Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 3, 1943 ADVANCE SYNOPSES and information by Irving Beecher and Fred FinklehofTe of the book by John Cecil Holm. Seen at the Astor theatre where an audience composed largely of the younger set laughed and applauded generously. Reviewer's Rating : Good.— E.A.C. Release date, not set. Running time, 94 min. PCA No. 9191. General audience classification. Lucille Ball Lucille Ball Helen Virginia Weidler Bud Tommy Dix Jack O'Reilly William Gaxton Nancy Walker, June Allyson, Kenny Bowers, Gloria DeHaven, Jack Jordan, Beverly Tyler, Chill Wills, Henry O'Neill, Sara Haden and Harry James and his Music Makers. Isle of Forgotten Sins (Producers Releasing, 1943-44) South Seas, Pre-war John Carradine, Sidney Toler and Gale Sondergaard supply marquee importance to this Peter R. Van Duinen production, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, which reflects Leon Fromkess' recently adopted expanded-budget policy both in cast strength and running time. The film concerns rival rascals competing for shipwrecked gold in pre-war South Seas, and abounds in violence, the rivals ending their personal conflict just before a monsoon sweeps over the island and reduces all hands to their beginnings. No challenge to the Lamour or Jon Hall equatorial melodramas, the picture is nevertheless a step up and forward for the trademark it carries. The title refers to a gambling resort, operated by women, where suitors for the proprietress postpone a personal feud to become partners in diving for gold on a hulk scuttled by a third thief who attempts to kill them and recover it when they have brought it up. There are plenty of convolutions in the plot and only speed in untangling it is lacking. Previezved at the studio. Reviewer's Rating : Fair.— W.R.W. Release date, July 26, 1943. Running time, 82 min. PCA No. 9384. General audience classification. Clancy John Carradine Marge Gale Sondergaard Krogan Sidney Toler Frank Fenton, Rita Quigley, Veda Ann Borg, Rick Vallin, Betty Amann, Tala Birell, Patti McCarty. MEXICAN SPITFIRE'S BLESSED EVENT (RKO Radio) Comedy PRODUCER: Bert Gilroy. Directed by Leslie Goodwins. PLAYERS: Lupe Velez, Leon Errol, Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Elizabeth Risdon, Efrord Gage. SYNOPSIS The scene of this is Arizona, where the Mexican Spitfire has gone to be near her husband, an advertising agency executive now in the armed service. On a furlough he reverts to civilian pursuits and sets out to sell a big account (Leon Errol playing a dual role in this connection) but returns to his station before this is concluded. A wire from his wife about a "blessed event," which is in reality the birth of kittens to her cat, sets off the complications. OUTLAWS OF STAMPEDE PASS (Monogram) Trail Blazers Episode PRODUCER: Scott R. Dunlap. Directed by Wallace Fox. PLAYERS: Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Glenn Strange, Rose Plummer. SYNOPSIS Latest of the Johnny Mack Brown-Raymond Hatton adventures has a young fellow driving his herd to town for sale. They are bought by the head of the town, who later has them rustled to get out of paying for them, and has the young fellow killed. Brown and Hatton ride to the scene and trap the villains. DEATH VALLEY MANHUNT (Republic) Wild Bill Elliott Adventure PRODUCER: Eddy White. Directed by Jack English. PLAYERS: Wild Bill Elliott, Gabby Hayes, Weldon Heyburn, Anne Jeffreys. SYNOPSIS A fearless California marshal who had retired is summoned back to action by the owner of a Death Valley oil land section who wants order restored after lawlessness has set in on his property. The marshal finds that the manager of the company is dishonest. He rights matters, sees that the independent operators get their due and has a romance with the niece of a judge. MAN FROM MUSIC MOUNTAIN (Republic) Cattlemen Sheepmen Feud PRODUCER: Harry Grey. Directed by Joseph Kane. PLAYERS: Roy Rogers, Pat Brady, Ruth Terry, Ann Gillis, Renie Riano, Paul Kelly, Bob Noland, Sons of the Pioneers. SYNOPSIS Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers are called upon to help bring to justice a slick character who is stirring up the long-dead feud between the cattlemen and the sheepmen in order to get all the rich grazing lands for himself. The heroine is on the side of the sheepmen. The villain is head of the cattlemen's association. Bordertown Cunfighters (Republic) Lottery