Variety (Dec 1942)

FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, December 23, 1942 ARABIAN NIGHTS (COLOR) Hollywood. Dec. 19. rn;v. -.il W.-lln-i- P'O- .'..i'..- >l.i|^ lliiil. M.«i.< M.Mr,."2. -ii...: r.. ;iiii- I. f III I.-..11. 1: !iy <:ilhpii. Sh.-II.."ill.!. Tiii::. " !::>»<• Kn.n. K.lt. r I!. •■.mill " I' \ii:.-"i". D ivl.-I i.v .1. J11 i;tii .M II.< I- n ■ "•■■I I" > Il.,i,iuii-AMI.'> li-.l llii I.. J..11 ILill ;i .Miiiili'^ . S.il.ll 1 I'.i.1" ■I •■ ■! P':!:" .■\'«Mi|i •iinhril V::l.l.i » 11.11, ill Iirfv5»i- I-:;tnil'h Kiina.h Sl.iVfi 11 III" 111 S. i;l I >■ li:.i.-l;y;ir:li .. s;;i v# 1: i 11 '. . . II;iirni i;iil Ililiy iMlliirl IMk-iir 11.11 li.-r i;,.h:il-.l I.:ine 'rurliitll Hoy |..hii Quiilen . Sli.inil ll.iuiiril v.. Willlo' lliiviK . . .TI'iitiKis il'-'ii'li Ii 111 l.<* il'in ,1'lliirlos •■iilrrii;in .111.lies .■.iliiii:in ...\.li;i Kii/.m-IziilT . . . . I'".illtir>- I^ul iioll ll;'ii> ''..I'll 111: . . KiM.in U:i,\ nii.iiil "iiililLii U'.Miv.inui 'Arabian Niphl.^" is a colorful and aciionful emcitainnicnt in tune with present audience rcciiiirenicnts. Pro- duc-iion inoiinlinK. in Technicolor, is neatly blendetl wilh fast paced developmenls in dramatic and ro- mantic departments to a.s.siire pic- ture profitable reception at box of- fices. , .. .,, Exploitation minded cxhibs will have a field day in garnering extra coin at the wicket.s. Although there'* a tinge of fanta.sy in the tale, producer Walter Wanger wisely steer.s away from the magic of fabled times to concentrate atten- tion on lusty action and romance similar to the late Douglas Fair- banks' successful formula. With color photography accentuating In- terest, script, and direction keep things moving at consistently fast clip, with dialog crisp throughout. Director John Rawlins deftly handles comedy interludes by Billy Gilbert and Shemp Howard with restraint, keeping both comics from going overboard into broad bur- lesque. Story is a straightforward pres- entation of conflict of two brothers, Jon Hall and Leif Erikson, for the caliphate, with Maria Montez, danc- ing girl, who aspires to high mar- riage. Girl is member of a carnival troupe and when Hall U supposedly killed by his brother he's taken in by the band and nursed back to health. Sabu becomes his pal while girl falls in love. Tale then swings into fast action with intrigue, chases, battles and final rein.<!tatement of Hall as the caliph. Miss Montez catches audience attention as the alluring and eyeful dancing girl. Performance will lift her several notches in popularity, with indica- tions Universal has a glamour girl on its list for future assignments. Hall delivers a satisfactory and heroic performance in lead, with Sabu also neatly spotted. Gilbert and Howard deliver solid comedy performances that lighten dramatics. Support is high grade, with Edgar Barrier, Richard Lane, Turhan Bey, John Qualen, Thomas Gomez and •Wee Willie' Davis most prominent. Color photography \a excellent. Walt. When Johnny Comes Marching Home (WITH MUSIC) Hollywood. Dec. 19. TTnlvprnnl r^lfnne at BrrniirO W. Burton prwlucllon. StHrs Alliin .lonen. .Imie Frnzee. Oloiln .If«n. Donalil O'Connor. l>«KKy Ryan. Four ,SUp Br<j«.. Pllll Spimlny 'Hour of Chniin' all-Klrl nrcli. Dli-Klril bv (.'hiirlrii T.timont. OlitilnHl pcreonplBy. Oncnr Drmr noy, Dorothy llenn»rtl: i-nmciit. Gcorve JtiiblnBon: niuslcnl inr**-tor. Chnrlen Prcvin: <Innce lUi-enm. T/iuIk Dn Pron. Pi-evleweU Drr. IH. nuniilnn tlmr. '3 .^IN8. .lohnny Kovuca Alinn Jonee Marilyn Glorin Jcun Fi-nnhl« Dunalil O'Connor Joyce .Tone Fr.ixee Dusly PeuKy Hynn Tommy llrliltrrK lllrhnril Diivlta llnnillton Wpllnitm clyOe Fillmore Diann W'ellmr.n .