Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

End of the Road Republic — Melodrama One murder and an innocent man sentenced to death are the main elements of the plot of "End of the Road." This is a loosely woven melodrama which has little suspense because the outcome is evident from the beginning. The innocent man is freed and the killer apprehended. Edward Norris plays the part of Bob Kirby, a writer on a detective magazine, who is assigned to write a blood-curdling story about a man convicted of strangling a girl in a florist shop. The young writer becomes fascinated by the case and realizes that the condemned man is not guilty. He suspects Chris Martin, played by John Abbott, a co-worker of the dead girl in the florist shop. Eventually Norris extracts a confession from the real criminal and wins June Story, the murderer's girl. George Blair was the associate producer and director. The screen play for "End of the Road" was written by Denison Clift and Gertrude Walker. Seen at the Strand theatre, Brooklyn, New York. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — M. R. Y. Release date, November 10, 1944. Running time, 51 min. PCA No. 10306. General audience classification. Bob Kirby Edward Norris Chris Martin John Abbott June Storey, Eddy Fields, Jonathan Hale, Pierre Watkin, Ted Hecht, Kenne Ducan, Ferns Taylor, Emmett Vogan, Charles Williams, Edward Van Solan. Strange Affair Columbia — Complicated Comedy People who enjoy solving puzzles will have a good time at this picture, for the plot is as complicated as anyone could wish. It involves a murder, committed by mysterious means and for equally mysterious reasons, in full view of a tableful of dinner-guests. AUyn Joslyn, as a cartoonist whose hobby is crime detection, sets out to find a solution .to the mysteryj and does so, in spite of his wife, whose efforts to help him almost result in his death. The screenplay is by Oscar Saul, Eve Greene and Jerome Odium, based on an original story by Saul. Burt Kelly produced, but Alfred E. Green's direction is handicapped by a story lacking in emotional impact and a cast whose performance leaves something to be desired. Seen at the Hawaii theatre, Hollywood. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — Thalia Bell. Release date, Oct. 5, 1944. Running time, 78 min. PCA No. 10231. General audience classification. Bill Harrison AUyn Joslyn Jacqueline Harrison '. Evelyn Keyes Marie Dumont Marguerite Chapman Edgar Buchanan, Nina Foch, Hugo Haas, Shemp Howard, Frank Jenks, Erwin Kaiser, Tonio Selwart, John Wengraf, Erik Rolf, Carole Mathews, Edgar Dearing, liay Teal. Land of Passion Clasa-Mohme — Blighted Love This new Mexican production with English titles, "Tierra De Pasiones" ("Land of Passion") making its debut here, has much to commend it to non-Spanish-speaking trade, although it is definitely adult material. Flavored with Latin song and dance, it offers some illuminating glimpses into the folk customs of our good neighbor to the south, and comes up with some colorful scenes of landscaped beauty. The tale is a simple one in which the love of a melodic goatherd for his maiden is crushed by the malice of an arbitrary village official. Plotted against, he flees into the woods to become a romantic Robin Hood. Meanwhile, the maiden, played by Margarita Mora, is coerced into marrying another. Sophisticated patrons may be amused by some of the mores documented here. As a token of her chastity before wedlock, the bride receives a bouquet of red tulips. But when a pre-marital relationship is confessed, the wedding is abruptly cancelled, and an earthen pot with its bottom knocked out is left to dangle over her door as a symbol of disgrace. Jorge Negrete, as the lusty, singing goatherd, handles his assignment with conviction. As he swoops down upon the village to avenge injustice and claim his maiden and child, he is mortally shot. 2182 WARNER BROS. REISSUES "STRAWBERRY BLONDE" The first Warner reissue of the 1944-45 season is the James Cagney film, "Strawberry Blonde", scheduled for release on December 2nd. Originally shown in 1941, the picture had a strong supporting cast, including Olivia de Havilland, Rita Hayworth and Jack Carson, under the direction of Raoul Walsh. The story is from the early I900's when a small town dentist reviews his romance with the girl of the title and decides he got the best of the bargain when she eloped with his friend. The review in the issue of February 15, 1941, said in part: "The audience found much to chuckle over during the comic interludes and enough absorbing material to keep them quietly interested during the serious sections. Older folk will find some sentimental enjoyment in the display of turn of the century fashions and customs and in the rendition of several hit parade melodies of that period. For the younger element there may be some advanced amusement in viewing the styles and the carefully regulated behavior canons for young couples out on a date." Hal B. Wallis was executive producer. Running time for the film is 97 minutes. Not until a new generation emerges is the pledge of retribution fulfilled, when the son, grown to manhood, causes the death of the villain. Jose Benavides directed with competence. Seen in the Belmont theatre, New York, where a predominantly Spanish-speaking audience responded intensely. Reviewer's Rating : Good.