Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

recommend limiting its exhibition to adult audiences. • Simone Simon portrays a laundress journeying by coach in company with a group typifying the French people of the period, capitalists, patriots, collaborationists, a politician and a priest. They are detained at an inn until a Prussian officer in charge can compel the girl to dine with him, which she consents to do when her fellow travelers convince her that this is the path of patriotism. Later on there are other incidents designed to demonstrate the difference between false patriotism and the genuine. The parallel between 1870 and the present is traced without underscoring. Direction by Robert Wise preserves a pace that benefits all aspects of the enterprise, from the carefully contrived script by Josef Mischel to the wellbalanced performances of the many principals. Previewed at studio. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — W. R. W. Release date, Block 7. Running time, 69 rain. PCA No. 10O66. Adult audience classification. Elizabeth Rousset Simone Simon John Emery, Kurt Kreuger, Alan Napier, Helen Freeman, Jason Robards, Norma Warden, Romaine Callander, Fay Helm, Edmund Glover, Charles Waldron, Mayo Newhall, Lillian Bronson, Alan Ward, Daun Kennedy, William von Wymetal, Max Willenz, Marc Cramer, John Good. Abroad with Two Yanks UA-Small — Comedy with Bendix While these Yanks happen to be in uniform, the war serves just as a method for turning two buddies loose on Australia, with Guadalcanal behind them and the happy prospect before them of "women with shoes." Their competition for one Aussie beauty is furious and funny, as Edward Small throws good gags after bad in the comfortable assurance that there's more where they came from. Without Wi^'arrl Bendix and Dennis O'Keefe, this might have become a slapstick free-for-all with tough sergeants, big bruisers in evening clothes and a 10-minute chase at the finish. But with them the characters come to life and the customers should succumb. Bendix is the good-natured guy with a huge frame and a delicate feeling for poetry, who usually comes in second. O'Keefe, with a readier wit and a complete lack of ethics, is top man in the team. Neither gets the girl, who turns out to prefer the more reliable home product. Alan Dwan's well-timed direction does much to overcome the fact that the plot is scanty and some situations none too new. The supporting cast, including Helen Walker, John Loder and George Cleveland, is pleasant and capable. Seen in the home office projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — E. A. C. Release date, August 4, 1944. Running time, 80 min. PCA No. 10027. General audience classification. Biff Koraski William Bendix Joyce Stuart Helen Walker Jeff Reardon Dennis O'Keefe John Loder, George Cleveland, Janet Lambert, James Flavin, Arthur Hunnicutt, Willard Jillson, Herbert Evans, William Forrest, John Abbott. Falcon in Mexico RKO Radio — Mystery with Music This latest adventure of the Falcon, suavely portrayed by Tom Conway, is a diverting experience for the murder-mystery fan. The locale gives opportunity for some beautiful background shots, and for the introduction of a number of Mexican songs and dances which add considerably to the picture's entertainment value. The Falcon, stumbling into trouble in his usual way, becomes involved in the murder of an art dealer and the theft of a valuable portrait. Subsequent events take him to Mexico, accompanied by the daughter of the artist who, presumably, painted the portrait before his death some 15 years previously. South of the border the Falcon meets several suspicious characters, among them the late artist's landlady, his second wife, and a wealthy art collector. Another murder takes place; a third is narrowly averted. In spite of false clues and mysterious attempts on his life, the Falcon exposes the murderer, and all the loose ends are neatly gathered together. The cast is competent throughout, with Martha MacVicar, as the artist's daughter, and Mary Cur 2018 rier, as his second wife, giving particularly noteworthy performances. Nestor Paiva adds some credible comedy. The screenplay by George Worthing Yates and Gerald Geraghty, based on a character created by Michael Arlen, is satisfactorily suspenseful, and William Berke's direction keeps things moving as fast as one .could wish. Maurice Geraghty was the producer. Previewed at the studio. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — Thalia Bell. Release date, Block 7. Running time, 70 min. PCA No. 10055. General audience classification. Falcon Tom Conway Raquel \Mona Maris Martha MacVickar, Nestor Paiva, Mary Currier, Cecelia Callejo. A Wac, a Wave and a Marine Monogram, 1944-,45 — Novelty Comedy Biltmore Productions, backed by Lou Costello, makes its bow with a comedy that breaks new ground, much of it pay dirt. Situations remind sometimes of the Costello type of comedy, although nobody tries to ape the comedian's style, and sometimes of burlesque, without taint. Handling is fast and usually successful in getting laughs, and some departures from norm — as when off -screen voices address the characters — give the picture novelty. Hal Fimberg's screenplay concerns two Hollywood agents who, by error, bring two pairs of Broadway actresses to Hollywood instead of one, rivalry and competition combining with coincidence to precipitate complications which keep laughter flowing. Phil Karlstein, directing for Edward Sherman, producer, and Sebastian Cristillo, executive producer, gets maximum entertainment from his array of talent. Henny Youngman, radio comic, is front and center throughout, turning in a promising first performance. Elyse Knox, Anne Gillis, Sally Eilers, Richard Lane, Marjorie Woodworth and Ramsay Ames annex individual honors. The title has virtually nothing to do with the story. Previewed at the Pantages theatre, Hollywood, to ripples of laughter. Reviewer's Rating : Good.