Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1944)

? M M 70 BRIEF REVIEWS Super cheereruppers: Dinah Shore, Danny Kaye in "Up In Arms" INDICATES PICTURE RATED “OUTSTANDING” WHEN REVIEWED INDICATES PICTURE RATED “VERY GOOD” WHEN REVIEWED INDICATES PICTURE RATED “GOOD” WHEN REVIEWED ADVENTURE IN 1 RAQ— VI arners: Warren Douglas is a Flying Tiger pilot who’s forced down in Iraq. With him are John Loder and his estranged wife, Ruth Ford. The group is picked up by suave sheik Paul Cavanaugh and held as hostages for the sheik’s brothers. Douglas falls in love with Miss Ford and the climax is the arrival of American planes to the rescue. (Dec.) ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID— Vniversa\: The Andrews Sisters conduct a Lonely Hearts Club via the radio that comes up for a bit of investigating. Patric Knowles from the District Attorney’s office and Gracie MacDonald from the Police Force are sent out and the two, unaware of their real identity, fall in love. The Andrews Sisters sing several songs and Gracie is very cute. (Dec.) BOMBER'S MOON — 20th Century-Fox: More of the same old stuff about an American flier, George Montgomery, a Russian girl, Annabella, and a Czech officer, Kent Taylor (really a Nazi spy), who are permitted to escape from a German prison so that they may lead the Germans to the underground workers. 'The three principals are good, but the story’s been done too often before. (Nov.) CAMPUS RHYTHM — Monogram; Gale Storm is a radio singing star who gets bored with her life, so she takes an assumed name and enters a small college. She soon becomes the school belle, with Johnny Downs and Robert Lowery her most persistent suitors. There are several good musical numbers and Miss Storm sings four songs very nicely. (Dec.) \/\/'CLAUDIA — 20th Century-Fox: Completely captivating and utterly enchanting is this story of Claudia, played by Dorothy McGuire, the child wife •vho finally grows up. Robert Young as her older and thoroughly perplexed husband is completely real. Ina Claire is her mother and Reginald Gardiner the Englishman with whom Claudia innocently starts a flirtation, (Nov.) \/\/CORVETTE K-225 — Universal; All about the dangers encountered by a convoy ship, this is an exciting story that stirs the pulses. Randy Scott gives a socko performance as the ship’s captain and Jim Brown proves he has everything to make a star. Ella Raines shows great promise as Brown’s sister and Barry Fitzgerald, .'\ndy Devine and Fuzzy Knight lend the story support. (Dec.) ^•^CRAZY HOUSE — Universal: Olsen and John son are in top form in a purely escapist mumble jumble of monkey business. They arrive in Hollywood to make another picture and can only get in the studio by being shot over the wall from a cannon. You can take it from there. Martha O’Driscoll, Patric Knowles, Cass Daley, the DeMarcos and dozens of others get all mixed up in the fun. (Jan.) DANCING MASTERS, THE — 20th Century-Fox; Laurel and Hardy are back again, first as proprietors of a dancing school and then as cupid to Trudy Marshall and Robert Bailey. From there, they get mixed up with a new flame thrower and somewhere along the line they fall for an insurance policy with Laurel trying to reap the benefits. Sometimes it’s very funny. (Jan.) ^DESTROYER — Columbia: An exciting tale about a destroyer under the guidance of Edward G. Robinson, a meanie who antagonizes the entire crew, including Glenn Ford who is in love with Marguerite Chapman, Robinson’s daughter. It takes an attack by a flight of Nip planes and a submarine to bring out the fine qualities of the ship and her captain. (Nov.) \^FALLEN SPARROW, THE— RKO: This is a bit involved but still an interest-holder, and John Garfield gives a fine performance as the American who escapes from a Spanish prison and returns to New York to find his pal is murdered. Walter Slezak is the Nazi who watches Garfield to find the hiding place of a flag standard, and Martha O’Driscoll, Maureen O’Hara and Patricia Morison are all good. (Nov.) FIND THE BLACKMAILER— Warners-. A silly time-waster all about a candidate for mayor hiring a detective to steal a crow that utters a phrase that might incriminate the politician in a scandal. Gene Lockhart, Jerome Cowan and Faye Emerson have our sympathy. (Jan.) y)^FIRED WIFE — Universal: A gay, sprightly little tale about a pair of newlyweds, Robert Paige and Louise Allbritton, who start off on a honeymoon that ends in