Variety (Jun 1938)

VARIETY FILM REiriEWS Alezander'i Ragtime Band (MUSICAL) Hollywood, May 31. SOlti CenUiry-Fiix rcleime «( Jiuny .los liiiiWD iiruuucllon. Slari" Tjiuiiii I'owor, JMk'O fa!,-)! iiiiil Don AnU'i.:n!; r<';^CMl?« Ktliel Merman,' Jack lluley. .Jc:im lli'i-fliult l/lrcv'lc<l by Henry Ivlnit. I.} run Kml niii. kI,^ by irvlnit lierlln. >i<.wen|.l:ry. by Kulli. i-yit .Scola and I«iViiiur 'J'niiU: a>J:iiiiii.t:«»ii by^ Itlcnnnr iilienniiii; musical illiei lor. AlfruJ Ne\\m;iit; .O.iiicca, .''eyinuur roHx: cHiiioni I'ovorcll Morlcy: e.Ut,)r, lbr;iar;i .Mir,»:in Fievlcwcil 01 CarlHay Olrcb', \,..\., ay SI, 'vS. UuniilnR tbue; 1 ' iiiiri:*. AlexanOer (liuRer CSrJiiiO Ricl.a Klrby .,..T>nm»^ T*owe .......Alliv Kilve Uun .N.inecin; ...KlhPl MOnli;i>l ..... ..liicli Haley ,.. ..Ie;lii-iler.shnlt ...Mi'Ien Wosllry . .i.l-jlii) Ci n-Milne .,..."; I'aul ini Illiiweir Jtiitb Terry . .uuub-laa Ko« ley- .. .i'hick c;i;ini;ler .,.. Hdille Oolllns . ..JuHi^h' <"rchnn . .Iioljeri ClecJiler, ....L>i^Le X>unb:ir ....... .Joit Klnu' .('luillia ColeiiiUil .Sicniey Anilrews .UKIllrH WlllhllU!) rJ:in,j .lijne . 1... ; (JLio b\leii I M«l K.illsh ..'..Ciady Simon. . .^ebii.ir JackHon .;. .'.'I'ylcr Krooke iiulii Liougl.ta 4'hnrlle Uwycr.. Jerry Allen l^awy l.anc '.- ri-ofcMOr Jlciiiii^'li.. Aunt Suphle. T!i:;l Driver,...'....' Ulll ,. .~. V'ally Vcrnuii.. lluby Shaptwr . ^....-. J.OMle .'. Curiwul i.'ul.liiv:. ... ... ..... e>ta;;« Alair.iou.'.. ■..' K<IJIe tir-CclaUy ................ Charles Olll.nKiia.ii.. Jlcail Waller Colcnci A^ent Trio .......... Babe TifanOKer Xaulo .Sla<i*>i*-'- Ai;3ifilunt fitaKti Man^rk'ui filiiiier .:. Irving Berlin's 'Aiexander'.s Rag- time band' is' a grand lilmusicul 'wiiich .stirs aiid -thrills, finding re-' fiponse in the .'American heart which Js moved by memories/of the excit- ing, senlimehtar ,and patriotic . rno- ments.of the past quarter of a cen- tury. It is the cavalcade- of our times, not only because of the events pictured, but becauiie of the.mental panorama envisioned . by. the audi- ertcc;. Withheld from .general release until late, in the summer, its.inevit- able career is sock bbxolfict', roflt- sble exploitation engagenieiilu, ex- tended runs, and repeat showing.*:^ Superlative in conception, execution and showmanship, it provides :i rare theatrical and'emotional experience. Consolidated into a single enter- tainment, the Berlin repertoire taken from .various' musical shows, lilms and from the shelves o| pop su^et' stores; comprise Ji symphoily as fa- miliar to the . average man' and woman as the faces of close friends. As the niedley of more tiian 'iti Sieccsi selected from some 60U which erlin has composed, mbunts in.vol- ume and melody, there, is realised some . appreciation ol. iiis contribu- tion to contemporary life, manner and thought Only one otiier living showman, George M. ..Cohah, Has touched so wide a sympatica, of pop ular appeal. ' Banisn .the idea that 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is dated in back' ground. It's as timely as tonight's reserved seat^ stub. Although tlie , story opens, back in 1911, the narra- tive hibves swiftly through the years to the present, t act that nbhe of the characters ages a single grey hair in 25 year's is flattering to listeners who' are yoiing again under the Ponce de I/!on spell of remembered rhythms. Intermingled with. the Actional visual episodes are the: reprises of 'Alexander,' the haunting beat of 'Everybody's Doing It Now,' the plaintive "Ragtime Violin,'' That In-; ternational Rag' and others reminis-' cent of the pre-war period. It was the eira of Hammersteln's 'Victoria of the Ziegfcld Follies, atop the New York theatre; of the Frohman, Belasco and Erlangcr regime oil Broadway.. Only men drank in bars then.' King Cole approved all cus- tomers at this Knickerbocker bar the Metropole, Shanley's and BiiS' tanoby's were places to go. The Futnunri building sheltered the UBO. 