Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

Main Street After Dark MGM — Experiment in Programming This 57-minute film is the first of MGM's undertakings to solve for showmen the programming problem posed by the over-long top-of-bill features that have come from its own and other studios in recent months. So far as running time is concerned, the undertaking is as successful as the 57-minute statistic indicates. The subject utilized for the purpose of the undertaking is "paddy-rolling," a term meaning the practice of stealing wallets and watches from servicemen on leave, and in its handling of the subject the studio achieves a piece of product which resembles, in about equal measure, the OWl-WAC type of Government short and the studio's own Crime-Does-Not-Pay shorts, the mixture of the two resulting in sometliing which lacks the best qualities of each. The screenplay by Karl Kamb and John C. Higgins presents a family of five who make their living by filching valuables from servicemen on leave. It gives no reason why the family prefers to live this way, nor why a police officer who knows them all and all about them has to enlist the aid of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and a scientific application of the ultra-violet ray to put an end to the family's operations. It just runs off the incidents, less realistically than in the Crime-Does-Not-Pay series, and winds up with an off-screen commentator enunciating the conspicuous moral e nd a warning to servicemen, as in the OWI-VVAC shorts or the military-training films produced for barracks exhibition exclusively. Edward Arnold plays the police officer, a role which gives him opportunity to say at one point, "A man of my age ouglit not to have to do this kind of thing," the single solid line in the script. Jerry Bresler, an excellent shorts producer, was recruited to make the film, and Edward Calm directed it. Previewed at studio. Reviewer's Rating: Fair. — W. R. W. Release date, not set. Running time, 57 min. PCA No. 105J0. General audience cla»silication. Lieut. Lorrigan Ed^vard Arnold Ma Dibson Selena Royle Tom Trout, Audiey Totter, Dan Duryea, Hume Crouyn. Dorothy Ruth Morris. Cyclone Prairie Rangers Columbia — Patriotic Western There's a novel touch in this Charles Starrett film. The story is laid in 1943, rather than in the tradional '7(J's, and the villains are led by a Nazi agent intent upon sabotaging the war effort by cutting off tiie food supply of the coastal cities. His fell purpose is accomplished by rustling cattle, holding up trucks and trains carrying grain shipments and generally raising hob with the nation's food supply. Starrett interrupts a War Bond tour to investigate matters, and with the help of his comic friend Cannonball, played by Dub Taylor, penetrates the disguise of the Nazi agent. Plenty of action punctuates the picture, which Jack Fier produced and Benjamin Kline directed. Robert Fiske, in the role of a Nazi disguised as a deaf-mute cobbler, makes a villain worth hating, and Clancy Cooper does just as well. Constance Worth handles an unsympathetic assignment skillfully. The story and screenplay, ingenious and well-thought-out, are credited to Elizabeth Beecher. Seen at Hollywood's Hitching Post theatre, where an audience composed mainly of children received it enthusiastically. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — Thalia Bell Release date, Nov. 9, 1944. Running time, 56 min. PCA No. 9352. General audience classification. Steve Travis Charles Starrett Cannonball Dub Taylor Lola Constance Worth Jimmy Jimmv Davis Jimmy Wakely, Robert Fiske, Clancy Cooper, Ray Beniftt, Stan Jolley. Edward M. Phillips, Edmund' Cobb. Forrest Taylor, Paul Zaremba. Trigger Law Monogram, 1943-44 — Western Suspense is lacking in the latest Bob SteeleHoot Gibson Western, probably because of the fact that the customary action scenes — fist fights, saloon brawls and gun battles — are almost entirely omit 2202 ted. The only gtinplay takes place at the end of the picture, and that's a little too long to wait. Victor Hammond did not take much pains with his screenplay, and consequently the motivation for much of the action is left unexplained. Steele, determined to find the murderer of his father, uncovers a den of rascals who are apparently plotting some dire deed, but just what is never disclosed. Occasional long speeches by the cowboys in the interest of law and order do nothing to speed things. Terry Frost, Jack Ingram, and George Eldridge, as the villains, contribute convincing characterizations. Beatrice Grey, as the girl, draws some pretty silly lines and a nonsensical scene with a diminutive revolver. Lindsley Parsons produced; Vernon Keays directed. Seen at Hollyivood's Hitching Post theatre, ivhe're the audience received it in silence. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — T. B. Release date, Sept. ?0, 1944. Running time, 54 min. PCA No. 10278. General audience classification. Bob Bob Steele Hoot..... Hoot Gibson Sally Beatrice Gray Ralph Lewis, Ed Cassidy, George Morrell, Hud Osborne, Terry Frost, Jack Ingram, George Eldridge, Pierce Lyder. Nothing But Trouble MGM— Laurel & Hardy Comedy If the clever antics of Laurel and Hardy are appreciated by your patrons, "Nothing But Trouble" will provide good laughs and much fun. This comedy team goes through its usual act of dish-breaking, suspending from window ledges of skyscrapers, and disastrous attempts to cut a horse-meat steak. The numerous exploits of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy do not carry the weight of the entire production. The entertainment value of this comeedy is enhanced by a strong supporting cast including Mary Boland and Henry O'Neill. Hardy as a chef and Laurel as a butler go to Europe during the depression. They are discharged from several places because their work is unsatisfactory. Returning to the U. S. when servants are in great demand they are abducted by Mary Boland, who plays a socially prominent and very rich matron. She has a dinner party to entertain foreign nobility, including King Christopher. Laurel and Hardy befriend the young King, not knowing his rank, and eventually save his life. Audiences that want to laugh will enjoy "Nothing But Trouble." The picture was produced by B. F. Zeidman and directed by Sam Taylor from a well-developed screenplay by Russel Rouse and Ray Golden. Seen in a Nezv York projection room. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — M. R. Y. Release date, not set. Running time, 69 min. PCA No. 10378. General audience classification. Stan Stan Laurel Oliver Oliver Hardy Mrs. Hawkley Mary Boland Philip Merivale. Henry O'Neill, David Leiand, John Warburton, Matthew Boulton, Connie Gilchrist. IT'S A PLEASURE (RKO-INTERNATIONAL) PRODUCER: David Lewis. DIRECTOR: William A. Seiter. PLAYERS: Sonja Henie, Michael O'Shea. Marie McDonald, William Johnson, Iris Adrian, Peggy O'Neill, Cheryl Walker, Gus Schilling, Alma Carroll, Georgia Lang. SKATING SPECTACLE. An exhibition skater falls in love with' a professional hockey player. When he is barred for rough play, he joins her ice-show and they tour the country. He has a penchant for pretty faces and for getting into trouble, but eventually marries the skater and settles down. TeclinicoJor. Fuzzy Settles Down PRC-Neufeld Prod. — Western The antics of Al St. John appeared to divert an audience of holiday-making children when this picture was shown at Hollywood's Hitching Post theatre. Buster Crabbe has considerably less to do, and spends most of the picture just biding his time. Louise Rousseau's story is in the standard Western style and shows St. John as the owner-editor of a smalltown paper. He becomes involved in the ranchers' effort to tiuild a telegraph line to the town. Local interests, which have been running things their way, are opposed to closer contact with the forces of law and order. There's quite a good deal of shooting and slugging before the ranchers win out. Sigmund Neufeld produced and Sam Newfield directed. Patti McCarthy lends feminine interest in a timid romance with Crabbe. Charles King, the heavy, brings little originality to his characterization. Previczvcd at the Hitching Post theatre, Hollywood. Revieiver's Rating : Average. — T. B. Release date, July 25, 1944. Running time, 55 min. PCA No. 101.17. General audience classification. Billy Carson. .. Buster Crabbe Fuzzy A I St. John Edith Patti McCarthy Charles King, John Merton, Frank McCarroll, Hal Price, John Elliott, Ed Cassidy, Robert Hill. Adventures of Kitty O'Day Monogram — Melodrama Several bodies and stolen jewels are the problems at the Townley Hotel, which is the setting for the "Adventures of Kitty O'Day." Jean Parker in the role of Kitty O'Day, a crime magazine fan, gaily attempts to solve a murder mystery with the aid of her fiance Johnny Jones, played by Peter Cookson. They become involved and are suspected of committing not one but several murders. After being confined to prison cells, the young couple convinces the men from the homicide squad that they are innocent. Eventually Tim Ryan and Ralph Sanford as plainclothesmen accept the help of Kitty O'Day and Johnny Jones in solving the case. Filmgoers who enjoy a "who-done-it" will appreciate this film which was carefully directed by William Beaudine and produced by Lindsley Parsons. Tim Ryan, George Callahan and Victor Hammond collaborated on the swift-moving screenplay. Seen at the Nezv York theatre on Broadzvay, zvhere a morning audience's reaction zoas favorable. Reviezver's Rating : Average. — M. R. Y. Release date, January 19, 1945. Running time, 62 min. PCA No. 10332. General audience classification. Kitty Jean Parker Johnny Peter Cookson Clare v Tim Ryan Ralph Sanford, Bill Ruhl, Bill Forrest, Lorna Gray, Hugh Prosser, Dick Elliott, Byron Foulger, Jan Wiley. THE MAN WHO WALKED ALONE (PRC Pictures) PRODUCER: Leon Fromkess. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER-DIRECTOR: Christy Cabanne. PLAYERS: Kay Aldridge, Dave O'Brien, Smith Ballew. Isabel Randolph, Ruth Lee, Nancy June Robinson, Guinn Williams, Walter Catlett ROMANTIC DRAMA. A wounded herd, upon being discharged from the Army, decides to settle down in a small town. He starts to hitchhike, and is picked up by a wealthy girl from the same town. She is running away from her fiance and has stolen her fiance's car. She and the soldier are arrested and go to jail. Upon their release, she PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION. DECEMBER 2, 1944 ADVANCE SYNOPSES and information