Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

HORT SUBJECTS •eviews and synopses lYSTERY OF THE RIVER BOAT (Univ.) hrial iljAction and thrills with a musical background ifs combined in the first two episodes of "Mystery the River Boat." This 13-chapter serial does :;T depend for box otfice appeal entirely on the i-rments of suspense and terror. It has the added j:raction of many musical numbers, and a good i,st. For action each episode has a murder and iiifist fight but these are blended with songs by ,arion ^lartin. As the river boat, Morning Glory, sails down the ississippi a tale is told of villains, real estate eculators, striving to obtain swamp land from owners who do not know that their land conns oil deposits. The hero, a young lawj'er, irforms actions of bravery and daring in hfs j-uggles with the villains. [Robert Lowery and Eddie Quillan head the St, directed with care by Ray Taylor and Lewis [: Collins. Henry McRae was the associate proricer. Theatres that generally book a serial will Lid that "Mystery of the River Boat" has quali[fs that should attract audience interest. 'l^^lease dote, October 24, 1944 13 episodes JNDAY GO TO MEETIN" TIME (WB) ve Ribbon Hit Parade (1303) Warner Bros, reissues the cartoon adventures of ^icodemus who thought he'd skip church and ^oot some craps. But his conscience troubles Ti and he sees himself in Hades faced with the MS he has committed and receiving appropriate nishment for each. When he gets back to earth ■'s quite eager to establish himself as a regular nirch-goer. ^'lease date, October 28. 1944 7 minutes iNCLE SAM, MARINER? (20th-Fox) iarch of Time (VII -3) What is to be the fate of our merchant ships and rsonnel after this war? The latest March of me presents this problem. After the first World ■'ar skippers and sailors were idle while foreign ips sailed from our ports with their cabin and rgo space filled. The U. S. shipping trade fell low that of lesser powers. Is it to be the same ter this war is the question asked in "Uncle Sam, ariner?" Admiral Emory S. Land, Henry Kaiser, 1* shipbuilder, and Joseph E. Curran. head of the National Maritime Union, appear in the film and Jscuss future possibilities and problems of the mer.'ant marine. The picture concludes with a force-1 plea that after this war our merchant service ould maintain a strong position to use our ships lid make it unnecessary for the men who sail them ] join the ranks of the unemployed. — M. R. Y. Release date, Xoi', 3, 1944 17 minutes ARGET JAPAN (WAG) ar Iiijor)}iation film * As our Army in 1944 was tightening its grip on je Nazis in Europe, our Navy was busy in the "acific, hopping from island to island, crushing e life out of the Jap. ^ March of Time made for the Navy this dramatic Gory of action in the Pacific, which is being reased through Paramount. The film records some the most crucial and spectacular battles in Pa'fic history. The Navy hammers the Gilbert 'lands, the Marshalls, Truk, goes on to Saipan 'id Guam, where our Marines had to gouge out t Jap. There is the landing on Palau and final the invasion of the Philippines. But behind these magnificent victories is the '"im toll in human life, pictured vividly. Then ' ere is sobering reminder by Admiral King and avy Secretary Forrestal of the great problem yet riead, of the dangers of relaxation before the final :ath blow is dealt the Jap. j It is a most timely and moving pictorial docu-■ent of naval history. — M. H. 10 minutes OTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 4, 1944 ,1 JAMMIN' THE BLUES (WB) Melody Masters (1605) Gjon Mili, Life magazine photographer, who directed this one-reel subject, has recorded skillfully the atmosphere of a "jam session" by a number of photographic devices which are ingeniously conceived and executed. Solo sequences of rare manual expression by the members of a Negro orchestra are combined with the singing of a girl vocalist and the fast-paced dancing of a Negro couple. The technique makes use of some of the subtler tricks of lighting efifects and the silhouetted movements of the dancers against a white drop are thoroughly effective. Many of the shots give the impression of stills, some achieve unusual depth, breaking into sudden animation, and the third dimension, while not attaii'ed, is approached closely.. The orchestra plays an unpublished number, "Jam Session," and the vocalist gives a good interpretation of "On the Sunny Side of the Street," Mr. Mili and Norman Granz, technical director, have succeeded in an admirable piece of experimentation with the possibilities of the camera. — D.J.B. 10 luinntcs BLACK ARROW (Col.) Chapter Play Laid in New Mexico in the years following the Civil War, this is a story of Indians and white men and the lure of hidden gold. Lew Landers and Rudolph C. Flothom, director and producer of many Columbia features, supervised the production, based on an original screenplay by Sherman Lowe, Jack Stanlev, Leighton Brill and Royal K. Cole. The efforts of a few carpet-baggers to cause dissension