'and Elsie Janis and Montgomery and Stone played for Dillingham at the Globe. Cohan & Harris' were port- ncrs in the Fitzgerald building and 'William A. Brady was building the Playhouse in West 48th street. Mr; and Mrs. Vernon Castle danced at the Sah Souci. Out-of-towiiers 'filroUed Broadway and whi.stled 'When the Midnight Chob-Choo Leaves for Alabam'. Al Woods -had 'Within the Law' at. the Eltlnge and ho one. was conccrhied about Eurb pean sabre tattlihgl' Came the big: explosion. Soldiers marched 10 the beat of''Vbur Coun try and My Country,' 'Oh, How Hate to .Get Up in the Morning,' and 'In the YMCA.' Filth avenue was a parade ground. They stepped: to Alexander,' the' imported ' "Tipper, ary' and Cohan's 'Over There.'" His tory was written ili popular .long. In the '20s theve i.s a vast change. The Rialto film theatre stands where the Victoria ruled for a generation. The theatrical center shifts to West 45th street. The.Palace is packed on Monday mats.- Hit tunes are 'A Prstty Girl Is.Like a Melody,' 'Say It with Music,' 'Some Sunny, Day' and 'What'U I Do?' Speakeasies everywhere.. Good people and bad lioUor, .'All Alone' whining from an automatic; piano.. 'Remembci ' on a millicn phonographs. .Jhe market is goih.t; up and; up. Cpolidge in the newsrecls. Messenger boys whistle *Elue Skies' and oftice m'ana.ccr.'! hum the refrain while adding n column of figures. Rudy Vallee' starts broad- eajit'ng: in the aftcrnons. 'Big Painde' runs a year at ■ the Mloy. Jack Derhose.v is hcav.vweight champion. Erb Ruth knocks horiieriiiiy. Nnric of this, is on the screen but Jf'i,in'the picture. Order.ih which honor.-ble mentions *i"e to .be handed out for a' film which In every respect reflects co- operative, ex<)ert craftsmanship might start with any of a dozen artists and writers, Richard Sher- man conceived the story idea with a central figure, a San Francisco liandmastei'. who adopts the name ol Alexander. It is strictly fiction with only slight similarity to the Berhii biog, in itself a stimulating story of talented achievement. Kathryn Scola and Larhar Trotti authored the screenplay, a fine piece of work in its subtle niid logical inclusions ot the Berlin ballads. Henry King has directed, with humor and .<!entiment.. letting Ibbse ith an .pccpsional broadside of mass movement. Se- quences where the 'Vaphank drafters march to the transports is stirring and swell hoke. Harry Joe Brown, as the associate , producer,' infused enthusiasm into the. ensemble,, and Zanuck's production cunning is evi- dent throughout.. Berlin supervised the musical angles and, In addition, .to.s.sed bff three new numbei"s, 'Now It Can Be Told,' 'My Walking Stick' and •Marching Along with Time.' These and some of the older tune.s.are pre- .<;ented solo and as production num> bers. Alfred. Newman has given the musical direction and recording spirited attention. In the- foreground, are Tyrone Power, as . Alexander; Alice Faye. who keeps right oh climbing, and .Don Ameche, who .carries most of the. story with an occiasibnal song number of his oWni Cast is heavy with featured, names, Although. Ethel Merman is a, late entry' into the. pro- ceedings, she:sings and acts excel- lently. Jack . Haley, shows advan- tageously In ebmedv, and character p^rts are well played by Jean Hersholt, Helen Westley, John Car- radine and Paul Hurst.' The piece abounds . ith smart specialties. Wallv Vernbh sings and' dances; Dixie Dunbar'dbes a cute number; Jane Jones. Otto Fries, and Mel Kalish' harmonize; and . Donald Douglas obliges. 