Variety (Mar 1942)

8 FILM 1IEVIEW8 Wedneeday, March 4, 1942 THE GOLD RUSH (ADDED NABBATIVE, MUSIC) XJnlt0d Artists relwiss of Charles Chaplin production. Relesuo with narrative written ' And spoken by and music by Chaplin added to original silent version (ie2!i). Stnn Chaplin, written nnd illrected by Chaplin: camera, Rollle Tottaeroh; editor, Harold Mc- Gnhnnn, Previewed at "VVeetwood VlIlnRO theatre, March 2, 1W3. Running time, 71 M1NS. The Lone Prospector Charles Chaplin BIr Jim Mack Swain Black Larson Tom Hurray Hnnk Curtis Henry Benrman Jack Malcolm Walle GoofRla Georgia Hale With mtisic and narrative dialog added, Charlie Chaplin's 'The Gold Rushi'-Wlginally produced 17 years ago, stands the test of time and Is good for profitable biz through all bookings. ChaiJin's inimitable cane, derby, hobble and moustache of early days sUll retain solid comedy for both the younger generation and older folks. Chaplin did a remarkable job in -the editing, background, music and narrative for the new version of his greatest grosser, and even the most critical win forget the picture was originally made back in the silent day!!. Original two hours of running time has now been edited down to 71 minutes. Figuring titles end speedup from the 60 feet per minute to the 90 feet required to accommodate sound addition, there's only about 15 minutes «dited out of original. Re- sult is . a technical achievement in speeding up action of a silent-pic- ture to the requirements of sound, and still not making apparent the increased speed In prpjection, Chap- lin and associates claim no engineer- Ins trickg wer<j resorted to in order provide sound for faster tmreellng. but slow action of original allowed for satisfactory new version. All the episodes of 'Gold Rush' are retained to provide strong comedy reaction of original. There's the prospector's cabin marooned in the storm with Chaplin stewing the shoe when food runs out; meeting with Georgia Hale in the dance hall; Chaplin's New Year's Eve party at the cabin and the brief but hig^ily ef- fective dance of the rolls and the howling slapstick wlndup of the cabin blown to the edge of the cliff, with Chaplin and Mack Swain as principals in the teetering sequence. Narrative dialog by Chaplin is deftly inserted at intervals for maxi- mum iattention. Same goes for the music background which was com- I>osed and arranged by Chaplin and musical director Ma^ Terr. Stretches of silent unreeling, with' neither nar- rative nor music, makes no apparent difference to audiences acctistomed so many years to dialog and sound with their film fare. Photography and set- tings are not out-of-date and only in a few places is the negative sligntly spotty. Chaplin's own narrative is crisply delivered, and \e refers to his screen character as 'The Little Fellow* throughout Picture will be released by United Artists as a new attraction, and will catch key runs In an spots. It rates topbilling atten- tion; and not by any means a re- Issue, as generally known. Walt Ing Fonda considerable anguish. Double dish of trouble coming all at once leads the young prof to turn to a bottle-session which brings him unsuspected physical courage—he's 'thn male animal' out to hold his mate—and the resultant battle with tough-guy Carson makes one of the funniest scenes of the season. Story builds up suspense nicely to Fonda s reading of the letter to his class for a punchy finale. Fonda, in hom-rlmmed specs, Is pretty close to perfectly cast Miss lie Havilland is not quite so fortu- nate, running into difficulty with a number of the lines, many of which lack naturalness In the writing. Eu- gene Pallette waddles nice as pie into the satirically-humorous role of the trustee who knows nothing of aca>- demic freedom but wants to get the football stadium paid for. And there's nothing Jack Carson lacks as the ex-foofball hero. Herbert Ander- son Is also tops as the intellectual