who has appeared in many features, does a good impersonation of a gambler's wife who takes over when her husband is killed by renegades. Others in the cast include Robert Lowery and Harry Woods. Howard Bretherton directed from a screenplay by Jess Bowers. Seen at the New York theatre, New York. The audience appeared to enjoy the offering. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — Paul C. Mooney, Jr. Release date, December 18, 1942. Running time, 66 min. PCA No. 8944. General audience classification. Buck Roberts Buck Jones Jack Carson Rex Bel! Sandy Hopkins Raymond Hatton Mona Barrie, Robert Lowery, Harry Woods, Christine Maclntyre, Betty Blythe, Robert Frazer, Tristam Coffin, Jan Wiley, Dennis More, Roy Bancroft, Silver. 1066 Product Digest Section