Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

marries Miss Malone, a free thinker who changes her mind about free love when Morgan proposes. Miss Paige married Don DeFore, a shyster of uncertain origins, and together they go on to wealth and power — and complete unhappiness. The Morgan-Malone duo remain happy despite the fact that Morgan is sent to prison through some shenanigans of Mr. DeFore. The feature was produced by Jerry Wald, directed by Raoul Walsh, and Robert L. Richards wrote the screenplay from the play by James Hagan. Seen at the Warner Brothers projection room in Nezv York. Reviewer's Rating: Good. — Ray Lanning. Release date, January 1, 1949. Running time, 90 minutes. PCA No. 12934. General audience classification. Biff Grimes Dennis Morgan Virginia Brush Janis Paige Hugo Barnstead Don DeFore Amv Lind Dorothy Malone Ben Blue, Oscar O'Shead, Alan Hale, Jr., George Xeise An Old-Fashioned Girl Eagle Lion — A Famous Story In bringing to the screen Louisa May Alcott's famed story about a girl who scandalizes Boston .society in the 1870's by insisting that there is nothing vulgar about making her own living, Vinson Productions, for Harry Thomas' Equity Pictures, has taken a cue from the title. With Gloria Jean in the title role, the film moves slowly and is brightened only in spots, when Gloria Jean's voice or the violin solo of Saundra Berkova interrupts the stilted dialogue. Here and there Jimmy Lydon manages to introduce a note of comedy. An Eagle Lion release, "An Old-Fashioned Girl" was adapted and written for the screen by Arthur Dreifuss and McElbert Moore, who must have had the very young in mind when writing the script. Mr. Dreifuss produced and directed with an apparent effort to keep things as simple as possible. As a result, the film may find acceptance and favor with family audiences who also may enjoy the musical numbers and the performances of some of the young actors. Joseph Levinson wras executive producer. This little story of love and intrigue in old Boston starts with the arrival of Gloria in the "big city." She scandalizes her friends by deciding to stay in a rooming house and earn her living by giving singing lessons. John Hubbard, loved by Frances Rafferty, finds Gloria very attractive. Gloria, in turn, is secretly in love with Jimmy Lydon, Frances' brother. Gloria is snubbed by Frances' friends, and especially by Jimmy's fiancee, Barbara Brier. Frances' young sister, Mary Eleanor Donahue, who gives a refreshingly good performance, gets active behind the scenes and in the end the right couples are united, especially after Douglas Wood, Frances' and Jimmy's father, goes broke. Seen at a New York reviewing room. Reviewer's Rating : Fair. — F. H. Release date, not set. Running time, 82 minutes. PCA No General audience classification. Polly Milton Gloria Jean Tom Shaw Jimmy Lydon Mr. Sydney John Hubbard Frances Rafferty, Mary Eleanor Donahue, Irene Ryan, Douglas Wood, Barbara Brier, Claire Whitney My Own True Love Paramount — Romantic Melodrama Set in London in those weeks immediately after the end of World War II, "My Own True Love" is a routine melodrama of a romantic duel between a father and his waruracked son for the love of a girl. As such it is a slow-paced story designed for those audiences who enjoy the type of film fare which depends almost solely upon dialogue for its plot development. Heading the cast is Phyllis Calvert, the girl who unwittingly comes between Melvyn Douglas, the father, and Philip Friend, his son. As the girl just out of army service, Miss Calvert brings a touch of sincerity to her por trayal, while Douglas and Friend, both of whom have proved their acting ability in previous film ventures, are held back by story limitations. Wanda Hendrix, as the daughter of Douglas, lends a decorative if unnecessary element to the story. By the time the picture ends the romantic complications have straightened themselves out, and the wounded son has become completely rehabilitated. The picture was produced by Val Lewton and directed by Compton Bennett. The screenplay was written by Theodore Strauss and Josef Mischel from an adaptation of Yolanda Foldes' novel by Arthur Kober. Supporting players include Binnie Barnes, Alan Napier and Arthur Shields. Reviczvcd at the Nornwndie theatre in New York. Rcziczver s Rating : Fair. — George H. Spires. Release date, February 4, 1949. Running time, 84 minutes. PCA No. 12608. General audience classification. Joan Claws Phyllis Calvert Clive Heath . ... Melvyn Douglas Michael Heath . Philip Friend Wanda Hendrix, Binnie Barnes, Alan Napier, Arthur Shields, Phyllis Morris, Richard Webb The Sheriff of Medicine Bow Monogram — Adventure in the West Johnny Mack Brown, as the sheriff of Medicine Bow, discovers that a group of racketeers is trying to outsmart and frame a ranch owner owning valuable gold deposits. Brown is called upon to shoot, ride and fight in order to capture the gang and its leader. Raymond Hatton is a reformed bank robber. Max Terhune, the foreman, presents several amusing episodes with the humorous repartee of his dummy. Raymond Hatton returns to a small Western town and greets the sheriff who secured his parole. Then Hatton rides with the sheriff to his ranch and is reunited with his daughter, played by Evelyn Finley, who has been struggling to save the ranch. The gang tries to gain possession of Hatton's land and resorts to holdups and shootings and attempts to frame Hatton in another bank robbery. The sheriff realizes that Hatton is innocent and rounds up the gang. Barney A. Sarecky produced and Lambert Hillyer directed from an original screenplay by J. Benton Cheney. Seen at the New York theatre. Rcviczocr's Rating : Fair.