Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

(Continued from preceding page) tributes two songs and Devine provides good comic relief. Miss Frazee plays a city girl, a somewhat unusual heroine for a Western, but she plays well. The entire production is done effectively with a sure knowledge of what the Western fans want. Edward J. White was associate producer and William Witney directed. Gerald Geraghty wrote the original screenplay. Rcznezved at the Republic projection room in Nezv York. Reviewer's Rating : Good. — Tibor Kerekes. Release date, November 15, 1948. Running time, 67 minutes. PCA No. 13307. General audience classification. * Roy Rogers Roy Rogers Carol Martin Jane Frazee Cookie Bullfincher Andy Devine Bill Regan Robert Livingston Dave Williams Roy Barcroft Carles Coleman, Emmett Lynn, Ken Terrell, James Finlayson, Tommy Coats, Foy Willing, Riders of the Purple Sage, Trigger Bungalow 13 20th Century-Fox — Mystery Melodrama An unusual feature of this picture is the fact that its entertainment values do not derive mainly from the murder mystery element. Margaret Hamilton definitely takes the spotlight with her characterization of a nosy middle-aged would-be authoress who is constantly involved in the action but not the plot. The story concerns a private detective, Tom Conway, who is on the trail of a rare Chinese carved jade. The hunt takes him to an auto court where, after two killings, he finally solves the mystery of the stolen antique as well as the murders. Miss Hamilton enters the picture as a resident of the motor court who becomes busily interested in the mystery. All she manages to do is to constantly get in the hair of the detective and the police, but she is consistently amusing. Edward L. Cahn directed the film, which does not build appreciable suspense, although there are several exciting fights and incidental knife tossing. The siren of the piece, who appears only a few times before she is murdered, is well played by Marjorie Hoshelle. Conway is good as the detective. Sam Baerwitz produced the picture and collaborated on the story and screenplay with Richard C. Hubler. Seen at the Nezv York theatre in New York, where the audience was apathetic. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — T. K. Release date, November, 1948. Running time, 65 minutes. PCA No. 13294. General audience classification. Christopher Adams Tom Conway Mrs. Appleby Margaret Hamilton Patrick Macy Richard Cromwell Lt. Wilson James Flavin Alice Ashley Marjorie Hoshelle Frank Cady, Eddie Acuff, Jody Gilbert, Juan Varro Sons of Adventure Republic — Murder on a Set This mystery-adventure film presents many action sequences performed by stunt men, including street fights, shootings, stagecoach holdups, catching runaway horses, stunt automobile rides and many other exciting scenes. Two stunt men become friends during the war while battling the Japanese on a Pacific Island. Russ Hayden secures a job for his pal, a circus stunt man, and they go to work on the set of a Western film. Lynne Roberts plays a stunt rider who is presented in the role of Hayden's special girl. In a shooting scene the hero of the film is accidentally killed when a real bullet was put in the place of the usual blank. The former circus performer is suspected of the killing but is released when no motive is found. Hayden and Miss Roberts set about finding the real killer and suffer a number of mysterious accidents. The murderer knows that Hayden possesses some valuable information and attempts to kill him. At a party given when the film is completed, the killer makes another attempt on Hayden's life. However, Hayden outsmarts the killer, the assistant director, played by George Chandler, who dies in a fall from the top of a sound set. The assistant director killed the star because he caused his sister to commit suicide and then attempted to kill Hayden because he had gathered some incriminating evidence. Hayden is promoted from stunt man to assistant director and he and Miss Roberts beam happily at each other. Franklin Adreon was the associate producer. Yakima Canutt directed from the original screenplay by the associate producer and Sol Shor. Seen at the home office projection room. Reviewer's Rating : Average. — M. R. Y. Release date, September 1, 1948. Running time, 60 minutes. PCA No. 13122. General audience classification. J«>n ••■ Lynne Roberts Steve Russ Hayden Andy Gordon Jones Grant Withers, George Chandler, Boy Barcroft, John Newland, Stephanie Bachelor, John Holland, Gilbert Frye, Richard Irving, Joan Blair, John Crawford, Keith Richards, James Dale REISSUE REVIEWS YOKEL BOY Republic "Yokel Boy" is a burlesque on Hollywood and its ways of producing pictures. The Herald reviewer for the issue of March 28, 1942, wrote : "This picturization of the play of like title, which ran up a Broadway success, packs a lot of zing, crackle and sock. The humor ranges from the satirical to the slapstick and shoppers for just about any variety of laughs can find a helping of them here. . . . Joan Davis runs away with the