Variety (November 1961)

2 cee remy FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, November 1, 1961 Fike Comancheros (C‘SCOPE—COLOR) Big action? western. Implausible story, but fine production valnes, popular cast, underlying sense of humor. Good b.o. Hollywood, Oct. 27. Twentieth-Fov reiease of. George SherDat provaetion Stars John Wayne. Biaart Wreianm. Ina Halinw Nehemiah Feesoff. Pee Marvin. Di:ected bv Michael C.aatsz. Scteenpkey. Clan Heutfak's. Based on ‘he novel by Paul 1 Wellman: ecsmera (De Luxe, WilJam Ho tiv uer ed.tor. Leu.s Loeffler: Hrae. Hove Stee fear: 6. MSist. nt directes Cack RR Berres Beviewed at the studio. Oct. 27, “hl, Rutning trme 107 @AINS. ; Cater John Wavne hegzret sae Stuart Whitman Fetv Ina Balin Cree ws cece cee Nehemiah ‘Persoff Ceew eee ee Lee Marvin Pea Dei tty -4 ... Michael Ansara Ti bre Pat Wavne Maier Henry Bruce Cabot Meh::da Jozn O'Brien Ha. se face ._ Jack Elam Judge Feon . Ee@ear Buchanan G@rreawx wt we ae eee Henry Daniell EstevaM cen eee Richwid Devon Steve Bavlor John Dierkes Roeer Mobley Bob Steete femarchero he, Rub Sehe i rid ....... . Poe Sehe’:e°d Spensh Dencer Josefona Iphigenre Castighoni Pessie Avessa Warne / fren Shirt George Lewis “The Camancheros” is a_ hig, brash. uninhibited actiqn-western of the old schocl. about as subtle : In spite of a as 2a right to the jaw. plot that’s as holey as Swiss cheese. it’s a Hkeable piece of high adven ture escape entertainment -for any; ene open-minded enough. to over-.: Jook all the little improbabilities ' and inconsistencies. and just sit back. Kids will love it. pecause the George Sherman preduction is CinemaScopically big as all outdeors and action-packed to boot. Adult customers will appreciate : the faint tongue-in-cheek strain that weaves through the entire film.. a signal that if thev aren't uilling to take it seriously, that’s 2}! right too. A bleckbuster Comancheros” western “The depth or substance of* story for’ such aspirations to be entertained. | But the 20th-Fex release does have’ the marquee pull and the produec. tien magniture ta make a bright and profitable boxoffice showing. The James Edward Grant-Clair James Edward Grant,. Luisa Trian2 . is nat. It lacks the: | hard falls, leaps and maneuvers | quence the raid and batfle se quences ‘directed by Cliff Lyons) ‘ are something to see. Their tactics i help in diverting one’s attention | ‘from dwelling too long on the an-, noying fact that ‘neither ‘absurdly errant gunfire. Cameraman William H. Clothter’s Moab, Utah site are son:ething: to behold. Unfortunateiy, some of the’ studio -shots don't match ‘thebrown hilifS turn purple’. ‘Loeffler’s editing is taut. art direction by Jack Martin Smith’ and Alfred Ybarra generally accuratelooking. Elmer Bernstein's score is. fy stirring; and brings excitement and |: thrust to simple, establishing scenes. But it*s an oddity that one comes out of .the theatre humming’. his already familiar score for: last , year’s “The Magnificent “Seven.” There's considerable similarity between the tivo, but it's a pleasant similiarity. Tube. . | Baehelor in Paradise | (CINEMASCOPE— I METROCOLOR). A restrained but nonetheless quick-with-the-quip Bob Hope and a nifty looker. Lana Turner in welldressed, frequently diverting adult comedy. Should be okay boxoffice. ; . Metro relesse of Ted Richmond pro duction. Stars Bob Hope and Lana Turner: features Janis Paige. Jim Iutton, Paula Prentiss. Don Porter... Virginia Grey. Agnes Moorehead. Directed by Jack Arnold. Screenplay, Valentine Devies and Hal Kanter. from stor, bv Vera Cospary: camera (CinemzScope and = Metreeclor}. Joseph Ruttenberg: music. Henry Mancini: title song, ‘music bx Mancini. lyrics by. Mack