—M. R. Y. Release date, October 3, 1948. Running time, 55 minutes. PCA No. 133329. General audience classification. Sheriff Johnny Mack Johnny Mack Brown Bunty Raymond Hatton Alibi Max Terhune Evelyn Finley. Bill Kennedy, George Lewis, Frank Larue, Peter Perkins Mexican Hayride Universal International — Strictly for Laughs This picture is lots of fun and as rollicking, imaginative and cleverly produced a slapstick comedy as has come out of Hollywood for many a day. It just can't miss. Once again exhibitors can rely on one of the ablest teams in the business, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, with the little fat man carrying the load. He is as good as ever and his antics appear sure to bring down every house. This is strictly first-rate escapist film fare for anyone, from grandma to grandchild. From the very beginning the gags, old and new, come thick and fast and as the inimitable pair go through their paces in one absurd situation after the other, the audience is sure to react with gales of laugher. "Mexican Hayride" originally was a Cole Porter-Herbert and Dorothy Fields musical which, starring Bobby Clark, enjoyed a long run on Broadway. Here it is, sans music, produced by Robert Arthur and adapted to the screen by Oscar Brodney and John Grant. Charles T. Barton directed with a good feeling for pace and that indefinable something that sets apart the Abbott-Costello brand of comedy. The rest of the cast in that nonsensical comedy down Mexico way (and, by the way, was it necessary to play up the fact that an American here was more or less making a fool of Mexicans?) gives fine performances with Sidney Fields as a fast-talking reporter, and Fritz Feld as a professor of elocution, taking top honors. Virginia Grey and John Hubbard provide the heart interest, and Luba Malina offers the only song of the picture. There is more music, however, by the Flores Brothers Trio. Lou Costello, a fugitive from American justice, is selected as the hero of Amigo Americano week in Mexico quite by mistake. Both he and Bud Abbott are wanted in Iowa, but Costello must go through with his Mexican tour. Many complications arise as crook Abbott gets Lou into more and deeper trouble. Finally, Lou finds himself in a Mexico City bull-ring, facing the ferocious animal and being chased from pillar to post. In the end all is well, of course, with romance blooming for the rotund comedian. Seen at the Universal-International home office screening room, where a press audience appeared to have a lot of fun. Reviezver's Rating : Very good. — Fred Hift. Release date, December, 1948. Running time, 77 minutes. PCA No. 13428. General audience classification. Harry Lambert Bud Abbott Joe Bascom . .Lou Costello Montana Virginia Grey Luba Malina, John Hubbard, Pedro de Cordoba, Fritz Feld, Tom Powers, Pat Costello. Frank Fenton. {Review reprinted from last week's Herald) REISSUE REVIEW SCATTERBRAIN Republic This comedy stars Judy Canova as a hillbilly girl who is taken to Hollywood as a result of mistaken identity. The Herald review for July 6, 1940, said : "A professional audience, composed of press and studio folk, acclaimed this comedy one of the most comical it has ever seen, gave every indication that it enjoyed it thoroughly and lost many lines of dialogue by laughii>g too long at several points. Judy Canova proves herself as a comedienne and singer. She is given support by Alan Mowbray, Eddie Foy, Jr., Joseph Cawthorn, Wallace Ford, Isabel Jewell, Luis Alberni, Billy Gilbert, Emmett Lynn, Jimmy Starr and the musical aggregations of Cal Shrum's Gang and Matty Alalneck and his Orchestra." Gus Meins produced and directed from an original screenplay by Jack Townley and Val Burton. Reissued by Republic October 31, 1948. SHORT SUBJECTS MR. GROUNDLING TAKES THE AIR (Paramount) Pacemakers (K8-2) Here is Mr. Groundling, the timid soul, about to take his first airplane ride from New York to Chicago, and scared to death. Aloft he has a number of amusing experiences but reaches his destination a confirmed and seasoned air traveler, after one ride. Justin Herman wrote, produced and directed this effective incentive to more air travel, emphasizing the speed and safety of the method. Release date, December 3, 1948 11 minutes CONTEST CRAZY (RKO) Edgar Kennedy Comedies (95,401) Poor Edgar is up to his ears in hilarious problems again as his wife and brother-in-law get the radio contest bug. Wifey thinks that shehas won a contest but Edgar says she can't because his company sponsors the show, and employees' families are not eligible. What happens to him when the family conspires to make him lose his job is good for plenty of laughs. Release date, October 1, 1948 17 minutes PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION, DECEMBER II, 1948 4419