picture frequently, exercising her talent for zany dances, falls, acrobatics and songs. Albert Dekker as the gangster, Eddie Foy, Jr., as the yokel and Alan Mowbray as the producer contribute effective performances." The screenplay was written by Isabel Dawn, Robert North produced and Joseph Stantley directed. Reissued by Republic Nov. 30, 1948. SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON Republic Here is one of the early Roy Rogers pictures, made just after his success in his first feature, "Under Western Stars." Mary Hart was one of the new discoveries to appear in "Shine on Harvest Moon," which also includes Lulu Belle and Scotty, William Farnum, Stanley Andrews, Matty Roubert, Pat Henning, Frank Jaquet and Joe Whitehead. The story's location is Jackson's Hole, famous hideout for cattle rustlers. The screenplay was written by Jack Natteford and Joseph Kane directed. Reissued by Republic November 30, 1948. SHORT SUBJECT ANSWER TO STALIN (20th Cent.Fox) March of Time (Vol. 14 — No. 17) According to the latest issue of The March of Time, America's answer to Moscow's plans for world domination is the Economic Cooperation Administration. Devoting the first part of its subject to scenes of the Kremlin-controlled agents at work throughout the world, the film then goes on to show how ECA is helping those countries for which aid is being provided and thus is effectively combating the spread of Soviet ideologies. Rounding out the subject are scenes of such world leaders as Winston Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps, George Marshall, President Truman and Paul Hoffman, head of ECA, discussing aspects of the program. Presented in the usual clear-cut and vivid March of Time style, the subject is one that will provide audiences with a clearer understanding of the importance of the Economic Cooperation Administration. Release date, November 26, 1948 19 minutes ADVANCE SYNOPSES THE DECISION OF CHRISTOPHER BLAKE (Warner Brothers) PRODUCER: Ranald MacDougall. DIRECTOR: Peter Godfrey. PLAYERS: Alexis Smith, Robert Douglas, Cecil Kellaway, Ted Donaldson, John Hoyt, Harry Davenport. DRAMA. Taken from the stage play, this is the story of a sensitive 12-year-old lad who is shocked when he learns of the plan of his parents to become divorced. During the court proceedings he becomes hysterical and cannot decide with which parent he wishes to live. The kindly judge contrives a plan to solve the problem. The parents are reunited, the boy is again happy, and a , new life for the family is in the offing. ENCHANTMENT (RKO Radio Goldwyn) PRODUCER: Samuel Goldwyn. DIRECTOR: Irving Reis. PLAYERS: David Niven, Teresa Wright, Evelyn Keyes, Farley Granger, Leo G. Carroll. ROMANCE. The scene is London, under the blitz, and Miss Wright is an American girl come to live with her great-uncle in an austere old house where he has lived on after an injury which, utilized by interfering relatives, broke up his romance with a sweetheart who married another and whom he has not seen since. When Miss Wright meets Niven, a wounded RAF officer, it turns out that he is the nephew of her great-uncle's lost sweetheart, who has since died. The great-uncle persuades them to marry without waiting, lest they become separated in similar fashion, and they decide to do so. MY OWN TRUE LOVE (Paramount) PRODUCER: Val Lewton. DIRECTOR: Compton Bennett. PLAYERS: Phyllis Calvert, Melvyn Douglas, Wanda Hendrix, Philip Friend, Bennie Barnes, Alan Napier, Arthur Shields, Phyllis Morris, Richard Webb. DRAMA. A former Army major, Clive Heath, a widower, meets and is attracted to Private Joan Clews of the Auxiliary Territorial Service at the end of the war. Joan had married after a quick wartime romance but her husband is seeking a divorce. The Major's son, Michael, an English flier, is brought back from England minus a leg. Michael falls in love with Joan and when she sympathizes with him, Clive decides to give her up rather than add further to his son's unhappiness. However, Joan persuades Michael to resume his studies and to find a new life for himself. Clive and Joan sail for Africa to be married. ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON (Warner Brothers) PRODUCER: Jerry Wald. DIRECTOR: Raoul Walsh. PLAYERS: Dennis Morgan, Janis Paige, Dorothy Malone, Don DeFore, Ben Blue. ROMANTIC COMEDY-DRAMA : As dentist Biff Grimes (Dennis Morgan) is about to administer a lethal dose of anaesthetic to his patient, Hugo Barnstead (Don DeFore ); the man who had stolen his girl and caused him to be imprisoned unjustly, events of the past are brought to his mind. Biff had been in love with beautiful Virginia (Janis Paige) but had married Amy (Dorothy Malone) when Hugo and Virginia eloped. As Biff is about to give Hugo the gas inhalator, he realizes that Virginia is no longer beautiful, but hard and quarrelsome, and that Hugo has become a jittery hypochondriac. Biff, no longer angry or jealous of Hugo, is now only thankful of Amy and the good life they have together. 4398 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 27, 1948