David: editor. Richard W. Farrell. Previewed at Loew's Rith street Theatre, ' t NY., Oct, 25. Running time, 109 MINS. . Adam J. Niles Bob Hope. Rosemary Howard .:.....: Lena Turner Dolores Jynson —....... Janis Paige Jim rtutton,, Paula’ Prentiss" Don ‘Porter Nire*nia, Grey Larry Delavene _ Linda Delavan2 ...... t Thomas. W, Jvnsan .. .. Camille Quinicw * Judge Peterson Agnes Moorehead | i; Mrs. Pickering ..... Florence Sundstrom Rodney Janes. +--+. Clinton Sundberg Austin Palfrey wn eenee wc. . John McGiver j Backett Alan’ Hewitt. y Mrs. Brown Rita Shaw Cr od ,; Like through the. Years Bob Hope Coman-" 7 .cheros nor. Comanches seem. able ;. to hit the side of a barn with their < sweeping 'panoramic vjews of the. w Louis: Hutfaker screenplay. based on the , makes with the. funny cracks. and ° novel by Paul I. Wellman, is a,Lana Turner who. like the vears. king of cloak-and-daggei, yarn on , haven't gone by at all. is lov ely to Man-Trap {PANAVISION) | ‘Heavyhandedsuspense meller of dual-bill quality in spite of fairly hefty ‘marquee names, including Jeffrey Hunter from ‘King of. Kings.’ “Hollyw ood, ‘Oct...11. ‘Paramount release of Edmond O'BrienStantey Frazen. production. ‘Stars Jeffrey Hunter. David. Janssen, -Stella’ Stevens. Directed: by O’Brien. Screenplay. Ed aters,. from’ Join TD MacDonald's novelette, “Taint. of the Tiger’: Lloyd. Griggs:.. edilor, Jack music. Leith Stevens: ‘Tom Shaw. Reviewed at the studio, Oct. ‘11, “61... Running time, 93 MIN ‘Matt. Jameson tte teens Jette Hunter Vince Biskay......0..5--. David Janssen Nina ‘Jameson Stella Stevens cumera, Lippiatt:: Liz Adams: . ace eeaes Elaine Devry Cortez . .:.. wees were: ” Arthur Batanides Puerco (2. ......-0..:-%.. Perry Lopez Fat. Man ............+... Bernard Fein Ruth... 5. .-ceeccesdceeee ‘Virginia Gregz Bobbv-Joe ............ Mike Vandever E. J. Malden ........-.... Hugh Sanders: Lt.. Helssen ve aee we ee we 7. Tol Avery © Melodrarnas the likes of “Manfrap” can be found all over tele‘ vision. Long since relegated to. supporting or. hit-and-run exploi| tation stafus on the theatre screen, ‘their popular appeal is limited to. ‘those who attend motion pictures ‘i either: indiscriminately or for un ‘complicated, -sensual’ kicks. The presence of _three up-an-coming thespic talents in tre cast is the’ . best -boxoffice ally the Edmond. O’Brien-Stanleéy Frazen-Tiger pro., duction has, ‘but this won't: be suffi“cient to offset the shopworn-nature ‘of. the story and -the tasteless, chaotic manner in which it has ‘heen executed. under O'Brien’s direction, The Paramount ‘Telease appears destined for a swift com‘mercial career, with sexy teaser’ promotional ‘art honoring Stella ‘Stevens’ anatomical endowments the ‘probable main bait-for this “‘Man-Trap. “ Ed ‘Waters’ screenplay. from John D. MacDonald’s Cosmopolitan -novelette. “Taint of the Tiger, " offers. Jeffrey Hunter as the mis‘erable husband. of -an inexplicably : ‘spoiled. alecholic: (Miss Stevens) in ‘a sub-bourbon. ‘community where |. the neighbors shoot martini pistols at each other and. play. a_ parlor. game caliéd “Braille” ‘blindfolded | husbands must identify their wires | by feeling all the.women) for kicks. Things Yook bad enough, but then | along comes: Hunter’s old war buddy. David Janssen. to complicate matters even further with a assistant director... horseback. It is set against the look at. This adds to agreeable wing scheme for pilfering, three Texas of the mid-19th century, a‘romantic and comedic. values in-a million clams froma Latin syndi troubled time prior to ‘its state-. handsome Ted Richmond preduchood when the Comanches were! tion that ought. to do all right for on the w arpath and renegade white , Metro. men. or “Comancheros,” were aid| It’s engaging. of Miss Stevens’ father and mal; -content:-with his parasitica] lot, he humorous ‘situa-. the cate. Since Hunter is in the employ ; Miller. 