Variety (May 1943)

16 FILM REVIEWS Wedoesday, )lay 3, 1913 LADY OF BURLESQUE fConCiiui'd fi-om page 8) | «-ith f\n-iv >h('\v l>;K-ki;roilii(l in which Miss Sl;in\\\ok socks ovi-r Tiikc Off lilt K Sii-ine. Play It m> the U Si:'iiii>.° unci Fi-iilim delibor- •Ifly tiff-kt-vs "So This Is You." Tht'i-c's n >iiii(i«'ii raid iind waison biickiip: rcli-iisc mi bail and tlieiv Kliiwdiiwn In ;:i'riti'ate various mo- tivi's for llu- cuniiiiu imirdws. Aflcr »\viii;;iii(! into Ihc strailKC use Of a Ci->trinK r<ir >ir;iii|:iiUi(inn of the viclinis. it's jlusi a mntlvr o( time before thi' wiiidup. Sti-(inU>i-ri: ."pi iit close to a niil- liiin on his first independent ven- ture, and priidiidion investiture is niiturally topKi'adu throuchout. Cam- era V'Oi'k by Riibrrl dc Crasso Is of hich standfird. - Wnlr. Dr. Gillespie's Criminal I Case I Mil|-i> litt..th: I-I n-l« .tM-. SUil.x T..«>tii-I l;;-ii> :i.> II , ■•..lull-' \iiii .liihll<iill. l»..|in.- I;i.»-|. In.> I..ik'. .III.Ill I'r.ivrli. Niil i..!|. ;,.li. .Mil Is.ll;.!!-. W-llf.ilii l^llfi:- y:ili. \\:.)iin K i.i.<'***il lilil .M.ii il> ll' M:l\> Wt'.i. I k.i. I.v vv ,: I ;ii|iiIm.|.K, IS:iiu.il «>il •'i:.*... :i -i'Miil iiy ,\lji\ Itiiiiiil; ■«:.";<'.. '. II I!"!!.! l-t, l:il>kln kiKl ),..ui*i..i I*. I:. • );iit.iliii; •'■llltir. I.:iiliii- \|J:,|. i.ii.ii... .Vi.i i.t;'l l;t-i-|ili». I'll-. -A'.! :•! |it..ji. :ii i> ; II. \, v., April. :.**•. l:iiiii<:i:i: liiii.. Ml) .MIN.X. l.i>..i-:.-.l I III I ..p ...... I....111-1 ll:iri-,vtiiiii'i 'h:i I'.-. Jir. XI. I'.. 1:... J-- -M A > .M 1- «.:'|. li.llll K.-l.< S- f •■' I 'I> Il . .■III..II .\.l.lll. -.1 l:;...il.il- .. . I.. \V i.i 11. •r..i.<. II V\ II. . . . I •\ ;." II r.' 1-. 11..:, . V;ill .liililliii.ii li.'Tiii:! K...I K->- l.ilki' I..llil ('i'.i\'i-ii iviiiiii'ii.ii Allllll l\ll|(£i-| ,. . U illiiilii i.llliill-.i:iil . . . ^l:lr^.l|-.<l ii'ltiU'li . .W.ilti.r K iliif>rt>i.l .\l:.lll.MI .Miixu-ll ..ill.. .Mi' liiii'l I iii.iiii. Ili'in-.v u'N'M: .Miil'ix llliilli ..;Ki;iIi--i'M Jtiirfvl'ly Thr .-train of kerpine Dr. Gillespie alive as a .<ri'een character in a .scries that has extended over the year.s is bt;:inninf: lit tell. This latest star- rill;; l.iii.'icl Barrvmore in a wheel- chair called (or the combined efForts fif three .cript writers and a very rapablo ca.st. yet nil hands concerned have lailert to provide anything but mediocre screen entertainment. Poorly edited and runnini; much too loni<—U!) minutes—it is tedious tmm the .Mart. Three writers — Martin Berkeley. Ilariy Ruskin and Lawrence P. fi;:chmann—did not concoct much of a plot 10 betiin with; but also stand guilty uf penning trite dialog. Com- edy relief is in a minor key. The character of Roy Todwrll in Ihc last Gillespie release went to Jail fur murder. In this one, with Tod- well played by another actor. John Craven, jhe efforts of Dr. Gillespie to have himViransrerred to a proper institution on the ground the con- fes-sed nuirdcrer is in.sane conic to iiaut'ht as result of a pri.son break and the killinf! of Tndwcll by cops. In addition to testinu two youi>K inlerno.': to determine who .shall be Gillespie's assistant, not settled, the story concerns an erysipelas epl- drmic among children and trouble <li>cturs have in trying to get a for- mer flier to try to walk on wooden let!.