Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

Stander, who believes that women prefer brawn to brain, thinks to solve matters by telling Miss Evans that the bashful pianist is in reality a wrestler known as "The Devil." Thereafter the pianist's life is no longer his own ; when "The Devil" breaks a leg, his impersonator is forced to fake a broken leg himself. In the end, it takes the New York City police force to resolve the tangle and reunite the lovers. Sydney Williams' production has polish, and Howard Bretherton's direction achieves a nice balance between music and action. Previewed in a Hollywood projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Good.— T. B. Release date, Jan. 22, 1945. Running time, 69 min. PCA No. IMOO. General audience classification. .Sandy Elliott Arthur Lake June Mayfield Dale Evans Lionel Stander, George Meeker, Paul Hurst, Marjorie Manners, Sammy Stein, Louis Adlon, Dan Toby, Emmett Lynn, Douglas Wood. Gun Smoke Monogram — Western Johnny Mack Brown and Raymond Hatton are teamed again in an action-packed Western with some novel story twists. Jennifer Holt, as the heroine, shows herself to be a capable actress deserving of greater scope for her talent. Frank Young's screenplay opens with an element of mystery when Sandy and Nevada come upon an overturned stagecoach, the occupants of which have been murdered. Further investigation discloses that one of the passengers was an archeologist who had come upon buried treasure in the form of Indian relics of gold. Some exciting action takes place before the two cowboys discover the location of the treasure, and trap the thieves who covet it. The production was supervised by Charles J. Bigelow, and directed by Howard Bretherton with his customary skill. Previeived at the Hitching Post theatre in Hollywood. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — T. B. Release date, Feb. 16, 1945. Running time, 57 min. PCA No. 10487. General audience classification. Nevada Johnny Mack Brown Sandy Raymond Hatton Jane Jennifer Holt Riley Hill, Wen Wright, Ray Bennett, Steve Qark, Kansas Moehring, Bob Casson, Louis Hart, Dimas Sotello, Roy E. Butler, Elmer Napier, Frank Ellis, Marshall Reed. Shadows of Death PiJC— Western Once again Buster Crabbe and Al St. John team up to keep alight the lamps of western justice. The unusual blend of exciting action and comic interludes, tempered by Sam Newfield's seasoned direction, gives the film greater entertainment value than the usual production from the Western mill. The screenplay concerns a band of outlaws, headed by veteran villain Charles King, who kill a man in order to get a map revealing the prospective route of a new railroad. Equipped with this advance knowledge, the criminals then proceed with a plan to get rich quick by buying the adjoining lands at low rates. The story is rounded out with the usual brawls and villainies, with, of course, righteousness eventually triumphant. Buster Crabbe is slashing and virile in his accustomed role as the hero, but it is to "Fuzzy" St. John that the major load of acting falls this time. Under his able pantomime, many a lusty laugh is drawn from stock comedy situations. Starry-eyed Donna Dax adds the slight feminine note. Sigmund Neufeld produced. George Milton wrote the original story and screenplay which provides a satisfactory framework for the riding and horseplay. Technically the film is far above the average. Previewed at a New York projection room. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — Mandel Herbstman Release date, March 24, 1945. Running time, 60 min. PCA No. 10601. General audience classification. Billy Carson Buster Crabbe "Fuzzy" AI St. John Donna Dax, Ed Hall, Charles King, Frank Ellis, Emmett Lynn. 2278 Crazy Knights Monogram — Slapstick Humor Billy Gilbert, Shemp Howard and Maxie Rosenbloom present the comedy which is the principal ingredient of this film. Their jokes, gags and highjinks are distinctly of the slapstick type. "Crazy Knight," formerly called "Murder in the Family," is a melodrama that is overshadowed by comedy. In a background of ghosts, secret passages, a graveyard and an old country home, incidents occur that may be considered humorous by admirers of Maxie Rosenbloom and the Gilbert-Howard team. The comedians are responsible for exposing the criminal and saving a lovely young girl from disaster. The girl is played by Jayne Hazard. Tim Ryan wrote the original screenplay and als^, plays the part of Grogan, a not too bright deteq, tive, who is called into the case. The loosely wovl'. en script hampers the film because the antics o| the comedians are not sufficient to carry a connect' ed story. It was produced by Sam Katzman anl Jack Dietz and directed by William Beaudine. Seen at the Laffmvzne, New York, where a Sat) urday ' matinee audience greeted the film with con tinual chuckles and occasional laughter. Reinew cr's Rating : Fair.