Variety (Jun 1943)

24 FnLM REVIEWS Wednesday, June 23, 1913 So Proudly We Hail! I'lir.iiii-n: I ■-• !i*.iM* «>■ M.,i'k s.iiiilrit li i<r>i- Olli l.fli. i::!!]*!! i v S..iit;ii* li. K>'.tliin-> t'liiu-l*'lli- t''-l-iil. r;iillilli> ilx-ltl.inl. \t'i- niiii'I l.:-k»-. iMi-iLi' Siiiiliv Tiifl^ ^Vllll*-| :. •M't.'illHl ■ III'lllV. Allllll Sifll: c->iii*M.<, rii.i;is Lmik. M"'t iiil *!• Xi'i-IH. t; Jt-ii|i.ri:H, L-'.ii> iiil Kilitlliil*!: niiii'i*'. Mikli'K lli.^/.;!: •••iiiot-. KiN%t.*rlli Hi'.idiiiiii. T!'ii'N'~li<'»ii liiiK' Hull- nhik- III.!-'. liH MINS. 1.1, .ii.iti-i T'.ii M I-.: J«i;ill irlh.lll Oliii.i l<°.\i.y 1.1, SlIIIIIITh llf't-iiiiiiy U.:-^>*i l*h:il'.itiii KltllH.iM. , rit|i|:illi 'Ml.' .Ml i:i<'»:i<l' ]<l, .Utf* I',,!!-.!!,! >'lli:lil I.I. r Ijiliu I'hi'" ... Oili III 1 WliMi 1.1. 'I'linl I!.!." M. 1,1. lrill:i l-llllil^i-n l.(. Klh-I .\ri.iMliiliL' 4';ipl. ii'li-iii-ni'. 1.1, Sii nil S,*liuiii'i/ 1,1. Blfi- l:- li ki.-.. 1,1, 0 : .li lii.-H 1 1.1, I.Miii" ll"|iij:iiv 1.1. Ii'.iy l.i.'li.iitl 1.1. ,\l.il»:. : *ii»>"li. Ma.liii' I'liH k i-t I' jr.i-i.1.. 4'ii|il. iri'.rii.h Mr. I.: II..' <;i'i.iv..' Mill. IjiiU'ii ,,, Yi'Uiti: .Kni-'Lii Hi'I-IiIhI III*, li'l' KlliilKli fi.i'lu.r.'.l Fll'Ml Yiilllll.' |l'.-l"l Hil|> I'liW Muriii' ,,. Nui'ii<' Thin .Sui>i' Nliriui yuiiiii: iifri. i i . .■ Kllliihifi .N'liitii' Fihiiinu Nuipf • 'I.'iii|i'iii< <'..!l.pii , r;illli'Mi< I'lliiliLllil . ... \ i-roliii'ii I, iki> ■lil'lilUU li'.i'VI'H ,. |t.iil>.ii.i liniiiiii Wiilii-r ,'^l'l|ll>' 'I'llflM ,\l:il'V Si-rxiuiH 'I'l-.l lli-. lil l.|i...l>i>k lli>>:,'lll II. II. I'lnilii: I.I H lli'.l I,-rii.i ili.iv liiiiKli.y XiLiiiiii Kiny Ki'Mv .. M:I1 li luiil ,... .\l;ir\ 'I'liTii .... Ill till l.yiiil ,.Jl'Illl \\ llll'V lull \Vlli> ..l,.\iiii Wiilki-r ...'.Ji>:in Tiiiini Willi I'\,rn'>l . ..liiiiii'H Kliiviii Itiyiiii KiiiiliiiT IlirlinnI rriilii- KihO .lllllHlll'll Iiilili'ii Milllriin .Mii'liiii'l llmvi-y Kri'il I li'iii'y .,.Villi,I' Kllkin, Jr, ,,. Ii.iiiikin o'h'lyiin Kiiy Cinlln Kniiii-i'ii .Miirl'lK .Mliiil KiiylK Kiiy SiiiipliiKli-ii 1 lullii l'"ii>» Ki-'illi llli-liiiiilH . . .1*>iiIh>1 IVmiiht .\iii|i.ii'0 Anienorcruz Mark SandiichV 'So Proudly We Hail!" for Paramoiinf will be the answer lo the from-now-in trade at- titude on war tllms. As always, the answer is that quality product. 'Whether it's on celluloid or from TifTmiy. will command attention. In short, it the picture is good, the theme or the cycle goes by the board. This is a good one. It will do lots of business. What's more, it deserves to do so. It's a saga of the war-front nurse and her heroism under Dre, As such it's a new' theme, glorifying the American Red Cross and presenting the present-day, wartime nurse, in the midst of unspeakable dangers, physical and spiritual, in a new light. An Angel of Mercy is two other fellers when she's part of a delay- ing action in Bataan and Corregldor. That means ."he's on the losing end of catastrophic battle, for the record has now made familiar how our too few troops couldn't stem the Jap hordes. Yet. despite knowledge of headline history, the saga of the eight heroine-nurses from the Philip- pine debacle could