-' which he doesn't want. Barrvmore. Von Johnson, Dotina Reed. Keyc Luke. Nat Pendleton. Waller Kin^.^ford, Alma Kruger and Marie Blake are carryovers In the (lillespic series. A newcomer for the glamour ranks, whose prospects are pxeuediiiKiy bright, is Marilyn Max- w<-ll who is paired for romantic in- t(-rest with J'lhnson. Latter, while a K'xid pfirfornier. is Hardly a doctor 1yiH-. William Lundigan, who ably Iilays the Unless .voldler. Is appear ng in the series for the first time. I Chor. MR. LUCKY Hollywood, May 4. T!l\ii >'*:*..f.r> ..r |ijii;il lleuiimt^ad iiroiliii-- t!lii*. Sliii> l*;.i-j ilri.iif; f^Htun* IdnilllM l>:..i. i'liiiil's liii'hrii^i. Otndy* rnnpfr, Aliiil I'iillM-.v. liM'i.'liil lijr H. c. rnUiT. Fi-n-i ii|.ii..\ I.v llfiliiin and Aitrhui S1-..U; ..-iKlii:.], Ilt.iiiii-H: t'ain#n, <lfAn;a Hmiii-s: !<|w-.-;i.| <.nf.-t-iv. Vernon WHlli«r: •tia,..-. Tlii-1-..ii Wiii'ili; iiHHi. dliwlor. ttHrry K""'i: I iiii-i; li'MlfnM l>y Wiltlnnl 4*i.iM. i-.ti« .M-iixl*'!'. 'riTifh-iilinfEn In L. .\ Vi.y :i. IliinnhiK tinif, M MINH. 3'f i.'arr Ornnt I'lii'iili.i Lanlne l>uy llunl .<i><.,|.. ■■linrlM llli'liriinl ''■iiti. si.j.iiii; tUnilyii rmipm' Till iViii i Atan THrnpy >!-, I;i>..hi H(-no* Hi<>pliHnii,in '/■•fv Piiul Strwiiri Mi-M. Ofiiiiiiilir • Kay Jntinhnn 'riH' liMffii- Kr.fnnl lliiKi- ri-i>\<.y riiiiiiiilfi>.|iin#-r....Wiilli*r KlnicHrnnl M.'|i..iil.-:il J. M. Krrriiiun V-..iii- , K<lwiir<l PlaldInK Un-k ITI-I Vliidlinlr R-ikdlnlT 'Mr. Lucky* is as fresh as this \\-cek's ration coupon. Expertly de- vised to provide top entertainment as H romantic drama of (inusual and brcex\' tenor, it's a solid attraction for. the. key spots and general runs as n .volo or billtopper aiming for hefty grosses. Marquee voltage of Cary Grant in starring spot will keep Ihc \Mckets spinning and gen- erate holdovers. Story is one of the freshest angles that has come out of Hollywood in many innnthti. Despite lu under* lyinif dramatic foundation, li'a stud- ded with light and breexy episodes that catch strong audience reaction, and eoncentraties interest In the pro> reedings throughout without a let- down. Grant is a resourceM and oppor- tuni.ot gambling dperator, figuring on outfltting his outlawed gaming. ship for trip to.Havaim. But coin and draft recislration balk his de- parture, .^•'.iiniinu name and draft card of a dyinu 4-F. he launches dri\o to raise tlie nviola and runs ihiii soi-ieiy heiress Laiainc Day. I'ui>uiiij; her for roiiiaiilic pitches he lands an menilii-r cf the war re- lief aneiicv and proeeeds to ply his eon to help the oullil with supplies anil liiiat charters. Pi'Mpo-sinK han- dling ihe Kainbliiii; eoiice.s.sinn on a i-elief ball. Grant whips it thi:o.Ui;h. and the take is healthy until furiner parinei' IViil Stewart move-: in to Ki-ab the hiUil for him.M-lf. ■ Girl. Hk- uriiijj Gr.int has »;iv»-n Imtl) hrr.<elf and the iii;:aiii/.atiim the duublu- cro.