Variety (Apr 1939)

12 VARIETY FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, Aprfl 26, 1939 JUAREZ Warner Bros, produotleo and r«leaM; «x- iKutlve vtoduMr, Hal B, Wallla: auoclate producer, Henry Blank. 'SUra Paul Monl anit> Bette Davli. Directed by William Sleterle. ^Screenplay by- John Huaton, WoUnng HelnhardC' and Aenoaa UacKen- cle;'liaaed on play by Ftahz 'Wertel and novel, The Phontom Ci-own,* by Bertlto Harding; arat. director. Jack Sullivan: camera. Tony Gauillo: mualc. Erich Woli- Sang Komgold; omheetratlone. .Hugo J"rl«n. oter and Xlllan Roder; tnualcal director, Leo F. Forbatein, Previewed In Projection Koom (N.y.) April 24, '30; premiere, Holly- wood theatre (N.V.). April 25, '89, »2 top. Running time, ISO MIN8. . ' Benito Juarez..... Paul Muni Cai'Iota '• ;..Bette Davia Majclmlllan Brian Aherne Napoleon III Claude Rains forllrlo Diaz...' /...John GarHeld Ifarechal Baxalne............Donald Crisp Alejandro UradL.t .....Joseph Callela Empress Eugenl;..- tiale Sondergnard CoL Miguel Lopez.: .Gllbeit Roland VIguel MItnmon Henry . O'Neill Siva Palnclb Pedro de Cordoba Jose .de Montarea . .Montagu Love Sr. Samuel Basch........Harry Davenport Achilla Fould. ..Walter Fanner DtouVn de Lhuys Alex Lettwich Iiady In Wolting: .Georgia Calne Major DuPont RolMrt Warwick Senor de Leon Gennaro Curcl S>miia Mejta ...Bill Wllkerson arlano Escobedo. John Mlljaii John BIgelow Hush Sothe n Senor Baloa Fred Malatesta Tailor ....Carlos de Valdez Carbfljal Irvlog PIchel Coachman ...Frank Lackteen Sknatot de Valle Walter O. Slohl Duo de Momy ..Frank Relcher -Manhall Randon Holmes Herbert Prince Mettemlch Walter Klngaford Boron von Magnus. .Egon Brechiar Lerdo de Tejada Monte Blue Le'Man .Loula Calhern Pope Mnnuel Diaz AugusUn Iturblde Mickey Kuhn Josefa Iturblde Ullinn Nicholson Begules Noble Johnson KegTont : Martin Gaintlaga Caallo VUdlmIr SokoloR Ur. .Haitman \.vv...Donglaa Wood Mr. Harris: , iGrant Mitchell Ur. Roberta..^......., Cl>nrlea'Halton Italian Minister William Edmunds An Ambassador.Gilbert Emoiy out his own salvation. It Is all rather obvious, biit it is effective. • Considering the rather secondary part. which Carlota played in the events, Miss Davis excites deep sym- pathy lor the unhappy queen. In her earlier appearances she'registers an intuitive feeling of approaching tragedy. In her least dramatic, but romantic,' scenes with Aherne she conveys-the idea'of future-doubt and uncertainty. Therefore, when at last she appeals directly to Napoleon (Rains) and the French court for fulfillment of a treaty agreement wh<ch guarantees Maximilian mili- tary support, she is desperately per- suasive. Upon learning that Maxi- milian has been abandoned in. a strange land, at the mercy of an aroused people, her reason becomes impaired. In this series of episodes she .Is. both constrained and con- vincing. ■ Aheariie- seldom has. appeared' to such advantage as in this picture. His desire for fair play, h<s hopeless plea for Mexican unity and the man- ner in which he accepts defeat and court martial provide ample reasons for sympathy. DIeterle's direction is spirited and replete with interesting incident The scenes of battle and armed con- flict • are - realistic; chiefly; because they are shown briefly. In the handling of large crowds, as iii the scene when Muni, undaunted by the threats of a disloyal follower, walks fearlessly through the lines of fright- ened peoDle, Dieterle seems to catch the mood of the multitude. Miniature Reviews supplementary departments the film bears the stamp of careful and ex' pert workmanship. Tony Gatidlo's photography Is outstanding, .