\hirla .shellon TrulieP" Olln Hnwiln Ma FInnaRan Kmiiia Dunn Four filep MiiiihriH uml rlill Spllnlny imd hiB Jlour lit Chnrni All-Clirl Orrhoalra with Evelyn anil lirr Mode Violin. Well conceived and excel\ent'ly executed fllmusical that carries all Ingredients necessary for wide audi' ence entertainment. It marks the initial film appear ance of Phil Spitalny and his radio 'Hour of Charm' all-girl orchestra. Picture al^o includes .singing talents of Allan Jane.s. Jane Frazee. Gloria Jean and comedic aniics of Don.i1d O'Connor and Pegey Ryan to maxi- mum advantage. Picture is a sleeper that has a chance to surprise at the turnstiles. Story is a timely frame work on which to introduce Spital ny's fcmme musical aggregation in logical fa!:hion. and ha.s more sub- stance than is utuiilly Ihc case with filmusical ynrns. Jones is a war hero back home on Icnve. Fed up on re ceptions he slips back to his former theatrical boarding house for rest, finds Spilalny now headinE Ihc cirl orche.slra and vounK O'Connor whip ping up an act wilh Gloria Jean ;ind Peggy Ryan, also bund vocal.si .lane Frazee, who provides excellent ro- mantic intrt'pst. Civic ofVirials trace Jones, but his new friends figure he's a dcpcrlcr and altempt to orolerl him iinlil they can convince the sol- dier to return to the army, but M's all okay when he's <liscloscd as (lie hero in (he finale musical production number. Pictin-e is sludded with musical •nterlainmenl for general audiences. Miniatnre Reviews ■Arabian Nlghln' (Color) (U- Wanger). Geared for strong box- oflice. 'When Johnny Come« March- Ine Home' (Songs) lU). Tiptop filmusical wilh Allan Jone.s, Phil Spitalny, et al. 'The Powers Girl' (Songs) (UA). Exploitable beauty parade just mis.ses. 'Jacare' tUAL Frank Buck jungle thriller of junket into Brazil. OK exploitalioner. 'London Blackout Murders' I Rep). New twist to Scotland Yard nails-ils-man yarn okay for duals. •Little Joe, Wraniiltr' lU). Beltcr-(han-averagc western. 'Pride of the Army' iMono). So-so programmer of dogs in defense work. ■Hlstoria de Crimenes' (Ar- gentine). Crime film; not up to standard. each spotlighted for best showman- ship style. Total of 12 numbers, mostly familiar as .standards, are presented in song, orchestral and choral arrangemenl.s. all backed up by excellent musical arrangements and presentations by Spilalny and his girl aggregation. Jones, Miss Frazee, Miss Jean, the Spitalny orchestra and the maestro's famed choral group are on display for in- dividual and collective attention. O'Connor, Miss Jean and Miss Ryan click solidly with two comedy trio song-and-dance numbers that immediately project the threesome to attention for future starring pii- tures by studio. Spitalny is briefly introduced, just so the audience knows who he is. and from then on he's in the background to focus at- tention on the musical and vocal ac- complishments of his girls in addi- tion to grouping orchestra on varied level platforms for maximum cam- era effects on musical numbers. 'Various specialists of Spitalny group are provided with opportunities for closeups of their musical accom- plishments on specific instruments, with Evelyn and her violin given special prominence. Camera angles and special lighting accentuate the band staging. Spontaneous comedy is provided by young O'Connor, Miss Jean and Miss Ryan trio. Displays excellent timing in delivery of lines and routines. The Four Step Brothers, colored dance team of ti.p ability, are also called on for turn that clicks in good style. Particularly fine script by Oscar Brodney and Dorothy Bennett pro- vides logic for proceedings to un- ravel at consistent pace while pro- viding for most convenient insertion of the musical numbers and special- ties en route. Director Charles La- ment deftly handles assignment, with cameraman George Robinson turn- ing in excellent photography. Walt. THE POWERS GIRL (WITH SONGS) Hollywood, Dec. 17. t'niteil ArllAtn tPlpa.se ot Chiii-lva K. Hos- crfi privluctlon. Feat'jreii <i*tortie .