Screenland (May-Oct 1942)

RECENT FILMS REVIEWED IN A FLASH! YANKEE BOODLE DANDY — Warners. This story of George M. Cohan's life is a great screen show. A triumph for Jimmy Cagney, perfectly cast as the showman, coloring a clever role with his own inimitable zest and humor. Ail-American entertainment to stir you to tears and excite you to cheers. Walter Huston, Joan Leslie, Jeanne Cagney, Rosemary DeCamp, Irene Manning, Richard Whorf in cast. THIS ABOVE ALL — 20th Century-Fox. Here is a picture to tear your emotions to shreds. It's the film version of Eric Knight's best-selling novel about England in this war. Joan Fo.ntaine gives a beautiful performance as the girl who joins the W.A.A.F. and falls in love with a Handsome Stranger, played by Tyrone Power. THIS GUN FOB HIRE — Paramount. Lusty melodrama about a ruthless killer and how he atones by catching up with fifth columnists. Plenty of excitement. Its fast and furious action will have you on the edge of your seat. Veronica Lake does her best acting so far, but newcomer Alan Ladd steals the sho.v. Don't miss it. TO THE SHORES OP TRIPOLI — 20th Century-Fox. Why the Marines have commanded the respect of the world, their training, responsibilities, recreation, and the high ideals of the Marine Corps are rousingly presented. Swell and exciting entertainment. John Payne, as the cocky private, Randolph Scott, as the sergeant, Maureen O'Hara, as the nurse, all excellent. TORTILLA PLAT — M-G-M. John Steinbeck's human and moving account of the vagabonds of Monterey, California. You must see the picture, for it is a cinema masterpiece. Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, Frank Morgan, excellent in their roles : Hedy Lamarr, a fiery human being as the girl in the story. MY PAVORITE BLONDE — Paramount. This combination of Bob Hope better than ever and beautiful Madeleine Carroll will appeal to everybody. The plot involves Hope in a ring of Nazi spies with a gorgeous blonde British agent against a background of crazy and screamingly funny misadventures. Has suspense, too. MY GAL SAL — 20th Century-Fox. This picture, based on the career of the late Paul Dresser, ballad-writer, is an enchanting escape from today's troubles. Rita Hayworth, its star, gorgeously costumed as a Gay Nineties belle, is a vision in color ; Victor Mature, good as the song-writing hero. The star-studded cast also has Carole Landis, John Sutton, James Gleason. Walter Catlett, Mona Maris. REAP THE WILD WIND — Par/amount. Spectacular, thrilling. Cecil B. DeMille melodrama. It has adventure, romance, and a lot of American history of a century ago when pirate wreckers ruled the Florida keys. Never a let-up in the breathless action and the love scenes are exciting. Paulette Goddard gives a fiery performance. John Wayne, Ray Milland, excellent as her two suitors. IN THIS OUR LIPE— Warners. The story of two sisters and the havoc wrought when the bad one steals her sister's husband, has Bette Davis at her most menacing and neurotic. Bette does a good job of making you loathe the bad sister, with Olivia de Havilland in the sympathetic role. George Brent, Dennis Morgan, the leading men. THE GOLD RUSH — United Artists. Charlie Chaplin s film of "the little fellow" who goes prospecting and his comic misadventures. Everyone, young or old, who enjoys a good hearty laugh and those kids who have never seen Charlie, will want to see it. SABOTEUR — Universal. Latest Alfred Hitchcock production. Bob Cummings, exciting as the defense-plant worker who has to clear himself of a sabotage charge; Priscilla Lane, charming as the girl who helps him run the saboteurs to ground ; Otto Kruger, fine as a suavely sinister spy. Fun and thrills. THE GAY SISTERS — Warn ers. The story of three sisters (Barbara Stanwyck, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Nancy Coleman) fighting for their inheritance. Plot has unusual twists and turns which even the smart guessers won't anticipate and which atone for the tedium of some scenes. Girls are excellent; but Gig Young, a newcomer strolls away with the picture. 