&h°d the musical- accompaniment oy -Hugo Frleahofer and .Milan fioder is good. As preseDted.at.the'HoUyw.ood the < To.tteJlst-ofdistinguidldd'charae- tera' '-wkonr hei has -icrestted -in- films, '-Paul Muni now adds a portrait of Beneta Pablo Juarez,. Mexican pa- triot and Uberat«r. With the aid of Bette Davis, co-starring in the tragic role of .Carlota, of Brian Aherne gfv' lAg an excellent performance as the lU-fated Maximilian, and a story that 'pblhts'Up the parallels of con? fllctltag political thought of today and' 'three-quarters of a century ago,'Jtfunl again commands attention |rom the trade and .public in a docu- mentary picture. Jt's among the best uat'biBs been produced by -WalrA'er& with suph potent'bdzoffice values as •Juaite' contains,-)ts, successful ca- reer at theatres seems assured. : ' It Ip a 'big' picture In the sense tfiat; every, possible resoiirce. of the Warner organization was concen- tratej-iri th? effort to give' the'.fljm bistrlonio weight and pr6diiction ex- cellence. -The player Ust is long and contains Claude Rains, John Gar- field, Donald'Crisp', Joseph Calleia, Gale Songergaard, Gilbert Roland, Renry O'Neill, Pedro de Cordoba, Monuigu Love dnd many others. Production was'under Hal.B. 'Wallis' supervision,'With.Henry Blanke as a^oclBte, and William Dieterle as di tector. Because the background of 'Juarez' Is of far wider scope .than the stories of "Pasteur" and '2ola,'. encompassing historical events taking place simul- taneously in Europe apd Mexico, Muni does not dominate in this film as he did in his previous pictures. In the unfolding of the narrative, em- phasis constantly is on the figure of Maximilian, the young Austrian prince who was persuaded by Na poleon 3d of France to proclaim him self and his wife,. Carlota, rulers of the Mexican people. Juarez, native Indian, was .the elected head of the republic when the' Hapsburg prince, - a younger brother of Franz Joseph, took over under., sponsorship of "French troops. Defeated by fOineign Invaders, a fugi- tive <ta .his own coyntry -and -among his .'tribesmen, Juarez, carried on guerilla warfare for several years, pppplQg up at. widely separated spbts ' .Und constantly menacing the rule of Maximilian. •° With the ending of the American civil war, the Union government gave' aid and assistance to Juarez sit the moment when Napoleon ordered his French troops to evacuate the cbiintiy, Carlota returned to .France to'plead'for a lost cause. In . her absence, Maximilian was captured by .Juarez and executed. Her grief was so great that she lost her reason. Carlota lived until the past decade, a tragic figure of forgotten royalty. So much for the record Itself which Is told clearly and concisely <as possible in the £9m. Necessarily there is a good deal of jumping around, with sequences Ilald in Paris, -Mexico City and the Juarez revolu' tlonary headquarters, In secluded Ih' .Und villages. The events of history and the screenplay never bring tO' gether the principals In a single dra' 'matic scene. Intermediaries pass be- -tween them bearing messages. In "auch a role-John-Garfield, as-the yoiin'g 'PorflrlO Diaz, who later suc- ceeded Juarez aa President, plays an Important part. ,. ■. the.'hDsence of personal.conflict betW^ tH6 leading characters the sorctefi .'-writers ' have sustabied an •udllMceiintezestby Introducing his- :'todcal. <data' thai contains current .f&deUiiesVi. !