^lurphy, Anne .Shirley. Carolp Liiiidl.t. UfnniB Day. Powera American BenulifM. Aliin Mowbrav. nonny Ooodnuin oivh. DiifK-tPd hv Norman '/,. Mt-L«oi1. Si-reenplay. E. KUvvIn Moran. Harry 8eRall. riuin ntuiy by Wlllliini A. Pierce. Malvin ^\'alil: sonsa. Jule Styne. Kim (3annon: rnineta. Smntey. Curlez: nil- tor, Oeorxe Arthur. Previeweil In I,. A.. De<-. in. '42. Running lliuF. M MI^'^(. .Terry HeiiOrli^ks Georce Murphy Ellen Rvana Anne Shirley Kay Evnna Carole Uunilia Dcnnia Day Dcnnia Day Renny Qoodmnn Benny nnoilmtin .John Robert PoweiH AI:in Mowhray CJooKle lean AmPa Nancy Mary Treen Vnndy VandeKrIft Iluphael .Storm Mrs. Henilrlcka Helen Mm-Kellar Mr. Henilrlcka HiiiTy Shjinnnn Edna Lambert Roaeanna .Murray Powera Aiiieiii-an BenulleB Jayne Hazard Klnlae Hart Lillian Kfficera r'alrli-ln Mare Linda .SterllnK Miuli.irH Slali-r Evelyn Frey Rosemary I'oU-m.Tn and orchestra. And vocal numbers by Dennis Day provide no more than passing lifts to the proceedings. Di- rector Norman McLeod found the task of lifting the material impos- sible assignment, while Murphy, Day, Miss Shirley and Miss I^ndis are under wraps throughout. The eight •Powers American Beauties' are lost in the .shuffle. Walt. JACARE I'niU.I .\iiiiiM roloiiKO nf .\l;i\f;ilr (.lii>a I,\e\i ?'iiiiliH'llon. KiMitiirea l''i;iiik Hmk. l.ui.o M, U:inM;ild«gn. Miituel Kolinsky. Iiiif.l,-.! I'v I'linrica E. rmil. Nnimllnn. I'riink llu.k; urlllen i-nmnientory. *rh»im:in l.riiii,in: ii.iisi'-. .MIkliia Ho»7,:i. Previewed at S V-.. Dc. 1H. •<'.'. KunnliiK lliiio. M .Ml>.^». Produced in Brazil, excepting for studio scenes introducing Frank Biick, this typical 'bring-'cm-back- alive" jungle thriller stacks up .strongly 'i the Buck string of wild animal .screen epics. In fact, this one is markedly better than recent Buck pictures. 'Jacare' is an exploitation picture, with added profit for the ex- hibitor depending only on his ingen- uity in selling. 'Jacare' has several trim sales angles aside from the outright bally with animals or stuffed wild beasts. One is that Frank Buck appears and talks—he does the whole running narration. Another might plug the struggle between a husky game hunter and man-eating Anaconda snake. Latest Buck jungler is outstanding for the smooth way in which it un- folds an intelligent story, minus dull spots. Aside from the introductory trimmings, the picture Is a series of adventures and struggles to capture denizens of the jungle. In the intro- duction. Buck is seen dictating a let- ter and telephoning regarding James Dannaldson. who is to take his place on a Brazilian hunt. From this, he continues talking and recites the highlights of the junket. Production is filled with usual hair-breath escapes for the hunters, with all of encounters with danger- ous beasts appearing on the up and up. The atUck of the 28-foot long Anaconda in which Dannaldson seems about to be crushed to death, is standout. Recital builds suspense as to what the 'Jacare* really is, with climax sharply pointed up as a whole river-bank filled with them are re- vealed. ' Struggle to capture these reptiles, which look like a cross be- tween a python and giant crocodiles, without killing them, is unsuccessful when Dannaliison is spilled into the water and has to slash one in order to escape with his own skin. Per usual there are the odd-looking mon- keys and other queer sort of jungle creatures. Charles E. Ford, former Univer.sal newsreel editor, is credited on the film with directing. Ford since has died on the Coast after returning from the trip. Production is a credit to his skill and maintaining maxi- mum interest. Buck employs his fa- miliar clipped phrases in narrating the whole picture, and is okay in his brief initial appearance. Camera work, not credited, is remarkably fine. While neither Dannaldson or Mi- guel Rojinsky, latter apparently a veteran hunter of Brazil, speak In the film, both loom as natural-born silent screen actors. Criso comment- ary is from Uie pen of Thomas Len- non. Original music of Miklos Rosza accentuates the action throughout. Wear. Despite exploitable title and pos- sibilities, combined with inclusion of Benny