4 Miller: ing the Indian cause with fighting eventually _goes along with Pocket ful Of Miracles (PANAVISION—COLOR) ‘nature enjoys a special’ boxoffice advantage. Missing this ideal op| portunity, Julian Roffman‘s Cana-| ; dian-made production does not. | figure to cause much of a stir in-| the cinemarketplace.. An untidy execution .of a. flimsy horror yarn,. ‘the sole novelty of this attraction is the incorporation of depth‘dimensional .(3-D) special effects for the. -harem-scarem:. sequences. “The Mask,” -aeecording to the Frank’ Taubeés-Sandy Hav¥er . scenario, enables .he wearer to descend into “the hidden recesses . ef the human mind.” These “hidden recesses’ ttirn out ‘as the spectator discovers . by putting. on’: the 3-D peepers. provided) ° ‘to ‘con-: Sentimental “comedy. based om a Runyon story and. a 1938 Capra pic. Sweet:.-and oldfashioned, runs hot .and cold, But-Capra touch. should bring satisfactory b.o.. Hollgwood, Oct. ‘13: Vv nited Artists. relejse of Frink Capra production. Stars. Glenn . Furd. Hetfe Davis, -Hope Lange. Arthur ‘O'Connell, Directed. by. Capra. Screenplay, Hal Kanter,. Harry Tugend, based on. svreenplay by Robert: Riskinend ‘storys. by Damon Runyon: camera (Eastman), Robert. Bronner:' editor, Frank P. Keller: music, Wal-ter Scharf: assist gt director, “Arthui S., Black Jy. Reviewed at: Grayman’s Chinese, ‘ Oct: 13, 61. Running time, 136 MINS. | tain images of a kind of amuse. Apple an {Dude Wout cae aes glenn Foi. 3 Pe ay e avis, ment park chamber . of horrors ' Queenie Martin aane Hope Lange” character. Just wliy. they inspire ‘ Count: Romero . Arthur O'Connell. in-the characters wha don-the mask / Jey: _ Peter Falk Judge. enry G. Biske“Thomis’ “Mitchell an obsession to-kill is the biggest : : Butler ‘Edward Everett Horton: mystery about the film.-There is: Junior Mickey. Shaughnessy. : plenty of ghoul and gore in tens rer Meh ooo S sheldgn beens passages, but no genuine chill and * Carlos Romero. . 2.277 -Louisesuspense of the sort that can only : Police. Commissioner 7, Barton’ Maclane Ann-Margret: be created by the spectator’s imagi| Police lir.pector:. Wales Jotm -Litel nation. ‘which is never activated! Mayor . ”: verses, Jeréme Cowan Spanish . Consul Jay. Novello “by this film, As. directed by Roffinan and | Newspaper . Editors en Fr nk Ferguson, . Willis Bouchey. ‘ Pierre vacqgeseeesee ewee er ot Fritz Feld edited by Stephen Timar, the isoho-sal 777) /000.. ae —Bilen Corby dramatic:action is jumpy, lethargic.’ Fotel anager: “penessreee, Renny Robin” ,and inconsistent. Key facets are | Cheesecake . fetus Jack Elam: left dangling: inconelusively, even Bis Mike . ceeccesece and ke noe t ptain voor “shes aietee ayden or. af the. climax. Assumptions Pool Pla\er wae tees. Doodles Weaver ' Compounding the erratic nature. aii cee we neeen. | Paul E. Burns. ngie . wes. Angelo -S. .Rossitto of the production is Herbert: 5.) Gloomy nee nave’ “Stehit Alpert’s RBhotogr aphy, w hich is fre‘Shimkey= -. Georre FE. Stone quently too -dark, particularly on y Smiley Leese ees , Wittiam x Sruls daylight exteriors. The three LSD-. Berne INU, smb ‘Pellard like ‘trips’ into the. cadaverous vividly mounted by special effects | Once upon.as time, say a quarter expert Herman.S. Townsley and” of a century ago, a. sweet. :sentispecial photographic effects man mental fairy tale like Frank ‘Capra’ 3 James B. Gorden, purportedly with -“Pocketful of. Miracles’ . would the employment of a unique Brit: ‘have been anodds-on. shoo-in for: ish camera here used for the first: happy -ending at the Wicket ; time. Louis Applebaum's ~music, windows But today the tracks are’ into which electronic sounds: have.: faster. the stakes are stiffer, and |. been. incorporated, nicely comple' .the pot of gold ‘niore. elusive. ‘Yes-*. ments the desired: mood. . teryear’s favorite: is. today’s long The actors, most. of: them relashot. The question. is. whether un-. tively unknown to°U:S. filmgoers, , . abashed. ‘sentient has gone out of. carry on gamely, notably those in-style?: The answer would probably. , volved in the dream ‘sequences. . . be yes, save for the fact.‘that the Tube. ‘old master of. mellow, firthful may-. J hem has not lost his: unique touch. | Should. the United Artists ‘release: West wand Nungle (BRITISH) should. be a. satisfactory boxoffice.. 1 candidate, especially. useful: as a& . Yuletide. season. attraction. And,. | Should it manage ta do ‘better. than. | satisfactory, it. could. kick: “off a._ renaissance of 30° S-type ‘screen. comedy. , Joe The Hal Kanter-Harry “‘Tugend : Miracle Films release .of Arnold Louis: Scenario, hich a}ternates uneasily Miller. wares. A ereonay Production: ibetween wit and sentiment,. is based: i editor. Stanley Warks: narrator, | On. the 1933. ‘Columbia Telease, « David Gell: voices. Heather Russell. Tom ;““Lady for -a° Day,’ which: was’. Bowman. Previewed at CameoPoly, ton} adapted . by: Robert: Riskin . ‘from. a. London. Oct. 24. Competent. but not sefficiently . pointed, “documentary. about West End vice since the streets: were cleaned up by law. Peter Mann | . tion material that Valentine Davies ‘plot. with dite consequences for all don, Running time, : 353 MIN ‘Damon Runyon story, and directed equipment. Against this setting. the film relates the story of a Texas Ranger John Wayne) and :and Hal Kanter have provided in jnvolvyed. (This. isa pretty weird . their screenplay which. in. turn. rele. for Hunter following his, ‘was taken’ from a Vera Caspary Jesus in “King of Kings,” now an Hinerant gambler ‘Stuart Whit ran) who team up to detect and; cestroy the renegade, parasitic sosiety. Among the incidental comrlications they also must solve are: ‘?} Wayne attually is bringing Vihitman fo justice for having, killed a man -though fair and: square in’a pistol duel, (2) Whit: man loves Ina Balin, who happens to be the daughter of the Coman| chere chieftain Both problems are overcome with consummate ease. considering their formidable nature. . _ Wavne is obviously comfortable ° in a role tailor-made to the specifi-: cations of his easygoing, squareshooting, tight-lipped but watchout-when-I’m-mad screen personalify. Whitman and Miss Balin are valuable talents on the rise, and j will widen considerably their appeal and popularity via this: vehicle. Both seem at home in the! western idiom. Lee Marvin makes a vivid, indelible impression in a. hrief. but colorful. role as a half-! scalped, vile-tempered Comanchero afent. Ben Nye's makeup job on} Alarvin’s pate is masterfully gruesome. Nehemiah Persoff creates an animated portrait of the invalid leader of the Comancheros. As in “The Alamo,” the Wayne brood is well represented. with Pat and Aiessa on hand. Former is vigorous in a key part. Others who perform eanably in. prominent supporting roles are “Wichael Ansara, Bruce Cabot, Joan O’Brien, Jack Elam, Edgar Buchanan. Henry Daniell and Richard Devon. Save for a few essentially irrcolevant cr stow-maving scenes, Cirector Michael Curtiz has done a more than eommendable job of keeping this large-scale production hign-snirited. eoherent and sufficiently intimate to sustain concern. He uas farfuncte in havine ahoard some excelicrit’ stunt men whose