well have come out of official Army records—and probably did. Director-producer Sandrlch and ■cripter Allen Scott have limned a vivid, vital story. It's another step in the general patriotic pattern, as Hollywood is practising It, of i>rlng- Ing the war to the home-front, via the screen. In this case It's back- grounded against a realistic romance of how a group of. brave American Nightingales came through the hell- flre to Australia and thence back to blighty. The canvas is broad and the dra' ma tics dynamic. Perhaps some of it Is too realistic. Perhaps there is no need for Capt, 'Ma' McGregor to see her son, Flii^t Lt. Archie McGregor, I experience a crude amputation of ' both his legs, and then succumb un- der her eyes tn the thick of insular warfare In the far Pacific. Perhaps Veronica Lake's hatred of Japs who killed her flance, and her self-annihilation with a hand-gre' nade, as she deliberately walks Into the woman-greedy Japs' hands (pre- Bumnbly taking a few of them with her), is not for tender s«n.sitivities, Perhaps, too. the deliberate straf- ing by the Japs of a Red Cross hos- Bltal base, and sundry miniature lunkirks staged as the evacuating Yanks leave the Jap-entrapped hell- holes, aren't exactly 'entcrtnlnment.' per se. but it's realism that's as authentic as the rest of the gruR' Eomencss extant in this not so civil ized world. It's certainly purpo,<:efuI, even if it has to be done only by indirection, via the articulatene.'s of Cl.nudette Colbert, when it gets over such mes- sages ab the benellls of blood plasma and sulfa: the fact that this is 'the people's war. and once we win it we should aliio make sure we win a people's peace,' Or that punchy ref- erence to the 'One World' theme which anothc-r American statesman, Wendell Willkie, has emphasized in his own nmnnrr. The castine is excellent. It under- plot's everyihinc but only heightens the general elTect that w.ay. In short order one gathers that women arc flghting a man's war, yet they fare bestial despoiling if they ever fall into barbaric Jap hands. But that's just an overtone to the scmi- docunicntary treatment. Dene in flashback manner, with CInurlclte Colbert rapidly sinking ph.vsicall.v. the ,enca of their travail pilches lo the situation where, out of the pasi, a love letter from her offi>'i'r-lovcr, tinally brings her back on the I'oacl to recovery, Paulette Goddard does a capital job as run- ning mate, and Veronivn Lake is the sullen nurse who flrtally sees the lluhl, only, to dolroy her,<icir. r .Sunny TiifK walk,<! off wlih Ihe picture every time he's on. As 'Knn- 88.=.' the bhindcrinK ex-tnotliallei-, he s Miss Goddard s vis-u-vis. George J Reeves isn't as effective as the ro- mantic opposite to Mls^^ Colbert, Barbara Briltun, newconii-r, makes iT|ueh of her ii.>:sigiiineni: Walter Abel IS expert us the chaplain: Mary Ser- vos,< troupes her 'Mu' MeGrenor to the hilt: Ted lleehl yets a lot out of a Filipino medico as.