Goodman and orchestra, 'The Powers Girl' fails to live up to those potentialities on the boxoffice side. Picture lacks zest and lustre, dis- plays an obvious bumpy tale, and is far overfootaged, with plenty of extraneous and unimportant se- quences. Script fails to take advantage of basic entertainment elements pres- ent, and generally misplaces the top numbers with unnece.ssary footage. Best illustration is the production number introducing the Powers' Model beauts, who strut on briefly for individual introductions. This supposed highlight is immediately over.shadowed by a swing to dance ensemble of boys and girls, with Dennis Day on the sideline sini;ing a number. Result is subdued inter- est in the models. Picture gets away to slow start, opening at rural state fair just to e.stablish George Murpjiy as a can- did cameraman and Anne Shirley as local schoolmarm. Yarn (hen swilehes to the city to pick up Carole Landis. who wants 1o be a Powpr.i Kirl. wilh Murphy assisting while tallinR in love wilh Shirley. Story continually bounces in all dirccti'j'is. and is sophomoric in texture (hrou.uh- out. Even appearances of Goodman London Blackout Murders Repitblle relenae of QeorRe Shermnn pro- diii-tlon. Fealurea John Abbott. .\Kiry .Mi-- Leoil and Lloyd CorrlKan. Directed by Sherninn; arreenplay by Curt f^iodniak: edi- tor, charlea Ci'afI: camera. Jack Mnrin; musical director, Morton Scnlt. Previewed In N. T. Dec. 18. '42. Runnlnc time, sa .MINH. Jack Rnn-llnftfl John Abbott -Mao TiUe: .\lury Mcleod Inapeetor Harrla Lloyd forrlnan .MadlBon LoBler Malthewa .Mra. PrInKle Anita Bolater Peter Doniten Loula Horell Air Raid Warden Billy Revan .Supt. .\eil Lumaden Hare e^W.ri-ll. Kfffllcrri: WorlOi k (ieiii'fce rnrl Harbord 1 iiiiAi.'ib'e Krith Illtchcnck Doctor Tom Stevcnaon Republic gives a new twist to the old theme that Scotland Yard al- ways, nails its man, and gives it a timely title in 'London Blackout Murders.' The result is a short, low- budget picture which will give bal- ance to a dual offering, though film has no name pull. 11115 time the murderer is really a hero who goes around during blackouts killing peo- ple whom he has been tipped r.re enemies of Great Britain, though it's never actually determined that they are 'enemies of England.' His weapon is a hypo neetile concealed in a .smoking pipe. Final shots show the murderer— hero on trial in the basement of a London court being bombed at the time. He is sentenced to death for the murder of his wife after World War I. a crime that had in- advertently been discovered. For the most part it's the story of a psychopathic with a murder complex. John Abbott, playing a former sur- geon who had murdered his wife. Rives Ihe picture most of its interest. Mary McLcod, as the girl who lo.st both parents in a bombing raitd and is billeted above the murderer's shop, nets all she can from a weak role. Lloyd C^rrigan, as the S. Y. Inspec- Carrent Short Releases (PRINTS IN EXCHANGES) (Compiled bv Besa Short) •Q Men' (RKO, 8 mins.). Sportscope. 'Dln( OMf Daddy' (WB, 8V& mins.). Cartoon comedy. 'What Kind e( a Job Can I Find In Navy No. V (Navy, 3 mins.). Recruiting subject. 'Kind of Job In Navy No, S' (Navy. 3 mins.). Third in navy recruiting series. 'Boogic Woofle Sioux' (U, 7 mins.). Color cartoon comedy. 'Wings for the Fledgllnfa' (('Ol 10 mins.). Victory short on avia- tion cadet training. 'Pretty Dolly' (RKO, 18 mins.). Leon Errol comedy. 'Unusual Occupations' (Par, 11 mins.). No. 2 in new series, in- cluding circus talent scout. 'Enric Madrlguera' (RKO), 9 mins.). Band short. 'Jasper and the Choo Choo' (Par. 7'/i mins.). Puppet-tune novelty. tor wilh a sly sense of humor, gives a smooth performance. While the yarn is mediocre and preposterous it has nn element of in- terest. There is nothing standout in story, direction or photography. Little Joe, Wrangler (SONGS) t'lilvei.sitl relriife or Oliver Drake oriMliic- tlon. Fi'iilurea .lohnny .Mack llrown. 