Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

SHORT SUBJECTS reviews and synopses (Running times are those quoted by the distributors.) thrills and actions as its predecessors in the Tarzan series, but is especially rich in animal shots. The kids should love the antics of Cheta, Tarzan's tame chimpanzee. Sol Lesser produced with Kurt Neumann associate producer and director. Story and screenplay were written by Jerry Gruskin and Rowland Leigh from characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The series' trio again, as Tarzan, Jane and Boy, is played by Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce and Johnny Sheffield. A party of hunters invades Tarzan's territory to trap animals for American and Eurolean zoos. To do this they conspire with treacherous Prince Ozira, played by Ted Hecht, to kill the king, played by Charles Trowbridge, and his son, Maurice Tauzin. Then Tarzan tells the hunters, headed by Barton MacLane, John Warburton and the beauteous Patricia Morison, to stay on their side of the river, they ignore him and start trapping. Tarzan and Boy wage war on them and only Miss Morison and another member of the expedition escape by plane. Previewed at the RKO projection room in New York. Revieiver's Rating : Average — Fred HlFT. Release date, April 5, 1947. Running time, 72 min. PCA No. 12057. General audience classification. Tarzan Johnny Weissmuller Jane Brenda Joyce Boy Johnny Sheffield Patricia Morison, Barton MacLane, John Warburton, Wallace Scott, Charles Trowbridge. Maurice Tauzin West of Dodge City Columbia — Outdoor Action There are many scenes of gunplay and cattle rustling in this action film which comes up to the standard of this outdoor series. The Durango Kid overcomes numerous obstacles and helps the oppressed and then rides on to a new adventure. Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid and Steve Ramsey is again the hero and Fred Sears, as the head badman, is good as the villain. The group of scheming racketeers trick land owners into selling their land. When one old cattleman refuses to sell, the crooks frame his son and have the boy imprisoned. The Durango Kid helps the rancher and in a terrific gunfight captures the gang. This picture is enlivened by the wit of Smiley Burnette. Burnette, as a newspaper editor, befriends the Durango Kid. Mustard and Gravy, singing guitar players, support Smiley Burnette in Western melodies. Colbert Clark produced and Ray Nazarro directed. Bert Horswell wrote the original screenplay. Seen at a Nciv York projection room. Revieiver's Rating: Average. — M. R. Y. Release date. March 27, 1947. Running time, 57 min. PCA No'. 12114. General audience classification. Steve Ramsey ) Charles Starrett Durango Kid ) Smiley Smiley Burnette Nancy Saunders, Fred Sears, Glenn Stuart, Stan Jolley, George Chesebro, Bob Wilke, Nolan Leary Rainbow Over the Rockies Monogram — Cattlemen's Feud This Western is designed for action fans and youthful audiences. Jimmy Wakely, a favorite singing cowboy, is supported by Lee "Lasses" White. Wakely, a trail boss, driving cattle to market, comes to a fenced area. The owner of the land and the cattlemen come into conflict and they are both stubborn about their rights. A group of rustlers play one side against the other and a range war nearly breaks out. However, Jimmy Wakely rounds up the rustlers and convinces both parties of their folly. There are several musical numbers sung by Wakely including "Rainbow Over the Rockies." Oliver Drake produced and directed and Glenn Cook was the associate producer. Oliver Drake wrote the original story and Elmer Clifton the screenplay. Seen at the New York theatre. Reviezver's Rating: Fair.—M. R. Y. Release date, February 8, 1947. Running time, 54 min. PCA No. 11968. General audience classification. limmy Jimmy Wakely Lasses Lee ' Lasses" White THE TEACHERS' CRISIS (20th-Fox) March of Time (V 13-8) With the attention of the nation suddenly focussed on the critical situation in the country's schools, this short has timely significance and dramatic impact. As usual, March of Time presents a well-balanced mixture of statistics and dramatized incidents, driving home forcefully the point it tries to make. The camera visits one-room schools, it shows schools understaffed and teachers underpaid in comparison to other crafts. It demonstrates effectively why almost half of all U. S. teachers have left their jobs in the past seven years and makes no bones about the inadequacy of many of their insufficiently trained substitutes. James B. Conant, president of Harvard University, is shown in an appeal for better schools. Release date, March 21, 1947. 