Motion Picture Reviews (1944)

Four MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS for family groups, and a bit of sound philosophy is injected in the role played by Bonita Granville as contrasted with the types portrayed by the twins. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Yes <♦ BUFFALO BILL O O Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, Linda Darnell, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, Anthony Quinn, Moroni Olsen, Frank Fenton, Matt Briggs, George Lessey. Original screen play by Frank Winch. Music by David Buttolph. Photography by Leon Shamroy, A. S.C. Direction by William A. Wellman. Produced by Harry A. Sherman. 20th CenturyFox. Photographed in magnificent Technicolor, "Buffalo Bill” outstrips most of the Western pictures. It is the story of a man who lived among the Indians, understood them, and tried to protect them when the white men came to destroy the buffaloes, their chief food supply, and who nevertheless fought for his own people when their lives were in peril. It tells of his romantic marriage, his long years in Wild West performances, and his final return to the West he loved. It belongs to a picturesque era which stirs the imagination. Joel McCrea brings this almost legendary hero to life in a very convincing manner. The battles with Indians are stunningly projected. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 1 2 Good Exciting but no objection for most ❖ COVER GIRL O O Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Lee Bowman, Phil Silvers, Jinx Falkenburg, Leslie Brooks, Eve Arden, Otto Kruger, Jess Barker, Anita Colby, Curt Bois and The Cover Girls. Screen play by Virginia Van Upp from story by Erwin Gelsey. Music and lyrics by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin. Filmed in Technicolor. Direction by Charles Vidor. Columbia Pictures. “Cover Girl” is a lush musical which,, in addition to excellent music, good specialty acts, spectacular beauty of settings and lovely girls, has a tender love story that wins sympathy. The dancing acts are particularly worth seeing because both Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly are stellar performers. Gene Kelly’s soliloquy number is stunning in settings, photography and perfection of performance. Phil Silvers and Eve Arden add comedy. The famous Cover Girls are introduced in a beautiful sequence which is an integral part of the story. As tuneful, light entertainment it is “tops.” Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Excellent If Interested THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE O O Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph, Ann Carter, Elizabeth Russell, Eve Marsh, Julia Dean, Erford Gage, Sir Lancelot. Screen play by DeWitt Bodeen. Direction by Gunther V. Fritsch and Robert Wise. Produced by Val Lewton. RKO. This title may easily give the impression of a “horror film” and keep away those who would find it most rewarding. Actually, it is an excellent psychological study of a lonely, imaginative child who accepts literally the visionary stories her elders tell her to entertain her, and whose father, hurt by a former marriage to a mentally unstable woman, is oversensitive and fearful for the lovely small daughter of his second marriage. When the child’s imaginary “friend” takes the form of Irena, the dead woman whose picture the child has seen, the father takes drastic measures. But while the action is dramatic and exciting at times, the story is sincerely beautiful, told with rare understanding of childhood. It should hold special interest for parents. Little Ann Carter gives a sensitive and understanding performance. The cast is well rounded, with Julia Dean as an ageing actress living in the past, particularly good. Sir Lancelot brings a wholesome, delightful touch to the pleasant home life which becomes disturbed by the father’s fears. It is an exceptionally interesting film presenting a problem and a constructive solution. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 1 2 Mature but enter Too mature taining DAYS OF GLORY O O Toumanova, Gregory Peck, Alan Reed, Maria Palmer, Lowell Gilmore, Hugo Haas, Glenn Vernon, Dena Penn, Igor Dolguruki, Edward Durst, Lou Crosby. Screen play by Casey Robinson from story by Melchior Lengyel. Photography by Tony Gaudio, A. S.C. Producer: Casey Robinson. Direction by Jacques Tourneur. RKO. The plot is woven about a group of Russian guerrillas who live in the underground rooms of a ruined monastery, emerging to harass the enemy, and who are to be used to divert the German forces when a Russian spearhead strikes at another point. The story is touching but not overpowering in its emotional effect. It has a propaganda tone, showing the people regardless of standing, age and education, selflessly united in fighting the battle of Russia. Photography by Gaudio is beautiful. Interest is particularly caught by Gregory Peck, Toumanova, and other new personalities in the cast. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Passable Morbid