Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

ADVANCE SYNOPSES and information THE INVISIBLE ARMY (RKO Radio) PRODUCER: Robert FeUows. DIRECTOR: Edward Dmytryk. PLAYERS: John Wayne, Philip Ahn, Richard Loo, Abner Biberman, J. Alex Havier, Robert Stevens, Beulah Bondi, Anthony Quinn, Duckie Louie. WAR DRAMA. The story starts with the fall of the Philippines and thereafter develops the growth of the Philippine underground and its work against the Japanese invaders. The picture ends with MacArthur's return to the islands. WEEKEND AT THE WALDORF (M-G-M) PRODUCER: Arthur Hornblow, Jr. DIRECTOR: Robert Z. Leonard. PLAYERS: Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Keenan Wynn, Robert Benchley, Leon Ames, Constance Collier. SPY DRAMA. This is the story of what happens to a group of unrelated people spending the weekend at a hotel. One of them is a war correspondent, one a film star, another a stenographer, and a fourth a returned war veteran. Search for a spy operating from the hotel draws the group together. THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE (RKO Radio) PRODUCER: Jack Gross. DIRECTOR: John Cromwell. PLAYERS: Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Herbert Marshall, Mildred Natwick, Hillary Brooke, Bill Williams, Spring Bjnngton, Richard Gaines. ROMANTIC DRAMA. A modernized version of the Pinero play, this picture tells of a returned war hero who rents a cottage in a small town, preparing to spend his honeymoon there. He finds, however, that his fiancee no longer loves him. She is repelled by the fact that he has been disfigured in battle. Eventually he finds consolation in the love of a servant-girl he employs to keep house for him. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE (20th CenturyFox) PRODUCER: WiUiam Girard. DIRECTOR: John Larkin. PLAYERS: Michael O'Shea, Lloyd Nolan, Trudy Marshall, Ruth Ford, Reed Hadley, Roy Roberts, Marvin Davis, Leon Tyler, Harry McKim. MELODRAMA. When his son is accused of stealing, a boy's father gets into a fight with the shopkeeper who makes the accusation. In the struggle the shopkeeper is killed, and the father is convicted of murder on circumstantial evidence. Later, his best friend stages a fight before the judge responsible for the conviction, and successfully proves that, despite the evidence, the shopkeeper's death was in reality accidental. THE LOST WEEKEND (Paramount) PRODUCER: Charles Brackett. DIRECTOR: Billy Wilder. PLAYERS: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Philip Terry, Doris Dowling, Howard da Silva. PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA. This is the story of the adventures of a chronic drunk during a weekend binge. He is finally rehabilitated by the love of a good woman. MOLLY. BLESS HER (20tli Century -Fox) PRODUCER: Robert Bassler. DIRECTOR: Lewis Seller. PLAYERS: Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields, Roddy MacDowall, Reginald Gardiner, Natalie Schafer. COMEDY DRAMA. A wealthy English widower hires as housekeeper a retired actress. Upon assuming the position, she finds that the rest of the staff has been robbing the Englishman, and she fires them. Her employer, who plans to reenter politics, invites a group of important people to dinner. The housekeeper persuades various of her theatrical friends to pose as servants, and the dinner goes off successfully. The Englishman, who has become estranged from his son, is reconciled with the latter through the housekeeper's efforts. HERE COME THE CO-EDS (Universal) PRODUCER: John Grant. DIRECTOR: Jean Yarbrough. PLAYERS: Abbott and Costello, Martha O'Driscoll, Peggy Ryan, Lon Chaney, Jr., Charles Dingle, Donald Cook. COMEDY DRAMA. The two comedians are publicists engaged in furthering the career of a dancer. As a publicity stunt, they get her a scholarship at an exclusive girls' school, and themselves become caretakers. TKe holder of the mortgage on the school tries to foreclose, but is foiled by the comedians. The dancer eventually marries the dean of the school. THE AFFAIRS OF SUSAN (Paramount— Hal B. Wallis Prod.) PRODUCER: Hal B. WaUis. DIRECTOR: William Seiter. PLAYERS: Joan Fontaine, George Brent, Dennis O'Keefe, Walter Abel, Don