-s on the cniii. ):els it all back, and liien dLsivx ers his former Kam- bliii:: I)m:ii das lieen chartered to the war relief uMiiip fur lrahspOrl;ition of the supplies over.sras. Theii there's the natural happy ending. Pictfiir icarriis an authentic iring to operations of bi|!lime giuribler.o. and it tiiithliilly follows the profe.->- <iunal prtMnise of 'never jjive the sueki r a break, but never cheat a friend.' Writer Milton Holmes, in .icIliM;; hi. lir.-t .screen original, hews clii.ely to i!ie lines of actual inci-. (leii's rather than d«'pendina on syn- thetic dramatics to drop it into the uroove (if obvious cinematic dra- nialics. Grant dues a >lirk Job in portray- in-.: the ;:anil)lin); operator, and makes the most of the smart luate- rial. lines and situations provided by the .script, althoiiuh at times the di- rection rather overstre.sse.-i his de- livery iif diiiloi:. Miss Doy catches attention as the girl, and picture .should do :i lot fur her in rai.sjni; her bnxelVii c .-tatiis. Al(in Carney clear- ly e'.clics the character of Grant's si(!i'kii-l: and aide: his prototype will lie fc iird in ary cla.es uaniinu estab- livhment. Chailes Bickford uives his usual K'^ed performance iis the ship's skipper: llenr,v Stephenson delivers as the cirl's irrasclble grandfather, while Paul Stewart. Gladys Cooper and Kay Johnson are most promi- nent in n-maining support. David Hempstead ably handles production reins, while H. C. Pot- ter's direction swings the tale along at a consistent and interesting dip. Photography by George Barnes is topnnlch ■ in line with grade-A mounting provided for the produc- tion. Walt. Gildersleeve's Bad Day SWING SHIFT MAISIE .\liiiii i^-li-iiM- uf iif..ri:i' ih.iirlit iiriMliir- 11,111. .^^i^i'" Ann Siillli-rn: r.':iil|ii.|« JiiiiiPH • 'riilK, .I'.III ll'iKcri'. b'ml llniily. Wli-n- ICi-iiH I'Vi'-liil hy N<irntan Z. ■Mi'I.mhI. Si-i-if-iiiilii.v I'v Miiry C. .Mii'iill. Jr.. unit IImIhti IijiIIT limfii fin i'hnnt*-irri« rmii^ii l.y WliK'.ii i*..iiin.n; ••:imr>rn. Iliirry Kiniit- liiifc: '•'liii.r. l-;iiii'. V*Tun. I*r*'vlew^il in .N. v.. Ai'iil :m. --13. nunnlnic tlnu-. M7 MINK. Mnliilf ll:i\i'-i ■|lr>-<-xy" \l-l..iiii:liliii. IrlH li'-'Ki .^l■.^\v 1.11.u..,:.>; Ili.i'jill.. I'lirl-v .\ IMI ril.. S.-llliiMI I!;. One. of the lesser RKO dualers. 'Gllder>lceve's Bad Day.* fealtiring Harold Peary in the title role' he creali'd for r.-.diu. is .-trictly for the family audienec-s at whom it's aimed. The lauuhs are iieuliuible. nio.slly because of the trite script, but Peary has built himself a radio following and for them his strictly corny com- edy will prcljably find an appre- ciative outlet. Peary, still u.-iine the e(i>iine laugh th.tt has become his ii-,ideinark. is this lime concerned in lliO trial of a yegg. As the foreman of- the jury. Peary is insistent—the cnly member of the Jury who i.--—on tin- innocence of the thug. Circumstances then point at Peary r.s the iinwillinK vic- tim of b"ibe-takinK. froiii the defend- anl'.s friends, and the rest cmiccrns coniplic.