16 minutes POLO (Columbia) Sport Reels (8805) The fundamentals of this exciting game are demonstrated by Cecil Smith, polo's top-ranking star. Also shown is a very important phase of the sport, the care and training of the polo pony. Release date, January 30, 1947 10 minutes AMERICAN SPORTS ALBUM (WB) Sports Parade (3504) America at play is caught by the Technicolor camera. Sports included are archery, baseball, football, saling, skiing, and fishing. Release date, March 8, 1947 10 minutes TEX BENEKE AND GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA (Univ.) Name Band Musicals (2305) A New York night club is the setting for Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Among the numbers are : "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "Meadowlands," "Cynthia's in Love," '"Little Brown Jug" and "Hey! Ba-ba-Re-Bop." Release date, March 26, 1947 15 minutes SCREEN SNAPSHOTS (Columbia) No. 6 (8856) The subject goes on an excursion through the radio studios. Included among the radio personalities presented are : Wendell and Ken Niles, Jim Ameche, Ken Carpenter, Ben Grauer, Frank Gallup, Harry Von Zell, James Wallington, Don Wilson and many more. Release date, February 6, 1947 9 minutes ROYALTY OF THE RANGE (20th-Fox) Movietone Adventures (7202) This is a survey of America's livestock — cattle from the range, to the farm, to the butchers, to the table. Prize herds of cattle are shown groomed for the American Royal livestock show. The Future Farmers of America are shown grooming their exhibits. Release date, March 7, 1947 9 minutes SCREEN SNAPSHOTS (Columbia) No. 5 (8855) This issue introduces the movie columnists, those widely-read gossip and critical columnists such as Hedda Hopper, Jimmie Fidler, Louella Parsons, Jimmy Star, Sidney Skolsky and a dozen others. Release date, January 23, 1947 9 minutes STAN KENTON & ORCH. (WB) Melody Master Band (3604) With Stan Kenton himself at the piano, the band goes through its musical paces. June Christy renders songs in her unusual manner and Gerry Gale, in the finale, dances to the theme, "Artistry in Rhythm." Release date, February 22, 1947 10 minutes HOT HEIR (Columbia) All-Star Comedy (8424) Hugh Herbert excited over the impending visit of his rich uncle, gets into further complications when a neighbor's wife rips her dress in his room. There follows the melee with the jealous husband and a case of mistaken identity when the uncle does arrive. Release date. February 13, 1947 16^4 minutes MIGHTY MOUSE IN CRYING WOLF (20th-Fox) Terrytoon in Technicolor (7511) One black sheep, tired of just grazing contentedly with the other sheep, cries "Wolf! Wolf!" He does this once too often, but through a prodigious feat of Mighty Mouse, the sheep is rescued from the wolves. Release date, January 10, 1947. 7 minutes ANDY PLAYS HOOKEY (Columbia) All Star Comedy (8435) Andy Clyde stars in this one. He's saved enough money to buy a ticket to the championship fight, but then has to use his small hoard to pay traffic fines slapped on his brother-inlaw. Andy gets some more money, however, tells his boss he has to attend his mother-inlaw's funeral and then proceeds to get into even more trouble. The only fight Andy sees is the one going on in his own living room. Release date, December 19, 1946 18 minutes THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (20th-Fox) Movietone Adventure (7255) Here is a Technicolored tour of the Cape of Good Hope : the old forts, the Cape Marine Drive, the seaside resorts. Lowell Thomas' narration points up the historical interest of the Cape. Release date, April 4, 1947 8 minutes THE NEW NORTH (NFB) ( 'anadian Documentary The subject, produced by the National Film Board of Canada in the Canada Carries On series, depicts the revolution in transportation effected by the construction of the Alaska Highway. The subject notes the mineral wealth to which access is now provided, and also shows how the tourist trade is becoming a major industry. Although so far more than two-thirds of Canada's area is still in the first stages of development, the subject in conclusion emphasizes that a great future lies ahead for this region. Release date, March, 1947 10 minutes THE UNCULTURED VULTURE (Columbia) A Color Phantasy (8702) Headlines shout about a missing professor who is found on a desert isle in company of a large-beaked vulture that bears a striking resemblance to Jimmy Durante. Hilarity rises as the vulture tries to hasten the demise of the professor. Release date, February 6, 1947 il/2 minutes 3538 PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, MARCH 22, 1947