Motion Picture Reviews (1943)

Ten MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS hunt involving the girl and the detective. The plot becomes overcomplicated, and the motives of the leading characters are not sufficiently interesting to make their actions seem of much importance to the audience. Adolescents 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Passable Poor ONE DANGEROUS NIGHT O O Warren William, Marguerite Chapman, Eric Blore, Nona Maris, Tala Birrell, Margaret Hayes, Ann Savage, Thurston Hall, Warren Ashe Fred Kelsey. Direction by Michael Gordon. Columbia Pictures. The Lone Wolf, Michael Lanyard, and his light-fingered associate, Jameson, become involved in the murder of a notorious playboy when they are discovered with the body. To clear himself, as well as to satisfy his own curiosity, Lanyard escapes the police and carries on his own private investigation which eventually implicates a number of lovely ladies. The plot is interesting for lovers of murder mysteries, and the denouement is neatly fabricated. Williams is smooth in his role, and Eric Blore, amusing as his accomplice. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Matter of taste Rather complicated PILOT NO. 5 0 0 Franchot Tone, Marsha Hunt, Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Alan Baxter, Dick Simmons, Steve Geray, Howard Freeman, Frank Puglia, William Tannen. Original story and screen play by David Hertz. Directed by George Sidney. Produced by B. P. Fineman. M-G-M. In the losing battle for Java, only five American pilots with one reconditioned plane between them remain for whatever service they may render. A Dutch Commander takes over and selects George Collins (Franchot Tone) from the volunteers for a dangerous mission. When Collins leaves, his companions explain the circumstances which have given the pilot the intensity of will and purpose which inspired the Commander’s confidence. It is an original and significant story of an idealistic youth who became enmeshed in as tangible, if unrecognized, a form of Fascism as any designed by Axis Powers. It is a story of a normal enough ambition which blinded the man to decency and of an awakening which purified. It is very well acted, with Gene Kelly and Frank Puglia giving arresting performances as Italians in America. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Mature REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY O O Ann Miller, William Wright, Dick Pursell, Franklin Pangborn, Tim Ryan, Larry Parks, Barbara Brown, Douglas Leavitt, Bob Crosby (with Ella Mae Morse), Duke Ellington, Count Basio and their orchestras, Frank Sinatra, Mills Brothers and The Radio Rogues. A light and fairly entertaining comedy centers around a young girl from a radio shop who has ambitions to be heard on the air, and two Army privates who become rivals for her affections. Scenes from camp life add interest, and the radio angle is used as an introduction for several popular band leaders and their performers. Ann Miller’s dancing is delightful. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good, especially for Not much those who like swing interest ❖ RHYTHM OF THE ISLANDS O O Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, Andy Devine, Ernest Truex, Mary Wickes, Nestor Paiva, Acquanetta, Marjorie Gateson. Direction by Roy William Neill. Musical director, Charles Previn. Universal Pictures. Two Brooklyn pals buy a tropical isle in the South Seas and lure the tourist trade by exploiting native dances and tribal customs. A millionaire, visiting with his wife and daughter, is charmed by the place and is tempted to purchase it until unfriendly natives stage a war. This is a light and pleasing musical with rhythmic melodies, exotic dances and farcical humor. The orchestration is good, and Allan Jones sings well. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Matter of taste Matter of taste SALUTE FOR THREE O O Betty Rhodes, McDonald Carey, Marty May, Cliff Edwards, Minna Gombel, Lorraine and Rogman, Dona Drake. Screen play by Doris Anderson, Curtis Kenyon, Hugh Wedlock, Jr., and Howard Snyder. Direction by Ralph Murphy. Paramount. An all-girl orchestra and popular songs are the highlights of a light musical which revolves around the efforts of a smart radio publicly agent to link the name of his client with that of a war hero who is thoroughly bored by public acclaim. When the agent’s plan backfires and the romance becomes bonafide, he joins the Army, too, and “Salute For Three’’ is sung to commemorate the good will ending of the triangle. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Matter of taste Little interest