story. Hope is stocked with numerous funny lines and delivers them _in his familiar flip-lip style. There's : a little departure from Hope of. ; past, however, for now he's show‘ing a bit of restraint and it's per. ticularly fitting in the. story. line. ; that might have gotten out of. hand: in terms ot good taste. i yarn which has Hone as a writer! whose business affairs -are i managed with the resuit that: he’s! ‘in hock to Internal, Revenue. He goes to a newly-dev el oped Califor-" hia community to indite something :on what makes’ American avomen | : tick. The women in town, alt young !marrieds and pretty: take. to him, -either for his counsel on. marital | | affairs or a flirtation walk now tand then. Merifolk become sus } Picious, dope itout that the hero} tis showing too. much’ muscle jn}. the love department. Actually, ; though.. Hope is innocent of any} ‘romantic hanky panky. eventually ! | announces his love for Miss Tutner, the only. single ‘girl fin the | vicinity. — Nothing special about the per-. formances. but then not too: much is demanded of the leads plus Janis } Lt. Martin Paige, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, Don Porter and: Mirginia Grey,: Suffice to say they all fit in well. Agnes Moorehead is in briefly: as | Prof. Quincy It’s a no depth ‘but easy to take) : -mis-.’ TGe dchowing. ) Earnest performances. by all three of the leads are wasted. Waters’. dialog is affectedly slick . and tough, and the. situations, though fast-paced and hard-hitting. are absurd. Support runs to stereo-: type. especially in the cases of the Latin haodlums, but Elaine Devry. tries hard as the only reasonably . . healthy individyal tmplicated inthis violent emotional. mess. Loyal Griggs’ lenswork is capabl e, and so is Jack Lippiatt’s. edit.ing, Al ‘Roelofs’ art direction ‘and : Leith Stevens’ score. But it’s a : lost cause. from the beginning: '* Tube. i ‘The Mask (CAN ADIAN) , _ Erratic horror item punctuated “chy. 3-D Passages. ‘Hollywood. -Oct. 26:. “Warner Bres. release of Julian Roffman ¢«Canada) production. Directed by Roffman. Screenplay. . Frink Taubes, * Sandy Haver: camera. Herbert S. Alpert: editor. Stephen Timér: music, ‘Louis | ApPJebavm. Reviewed at the studio, Oct. | 26, 761. Running time, 83 MINS. Dr. Allan Barnes . } Paul Stevens ; Pamela’ Albright Claudet te Nevins a judge in a. courtroom scene and | Museum Guide. selaebee Stephen Appleby. this vet showga] plays: a rather | }imseit ‘wacky part to a whimsical turn. ‘Jack Arnoid'’s direction. main-’ tains 2 breezy pace except for a! ' Demon of the Mask it seems. coutd | be eliminated by a closer editing |: job. Music. mainly the title song!an especiwlly handy Halloween! of humor and: also. does not: fall by Henry Mancini and Mack David | attraction. it's. rather astonishing | back. on the old cliches of violence, is beaucoup agreeable. ithat “The. Mask” is ticketed to] junkies, pimps and so on. David Joseph Ruttenberg’s photography! open Nov. 1 iCinemaScope and Metrocolor) is | nationally. -Whatever sharp throughout and takes proper | the. Warner Bros. release is being | okay and Heather Russell and ‘Tom note of the handsome wardrobe! denied exhihition on the one occa| Bowman tope with various. voices: i sion whén a -horror-shocker. of its | adequately. ‘ few lulls. which, (lyries),. and set layouts. Gene. + awe tence ‘Bill Walker | Miss Goodrich ..:::...... Anne Collings Michae], Radin ........ Martin Lavut Dr. Soames’ wee seeee Leo Léyden i Mrs. Kelly ........., _ Eleanor ‘Beecroft -Anderson aweeeese. | William Bryden a aweee ” Norman Ettlinger Lab Technician, ..-:....: Ray Lawlor } Jim Moran | Girl Who Is Kitled ; Neney Island i an Barnes. 