The Movies ... and the People Who Make Them (1940)

"The MOVIES 1940” THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED: Produced by Erich Pommer for RKU Radio Director: Garson Kanin Screenplay: Robert Ardrey Play: Sidney Howard Music Score: Alfred Newman Photography: Harry Stradling Editor: John Sturges Amy Carole Lombard Tony Charles Laughton Joe William Gargan The Doctor Harry Carey Father McKee Frank Fay I he R. F. D Joe Bernard Mildred Janet Fox Ah Gee Lee Tung'Foo Red Karl Malden The Photographer Victor Kilian Splendidly acted, honest and moving drama based on Sidney Howard’s Pulitzer Prize Play; tony, a good-natured Italian grape grower, iai_s m love with a waitress, proposes by letter, and then meets with an accident shortly before the wedding. During his convalescence Amy, the waitress, becomes compromised by the moody ranch foreman, but Tony forgives her. (Adults) (Running time, 90 minutes) Twice before the late Sidney Howard's drama of temptation and tolerance has been brought to the screen, in 1928 as The Secret Hour and again in 1930 as A Lady in Love. This latest version adheres closely to the spirit of the original, is, in essence, a drama of characterization. The film achieves strong emotional impact by outlining a tragic story largely in terms of comedy and by maintaining its material on a realistic level. It goes without saying of course, that this would be impossible without the benefit of powerful acting and direction. When Tony Patucci, a boisterous but warm-hearted California grape rancher, decides to take a vacation, he leaves foreman Joe in charge and journeys to San Francisco. Here he falls in love with a waitress, Amy Peters, but finding that he is to timid to speak for himself, returns to the ranch and persuades Joe to write to her. The girl replies, and gradually the letters become less impersonal. Finally Tony proposes, sends the waitress a picture of Joe instead of himself for fear the woman might be disappointed, and arranges for her to visit him. Amy is attracted to the cold, rather handsome foreman who meets her at the station, but she agrees to marry Tony when she learns the truth. On the day before the scheduled wedding, however, Tony breaks both legs in a fall from a ridgepole, and Father McKee insists the ceremony be postponed Almost against her will, Amy gives herself to Joe. Filled with bitter remorse, she develops an intense regard for Tony, who recovers rapidly. On the day before the newly scheduled wedding Amy faints, and the local doctor tells Joe she is pregnant. Joe leaves that evening and then Amy too plans to run away. The hard-bitten foreman returns however, driven by the pangs of an aroused conscience, and offers marriage. Amy is infuriated, slaps him. but as both are departing Tony encounters them, learns the truth, and falls exhausted after beatin g Joe. Later, when his innate Carole Lombard Charles Laughton “THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED” compassion has overcome his rage, he offers to marry Amy anyway, but Father McKee refuses to let him. Someday, he says, if Tony still wishes to, he may. Carole Lombard plays the part of the lonely waitress with deep comprehension and sympathy. Her performance is intense at all times, always in character, and easily the film’s outstanding delineation. Charles Laughton as Tony overplays at times but his role is unusually forceful, lacking neither vitality nor appeal. William Cargan as Joe, the friend-avoiding foreman, not infrequently draws attention from Laughton and Miss Lombard. Frank Fay as Father McKee and Harry Carey as the doctor also handle strong roles. Erich Pommer’s production assets seem entirely in place, and Garson Kanin’s dynamic direction builds up a stirring crescendo as the situations unfold. The camera focuses to advantage on the beauty of the California countryside. UNDER TEXAS SKIES: Produced by Harry Grey for Republic Director: George Sherman Screenplay: Anthony Coldewey, Betty Burbridge Story: Anthony Coldewey (Based on characters created by William Colt MacDonald) Photography: William Nobles Editor: Tony Martinelli "Stony" Brooke Robert Livingston "Tucson" Smith Bob Steele "Lullaby” Joslin Rufe Davis Helen Lois Ranson Blackton Henry Brandon Sheriff Brooke Wade Boteler Marsden Rex Lease Finley Jack Ingram Theodore Walter Tetley Talbot Yakima Canutt Smithers Earle Hodgkins Jackson Curley Dresden Unimpressive “Mesquiteer” melodrama; Stony Brooke returns home to find his father murdered by an assassin who turns out to be the new sheriff. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 57 minutes) This first film in Republic’s new series of Mesquiteer pictures features only one member of the original trio, Robert Livingston, who plays Stony Brooke. Bob Steele and Rufe Davis play “Tucson” ana “Lullaby” respectively. Stony returns to his home town after a long absence, iinds his sheriff-father murdered and his boyhood friend, Tucson Smith, accused oi the crime. He joins Blackton, the new sheriff, in a hunt for the suspect, only to learn that his friend is innocent and that Blackton himself is the killer. After a number of actionful incidents, seasoned with a bit of humor and a dash of romance, the culprit receives his just deserts. Livingston and Steele help maintain a fair pace, while Davis supplies a few laughs. Lois Ranson as the girl doesn't have much to do. COLORADO: Produced by Joseph Kane for Republic Director: Joseph Kane Screenplay: Louis Stevens, Harrison Jacobs Photography: Jack Marta Editor: Edward Mann Jerry Burke Roy Rogers Gabby George “Gabby" Hayes Lylah Sanford Pauline Moore Captain Mason Milburn Stone Etta Mae Maude Eburne Jim Macklin Arthur Loft Weaver Hal Taliaferro Sam Vester Pegg Sheriff Harkins Fred Burns Sanford Lloyd Ingraham Acceptable western with Roy Rogers as a Civil War U. S. Army lieutenant combatting and overcoming his own brother, a Confederate sympathizer. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 57 minutes) When troublesome Indian bands keep occupying troops needed by Gen. Grant, Lieutenant Jerry Burke is assigned to end the uprisings. Arriving in Colorado, Jerry meets Lylah Sanford, the girl in the case, and also his renegade brother, Captain Mason, who has been sponsoring the redskin attacks. Just to complicate matters, Mason has managed to get himself engaged to Lylah. Jerry is loath to crack down on his own kin, but there’s no other way out, and finally after a rousing chase