^lerie.^lg•fteauent■nlen^ SSi of . tba Monroe.Jtoc^ei, oLbne nan rule cv^. th^Ji^es and ^eslUnies yamUfioniL 'and ot rights of com- .'ttbv tnail -to'jposjesS' land and-work' atre CN.Y.) last night, 'Juarez' wasjeast-.to'piirchase' a ranch. Pair'are unreeled without -an Intermission, j swindled out of their money by vil Running time -ta 4wo>tonis and'flve i lainous -Bidiert -Bssrat' "Baxter,; with minutes. : Usual policy in two-a-day, I roaaantie-designs jon the girl, dlscovr reserved seat presentation, is to show ] ^rs'the slfuatioii and sets out'to re^ the film in two parts. FUn, ] trieve" the property for the pair. Outwitting Barrat and his gang with . _ _^ .ease throughout, Baxter. finally^ THE FOUR FEATHERS "<*ieves Ws purpose, and then . swings back across the border for (IN COLOB) further adventures. London,- April 1ft ■ j Picluire is coinpact Interweave of Alexander Korda production.. Features John Clements. Ralph Richardson, C. Aubrey .Smitti. Jane Dupi«z. .' Directed M Zoltan Korda. . Screenplay, R. -C, SherriS, from novel by A. B. W. Maaon; additional dialog, Lajor Biro, Arthur Wlmp^rUu cam- era, Georges Perinel, .Osmond Borrndalle. .At' Odeon, London.' Running 'Ume: ISO UXM6. 'Jnares'- (WB). PaulMiml as the noted Mexican patriot, co-starred with. .Bette Davis in a film story of timely 'political. significance^ pointing to big grosses. 'Fpnr Feathers' (UA). .^ks like" Intemationai hit ' Remake needs some cutttng; ■The Retarn of the Cisco Kid' (20th). Substantial fare for ad- venture audiences. Okay b.o. in,' keys and subsequent bookings. 'Street of Missing Men' (Rep). Weak story, but good direction and cast will get it by on the dualers. 'nig Town.. Czar' (U).. Slow racketeer meller for the action duals. 'Blind Alley' (Col).' Novel twist to crime story will'satisfy. Good support fare. BIG TOWN CZAR .Hollywood, April IS. UnlvetBal release oCKen ao1d«lnlth pro- duoUOB. Directed by Arthur Lobln. Screen- tlay by Edmund u Hartmann, from brig- nal by Ed Sullivan i camera, Ellvrood Bre- dell; -asst. director. Vaughtt Paul: editor, Phillip Cabn. Previewed April 18, '88. Running time, 61 SIINS.' Phil Daley Barton MecLane Danny Daley..., Tom Brown Susan Warren Eve Ardsn Mike Luger Jack La. Rue Kid Travis Frank Jenks Paul Burgess ..Walter Woolt King Pa Daley Oscar O'Shea Ma Daley .Esther Dale Punchy Horace MacMahon Ed Sullivan.... Bd Sullivan Mexican border. Rather light In set- up, it's a fast-paced western which will hit moderate biz in the keys, but catch the kids ahd adventure- lovers, ity- the subsequents for better than average take. Warner Baxter again handles the tlJj role as the Robin Hood of the border, whose gay banditry and ro- mance Is displayed with tongue-in- cheek attitude. Deficiencies in story In all I setup are overcome by spee'' tempo to generated, Baxter escapes a Mexican firing squad into. Arizona with his bench- inen. Cesar .Romero and- Chris-'Pin .Martla. 'Meets Lynn Bari and lat- ter's elbow-bending . grandfather, Henry 'Hull,-who are out from the United ArtiBta release of London'Film*- comedjl' and rather .Itisty.'Cxcitement Coliunntst Ed Sullivan's original story Is of familiar pattern-to again reiterate that crime does not pay. With big city racketeering as a jiremlse, nothing new is presented. ; Strictly, a filler fpr the. secondary duals, for which Its moderate budget originally Intended it Story has many ' weak. moments and slow spots. Over-emphasis in dialog tO'Undei^rld lingo 'and ex- pressions of the/ten-twent-thirt era hooves the picture for lower iracketed action houses, where pa- trons like their melodrama spread rather thick. Barton MacLane battles his way lead 'a racketeering mob from the tenements. His kid brother, Tom Brown, leaves college to join the gang against MacLane's wishes. 