—M. R. Y. Release date, December 8, 1944. Running time, 63 mill PCA No. 10411. General audience classification. H Billy Gilbert Billy Gilbeft Shemp Howard Shemp HowSrf Maxie Rosenbloom Maxie Rosenbloor' Jayne Hazard, Tim Ryan, Bemie Fell, Tay Dunn, Min erva Urecal, Buster Brodie, Art Miles. ADVANCE SYNOPSES and information SONG OF THE SARONG (Universal) ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Gene Lewis. DIRECTOR: Harold Young. PLAYERS: Nancy Kelly, Samuel S. Hinds, William Gargan, George Dolenz. ROMANTIC MELODRAMA. An aviator lands on a South Sea Island in an attempt to steal valuable pearls cached there. A white girl, brought up on the island by a retired sea-captain, falls in love with the aviator and effects his release when he is captured by the natives. In spite of the objections of her fiance, a native educated in the United States, she marries the aviator. ROMANCE, INCORPORATED (Universal) DIRECTOR: Reginald LeBorg. PLAYERS: Allan Jones, Grace McDonald, Vivian Austin, Raymond Walburn, John Abbott, Jack Overman, Murray Alper, Harry Hayden. COMEDY-DRAMA. The leader of a prison choir is pardoned just as the choir reaches such proficiency that it is about to acquire a radio sponsor. The leader joins a stock company and falls in love with one of the actresses. Friends of prison inmates attempt to frame him so that he will be forced to return to prison and continue leading the choir. Their efforts fail, and he marries the girl of his choice. JOHNNY MARCH (Republic Walter Colmes) PRODUCER -DIRECTOR: Walter Colmet. PLAYERS: Richard Arlen. Cheryl Walker, Roger Pryor, Bobby Driscoll, John Forrest, Lola Lane, Ian Keith. POSTWAR DRAMA. The sole survivor of a German bombing attack is stricken with amoesia. He contacts the relatives of the 'men killed in the attack, in an effort to discover who he is. He falls in love with the widow of one of the dead. When he is arrested for being AWOL his identity is revealed, his amnesia disappears, and he is free to marry, the girl he loves. THE FIGHTING GUARDSMAN (Columbia) PRODUCER: Michael Kraike. DIRECTOR: Henry Levin. PLAYERS: Willard Parker, John Loder, Anita Louise, Janis Carter, Edgar Buchanan, Ted Donaldson, George Macready, Elizabeth Risdon, Victor Kilian, Lloyd Corrigan, Rose Hunter. HISTORICAL DRAMA. A French noble man, living at the time of Louis XVI, casts his Ic^'^ with the oppressed populace and organizes a grouj' who rob the King's coaches, steal his gold anr| distribute it to the people. In one of these hold ups the King himself is captured. In the ensuin;: melee the King's girl friend is killed, but thi robber nobleman escapes, together with the girl h loves. STEPPIN" IN SOCIETY (Republic) I PRODUCER: Joseph Bercholz. DIRsd TOR: Alexander Esway, PLAYERS: Edwar^ Everett Horton, Gladys George, Robert LivJ ingston, Ruth Terry, Lola Lane, Isabel JewelP Frank Jenks, Jack LaRue, Harry Barris George Horton. CRIME DRAMA. A judge tries to reform ; band of criminals by pretending to be a crimina himself. He is especially interested in a youni couple who are members of the group. Under hi influence, they determine to go straight. Eventu ally all the criminals reform and opeo a night-clut THE VAMPIRE'S GHOST (Republic) PRODUCER: Rudy Abel. DIRECTOR f Lesley Selander, PLAYERS: John Abbott Peggy Stewart, Grant Withers, Charles Got don, A-dele Mara. MELODRAMA. A human vampire brings ter ror into the lives of the native and white popula tion of a small African trading village. The vam^^ pire selects a young girl as its prey, and is abou^ to transform her into a vampire when she is savei bv her fiance. ALONG CAME JONES (RKO-lnternational) PRODUCER: Gary Cooper. DIRECTOR Stuart Heisler. PLAYERS: Gary Cooper! Loretta Young, William Demarest, Dan Dur l yea, Frank Sully, Russell Simpson. WESTERN. A cowboy is mistaken by_ th citizens of a western town for a notorious killer He falls in love with the killer's sweetheart. Th girl, forced to choose between them, comes to thi rescue of the cowboy in a gun battle and shoot her erstwhile boy friend. NOBODY LIVES FOREVER (Warner) PRODUCER: Robert Buckner. DIRECTORJ Jean Negulesco. PLAYERS: John Garfield Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan, Fay<[ PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, JANUARY 20. 194! !