Lured (United Artists) (1947)

Thrilling Love Story, Eerie Mystery Unreeled in “Lured” Something new, stirring and sen¬ sational in screen entertainment is promised when the psychological ^mystery-romance, “Lured,” comes to wthe . Theatre on . through United Artists release. Enlisting a distinguished cast of outstanding screen favorites in co- starring roles, such as George San¬ ders, Lucille Ball, Charles Coburn and Boris Karloff, this superb Hunt Stromberg production possesses in good measure every element neces¬ sary for out-of-the-ordinary film fare. The production is given elaborate and unique treatment. In its sump¬ tuous settings and strangely com¬ pelling action-development the story rises to unimagined heights in the realm of mystery-chillers. “Lured” was produced by James Nasser under the executive super¬ vision of Hunt Stromberg, who can definitely add this unusual film to his long roster of successes. Doug¬ las Sirk can take the bows for its expert direction, with Nicolai Remi- soff, famous Hollywood designer, in charge of the elaborate sets, and Elois Jennsen taking credit for the beautiful costumes worn by Miss ? Ball throughout the film. The story concerns an American show girl working in London, whose best friend disappears, and is thought murdered, after answering an ad in the personal column of a daily newspaper. Lucille Ball plays the fast-talking, alert American girl to perfection. She is willing bait when Inspector Temple (Charles Co¬ burn)) of Scotland Yard elicits her aid to round up a dangerous maniac responsible for this and many similar crimes. During the course of Lu¬ cille’s hair-raising adventures, she meets up with many strange, suspi¬ cious characters, like Boris Karloff, Joseph Calleia, George Zucco and Sir Cedric Hardwick. Even George Sanders, with whom she has a swift, overpowering romance, does not evade suspicion. But it would be unfair to give away the denouement of this in¬ triguing mystery at this point. You must see this fascinating whodunit and find out for yourself! We can say, however, that the stars involved give fine performances throughout, with an equal degree of perfection sustained by the imposing list of featured players. Great Stars Join Forces In Dynamic Stromberg Film Drama A Producer Hunt Stromberg is irked ^because of the over-emphasis placed by some drama columnists on the cost of making pictures in Holly¬ wood. Stromberg’s record of note¬ worthy productions, which were highly successful boxoffice attrac¬ tions, proves his contention that value is the best economy in the long run. He never makes a picture which x does not include famous stars and directors, and which does not have well-known writers and capable technicians. Speaking about his most recent production, the romantic mystery drama, “Lured,” which is due to bow in at the.Theatre next. through United Artists release, Stromberg said: “We could have used unknown and small salaried performers in supporting roles. In¬ stead, we felt that adding players whose ability is established would add a quality to the picture which would more than justify the addi¬ tional talent costs.” Besides George Sanders, Lucille Ball, Charles Coburn and Boris Kar¬ loff, the co-stars of the picture, Stromberg assembled an impressive array of supporting talent. This in¬ cludes Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Joseph Calleia, Alan Mowbray, Alan Napier, Tanis Chandler, Robert Coote, Wynd- ham Standing and C. Ramsay Hill. In addition, Stromberg engaged Alex Frazer, the famous Canadian legitimate character actor for a role which marks Frazer’s Hollywood screen debut. Among the pictures Stromberg has produced which still are remem¬ bered ‘among all-time lists of “the best in films,” are the Nelson Eddy- Jeannette MacDonald musicals, a series of Greta Garbo’s most out¬ standing pictures, many of the “Thin Man” mysteries with William Powell and Myrna Loy, and “Night Must Fall” with Rosalind Russell and Robert Montgomery. His latest production, “Lured,” contains much of the element of sus¬ pense and dramatic impact which characterized “Night Must Fall.” Spot This Prepared Review A Tense Moment In “Lured” Still No. PC -31 Lucille Ball introduces her fiance, George Sanders, to Scotland Yard Inspector Charles Coburn. Scene is from “Lured,” the United Artists release at the.Theatre. x Mat (2F) .30 Chilling Murder, Hot Romance Make Stromberg Drama Sizzle Gripping mystery and high suspense are linked together so adroitly in Hunt Stromberg’s brilliant psychological thrill¬ er, “Lured,” that this is bound to take its place right alongside some of Alfred Hitchcock’s memorable whodunits like “The Lady Vanishes” and “Shadow of a Doubt.” Co-starring in “Lured,” which had its premiere yesterday at the . Thea¬ tre, are such gifted players as George Sanders, Lucille Ball, Charles Coburn and Boris Karloff, while the supporting cast includes names of such stellar-quality as Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Alan Mowbray, Joseph Calleia and George Zucco. Although Douglas Sirk directe’d this United Artists release, and James Nasser served as producer, this sensational pic¬ ture is a tribute to the genius of its ex¬ ecutive producer, Hunt Stromberg, who personally supervised each scene. The dynamic plot gets under way when Lucille Ball, a stranded American show girl earning a temporary living in a Lon¬ don dance hall, finds that her chum, a very beautiful girl, has foolishly answered an advertisement in the personal column of a London daily. When the girl disappears, Lucille goes to Scotland Yard where she finds Inspector Temple (Charles Coburn) very much concerned over a series of mur¬ ders all involving beautiful young girls, and all indirectly leading to ads in the per¬ sonal columns. The inspector engages Lucille to serve as “bait” for all future ads. In rapid suc¬ cession this beautiful new Scotland Yard recruit experiences a series of dangerous adventures, some of them spine-chilling, others vastly amusing in a macabre sort of way, during the course of which she meets George Sanders, a suave, likeable night club owner, and his sophisticated partner, Cedric Hardwicke, as well as such suspicious-looking characters as Boris Karloff, Alan Mowbray, Joseph Calleia and George Zucco. Lucille and George fall madly in love, but their romance culminates abruptly when, on the eve of their wedding, evi¬ dence suddenly points him up as the killer. Whether or not handsome Mr. Sanders is guilty, this reviewer refuses to tell. How¬ ever, from this point on the suspense, which had been steadily rising, reaches its pinnacle, leaving the audience so breathless you could hear a pin drop in the theatre. If you have a yen for stirring mystery chillers, this fine Stromberg production definitely should be on your movie list. Page Thirteen