-.iions that ari.ce from his at- tempt to esiabli..h h'">; innocence. IVary tivi-- :> Mandard perform- ance, while .lane n.ii'vvi-l! and Nancy Gates, in lessi-r Dart-, do as well as cmild Iji' (•■xp'-c'.ed. Production is okav. in keeping with the modest bud.i!et. K«hn. THE LEOPARD MAN Hollywood. May 4. l(l\t^ i-i>l'M.'. ••' \.-l i..\.i..i -|.-tiliii--,inn. Krillilii'H I h'liiiiN II'K'-i . .M:-li:<.. I Ih-Vt'ti'il liy .I;m-||11i-i4 Ti'll-nrllr. S. Il l ii|. l.y Arilfl Wrii,\: ;i'lili-il iiiiil"!:. Kilu.iitl lii-lii; Imiii lliiVi'l. 'Ill.i>'l, .Mllil.' I.J I'l.rii'll VViHilrl.'li: rnilli'lli. llLl.i'll 'II. i:-i..^'-: "ilH'tr. Murk llllll^•^: iii'.i. 1l.11>'I..; w .llliiiii liiirriiiiin. TrHili'i'lii'U 11 III 1:. .\. .\l.i> U. '-l.t. Kiitiiiliii; I lino, m .UINK, .liTl-.!- .Mnnliiiii: llcliiiU D'Hiffr riii-i'lii lliirKi* KikI Wiilktr ^ Ii-:in tlitnikH .Usii'Jn I'lilHi J««-i'll lir. laill'iiiiili hiiiii'fi lii-ll Ti'iihii |ii-l»;:"l .Miii-i:i'ii.t Uni'lry fliHi-ll^ ll«iu--l'iiti.i- Miii'-r llllH-riiiiiii Mii"iil Iti'liiiiilii'- Kli-liiinl .\Kirliii I'l.liHil^lii I'linln-riiM Tilln I'nrinn I'lii'-r lliil>l>i> lion llnni Kliii". Al l'I llrnlll Kimliii Ki'ly Pningni-lll 1:1; nil -Iii.l.l K-.-iii." i-:iiiiii\ I...I1 II' 11 1! .I'-llll. "Ill" Ann S.iilii'rii liiiiii-H I'nilK I'-lin la4:i'|-ri nllllli' lilH-liri}.! I'lliii (Jliiili'ii I\:iy .M'-iri.i-il Ul.-i.' Hnilii-iH , .'hi'-'|i|i-liiip Wlilli* ll'-ily .1ii>ni-> I'*n*'l Itrjiily M 1-1:1 I.I111I1-11 •■'lin TnivPrH There appears to have been a lull In the 'Maisie' series, and this shows it. Maybe the producers have lost their enthusiasm. Ann Sothern. who has been away from the series, struggles hard to .save this from .sag- ging but it's too much. 'Swing Shift Maisie' takes Masle Ravicr lAnn Sothern) from a dog act into an airplane plant on the Coast. She went with the dog troupe ero.ss-eountry just so she could get a war-work job. She falls in love with a te.st pilot at the factory, be- frientls a suppo.ecdly forlorn beauty aspiring to screen fame and is re* warded by having the movie-struck dame snatch her man. All familiar angles are ineludca with many de- velopments telegraphed way in ad- vance of actual occurrence. Thus the fact that the two-timing girl friend is going to frame Ann at the plant Is tipped bluntly a couple of reels in advance. Miss Sothern is her cu.stomary zestful self, \yorklng overtime to breathe .lome reality Into the over- worked situations. James Craig, as the test pilot. Is handsome but other- wise undistinguished. Jean Rogers, cast as the screen hopeful, manages a distasteful part with some distinc- tion. Connie Gilchri.st, as Mrs.' Lust vogel. the boarding house operator where the plant workers live, makes a neat characterization of this minor role. The Wiere Bros., playing thft Schmltt Brothers; acrobat three- some, friends Of Ann, are virtually wasted In a brief sequence. The script by Mary C McCall. Jr. and Robert HalfT is loosely written, and. not Improved. by Norman Mc- Lebd's lackiastre direction. Wear. With RKO flgiiiinK that group of program mystery-thrillers would prove profitable for both the pro- ducer and theatres following 'Cat People.' studio has embarked on such a series. 