Swindle Melodrama Decidedly one of the best Westerns is "Bordertown Gunfighters," third in the new Wild Bill Elliott series at Republic. Produced, directed, written and acted with intelligence and care, it is certain to entertain almost any audience, for it is just as much straight drama as it is of the outdoor species. This Eddy White production is characterized by a minimum of dialogue, but presents its players with something to say, due to the admirable original screenplay by Norman S. Hall. It further reflects producer acumen in its staging, the action being just as much at home in the Washington, D. C., scenes as in the great out-doors. Moreover, the furniture, the props and the costumes do not look like relics handed down from the William S. Hart days. On all counts the film is one that probably will be much talked about as setting something of a standard for Western production. The story has Elliott and Gabby Hayes coming upon the cold-blooded murder of an official of the Territory of New Mexico. They see it committed, while incriminating papers are stolen, and are themselves accused of the murder and jailed. They are let out in the custody of the U. S. Marshal, who is revealed as Elliott's friend. Supposedly freed by New Mexico of the charges, Elliott instead is sent to Washington and it is disclosed he is a Secret Service man. As the plot develops, Elliott rounds up and exposes the brains of a gigantic lottery swindle racket, whom the writer allows to die as the result of his own misdeeds rather than through any fake heroics by the hero. In the direction of his principals and the skillful pacing of his action, Howard Bretherton earns himself a solid credit. Elliott seems to improve with every appearance and Gabby has some better than usual comedy in this number. There is a heroine that audiences will remember, too, in Anne Jeffreys, who is stunning, an excellent singer and, best of all, a good actress. Harry Woods makes his mark as the Marshal and Ian Keith is cleverly villainous. The attractive photography is to the credit of Jack Marta. Program notes : It will be advisable at this point to warn exhibitors on the double-billing of the new Bill Elliott series with some of the Gene Autry films now being re-issued. The Hollywood theatre that showed "Bordertown Gunfighters" had it dualed with "Boots and Saddles," and the audience, first incredulous, then hysterical with mirth, saw Bill Elliott doing heroic deeds of bravado in the former film, and later saw him perform dastardly misdeeds as a small-time villain in the Autry film under his old screen name of Gordon Elliott. Reviewed at the Hitching Post theatre, Hollywood, to an enthusiastic audience that followed with wild-eyed interest and excitement. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — Reed Porter. Release date, July 24, 1943. Running time, 55 min. PCA No. 9349. General audience classification. Wild Bill Elliott Bill Elliott Gabby Hayes George "Gabby" Hayes Anita Shelby Anne Jeffreys Cameo Shelbv Ian Keith Strickland Harry Woods Koy Barcroft, Bud Geary, Carl Sepulveda, Earl Hackett, Charles King. Cowboy Commandos ( Monogram ) Busters Mix with Nazis In this latest adventure of Monogram's "Range Busters" they mix it up with Nazi spies — cowboys this time — in the mountains. It is designed to preach patriotism, wave flags and point up an object lesson, but it is not often successful. When a pal of the Busters is killed, they and his sister give up a Madison Square Garden appearance to find his killers. The trail leads them to the mountain hideout of German-American Nazis — they're still cowboys — who are trying to stop shipments of magnesite. In a succession of action sequences the Nazis are routed. S. Roy Luby directed the George Weeks production. Ray Corrigan, Dennis Moore and Max Terhune play the Busters again. Evelyn Finley rides well as the heroine. Screenplay is by Elizabeth Beecher from an original by Clark Paylow. Seen at the Hitching Post theatre in Hollyzvood, where an audience seemed bezmldered, or indifferent, folloiving events, and displayed little interest in the film. Reviewer's Rating : Mediocre. Release date, June 4, 1943. Running time, 52 min. PCA No. 9248. General audience classification. Crash Ray Corrigan Denny Dennis Moore Alibi Max Terhune Joan Evelyn Finley Johnny Bond, Steve Clark. John Morton. Edna Bennett, Bud Buster. Bud Osborne. 1402 Product Digest Section