'After familiar routine of double- cross of rival mob, Brown is knocked off. and MacLane winds up on a mur- der charge after blasting his way out of a trap. . Picture is played with over-thea- tric tempo, ^ving cast little chance other than mugging and- rtmning; through their chores in -nteller fash-< ion. Author-actor- Sullivan opens with a narrative prolog, and closs, with an epilog, in addition to ap-' >earlng briefly in the cast Produc- idta ifMiUtles TDkay for a moderatei budgeteir.r: ■ -. •.,-.-•.->.••; | OUTLAW'S PARADISE victory release of Sam Katzman produc- tion. Stars- Tim McCoy. Directed by Sam Nanrfleld. Original story and adaptation by Marcel Dickey: camera, Maroel PIcard; editor, Holbrook Todd, At Arena. N. \, April 19; '89, duaL Running time, 62 MIN8. It's'the Bad . Man fbrmul -cou' stn^eted on a sliuder story thread which suffices for- the purpose, Baxter - gives -standard - charaicterl- zatloh of the Ciscp Kid, with R;omeco and Martin.- hi^ amiable /-pals: and i partners In crime. Love -aterest is Trlj Willi S'T'.'^^'S"'"'™ Clements' supplied- by Miss- Barl- and Kane M iSM5?:?-??::fcVSu?MrtS Rifgiion^ "'Am Bibne Burroughs. June Doprezirat IS Sufficiently VlUlainous t3'pro- 2ann'"«ghbf\\-;\-.\-^.!!SSc'55TS: lijjf with^Bt-itfer's lightness Peter Burroughs ; Donald Gray ™S.*5***r - t i_ ' j , j Dr. Sutton '.Frederick Cuiiev J Production background . Is lifted Yonng Harry Faversham.-.....cilve Baiter J by Charles Clarke. "Rock echo stunt LiiSfc•parki;:.\\'.\-Dirt£'EiShi?^^ fof-the-climax, is 'a sUck utilization Dr.-Harras: Henry Oscar Of a spund effect as'a dramauc In- Slt-S^ofivV'". '.-"A'"!5.Jt*"'? fredient This is a ruse by which Taf""»' I iiiter outwits Barrafs gang through the reverberating echo of Martin's voice and pistol shots among rocks; to impress that Baxter has a larrte army of henchmen behind him, .in- Few pictures of such magnitude have' ever been produced In tWs country with the result that The, Four. Feathers' looks rset for lnter->| stead of the one.follower, national success. But before its geu' eral - release it requires at least a half hour's deletion. 'Feathers' has been filmed-before, with the book from which it was adapted having enjoyed big world sale, mostly .within the Kingdom. A young British 'officer, wtio'cpmes Street of Missing Men Republlo release 'of- Arma'nd Sch'aefer' irbductlon. Directed by Sidney Balkow. icreenplay, Frank Dolan and' Leonard Gee. from original Idea by-Eleanor. Griffen and William Rankin: camera. Ernest Miller; editor,- Ernest NIms: .music, Cy Feuer. " - AprU: Of a mlhtarv fahilly resigns from his ,5«'ii?''''J" SKL^V'i: ^^"ShSb'^" regiment the night bSPore- it em- V^""?'"* ■•♦'"•'^ • barks for an 'Egyptian campaign. Three of his pals and his-fiancee hand him white feathers, indicative of cowardice. The next day he dis- appears. Alone and unaided in Egypt he gQes' through harrowing ordeals to gain his relnsiatem'en^ in their eyes, being directly responsible for Kitchener's capture of Omdur- man.. June Diiprez, the fiancee, is 'tiie' only woman in the cast She postu- lates prettily and attractively, with Uttle else .to do. Re^t of the cast Is excellent The other principals are John Clements, Ralph Richard-' son and C. Aubrey Smith,- the latter enacting a lovable, elderly bore. Clements, the hero, is excellent The tortures he undergoes to carry out his self-appointed mission are fright- ful and dwelt upon lengthily. Some of the details here might be omitted. Topping' in performance' is' Ralph Richardson, the girl's other suitor. Cash...