'Lp<ipard M:in' is the .sec- ond issue of the ;.'roiip. carrying reg- ulation formula lor ueneraling audi- ence suspense, and succeeding par- tially in attaining that premise. Story and script both lack the clear-cut and direct line treatment accorded 'Cat People' and follows too many confusing paths to make it more than. pas.«able fare for the general audiences. After brief in- troduction, it's a series of chases and murders, with a tame leopard blamed for the latter until .strange happenings are pinned on one of the playeirs. It's all confusion, in fact too much for an audience to follow. Dennis O'Keefc Is press agent for a New Mexican nitery and rents a tame black leopard for a pu>«licity stunt which backfires when t e cat escapes and a girl is presumably killed by the fugitive. Yarn then .spins through regulation eerie chan- nels with two other strange murders enacted—one being in the timcworn setting of a cemetery and windstorm combined. O'Keefe and Margo stick around long enough to trip the real culprit by time for the fadeout to come along. Both script and direction notice- ably strain to achieve effects of 'Cat People,' but fall far short of lattier standard. O'Keefe and Margo ac- ceptably handle the two leads, with satisfactory support trorfi Jean Brooks, Isabel Jewell, James BelL Abner Blberman, Ben Bard, Tula Parma and Margaret Landry. Wolf. various sections of the country. Not much of a harvest for the city folk, but the hix in the .stix will Unci it k<hhI entertainment alimg lines they understaiMl from con.'.taiit associa- tion with the backwoods comics. Un- reeling mainly to highlight special- lies of the rtulioite.v picture will have to depend on audiences of the latter to carry it through fi>r pass- able coin in the hinterlands. Yarn revolves around workers in oullaiuls daii-y plant of bit: compaiiy presided over by crusty E...lher Dale. She hops to the place incognito, and .sticks around lunu enoii)'h to bu- mai>i/.e the operations, with the ra- dio performers haiulling their stv- eral specialties in song and musical di.splays and characterizations. Homespun corn in both comedy and dramatic kernels, is planted on rather barren ground, but the cims- rnads audiences will react favorably to the proceedings.' Dale Evans dicks with delivery of -two song.s. 'Cheesecake' ami 'In the Cool of the ■Evening.' and demoivsirates that Re- public has a good prospect undet' contract for both acting and .singing roles. Lulubelh- ts Scplty handle three numbers in good .-tyle. while 'TennesM'e Ramblers are on several times with musical interludes. .Story was obviously writleii around talents of the air perform- ers rounded up. with direction han- dicapped accurdiii;;ly. Walt. CLANCY STREET BOYS .\litllM>.:i.iin .'. l..i; ....Ill Kjl/.n: ili-.liK'k lilt'lx' I 'ikIU' l'..1i. K'-.iliM'*''! ' I'l-,! i:..i-^i'y, lliliiU Hull, r.il.l-y .li.i'liiii. II.Mliili: llMi'l- I'll. Ni'lill lli'il). I.il.. U..1.I. i:i'- \:illlll 1 li.r .\l.il-|li:l \\''lil»"il'i. lioi'I'.l l'> Wll- !|-|lll lt'-:ill.i;ili'. .S|..|. .11..I :i : ili.iM. II.It'- \'V i::|l'-.; i-'iiii'i', .''.111 1*1'1 : 1.1. .Mii.'K Si.-iii.l.-r. .M \'.