Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

SHORT SUBJECTS reviews and synopses STRIFE OF THE PARTY (Col.) Vera Vague (6421) Vera's husband is entertaining the boss and his wife for dinner. The helpful little woman tries to pick up a few odds and ends from the neighbors and lands in a den of thieves. They ask her to hold a watch for them which turns out to be the propert} of the guests. Vera fixes it up through a Httle deal wherein her husband makes the watch appear for a sizeable raise. Release date, October 13, 1944 16 minutes COMMUNITY SING, NO. 2 (Col.) 6652 Don Baker and the Song Spinners come up with four numbers for the neighborhood song fest. Topping the list is "I'll Get By" followed by "No Love, No Nothin'," "Ikky Tilcky Tambo," "It's a Great Life" and "Is My Baby Blue Tonight." Release date, October 12. 1944 9 minutes AS BABIES (Para.) Speaking of Animals (Y-41) The small fry have their say in the latest presentation of the animal kingdom. There are baby hippos and baby swans, mountain kids, goslings, chicks and small, lanky giraffes. All go through their paces and speak their lines like veterans, while the older members make pointed comments about the problems of parenthood. Release date, November 24, 1944 9 minutes FEATHER YOUR NEST (RKO) Edgar Kennedy (53,401) Edgar sees some hope of losing his brother-inlaw to love and marriage, and furnishes him with a ring to speed the happy prospects. The jeweler discovers that the ring has been sold by mistake for a tenth of its true value. Kennedy tries to recover it, but a chicken swallows it before he gets the chance. He buys up the whole flock of his neighbor's birds, and has them all on his hands when the jeweler decides it was all a mistake. Release date, October 23, 1944 17 minutes ROBOT BOMB (WAC-RKO) War Information Film Produced by the Crown Film Unit of the British Ministry of Information, this is a bald and dramatic picture of London under a rain of robot bombs. But the film gives more than a picture of wanton devastation, vivid as that is. It also gives the audience on the safe side of the Atlantic a suggestion of what the Londoner sees and hears when the terror weapon arcs over screeching, stops, noses downward, hurtles to the ground and explodes. The defense against the buzz-bomb is also shown as it improved in accuracy from land and air. An anti-aircraft crew demonstrates unusual marksmanship under conditions requiring constant watchfulness. A fighter squad attacks its blind but unswerving enemy from the air. Narration is never allowed to obtrude upon the well-edited camera story. The film will be released by RKO Radio for the War Activities Committee. Release date, November 16, 1944 9 minutes ON THE MELLOW SIDE (Univ.) Name Band Musical (9123) Emil Coleman and his orchestra are pictured against an elaborate stage setting for this musical show, featuring "Amour," "Good-night Sweetheart," "Bingo, Jingle" and "Git Aboard the A Train." The Dewey Sisters do some acrobatic dancing and the Delta Rhythm Boys contribute vocal harmony. Release date, December 6, 1944 15 minutes THE FELLA WITH A FIDDLE (WB) Blue Ribbon Hit Parade (1306) Grandpa Mouse tells five of the younger generation about the miserly mouse who made his money by pretending blindness and playing his fiddle. When a cat helps him fool the income tax collector he is put off his guard and falls victim to his own greediness and a gold tooth. Release date, not set 7 minutes PLENTY OF MONEY AND YOU (WB) Blue Ribbon Hit Parade (1305) A none too observant hen hatches a brood of chicks which includes one baby ostrich. The young one goes off on his own and falls into the clutches of a weasel. About to be eaten, he swallows some explosives and blows up, carrying the weasel with him. Release date, December 9, 1944 7 minutes SKI FOR TWO (Univ.) Cartoon (9233) On a ski trip. Woody Woodpecker has his trouble with hotel reservations. The inn proprietor is a walrus with a Swedish accent. There's also a little case of mistaken identity which Woody encourages by pretending to be Kris Kringle. Thanks to the walrus he doesn't get away with it. Release date, November 13, 1944 6j4 minutes SEA FOOD MAMAS (20th-Fox) Dribble Puss Parade (5901) Despite the facetious title and the comic style of Lew Lehr, this short presents some unusual views of aquatic animals and shore birds. Big and little seals, pelicans and herons are presented in scenes from Clear Lake, Colorado. Release date, October 20, 1944 7j^ minutes DESIGN FOR LOVING (Col.) Ray Sinatra (6428) Something a little unusual in Columbia's All Star Comedies, this is a short musical feature with a romantic story. Ray Sinatra and his orchestra play a half dozen numbers, supported by Frank Borden, Edna Skinner, Stubby Kaye, Ralph Bunker, Ollie Franks and other specialty acts. The story revolves around the misunderstanding between the "love-birds of the air" which threatens a radio contract among other damages. Release date, November 3, 1944 21 minutes SONNY DUNHAM AND HIS ORCHESTRA (WB) Melody Masters (1604) This purports to be the story of the rise to fame of Sonny Dunham and his band. It starts out with his first trumpet and continues with him to his present popularity. Six musical numbers are featured in the story: "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Annie Laurie," "Memories of You," "Bob White," "Liza" and "Someday I'll Meet You Again." Angela Greene and the Pied Pipers provide the vocal accompaniment. Release date, November 25, 1944 10 minutes THE STUPID CUPID (WB) Merrie Melodies (9718) The young cupid is out for laughs with a quiver of rubber-tipped arrows. Daffy Duck, once hit and twice shy, keeps his distance but finally falls victim once again. He refuses to take it without protest, however, and is determined to teach the playful marksman a lesson. His own infection is a bit of a handicap, however. Release date, November 25, 1944 7 minutes Reviews and syaoptes of short saf>/*c#f prlal*^ fn Product Digest are Indexed In ffce Short Safe /ecfs Chart, Product Digest Section, pages 21842185. Running times are those furnished by tlie distributor. BRONCS AND BRANDS (Para.) Sportlights (i?4-2) The profession of cowboying involves almost equal amounts of hard work and sport. These shots show both aspects against the background of Montana mountains. There's a wild-horse roundup and a small town rodeo, everything from cattle-herding to bronco-busting with plenty of slow motion action shots to show how it's done. Release date, November 3, 1944 9J^ minutes DOGS FOR SHOW (Univ.) Variety View (9352) Not too popular as a household pet, the boxer is a favorite show dog. This short shows some champions and potential champions being trained at the Dorick Kennels for the big Madison Square Garden show. "War Lord," which has taken many prizes, shows what the well-trained dog can do. Release date, November 6, 1944 8J4 minutes SCHOOL FOR DOGS (RKO) Sportscope (54,302) There are classes in dog training whose graduates are masters of show manners and tricks. The animals are taught to answer to a command, to heel, to follow a scent, to jump at a signal and to retrieve. Westchester Kennel Club experts lead the demonstration. Release date, October 6, 1944 8 minutes PUPPET LOVE (Para.) Popeye (£3-6) Bluto tries a new gag under the discredited theory that all's fair in love and war. He creates a puppet Popeye which passes Olive Oyl's inspection, and the real man of spinach finds his reputation in shreds when he arrives. His only recourse is to pound Bluto to a pulp with his own puppet. Release date, August 11, 1944 7% minutes BLACK GOLD AND CACTUS (20th-Fox) Movietone Adventure (5254) The title refers to Texas whose magnificent scenery is reproduced in Technicolor in this short with narration bv Lowell Thomas. Cities with old traditions and modern buildings give way to ranches, cowboys and the great sub-soil wealth of the oil industry. Release date, November 10, 1944 9 minutes UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS NO. 6 (Para.) L3-6 Pedro Antonio Salinas is an Argentine gaucho at the age of four. A Korean wood carver has made a statue of his own measurements, completing it with his own features and hair. Other unique sequences include the casting of food models in wax and plastic and a family which has lived from the same occupation for several generations, the making of combs from cowhorns. The last feature is a California woman who collects silk spun by garden spiders for cross hairs of bomb-sights. Release date, September 1, 1944 10 minutes SWING IT (RKO) Headliner Revival (53,202) This features the swing music of Louis Prima, his cornet and his orchestra along with the story of a band that made good. Prima and band are shown accepting an offer to make a picture in Hollywood which never materializes. On a long chance and as a favor to an old friend the band plays in a restaurant which is not making out. Both are soon successes. Release date, October 20, 1944 16 minutes MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 18, 1944 2183