Motion Picture Reviews (1944)

Twelve MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS THE YELLOW CANARY O O Anna Neagle, Richard Greene, Nova Pilbeam, Albert Lieven, Lucie Mannheim, Margaret Rutherford, Patric Curwan, Marjorie Fielding. Screen play by Milles Malleson and De Witt Bodean from a story by D. M. Bower. Producer-director: Herbert Wilcox. Photography by Max Green. RKOBritish. “Yellow Canary” is one of the excellent English spy stories. It moves along at a brisk tempo with hugh suspense so that the audience is kept in doubt, not only of the final outcome, but even of the national allegiance of the main characters. Tension is rerelieved by nonchalant repartee and typically English touches of humor. Action takes place aboard an ocean liner and in the port of Halifax, where destruction on a gigantic scale is plotted against the Allies. The cast, headed by Anna Neagle and Richard Greene, is notable for vivid characterizations. Sound effects are impressive with a fine musical score played by the London Symphony Orchestra. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Unusual spy film No. Too tense ❖ YOU CANT RATION LOVE O O Betty Rhodes, Johnnie Johnston, Bill Edwards, Marjorie Weaver, Marie Wilson, Johnnie "Scat" Davis, Mabel Paige, Jean Wallace. Original screen play by Val Burton and H. L. Fimbert. Direction by Lester Fuller. Paramount. This is another college movie for the strictly non-college trade. The prototype of the hero, John, is undoubtedly Frank Sinatra John rises from the college ranks to heights where the girls mob him because of his fascinating croon. The film has an original inception, rationing the few men left on the college campus to a preponderant group of attractive young girls, but it uses cheap devices and unpleasant inferences to achieve its end. Betty Rhodes is a delightful heroine, and there are some good radio entertainers who add a skilful touch, but on the whole this is mediocre fare. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Poor idea of college No ★ ★ ★ SHORT SUBJECTS THE NEGRO SOLDIER O O U. S. War Department. Produced by U S Signal Corps under supervision of Col. Frank Capra and the direction of Captain Stuart Heisler. This exceptional documentary outlines the Negro’s contribution in the making of America and the part he played throughout the history of this country in peace time industry and in warfare. It contrasts Hitler’s ideology with that of the Allies and is an important and valuable film. Mature family ♦ OVER THE WALL O O Warner Bros. 2 reels. The suspense created by the short drama of the reformation of a criminal is sustained to the very end. The change in the prisoner is extremely well done for so short a space of development. The picture is good for all age groups, for at no time is sympathy turned toward the criminal yet the priest’s unfailing belief in mankind is shown, to be justified. SUBSCRIPTION ORDER BLANK Please Detach and Mail in with Your Subscription MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS P. O. Box 9251 Los Angeles, Calif. 1944 1 am enclosing for subscriptions to Motion Picture Reviews at $1 .50 a year each. New Renewal Name Address.