'Alexander s-Ragtime Baiid' is out ' ih front of the new season's parade. ■ ' Ffin. ' MYSTERY HOUSE T\'arher. Bros., release of: Klrat Nullona! nrodiirtlon. . Features .Dick' PnrcelL Ann SheKdHH/ Directed by. Noet SrtiUh. Srreen- plfl>', Sherman Ta Lowtf, Uobertiion Wlille, from novel by .Mlgnon C Eb«'rhnrl: rflmom', I«. WllHnm O'Connell. RevleweO ttt raiti- mount, Bklyn... week.Hay' '35, iiuol. nnnnInK tline^. 60 n^lrts. JOSETTE ITH SONGS) Hollywood, May 31. SOiii Century-Fox release oC Gone jinrkry producUon.' ijlur? Don Ameche,' 'SImone' Simon. 4ind KoUerC To.ung; feature's -Joan l>av|g,.Bei-t LaKr; Paul >lural and Wllllnm ^"oilier, Sr, 'Directed by Allan. -Dvvah, Screenplay by Jame'a Edward Grant; from jiloyi by Paul -Prank and GeorB. Fi-hiht based-on Btory'by La'dlslous .Vndnal; sqnKi*,. Mark. Gordon'and 'Harry iReyel; daiicea, Nick Cnsne..ond'.. Qehevft Sawyer; f.-aniern',.- '.Tohn'MescAll; fllm editor, Robert Rlmpnop; niuslcnl director, David Butlolpb. Pre- vlewed at -VlllaKe, W.csiwood, 'Uoy 26, ' . Ilunnlnfr.tlme, >U inln". Dav'Jd Ilroaiiardi'Jr'.....Don Am'ecbe Renea Blanc .Slnione Simon' Pierre Brossard...., Kobert Young May Morris ...'.Join Davis Barney Barhnby.,'.. ', ...Uert I.ahr A. AOolphua Heynian..Viiiil >luret David Urosa.ni-d, St,:... ' i Uqlller, Hr. Mile. .Tosctte.. Tala Bircll Mrs. Dupree. .. ...I.ynn Uarl UJIl.;.: Wlllln'ni Demarent Belle — :....nuih Ulllelie Thomas A rhia n d Ka I Iz Le Klani:.......: '' inand Gotlachalk F^)^rler ; .Maurice Caea Tolnetie. .Lillian Porter Miniature Reviews 'Alexander's RBcUne Band' (20th), Big parade tp the box- oftice. Irving Berlin^ be.st siciil. 'Josette' (2qth), Hollicking farce,, with music, expertly laved by Don Ameche, Sl- mone Sirinbn and Robert Voting. '.Mystery House' (WBJ. Weak murder meller, which will need strong bolstered bracketing iii duals. •Aiyiterloas Mr. oto' (20lh). Up to best standards, of the Peter Lorre series which means it's a strong supporting dualer. Tarcan and tbe Greeii God- aess' (B-T). Another in Ed- gai: Bice Burroughs group, with ,li ited appeal even to dualers: 'Roll Along;. C4>wbBy' (20th). Formula hoss opera, ith Smith Ballew. *The Last Stand'( ). One of Bob Baker's best , singing cow- boy pictu"es in his increasingly pbpular series! flattering to Howes and Suzanne Kaaren, the wild party'kid?. Monte Blue, as Brixs father and trainer, and Kenneth Harlan, parent of the blonde. Miss Fontaine,' are mostly atmospheire. Born. Mysterious Mr. Moto Hollywood, May ,31. Ih-Fox release ot Sol »l. Wurf/.el pro-; diicllun. Stara Peter Jrfirre; features Mhi'.v Magiil , Henry Wllcoxon, Ki'lk Kliodes and Harold lluber, Dlr led by Noriiinn Koater, .Screenplay by-Phllfp MacDohnld and N"r- lOah-Koalcr: based on character, "Air. ilnio. by John P. Mortjuand; camera, VIrKlI lllller; rilltur,, Norman Colbert! inualriil <ll- m-lnr, S>«muel Kaytini Previewed at ^Up- town, r,. ,A„ ,May 27, '38. K.uiining lime, •3 nilna. ' Mr. Molo ...... .^nn lllelinian.......... Anton Darvak Diivld. Scott-Frensham Kriisl T.llipar..... Paul Brlssae^; GeorRe lUgnlns........ (iolKrled Bi'ujo. Mir Chnrlea Murchlaon. Shirty.. I^tos l.luV.......... . NolB. ■ its environs,' wnlch Is new to the screen;' Theire's a lot of eating of good food, and drinking of cham- pagne throughout the picture which should help the trade at the corner drugstore fountain after the show, FUJI, '.ance O'Leary.. .<:afnh Keate........ Given Kln?;cry ".nl- Kllllan......... Julian Barre........ Anneue. .............. -Vew.ell Morse.....,; 'ieraI-1 -Fra.wley,,..'. 'rerlce Von Rim...;. Aiiht .r.nc.v. Klnirery.. , Joe Pnggl Broker.. ; .Dick Ptircelt' i.,.... A nn -Sheridan' '....Anne Nngel . ...William . ITopper .... Anthony A t erlll .......l>ennle Mnore . ,.,Hugh.O'ri>nii»ll ncn Welilen ... .'.Sheila Broinley ....T.;iNDeth Diidsenn ...Anderson .Tjiivlor ... LTrevor Baidctfe .Peter ,T.orre Mary Magillre ...Henry Wlkuxon , .Erik Jthodes .. . . .Haruld Huber .' .T.con Amen ..Pdrresler Harvey . .Kredrlk VliKcdlng .. .lyrster Matlhews John BoKeia .....Karen f-Vivi-eU ... .Mrtchell I.e»'lB Roll Along, Cowboy (WITB SONGS) Sflth-FOT relenee o( Sol lesser pnidn'riinn Slara-Smllh Bnllewi (caturen Cet-lllk. p;irki er, Stanley-Fields, Directed by Gut M(.in> Story, Zane Grey; ncreenplay, Dan Jmrm; ertllur?, Arthur Hilton, Albert Jordan; i-i,;n, era, Hiiny Neumann, At Chaloner, .\. v May iM, '38, dual. Running lime, mins! Sn-iUli IiiiJitiv Cecilia I'nrkrr ...... .Stnnli-y Kiei.ii Wjilly AlbriKlii, .1r. Kutli Itubinydn Gordon Kllinit .Frank Mlhn ...Uonte .Mnnuihutt •' Bud Otbiiine ..... -irry Beiniird Biidd iiiiMtr This is a corking good entertai meht. It is packed with laughs and should be jUst the right antidote now that the r.ew federal tax bill is the law of . the land.- There is something for the marquee, too, in the triple combinaition of Don Ameche, Simone Simon and Robert Young. With a little extra pressure on the advance advertising 'Josette* can hold the top spot ih any; theatre. Smartly written, well directed and deftly acted the piece has momentum and rather skips along in a most amusing sort of way, wholly disre- garding any pretense al being-other .than a featherweight farce with an occasional wallop in the abdomen. The three principals play it as if they were having a good time, and with no more effort than stepping in out of the rain. When the leads are out of sight, Joan Davis, Bert Lahr and Paul Hurst do their clowning on a .•^lightly broader pattern; Entire troupe is .excellent and includes Wil- liam Collier,: Sr.. Talq Birell, Lynn Bar], Wlliam Demarest, Ruth Gi- lette and Ferdinand Gottschalk. Allan -Dwan knows how to. direct this type of story; which has the bcneftt of a snappy and terse script by James Edward Grant.-- Miss Simon i<j a cute little trick. D'nt-size alongside of Ameche and Young,'. These two play bi'others who. start out.with'the sinvle thou-iht of separating their, philanderini; father from a cabaret singer named Josette, who is after the sugar. Tlie real Josette fails to appear for her engagement, heavil.v advertised, and Mirs Simon, local choir siheer. .«ub- ..stitutes. ■ Mantieemcnt (Lahr) keens the original billin.e. and the broth- er.s of course, start to put the. pics- siire oh the wrong girl. What happens after that 1.<!n't so, important as the manner of it.>: do-' |np. Brothers fall in love with the .»rirl who t.'>kes their attentions bic Amerhe'and 'YbUni" eetall the laifhs obtainable frbm. bright lines. Mis^^ Simon plays ebylv. arid sin,g.<! rTht wen two .snnijswitten bv Mack Go.r- fion and liarr.v Bevel; tilled. 'Mf\v 1 Drop n Potrl in Your r.ia.>->-- of Wine' nnd 'In Any L^ntua .' he wear," ,.som(> .smart clothes. Story's locale is ' This B iniin, which Is tipped by its title, will be an inconspicuous entry intb the duals,, where it will-need .