Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1952)

VV'V Outstanding t'V Good V Fair BRIEF REVIEWS A — For adults F — For the whole family A (F) ACTORS AND SIN — U.A.: A drama and a comedy about the theatre and the motion picture industry are combined in this rather off-beat twopart film. Edward G. Robinson, Marsha Hunt are in the first episode. Eddie Albert, Jennie Hecht in the second. (Apr.) AA/4 (F) AFRICAN QUEEN, THE — El. A. : A completely off-the-beaten-path adventure story with spinster Katharine Hepburn and rough mineworker Humphrey Bogart thrown together on a frail river craft in German East Africa. They set out to destroy an enemy gunboat and find a rare and unexpected kind of love. With Robert Morley. (March) A (A) ANOTHER MAN’S POISON— U.A.: A depressing British-made drama in which Bette Davis murders her husband to be free to marry Gary Merrill. (Apr.) A^ (F) BAREFOOT MAILMAN, THE — Columbia : The southern coast of Florida in 1890 is the setting for this odd little picture in which Terry Moore, Robert Cummings and Jerome Courtland make a perilous trip from Palm Springs to Miami. (Feb.) AA*/2 (F) BEND OF THE RIVER — U-I.: Jimmy Stewart guides a party of determined Missourians to Oregon and gets involved in some intense action when former pal Arthur Kennedy tries to highjack the pioneers’ food supply. With Julia Adams, Lori Nelson, Rock Hudson. (Apr.) V'Vi (F) BIG TREES, THE — Warners: Unscrupulous lumberman Kirk Douglas gets reformed by Eva Miller in this trite melodrama concerning the preservation of the giant California redwood trees. With Pat Wymore, John Archer. (Apr.) A (F) BOOTS MALONE — Columbia : Behind the scenes story of the race-track stables introducing Johnny Stewart as a rich kid who yearns to be a jockey and Bill Holden as a shady agent who’s reformed by the boy’s loyalty and affection. (Mar.) A (F) BUGLES IN THE AFTERNOON— Warners: Disgraced civil war officer Ray Milland goes west to join the U. S. Cavalry and clashes with villainous Hugh Marlowe and war-minded Sioux in this run-of-the-mill sage-brush drama. With Helena Carter. (Apr.) >4 A (F) BUSHWHACKERS , THE— Realart : John Ireland, a peace-seeking Confederate sergeant, takes a newspaper job and gets involved in killings, arson, and murder charges. A violent Western. With Dorothy Malone, Lawrence Tierney. (Mar.) AA/a (F) CALLAWAY WENT THAT AW AY M-G-M: A gay satire in which Howard Keel plays a dual role of an alcoholic movie and TV cowboy and the shy cowhand hired by Dorothy McGuire and Fred Mac Murray to impersonate the actor. (Feb.) AA (F) CHICAGO CALLING— U. A.: This unusual human interest story centers around Dan Duryea’s effort to keep his phone from being disconnected as he awaits news of his injured daughter’s chance of survival. With Mary Anderson, Gordon Gebert. (Feb.) A (F) CIMARRON KID, THE — U-I : Audie Murphy, after being twice railroaded to prison unjustly, joins up with the murderous Dalton gang in this ho-hum Western. With Beverly Tyler, Yvette Dugay, John Hudson. (Mar.) A (A) CLOUDBURST— FT. A.: Robert Preston takes the law into his own hands when his wife is run down and killed by escaping murderers in this grim but interesting British thriller. (Feb.) AA^ (A) DEATH OF A SA LESMAN— Columbia: Faithful screen version of the Pulitzer prize-winning play which tells of the mental deterioration of an average man whose false yalues lead to his downfall and the downfall of his sons. Starring Fredric March. With Kevin McCarthy, Mildred Dunnock, Cameron Mitchell. (Mar.) AA (F) DISTANT DRUMS— Warners: Gary Cooper, shut off from the main route by Indians, is forced to lead his soldiers and Mari Aldon across 150 miles of dangerous Florida swamplands in this exciting adventure story. (Feb.) A A (F) ELOPEMENT — 20th Century-Fox: When Anne Francis and William Lundigan decide to wed, they lead their parents, Clifton Webb and Margalo Gillmore, Charles Bickford and Evelyn Yarden on a mad and merry chase. With Reginald Gardiner. (Feb.) AE2 (F) FI NDERS KEEPERS — U-I: A charming little comedy with Tom Ewell and Julia Adams as parents of two-year-old Dusty Henley, who finds a fortune in a vacant lot and starts off an unusual series of circumstances. (Feb.) A A (F) FIRST TIME, THE— Columbia : A light-hearted comedy about the trials and anxieties of parents Barbara Hale and Robert Cummings as P seen through the eyes of their first offspring. (Mar.) A A (A) FIXED BAYONETS!