DeFore, Rita Johnson, Byron Barr. COMEDY DRAMA. A beautiful young girl lives in primitive surroundings on an island off the coast of Maine. She is discovered by an enterprising yoting man who brings her to New York, and teaches her how to dress, how to make up, how to behave. She becomes an actress, and marries a theatrical producer. THE VIRGINIAN [Paramount) PRODUCER: Paul Jones. DIRECTOR: Stuart Gilmore. PLAYERS: Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy, Sonny Tufts, Barbara Britton, Fay Bainter, Nona Griffith, Marc Lawrence, Paul Guilfoyle. TECHNICOLOR WESTERN. Based on Owen Wister's well-known novel, this is the story of a young man from Virginia who goes out to Wyoming and becomes a cowboy. He meets a schoolteacher with whom he falls in love. His rival is a cattle-rustler whose crimes are erroneously attributed to the Virginian's best friend. After many adventures, the hero straightens out matters and wins the girl. WITHOUT LOVE (M-G-M) PRODUCER: Lawrence Weingarten. DIRECTOR: Harold S. Bucquet. PLAYERS: Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wjmn, Patricia Morison, Felix Bressart. ROMANTIC _ COMEDY. Based on Philip Barry's play, this is the story of a young couple who meet in wartime Washington and marry for convenience. They agree to leave love out of the situation, but romance develops nonetheless. A THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS (Columbia) PRODUCER: Sam Bischoff. DIRECTOR: Alfred E. Green. PLAYERS: Cornel Wilde, Evelyn Keyes, Adele Jergens, Phil Silvers, Dusty Anderson, Philip Van Zandt, Richard Hale, Gus Schilling. TECHNICOLOR FANTASY. Although this story is laid in an Oriental city over a thousand years ago, the language used, and the music art modern. The story concerns a singer who falls in love with the Sultan's daughter. After many adventures, he is united with his loved one throug? the powers of a magic lamp. THE CISCO KID COMES THROUGH (Monogram) PRODUCER: Philip N. Krasne. DIRECTOR: J. P. McCarthy. PLAYERS: Duncan Renaldo, Martin Garralaga, Roger Pryor, Vicki Lane: Emmett Lynn, Anthony Warde. WESTERN. The Cisco Kid and his friend Pancho stop a wedding by pretending that the bride is already married, and producing a child tc prove their statement. Later they discover that the child's father has been murdered, and that nefarious interests are trying to appropriate his holdings. Through the efforts of the two cowboys, the murderer is trapped and the property restored to th« rightful heir. A BELL FOR ADANO {20th CenturyFox) PRODUCER: Louis D. Lighton. DIRECTOR: Henry King. PLAYERS: Gene Tierney John Hodiak, William Bendix, Richard Conte; Glenn Langan, Stanley Prager, Roy Robert^ Reed Hadley, Marcel Dalio. | WAR DRAMA. Because of his Italian, parent-j age and his experience in civic administration ir New York City, Major Joppolo is assigned by th< AMG to administer the civil affairs of the libed ated Italian town of Adano. He finds that th< church bell has been stolen by the Nazis and, ir spite of opposition from the commanding general who finally orders his transfer, the Major is successful in obtaining a new bell, symbolic of theii spirit, for the people of Adano. EARL CARROLL'S VANITIES (Republic) PRODUCER: Albert J. Cohen. DIRECTOR Joseph Santley. PLAYERS: Dennis O'Keefe Constance Moore, Eve Arden, Alan Mowbray Pinky Lee, Woody Herman and his Orchestra MUSICAL. The queen and heiress-presumptivi of a small Balkan country are in New York t< negotiate a postwar loan for their native land. In cognito, the daughter is selected to star in Ear Carroll's show. She falls in love with a youni song-writer, and, in spite of obstacles, finally mar ries him. A WALK IN THE SUN (Bronston-UA) PRODUCER-DIRECTOR: Levds Mileston< PLAYERS: Dana Andrews, Huntz Hall, Rich ard Conte, Buddy Yarus. WAR DRAMA. In the confusion of invasioi a platoon of soldiers becomes isolated from the re; of the attacking force. One after the other, tllieutenant and the non-commissioned officers ai| killed or wounded. The platoon continues on ii way under command of a corporal. Against ovei whelming odds, the men capture their objective. 2242 PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, DECEMBER 23, 19'