Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

juvenile nephew how to cheat at football. When the leading citizen's daughter confides that she is to have a baby, and pleads with him to marry her, he conceals the fact that he has a wife in Paris and essays a romantic advance to his sister-in-law by way of getting at $2,000 which his brother has collected for charity, planning to get away from it all. Then the nephew is endangered in a railway tunnel and he rushes in to rescue the boy, but gets himself run down and killed by the train in doing so. A little while before this the girl who's going to have the baby has been told by a former boy friend that he knows all about it but wants to marry her anyway, which presumaby takes care of that matter to the satisfaction of the screenplayw right. Eddie Blatt was associate producer, and Frank Turtle directed from a screenplay by Richard Brooks based on a play by Gilbert Emery. It is strictly for adults. Previewed at the Academy Awards theatre, Los Angeles, to an all press audience. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — W. R. W. Release date, December, 1946. Running time, 87 min. PCA No. 11997. Adult audience classification. Jim Duncan Sonny Tufts Marian Tyler Ann Blyth Ruth Warrick, William Gargan, John Litel, Thomas Gomez, Millard Mitchell, Mary Nash, Howard Freeman, Donald Devlin, John Craven, Pat McVey, Vince Barnett, Charles Lane, Gary Owen, Frank Ferguson, David Clarke, Eugene Persson, George Beban, Jr. Lawless Breed U niversal — Western Kirby Grant and Fuzzy Knight are the top names in a Western that fills an hour pleasingly. There may be less action than is usually found in such films, but it is more than com' pensated for by an interesting plot, and the presence in the cast of Jane Adams, a young lady whose charm is a real addition to the Western scene. The town banker, as usual, is the villain. His scheme this time is a complicated one : he plans his own murder, hoping to profit thereby not only by collecting the insurance, but by leading a gang of terrorists under the protection of his own fake "death." Grant, cast as a Government agent, and his pal, Knight, frustrate this scheme, and the banker comes to the bad end his nefarious machinations have earned. Wallace Fox produced and directed from a screenplay by Bob Williams. Previewed at the Hitching Post theatre, Hollywood, where the audience reacted favorably. Reveiwer's Rating : Average. — Thalia Bell. Release date, August 16, 1946. Running time, 58 min. PCA No. 11863. General audience classification. Ted Elliott Kirby Grant Tumbleweed Fuzzy Knight Marjorie Jane Adams Claudia Drake, Harry Brown, Dick Curtis, Charles King, Karl Hackett, Hank Worden Out California Way Republic — Musical Western in Color This Western, complete with music and action, has the added attraction of color to please the patrons. Monte Hale, a singing cowboy, and Adrian Booth head the cast and receive competent support from the child actor, Bobby Blake. As guest stars, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans appear in a brief musical number in which they sing "Little Bronc of Mine." Trigger is in the scene, too. Brief appearances are made also by Allan Lane and Donald Barry. Monte Hale is trying to get a job in films as a cowboy and he meets Bobby Blake, who is trying to get his horse, Pardner, into films. The cowboy sings a number and the horse demonstrates some of his tricks and they are noticed by the casting director. There is a part for Monte, but there isn't anything for the horse. However, Monte gets a small part for Pardner, but there is an accidental explosion and the horse is badly scared. Monte wins success as a film player and the horse recovers. John Dehner plays the villain, who is a Western star who is jealous of the sudden success of Monte and endeavors to keep him out of films. Adrian Booth supplies the romantic interest which is not too obtrusive. There are excitement-packed scenes which include some strenuous hand-to-hand combat. The action is combined with Western music which features the title song, "Out California Way." "Detour," "Hello, Monte" and "Boogie Woogie Cowboy" are among the songs presented by St. Luke's choristers and Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. Louis Gray was the associate producer, and Lesley Selander directed. Betty Burbridge wrote the screenplay; Barry Shipman, the original story. Seen at the home office projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — M. R. Y. Release date, December S, 1946. Running time, 67 min. PCA No. 11721. General audience classification. Monte Monte Hale Gloria McCoy Adrian Booth Danny McCoy : Bobby Blake John Dehner, Nolan Leary, Fred Graham, Tom London, Jimmy Starr, Edward Keane, Bob Wilke, Brooks Benedict, St. Luke's Choristers, Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. Guest stars: Roy Rogers, Trigger, Allan Lane, Dale Evans, Donald Barry Lone Star Moonlight Columbia — Western Musical Although it faithfully follows the path countless other Western musicals have taken before, "Lone Star Moonlight," produced by Colbert Clark and directed by Ray Nazarro, manages to live up to its predecessors in most respects. It is strong on the musical end and here is the source of its drawing power. Several entertaining numbers are woven into the story pattern with the Smart Set, the Merle Travis Trio, Judy Clark and Her Rhythm Cowgirls doing their bit. The musical offerings are topped by The Hoosier Hot Shots, a well-known quartet, who do some very good specialty numbers for the picture. The fact that, on