•strong mating on' a bill to ' get. by. Neither names nor. notices to help. Murder meller .s replete'with kill- ings, and while the suspense, is b:k. and the villain hard to guess, the audience Is hardly given a break at guessing. ' Certainly, not enough clues spread around as to the heavy's identity. End-is too unconvincing and there iare s.traggly ends, which are neither tied up nor explained Banker has been done in while entertaining board officers of his firm at his mountain , hunting lodge 4b apprize them that one of the . firm has been stealing funds. His daugh- ter calls ih a' private investigator (Diclc.PuTeell), who hardly gets into actibn before- several moVe killings muddle up the case. H<; does a^super job irt : tracking - down the cUlprit, and takes out time along the way to romance a nurse (Ann Sheridan), That's at least novel; hero doesn't get the banker's wbrried daughter, who just sortot fades.out unescorted at the end. Situations aren't cleanly cut, nor are motives established -with much clarity. Dialbg is often hackneyed and run-of-mine. Humor gets about a.: complete, overlooking., Hugh O'Connell is In cast, but chances and lines are scarce. Pu'rcell does a matter-of-fact dick. Anne Nagel looks fine, and acts con- vincingly as the distraught dauchter. Ben Welden and Anthony Avevill a.ve best among the. suspects. Elspeth Dudgeon is good as a vinegary old maid arid Trevor- Bardette turns in another nice character portrayal. Prbduction costs certaihlv weren't rhuch. with only a. few interiors u.sed and little outdoor, stuff. Direction might have speeded the last part of Ihe picture to offset lagging interest. Camera fairish.' Bert. Most any minute one expects , to see Bill Sykes, his dog, the Artful Dodger arid Oliver Twist come swinging around-the corner of the Liniehouse district right behind Mr. Mqtb. Characters in thiis.latest of the Mbto series-arerDickenesque in ap- pearance and diction.. Film abounds with London bobbies, Scotland Yard operatives and sturdy ale drinkers. It is a good addition to the Moto series and satisfactory boxqffice fare. Peter Ixirre is after-a band of In- tei;national murderers and commer-, cial spies. Before he .reaches Lon-. don- he goes through a term of im- prisonment at Devil's Island to 'win the cbhfldence of one of . the band members. They escape and are sobn back in Ix>ndon plotting. some very messy jobs. Moto's true fcharacter is revealed to the band' members who plot to kill him. The detect ive outsmarts them and rounds up the whole bunch for Sir Charles Mur- chison, chief oif the 'yard.' Thesie Moto series have won . ide [Mjpularityv;. They, are played with intensity. :Some. excellent character bits in this one make it. interesitihg. Mitchell Lewis, too. long absent from- films, makes a minor jpart stand out, and Forrester Harvey does ah ex ;el- lent Piece of cockney tough guy. Henry - Wilcbxon, Eirik Rhodes and Harbld HUber. are splendidly cast;; Mary Maguire has appealing dark eyes, and uses them. Although these features,are made within restricted budgets, the com- position photography, actual shots of London squares-aind familiar build- ings' combine to suggest some liberal .spending. Sol M. Wiirtzel has a knack of keeping the action moving swiftly in tliese melos, and Norman Fo.ster, who directed, maintains a balance of half a dozen plot angle.<i. The mystery of the 'M.vsterious Mr. Moto' .is why the formula isn't used more frequently, in more .pretentious ■profiuctionSi No one ever waIVs out ba theni. Fliti; Randy.... .lanei Blake... Barry..^.. Danny HIake. Mrs: ninke... Kenton Arthur lialhuway. Blxby...... Bursen Shep .., Sboily Busier FIte .and his Sl.x Saddle 'ri:iiniB ; 'Roll Along, Cowboy/ despite valiant singing gymnastics by Smith Balle>r, is jlist another cactus opus. Zane Grey story,-in fact, is cluttered u ith his warbling and mUsical in- terruptions.. It may appease, .some western devotees, but beipng.<: on nether half of dual combo.