Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1945)

V'S'S Laura (20tli Century-Fox) A reliable guide to recent pictures. One cheek means good; two checks, very good; three checks, outstanding C OPHISTICATED, adult entertainment so beautifully and smoothly executed and so cleverly performed that it’s a joy to behold One feels like thrusting forth a restraining hand to hold it just a little while longer in this world of corny, brashy movies, so, like us, you’ll probably go to see it again — to marvel at the smoothly finished performance of stage star Clifton Webb in his first screen role; to enjoy the magnetic appeal of Dana Andrews who emerges a sex appeal hero, the likes of which you’ve never before seen; to appreciate the beauty and quiet forceful underplaying of Gene Tierney and the humanness of weak characters Vincent Price and Judith Anderson. It’s a murder mystery involving interesting and alarming people and one with a new and arresting (no puns) angle. You’ll go home all glowy with its pearlhandled charm and intrigued with its finesse. Your Reviewer Says: Orchids to Laura. Mystery with a subtle touch: Gene Tierney and Clifton Webb in “Laura” THE SHADOW STAGE ^ A Song To Remember (Columbia) THE influence of a shrewd woman on the life and works of a genius is here splendidly portrayed by Cornel Wilde playing Frederic Chopin and Merle Oberon as George Sand, the woman who brings him into the limelight of fame and little by little enslaves his talents and dominates his person. Even his old teacher, Paul Muni, is kept from the great composer by this designing woman who affects men’s trousers as an expression of her dominating personality. But at an exclusive concert of Chopin’s, Muni goes as the guest of Franz Liszt and there meets Chopin. Poland’s plight, kept from the composer by Sand, is revealed to Chopin and he agrees to give concerts throughout Europe in order to raise funds to buy the freedom of his old Polish comrades who have fought for Poland while he languished in Paris. It is the break then between Sand and Chopin — one that lasts until his early death. The music is the picture — exquisite, exciting, soul-satisfying. All principals turn in exceptional performances with Stephen Bekassy as Liszt, Nina Foch as Constants and George Coulouris especially outstanding. Your Reviewer Says: The musical treat of the year. W Irish Eyes Are Smiling (20th Century-Fox) IT’S young — as young as June Haver and ' Dick Haymes — and it’s tuneful and happy and forthright too. In short, it’s a Twentieth Century-Fox musical at its coziest, hitting the highlights of the life of Ernest R. Ball, a ballad writer of those Nineties, reputed to be gay and presenting his songs in a lusty manner. June Haver is so lovely as the girl and Dick Haymes who plays Ball, so manly as the boy who can’t seem to speak those few words that would clear up the misunderstanding between them — you know how it is with screen heroes. Monty Woolley is priceless as a Broadway promoter and promotes some of the best lines we’ve heard in ages. Or maybe, come to think of it, it’s the way Monty says them. The songs — among them the title one “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” as well as “Mother Machree,” “Let The Rest Of The World Go By,” “Love Me And The World Is Mine,” and “Turn Back The Universe” — are nostalgically lovely and haunting. The Technicolor is entrancing and the support of Anthony Quinn, Veda Ann Borg, Beverly Whitney and Clarence Kolb most welcome. Your Reviewer Says: A tuneful honey. Chopin Concerto: Merle Oberon and Cornel Wilde in “A Song To Remember” Tender and tuneful: Dick Haymes and June Haver in “Irish Eyes Are Smiling”. ( Continued on page 88) For Best Pictures of the Month arid Best Performances See Page 90 For Complete Casts of Current Pictures See Page 92 For Brief Reviews of Current Pictures See Page 18 7 Sawa 4