Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1944)

BY SARA HAMILTON A reliable guide to recent pictures. One check means good; two checks, very good; three checks, outstanding t'V The Story Of Dr. Wassell (Paramount) Film tribute: Carol Thurston, Gary Cooper in "The Story Of Dr. Wassell A HERO of this war, an unassuming man whose adherence to duty could not be swerved, is glorified in typical Cecil B. DeMille style with Gary Cooper doing a good job in the title role. That America produces men such as this Dr. Wassell of Arkansas, middle-aged (movie imagination was stretched a bit in the age and romance of the hero), almost inexperienced in military matters, defying orders to save his handful of crippled sailors, is thrilling just to think about. There is no losing the war, no lowering the standards of this great democracy with the Dr. Wassells of this country on the job. What more heartening message could any movie hope to project? Attracted by a circular concerning the efforts of doctors and nurses in China to combat a plague that is wiping out thousands of natives, Dr. Wassell takes himself to China and succeeds in locating the germ just too late. Another had also found the germ and received the glory. At the outbreak of the war we next find him in Java caring for the wounded from the crippled U.S.S. Marblehead. When the Japs take Java, all walking cases are ordered home with stretcher cases remaining. His rescue of these Americans, his tenacity and courage make a thrilling climax. Laraine Day as the nurse whom Dr. Wassell loves. Carol Thurston as Tremartini, the Javanese who gives her blood and her heart to sailor Dennis O’Keefe, Signe Hasso, as the Dutch nurse, Carl Esmond and Elliott Reid as the men who love her are outstanding. Your Reviewer Soys: A fitting tribute to a great but simple man. ^ Home In Indiana (Twentieth Century-Fox) THE heart appeal of this story, the Technicolor beauty of the countryside, the warm tender performance of Lon McCallister, render this a picture lovely to see but hard on the emotions. The fact the story lags in spots and is dullish in others is more than balanced by its good points. Lon McCallister — and incidentally, this is only his second film — (the first having been “Stage Door Canteen”) proves his mettle. The boy’s an actor, rest assured. As a homeless boy, Lon comes to the farm of Walter Brennan, a former successful horse breeder. The boy learns to drive and handle the one remaining horse on the farm and even secretly manages to breed her to the stallion of Brennan’s neighbor and enemy. The colt is carefully trained to sulky racing with Lon driving and eventually Brennan is brought back to prosperity and happiness again. But not without that lump in your throat for the beauty and tragedy of the favorite horse. Jeanne Crain and June Haver are two newcomers who are here to stay. June is a beauty and Jeanne radiates naturalness and a certain naivete that is most appealing. Charlotte Greenwood, Charles Dingle and Ward Bond are splendid in supporting roles. Deep emotion: Jeanne Crain and Lon McCallister in "Home In Indiana" Your Reviewer Says: Easy on the eyes, hard on the heart. W The Adventures Of Mark Twain (Warners) Good story: Fredric March, Alexis Sm ith in "The Adventures Of Mark Twain" MARK TWAIN, nee Samuel Clemens, comes to life on the screen in the finely etched performance of Fredric March. To those who have read and laughed with the great humorist, discovering the human weaknesses and the humble greatness of the man will be a joy to be cherished always. Reared in the small town of Hannibal, Missouri, little Samuel and his pals, inspired by Sam’s imagination, pirated on the lazy current of the great river. Later he worked in his brother’s printing shop, ran away to become one of the best pilots on the Mississippi and later journeyed into the raw West in search of gold. He failed to find the metal but in his job as reporter on a little newspaper he found his fortune in writing. Your Reviewer Says: Lecturing in the East he finally meets the girl he’d dreamed of, Alexis Smith, and after a courtship greatly opposed by his sweetheart’s father he marries and settles down to write the immortal “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn.” He amassed a fortune and lost it, he attained dignity and lost it, but never that magnificent humor or little-boy quality. There are times when the story is slow, but on the whole it’s as pleasant an experience as reading a warm, friendly volume by Twain himself. To repeat, March is wonderful. A word of praise goes to make-up man Perc Westmore, to Alexis Smith for a truly beautiful performance, to Donald Crisp, Alan Hale and Robert Barrat for interesting performances. A well-told tale of a great American. For Best Pictures of the Month and Best Performances See Page 22 For Complete Casts of Current Pictures See Page I 18 For Brief Reviews of Current Pictures See Page 70 19