><iKiuiient; ditto Ur, il, )I, Chanu as a Chinese guide, uhd Dick Hoean as the ill-fated llight lieutenant, Mary Treen is excellent as Lt, Sadie Schwartz; Helen Lynd as the nurse who yens fresh tomatoes after her experiences in Biitaan, and Lurna Gray, Dorothy Adams, Kitty Kell.v, Jean Willes, Jaii Wiley. Lynn Walker and Joan Tours, as the he- mic luii'scs. are ever prumineiit and thurouithly realL^tic- Films 12B minutes is overboard and there is I'o.'im for judieious slic- ing, but as a .sen-en dtn'uiiienl, even in its pre,<eiil stmiewhat fulsome form, it is u credit to all eonVernecl, Ahel. ALASKA HIGHWAY Hollywood. June 22. r:ir:iimiiii,l n :,m*i" ..f r-.i.-.'riiniiKiK lu'ii- liii'lliiii. Slm-H Kii-li]iiil All. II, .ti.'ii l\ii'k"i. Ill|-ii'li-il liy H'iiilik .M. liMli.ilii. iirkiiia: M-li-i>il|il:iy l.y MaxWL'll >);iilii-: i:^!!.-!^, I'*|-i'il Jilrhiniin, ,ll'.: i .Ilti.r. V\ :il,.tlil '/..•ii;)i-r. 'rriiiloidiiwii III l„ ,\., Juiii.- '4:i. Icuii- hlni: II M .\ilNH. WiHHiy (iriiiiiliy Ann I'lmwi-ll KniKiy iiliiili:c KiiiiKlihiiiiHii ,<li>ve f^rniHliy........ Ski. Swlilii'in I'lip orniHliy Iiliilr i'iiHwi>n Ihink Lliirain I'uniiioduiir Juni-:(... l:.. Iial'il Al'li'H i..,n I'.ii1,ii' .., . Kiilrll S:illfi<r.l I..I- SaU'M-r Illll lli'lilV IhIiii \Vi-|:iii:iii , ,Jlair\' sliaiipiin .,. .K.|\\,iril Karli' ...K'ilii lll-hiirilH Kilili'' vrililllin Construction of the Alcan road forms topical baekground for this action drama whfch displays a leg- ulatinn triangle involving two -broth- ers and a girl. De.spUe .obvious tex- ture of the romantic' conflict, speedy pace and roadbuilding -setting sup- ply good supporting fare for the regular runs, and picture has chance to be put over in .secondary key houses with smart exploitation cam- paigns. Producers Bill Pine and Bill Thomas secured considerable foot- age of construction of the Alcan highway for.insertion as stock shots and utilization, for proceis back- grounds,' This film, deftly intercut into the dramatic action, is decidedly interesting and informative in the task confronting Army engineers and roadbuilders in pushing through to the north. Harry Shannon, father of Richard Arlen and Bill Henry, heads a con- struction company building roads in California when the war hits and he's commissioned a major in the Army engineers. His- entire crew joins up; including the two sons, to become the. pioneering ^nit to blaze the trail through the wilderness north from Ft. Nelson base, Jean Parker, carrying on romance with Henry, arrives in the north country, and immediately falls in love with ArleA., Then its the usual triangle complications, narrow escapes and action melodramatics to the finish. Naturally the road is pushed through, and Henry graciously steps aside for his brother to get the girl. Cast grooves nicely into respec- tive roles, with Arlen and Miss Par- ker providing okay perfonriances in the starring spots. Mnjor assistance comes,(com lUlDh Sanford. jovial pal of Arlen, who is handed fat lilies and situations for comedy reaction, Joe sawyer, Eddie QuHlan, Henry, Shannon, and Edward Earle. Speedy pace which generally characterizes the Pine-Thomas prod- uct, Is again on display here; with Frank McDonald turning in okay directing job. Walt. Life and Death of Col. Blimp (BRiriSH-MADE) (Coler) London, June 8, n<>nprnl Vllni nisirlliuiui-n rrlraiv of Ari'hor Kllni