Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1961)

MASTER OF THE WORLD A T, MagnaColor (Family) who’s in it? Vincent Price, Charles Bronson, Mary Webster, Henry Hull. what’s it about? Another mad (maybe) genius from the pages of Verne. This one sails a 19th Century airship; wants to use his terrible powers to abolish war. what’s special? Action thrills (mostly played straight here) . . . more of the wonderfully fancy gadgets that Verne imagined — amazingly close to present fact. what’s the verdict? A kids-of-all-ages kind of yarn. We couldn’t help wishing, these nervous days, that Vincent had been real — and the good guys had let him alone. GIDGET GOES HAWAIIAN Columbia; Eastman Color (Family) who’s in it? James Darren, Michael Callan, Deborah Walley, Carl Reiner, Peggy Cass. what’s it about? A cute young girl who leaves her boyfriend to go to Hawaii with her parents — and then finds a new boyfriend, a TV star! what’s special? The colorful scenery . . . Michael Callan’s dancing . . . the comedy of “the older folks” . . . the sparkle of new star, Deborah Walley. what’s the verdict? Though nothing special, it’s amusing if you like situation comedies. And it’s good to see everyone live happily ever after for a change. THE BIG SHOW 20th; CinemaScope, De Luxe Color (Family) who’s in it? Esther Williams, Nehemiah Persoff, Cliff Robertson, David Nelson. what’s it about? A German circus owned by a fanatical showman who tries to run his grown children’s lives, too. what’s special? Good acts — including wild animals we’ll bet you’ve never seen perform before . . . sweet romance between GI Nelson and circus gal Carol Christensen. what’s the verdict? Reasonably entertaining. but the story’s just “House of Strangers” and “Broken Lance” remade in a third location: New York, the old West, now Europe. Outer-space version in '66? TWO WOMEN Embassy; Italian dialogue. English titles (Adult) who’s in it? Sophia Loren, Jean Paul Belmondo, Eleanora Brown, Raf Vallone. what’s it about? The appalling impact of war on a strong, vital Italian woman and her gentle thirteen-year-old daughter. what’s special? Director Vittorio de Sica’s honesty and compassion, getting the best from Sophia, Jean Paul (we didn’t even recognize the “Breathless” star), young Eleanora and the least bit player. what’s the verdict? Italy takes the honors this month! Complementing “La Dolce Vita,” De Sica’s film is beautifully simple, decisive in its tribute to human spirit. ALL HANDS ON DECK 20th; CinemaScope, De Luxe Color (Family) who’s in it? Pat Boone, Buddy Hackett. Barbara Eden, Dennis O’Keefe. what’s it about? An easygoing Navy ship and a young officer’s romance are nearly disrupted by a Chickasaw Indian sailor. what’s special? A Pat Boone leading lady gets thoroughly kissed for once! . . . ex-action hero O’Keefe’s neat switch to character man (as the unhappy skipper). what’s the verdict? Another in the endless series of good-natured service comedies. It leans pretty hard on Pat’s agreeable personality and song style and on Buddy’s exuberant clowning. THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF U-I, Eastman Color (Adult) who’s in it? Clifford Evans, Oliver Reed. Catherine Feller, Yvonne Romain. what’s it about? Case history of an orphan who grows up fighting against the weird ailment called lycanthropy. what’s special? Unusually sympathetic angle on the monster (nice kid. except that his eyeteeth start lengthening every so often) . . . genuinely creepy atmosphere. what’s the verdict? Those English are trying to scare us silly! Like their new versions of the "Dracula” and “Mummy' stories, this one is dead-serious and mighty P gruesome. The color accent’s red. (Please turn the page )