^ ; Charles BlcVford Putnam .Harry Carey Tommy Tommy Ryan Dove '. Mabel Todd T-Bone : Guinn Williams Mrs. Putnam Nana Bryant Reardon , Ralph Graves Rlnsella ...John Galladdet Parker Regis Tooraey Republic has bundled a fiock of stock .^tuaUpns, endowed it with a good cast and direction and the .re- suit Is "The Street of DOIsslng Men, Itll suffice on the dualers. Charles Bickford. and Harry. Carey top the players, aind along with, little Tommy Ryan and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, in one of his usual numbskull roles, help the film exceed the limitations of time-worn situations. It's aU about on ex-tion,. played , by Bickford, and his desire to 'get' the . newspaper editor who was respon Photography. ia excellent along slble, through his crusade against the with the direction by Zoltan Korda. underworld, for Bickford's -five-year Jolo. I sentence. Carey is the editor, a far cry from the lariat-tossing star of . , — .yesteryear, but nevertheless credit Return or the Cisco Kid ^^^^ present roie. ■an\i.^nnA a.>.ii IP ■ Yarn lacks conviction. For an ob Mth-Fo. il^™„.Vh^^«i™«« J «"re . reason Bickford cancels his p^dtt "'s't?.^ '(fa^SSr^MrT^DT original _^vengeance^ plan against reeled by Herbert L Leeda. Screenplay Carey just when he has the latter at Charlea Clarke; editbr. James B. ciark! the newspaper instead. "That, he flg- Previewed at Alexander, Glendale, April Ures, WOUld actually be hitting Carey 18, '30. Running time, '10 MINS. hardest S;?rcSv'i;.\\-;;;.-;;;.-;.'.-;;;.'^ri'y'nW L Bicword ues up with other yeggs, Lopez Cesar.Romero headed by comebacker Ralph Graves ??l?."*L^^i°/'''*" ^'"'•''••••tfin. SS;J?„^'!^ too have been Uie butt' of ^'e\"ica'5f'captiii::-,:-.;::::c'^"5,%5'"« Carey's editorial noUcy. Bickford, Sheriff MoNaiiy... Robert Bairat however, ' ultimately reverts from Mam* Soledad Soledad Jimenez ulatlng to Carey s willingness to give Deputy... .' Hatry Strang .him another chance. stage Coaoh Driver Arthur Aylesworth I ' _21„-J _._„ij..-«ui- v..«'..i- iv.w Hotel Clerk....i '<.; Paul Bums Graves, conslderahiy heavier than Bartender .Victor-Kjiiian during his starring days, Is mlscBstj BS5ffi*'""'^"'''<''''"'''""Bl'ti? «Sf^^^ of sympathetic roles §it5hV.:i;.V.V.\*:::.\\\\\\\\\":?.^ ia .not .altoSeOier. beUevable-W a 4in- . : — ' : ister film figure. Regis Toomey has Th^ (:isc»Kid to back.tor-anotb«ri .al-t(lt. part that offers: hlm-Utae gallop through adventures along tbe'J chance. 'liam*! Mallory'V Carson t Tim McCoy Magpie Benny Corbett Jessie Josn Barclay Slim Ted Adama Eddie Forrest Taylor St4ve ...vBob Terry Mort , Don Gallaher Megga.,,.