Kiii-hii'iiun, sinin IMmi-Hh Kfir. U'licnp Llvrs}, Annul WHlluiaik, nirnlril l.y Miih.ii-I iw.ii: iin.l Kmi.ii- rrcKHlilltKiT \vhu jiliin wn-li. iiiiil iiiiHliiml Iilrturp, ,Miiiilr liy Allan <;ri,v: innK-ni, ilpnivc" I'orlnnl. Mlilmry iMliiM<i', i.lnul. (arneriil Sip IIiiiiiIiik llnmnrlKir, Ki-virwnl RUMc.ii, r,.,ni|iin. I(iinn:n,rilni'. laS MINK. <'"»'• I'anily ...H-nn- I.lvfsey Killlh ^luMlrr 1 llarlinrn Wynne ' , u, Lmnh ICi'iT .Ifihnny Ciifinnn I Thwo, Krri><<.'hiiiHr-Svhulili.rr „ . Ailliili WalliriH.fc Siiuit Million Ji H M. Kii'linli- Herlinl lillnii Sw-ni i-r Tri vi.i Culiinvl lli>ii<irlilK<> Ili,laiiil I'lilvi-r Irnu von Kallrnnk I'lunln Ji-nnii • I'h.ii;ii« Miiri'lK .Munh.i-h .....J..hn I.an:lr von Sfhonliorn \'fli.ni,ni^ h'.aJI RmhiiMiy I■iiunivlliir Aiil.iii' WiinlnPr I'nionel HiT« , I'oiini /.lihy Mnji.r liavln Il.ii'iy W.-h hiiiiin von Ri^llmfinn I'arl ,IhITo von niiici- Allrfit t.li-von Coliinpl CiiMiiihxiiil Brii; Miiluiln Here Is an excellent film whose ba.sic story could have .been told within normal feature limits, bul which, instead. Ij| extended close to three hours. I,onecr or shorter, this panoramo of Bi'ili.-h ormv life is de- picted with a lechniral .skill and nr- tistry that m:n'ks it a.-i one ot the really flue pix to come out of a Bi'ili>'h .studio. This is tiie lou^ci picdiie ever m.ide in EuKland. It was caiefiillv and inlellluenlly wiitten, dii'ected iinl nrodiiced. nnd should raiik as an iinpiirl.int feaHire in Ameiica. It's a clear, continuous unreeling, Miniatore Reviews •So Proudly We HaU!' (Par). Excclloiit saga of the Bataan and Corregidor nurses and their heroism under Are, Has vast names: will do big biz, •AUiika HUbway' (Par). Al- can roadbuilding provides setting for. outdoor^) meller'with roman- tic triangle. Action dualer. 'The Life and Death of Col. Blimp*. (GFD-British). Excel- lently m.Kic longest ever in England ilG3 miiis). Should go well everywhere. '.Submarine Alert' (Par), Good aviioner of type, but will have to be satisfied with dual dntings, 'Colt Comrades' lUA). Good action entry in the Hopalong Cassidy series of wosterns.- 'Get Going' (Songs) (U). En,- tertaining little program number, will provide amusement as dual supporter, . "Two Scnorltas From Chlrago' (Musical). (Col). Minor musical turned into fair b.o. by Joan Davis. ■The Dark Tower' (WB-Brit- Ish I, Ben Lyon starred in nsg big-top mystery, made in Eng- land, Strictly for lower duals. 'Days of Old Cheyenne' (Rep). Don 'Red' Barry in above- average western. 'Sarong Girl' (Songs) (Mono). Spotty on quality but may get by as dualer if merchandised properly, 'Bhylhm Parade' (Musical) (Mono). Musical romance should do okay. 'A GenUe Gangster' (R«p). Warmed - over gangster story starring Barton MacLane in rou- tine,role. of events in the life of an English military man, from the Boer War, through the last war and including the present one, up to the comple- tion of the training and equipment of England s Home Guard. Story re- volves around an officer iClivc Candy) who has .spent all his life in the army and stni feels it is the right thing to play fair with the Ger- mans even after we have won the present war. He