Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1943)

MOTION PICTURE HERALD August 7, 1943 SHORT SUBJECTS reviews and synopses BROADWAY DIM-OUT (RKO) This Is America (33,110) In this tenth of Pathe's timely series "This Is America," Broadway, New York City, goes to war, or perhaps, vice versa. It takes the audience right down the main stem to the stern omitting little in its review of the once Great White Way in wartime. It should prove interesting to audiences from coast to coast; outside New York there should be an interest in what the one-time most brightly lighted area in the world looks like and acts like in a dim-out, and as for New Yorkers, they're always interested in looking into mirrors. And it is a pretty honest reproduction of a current condition. Audiences view a rehearsal at the Hurricane, a night club, a glimpse of the review at the Latin Quarter, and action behind the scenes of the musical hit "Oklahoma." Audiences viewing "Broadway Dim-Out" are taken into famous bars to glimpse patrons sipping drinks under bright lights while all the outdoors are cloaked in black. They're taken to a big top circus, the Stage Door Canteen and the Roseland Dance Hall. They meet Helen Hayes, Gypsy Rose Lee, Ballet Director George Balanchine, stage designer Howard Bey, and Brock Pemberton who proves he's a better producer than actor. They also meet Lynn Fontanne dispensing drinks at the Stage Door Canteen, and numberless United Nations' service men at play. As a documentary short film it is probably not important, but it is entertaining.— B. H. Release date, July 30, 1943 15 minutes CHAMPION-MAKER (RKO) Sport scope (34,312) The title refers to Charles L. (Bud) Sawin, the man behind the surge of swimming talent from Indianapolis. He is the coach at the Riviera Club, which boasts such swimming stars as Patty Aspinall, Ann Hardin, Mary Ann Watts, Joanne Fogle and Betty Bemis. All of these are shown in action, and some tips for neophytes as well as accomplished swimmers are included in the short. Release date, July 16, 1943 9 minutes SMOKE RINGS (Univ.) Musical (7131) Taking its title from the theme song of Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra, this musical subject features Pee Wee Hunt, Eugenie Baird and the Pied Pipers in some characteristic rhythm. The selection include "Can't Get Stuff in Your Cuff," "That's My Affair" and "Little Man with the Hammer." Release date, July 28, 1943 15 minutes Reviews and synopses of short subjects printed in Product Digest are indexed in the Short Subjects Chart, Product Digest Section, pages 1458-1460. AND THEN JAPAN (20+h-Fox) March of Time (V9-13) Curiosity about our enemy, Japan, is well calculated to stir audience interest in this March of Time documentation of the island empire. It throws some thought provoking light onto its people and their nature. Footage taken specially for March of Time before the war is skillfully combined with familiar film from other sources, including the enemy, to form a new impression of Japan. Nippon's combination of primitive tradition with successfully adopted Western mechanical science is apparent in pictures of industrial Tokio and other cities, and the country rice paddies. The business and war leaders appear as efficient, and selfish, masters of a virtually enslaved peasantry. Japanese religious fanaticism, business and industrial life, the night clubs on Tokio's Ginza, and the contrast between modern industry and slow home production make interesting screen material. Pictures of military training for Jap infants leave little doubt that it is a thoroughly regimented and warlike nation. Animated maps show what wealth it has thus conquered. This film makes it clear that our Pacific enemy is tough. Ambassador Joseph Grew in a foreword and brief commentary dispels any illusion that victory can be won by anything short of a hard-driving knockout punch from all Americans. — J. S., Jr. Release date, August 13, 1943 18 minutes A-HUNTING WE WON'T GO (Col.) Color Rhapsody (4511) The Fox and Crow meet incognito while out looking for each other. When their identities are discovered, the Fox turns hysterical with pe'nt-up emotion. The Crow teases, pleads and taunts in turn, but the Fox seems to have lost his nerve. Then the tables turn unexpectedly. Release date, August 23, 1943 7 minutes WESTERN COWGIRL (Univ.) Person Oddity (73 82) Starting off this unusual collection is a California cowgirl who takes 3,000 cattle under her wing. Other sequences show a miniature city in Danbury, Conn., a Wyoming antelope ranch, a new use for cactus milk and some fancy SOUTH SEA RHYTHMS (Univ.) Musical (7132) The Royal Hawaiian Orchestra, under the leadership of Harry Owens, plays a group of native tunes, ranging from the familiar "Aloha Oe" to the novel "Hilo Hattie," "Huapala" and "The Laughing Song." Hilo Hattie herself handles several choruses, Lillian Corell sings and Kahala does some dances of the islands. Release date, August 25, 1943 15 minutes CACTUS ARTIST (Univ.) Person Oddity (7383) The subjects treated briefly in this roundup vary from the student who earns his college tuition by making postcards from pressed cactus to a young lady who spends her time making costumes for elephants. Other features are a cup and saucer collection, a converted railroad depot and the oldest fire engine in existence. Release date, August 23, 1943 9 minutes SEVENTH COLUMN (MGM) Pete Smith (S-469) In the eyes of Pete Smith, narrator, the real Seventh Column is carelessness. In small and large details, this accounts for a great percentage of home and industrial accidents, so needless and expensive in time of war. Dave O'Brien plays the "fall guy," demonstrating easy misses and lucky escapes. Release date, July 31, 1943 9 minutes DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA, No. 7 (RKO Pathe) Prod. No. 34,407 Duke Ellington and his orchestra are highly entertaining in this RKO Pathe short. The Duke pounds the piano as only Ellington can, and he and his musicians offer many past and current musical hits including "It Don't Mean a Thing," a medley of Ellington's famous "Mood Indigo," "Sophisticated Lady," and his latest hit, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." Release date, July 9, 1943 9 minutes COMMUNITY SING, NO. I (Col.) Series 8 (5651) The new series of musical shorts designed to keep the house singing features "Songs of Victory," including favorites from this war and the last. "Till We Meet Again," "For Me and My Gal" and "On a Wing and a Prayer" head the list, with "Move It Over" and "If He Can Fight Like He Can Love" following in swing time. Don Parker at the organ again has the assistance of The Song Spinners. Release date, July 29, 1943 13 minutes HIGHER THAN A KITE (Col.) Three Stooges (4408) The Three Stooges, with their eyes on the R.A.F., hop over to England with hopes of joining up. They get jobs as mechanics, however, and give the Colonel's car a good going-over. Their hide-away in a sewer pipe turns out to be the inside of a bomb, which is dropped on German Army Headquarters. The boys acquit themselves nobly, escaping with secret plans, the Field Marshall's car and a German General in tow. Release date, July 30, 1943 1 8 minutes whittling and embroidery. Release date, July 19, 1943 9 minutes SWEEPING OARS (Col.) Sport Reel (4809) Washington University's crack oarsmen, under the guidance of Coach Al Ulbrickson, are the subject of this survey of training and practice in the eight-oared shell. The film starts with young recruits and takes them through their paces, winding up with an intercollegiate regatta against the pick of the nation's racing crews. Release date, July 29, 1943 10 minutes DIZZY NEWSREEL (Col.) Phantasy Cartoon (471 1 ) ) This new version of the newsreel is an allanimal special. The groundhog, our early February oracle, comes out for his day of glory, the Filet Mignon Stakes are run amid wild cheers and the hog-calling contest for once gives a break to the hogs. Release date, August 27, 1943 7x/2 minutes I 472 Product Digest Section