— W. R. W. Release date, September 30, 1944. Running time, 70 min. PCA No. 10216. General audience classification. Henny Brown Henny Youngman Marian Elyse Knox Margaret Ames Sally Eilers Alan Dinehart, Charles Marshall, Billy Mack, Anne Gillis, Richard Lane, Ramsay Ames, Marjorie Woodworth. Stars on Parade Columbia — Musical Ten songs, the best known of which are "It's Love, Love" and "Juke-Box Saturday Night," make this a pleasant little picture with which to while away an idle hour. Larry Parks, Lynn Merrick, Jeff Donnell and the King Cole Trio are names for the marquee. Monte Brice's screenplay is the familiar one about a boy and girl who decide to put on a show of their own, but the twists he has added make the story even more implausible than usual. It's music that puts the picture across, and for-' tunately there's plenty of it. Danny O'Neill sings two songs, "They Ask About You" and "Somewhere This Side of Heaven." The King Cole Trio offers "Hit That Jive." And there are two effective production numbers by a group of Negro singers, "When We Start to Jump at the Jubilee" and a medley of spirituals. Lew Landers' direction keeps things moving at an even pace. Wallace MacDonald produced. Previewed at the Pantages theatre, Hollywood, vahere the matinee audience reaction was mild. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — T. B. Release date, May 25, 1944. Running time, 63 min. PCA No. 10O33. General audience classification. Lynn Merrick, Larry Parks, Judy Clafrk, Danny O'Neill, Robert Williams, Jeff Donnell, King Cole Trio and Benny Carter Ensemble. Crime by Night Warner— Crime Detection with Comedy There are two axe-murders and a hanging before this drama has run its course, but the light tone never wavers. Horror is not allowed to intrude upon the operations of Jerome Cowan, phil andering detective, and all investigations at handled for sizeable fees. Audience attention 1 fixed upon the puzzle offered by the plot, involvf enough, in this case, to provide satisfactory ente1 tainment for the mystery fans. The problem is that of a man who had moti! to spare for killing his father-in-law, but didiv Someone else did — the daughter, the secretary, t 1 fiance or the agent. It's Cowan's job to find p| which one, before the local politicians close in I his client. For comedy and comeliness, there's his not-si dumb secretary, Jane Wyman, and for intrig there's Faye Emerson, a spy and saboteur' posi as an artists' agent. The screenplay adapted by Richard Weil a Joel Malone from Geoffrey Home's novel has f< moments of gripping suspense, but flows smootl under the direction of William Clemens. Seen in the home office projection room, h \ viewer's Rating : Fair. — E. A. C. Release date, September 9, 1944. Running time, mini PCA No. 9902. General audience classification. Sam Campbell Jerome Oow Robbie Vance Jane Wyn Faye Emerson, .Charles Lang, Eleanor Parker, Stu Crawford, Larry Borden, Cy Kendall, Charles Wils Juanita Stark, Creighton Hale, George Guhl, Hank Ma Heavenly Days RKO Radio — Fibber McGee and Molly There is a possibility that the radio audier which weekly listens to Fibber McGee and Mo will come to seo their favorites on the screi On the other hand, they may elect to stay at hoi and hear them on the radio, which may not be bad choice. The screenplay, by Howard Estabrook and D Quinn, from an original story by Howard Es: brook, is about the duty of the citizen to vol Other elements involved are a dozen refug children of assorted nationalities, a newspap! woman in love with a newspaper man, a trainlo, of soldiers, Dr. Gallup and his poll, and the U. i Senate. The only continuity of story line lies the fact that at the beginning of the picture F ber and Molly set out for Washington, D. C, a at the end of the picture they get home again. Little can be said about the acting, since tU players are handicapped by material. Marian a Jim Jordan, as Molly and Fibber, are the sai on the screen as they are on the air. Eugene P: lette has little to do, but he does that little wj enough. Some singing by the King's Men consi tutes one of the less tedious moments of the p ture. Bob Fellows is responsible for the prodi tion, and the efforts of Howard Estabrook, tj director, are vastly impeded by those of Howa Estabrook, the writer. Previewed at the Alexander theatre, Glenda where a number of those who had come to ' m "Dr. Wassell" walked out on the second offerit Reviewer's Ratings Poor. — T. B. Release date, Block 7. Running time, 71 min. PC No. 9994. General audience classification. Fibber Jim Jord Molly Marian Tord Dick .Gordon Olii Senator Bigbee Eugene Palle Robert Walburn, Barbara Hale, Donald Douglas. Frie Inescort. THE DESERT HAWK (Col.) Chapter Play (5140) Columbia's latest serial stars Gilbert Roland a Mona Maris in an oriental setting, with cutlassi death-chambers, desert treachery and exciteme running riot. Roland plays two roles, that of the rightful Calif and his twin brother who has usurped the throi Miss Maris is the beautiful daughter of a neighbc ing Emir who is affianced to the Caliph. The tr heir takes on the identity of The Desert Has when his brother's intent to kill him becomes cle; In this guise, he wins the confidence of the pri[ cess and a few discerning friends, and overcorr his enemies one by one in spite of great perils. j Sherman Lowe, Leslie Swabacker, Jack Stanl and Leighton Brill wrote the original screenpk Rudolph C. Flothow was the producer, and Reeves Eason director. Release date, July 7, 1944 IS episod PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, JULY 29, 19