stude who wrote the newspaper story which started all the rumpus. Number of other characters are played by the same pconle who did them in the leglter. Incidentally, Nugent who directed the picture, clayed the Fonda role In the play. Those who duplicated their parts are Don De Fore. Ivan SImoson, Minna Phillips and Regina Wallace. Nugent's direction—plthough . his experience as a film director goes back some 10 years—has been too affected bv his closeness to the leg- Iter. Technloue is often that of the stage, not of films. He seems to for- get the ability of his camera to. flit about with freouently static renilts. Picture should be particularly strong in college territories, where the pleasing combination of comedy and more-or-less familiar Incidents win be best appreciated—ex-^n* by the trustees. Hero. Always in My Heart (WITH SONGS) Hollywood, March 3. Wanier Bros, nroduotlon snd release. Stars Kay Prnncla. Walter Huston: fea- tures Gloria Warren. Patty Hnle. Prankle Thomas. Bornih Mlnovllch and His Rascals. Directed hy Jo Gmhsrr.. Screenplay. Adelo Comnndlnl: surewted hv play hy Dorothy nennett and Ir\'lng White; camera. Sid HIckoi: editor, Thomas Pratt: music. Holm Boemheld: arrancements. Dudley Cham- hen". Prank Perklna; muMcal'dlreolor. Loo F. Forbsteln. Tradoahown In T,. A. March 8. '42. Running time. 98 HTNB. Marjnrie Scott Kay Francis MacKenrle Scott Waller Huaton Victoria Scott Gloria Warren Booley " Patty Hale Martin Scott Fmnkle Thomas Anrle ^* Una O'Connor Philip Ames Sidney Blackmer Ix>1lta Armlda Joe BoVelll Frank Pujclla Red BUBsell Arms Frank Anthony Caniso Roslta TClvIra Corel Wanlen John Hamilton fiteve HalYy Lewis Dick Herhort nunn Bomh Mlnevltch and His Rascols Miniatare Reviews •The Qold Bull' (Chaplin- UA). Chaplin re.' ue, with narrative and music, will do smash biz everywhere. •The Mate Animal' CWB). Henry Fonda- Olivia de Havil- land in an entertaining serio- comedy that will do okay biz. 'Always In My Heart* (WB). Musical introduces Gloria War- ren attractively, with strong supporting cast 'Larceny, Ine.*" (WB). Frenzied but unfunny gangster farce- melodrama, with Edward G. Robinson. 'Baltct Scars' (WB). A box- office blank cartridge. The Ghost of Frankenstein* (U). Drab attempt at a horrific adventure of the Frankenstein monster. Strictly lower duals. 'Man Who Returned To Lite* (Col). Mediocre programmer about small-town romance and southern die-hards; for dualers. 'A Hlssonri OntUw' (Rep). Don Barry in fast western. Tragedy at Midnight' (Rep).. Fairly amusing whodunit for supporting slots In tiie dual houses. 'Western Mall* (Mono), Tom Keene faction anecdote which never strays from, tested west- ern formula. Light biz. 'Mr. Celebrity* (PRC). Mild racetrack meller, suited as sec- ondary fodder. 'Thunder Blver Feud* (Mono) Another in Range Busters westerns; will ^et by. LARCENY, INC. Warner Bros, reloaao of JacU Sap«r and Jerry "Wnld production (Hal B. Wallla. executive producer). Stam Edward O. Rob- inson : features Jane Wyman, Broderick Cniwrord. Jack Carson. Directed, by IJoyd Bacon. Scmenplay, Everett Freeman and BdvJn Gilbert, based on play by Xiuura and S. J, Perelmant camera. Tony Qaudlo: edi- tor. Ralph Dawson: music. Adolph Deutsrh; mtulcal direction, Leo P. Forbsleln. Re- viewed In projection room. N. Y., Feb. 27, '42. Ronnlng time, M M1NS. Trossure' Maxwell.. . .Edward G. Robinson Denny Coatello..., Juff Martin Jeff Randolph.... Leo Dexter Weepy Davis Homer Blicelow..., 8am Bnchntcb.,.. Mile. Gloria , Mr. Asplnwall.., < Hobart. THE MALE ANIMAL Warner Bros, release of Hal Wallls (Wolf- mDK Relhbaxdt) productlop. Stara Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland: teaturea Jack Carson, Joan Lealle Euxene Pallette, Hattle McDanlel. Directed by Elliott Nu- sent, BereenpUy by Julius and Philip Ep- stein Olid Stephen Morehouse Avery, from •taieploy by Jamca Thurber and Elliott Nu- rent; camera, Arthur Edeson; editor, Thomas Rlcharda. Tredoshown In New Tork March 2. 