Insists on believing the German people as a whole are decent human beings, and that they're only the tools ot their war lords. The role of Candy Is spasmodi- cally well enacted by Roger Livesey. who looks a little too mature in the scenes of his younger days and a bit too virile at the finish. More gen- erous praise should go to Anton Wal- brook as an Uhlan officer. This is an exceller^ characterization' depict- ed with dciicacy and sensitiveness. Deborah Kerr contributes attrac- tively as the feminine lead in three separate characters Through the gen- erations, and « score of other artists leave little to criticize from the his- trionic side. . Title isJbased. on the symbolic fig- ure of the old-time English officers who have been axed, not only due to age but because of their constant re- iteration, in their clubs, of their con- tempt for present methods of war- fare as compared with 'the good old days,' when cavalry anteceded mech- anized combat. Cartoonist Low. in the Evening Standard, christened them 'Colonel Blimps,' but the title would mean nothing outside Eng- land, and it's suggested that a more felicitous one should be utilized for the export trade. Jolo. SUBMARINE ALERT Hollywood, June 22, rnrnniount rrlrnra of Pinf-Thomim |iro- •lui'ihiii. Slurs Uli-hiinl Arlen, Wvnily Uur. ni>: feaiurea Nlla Asiher. HoKer Pryor. Alinrr llllierinnn. Dlrn-iml hy Prank .Mi- l>i,niilil. OrlElnnl wrffniiliiy by Mdxwell «.'■'!,'!''• """""'ra. Fml J,irkm,in, Jr,: piliii.i,- "iNlam /.i-lK\tr. Tmilnhowo Jung 21, 'M l(iH:ninK lime. M MIN8. '."t;- V,"'.','""'" JRIvlinril Allen Ann I'liiioninn Wemly Harrle ','■' .*",'.','"' "'"«■•"''■ Aeiher ':• II. Mi-nilnK l:. Ki.r Pr.nir .,'.""' Aimer lllliermnn }, ,"• -^'"re fjovreme .M'. Ilti:i.l-rlil|.'i-( I'.ilil, Ihi-KiiM ( i .Tnhn MMIan |•aI^v NaMh ',"''•'•" •"•■lyi'n Ilaliili ,'<iinfiinl III my Kniiliiie Iiwiuhl Kiye 111'. Miiri'ljy K.hviinl K.irln '••>'>:'"<'•'■ Wlillani llak-ui'll Sl.inlgy Snii'lli 'Submarine Alert' is a good ex- ample of how a pic'.i.-rc can get out of date via extended period between production winiiup and «ventual re- lea,«e. Typical .spy mellec with usual mclodramalie contents has been licid on the shelf for n year and. In these fa.st-moving times, emerges as a rather dated picee in general setup. Filler for the d"ui«l.s. Picture carries the usual fast ac- tion which has characterized the Pine-Thoma.s product. Secret radio shortwave portable transmitter re- sults in wholesale .sinkinKs of Amer- ican tankers off the Pacific coast by a Jnp submarine, FBI. in attempt to irark the spies, has group ot radio engineers fired—among them Rich- ard Arlen. Latter Is evmtually se- lected by the gang to repair the set, and when he gets wi,se to the sabo- tailing efforts it's the usual mcller inixup until the mob is rounded up. There's slight tinge of romance in- i'ecled between Arlen and Wendy iarrie, herself an FBI operative. Years ago. audiences - would have accepted this tis u good program actioncr. but it's now on the far end of a cycle of spy tales. Direction is fast, and east provides good per formanees generally. Wait. COLT COMRADES Hollywood. June 17. I'llili.l .