Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1949)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, July 30, 1949 21 Wainwright. Music composed by Allan Gray tmd played by London Symphony Orchestra. A Two Cities film presented by J. Arthur Rank. Plot: When Margaret Lockwood goes blind she enters a convent to escape Paul Dupuis, who wants to marry her. However, she finds a novice's life too hard. He is waiting for her and takes her to his home in France. She realizes his family do not approve of a blind English daughter-in-law. Particularly vicious is Kathleen Byron who loved Paul'. She does her utmost to belittle her, and goes so far as to attempt to kill her. She arouses Paul's suspicion and is instrumental in Margaret losing her baby. Margaret leaves Paul and in London meets a doctor who will risk a chance operation. It succeeds. She returns to France pretending to be still blind, finds that Kathleen has been her enemy and is reunited with Paul. Comment: Here is a picture which sets out to satisfy the masses by stirring the emotions and pulling no punches. Critics may describe the plot as novelettish. It is, but the popular ingredients for a romantic melodrama have been skillfully blended and the result is a first-rate women's picture. Making his debut as a director, Hollywood script writer Charles Bennett keeps matters moving well and has built up some terrific dramatic sequences. It is a pity that he has had to use a flashback, for this may confuse some audiences. Margaret Lockwood as the blind girl proves herself to be an actress in keeping with her boxoffice popularity. This performance should silence her critics. Paul Dupuis proves his ability with a sincere, clear-cut characterization as the French husband. Kathleen Byron is excellent as the schemer, and a strong cast is rounded off by Raymond Lovell, Maurice Denham and Thora Hird. While "Madness of the Heart" is not an art house offering, it will run up top grosses in Britain and the Dominions and Charles Bennett has injected sufficient quality and feeling to put it over in the wider international market. Mr. Soft Touch Columbia Comedy-Drama 93 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Good solid entertainment for the masses with its human touches, comedy and drama. Should be warmly received in theatres catering to general audiences. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Has the cast and title to give it a head start at the box-office. Cast: Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes, John Ireland, Beulah Bondi, Percy Kilbride, Clara Blandick, Ted de Corsia, Stanley Clements, Roman Bohnen, Harry Shannon, Gordon Jones. Jack Gordon, Ray Mayer, Angela Clarke, Mikel Conrad, Charles Trowbridge, Lora Lee Michel, William Rhinehart. Leon Tyler, William Edmunds. Credits: Produced by Milton Holmes. Directed by Henry Levin and Gordon Douglas. Screenplay by Orin Jannings. Story by Milton Holmes. Photography, Joseph Walker, Charles Lawton, Jr. Art direction, George Brooks. Musical score, Heinz Roemheld. Musical direction, M. W. Stoloff. Plot: Back from the war, Glenn Ford learns that Roman Bohnen, a gangster, has murdered Ford's partner in a gambling club. Ford rifles the club's safe and takes $100,000 which he feels is his rightful property. With Bohnen's gang on his heels, he takes refuge at a settlement house, where he meets social worker Evelyn Keyes. The gang learns of the hideout, sets the house af^re, and in the commotion makes away with the money. But Ford goes back to the club, recovers it, and brings it back to the house as his contribution to a rebuilding fund. While attempting to leave he is critically wounded by Bohnen's gang but will in all likelihood recover to find happiness with Evelyn. Comment: Judging from the fact that two directors and two cameramen are credited, "Mr. Soft Touch" apparently had a thorough going-over before emerging in its completed form. Frequently too many hands spoil the broth, but in this instance they seem to have made it quite palatable for most moviegoers. This is no epic by any means, but it's good solid entertainment for the masses with its human touches, comedy and drama. There is a great deal of human interest and chucklesome humor in the situation of a gangster hiding out in a settlement house, learning the good it does, and trying to help in his own lawless manner. Glenn Ford is excellent in this role, and Evelyn Keyes is properly aloof, yet not without warmth, as the social worker who unsuccessfully resists falling in love with him. These two have some fine troupers to back them up — John Ireland, Beulah Bondi, Percy Kilbride, Clara Blandick, Ted de Corsia, Roman Bohnen, and Stanley Clements. "Mr. Soft Touch" may not quite make the ultra-ultra situations, but in most theatres catering to general audiences it should be warmly received, and it has the cast and title to give it a head start at the box-office. The Devirs Henchman Columbia Drama 68 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) There's enough suspense in this unpretentious drama to keep most moviegoers interested. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Warner Baxter's name will help, but this is a sound enough film to hold its own in many situations. Cast: Warner Baxter, Mary Beth Hughes, Mike Mazurki, Peggy Converse, Regis Toomey, Harry Shannon, James Flavin, Julian Rivero, Ken Christy, William Forrest, Alan Bridge, Paul Marion. Credits: Producer, Rudolph C. Flothow. Director, Seymour Friedman. Screenplay, Eric Taylor. Photography, Henry Freulich. Plot: Working for an insurance company to nab some fur thieves, Warner Baxter poses as a wharf rat, is befriended by Mike Mazurki, and soon learns that Mazurki, Regis Toomey, Harry Shannon and Mary Beth Hughes comprise the gang. Baxter gets an unexpected assist from Peggy Converse and police arrive in time to capture the gang in the act. Comment: Warner Baxter delivers a stout performance here as the undercover man, who takes no unnecessary chances, but works intelligently to accomplish his mission. The picture holds considerable interest without resorting to a lot of phony tricks to build up excitement. Seymour Friedman's direction is even and careful, while Rudolph Flothow's production is a competent one. Mazurki makes the most of his tough guy role, while Regis Toomey, Harry Shannon and Peggy Converse give good support. It's a Great Feeling (Color by Technicolor) Warner Bros. ComedyWith-Songs 85 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) This satirical tale about the adventures of a girl seeking a career in the movies is loaded with laughs. Should appeal to everyone, for it takes them behind the scenes and pokes fun at studio intrigue. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Should be greeted with loud acclaim among moviegoers who like farce-comedy. Marquee strength of the star names, plus the exploitation angle of big Warner stars in bit scenes, should be of considerable help in putting it over. Cast: Dennis Morgan, Doris Day, Jack Carson, Bill Goodwill, Irving Bacon, Claire Carleton, Harlan Warde, Jacqueline DeWitt, The Fj^mous Mazzone-Abbott Dancers. Credits: Directed by David Butler. .Screenplay by Jack Rose and Mel Shavelson. From a story by I. A. L. Diamond. Director of photography, Wilfrid M. Cline. Musical direction by Ray Heindorf. Technicolor color director, Natalie Kalmus. Plot: Story revolves around the efforts of Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson to win a screen contract for Doris Day, a commissary waitress. Everything is complicated by the refusal of the studio's top directors to handle Carson in a picture, so he is named director. It all ends by Miss Day going home and marrying her old boy-friend. Comment: The satirical tale about the adventures one girl encounters while seeking a career in motion pictures has been used to good advantage in this Technicolor farcecomedy. Most of the action takes place on the Warner lot, and by adding quite a bit of rib-tickling business that pokes fun at studio intrigue. Producer Alex Gottlieb and Director David Butler have turned out a film that should be greeted with loud acclaim wherever it is played. Practically any audience will find it unusual entertainment, for it not only gives them a good look inside a studio, but, if they have any favorites among the Warner players, they are likely to find them appearing in the picture. In bit parts, as themselves, are Eleanor Parker, Edward G. Robinson and Joan Crawford, with Errol Flynn appearing in a hysterically funny sequence. Six new songs are introduced, the outstanding ones being the title song. That Was A Big Fat Lie and Blame It On My Absent-Minded Heart, all written by the team of Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Famous Hollywood places, such as the Hollywood Bowl and its Pepper Tree Lane and other local spots, also appear prominently in the film. Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson are excellent in the leading roles, with Doris Day doing quite well as the young waitress trying to get a break. Bill Goodwin is swell as the harassed movie producer, with Jacqueline DeWitt making a convincing, efficient secretary. This is the third co-starring film for Morgan and Carson, and if their previous offerings are any indication of what the public wants, then there is little doubt about the acceptance of this one. The addition of Doris Day is another attribute, for Miss Day has attracted considerable attention in the last year, and in this film she proves she is a good comedian, as well as a good singer. Holfingshead Marks J 2th Anniversary Gordon Hollingshead is this week celebrating his 12th anniversary as head of Warner Bros', short subjects department. During his 12 years in that capacity, Hollingshead has never failed to have one or more of his films nominated each year for an Academy award. He has won 11 awards, ten for his outstanding short subjects and one for his work as assistant director on the Warner musicals, "Gold Diggers of 1933" and "42nd Street." Fleischer Assigned Sid Rogell has assigned Richard Fleischer to direct RivO Radio's "Gravesend Bay," which Herman Schlom will produce. Production is scheduled for mid-'August. Gets Feminine Lead Diana Lynn has been signed by Columibia for the feminine lead opposite John Derek in "Swords of Sherwood Forest," which Fred Packard will produce with Gordon Douglas directing.