1M2. Bunnlna time. 126 MIN8. Tommy Turner Henry Fonda Ellen Turner Olivia de Havilland Joe Ferguson Jock Corson Patricia Stanley Joan Leslie Ed Keller Bosene Pallette Michael Barnes Herbert Anderson Dean Frederick Damon Ivan Simpson ■Wally Uyon Don DeFore Mts, Blanche Damon Minna Phillips Mrs. Myrtle Keller Reslna Wallace •Hot Qarters- Jean Amu Cleota Hattle McDanlel ^ L«lt version of The Male Animal' a (on Broadway two years ago) never ■ quite achieved top hit proportions. W Nevertheless Herman Shumlln pro ductlon piled up a good run and showed a moderate profit. And that, or a little better, Is exactly what Warner Bros.* ifllm edition of the James Tliurber-Elliott Nugent may be expected to do. WB has been completely faithful to the original story of the college pro- fessor who risks his job enS his wife to make a stand for acailemic free- dom against - a fascistically-minded board of trustees. Yarn is fortunately wrapped Jn plenty of comedy. Those who are looking only for the laughs 'will find it an entertaining two hoiurs. Those who recognize its deeper meaning will'recommend it to their friends as a must-see. Julius and Philip Epstein and Stephen Morehouse' Avery have fash- ioned the screenplay, which pictures a midw'estern college on the eve of a major football game. Story gets into the school paper that on the follow- ing Monday Prof. Turner (Henry Fonda) will read to his English elate a letter written by Bartolomeo ($ac- co and) VanzettI a few days after he was convicted to death in Boston. Trustees threaten Fonda with loss of his job If he Insists on reading the . wtitlngs of this radical. Coinddentally, Jack Cterson. an old football-star friend .of Fonda's wife, Olivia de Havilland. arrives in town for the frame. Miss de Havilland does •. gome^taiUiix for thef'Old cbarm, caus- Thls one is a showcase for Gloria Warren, Warner's young singing dis- covery, and advantageously intro- duces her to film audiences for fu- ture buildup. Story, woven around the girl's vocal abilities, is neatly contrived for general audiences, and picture will catch nominal biz In the regular runs as billtopper with strong support, but will hit better gait in the family houses. In addition to her singing abilities, which run to the line of classics, familiarized on the screen by Deanna Durbin, Miss Warren displays both screen presence and personality in her film debut. She's aided consider- ably by strong and able support from Kay Francis, Walter Huston, Una O'Connor and Sidney Blackmer; and good direction by Jo Graham. Ijitter launches his film direction after be Ing on the Warner lot some time as a dialog director, and reacts credit- ably to screen procedure. Walter Huston, outstanding musi- cian. Is wrongly convicted and sen- tenced to life ImprLionment. Wife Kay Francis brings up the two chll dren—Miss Warren and Frankle Thomas—and although divorced, on account of the husband's life stretch, she still loves him. Rich Sidney Blackmer appears, makes court, and endeavors to swing children into line with showers of luxuries. Huston gets pardon upon establishment of his innocence and follows the fam- ily to a coastal town, seeking out daughter Gloria, who displays sing- ing talents. Following familiar epi- sodes, tale discloses his Identity, and reunites him with family for nappy ending. Borrah Minevltch and his harmon- ica aggregation are displayed prom inently with a group of numbers from swing to classical, and does much to lighten the proceedings. A strong plug is given ttie title tune by Ernesto Lecuona via several play- ings, and the song .looks headed for pop attention. Graham iniects sus- tained 'tempo to the stor^ in his di- rection. Technical contributions are okay, Walt. .Jane Wyman .BrodCTlck Crawford Jack Carson Anthony Quinn Edward Brophy ... .Harry Davenport John Qualen ... .Barbara Jo Allen Grant