60 RIO RITA — M-G-M. Saboteurs are written into the plot of this .new version of the familiar stage and screen show, but Lou Costello and Bud Abbott, with their uproarious antics, foil the spies. They're funnier than ever. John Carroll and Kathryn Grayson are good as the singing sweethearts. KIPLING'S JUNGLE BOOK — Korda-U. A. For children of every age. Rudyard Kipling's fantasy, the story of Mowgli, the Indian boy who wandered into the jungle to be reared by the wolves, filmed in brilliant Technicolor. As Mowgli, Sabu's sincerity shines through his work and makes it refreshing entertainment. SHIP AHOY — M-G-M. Lively, entertaining screen musical. A lot of good laughs — inspired by the screen's funniest man, Red Skelton, and new dance routines by Eleanor Powell, so you won't mind if the plot is far-fetched and unconvincing. MOONTIDE — 20th Century-Fox. If you saw Gabin's French movies, or if you're curious to see the Gallic panic for the first time, you'd better catch this. Gabin's great magnetism dominates this dull story about a hard-drinking dockhand who is reformed by the waif he rescues. Ida Lupino, fine as the waif. THE FLEET'S IN — Paramount. A musical comedy about girls and sailors on leave. Bill Holden, seen as a shy sailor, becomes the envy of his ship-mates when he meets a girl singer. So much fun what with Dorothy Lamour and Jimmy Dorsey and his band and grand vodvil acts — even sailors will enjoy it. Dottie and Bill, good. Betty Hutton and Eddie Bracken provide entertaining comedy. THE GREAT MAN'S LADY — Paramount. Sentimental saga of the Early West. The story of Ethan Hoyt, founder of Hoyt City. Flashback method of telling the story slows it up a bit, but splendid performances by Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea make it worth your while. I MARRIED AN ANGEL — M-G-M. MacDonald-Eddy fans will like this gay musical fantasy about a Budapest playboy who dreams he marries an angel. Jeanette and Eddy render lilting Rogers and Hart tunes in excellent voice. THE SPOILERS — Universal. Exciting new film version of Rex Beach's red-blooded saga of Klondike gold rush days. Highlight is the fight between John Wayne and Randolph Scott.' which is the biggest, most realistic and brutal fist fight ever filmed. Marlene Dietrich excellent as the barroom queen. SUICIDE SQUADRON — Republic. A moving war drama about a concert pianist, member of the Polish air force, who is parted from his American wife when she tries to keep him from rejoining a suicide squadron. Anton Walbrook, magnificent as the pianist-flyer ; Sally Gray' good. Air scenes, thrilling ; fine musical score! TWIN BEDS — U nited Artists. This bedroom farce is given a timely touch by having the wife (Joan Bennett) neglect her hubby ( Georee Brent) in favor of her USO work. Bennett and Brent good, but Mischa Auer steals top honors as a romantic Russian. Repetitious, but screamingly funny. JUKE GIRL — Warners. This picture is about migrant farm workers in a Florida town at crop-picking time. Ann Sheridan is seen as the juke joint dancer who loves Ronald Reagan Murder, mob fury, attempted lynchings furnish the action. Richard Whorf is in it. Acting, good throughout. SONG OF THE ISLANDS — 20th Centurytox Lively filmusical with a pre-war Hawaiian background. Has lots of beauty— scenic (thanks to lechnicolor) and feminine (especially Betty Grable in a grass skirt) ; Victor Mature ; comedy by Jack Oakie ; and tuneful songs. A GENTLEMAN AFTER DARK — United Artists. The story is about a crook who goes straight when his baby is born, but whose wife continues her life of crime. Heliotrope Harry the gentleman crook, is splendidly portraved by Brian Donlevy, and Miriam Hopkins plavs the wife. Exciting. Has suspense. BROADWAY — Universal. Melodrama of t roaring '20's which follows the life of GeoRaft, with George, as himself, telling about t old days and how he became a Broadway hoofJanet Blair, talented newcomer, good as his pej ner. Has old favorite tunes and well-done dan routines. RINGS ON HER FINGERS — 20th Centu Fox. Trite, romantic comedy with Gene Tiern playing