Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

Enemy of the Law PRC — Justice Again Triumphs This Western is packed with excitement, suspense and typical Wild West adventure. Shooting, fisticuffs, and much galloping are blended throughout the film. The plot is clever and credible and gives the experienced players a theme that is swift as Tex Ritter's white horse. Tex Ritter plays Tex Haines, special ranger who is responsible for the eventual capture of the enemy of the law. Charles King, Jr., and Jack Ingram portray the type of villains who are enthusiastically hissed. Ritter, incidentally, sings and plays two songs. They are rather awkwardly introduced but nevertheless are enjoyable. Kay Hughes plays effectively the one small feminine part. Dave O'Brien and Guy Wilkerson are very good in their portrayals of men of the West. Arthur Alexander, the producer, and Harry Fraser, the director as well as the author of the screenplay, have turned out a film th" t should satisfy the expectations of Western fans. Seen in a New York projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — M. R. Y. Release date, May 7, 1945. Running time, 59 min. PCA No. 10724. General audience classification. Tex Haines Tex Ritter Dave Wyatt Dave O'Brien Panhandle Perkins Guy Wilkerson Kay Hughes, Jack Ingram, Charles King, Jr., Frank Ellis, Kermit Maynard, Henry Hall. "Marriage" and "Jubilee" Artkino — Two Chekhov Comedies These two Anton Chekhov comedies, produced in Russia last year in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the playwright's death, should enjoy wide appeal here among patrons of foreign films. They are released jointly, and together run for about an hour and a half. They have been produced effectively. "Jubilee" is a satirical farce about a pompous banker and his plans for a 15th anniversary celebration which are completely demolished when his bookkeeping clerk goes berserk because of the incessant chatter of two women. It is an acid satire on the manners and morals of Chekhov's period. "Marriage" is a vignette of social life in Czarist Russia in which the petty bourgeois customs of the period are flayed remorselessly. A pretentious suitor attempts to walk out on his girl but is convinced otherwise by her determined father. At the wedding celebration he starts bargaining for a larger dowry, more wine and other haggling considerations, with the result that chaos conquers the ceremony. The hapless groom is last seen being led away by the police. In both sketches a repugnance attaches to the characters, yet they are portrayed with mocking humor. The performers, many of them from the Moscow Art Theatre, are competent, and the English subtitles are adequate. Seen at the Stanley theatre, New_ York, where an afternoon audience registered satisfaction. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — Mandel Herbstman. Release date, February 21, 1945. Running time: "Marriage," 47 min.; "Jubilee, 40 min. General audience classification. Marriage Isidor Annensky, director The Father Alexei Gribov The Mother Fanya Ranevskaya Ernest Garin, Zoya Fyodorova, Sergei Martinson, Vera Maretskaya, Omar Abdulov, Lev Sverdlin, Nikolai Konovalov. Jubilee Vladimir Petrov, director Shipuchin Victor Stanitsin Tatiana Alexeyevna, his wife Olga Androvskaya Vasily Toporkov, Anastasia Zuyeva. I Love a Mystery Columbia — Superior Melodrama The first of a series of mysteries based on Carlton E. Morse's radio program is subtitled "The Decapitation of Jefferson Monk." It's fine supporting fare for any program, and a real treat for the mystery fans. Jim Bannon, Nina Foch and George Macready all turn in excellent performances, with Macready scoring in a difficult role in which he is at once killer and victim. Charles O'Neal's screenplay relates the efforts 20TH-FOX APRIL BLOCK INCLUDES GABLE REISSUE In the vanguard of the 30th Anniversary celebration of Twentieth Century-Fox are four films constituting the company's releases for April. In addition to two new films, "A Royal Scandal" and "Molly and Me", the block includes "The Song of Bernadette", starting its popular-priced run, and a rerelease of "Call of the Wild". This reissue of the screen version of Jack London's famous novel, originally released in 1935 through United Artists, will mark the first appearance of Clark Gable on the screen in several years. With him in the cast are Loretta Young, Jack Oakie and Reginald Owen. The story, a melodrama of gold prospecting in Alaska, combines action and romance in an outdoor setting. In the May 4, 1935, issue of MOTION PICTURE HERALD, the reviewer said in part: "Made up of elements that have proved their commercial worth, the picture combines qualities proved appealing to both men and women. There is vivid interest in the conflicting love angle, as there is interest also in the comedy. The action that accents its drama is full of tense suspense." of a scheming wife, abetted by an odd assortment of characters, to drive her husband to suicide. He appeals to Jim Bannon, who portrays the detective, Jack Packard, for protection and help. Thereafter is unfolded a strange tale of Oriental double-dealing, complete with musical theme, all of it plotted by the wife. Her plans miscarry, however, when her husband turns killer instead of suicide and slays two of her accomplices. The ends of justice are served when the killer is decapitated in a freak auto accident. Wallace MacDonald produced. Henry Levin directed with a fine feeling for pace. Previewed at the Pantages theatre, Hollywood, where an audience which had come to see "A Song to Remember" appeared diverted by the secondary offering. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — T. B. Release date, Jan. 25, 1945. Running time, 69 min. PCA No. 10642. General audience classification. Jack Packard Jim Bannon Ellen Monk Nina Foch Jefferson Monk.... George Macready Barton Yarbcrough, Carole Mathews, Lester Matthews, Gregory Gay, Leo Mostovoy, Frank O'Connor, Isabel Withers, Joseph Crehan. The Crime Doctor s Courage Columbia — Murder Drama The worthy Dr. Ordway is not long on his well-deserved vacation amid the smart set of a southern California hotel before wistful Hillary Brooke prevails upon him to look into the case of her husband, who she suspects is going insane. The result is another installment in the Crime Doctor series etched in the familiar outlines of melodrama with a few dashes of the supernatural added. Before Warner Baxter, as the sleuthing psychiatrist, has much chance to offer his professional services, the would-be patient is mysteriously murdered in his study. As_ the plot unfolds complications mount and even in the end they are not easily resolved. The search for clues turns up the most unusual persons and places, not the least of which are a brother and sister team of exotic dancers claimed to be vampires in a family tradition harking back 300 years. Seen only at night, they are purported to return to their caskets at daybreak to sleep. In a series of adventures, some dashing, some eerie, the crime doctor finally captures the criminal Gangster's Den PRC — Buster and Fuzzy The virile Buster Crabbe rides his horse "Facon" to another triumph. In the plot the necessar elements of adventure and action are combinei Buster Crabbe as usual has as his partner A "Fuzzy" St. John. The victim of the plot is I young girl, played by Sydney Logan, who with he brother has bought a small ranch. The gangstei j try to trick her out of her land and they place he brother in debt to them through gambling. Crabt discovers the plot and saves the land for the gii and her brother. He not only rounds up th| criminals but also gets the girl. This film is in the typical vein of Westerns witj excellent action. St. John is delightful in a char acteristic portrayal. Charles King, Jr., earns se\ eral laughs. The producer-director team, Sigmund Neufeld Sam Newfield, have made another Western tha has appeal to action lovers and should rank wit the better moderate-budget Western films. Seen in a New York projection room. Review cr's Rating : Good. — M. R. Y. Release date, June 14, 1945. Running time, 55 mir PCA No. 10684. General audience classification. Billy Carson Buster Crabb Fuzzy Jones ■. Al "Fuzzy" St. Joh Sydney Logan, Emmett Lynn, Charles King, Jr., Kermi Maynard, Edward Cassidy, Michael Owen, Stan Jolley George Cheseboro, Karl Hackett. There Goes Kelly Monogram — Murder Mystery From its modest beginning as a tuneful corned} in behind-the-scenes setting of a Hollywood ra dio station, the film soon turns into a baffling double-murder mystery with suspicion falling in al directions. Despite stock situations, unsubtle come dy and gags of ancient vintage, Paul KarlsteinY direction has put sufficient pace and suspense intc the production to make it entertaining fare for th< popular audience. When Jan Wiley, a star vocalist, is mysterioush murdered at a rehearsal, Wanda McKay, a receptionist at the studio, is given an opportunity |d realize her singing talents. But not for long however, since the police detective and his inevitable dim-wit flunky see in her motives for murder It is through the sleuthing offices of a pair of bellhops, Jackie Moran and Sidney Miller, that the' detectives finally blunder upon the real criminal. Although none of the players has a strong marquee name, they all try hard and turn in thorough performances, with Miss McKay offering a couple of tunes in pleasant style. The original screenplay was by Edmond Kelso with William Strohbach the producer. Seen at the New York theatre on Broadway before an apparently satisfied audience. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — M. H. Release date, February 16, 1945. Running time, 61 min. PCA N. 10580 General audience classification. Jimmy .Jackie Moran Anne Wanda McKay Sidney Miller, Ralph Sanford, Dewey Robinson. Jan Wiley. Anthony Warde, Harry Depp, George Eldredge, Edward Emerson, John Gilbreath, Pat Gleason, Don Kerr, Charlie Jordon, Terry Frost, Ralph Linn, Gladys Blake. 2350 PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION. MARCH 10, 1945