Mitchell .Jaokle C. Olesson something like that he bad in 'Brother OrchldTlin't nearly as funny. Brod- Sck trawford isn't able to ignite laughs as a thick-skull punk, nor is Edward Brophy as Robinson's other stooge. Jane Wyman and Jack Car- son are passable as the Innocuous tove Interest, while Anthony Quhin and Joseph Downing are sinister mobsters, and such standards players as Harry Davenpor^ John Qualen Barbara Jo Allen and Grant Mitchell are merely acceptable In pale sup- porting parts. Lloyd Bacon's direction does little to give the performance needed pace and from a producUon viewpoint the picture is only ordinary. Hooe. BULLET SCARS Worner Bros, production and reloane. Fea- tures BfKls Toomoy, Allele ^^•^^"'•.^Z' ard da Sllva. Directed hy D. Ross Lcder- man. Screenplay ."-.Kent 'rom story by Charles Beldon and Sy Bnrtlett, camera. Tod McCord: editor. James Olbbon. music. Howard Jackson. Previewed In pro- jection room. N. T., March 2, '42. Run- nine time. «» WNB. . Dr. Steven Dlabop Reals Tooraey Norn SIndlson Frank Dillon Howard <la 8'1« Pills DoTls V^"" JfJ'*^n Hank O'Connor ;Joh'; ^S*^^ jjllj, .7 Frank Wlkox Joe s'tndl'son \ Michael Aines Dr. Corter Hobart Bosworth julte Roland Drew Learr'.'. Walter Brooke Jess , CrelKhton Halo GUly Hank Mann Dude Sol Oorss Mitch D"" Turner This gangster script must have been-dug up fttim the rejection flies of IWl, it's that dated. It Is also a very unpleasant film, full of ruthless and brutal acts. The mystery is that the Warner studio found any justifi- cation for making it Mere fact that it is a low budget production, without benefit of major case names, does not lessen the dis- agreeable impact of its coarseness. ■Plot c<)ncems the action of a young country surgeon who is compelled, under threat of his life, to operate on a ganster who has been shot dur- ing a bank robbery. Alleged romance is introduced by the appearance of the wounded man's sister, a trained nurse, who is blackmailed and forced to act as the surgeon's assistant. By a ruse, the couple get a message to the police and the gang is rounded up and killed in a pitched battle. Script writer and director escaped. Flin. Oscar Bnselhart Andrew Tombes Smltty ; Joseph Downlns Mr. Jackson Oeorxe Meeker Anton Copoulos Fortunio Bonanova Warden Joseph Creban Florence Jean Ames McCarthy WUIIam R. Davidson Mr. Buchanan Chester Clute Mr. Cormlchael Crelghton Bale When the Laura and S. J. Perel- man farce, 'Nlftht Before Christmas,' was done oir Broadway last season even its ludicrous basic Idea and considerable comic plot Inventive- ness somehow failed to click. And In this Warner screen adaptation, titled 'Larceny, Inc.,' it's even less funny. In fact, it's downright te- dious. Even Edward G. Robinson won't get it better than lesser book- ings in duals. Yarn deals with a gang of crooks who buy a Sixth avenue luggage shop so they can tunnel from the cellar Into the vault of the bank next door. But what with a deluge of un- welcome customers, various friendly neighbor storekeepers, a romance be- tween the gang chiefs adopted daugh- ter and an enterprising luggage sales- man, plus coimtless complications be- tween the lame-brain hoodlums, the robbery scheme Is continually a shambles. Edward G. Robinson, In a part The Ghost of Frankenstein Hollywood, Feb. 28. Unlveraal release of Georee Wairnner pro- duction. Features Lon Chaney. Sir Codrle Hardwlcke, •Ralph Bellamy. Lionel Atwlll, Bela Luaosl. Evelyn Ankers, Janet Ann Oallow. DIrooted by Erie C. Kenton. Screenplay by Scott Darllnir: orlKlnal by Eric Tavlor: camera, Milton Krosner and Woody Bredell; editor. Ted Kent: osst. di- rector, Charles B. Gotlld. Previewed In studio projection room, Feb. 27. '42. Run- ning time, SS MINS. Monster Lon Chaney Frankenstein Sir Cedric Hardwlcke Erik Ralph Bellamy Doctor Bohmer Lionel Atwlll "teoT Bela Lugosl Else Evelyn Ankers Cloeetlne Janet Ann Gnllow Dr. Ketterlnff Barton TarborouRh Martha Doris LtOyd Chief Constable Leyland HndRson Russman Olaf Hytten Magistrate Holmes Herbert Cotten's O. Henry Role . Hollywood, Mai^ch 3. Joseph Ctetten, on loan from Alex- ander .Korda, gets the biographical role in Columbia's "The Life of O. Henry.