- ' Dave O'Brien Warden '.Jmak Mulhall This western will have to rest on. the reputation of Tim .McCoy for any business, even as a filler on double bills. He's In a-dual Irole, as- a Department bf Justice investi- gator sent .to triack down outlaws who robbed the U. f malls .of nego^ liable bonds and as leader of the bad men. Plot has whiskers. -The G-man looks like the bandit leader, who has been doing a stretch in jail, but is about to be released. However, Trigger* Mallory Is kept In jail and Captain Carson,impersonates' him. . McCoy, aided by Benny Corbett, also a G-man, gets away with the impersonation, for a while, even to. foollM Mallory's - sweetheeurt, Mai-, lory, nowever, breaks jail and re- joins his gang. McCoy then escapes a trap and he and his pal capture the gahg. Direction and camera are stand ard. BLIND ALLEY Hollywood, April 21. Columbia release of Fred Kohlmor pro- duction. Features Chester Morris, Ralph Bellamy. Ann Dvorak. Directed by Charles Vidor. Screenplay- by Flillllp MacDonald. I^lchael Blanktort, Albert Duffyi from play by James Wamlck. Camera.' Lnclen-Bal- lard; east, director, ClUCord Broughton editor,' Otto Meyer. Previewed at Pan- t^«i^- April 21, '88. - Running Ume, 68 Hal Wilson ..Chester Morris Dr.. Shelby Ralphy Bellamy .Mar/...'. ; Anp Dvonuc Linda Curtis Joan Perry •aeorge_Curtls..'. -... ;Melvllle' Cooper pods .Shelby. Roae -Stmdner Dkik Holbrook John Eldridge Agnes Ann Do ran Buck .Marc Lawrence Fred LAndls SUnley Bronn Dairy Scotty Beckett Nick Mllbum Storie Harriet Uarle Blake In attempting to del -e into the psychopathic reaisons wb- a criminal carries a killer complex, 'Blind Al- ley' holds moderate interest for gen' eral bookings. With an improbable story foundation, and light on b.o. names, picture will fill acceptably in lower brackets as supporter for a light offering. Chester Morris elves a vigorous Sirtrayal of the killer, while Ralph ellamy contrasts with a quiet and self-assured role of the professor of psychology. Balance of cast pro- vides adequate support, and dlrec- tioK by Charles 'Vidor, although slow In several spots. Is okay. ' Morris is aided in prison break by group of former associates, and "ang winds up In weekend home of Bel lamy to make prisoners of the fam. lly and guests. Setup all' vs mental confilct between' the criminal and psychologist to generate through dramatic phases -wnilo Ballamy pro-i ceeds to uncover the subconstuous basis for Morris' -killing mania.' Psycho-analysis of a crlmhial: pro- vides a new twist- to what would otherwise b^jbe another crime pl(-i ture ofgenesal trend. It's a satiiieiC' toi; eObrt, especially for a modc^' ate budgeter. J'ACCUSE (1 Aeense') (FBENOH-HADE) Paris, April 15. Forreater-Parant releaae of Abel Ganca production. Starti -Victor Fiancen. .Di- rected by. Gonca. Scenario, Gance; dialog Steve Fasseur^ music, 'Henry Verdun- camera, Roger Hubert. Reviewed In Prol jecOon Room. Running time. 98 MIN8. Jean Diaz. Victor Francen Henri Chunay Jean Max Fmncola -Laurln Delaltt« Helene Renee Devllltra Sdlth,.......•.«'*..... Line Noro Flo ..........Marie Lou 'J'Accuse* ranks with the best of anti-war films. Despite lags in places. It furnishes some of the best propa- ganda against war ever seen, A much longer version, before some expert sclssorkig snipped nearly an hour from the film to' its present length, caught excellent returns in this country. The new version should go well any' place where' democracy is the by-word. Present European tension should serve as added reason for its success. Simplicity adds force to the dra- matic in the life of ' a war-crazed veteran, played excellentiy by 'Vic- tor Francen, who spends his time perfecting an invention which he lelieves will prevent all wars. When he discovers it has been exploited unscrupulously as a means of de- fense In a forthcoming conflict, in his deformed mind he calls on the war dead to rise from their graves and prevent a short-memoried humanity from destroying Itself. 