\rli>lM 11 !i..iNi* i,f Harry Sln-iiiian ll,*ui..<.l. 11,11 Inn,II |ir,ili|..|i,iii. Sl.ii-s WJI- It.illl lli,\.|,'.'|l Ir.l l.y |,i.^1i.y S.-hlK.lir, Si-re, :,i.;,i' hy ,Mi..h.ii.| UiIh.iii: .aiili'l-.i, ItiiHii. :i llail.in: I'llii.ir. shi rniiiii A. Iliii-i: iihHt. iliri-i'liir. liS'iiii i.',iiik'. iniiiUiril.in man aK>'i', |iif'k ,lii|iii>iiiii, I'ri.vii.\vi-il III Hlnillii IMiiJii Iii.ii i'.i,.iii. ,lnile llnii' «• ,«IINS, I IiiimImiiv I 'aeii.ly.. I'lillri.riiia I'arlnmi. .Ii.liiiiiv .N'rKi.n I,in Wliii|i7-k 1,11. y WhIilAi'k WiM.ni Wi'.ly .Ii'lil, llal'.llll .Itie liraMM., Varni-y '.|:I. Itiiiinlni; William Ih.Ml Aiiilv riviii' lay Klrl.y .. .ilenrift' lU'i-vi'H layli: l,iiril ... . l-jirl lliiilKlne Vl,i,.r .l.iiy . I ii'tiulan' Kiiu 1, .V .llirli ItawliiiMiil 'Colt Comrades' is another of the Hopalong Cassidy .series of westerns which have held a top rank in the action field for .«evei-al years. It's a good entry in the series, excellently photographed against scenic pano- ramas that have become a trade- mark for the Hoppy.s; containing sufficient action, riding and gunplay to get favorable reaction trum west- ern-minded audiences. Story has Hoppy and his two .sidekicks. Andy Clyde and Jay Kirby, breeze into the western town as U. S. marshals, rounding up a robber with a S5.000 priue on his head. Trio decides to .settle down for a spell, and buy half interest in cattle ranch of George Reeves. But conflict develops with Victor Jory, who charges excessive price for wa- ter to the valley ranchei's and has a gang of .gun-loters to back up his racket. Clyde gets hooked with an old con game, but makes the pro- moter drill—to bring in water. Jory then tries to frame Hoppy as a rustler, but winds up on the short end ot the deal in a rousing gu'fi bat- tle. William Boyd continues his strong characterization of Hopalong, with Andy Clyde providing the usual comedy .^sidelight, and Jay Kirhy completing the trio as the juvenile member. Jory and Douglas Fowley are typed as the henvie.s. w-ilh Earl Hodgins the oil promotiug artist. Although story hit.s some familiar trails, it's mounded for a speedy trip to accentuate the action angles wiln Lesley Selander expertly handling (he direclion. Photography still maintains the high standard of Sher- man outdoor production, with back- grounds materially assistine the scenic reproductions. Walt. GET GOING (SONGS) Hollywood. June 18. T'nlvei-Mil r<-1en,ie ,if will <*iiu.ii| iiriiiliii'- I Inn, Ki'iiliiren ItwlH'rl Valite, lirai-e >Iit- liiilialil, Vfra X'aiene. Waller Oalli-ll. !illl- hlirn Sliilie. hiiii'lul hy J.im V.uhroiiuli, lirliilnal hy Warn-n Wllfon; ramer.i, IJeorue ICiihlnHoil; eillliir, Kay Snyiler; Hi.iiirs, .Mtl- ifin Roeen, Kverett Curler, I'revieui-il In MU'Mn iinijei-i ion room. June IT. 4::, Uuii- iilnir I line, .%« ,MINH, null rnrllnir,', ':,-.'KnheiT r.il,.*'> .Indy KihK (Inire Mi-I>i.li,ilil M.illlrn ,1iinen Vera Viicue Hoiiir« riiiliieill Wuller fHliert' DnilH Ijl^n I'oilier ll'iiiiile Maureen I'linnnn .Mr, Tniile Mllliurn Sinne Vllinn Walieiv l.