— Mandel Heebstman. Release date, November 6, 1944. Running time, 101 min. Adult audience classification. Maximo Tepal Jorge Negrete Linda Maldonado Margarita Mora Jose Baviera, Pedro Armendariz, Carlos Orellana, Margarita Cortes. Ghost Guns Monogram — Western This Johnny Mack Brown-Raymond Hatton Western takes its title from a trick employed by the doughty U. S. Marshals to make a killer confess his crimes by letting him think he killed a man and then parading the ghost of the supposed deceased in front of him. But that's a small item in the picture, which contrasts with most Westerns in that it puts the cast on horseback every minute or so and races it furiously from point to point instead of leaving it in one place. This may be due in part to the presence in the cast of Evelyn Finley, who not only rides well and much but also does tricks that few cowboys attempt in front of a camera. The script by Frank H. Young concerns a band of killers, rustlers and landgrabbers who are bent on taking possession of a fertile valley one way or another, but mostly by killing off the ranchers. They make considerable progress in that direction before the U. S. Marshals round up the leaders and restore calm to the community. Lambert Hillyer directed, presumably on horseback, and Charles J. Bigelow supervised. Previewed at the Hitching Post theatre, Hollywood, to a small afternoon audience which took it in stride. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — W.R.W. Release date, Nov. 17, 1944. Running time, 60 min. PCA No. 10412. General audience classification. Nevada Johnny Mack Brown Sandy Raymond Hatton Evelyn Finley, John Merton, Tom Quinn. Underground Guerrillas Columbia, 1943-44 — Resistance in Yugoslavia Although there has been a surfeit of pictures about the' activities of the underground in occupied countries, this one gets over by virtue of the novelty of its setting and the general competence of its cast. Full advantage is taken of the beauty of the Yugoslavian countryside and the picturesque attire of its peasants. Stephen Murray is excellent as the doctor who pretends to collaborate with the Nazis in order to keep his brother, a leader of the underground, informed of their plans. Rachel Thomas, as the brother's wife, gives another fine portrayal. The screenplay is by John Dighton and M. Danischewsky, based on an original story by George Slocombe. Sergei Nolbandov's direction is restrained and convincing. The picture was produced in England by Michael Balcon. Seen at the Hawaii theatre, Hollywood. Reviewer's Rating: Average. — ^^T. B. Release date, May 18, 1944. Running time, 82 min. General audience classification. Milosh Petrovitch John Clements Kossan Petrovitch Tom Walls Maria Petrovitch Rachel Thomas Stephen Murray, Mary Morris, Godfrey Tearle, Robert Harris, Michael Wilding, Charles Victor, Niall MacGinnis, Ivor Bernard, Ben Williams, George Merritt, Stanley Baker, Tocwyn Jones, Eynon Evans, Norman Pierce, Eric Micklewood. SHORT SUBJECTS WHEN ASIA SPEAKS (UA) World in Action This film shows that the war has brought Western peoples into closer contact with the Oriental world. Asia with its vast population, various religions and cultures has been an enigma. Japan is striving to obliterate Western influence from the Far East by spreading its idea of a Japan-dominated Asia. India's industry has been organized and her natural resources have been developed. China's wartime effort is laying the foundation of a great industrial state. When Japan is crushed the Eastern allies plan to rebuild their own world and with them we will be partners in peace. "When Asia Speaks" is an interesting subject but the complexity of the problem reflects itself in a lack of continuity. — M. R. Y. Release date, November 17, 1944 19 mimttes STAR BRIGHT (Para.) Musical Parade (FF4-2) This abbreviated feature is a back-stage romance with some expert dancing and vivid Technicolor. The original screen play by Ray E. Spencer tells the familiar story of two young show people who are brought together through the understanding and interest of the star of the production. The players are newcomers — Renny McEvoy^ Mary Walker and Roberta Jonay — but the technical aspects are given expert attention. Louis Harris supervised production and Hugh Bennett directed the feature. Release date, December 15, 1944 20 minutes POPULAR SCIENCE, NO. 2 (Para.) 74-2 This reel is about evenly divided between the post-war home and the detection of oil in the Mississippi Delta. On the first score, the film shows some new devices such as polarized window glass to adjust the light and electric eyes to control the dog's comings and goings. The oil detector is a photographic recorder of sound vibrations set off when the marsh land has been dynamited. A buggy with 10-foot tires navigates the wet ground with explosives. Release date, December 22, 1944 10 minutes Seller Director of "Boys" The review of "Something for the Boys" in the November 4th issue of Motion Picture Herald. Product Digest page 2165, erroneously designated Irving Starr as both producer and director. Lewis Seiler directed the film, and Mr. Starr produced. PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, NOVEMBER 18, 1944