Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1959)

MOVIES continual . Tt BUENA VISTA; Sleeping DGflUty TECHNIRAMA, TECHNICOLOR VVV Off we go again into Walt Disney’s wonderful world of fantasy, with a cartoon version of the beloved fairy tale that’s sweet, funny and scary by turns. Hits of the show are the three good fairies, who look like everybody’s favorite, fussy little old maiden aunts. But the bad fairy’s spells give Walt’s magicians their best chance to conjure up spectacular effects — real nightmare stuff. The legend lilts to Tchaikovsky’s familiar ballet music. family A Cry from the Streets TUDOR VVV A lot of lovable, touchingly real youngsters — some actors, some amateurs — highlight a nice British movie about an orphanage. Max Bygraves, popular singing comedian, switches to drama as a TV repairman who gets interested in the kids — and in pretty social worker Barbara Murray. Already heard over here, his song “You Gotta Have Rain” makes a charming interlude. The story’s on the sentimental side — but there are touches of the sordid. adult The Trap PARAMOUNT, TECHNICOLOR VV This so-so suspense yarn lets several good players go to waste. Our hero (it finally turns out) is lawyer Richard Widmark, who’s gotten involved with gangland. Tina Louise looks beautiful but blank as wife of neurotic Earl Holliman. Dick’s kid brother. At least some excitement boils up when these three get to charging around the desert with caplive mobster Lee J. Cobb. As co-producer, Widmark wished this one on himself. family First Man into Space m-c-m VV You have to be really mad about all movie monsters to enjoy this notvery-scientific bit of science-fiction. The monster’s a reckless rocket-jockey who comes back to earth encrusted with meteorite dust and thirsting for blood. Marshall Thompson has to chase the creature gently — because it happens to be his brother! family Night of the Quarter Moon m-c-m. CINEMASCOPE V In this film, inter-racial marriage is too controversial a theme for the cheaply sensationalized treatment it gets here. You can’t blame the actors; they all go at their work earnestly. Julie London lias some dramatic moments as the onefourth-Negro girl who marries socialite p John Drew Barrymore; Anna Kashfi and Nat “King” Cole are sympathetic as her cousins. adult VVVV EXCELLENT V'V'V VERY GOOD VV GOOD V FAIR A — ADULT F — FAMILY NOW PLAYING For fuller reviews, see Photoplay for the months indicated. For full reviews this month, see contents page. ANNA LUCASTA— U.A.: As a girl trying to live down her past, despite family interference, Eartha Kitt heads a talented Negro cast including Sammy Davis. Jr. Powerful but slow. (A) February k'Vp' BLACK ORCHID, THE— Paramount: Warm, sympathetic, well-acted story of courtship problems in two generations — Sophia Loren and Anthony Quinn, Ina Balin (as Quinn's daughter) and Mark Richman. (F) April VVVV HANGING TREE, THE— Warners, Technicolor: Gary Cooper at his western best tops a strong drama set in a gold-mining camp. Maria Schell, as a Swiss immigrant girl, and newcomer Ben Piazza also score. (F) April VVV HORSE'S MOUTH, THE— U.A., Tech, nicolor: Superb work by Alee Guinness as an eccentric painter raising general havoc. Delightfully nutty film with fine photography anti score. (F) February VVVV JOURNEY, THE— M-G-M, Technicolor: Expert romantic drama reunites “The King and I” team. In the Hungarian revolt, Soviet officer Yul Brynner decides the fate of refugees including Deborah Kerr and her lover, Jason Rohards, Jr. (A) March VV NEVER STEAL ANYTHING SMALL— l -I; CinemaScope, Eastman Color: Peculiar movie mixing music with burlesque waterfront melodrama is saved by Jimmy Cagney, with an assist from Shirley Jones. (F) April NO NAME ON THE BULLET— U-I; CinemaScope, Eastman Color: Unpretentious, entertaining western that has a sense of humor. Hired gun Audie Murphy must have come to town to kill somebody. But who? (F) April REMARKABLE MR. PENNYPACKER, THE — 20th; CinemaScope, De Luxe Color; A Victorian marriage romp goes too sentimental in spite of Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, David Nelson. (A) February VVVV SEPARATE TABLES— U.A.: Deborah Kerr’s a revelation as a timid spinster at a seaside hotel. Immensely able cast: David Niven, Burt Lancaster, Rita Hayworth, Wendy Hiller. (A) January VVVV SOUND AND THE FURY, THE— 20th; CinemaScope, De Luxe Color: Emotionfilled visit with a mixed-up Southern family features splendid work by Joanne Woodward, Yul Brynner, Margaret Leighton. (A) April VVV TEMPEST — Paramount; Technirama, Technicolor: Scenes of sweeping spectacle are the chief attraction in an epic of 18th Century Russia. Tough peasant Van Heflin leads a revolution; young lovers Geoffrey Horne and Silvana Mangano oppose him. (F) April VVV UP PERISCOPE — Warners; WarnerSeope, Technicolor: Brisk World War II thriller puts a crew of attractive guys on a Pacific sub. James Garner stands out. How come Edd Byrnes gets only a bit? (F1 April CASTS OF CURRENT PICTURES CITY OF FEAR — Columbia. Directed by Irving Lerner: Vince Ryker, Vince Edwards; Chief Jensen, Lyle Talbot; Lt. Richards, John Archer; Dr. Wallace, Steven Ritch; June, Patricia Blair; Crown, Joe Mell; Hallon, Sherwood Price; Jeanne, Cathy Browne; Sgt. Johnson, Kelly Thordsen. COMPULSION — 20th. Directed by Richard Fleischer: Jonathan Wilk, Orson Wells; Ruth Evans, Diane Varsi; Judd Steiner, Dean Stockwell; Artie Straits, Bradford Dillman; Horn, E. G. Marshall; Sid, Martin Milner; Max, Richard Anderson; Lt. Johnson, Robert Simon; Tom Daly, Edward Binns; Mr. Straus, Robert Burton; Mr. Steiner, Wilton Graff; Mrs. Straus, Louise Lorimer. CRY FROM THE STREETS, A— Tudor. Directed by Lewis Gilbert: Bill Lowther, Max Bygraves; Ann Fairlee, Barbara Murray; Georgic Murray, Colin Petersen; Barbie Taylor, Dana Wilson; Mrs. Farrer, Kathleen Harrison; Don Farrer, Sean Barrett; Gloria Murray, Eleanor Summerfield. FIRST MAN INTO SPACE— M-G-M. Directed by Robert Day: Chuck Prescott, Marshall Thompson; Tia Francesca, Marla Landi; Capt. Richards, Robert Ayres; Chief Wilson, Bill Nagy; Dan Prescott, Bill Edwards. GIDGET— Columbia. Directed by Paul Wendkos: Francie, Sandra Dee; Moondoggie, James Darren; Kahcona, Cliff Robertson; Russell Lawrence, Arthur O’Connell; Dorothy Lawrence, Mary La Roche; Stinky, Joby Baker; Lover Boy, Tom Laughlin; B.L., Sue George; Hot Shot, Robert Ellis; Mary Lou, Jo Morrow; Nan, Yvonne Craig; Patty, Patti Kane; Waikiki, Doug McClure; Lord Byron, Burt Metcalfe. IMITATION OF LIFE— U-I. Directed by Douglas Sirk: Lora Meredith, Lana Turner; Steve Archer, John Gavin; Susie, Sandra Dee; Sarah Jane, Susan Kohner; Annie Johnson, Juanita Moore; David Edwards, Dan O’Herlihy: Allen Loomis, Robert Alda; Mahalia Jackson, Herself; Sarah Jane (age 8), Karen Dicker; Susie (age 6), Terry Burnham. MATING GAME, THE — M-G-M. Directed by George Marshall: Mariettc, Debbie Reynolds; Lorenzo, Tony Randall; Pop Larkin, Paul Douglas; Oliver Kelsey, Fred Clark; Ma Larkin, Una Merkel, Wendell Burnshaw, Philip Ober; Rev. Osgood, Philip Coolidge; Bigelow, Charles Lane; Chief Guthrie, Trevor Bardette; Barney, Bill Smith. MURDER BY CONTRACT— Columbia. Directed by Irving Lerner: Claude, Vince Edwards; Marc, Phillip Pine; George, Herschel Bernardi; Billie Williams, Caprice Toriel; Moon, Michael Granger; Ex-Maid, Frances Osborne; Girl, Cathy Browne. NIGHT OF THE QUARTER MOON— M-G-M. Directed by Hugo Haas: Ginny, Julie London; Chuck, John Drew Barrymore; Cy Robbin, Nat “King” Cole; Maria Robbin, Anna Kashfi; Lexington Nelson, Dean Jones; Cornelia Nelson, Agnes Moorehead; Singer, Cathy Crosby; Hotel Manager, Ray Anthony; Sgt. Bragan, Jackie Coogan; Neighbor, Charles Chaplin, Jr.; Asa Tally, James Edwards; Capt. O’ Sullivan, Arthur Shields; Clinton Page, Edward Andrews; Judge, Robert Warwick. RIO BRAVO — Warners. Directed by Howard Hawks: John T. Chance, John Wayne; Dude, Dean Martin; Colorado, Ricky Nelson; Feathers, Angie Dickinson; Stumpy, Walter Brennan; Pat Wheeler, Ward Bond; Nathan Burdette, John Russell; Carlos, Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez; Consucla, Estelita Rodriguez; Joe Burdette, Claude Akins. SHAGGY DOG, THE — Buena Vista. Directed by Charles Barton: Wilson Daniels, Fred MacMurray; Frieda Daniels, Jean Hagen; Wilby, Tommy Kirk; Allison, Annette Funicello; Buzz, Tim Considine; Moochie, Kevin Corcoran; Prof. Plumcutt, Cecil Kellaway; Stefano, Jacques Aubuchon; Dr. Andrassy, Alexander Scourby; Franceska Andrassy, Roberta Shore. SLEEPING BEAUTY — Buena Vista. Supervising Director, Claude Geronimi: Voices, Mary Costa, Taylor Holmes, Barbara Jo Allen, Eleanor Audley, Bill Shirley, Bill Thompson, Barbara Luddy, Verna Felton. SOME LIKE IT HOT — U.A. Directed by Billy Wilder: Sugar, Marilyn Monroe; Joe, Tony Curtis; Jerry, Jack Lemmon; Spats, George Raft; Mulligan, Pat O’Brien; Osaood, Joe E. Brown; Bonaparte , Nehemiah Persoff; Toothpick, George E. Stone, Paradise, Edward G. Robinson, Jr. TRAP, THE — Paramount. Directed by Norman Panama: Ralph, Richard Widmark; Massonctti . Lee. J. Cobb; Linda, Tina Louise; Tippy, Earl Holliman; Anderson, Carl Benton Reid; Davis, Lome Green.