't'cx Rlller. h'uzicv Knlichl and Jimmy Wakely 'rilo. Directed by l.ewla D. Dolllna. Story. .Sherman l.n\ve; pholOKiapby. William Sick- lier. Al .\'ew York theatre. .V. Y.. dual. IJec. 1«. '<J. KunnlnK tline. tl ,MINS. Neal AValliue Johnny Mark Brown Hull Hiewaler 'I'ex Hitter ..Itlle -loe siiilih KuKzy Knlclit Janet Hamiikonil lennlfer Holt Marv Ili'i'WKler Fiorina McKlnney I.lii\'il Cliapin Iiiinea Craven Travia Mnl 'I'nllarerro Jeft (.'orev lllenn Strange The Jiiiimv Wakely Trio Universal's hard-riding', fast-shoot- in', bare-knuckled saga of the sup- pression of outlawry in the gold min- ing country is a better-than-average western which should do plenty okay in the duals. It wastes no footage as it gets down to the business of unravelling dirtv work at the smelt- er and is paced by slick performance of Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter and Fuzzy Knight. Ritter. discredited and facing oust- er as sheriff because of failure to stamp out banditry, stakes his future in belief that stranger Brown, nabbed in ore robbery-murder frameup, is innocent. How they team up to track down real culprits makes for actionful saddle drama. Wild, flstic fray in climax carries terrific wallop. Comedy sequences by Knight, as deputy sheriff and inventor of cow- hide cactus protector and other con- traptions, are liberally interspersed and provide many of film's top mo- ments. Harmonizing by the Jimmy Wakely Trio also on the credit side, along with Jennifer Holt's perform- ance. Rose PRIDE OF THE ARMY Mnnofrram produrl Ion. Uli'haiila. Rr Ace. 'Wonde Luby. Slory editor. Itoy Inline. At .\ Dec. 10. '4: Billy Ii'reeman.... .Tn.! n JudKe Tlliia (•olonel Sloner Pal relenaa of Oeome W. Weeka Featiiri-a Billy Lee. .\ddi8on hillev I'aite. Kay Linaker and r Dug.' nireitod by S. Roy and adapliition. Jolin Vla'loK: t'iaire: pholoicraphy. Holiert e\v York theiilre. N. T.. dual. RiinnInK lime. U .UINI^. Hilly I.ee Addlaon Rlcharda Kav Linaker , Uradlny Pane Herlierl Rnwilnaon Rryant Waabhurn John Berkea Ace What might have rated as a top educational short on the subject of putting military dogs through the paces in teaching them to track down and disarm the enemy, and to act as guards in defense plants, has been embellished into a full-length fea- ture by Monogram with somewhat doubtful results. 'Pride of the Army* essentially 1s iritended lit gloifity the canine .soldier and his contribution to the war effort. As such it unreels some footage that's not only refresh- ingly new but offers thrills, too. This unusual angle of film is nullified, however, by the yarn woven around it, and what emerges is a more or less standard entry in the program- mer class which will get by on the duals. Film, ihcidentally, was Inspired by the recruiting and training of an eventual force of 50.000 dogs by Dogs for Defense, Inc.. and the Quartermaster General of the U. S. Army. Story is built around moppet Billy Lee. who gives his pet Alsatian shep- herd to the Dogs for Defense organ- ization, to act as a guard against saboteurs. The canine is assigned to the same defen.se plant where the boy's hard-drinking, shell-shocked father is working tn a new job as night watchman. Latter, regenerated through pride in responsible martime job, sacrifices his life in joining with the dog to frustrate an attempt to blow up the plant. Billy Lee delivers good perform- ance, while Addi.son Richards, as the shell-.shocked marine of World War 1. and Kay Linaker and Bradley Page, latter two supplying the con- veniently-arranged love interest, are adequate. Rose This Is one of the first cops-and- 'robbers to come from local studio this season and some of the angles are slanted to catch recent headlines on local scandals. However, it isn't quite up to the grade that director Manuel Romero has established in the past, and it's evident that having done the writing and adapting him- self, he's bitten off a little more than he