* Before checking In for the picture job Cotten Is due for two weeks of Defense Bond selling in New York and vicinity. Current Short Subjects (Prints In Exehanges) (Compiled by Besa Short) 'ClinrchlU's Island* (UA) 21Vi mlns. Britain in wartime with comment by Lorne Greene. Thta and Now* (WB) 10 mins. The evolution of transportation from the pony express to the modern airplane. ■Wacky Wigwams' (Col) 8% mlns. Housing conditions-of the North American Indian, ■Kltohen Quiz' No. 3 (Col) S mins. Hints On sweets to be shipped to the boys In the army. 'Screen Snapshots' No. 7 (Col) 10 mlns. Edgar Bergen,'Charlie McCarthy and James Stewart in some fun at Stockton Field, Calif. 'Too Boo General' (Col) 18 mins. Filmuslcal with Grade Barrie and Billy Vine. 'The Great American Divide' (Col) 11 min& Travel through the Rockies. 'Colorfnl No, Carolina* (M-G) mins, Fitzpatrick and color. Man Who Returned to Life Columbia release of Wallace McDonald production. Features John Howard. Ruth' Fonl. Blloobeth RIsdon. Directed by I.ew Laniler*. Story by Samuel W. Taylor; scn'enplny. Gordon Rlgby: editor, Arthur Sold;-camera, Philip Tannura. At Strand, Brooklyn, week Feb. 27, '42. -Running time - <1 DUNS. ' David Jameson John Howard Jano Blahop .Lucllo Fairbanks Beth Beebe -..Ruth Ford Daphne Turner Marcelle Martin Harland Walker \ RoKer Clark Minerva Sunday. Elfsal>ctli Rlsdoa Clyde neebe ; Paul aulifoyie Clem DeetM Clancy Cooper Ma Beebe Helen MarKellar Constable Foster Kenneth MarDonald Marjorle Blahop Carol Coombs Insignificant program picture hard- ly strong enough for even second, slot of minor twln-biU theatre. It's a hodge-podge of rustic romance, in> volved mystery and courtroom trials. John Howard Is prosperous and happily married In a small California town until he reads that a man out of his past Is about to be hung for slaying him. Tliis drags in the flash- backs, nearly all the rest of story being about his romance and troubles in a southern town. Because he's from Pennsylvania and a bank teller he is called that Yankee' in this small Maryland village. Plot figures around the anti-Yank feeling of this community, Ms supposed jilting of a southern belle, his being nabbed for murder and cbased out of town. How the brother Of this Dixie lass comes to be sentenced for killing Yankee is a lulu—and about the only surprise in an extremely tedious pic- ture. No sympathy is developed for any character, comedy is almost com- pletely lacking, and the whole thing simmers down to small chit-chat by and about remarkably dull people. John Howard as the 'man who re- turned to life' gives a forthright portrayal. Marcella Martin is the girl down south he really loves while Ruth Ford plays the southern belle infatuated with him who wrecks his life. Looks like a screen test for these two girls. Elisabeth Risdon is handed an insignificant role as bonk owner, but comes closest to being real. Sup- port is a little below par for a rou- tine programmer. Wear. Latest episode of the monster cre- ated by the long-deceased Franken- stein is a morbid and drab horror tale, with the cast apparently more frightened than any of the custom- ers that mi|^ came through the wickets. All the tricks of chnier- dillers are employed and tossed on with emphasis, but the strain on the perpetrators is apparent throughout Far from current film requirements, picture may catch dual filler spots In the lower bracket houses, but only has a faint resemblance to the former issues of the Frankenstein series. In the monster's last film appear- ance he was tossed Into a boiling sulphur pit; and this episode con- veniently resurrects him from an ex- cursion