- Film has. only Ballew and Cecilia Parker for rharquee. Ballew and Stanley Fi . veteran oiitdoor-igangster villain, are - teamed : as. cowboy buddies. Their eftort.-: to halt a cattle rustling scheihe and ,be-. friend a femme ranch owner pro- vide' a skeleton plbt.: There's Ihe uilual ;Unscrupulousness, this time in the form of a lawyer. The musical numbers are dragged in and prolbnged beyond reason. 'On Sunny Side bf Rockies' ,is probably best of two tunes by Roy Ingr!;m and Harry Tobias. Lyle Womack- Lew Porter furnish the third; 'Roll Along, Ride 'Em Cowboy.' Ballew, ex-bahd maestro and singer, still indicates only slight thes- plan artistry,. though he cleans , ii doing a song. Ciamera angles in this production are not flattering, and re- cording of songs is often faulty. Fields is :a beloved ruffian'here, kindness to ihe crippled youngster being one of several good setiuences. Miss Parker, a looker, doesn't fit so weir into the western atmosphere. Wally Albright, Jr.. is adequate as the youngster. Gordon Elliott is too polished as the rustler leader.- biit Frank Milan fits nicely into, lawyer role. ■ Harry Neumann again contributes careful, colorful photography. Gus Meins' irection Is jerky, and dialog humdrum. Wea*. Tarzan and the Goddess Green Dearholt,'Stout A Tohen release of-Bur- rougbS'Tafzan'. production.. btars Herman Hrix; features Ula Volt and ("rank Baker. Direi'ted by Edward Kull. From novel by Kdgar BIca.' Burrougbn; - screenplay by Charles F. Boyal. At Central, N. T.. week May ST, .'38, dual bill. Bunnlng time, 7^ iiilns. Tnrziin ......Herman Brix Ula Dale....... , lT)a Holt Major Martling Frank Baker Baglan....: .Don Ca.^t.ellu George .'..'. Law Sargeant Blade,. .Jack Mower THE LAST STAND (WITH SONGS) Vnlversa) pi^nductlon and release. . tars Boll Baker; features Constance Vaurt knd Vuzzy Knight. Directed by -Joeech H. r.ewls. Original by Harry O; JtoyI: acrnn- pluv by Norton S. Parker and Harry O. Hoyi;- Songa by Atze TiiPonls and ->1<inier Cayne'; camera, Harry Newmann. Al Cfn- trill. N. T., week May 27, '88, dual. J:un- nln'g. lime, 67 mips. ' ■rip.... Nancy.,.. Pepper-.. Thorn..... Turner.., Joe Krt. Tom Calhoun.. '. .Bob Baker .Conntanct^ -Mc^.r* ....Fu->.^y Kniifbt ....E^rl lUKltIn* ...Forrest .Tayliir ,...Glenn -S^lnnge .Jncli KIrk ..JImniv Pbllllps .......Sam Flint A MILLION TO ONE Puritan' "Plntures- . lenj\e. of .K:'nclwin nnS-er iM-ftluctlons.' .St.-ir,s German Itrlx anil .Idiifl Font.nlne. Dlrecled'by r.ymi .sboi-Cf*. Stor,\', jif^rtenplry, John T. Neville; rnin'Tfi, jHin<>M OInmond;'editor, K(hV:ird SrhWtnter.' At .Vnrslty, Lincoln, dual. 'KunnioK time. .'ill mliis.'. Joliiinv Kent .loan Pleven?-. John Kent, .Sr... .stpvo.n*!... I'.Tt Stanley^..... Hale TTermin Hi-lx ...Jii;in KoMlahii. ... . ,\loiil*>' hliK- '. Kennel li llarliin. .Suznnnp Kn:ii-<'n ..... Kccd UowCH This sequel to the. Tarzan series is a plot develojpment, and limpid direction makes ft fall, wa.y short of even the limited possibilities of an independent production. Herman Brix, who still gets billing as;Sin Olympic charnp, is at home in the Tarzan role, but even his robust en- deavors fail to lift this production out of the mire of unimportant sec- ondary dual spots.. .Qiiest of the Martling expedition for a legendary 'green goddess,' con- tai ing a.valuable.munitions formula inside, is glossed oyer lightl.v, ti-av- elog clips and foggy distant shots de- veloping to the point where, the in- evitable ' enemy party headed by Raglan starts Using'de.vious methods' to grab the much desired formula. This rings in the fights between na- tives, ambushes, captures, '.fist bat- tles and always the colossal deeds of Tarzan. If he isn't able to defeat 12 rnfjn. at a clip it is an off-day.' Despite these episodes, told in old- Olympics stuff is .stale now and 'A Million to One,' which features a decathlon bout betwien. Hormnn Brix and Reed-Howes, will find gen-. er?l disinterest. Onl" the cheaoie action, spots v;ill handle the print, whicli is badly recorded, with phn- tographv! spott.'