among the Indians and thereby locate the Zuni gold mine are opposed by Black Arrow, the son of a tribal chief, and his two friends among the city people. The villains steal the Land Office Seal, forcing the Indians from their property, and kill the warrior chieftain. Their plan is always to throw suspicion on the young Indian who stands in their way, but they never quite succeed. Robert Scott plays the heroic Black Arrow, supported by Adele Jergens, Martin Garralaga and Charles Middleton in sympathetic roles. Kenneth MacDonald, Robert Williams and George J. Lewis head the villains, both white and Indian. The first chapter runs 30 minutes and succeeding episodes approximately 20 minutes each. Release date, October 20, 1944 15 episodes LET'S GO FISHING (WB) Technicolor Special (1001) These are views of several happy hunting grounds for fishermen, far flung and varied. As some veteran anglers discuss the merits of their favorite fishing holes the camera travels from the Great Lakes to Long Island. Trout fishing on the Gunnison River in Colorado, salmon fishing on the Gaspe Peninsula, and Cape Hiatteras channel bass give way to scenes of casting in Chilean waters. Release date, October 21, 1944 20 minutes THE CROSS-EYED BULL (UA) Daffy Dittys Larry Morey and John Sutherland, both Disney alumni, are off to an interesting start as independent producers with this amusing fable about the cross-eyed bull who bests Martinez, the toreador, and wins the cow-lady fair. They employ clay and plastic compounds, build their characters in three dimensions and manage to obtain fluidity in expression. Their first, they concede, is a bit rough in spots, but audiences probably won't get it. Comedy sense and timing are good, color is excellent and musical trappings very effectively joined. A very commendable maiden effort. 9 minutes Reviews and synopses of short sub/ecfs printed in Product Digest ore indexed in tfie Short Subjects Chart, Product Digest Section, pages 27582 J 59. Running times are those furnished by the distributor. NAVY YARD (RKO-Pathe) This Is America With the cooperation of the U. S. Navy, Pathe has filmed the story of the rebirth of a battleship, a veteran of the Tinian Island battle which limped into a California port after catching three Japanese salvos broadside. The Norman Scott was back in fighting trim 26 days after her arrival at Mare Island, thanks to careful preparation and efficient workmanship. Before she reached port, a description of her injuries had been radioed to Washington, and work was already started on replacement and improvement. The workers, living in low-cost housing projects near the yard ai\d provided with accommodations for living and recreation, worked day and night shifts to complete the job in time. Producer Frederic Ullman, Jr., has made an interesting subject from this nonetoo-familiar material. Release date, October 20, 1944 minutes LISTEN TO THE BANDS (WB) Melody Master Bands (1602) This is a medley of four orchestras playing tunes of varied tempos. Glen Gray and his Casa Loma band play a sprightly number, "Hep and Happy." Joe Reichman gives his version of the "Moonlight Sonata." Skinnay Ennis and his crew offer the favorite "Thr'ee Little Words." And Milt Britton winds up with the "Poet and Peasant Overture," slightly swung. Release data, October 7, 1944 10 minutes SKI WHIZZ (WB) I'itaphone I'arieties (1402) Here are some highlights of various phases of skiing. It starts with the beginner at the top of the toboggan slide and follows him down to the inevitable spill. Then after a little instruction in the elementary points of staying on your feet, some experts take to the trail executing some fancy figures and racing down the slope. Release date, October 7, 1944 10 minutes ONCE OVER LIGHTLY (WB) Featurette (1103) The old Mack Bennett Comedies provide merriment in this latest Warner Bros. Featurette. There are glimpses of personalities and situations popular in days long past — Ben Turpin of the crossed eyes, Louise Fazenda of the vague look, Charley Murray, the Keystone Kops, the Bathing Beauties and Snub Pollard. Of similar vintage is the material— the old wall-paper gag, the farmer's daughter, the chase and the animal act. Release date, October 14, 1944 20 minutes PORKULIAR PIGGY (Col.) Li'l Abncr (6601) Abner switches his affections from Daisy Mae to Salome, a prize pig. When the animal has, ventured into the street and is gathered into the wagon by a pig catcher, Abner follows him to the sausage factory. The burly pig-man proves too much for both of them until Mammy comes to the rescue. Release date, October 13, 1944 6 minutes BOOBY HATCHED (WB) Merrie Melodies (9717) This is another story of a young duckling, but it points a different moral. The impatient mother duck rushes off to the pond with her newly-hatched brood, leaving one in the nest which has not yet broken through the shell. The escapades of an egg on two feet in search of its mother produce the laughs of the cartoon. Release date, October 14, 1944 7 minutes 2167