-nnlfer lliilt Min, DaiiKlierly Nana llrynnt llniih Friink Knylen 'Get Going' Is an unpretentious comedy-drama with sufficient verve and sparkle to provide good support in the regular runs. It's a tongue-in- cheek tale about housing and male .shortages in Washington, and makes little effort to be serious. Grace McDonald arrives in Wash- ington from New England, and shares room and clothes with Vera Vague, Maureen Cannon and Lois Collier. Getting typing job in a bu- reau, girl attracts attention of Rob- ert Paige by dropping hints she might be employed by enemy spies. While tracking her down, the pair fall in love to provide humorous' complications until windup when Miss McDonald really uncovers head(|uartei's of a spy ring. Paige and Miss McDonald team In good style tn carry the major as- signments: with broad comedy sup- plied by Vera Vague. Walter Catlctt and Frank Faylen. Lillian Cornell smack.s over personality with tleliv- ery of 'Siboney' in a night club se- quence, while Maureen Cannon sings two Milton Rosen-Everett Carter tunes. 'Got Love' and 'Hold That Line.' Milburn Stone, Lois Collier and Nana Bryant are okay In sup- port. Direction by Jean Yarbrough swings along at a ze.^tful pace, with gag lines and situations neatly timed for audience reaction. Wull. T. Dorsey at Metro Hollywood, June 22. Tommy Dorsey and hl.s band checked in at Metro to play old-and new number.s in 'Broadway Rhythm,' to be produced by Jack Cumining,s. Betty Brcvsler was ,<:igned to re- place Liz Tillon as vocali,it with the Dorsey citw. 2 Senorita* From Chicago <SONGS) Ciilumbta releaiie uf Wullnre Ma.-Di p .'.i liriului'ilnn, Keuiurea Joan Davlk in', jHlkeiihurB. Dlreilea l.y Frank n Hfieeiiiilny, SInnley Kul.ln »n,l Mi.i i IViillbrade, liam-il un uilHinal hy suViJ Jan: eHineni. U W, u'C'iiniiell: ulimr Jrn.iiie rhonM, A\ Sirnml. llriHiklyn ,\' v ' liiuil, Jun« IN. ItunnhiK ilnie, M .MIXii! Jrn liuu lialay linker, Dlorla >kirlu I.enti LiiUlae Jeff Konyon.'... .'loan I III \ HI Jinx FalkenhlilK .Ann .ijixaiia ...l^alie llriH.kn ...llHlliai-v Anna .lliih ll,i\ni*-H lluiiirl Sllanniin Klnmy |iaiiii.|| ',",'." lliJUKliiii Li-uviit ilill-rlo lian l: .Muni ,s,.,„(r Ai'inamlo .>!|lva M,,x Wlllen* *"";' Slallli-y |It„un llrulwr./,, K,.„„i, siillv • hvMer 1. AIIkoihI I'llarliH I'. W:|.„n .Mlffliia • V ■. Itoniaino •.'alli nil' r Joan Dovis' solid comedy charac'- terizalion helps sell an otherwise third-rate film about show biz. Bob Haymcs' vocalizing and the voices of Jinx Falkenburg and Ann Savage account for the rest of the picture's limited b.o. . Play agents mdy be offended, but Joan Davis, a refuse-sorter in a Chi* eago hotel, peddles plays on the -side. She manages to sell a dlscardect Portgucse .script to a New York pro- ducer without the con.sent or knowU edge of Its author.s. Jinx Falken* burg and Ann Savage, sporting phoney Porto accents, pass them- selves off as the Authors' sisters and talk their' way into leading roles. Production is set. rehearsals under, 'way when the real authors sell the original copy of the play to another groduccr. Two rival hoofer.s. Leslie rooks and. Ramscv Ame.s, spill the beans, and this leans to unauthorized jail sentences for Mi.s.ses Davis. Fal- kenburg and Savage and their pro. . ducer. Emory Parnell. Broadway