Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1951)

BY SARA HAMILTON STAG F— FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY A— FOR ADULTS Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, Jeffrey Hunter in spinetingling tale of men who waged war in the ocean s depths (A) The Frogmen (20th Century-Fox) FROGMEN were members of the Navy’s daring Underwater Demolition Teams during World War II and the history of their exploits, revealed here for the first time, is something we urge you not to miss. The hazardous, daring bravery of these men is wrapped up in the so familiar story of the unpopular officer who, through his own bravery, becomes a hero to his men, but for all that, none of the power or spine-tingling suspense is lost. In the all-male cast, Richard Widmark is every inch the unyielding Lt. Commander whose matter-of-fact manner irks chief petty officer Dana Andrews and the crew, including Jeffrey Hunter, Warren Stevens, Harvey Lembeck, Henry Slate and other stalwart lads. Gary Merrill plays the ship’s officer who understands Widmark’s personality problems. But surpassing the story by far are the scenes of these daring men in action. Your Reviewer Says: Terrific! Program Notes: A seasick, water-logged and travel-weary group of men ploughed the treacherous waters of} Cape Hatteras and wondered why, in heaven s name, they ever ivanted to be actors in the first place. From seven weeks’ shooting in the waters off Norfolk, Virginia, and thence to Key W est, Florida, and on to Bovini Bay of} the Virgin Islands, this group of men spent over half their time submerged in the briny deep. More than eightyfive members of the movie company became victims of cold, influenza or near pneumonia from overexposure. In fact, so much sea-going prompted Dana Andrews to sell his own fifty-foot cutter upon his return home, keeping the less-expensive-to-run ketch . . . Gary Merrill recovered from his heavy cold in time to fly to London with his wife, Bette Davis, with whom he co-stars in the British film, “Another Man’s Poison.” The Richard Widmarks plan to meet Bette and Gary later on in Rome . . . Jeffrey Hunter was recruited from a college play at UCLA for the role that kept him flat on his back ivith a supposed spinal injury throughout most of the action, thereby escaping most of the dunkings. v'W (A) A Place in the Sun (Paramount) THE finest human interest story to come out of Hollywood in many a day! Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters illumine their roles with an intensity of emotion, constantly in character, that never lets down to the fateful end. Beautifully adapted and modernized, the story tells of the poor cousin of a wealthy and social family, condescendingly placed in the family factory and then forgotten. Too late they remember. His hunger for love and companionship has led him into an intimacy with a factory girl and the tragic consequences ruthlessly snatch him from his new world and his consuming love for Elizabeth Taylor. This role belongs to Montgomery Clift and none other. He’s that good. Without make-up, without tricks or forceful efforts, Shelley Winters manages to make of Alice Tripp, the factory girl, a pathetic figure that cannot be overshadowed by the youth and beauty of Elizabeth Taylor. Your Reviewer Says: It will bankrupt the emotions. Program Notes: The Lake Tahoe country in the High Sierras was covered with unexpected snow the day they were scheduled to shoot outdoor summer scenes. So, before Elizabeth Taylor could cavort about the lake in a bathing suit, the crew carefully hosed away the snow from trees and landscape within camera range . . . The girls’ wardrobes touched two extremes. Shelley’s costliest outfit ran around four dollars. One of Elizabeth’s party gowns cost one hundred times that amount. Clift, who boasts two suits in real life, felt overdressed with a wardrobe consisting of a gray tweed and blue serge, poorly cut, a tuxedo and a sports coat with slacks. He preferred his factory outfit of T-shirt and worn leather jacket which he ivears most of the time off screen . . . Shelley had her blonde hair dyed a lusterless brown for her role. ' Love vs. ambition: Monty Clift, Shelley Winters in a new version of famous drama and novel,“An AmericanT ragedy” Best Performances See Page 100. For Brief Reviews of Current Pictures See Page 24 f 27