Into the not-too-entertainiilg fleld of brain transference. The clin- ical and surgical passages dip to the gruesome side, and are particularly untimely for audience consumption. After reviving from the sulphur chamber, the monster goes abroad to scare the local populace, and makes his way to the castle of Sir Cedric Hardwlcke, second son of ibe original Dr. Frankenstein. From there on it's a stolid-and unentertain- Ing narrative of Hardwicke's plan and consummation of brain transfer to provide the monster with an edu- cated cranium to replace the crim- inal one inserted originally by his father. Switeh is successful, but complications arise, and the monster Is conveniently left In a blazing in- ferno while the rest of the cast—and audience—sighs with relief. Lon Chaney goes into heavy and grotesque makeup to handle the monster role, while Hardwlcke, Ralph Bellamy, Lionel Atwlll, Bela LugosI, Evelyn Ankers and Janet Ann Gallow provide the support. WolL WHITE SHEETS DT THE WIBD Hollywood, March 3. John Shelton and Brenda Joyce go ghosting romantically together in the top roles of 'A-Huntlng We Will Go,' a fright-wig love tele at 20th-Fox. Shadowy action starts March IS, with Al Werker directing. ' A Missouri Outlaw Republic release of George Sherman pro- duction, stara Don 'Red' Barry; features • Noah Beery. Lynn Mecrlck. Paul Fix. Di- rected by George Sherman. Screenplay,- Doris Schroeder. Ja(k Lalt, Jr.; editor, William Thompson; camera. Jack Marta. At New Tork, N. T., week Feb. 21, '42, dual. Running lime, SO MINS. ClUt Dixon Don 'Red* Barry Virginia RandaJl Lynn Merrick Sheriff Dixon Noah Berry Mark Roberta Paul Fix Wllloughby Al St. John Randell Frank La Ruo Chandler '..... Ken Duncan Bancroft John Morton Allen Carleton Young Jensen Frank Brownlee SnowSake Snowflake Typical w^tern made slightly re- fre^ing by Don 'Red' Barry's trim performance in the title role. Ex- pert production- manages to over- come plot pltfalb. Okay for twin bills and where horse operas are in demand. Story varies btUe from predeces- sors, concerning gangster methods employed by a group of cowhands in the guise -of a 'protective associa- tion' that milks ranchers and store- keepers. "The outlaw,* however, a mi.'^udged youth, brings the gang- sters to justice. Barry continues to develop as an actor while Noah Beery makes a life-like sheriff and Lynn Merrick Eleases as the heroine. Support is eaded by Al St. John, in a straight role for a change; Frank La Rue and John Merton. Camera and editing are above par for a western. Weor. A Tragedy at Midnight Hollywood, Feb, 26. Republic release of Robert North produc- tion. Features John Howard. Margaret Lindsay. Directed by Joseph Sojilley. Screenplay by Isabel Dawn; original story by Hal Hudson and Sam Duncan; -camera, Bmeat Miller; supervMog editor, Murray Seldeen; editor. Bdwoi-d Mann. At Or- pheum, L. A., Feb. 2S, '42. Running time, es MINS. Greg Sherman -. John Howard Beth Sherman Margaret Lindsay Cassldy Roscoe Kama Mrs. Wilton „.Mona Barrie Ah Foo Keye Luke Mr. Miller Hobart Cavanough Landeck Paul Harvey Lola Lilian Bond Dr. Wlltbn Miles Mander Swanson Wllllom Newell Announcer Wendell Nlles Henry Carney Arable TwItcheU This is a typical whodunit with at- tempt to lighten up the trail with good-natured tnarltel bickerings of a.couple that ride together through the murders until the eventual de- ductive finish. Keyed for po^ atten- tion. It will provide Interesting en- tertainhient of Its type as program supporter in the family duals. Looks like they tried to produce a close carbon copy to "^Tiin Man formula, with results far removed from the original. Despite this, pic- ture holds sufficient drama and zip in pace to carry through okay with not-too-critical audiences. Story revolves around an amateur sleuth whose solutions of current murder mysteries provide material for a network broadcast, to discomn- (Contlnued on page 22)