(^. It's a sad treat- ment ot the bid story o( ths athlete who got overdeveloped in the liend .?nd underconditiohed pbv.sirally by fcprling ort chamnache and Scotch. Best of the lot'is JOsn Fontaine; She's the different society doll. >vhn sees in Brix not so much.the afh'ntc n.<t the f.uy she'd like to rharr.v, Phc iilonc looks good, Ihp lens no Adonis of Brix, nor bei Not di iciilt'to .understand Bob Baker's rise to popularity as a new singing cowboy star after gli sing The Last SUhd.' Spiptted as just another westeni hero in a yar which has been done countless times before on the screen, this new mesa figure makes thts..a distinctive we.«t- eVn thriller. He is aided by a gootl all-round -cast and smart direction, the picture being virtually a 'must on exhibitor itineraries that include hor.se operas. Story of a cowhand 'who would avenge niurder of his. dad and a cat- tle, associatibri sleuth shot down by cattle rustlers, is not unfamiliar. Nor is the idea of the. son impersonating a Wanted outlaw in order to enter the inner ring of rustlers. But from there on, several clever twist.s have been incorporated to make it i-tir- ring cactus stuff; 'Let e Ride Once More.' 'Lo.et Dogie.' and 'Adios, Old Kid from • Laredo.' all originals from Atze Ta- :conis-Horher Gayne songwriting team, are featured by. Bob Baker. Director has managed to,make inr trpductioh of songs entirely im- promptu; :They never slbw down steady tempo bf the action and never arc e.\t.ended although here i.s a r'a.se where Baker admirers po.ssibly could .stand an encore or two. Trio of songs i? unu.sually tuneful. Baker looks and acts like a cow- lime serial fashion, and a comparar _. ti.vely realistic storm at .sea. the new ! boy,'even when warbling a ditty Tarzan story seldom irhpres.ses or ~' even proves exciting. Yarn is Elud- ded with impossible occurrences and deed.s. Jungle .scenes, supposed to be Guatemalan wildland. are fair. Tar- Pla.vs the young man who.se lather hais been shot down, but never over- does the vengeance idea. , Fiizzy Knight. as his buddy of the .saddle, puts across, one of his bt'l- zaiv 'pels the. wild beasts. Erapples ler semi-comic characterizaticnis. with others and does ropc^swinging Has plenty to' do, sind docs it.v.-cll. feats. ' i Clohstance core, new Univeisiil Herman Brix fits the Tarzan role I find, looks promisini? in the ihcidtiil."! well, never being biirdened with (on i roniahlic angle. - Earl Hodgins, ii"d many actine chore.s. which is a break i Forrest Taylor, In principal siipo'i'i't for him; Ula'Holt, as the heroine'i roles, bolster proceedings in their who.goes on the expedition's narlv. i mr^.'-t villninnns moments., is mediocre. Frank; Baker, cast as Harry O. Hoyt's. original story h,->.s Major Martling, is fairly cbiivirici «.'. been 'nc.-.llv .adapted by Hovl Remainder of oast is poor. Dialog is \ Norton S. Parker. Joseph H. l.rwi.'-' elementary. Nn cred't is given the | f'ircclio is- uulstandim; for a film <'t c-'meraman. EdWard Kull directs ; Ihi.s vrriety. Harry Newmann. \\h<i with n heavy hand. Juveniles :i.V i has photoprpnhed manV \\'f>tf.i h--- ing i HO for this film but it'will win no : fines one of his superlative '"to <•» ly I pats'on the back from cxhibs. M'eiir. this. Vt'