could chew. Story deals with confessions of a banker who fell for a chorus girl and started on the merry-go-round for her. He kills his housekeeper, the niece of his fiancee, whose fortune he had embezzled, and is plotting the murder of a niece and of his sweetie when an old employee with a grudge against him discovers the crimes and hands him over to the cops. Al- though the plot Is artificial in many ways, it's been fairly well told, with slow tempo aiding the development of suspense. Narciso Ibanez Menla. the 'Lon Chaney of Latin films,' is outstand* ing and beats his previous interpret tation of a similar role in 'Una Luz en la Ventana' CA Light in the Window'). Severe Fernandez gets plenty of laughs as the old employee, and Nury Montse and Zully Moreno are good. Dialog is somewhat over-burdened, but better than average. Photopraphy o.k. Ray. Historia de Crimenes (Taie of Crimes') (ARGENTINE-MADE) Buenos Aires, Dec. 10. Lumlton proOuctlon and releane; feainiei NurclM Ibanoz Menta, /.ully .Morenn. Nmy Montae, Osvaldo Allrandii. Severn Fernaii- Uaz, AlfrOflo Jordan. Min-la K. HuM.-lila'.v/.o, BernHrdo Perrone. Anieiin Bernabe. .Me. ha Cobo and Elvira Remet. story. Hdii|iiii:iun and direction by Manuel Kniiiei-o. fanicr-t. Alfredo Trnverwi. Uevieivcil nt ihi. .Monu- mental, Duenoa Airra. Hiinnlnic lime, M MINS. Benny Thinks Continue^ from page 2 Benny, 'and that is the failure of some of the top names to realize the tremendous Import of getting out to the soldiers and making them laugh. Of course, a lot of them cannot do it for various reasons. But there are others who can.' Wants Overseas OK Benny said he was anxious to go abroad to entertain our AEFs as soon as possible and hoped that transpor- tation snags could be straightened out by Washington so that he could be on his way soon after Christmas. When and if he goes, he'll make the trip alone, with the remainder of his railio troupe carrying on from vari- ous U.S. army camps and navy and marine bases with a guest star pinch-hitting. For instance, Fred Allen would take over one of the Sunday night spots, Eddie Cantor an- other, etc. Original plans of shortwaving Benny for five minutes to (his coun- try for a tieup with the remainder of his troupe have been discarded, the comedian said, due to the inabil- ity to determine just where he'll be sent and what facilities will tie avail- able. Benny has also nixed the idea of sending over recordings for broad- cast here. " 'If you can't have fresh material, it's no good,' he added, pointing out his best scripts were turned out 24 hours before going on the air. Benny said hell be assigned to a show unit abroad, with BBC hiring the scripter. Lieut. Howard Nuss- baum,' stationed in England at Gen* eral fisenhower's headquarters, would produce. He'll probably be gone about four or five weeks, and when he returns to this country will resume, his tour oif the camps. 'Hollywood's out for the rest of the season,' Benny said. "There's nothing to take me back for a while and the important job ahead lies in the camps and navy bases.' Last Sunday (20) the Benny troupe broadcast from Fort Devens, Worcester, Mass., with Abe Lyman and his orch filling the music spot Monday night (21) they did a show at the Navy sub base in Portsmouth, N. H., and last night at Camp Ed- wards, near Bedford, Mass. The Dec. 27 broadcast will originate from the Vanderbilt the- atre, N. Y., before a soldier house, with future shows still undecided and hinging on word from Washing- ton regarding Benny's jaunt abroad. Benny said thai while in New York he was 'looking around' for a good play that he could make into a picture later. If he can find it, he said, he'd produce it himself and star in it. 'It'll probably be pretty loiit;h finding such a play, however,' he added. 'What about the $25,000 salary cell- ing?' Benny was asked. 'Oh, about that,' ho replied. 'You better see Mary when she gels Dock from her shopping lour.'