Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1952)

p in the exciting April TRUE ROMANCE at newsstands now In this bigger, better-than-ever April issue, you’ll find an extra 8 pages, 2 heart-warming full length novels instead of one and, to add to the already powerfully human pictures, TRUE ROMANCE will bring you wonderful full-color! If you’ve enjoyed reading this stirring magazine of life, love and romance in the past, you’ll get twice the satisfaction when you get your copy of the thrilling new April issue. Don’t miss it! Get your copy of April TRUE ROMANCE on sale at your local newsstands today! ( Continued, from page 35) pace, the story then follows Merrill’s visits to the homes of the deceased. Each visit provides a little drama of its own, sometimes tragic. Bette Davis is seen briefly in the final episode. An arresting film, expertly directed and beautifully acted, it manages to hold one’s interest despite the leaping or idly meandering plot. Rounding out the story are Evelyn Varden, Warren Stevens, Beatrice Straight, Craig Stevens and Helen Westcott. Your Reviewer Says: It will linger in your memory. Program Notes: Mr. and Mr. Gary Merrill ( Bette Davis ) lunched each day in their dressing room from a picnic basket . . . On the set the phone rang constantly — Farley Granger calling Shelley Winters who was ; then his best girl. Finally director Jean Negulesco suggested the picture be re-titled, “Phone Call from a Granger” . . . The cast figured that during the shooting, Shel , ley had consumed twenty-one cartons of . chewing gum . . . Craig Stevens and his wife, • Alexis Smith, invited the entire cast, with their husbands or wives or sweethearts, to a pool party at the completion of the picture. V'Vz (F) The Las Vegas Story (RKO) WHAT a lot of whoop-de-do this is with a helicopter chasing a murderer all I over the Nevada countryside. It all starts when Jane Russell, a former singer in The Last Chance gambling spot, returns ; to Las Vegas with her new husband Vincent Price, a reputed millionaire. Here i Jane again meets Victor Mature, the man i she loved and jilted. Well, in no time at . all, Jane discovers she still loves Victor i and Vincent is just a broken down old j embezzler who suddenly finds himself accused of murder. The real murderer, in i the meantime, abducts Jane. Victor, in the helicopter, is on his tail for an exciting | finish. Hoagy Carmichael plays the piano. Your Reviewer Says: Better roll the dice again, kids. Program Notes: The white bathing suit i worn by Jane in the picture evoked louder whistles than the Super Chief coming into I Chicago . . . Victor Mature enjoyed the Las Vegas location but kept away from those games of chance. Vic just is not the chancy I type ... The diamond necklace worn by Jane was the real thing, created for the film by Cartier of New York. Its price? $ 150,000 . . . . Hoagy Carmichael’s new tune “The Monkey Song” was sung and played for the first time by Hoagy himself. V (F) Actors anti Sin (U.A.) PRODUCER-writer-director Ben Hecht brings two separate stories to the screen in one film. The first story concerns a worshipping father, Edward G. Robinson, whose actress daughter, Marsha Hunt, meets a just fate. The writing, directing and acting are all good. The second story, however, goes hog-wild in an attempt to kid Hollywood, with the story idea itself somehow getting out of hand. Eddie Albert is an agent, Alan Reed is the big producer. Jenny Hecht is the nine-year-old prodigy who writes a screen epic. Your Reviewer Says: Search me. I still don't know what to think. Program Notes: Marsha Hunt went on tour, after completing this picture, with “The Cocktail Party,” replacing Pat Neal who played in the original La Jolla production. Now Marsha’s back in Hollywood for “The Happy Time.” Edward G. Robinson also made a return to the stage taking over the Claude Rains role in “Darkness at Noon.’ 38