'By an al- most unimaginable miracle, the war- torn bodies abandon .their resting places -to inv.ade mobiUzhig coun- 'trles. By the very horror of their apoearances, they terrify all th'e -belligerents so . that they abandon war. « The film's conviction la mostly due to 'Victor Francen. Showing of war veterans with the deformed faces Slv^es the finale a con'vinctng 'finish. It is stirring, forceful drama that will make the most hardened of humanity think twice before perpetrating another Wfif The film has been banned In Ger- many. Hugo. ASK A POLICEMAN (BBITISH-MADE) London, April 15. Metro release of Gainsborough produc- tion stats Win Hay.'' Directed by Maroel. Vamel. . Screepplay, Marriott Edgar and Val Guest, from story by Sidney Gllllattt ramera, Derick Wlllla'ms.' - At Cnrobridge, London. Running time: S3 HINR. Sergeant Dudtoot Will Hey Albert Graham Moffatt Rarhottla ..Moore Marrlo^ Emily Glennls Lnrimer Chief: Conetable.l '...Peter XJawthome Squire... -. .- Charles Oliver Coastguard .,...Herbert Lomaa considerable that has been tried and succeeded'before has been in- troduced into this WIU Hay farce, a good laugh-getter end safe sec- ond feature on any program. Bits of George Arliss' 'Dr. Syn' and The Ghost Train' blend happily with amusing dialog and situations usual- ly associated with the co'medlan and his two.stooges,.the fat boy and the old man. A village police station becomes the center of Interest when it's dis- closed there's been n6 crime there for over 10 years. The sergeaftt in command of two subordinates, hear- ing they're likely to be transferred or fired because of latk of 'busi- ness,* plans to frame one or two cases. -. Planting a keg -of brandy on the beach, to stage a smuggler's racket they discover another, 'but real, con- traband keg. From then on It's a wild chase between the three nitwits and a band heeded :by' the local squire. Which is carrying on a lucra- tive haul, landing liquor right into the cellar of the polled station Itselt If the trio .has not shot its boU regarding their stereotyped manner- Isms and .comedy, this sho'ul' be a box pfflce draw In-England. Hcnf- ever, it could be shortened to ad- vantage. • • ' CleiTi.' SPIES OF THE AIR ' (BBITISH-MADE) London, April 15. Assoolated British release 'of British Na- tional production. Features Bnrry. K; Barnes, Roger LIvesey. Directed by David Macdonald. Adapted by A. R. Rawllnaon, Bridget Boland. from stag* play. 'Orflclal .Secret.' by Jenery Dell:, comera. Bryan Langley.' At Cambridge. London. Running time: « BUMS.' _ „ Thurloe Barry K. Barnes Houjihton Roger LIvesey Dorothy Joan Mnrlon Madison Basil Radrord CoL Calms Felix Aylmer ."Sir A. Hamilton John Turnbull Porter. Henry Oacor If the demand for aviation spy stories has not been exhausted, this one's surefire here and absorbingly taterestlng for the U. S.' It has sus- pense sind a love- story that gen- erates sympathy for 'the villain, who's tempted to sell the plans of a secret airplane to a foreign power. Featured ai'e Harry K. Barnes and Roger LIvesey, both of whom are extremely effective. Barnes has heretofore been identified mostiy with "pretty boy* leads; at the start it looked as if he-had anoUier. At the very end only, is he revealed as the menace, yAth 'wetland 'Yard ultimately frusta^tlng his plans. The finish is wildly exdoia and reveals Bambsi as a splendid character actor. -LIvesey ma a less showy (Continued, on pace .17)