« ^i.'l. .N. N-. Iiiiir iliKil lull. Hi-i-k April JT. 1:1. IIHiililiiK iM.ii'. m .MIN'N. MiiL'.:!. Li'ii'iliiri'i^y illhiipy Iliiiitx Mull; Diiiiiiv ■ li'il'l-y Jt'i'iluii Ili'Pnli. ...Ila'nnli' llarlk'll ' I'.'ii' , NiKih Ill-cry ."^r. .Iiiily .'I.Mil Wiinl la-iiiiii' nil- Viillln Mil*. .M.'liiiiiiH .Mi.rlliii Wi'iitwill-ltl KliiiinKint I. Kiirri'l .Miii'lhiniilil . siiisli I>l' k I 'lianilli-A 1 r^Tiiiin '. Siiiiiiiiy MnrriHiiil lnw K.i.lio .Mllta Comedy element in 'Clancy Street Boys' makes' it .-a fairly entertaining programmer aside from plot that is somewhat unique for remnants of the Dead End kids and other slum rufflans who arc dubbed the East Side Kids in the picture. Should provide good support on double bills. In addition to the one gang headed by the wisecracking, smart-alecky Leo Gorcey, the story has made room for a rival bunch of tough young hoodlums who aid in provid- ing action through free-for-all fights and the like. Harvey Gates' story is based on amusing situations that involve Gor- cey and a rich uncle from Texas. Gorcey's mother has permitted the uncle to believe that .she is the mother of seven children, whereas Gorcey is the only one she has. Re- sult is that Gorcey gets his mob to pose as his mother's brood. Including one of them as a girl. Though the uncle gets wise later, he forgives all after they rescue him and his daughter from kidnapers. In addition to Gorcey, the East Side Kids include Huniz Holl, Bobby Jordan, Dick Chandlee, Sammy Mor- rison and Bennle Bartlett. The uncle Is played effectively in 'an exaggerat- ed Texas manner by Noah Beery, while his daughter, also lajring on that southwestern accent, is Lita Ward, a looker. Others doing satis- factorily are Ric Vallln. Martha Wentworth and J. Farrel MacDonald. William Beaiidlne. veteran direct- or, has piloted the picture capably. Char. group. She has a brief dance .»pecial* ty at one point. Miss Hare a likely comer. Among others in the sup. porting cast are Guy Wilkcr.son, comedy type, and Robert Barron, ex- cellent heavy. ■ O'Brien and Newill's three son^.s, u'hich they sing, are 'Whistle a .Song,* 'El Lobu' and 'Tired of Hambling.' They listen well.. Chiir. H'wood's Sfabiiig Eiample Hollywood. May 4. First , mot ion picture union to fall In line with the Presidential Idea on the stoppage of salary Increases Is the Screen Cartoonists Guild, which has withdrawn its demands for an uppage of 22'/ at George Pal Pro- ductions. Current wage contract, which ex- pired this week, is being renewed for another year, with the explana- tion that the cartoonists are doing cverj'thing. possible to cooperate In the war ettort. , Swing Your Partner (SONGS) Hollywood. April 28. B<»|iilli|lc ^NkiFc ut .\nit;in'l Si^iiii.ri'r prti- durtlun. Kfalili-*:" I.iiIiiIm'IIo Sr Srnlly. V«ra Vasii*' IViIp 1':viiiih. IIiiiimiiii Shrr- man, tinny 'l'iip|>y' I'licviiii-". lU'-tinnl Jaw, i;,,iv».'p '.sIimk' KUIkt. Ti'mii-Hu-e Ranib]i'ii<. Iiii-ri'it-il l.y l*niiih Mi'lionnia. llrlKlliiii MT'i'iipliy l.y ti'iri-t-ll im'l .xiiiiiri M'Cam-f-n; I'liiiM'i'ii. Hii'l Tlin'-h'-iy: riiiinr. niftiiiril Vitn Kitfi:* r: il:ini*'-<«. .Inni'iililnr Karl; iiiii^li-. .Mmi'in s.-.iii. . 