Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1950)

STAGE Locked in: Upon Eleanor Parker, who is a first offender, prison life and fellow inmates have a disastrous effect v'Wi (A) Caged (Warners) IjVLEANOR PARKER is the star of this dramatic film 'J which reports, in semi-documentary fashion, life in h women’s prison. The story is based on the eye-witness account of writer Virginia Kellogg, who voluntarily had rterself imprisoned in a state prison for women. Eleanor, giving a bang-up performance, has the pivotal role of Marie Allen, a nineteen-year-old girl who becomes involved in the holdup of a gasoline station. She enters prison as an innocent first offender, but comes out several years later a bitter, cynical woman, fully conditioned for a life of crime. The entire cast of women is outstanding, with special kudos to Betty Garde, head of i shoplifting syndicate; Agnes Moorehead, a kindly superintendent who tries to reform the horrors of prison life; Hope Emerson, a sadistic prison matron; Lee Patrick, an elegant vice-queen; Jan Sterling, a prostitute; Ellen Corby, a half-wit; and Gertrude Michael, a former 'society woman on the verge of insanity. four Reviewer Says: Grim, but well worth seeing. iGtal Statistics: No glamour for Eleanor Parker this time. In several sequences she even has her hair shaved off. She didn’t [have to do much “ padding ” in her pregnancy scenes. She was vregnanl. In April, she and her husband Bert Friedlob announced the arrival of a second daughter. Strange indeed are the workings of fate and studios: Following this swell acting job, Eleanor was “ dropped ” from the contract list ... A notable switch in casting is that of Agnes Moorehead. The sharptongued hag of many a picture role turns up as a warm-hearted ^superintendent. The preview audience applauded when an “ innate” murdered 225 pound, six-feet-two Hope Emerson formerly i jolly back-thumping New York entertainer. She’s well on her 'my to being “the woman you love to hate.” Story of a paraplegic: Teresa Wright helps Marlon Brando struggle with the problem of a future in a wheel chair (A) The Men (Kramer-UA) 1/1 VER SINCE Marlon Brando made his big hit in Ten|j nessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Broadway two years ago, producers have tried to lure him to the Coast. But Marlon preferred his New York cold-water flat, his African drums, and girl friends who wear outsize sweatshirts with “U.S. Navy” across the chest. But when Stanley Kramer, Hollywood’s most exciting young producer (“Champion” and “Home of the Brave”), told him the story of his third film, Marlon said yes immediately. As the young paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down in World War II, bitter, hopeless, hating his future in a wheel chair, Marlon makes a brilliant screen debut. With dramatic simplicity the film tells how he gradually learns to rehabilitate himself in a strange and difficult world. Teresa Wright is perfect as his girl who has a lot of adjusting to learn also. The picture was made at Birmingham Veterans Hospital, near Los Angeles, and forty-five paraplegics were signed to play themselves. Everett Sloane stands out as a hardworking doctor. Ditto Jack Webb as an intelligent and cynical paraplegic who gets “taken” by a floozie. Real veteran paraplegic Arthur Jurado plays Angel. Your Reviewer Says: A new experience in entertainment. Vital Statistics: New York actor Marlon Brando works overtime at being a “ character .” But he is such a fine, hard-working actor that everyone forgives him. For four weeks before production he lived in a wheel chair at Birmingham Hospital. The boys there liked him. He arrived in Hollywood with three pairs of blue jeans and T-shirts. Announced he was allergic to ties, stuffed shirts and glamorous movie stars. Shelley Winters, in blue jeans and sweater, and her hair done by an egg-beater, finally wangled a date. or Complete Casts of Current Pictures See Page 23. For Best Pictures of the Month ind Best Performances See Page 29. For Brief Reviews of Current Pictures See Page 30. P 25