Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

SHORT SUBJECTS reviews and synopses AN PIETRO ^.hgnal Corps Campaign Report i In Colonel Frank Capra's handling of this onr :(ie-spot record of the campaign against San Pietro, 1 ■ nd in Major Huston's narration which accompanies the presentation, the infantryman's hard and :' Iroic part in the war is emphasized with the vigor f an utterly realistic camera which follows the Dot-soldier as faithfully as his shadow through le campaign which resulted in the taking of the j.iri Valley, at tremendous cost in lives, from the Jermans. It is strictly and exclusively a record f the infantryman fighting and dying or suriving — no time is taken out to show him on V save or back at the base or having fun at the L-.iovies — and it is a record of the battle when it's . 'Ciing against the Americans as well as when T'ney're winning. It is sterner than most, perhaps nan any, of the films in kind that have been released for public exhibition, but it is also one of r.he most skillfully prepared, and its treatment of Xjbe scenes showing combat dead and wounded tends m clarify rather than dramatize the status of the ynfantry. M A foreword spoken by Lieut. Gen. Mark Clark xplains why the objective had to be taken with ., 'greatly reduced" forces, which "worked bitter fiardships upon each individual soldier, calling for JMie full measure of his courage and devotion," and (he commentary informs that many of the soldiers vho survived the conflict have since perished in '-.ubsequent campaigning. The music score by vbimitri Tiomkin, performed in part by the Morton Tabernacle Choir and the children's choir of It Brenda's Church, is superbly blended into the I'iflow of a most impressive film, i Release date, not set 30 minutes UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS, NO. 3 (Para.) M 4-3 iji In Utah, Bill Burnham has picked up his grandfather's whittling knife and expert skill. Jack \Villey of Compton, Calif., collects clocks dating jack to 500 B.C. A railroad tunnel at Brookville, Ont., is opened every morning at both ends by jeorge Dixon. Near Denver, Col., Harold Cannon operates a miniature railroad for the neighborhood children. The final sequence shows an t[artist-model, Zoe Mozert, who paints pin-up picfjfures of herself with the aid of a brush and mirilrors. fjRelease date, March 9, 1945 10 minutes CUBA CALLING (WB) pports Parade (1505) \ The Island capital, Havana, and the surrounding countryside have been photographed in color by Andre De La Varre for a reel that combines sports 'and scenic beauty. There's some good riding and Ija fiesta along with shots of sugar and tobacco plantations and the fine avenues and buildings of the |ity. ■Release date, March 10, 1945 9 minutes TRACK AND FIELD QUIZ (MGM) fete Smith (S-559) ! With Pete Smith asking the questions this is no pimple, informational subject. And you don't have jj*to be a track fan to enjoy it. The sport shots show hurdle running, broad and high jumping, shot putting and other field sports. But the running commentary makes a general appeal. .Release date, March 3, 1945 9 minutes THE UNWELCOME GUEST (MGM) .Technicolor Cartoon (W-544) It's summer, and Barney Bear is out berry-picking. The day ie fine, the patch is productive, but ; there is one slight annoyance. A small striped animal finds the picking fun, too, and even more -fun is the prospect of Barney's losing his temper. Release date, February 17, 1945 7 minutes ISLE OF TABU (Para.) Musical Parade (FF4-4) The background of this musical featurette in Technicolor is a Pacific island in days when there was no thought of war. Nancy Porter is starred as the lovely native girl who was born during a volcanic eruption and is considered tabu by the natives of the island. Her marriage to a local prince is threatened, but the festivities are finally permitted to proceed. Two songs are featured in the film, "Dawn of a Bright New Day" and "Pau Kua Lana Kua," and a number of specialty acts are spotted through the story. Stephen Barclay Anthony Caruso and Pedro de Cordoba are featured in the supporting cast. Louis Harris produced the film and William Shea directed. 20 minutes IN THE PUBLIC EYE (Para.) Speaking of Animals (Y4-3) Jerry Fairbanks tries a little political satire with his four-footed charges. Ken Carpenter does the commentary, but some of the best lines go to the beasts — camels, cows, pigs, bulls, hippos, gnus and chimpanzees. There is a new election for the title of King of the Beasts which is swamped by the bobby sox vote in the Junior Jungle Chamber of Commerce. Release date, March 16, 1945 9Y2 minutes SEEING THEM THROUGH (RKO-WAC) Red Cross Trailer The editors of March of Time have compiled the scenes for this year's Red Cross survey which will appear in the nation's theatres in time for the annual membership drive. It stresses the increasing services for the prisoners of war and the collecting and transporting of blood plasma to the battle fronts. 