1'r,'vlf\v('il April ST. '-1:1- liuniili'ic i:iii«. 1* MINH, Jiihnny Mnrpli) Ilnitrr I'liirfi I'linillii* lilril K'lhrr- fhili' .Hilly Kply fliii'h Dlahy ■■iKii'leii .llplHn S«N'r«*fliry Ilii>"iii'ir)* Ijil'linii'ln. Tral r Si.ni nini 'Miii-iilnit»iili.. t I''llrl'^ri ,Mun-.iv Duff> '.Ktiiirr Ji*riiiii^ . l.iLiiM 111 A Si-iit^y \rni X'liKiln Iii'Ia Kvmip Tl:'n^f,lil Sli'rni.nn lli-ii> 'rupp.x' OIii.Rlllr* M:i4uin1 Ij.pp fXrnrgv 'SlniH' Klftii^r Til* 1Viini-y*i f fir.nilfli IF r^ppy A I'pnnuia There's plenty of Corn planted in this cinematic aggregation of back- n-oods radin favorttrs culled from WEST OF TEXAS (SONGS) PiiKliii-rrn Rrliuixlnic i"y»rp. rflnift tit .\triTd Slcm-Arlliiir Alcxundrr pni<liii:ilnii. Mtnm liavn iTmi O'lirlrn and Jim Nrnlll, rraturra <luy Wllfc*rM>ii. l-'ntncra Oladn ln. Mnrllyn liar*. Hnlii-n liurnin and Hrnr- Halt. Iili-Mlcit by (ill\"i' nmhr. story uiiil ailaptalliin. Otlvm Urnkv; miiiEii, iHivp ITwx) 0'llr!"n mi'l .liin .N'culil: nllinr. i^hnrlm llniki'l; ■'niiii-r.i, li-a. .MnrKnii. Ai \fm Tnrlt. N. v.. Imir 'iiiiil I'in. tt'"i.'k April LT. '-13. Iluiinliii; li , M .UINH. Tex Wyiitt Ha t a iTi-x) (Vllrlan .llni Sln»ln Jim Nowlll riiiili;iiii|la tVrkinn iluy Wllkiraon .Mnrl» .Mnrnrlla..; I'niiirM lllnilwin i:i|pn '»"ii''Krr .Marilyn lluK lli-rl iMtl'iway Iliili»rt ilHrmn si..i'» l.nmlon Tuiii l.onil6n lliirt \jfgrr Ilnnry Hah ■!al» Jiinra Jnck Awkwrtl •^1"'!'' Hoy Huitrr ";"■ '<'« J:i'-k Inirriitiam < "•'» Art Kuwler Rather good western, action In which moves at a gingerly pace. Where hor.sc operas are played, this one should' have no trouble picibiing audiences. Dave (Tex) O'Brien and Jim Nc- will, who wrote the three songs in the picliire, are excellent pralrieiand types whose chances to graduate into regular features are sanguine. Hie teain plays Texas Rangers who go to New Mexico with a view to setting up a Ranger outfit in that state ar a means of protecting ranchers whose land i5 being grabbed by dis- honest railroad surveyors. They suc- ceed in rounfilng ufi those responsi- ble for the pillaging but at times the plot becomes a little Involved and implausible. There are two girls, Marilyn Hare', who figures In a romantic wav. and Frances Gladwin, a saloon dancer who .«crves as * spy for the villain Groucho Marx — .Continued- from pikc 1 sss!l vintage jokes to perprtr:ito on' tlie public from week to week. The balance of my time is spent trying to coax a erou:> of reluctant vegetables to rai'<e their iiuly heads out of the ground so tb:i.i they can be eaten by your coi-respondeni. I have always been oppo.ved to the Farm'Bloc. In my opinion this was just another pressure group u iih a high-sounding name. 1 have al- ways kKlieved that the Ki'anting of higher prices to the fariiier.s would be a lung .step towards uncontrolled inflation, rc.sultilSg eventually in the collapse of the banks and in.surancc companies and n ruinous vveakening of oiir entire financial'structure. In recent weeks, however, I have been wielding a hoe in the back- yard and these few jou.st< with the soil have radically chanued my poli. ticul and economic altitude tow:ird the farmer and hi.