a shop-girl who is transformed into : attractive lure to help fleece wealthy men. Hen Fonda is one of her victims, but love sets i Has some spicy dialogue, and Gene is positivt disturbing in some of the bathing suit seem i MAISIE GETS HER MAN — M G M. R Skelton is Maisie's (Ann Sothern) man in t latest of this popular comedy series in whi Ann plays a show girl who teams up with Re amateur vaudevillian, who gets stage-fright opening night. That scene alone is worth so time and money, but the rest is corny comet ALWAYS IN MY HEART — Warners. A sp timental film drama for femme fans which i troduces Gloria Warren, a young girl with beautiful voice. Fine acting by Walter Hustc as the convict-father whose children believe is dead ; and Kay Francis plays the moth( Borrah Minevitch and his Rascals furnish mu; and comedy. BUTCH MINDS THE BABY — Univers Damon Runyon's tale about an ex-convict wi a heart of gold, who talks the dese, dose jargo and who appoints himself guardian to a pret widow's (Virginia Bruce) baby. Brod Crawf., is excellent as the ex-con. The baby's cute gu glings steal the picture. Dick Foran's in it, tc MISS ANNIE ROONEY — United Artists. T story, concerning a poor little girl and her "t mance" with a rich boy, despite his family's d approval, is too trite and not true enough ffj Shirley Temple, its star. Shirley's first mov: rug-cutting is more fun than her first scre-Jj kiss. Supporting cast has : Dickie Moore, Gijl Kibbee, William Gargan. JOE SMITH, AMERICAN — M-G-M. The iJ" portance of guarding military secrets is stress! in this film. Robert Young is convincing I Smith, a defense worker who traps the spi« who tried to beat him into divulging bombsijr plans. A lesson in patriotism, and not lackin in entertainment qualities. THE TUTTLES OF TAHITI — RKO. Soul Seas comedy romance. Refreshing bit of scre< entertainment. Light-hearted and gay. Ideal fil 1 for these troubled times. Charles Laughton, J< . Hall and Peggy Drake in the cast. FINGERS AT THE WIND O W — M-G-M. mystery thriller about strange axe murders. N a horror film. Lew Ayres, good as the uner ployed actor who catches the killer ; Basil Rat bone, fine as the phony medico ; Laraine Day h: little to do except look lovely. Suspense is goo THE MAYOR OF 44TH STREET RKi A bright comedy-drama about a gang of jiv crazy kids who blackmail an ex-hoofer (Georj Murphy) on threat of heckling his bands. Mn phy, fine in a straight role ; Anne Shirley, goc as his girl. Freddy Martin's band supplies musi 7 MY FAVORITE SPY — RKO. A spy come, with Kay Kyser playing a dumb band-leader wl is called to Army service on his wedding day ar made an espionage agent. His efforts becon amusingly complicated when he can't explain h actions to his bride. Ellen Drew and Jai Wyman, good, but we missed Ginny Simms, ar didn't get enough of Kay's band. Not our f: vorite Kyser film. STARDUST ON THE SAGE — Republi i here s more singin' than shootin' in this Autii western, but that makes it more entertainin and, therefore, will also appeal to fans who ord narily wouldn't care for horse operas. Gene an Smiley Bur.nette lead theater audiences throug the use of the magic-ball and wand in such song as Deep In the Heart of Texas and Home 0'^ the Range. TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE! M-G-M. Tarzan's latest adventures take him t the big city. In addition to the jungle anima' and the usual swinging from treetops, Tarza* thrills you with leaps from skyscrapers and dot a Steve Brodie off Brooklyn Bridge. Too fanta: tic for grown-ups, but good kid stuff. MOKEY — M-G-M. A touching story about motherless boy, Mokey, who is always gettin into trouble. A good study in child psychology Bobby Blake, as Mokey, proves he's a good litt1 actor. Dan Dailey, Jr., and Donna Reed are i the cast. MEXICAN SPITFIRE SEES A GHOST RKO. If you've seen earlier "Spitfire'' films, vo know what to expect. If you like silly corned you'll enjoy it — but not otherwise. Leon Erro versatile comic, portrays Lord Epping, Unci Matt, Hubbett— all three. The fiery Lupe Vele and Charles Buddy Rogers are in it.