— 20th Century-Fox: A tough, realistic episode in the Korean war in which Richard Basehart is forced into command of a platoon ordered to delay the enemy. With Gene Evans, Michael O’Shea, Craig Hill, Richard Hylton. (Feb.) A (F) FLAME OF ARAB Y U-I : Another Arabian Nights tale revolving around the rivalry of Maureen O’Hara and Jeff Chandler to capture the finest horse in Araby. In Technicolor. (Feb.) 1/2A (F) FLAMING FEATHER — Paramount : Blood ’n thunder Western with Sterling Hayden and Forrest .Tucker involved in a bet as to who could uncover the identity of and capture a vicious outlaw. With Richard Arlen, Barbara Rush. (Apr.) 'SVl (A) FOR MEN ONLY — Lippert: An indictment against hazing in college fraternities in which Paul Henreid plays a defiant professor out to track down the culprit responsible for Robert Sherman’s death. With Russ Johnson, Margaret Field. (Apr.) yVi .(F) GIRL IN EVERY PORT, A RKO: Bill Bendix and Groucho Marx, as two oldest sailors in the Navy, are involved in a lot of whacky goings* on with horses. Marie Wilson and Don De Fore are in this nonsense comedy too. (Apr.) A^ (A) GIRL ON THE BRIDGE, THE— 2 0th Century-Fox: A mature and morbid drama about the tragedy that ensues after middle-aged Hugo Haas saves Beverly Michaels from suicide and makes a home for her and her illegitimate child. (Mar.) A A (F) GOLDEN GIRL — 20th Century-Fox: Mitzi Gaynor and Dale Robertson are delightful in this romantic Technicolor musical about entertainer Lotta Crabtree and her romance with a daring Confederate spy. With Dennis Dav, James Barton. (Feb.) AAA (F) GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, THE — Paramount: A spectacular Technicolor epic in which the acts, atmosphere and excitement of the Big Top are combined with the talents of Charlton Heston, Betty Hutton, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Cornel Wilde and Dorothy Lamour to make this one of the most beautiful and dramatic pictures of the year. (Mar.) (F) GREEN GLOVE, THE — U.A.: Former paratrooper Glenn Ford, returning to Europe to retrieve a priceless gauntlet he found during the war, becomes mixed up in a hodgepodge of murder and madness. With Geraldine Brooks, George Macready. ( Mar.) UA (F) HERE COME THE NELSONS— U-I: The ingredients for fun and frolic are missing as the well-loved radio stars Ozzie, Harriet, David and Rickey Nelson bring their family life to the screen. With Rock Hudson, Barbara Lawrence. (Mar.) 1/ HONG KONG — Pine-Thomas-Paramount : War veteran Ronald Reagan returns to China to pick up a fast dollar, picks up war orphan Danny Chang instead and discovers the boy possesses a rare idol. A routine drama. With Rhonda Fleming. (Feb.) AA (F) I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU— 20th Century-Fox: Modernized remake of classic “Berkeley Square” in which scientist Tyrone Power journeys two hundred years back in time only to find that the old days weren’t so good after all. With Ann Blyth as the 18th Century and modern miss Ty learns to love, and Michael Rennie. (Mar.) //>/2 (F) I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS— Warners: Doris Day and Danny Thomas are a tuneful twosome in a heartwarming musical biography of lyricist Gus Kahn and his wife Grace. With Pat Wymore, Frank Lovejoy, James Gleason. (Mar.) A A (F) INVITATION — M-G-M: A compassionate drama in which Van Johnson is persuaded by Louis Calhern to marry Dorothy McGuire in order to make happy her last year to live. With Ruth Roman. (Apr.) A^ (F) IT’S A BIG COUNTRY — M-G-M : A somewhat overdone lecture on what America is and why we should love it, illustrated by eight separate episodes of varied merit and enacted by an allstar cast including Van Johnson, Ethel Barrymore, Gene Kellv, Tanet Leigh and Gary Cooper. (Mar.) A (F) JAPANESE WAR BRIDE — 20th CenturyFox: When Don Taylor brings wife Shirley Yamaguchi back to America a lot of high-powered unpleasantness results from the intolerance of family and friends. An indecisive melodrama. With Cameron Mitchell. (Mar.) //K> (F) JUST THIS ONCE— M-G-M: Attorney Janet Leigh is retained by Lewis Stone to prevent Peter Lawford from squandering his fortune in this delightful and diverting comedy. With Richard Anderson, Marilyn Erskine. (Mar.) \/V2 (F) LAS VEGAS STORY. THE— RKO: Jane Russell, in Las Vegas with husband Vincent Price, meets up with ex-love Vic Mature and all three somehow get involved in a murder, in this corny and stilted story. (A/ (F) LONE STAR — M-G-M : Clark Gable is for the LTnionization of Texas, Brod Crawford is against it and Ava Gardner wavers politically and romanticall v between them in this lusty outdoor drama. (Apr.) A (F) LOVE IS BETTER THAN EVER— M-G-M: A silly little comedy in which dancing teacher Liz Taylor pursues agent Larry