-^ problems. I am now convinced th:it a r:irnirr c:innot be paid, too much for his iiroili'icis. ^lark you. nniie is inerel.v 11 min- iature furni^I don't .scramble out of bed a little past midnight in -/.ero weather to wheedle milk from a swishing and erratic (emale. I don't spend hours hosing out .smelly pig. sties, nor are my meadows alive with crows, red rust and boll- . weevils. I have a minimum ot gophers and I have more moles on my back than I have in my neld.<;— In short, I do none of the hundred and one odd chores that the honest yeoman has to do to keep his acres flourishing and his family alive: however, the past few weeks have convinced me that farming is cer- tainly n6 profession for a creaking vaudcvlllian. Evea Hitler's Speeches Don't think I haven't tried; I have fertilized my crops with a variety, of stimulants, I have scattered Hit- ler's speeches and mo.<>t of Dupont's more expensive chemicals over their stunted growths, but so far all I have to show for my trouble is a small bed 'of wild marijuana, a sprig of mint and a dislocation o( the triuik muscles that has an ex- cellent chance of developing into a full-blown rupture. My neighbors, a friendly group of burghers Who Idolize me becau.se ot my mongrel dog that keeps them awake most of the night, barking at the moon and stray bird.s, have dubbed My land 'Marx's Dust Bowl,' and I only hope that Uncle Sam Isn't relying too heavily on my Victory Crop to sustain the nation through the coming winter. The late afternoons are when I am at my saddest. It is then that I peer over my fences and discover that I am surrounded by a group of horticulturists who, apparently, majored with Burbank. They haul cabbages out of the ground that, for size, would even have won the ap- proval of Paul Bunyan. The rest of their vegetables matph the cab- bages. Then I turn back and look at my mangy' half acre—a half acre that has all the fertility of a rail- road yard In the coal mining re- glnn.s—and black despair grips me. t am beginning to realize that I have no talent for squeezing nour- ishment out of the good earth. The weary ploughman stuff is obviously not for me. It's probably because I was bom In N, Y. City, in the shadow of a' brewery.. Just a dill- pickle's throw from a dclicalc.s.sen. The rumble of the subway is more familiar to me than the sound of thunder on the prairie. . Well, my conscience is clear. I've tried. The Victory Garden was a sincere, patriotic attempt to con- tribute my mite to the war elToit but, as they say in tennis, every man to his own racket. Fortunately, I'con get along with- out vegetables. My theory Is. when you have eaten one vegetable you have eaten thetoi all and, frankly, the smell of a corned-beef sandwich on rye bread excites me much more than the fanciest bowl of succotash. So, you real farmers of America, get In thera and pitch. Just don't rely on me, Tm not the type. I'm not sturdy enough tor the meadows. I'm Just an old dead-end kid. My beat Is the hot pavements. Tonight I am having my back untaped and then, farewell soil, I am turning my ploughshare into a sworri and my sword into a can opener! Groiicho Marx.