4in depthdimension) Rudy Lincchoten| Paul ‘Considering that it would make in L.A., Nov.:11 the reason, Nevins “West End Jungle” has-run into by Capra. It’ has to do with an ! censor trouble and, so far has not }impoverished apple-vender. ‘Bette copped a certificate permitting ‘ « Davis) who wauld. ‘have her long. . -allround: public exhibitions. It is ‘lost daughter “tAnn-Margret)..benow being shown at a London film. ; lieve t that.'she-is a lady of means.. ‘club. Pic also has had the benevo: This is simple enough ‘when. the. ~ ‘lent nod from local authorities in |Gaughter is on. the other~ side’of. Cardiff, Leeds and Coventry where; the globe, but when: she comes ‘permitting it to be shown with. a {trotting over.for « look-see, ‘mama_ ‘certificate that okays © ‘this for. is in trouble. Enter mama's. favorviewing by’ anybody over ‘the. age ite apple-polisher, inTluentialDave: 7 of 16. _ the Dude (Glenn Ford), who hastily.” Producers have set.qut to make. Sets up an. elaborate: masquerade | a film that'is a “startling and con-+ With the aid-of a horde-of typical troversial” study of how vice has} Runyonesque. hoodlums who “are gone underground in London ‘since: : hard: as nails. on the -curface, but -the Street Offenses Act of 1959: all whipped cream ‘on the ‘inside. drove prosties off the street. This| The picture. seems too. long. conperhaps laudable aim has not come | sidering that. there’s never. any : off. “Jungle” is a competently | doubt as to’the outsome, and ‘it’s made documentary. which-only the | also too lethargic.’ but there are ‘very naive will find remotely. star| sporadic compensations of line. and . i tling. It has nothing: ‘important, | situation that reward the patience.. ‘ urgent or new ‘to -say. about its Fortunately Capra has assembled subject and leaves the’ edgy. feel-| some of. Hollywood's: outstanding: ing that what it offers’ is very! character players. for the chore, mueh the same thing that it pur‘some’ of whom-.‘haven’t been seen 'ports to. deplore. ‘too often in recent years. .These This ranges a ‘welltilled: field. | people are.pros, masters of things | It shows how call girls operate and | like the double take and the aside, how young women. from the prov-. and: they play their material to .inces are procured for vice. It; the hilt. When the material .co‘shows the ramifications of alleged | operates,. which it does only o¢caartists in masseuse, nightclub | sionally. sorne comedy sparks are hostesses and prosties in clip nearSerierated. ; i Pe joints. None ‘of it is very edi-|'For the romantic leads, . ‘Capra: fying and none of it very Tevealing. | has’: Glenn Ford and Hope Lange. Film simply takes 55 minutes:ta'| As a comedy team, they are no tell audiences. what: they already.| James Stewart-Jean. Arthur ‘prob-. know, that though streetwalkers | ably:.Capra’smost. formidable staré are now, fortunately, not allowed | pairing), but they: get by—particuto roam their beats-vice can still [larly Ford: Miss Lange is more ‘be engaged in by any’ sucker.-who | suitable for © ‘serious: ‘roles. | Miss’: knows the. ropes and has a ‘few | Davis has. the _ meatly: role of | dollars. “Apple Annie” and,‘except ‘for 28. Where “Jungle” ‘chalks ° up {tendency to overémote in eloseups,: ,credit is that. itis directéd and | she. handles it ‘with | depth and -.| written with an occasional sense | finesse.. -The best lines’ in the picture. ZO. to Peter Falk, .who. reveals.a flair. for comedy fo go along: with his reputation for gangster. parts.: Falk just about walks. off with the film -when he’s on: Among the veterans who score prominent points are (Continued. on page 36) Gell gives with the commentary excellently. the. photography is Rich, .