the whole, story and acting must have received somewhat scanty attention when the film was made, probably will not disturb audiences, who have come to expect little but some songs and a joke here and there from this type of picture. However, in many situations, the film will definitely rate for the lower half of the marquee. Traditional Western movie-action and humor occur throughout. Singing cowboy Ken Curtis returns home from the war to find the radio station he once owned run down, and a competitor, Eddie Stevens, hard at work. He also is in danger of losing Joan Barton, his girl, to Stevens. Guy Kibbee, Curtis' father, instead of keeping up the station, has bought war surplus stock instead. To save the situation an auction is arranged and wellknown entertainers as well as a famous Holly wood auctioneer are invited. Stevens tries to spoil the auction by calling in Claudia Drake to say she is Curtis' former wife. In the end he fails in delaying the auctioneer and the day is saved. Reviewed at a New York projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — F. H. Release date, December 12, 1946. Running time, 67 min. General audience classification. Curt Norton Ken Curtis Jean White Joan Barton Amos Norton Guy Kibbee Robert Stevens, Claudia Drake, Arthur Loft, Vernon Dent, Sam Flint The Falcon's Adventure RKO Radio — Action Drama Tom Conway, as the notorious Falcon, noted for his own courage and love of adventure, stars in another action-packed film in this series. Film-goers familiar with the Falcon films will not be disappointed in this one. The Falcon escapes from one dangerous situation after another in this melodramatic story. Tom Conway and Edward S. Brophy as his assistant are involved in a plot to seize a formula for the making of industrial diamonds. The inventor is killed and the Falcon offers to help the inventor's niece, played by Madge Meredith, save the formula from falling into the hands of the gang of murderers. The gang is headed by Robert Warwick, but the police suspect the Falcon. In an exciting climax, the police arrive in time to seize the criminals before they leave the country and the Falcon rescues the inventor's niece, and the formula is saved. Herman Schlom produced and William Berke directed. The original screenplay was by Aubrey Wisberg, based on the -character created by Michael Arlen. Seen at the home office projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — M. R. Y. Release date, December 13, 1946. Running time, 61 min. PCA No. 11627. General audience classification. Falcon Tom Conway Luisa Madge Meredith Goldie Edward S. Brophy Robert Warwick, Myrna Dell, Steve Brodie, Ian Wolfe, Carol Forman, Joseph Crehan, Phil Warren, Tony Barrett, Harry Harvey, Jason Robards Mr. Hex Monogram— Bowery Boys and Boxing Producer Jan Grippo supplied the original story for the latest in Monogram's "Bowery Boys" series, and turned it over to scenarist Cyrus Endfield for polishing. It presents Huntz Hall as an amateur boxer, with Leo Gorcey and the rest of the gang urging -him on to win a local contest and its cash prize. The boys are in need of funds, it appears, to help a destitute young lady forced to leave her job to nurse her ailing mother. In order to insure that their candidate shall win the contest, Gorcey learns hypnosis, applies it to the malleable Hall to such good purpose that the latter's boxing turns out to be of championship caliber. Racketeers move in for what looks like an easy take, but the boys outwit them in a comical, although somewhat incredible ending. William Beaudine directed, and two songs by Louis Herscher are included. Previewed at the Forum theatre, Los Angeles, where the audience appeared to be diverted by the proceedings. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — T. B. Release date, December 7, 1946. Running time, 63 min. PCA No. 11980. General audience classification. Slip Leo Gorcey Sach Huntz Hall Bobby Jordan, Gabriel Dell, Billy Benedict, David Gorcey, Gale Robbins, Ben Weldon, Ian Keith, Sammy Cohen Unexpected Guest United Artists — Mystery a la Western This Western starring William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy has a new and unusual twist. Western characters are confronted with a melodramatic plot which includes several murders. This mystery story, with its Western background and atmosphere, is swift moving and interesting. Hopalong Cassidy, a favorite Western performer, assists his friend, California Carlson, played by Andy Clyde, to claim an inheritance. They find that there are five heirs and if any of them should die their shares will be divided among the remaining persons. After the will is read, one of the heirs is shot and a manmade trap is set for the young heiress. The hero saves the girl and discovers that the land is rich in oil deposits. Boyd, in the role of Hopalong Cassidy, discovers the murderer and solves the mystery. Una O'Connor, as the housekeeper, gives a characteristically good performance. Earl Hodgins, Patricia Tate and Rand Brooks are among the supporting players. Lewis J. Rachmil produced and George Archainbaud directed. Special mention should go to Ande Lamb for the original screenplay. Seen at the home office projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — M. R. Y. Release date, not set. Running time, 61 min. General audience classification. Hopalong Cassidy Bill Boyd Lucky Jenkins Rank Brooks California Carlson Andy Clyde Patricia Tate, John Parrish, Una O'Connor, Ned Young, Earl Hodgins, Joel Freidkin 3362 PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, DECEMBER 14, 1946