Reno. When Louise keeps her marriage secret because her boss, Walter Abel, is allergic to married women, and when Paige becomes involved with Diana Barrymore who chases him all over the place, the resulting confusion is just too much. (Nov.) \^^FLESH AND FANTASY — Universal; A mystic fantasy of dreams and superstitions told in story sequence, with the first starring Betty Eield and Robert Cummings. The next interlude has Thomas Mitchell, a palmist, prophesying that Edward G. Robinson will commit a murder, with strange results. Then Charles Boyer and Barbara Stanwyck take over the final in triguing episode. (Dec.) ^FRONTIER B ADMEN — Universal: A good West ern, telling how an honest market for Texas cattle men was established with Robert Paige and his partner, , Noah Berry Jr., doing most of the establishing. Anne Gwynne is the girl loved by both boys, and Diana Barrymore is the lady owner of a gambling house. I Lon Chaney is the villain. (Nov.) I GILDERSLEEVE ON BROADWAY— RKO \ Gildy heads for New York to straighten out his niece’s romance, but of course you know he gets involved with too many women and the results are as corny] as an Iowa farm. Billie Burke hasn’t enough to do in this opus and it all isn’t very funny. (Jan.) ’r )yy^GIRL CRAZY — U-G-U: Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney are together again in this musical,' noisier and better than ever. Mickey’s a girl-crazy j playboy sent West to a stag college where Judy, as|' granddaughter of the school head, is the only girl. I n But Mickey stages a lavish rodeo with beauty contest! winners and the school goes co-ed. It’s got Gershwin music, girls, and fun. (Nov.) GIRL FROM MONTERREY, THE— P.R.C.: Armida takes on the job of managing her prize-fighting brother, Anthony (Jaruso, and finally brings him to the States, where he eventually opposes Terry Frost, the American fighter she loves. Armida and Veda Ann Borg both sing several songs, Edgar Kennedy is the fight manager and Jack LaRue the villain. (Dec.) t/'GOOD LUCK, MR. (:olumbia: Jess,! Barker is a young instructor in a military academy 1 who sets off to enlist in the Army. A slight ailment ' defers it, so while waiting he goes to work in a shipyard; then word gets back to the school that he’s a. slacker and unpleasantness ensues. Tom Neal, Claire I Trevor, Edgar Buchanan and Frank Sully are top | additions to the cast. (Jan.) : )/y^GUADALCANAL DIARY— 20th Century-Fox: I This picturized account of our capture of the South Pacific base is an important document of this war and , should be seen by every American. The picture re . veals how the Marines landed, their heartbreaking I wait during bombings for reinforcements, their losses ; and eventual victory. Preston Foster, William Bendix, i Lloyd Nolan and Anthony Quinn are outstanding. I (Jan.) 'i HARVEST MELODY— Y.R.G.: Movie star Rose [ mary Lane is slipping badly in pictures so her press | agent, Sheldon Leonard, talks her into helping out in the harvest emergency by becoming a worker on J Johnny Downs’ farm and thus getting herself a lot j of publicity. Rosemary sings several songs, and the ^ Radio Rogues and Eddie Le Baron’s orchestra help f out the entertainment. (Jan.) j HERE COMES ELMER— Republic: A small-time radio group, played by A1 Pearce and his radio gang, ;; are lured to NewYork by a fake telegram from a big j producer offering them a mythical contract. Gloria ; Stuart and Frank Albertson contribute the romance, J Dale Evans sings, Pearce goes into his “Blurt” j character and Jan Garber and his orchestra please i the ear. (Jan.) j )^HI DIDDLE DIDDLE— V. A.; The farce of the interrupted honeymoon again, with Dennis O’Keefe, the sailor groom, attempting to aid his new mother-inlaw, Billie Burke, recoup her lost fortune and at the -J same time spend his forty-eight-hour leave with his i bride, Martha Scott. Adolphe Menjou and Pola Negri are perfect, and Martha is cute, chic, and j funny. June Havoc also adds to the fun. (Nov.) ! (Continued on page 112) SHADOW STAGE Pictures Reviewed in This Issue Paae Around The World 110 Cross Of Lorraine, The 22 Cry Havoc 'O'* Falcon And The Coeds, The 10"! False Colors HO Gang's All Here, The 10) Gangway For Tomorrow HO Henry Aldrich Haunts A House 107 His Butler's Sister 106 Jack London 22 Jive Junction 106 Madame Curie 22 Minesweeper 106 Old Acquaintance 105 So'i Your Uncle 109 Swing Fever 106 Task Force Ill Where Are Your Children? Ill Women In Bondage 105 1