Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 8, 1949 15 The Box-Office Slant Current and Forthcoming Feature Product Reviewed from the Theatreman's Standpoint Treasure of Monte Cristo Lippert Prod'ns Mystery 76 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Dealing with a descendant of the famous "Count of Monte Cristo," this mystery should satisfy the general run of whodunit fans. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Should do okay in most situations. Cast: Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens, Steve Brodie, Robert Jordan, Michael Whalen, George K. Davis, Margia Dean, Michael Vallon, Sidney Melton, Brian O'Hara, Robert Boon, Jeritza Novak, Jimmy O'Neil, Curtis Jarrett, Charles Reagan, Larry Barton, Rube Schaeffer, Don Junior, Jack Power, Jamison Shade, Johnny Casino, Kem Tang. Credits: Directed by William Berke. Original screenplay by Associate Prodacers Aubrey Wisberg and Jack PoUexfen. Photography, Benjamin Kline. Produced by Leonard S. Picker. Plot: A descendant of Edmund Dantes finds himself accused of murder when he falls for, and marries, a young lady whom he helped out of a phoney predicament. He is close to being made to pay for his crime when he gets help and clears up the mystery. Comment: This film, based on a continuation of the "Monte Cristo" theme, has enough suspense and mystery to satisfy the general run of whodunit fans — especially those more interested in characters and motivation than action. Cast is competent, with Glenn Langan playing a present-day Edmund Dantes, descendant of the one Alexandre Dumas made so famous. Adele Jergens is an attractive and convincing phoney heiress and Steve Brodie does very well in the role of the crooked lawyer. A police investigator is capably portrayed by Michael Whalen. Leonard Picker produced and gave the film an air of authenticity by having it photographed in San Francisco, the locale of the story. William Berke directed. Masked Raiders RKO Radio Western 60 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Latest in the Tim Holt series is up to par with a Robin Hood twist. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Well stocked with the elements for the regular westernaction market. Cast: Tim Holt, Richard Martin, Marjorie Lord, Gary Gray, Frank Wilcox, Charles Arnt, Tom Tyler, Harry Woods, Housley Stevenson, Clayton Moore, Bill George. Credits: Producer, Herman Schlom. Director, Lesley Selander, Writer, Norman Houston. Plot: A pair of Texas Rangers are assigned to bring in a gang of masked raiders but discover them to be a non-killing Robin Hood outfit protecting local poor ranchers from the harsh foreclosures of the banker. The latter's record, with that of his town marshal cohort, is further blackened by murder. Their victim's daughter is the leader of the raiders. The real villains are killed and the raiders seem headed for clemency. Comment: The latest Tim Holt picture is up to par for his western series, being well stocked with the elements — riding, shooting, fighting — to sell it in the regular westernaction market. This time there's a Robin Hood twist, the masked raiders supposed to be the villains turning out to be ranchers protecting themselves against the supposedly respectable banker and town marshal. Holt National Reviewing Committees' Audience Classifications ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD (RKO) FAMILY — National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 1 — National Legion of Decency THIEVES HIGHWAY (20TH-FOX) MATURE— National Board of Review CLASS B — National Legion of Decency Objection : Suggestive situations and costuming ; excessive brutality ; tends to condone immoral actions. YES SIR, THAT'S MY BABY (U-I) FAMILY — National Board of Review CLASS A-SEC. 1— National Legion of Decency and his amusing sidekick, Chito Rafferty (played by Richard Martin), are Texas Rangers. The gal who appears oh so feminine when not leading the raiders en masque is very pretty Marjorie Lord. There's a juvenile role, that of her little brother, well brought off by Gary Gray. It Happened in Europe (Hungarian Dialog — English Titles) Lopert Films Drama 93 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Visually stimulating, realistic drama of Europe's wardisplaced children. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: A good bet for any exhibitor who sells "class" fare. A European prize winner. Cast: Miklos Gabor, Suzy Banky, Laci Horvath, Arthur Somlay, George Bardy and 24 children. Credits: Written, directed and produced by Geza Radvanyi. Photography, Barnabas Hegyi. Music, Denes Buday. Enghsh titles, Herman G. Weinberg. Plot: Some two dozen displaced children forage over the land, hole-up in a ruined castle when authority threatens to overtake them. The musician who lives there feeds them, clears them with the law and finally gives them the place, but only after one of the youngest has died defending it against a posse. Comment: The war-displaced children of Europe are dealt with once again in this Hungarian film, formerly titled "Somewhere in Europe." If there's a saturation point for that subject matter, this film is one step closer to it. "It Happened in Europe" compares favorably, however, with the notably well-made "The Search" from America and "Guaglio" from Italy, and can show in evidence of its quality several European prizes. Its peculiar excellence is that it is visually imaginative and stimulating. The eloquent camera gets along with excellent music, well chosen sound and very little dialog until near the end of the film. Less control of the dialog and rather unrestrained play upon the death of a small boy weaken the later moments. The performers are all good, especially Arthur Somlay as the wise, kindly, sixtyish musician who pleads that the children have only acted in response to the deplorable conditions brought about by the older generation. Miklos Gabor is the young man who leads the kids and Suzy Banky, as a girl among them, is attractive enoug'h to turn Hollywood eyes. The picture is, in the postwar European mood, a realistic one. The beating of a child is so brutally conveyed as to disturb some audiences. For the exhibitor who sells "class" fare, however, this film should be a good bet. Bandit King of Texas Republic Western 60 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Has all the ingredients of a western to appeal to boys — young and old — who dote on action, gunfire, fist fights and thundering riding. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Good for firstruns in neighborhoods and small towns. For more captious audiences, bill it under a good comedy. Cast: Allan "Rocky" Lane, Eddy Waller, Helena Stanley, Jim Nolan, Harry Lauter, Robert Bice, John Hamilton, Lane Bradford, George H. Lloyd, Steve Clark, I. Stanford Jolley, Danni Nolan, Richard Emory. Credits: Directed by Fred C. Brannon. Associate Producer, Gordon Kay. Story by Olive Cooper. Photography by John MacBurnie. Plot: Jim Nolan, bandit king of Texas, is luring homesteaders to Elko, selling them claims on government land, getting the deeds back, killing many of them. "Rocky" Lane comes to help a friend (already robbed and murdered) and by his derring-do straightens everything out, dealing death or imprisonment to the villain and his henchmen. Comment: Another in Republic's "Rocky" Lane westerns that has all the ingredients of a western to appeal to boys — young and old — who dote on action, gunfire, fist fights, and thundering riding. "Rocky" acquits himself well as usual and Eddy Waller as Nugget Clark gives another of his rugged, winning characterizations. They make a good team. It is their action, plus the gaudy gun battles and rugged fist fights that will "get" the western addicts. Jim Nolan's villain is worthy of any youngster's hissing. Any suspicion of a love story is non-existent (the girls are all married) and Rocky, invulnerable to bullets and horny fists alike, rides oi¥ to new adventures. Story, production, direction and photography are satisfactory. Abandoned Univ. Int'l Drama 79 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) A credible and always interesting story that will engage audience sympathy for its drama, naturalness and excellent acting in the chief roles. 'BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Worth the upper half of a dual bill in the larger situations, with strong enough appeal for singling in smalltown and neighborhood theatres. Not much marquee strength in cast names. The sympathy-arousing subject matter and the good acting are the exhibitor's best promotion bets. Cast: Dennis O'Keefe, Gale Storm, Jeff Chandler, Meg Randall, Raymond Burr, Marjorie Rambeau, Jeannette Nolan, Mike Mazurki, Will Kuluva, David Clarke, William Page, Sid Tomack, Perc Landers, Steve Darrell, Clifton Young, Ruth Sanderson. Credits: Produced by Jerry Bresler. Directed by Joe Newman. Story and screenplay by Irwin Gielgud. Photography by William Daniels. Music, Walter Scharf. Plot: Gale Storm arrives in Los Angeles looking for her missing sister, killed under suspicious circumstances after giving her fatherless baby girl out for adoption through Marjorie Rambeau, head of a black market in babies in cahoots with Gangster Will Kuluva. Newspaperman Dennis O'Keefe {Continued on Page IS)