8 minutes ANTS IN YOUR PANTRY (20+h-Fox) Terry Toons (5511) Here is the home life of the ant — not your home but theirs. It shows ants at work and play in their natural and not so natural surroundings and tries to make out some case for the much-abused insect. Release date, February 16, 1945 6 mitmtes LITTLE WHITE LIE (MGM) Miniature (M-590) Amber is a youngster awaiting adoption in an orphanage who is finally taken by a pleasant young couple. They agree to take her small brother as well and the family seem settled. But Amber has doubts about "belonging" and wonders if she shouldn't be back in the orphanage. Release date, March 3, 1945 10 minutes COMMUNITY SING, NO. 6 (Col.) 6656 This release, featuring the Vocalaires and organist Don Baker recognizes the new popularity of an old favorite "The Very Thought of You." Other numbers are "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" "An Hour Never Passes," "Let's Sing a Song About Susie" and "She Lives Up, Up, Up." Release date, February 9, 1945 9j4 minutes SLIPHORN KING OF POLAROO (Univ.) Color Cartune (9237) Once again the slide trombone of Jack Teagarden is credited with a major exploit. The trombonist is shipwrecked on an Arctic iceberg but generates his own heat. Seals and polar bears fall in line as the swing gets hotter and the ice thaws. Release date, March 19, 1945 7 minutes Reviews and synopses of short subjects printed in Product Digest are indexed in the Short Subjects Chart, Product Digest Section, pages 23402347. Running times are those furnished by the distributor. IT LOOKS LIKE RAIN (MGM) Passing Parade (K-575) The old saw that everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it must be brought up to date. Man still isn't able to change the weather, but he can take precautions against it when he knows what it's going to be. Accurate weather predicting, and all it entails, is the subject of John Nesbitt's latest release. Release date, not set 9 minutes THE SHOOTING OF DAN McGOO (MGM) Technicolor Cartoon (W-545) The favorite dramatic recitation of a generation back receives some modern treatment in this cartoon. The Malemute Saloon in Coldernell, Alaska, is the scene of the brawl. And the "lady known asLu" — our old friend Red Hot Riding Hood in disguise — is the cause of it all. Release date, March 3, 1945 10 minutes STARS OF TOMORROW (Artkino) Russian Short Some of the folk songs of Russia are featured in this musical short and accompanied by native dances. "The Ditch," "My LIusband Went to the Flour Mill," "Sailors" and "On the Road" are sung . by a choral group composed of school children. 9 minutes THE LITTLE STRANGER (Para.) Color Classics (C4-7) The first of the color cartoons reissued by Paramount concerns the adventures of an ugly duckling who is shunned by his beautiful family until danger threatens. 7 minutes SNUBBED BY A SNOB (Para.) Color Classics (C4-8) Another reissue, this reintroduces the two mules, Hunky and Spunky, who are brushed off by a horse of southern lineage and her snobbish colt. When a bull attacks the colt, however, Spunky comes to the rescue, 8 minute KIDS IN THE SHOE (Para.) Color Classics (C4-9) Paramount is reissuing this color cartoon, originally released in April, 1935, as one of a series of which four have been announced to date. The subject is a fantasy on the old nursery tale. 7 minutes HUNKY AND SPUNKY (Para.) Color Classics (C4-10) The two mules, mother and son, are exploring life in the desert. A prospector tries to make use of the youngster but the mother objects with her most potent weapon. 9 minutes NAVY NURSE (WB) Featurettes (1107) This short feature plays up the importance of the work performed by the Navy nurses, but the qualities of heroism and courage are implicit in the story. Andrea King plays an instructor for new nurses in a Naval hospital. The story development concerns one of her students who has some difficulty adjusting to the work and a young seaman who is anxious for recovery in time to join his shipmates. Another phase of the nurse's work is illustrated in the training of Navy men for the hospital corps. The shor,t was produced with the cooperation of the U. S. Navy. Release date, March 3, 1945 20 minutes MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 10, 1945 2351