Parks all over the place See page 24 for this month’s reviews until she catches him With Josephine Hutchinson. (Apr.) //‘/2 (F) MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT, THE— l -L: A delightful British-made comedy in which Alec Guinness invents an everlasting cloth — and throws the whole British textile industry into a turmoil. With Joan Greenwood. (Apr.) A^4 (F) MODEL AND THE MARRIAGE BROKER, I HE — 20th Century-Fox: Amusing and sentimental comedy revolving around Thelma Ritter’s attempts to bring lonely people together and to make a match between reluctant Jeanne Crain and Scott Brady. With Michael O’Shea. (Mar.) (F) NAVAJO — Lippert: A beautiful story of a small Indian boy, showing how he reasons and how he reacts to his natural enemy, the white man. With Francis Kee Teller. (Mar.) Az/4 (F) ON DANGEROUS GROUND— RKO: Weary and embittered plainclothesman Robert Ryan undergoes a miraculous change when he meets blind girl Ida Lupino, while on a case involving Ida’s brother. Moderately interesting drama. (Mar.) // (F) PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER— 20th Century-Fox. An absorbing and different story with Gary Merrill as the sole survivor of an air crash, who calls on the relatives of Michael Rennie, Keenan Wynn and Shelley Winters; each visit provides a drama of its own. Bette Davis has small but effective role. (Apr.) QUO VADIS — M-G-M: The long awaited Technicolor super-epic complete with the pomp, pageantry, and burning of ancient Rome, and the romance of Nero’s soldier Robert Taylor and Christian maiden Deborah Kerr. With Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov and a cast of thousands. (Feb.) // (F) RED MOUNTAIN, THE— Paramount: Ex-Confederate officer Alan Ladd heads West to reestablish a gold claim and becomes involved with Quantrell’s outlaw raiders. A well-plotted Technicolor Western. With Lizabeth Scott, Arthur Kennedy, fohn Ireland. (Feb.) // (F) ROOM FOR ONE MORE— Warners : Cary Grant and Betsy Drake face the problem of winning over foster children Iris Mann and Clifford Tatum Jr. in an absorbing domestic drama. (Feb.) AK>. (F) SAILOR BEWARE— Wallis-Para.: Jerr> Lew'is and Dean Martin are at it again — this time as gobs whose slapstick antics all but sink the LT. S. Navy. Corinne Calvet, Marion Marshall and Vince Edwards are part of what passes for a plot. (Mar.) / / (F) SCANDAL SHEET — Columbia: John Derek tracks down the murder of an unknown woman in order to get a scoop for newspaper editor Brod Crawford — and discovers that Brod is the murderer. An absorbing and suspenseful drama with Donna Reed. (Apr.) // (F) SHADOW IN THE SKY — M-G-M: Nancy Davis and James Whitmore take her brother, emotionally shattered war vet Ralph Meeker, into their home and try to help him find himself again. An absorbing drama. With Jean Hagen. (Mar.) A (A) SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR Paramount: A morbid drama in which AA member Ray Milland tries to pull Joan Fontaine together and proceeds to fall in love with her. Teresa Wright is Ray’s loyal AU2 ((*F)'r T HIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS — Warners: An outdated melodrama in which Joan Crawford, notorious leader of a band of hoodlums, reforms after Dennis Morgan restores her failing sight. With David Brian. (Apr.) A */2 (F) TREASURE OF LOST CANYON— U-I.: William Powell and Rosemary DeCamp adopt Tommy I vo, who was cheated out of his inheritance by Henry Hull, and set out to reclaim it for him. With Julia Adams, Charles Drake. (Apn) AAJ4 (A) VIVA ZAPATA!— 20th Century-Fox: Marlon Brando’s excellent as the humble Mexican zealot who fought for nine years in order to regain the land stolen from his people. A baffling but brilliant motion picture. With Jean Peters, Anthony Quinn, Joseph Wiseman, Margo. (Apr.) A (F) WEEK-END WITH FATHER — U-I : A merry comedy in which widowed Van Heflin and Pat Neal try to find romance together despite the disapproval of her daughters, Gigi and Janine Perreau and his sons, Jimmy Hunt and Tommy Rettig. With Virginia Field. (Feb.) AA (F) WILD NORTH, THE— M-G-M: Northwest mountie Wendell Corey sets out to bring accused murderer Stewart Granger back to civilization, only to have Granger save his life instead. A rugged adventure yarn. With Cyd Charisse. (Mar.) AA‘/2 (F) WITH a SONG IN MY HEART— 20th Century-Fox: Heart-warming Technicolor musical based on the true story of Jane Froman (Jane’s beautiful voice is on the sound tracks) and the courage that carried her through after a tragic plane crash. With Susan Hayw'ard, Rory Calhoun, David Wayne, Thelma Ritter. (Apr.)