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

"The MOVIES • • • • 1940” over mountain and mesa the culprit is disposed of. Jerry wins Lylah of course. The story lags now and then, but should get by easily enough. Roy Rogers, assisted by comic George Hayes, measures up to the material, and Pauline Moore as Lylah makes a passable heroine. Milburn Stone as Captain Mason also helps keep the movie alive. STAGECOACH WAR: Produced by Harry Sherman for Paramount Director: Lesley Selander Screenplay: Norman Houston Story: Clarence E. Mulford Photography: Russell Harlan Hopalong Cassidy William Boyd Lucky Russell Hayden Speedy Britt Wood Neal Holt Harvey Stephens Jeff Chapman J. Farrell MacDonald Shirley Chapman Julie Carter Smiley Rad Robinson Twister Maxwell Frank Lackteen Quincy Cobalt Edward Waller Malt Gunther Jack Rockwell The King's Men Hopalong Cassidy holds his own in another addition to the series; stagecoach rivals, bandits, and the girl make for an average entry. (Adults & Young People) (Running time, 61 minutes) There’s a contest on between the forces of Jeff Chapman and Neal Holt for a Wells-Fargo stagecoach franchise, it seems, and even though young Neal is in love with Jeff’s daughter, Shirley, he gets involved in a race for the contract. As things turn out, however, Neal must deliberately lose the race in order to save his sweetheart. Fearing that he has also lost the respect of his comrades, Neal is about to tie in with some badmen when his loyalty to Hopalong saves the day. Hopalong, meanwhile, goes gunning for the baddies, and you know what that means. At the finish Neal gets the girl and a partnership with Jeff. William Boyd as Hopalong continues vigorous, and this time Harvey Stephens as young Neal shares the spotlight a good part of the time. J. Farrell MacDonald as Jeff Chapman runs through with a neat characterization. Russell Hayden as Lucky, Hopalong’s pal, Julie Carter as Shirley, and several others work up adequate performances. CHRISTMAS IN JULY: Produced by Paul Jones for Paramount Director: Preston Sturges Screenplay: Preston Sturges Photography: Victor Milner Art Directors: Hans Dreier, Earl Hedrick Editor: Ellsworth Hoagland Jimmy MacDonald Dick Powell Betty Casey Ellen Drew Mr. Maxford Raymond Walburn Mr. Schindel Alexander Carr Mr. Bildocker William Demarest Mr. Baxter Ernest Truex Radio Announcer Franklin Pangborn Mr. Waterbury Harry Hayden Dick Rod Cameron Tom Michael Morris Harry Harry Rosenthal Mrs. MacDonald Georgia Crane Mrs. Schwartz Ferike Boros Mr. Schmidt Torben Meyer Mr. Zimmerman Julius Tannen Mr. Hillbeiner Alan Bridge Mrs. Casey Lucille Ward Secretary Kay Stewart Davenola Salesman Vic Potel Crisp and diverting comedy starring Dick Powell as a #22-a-week clerk who sets out to spend #25,000 won in a coffee slogan contest — only to learn that the prize was a phony. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 66 minutes) Preston Sturges has written and directed this story with the same sure approach which distinguished The Great McGinty. Pungent commentaries, a sharp presentation of detail, and soundly motivated comedy foundations more than compensate for a slight and not very believable plot. A number of the comedy sequences are delightfully original, and the romantic intervals are always persuasive. Jimmy MacDonald, a coffee company clerk, wants to marry Betty Casey and buy his mother a bed-davenport, but his salary won't allow him to, so he embarks on a slogan-writing campaign for a rival coffee concern. He receives a telegram informing him he has won $25,000, collects a check for that amount from the coffee company president — and then plays Santa Claus to everyone on the block including his sweetie. After his employer promotes him to the advertising department, the bubble bursts. The telegram was a phony dispatched by the office jokers and the check was handed over by mistake. The slogan jury is still hung. The resultant complications culminate in a happy ending, but not before a good Dick Powell Ellen Drew “CHRISTMAS IN JULY” number of deftly handled hilarity highlights have been touched off. Dick Powell contributes a highly effective performance as Jimmy MacDonald, the clerk who undergoes a dramatic change of character when he believes himself the possessor of $25,000, and Ellen Drew, who seems to improve with each picture, is entirely satisfactory as sweetheart Betty. Raymond Walburn as the blustery slogan company president and Ernest Truex as Jimmy's employer make outstanding two meaty support roles, while William Demarest as a stubborn luror displays gusty vigor. STRANGER ON THE THIRD FLOOR: Produced by Lee Marcus for RKO Director: Boris Ingster Lcreenplay: Frank Partos Story: Frank Partos Photography: Nicholas Musuraca Editor: Harry Marker The Stranger Michael Jane District Attorney Joe Briggs Meng Mrs. Kane Martin Judge Defense Attorney Police Surgeon .... Peter Lorre John McGuire Margaret Tallichet .. Charles Waldron ... Elisha Cook, Jr. ... Charles Halton Ethel Griffcs Cliff Clark Oscar O'Shea Alec Craig Otto Hoffman Mildly effective murder story in which a reporter helps convict an innocent man of murder and then finds himself in a similar fix. (Running time, 67 minutes) Director Boris Ingster has apparently tackled Stranger on the Third Floor with the intention of turning out an eerie and original thriller. Although the film has creepy moments and some effective scenes, however, it lacks sustained suspense. Too many of the situations seem artificial, and the trick montage and sound effects, while impressive at times, simply do not compensate for the sluggish pace. A stern young newspaper reporter appears in court with circumstantial evidence which convicts a suspect of murdei. Soon he begins to question his own judgement, and gradually his conscience convinces him that the accused is innocent. Then his next-door neighbor is murdered, and he experiences a weird dream in which solemn voices hint that the crime will he fastened on himself. Things look pretty black, but his sweetheart Jane dodges frantically about the town and finally ferrets out the guilty party, in this case an escaped lunatic. The maniac confesses to both crimes, thus clearing both the reporter and the suspect whom he caused to be convicted. John McGuire as the reporter is adequate, but needs further grooming. Margaret Tallichet as sweetheart Jane, Elisha Cook, Jr., as the innocent suspect, and seceral others manage acceptable performances. Peter Lorre, given top listing, appears only briefly in a submerged bit as (he escaped lunatic. 86