careers tot' all are. insured, however, when Dob Ilavmes. rarnell's assi.st. ant. Is pui'suadcd to. produce a iiiu»i« cal he has had up.hi.s sl<icve. The entire plot is a plot to get Miss Falkenburg to sing and display her wellrtanncd limbs in several rhumba numbers. But in the last analysis she and the other cast members merely play straight man for Miss Davis, whose burlesque is broad and whose antics get the laughs. THE DARK TOWER (BRITISH-MADE) London. June 8. Warner niiiii, pro>liii-lKin .liiil n'|i':'>e, rejililii'H lien l#,viili, Anne I'ninfln'il, I'avi.l Fariiir. I>lri>i*leil hy Jn) n .llarh.u. Siiml inlalitalliOl hy llriM-k WllllaniH fii.iii |<!a/ hy ilnnive Kiiurmiin llllil AllAalliler Wi.i.lle I'lilt. Uevh'weil at Warner lliealiii. IhiiiiIiiii. lune T. 'IS. Itnlininu lime, UO .WIN'M. I'hil imninn iien l,>iin ■Mary Ainie i'ra»r..ril 'I'lim Daninn Iiavhl FaBiir Tori; , lierherl l^nii Willie Freih'i'i.'k Itilriwell mil Karini'lt ... Jneelihlne WiIhhU ...,KlHle WjiKeinrra Ur, WilKon J, 11. Ui.h-ria .Mailiiiiie shoEiin. A rambling melodrama with little boxnffiee appeal, 'The Dark Tower* unfolds 90 minutes of trite entertain, ment. Devoid of originality, carry, ing no punch in its overlong root.ige, it's destined to play a minor rule on double features. As a buildup for two potential stars, it's a sorry tryout. too: Anne Crawford and David Farrar. starred with the veteran. Ben Lyon, prove itiltcd and omateurlsh. although the inane diiKLoK is a factor, too... Herbert Lorn, however, gives a hliit bT'prom- i.sc, although he should play down IHiS marked acting rescm'olance to Peter Lorre. Story Is a muddled affair of mes« merism with a circus background. One Torg, gifted with hvpnutie powers, Is given a job in a big top whose owner's brother is a trapeze artist in love with the partner In his act. The owner upsets their act and romance, climaxing his melo* dramatics by hypnotizing the girl Into trying to kill her partner. Uncertain in its treatment, the situation loses dramatic value, and the tame finale—with the death ot the villain at the hands of another member of this strange' circus- leaves the spectator wondering what It Is all about—and why It was ever made. 'i'he overlong footage could be considerably cut, for two or three circus nets are exlraneously brought into the proceedings. Incidentally,' Miss Crawford, too. bears a resemblance to another Hollywood star—Jeannette Maedon* aid. Ben Lyon wanders aimlessly through the vapid goings-on. Days of Old Cheyenne Iteiiuhllr roleniie of K.lily Wliiie pr. ilui'. Hon. .<iiar« Don 'KeU' Itanv: feain-ia I. ynn Merrli-k. Wllllnni Il.iail-, ll-il-'t Kawllnaon, Kmmett Tnpiiy* I,yiiii, I''" renU'il hy Kliner J'llflon. Si-reen|iliiy, N.-i". man S, Ifall: enniern, neiCKle I.(iiiiiiiii,': eilHnr, Hnrr>' Keller, At New Vmk, .v. ■»',. iliinl"il week Jun* 1,*, '4:i, Iluniilne lime, AS MI\H. (Mint i'i.ibh,.; Dun "heir narrT Nam-v, <°nrl,|e I.vnn ileiililc lllk- IIUI llnruiiin .William llini.la 'I'liiiih.iinie nuKKH...,Kiniiiei( 'Pii|iiiy' ^.^nn i:..v. ,>ih.-l1.v Ili'i'hert Il,iwllnx..n .li.liii rallyle <'h.iiii' .Miller Sli-\e III kill Wilhanl llnlll II. I l.v ILiliy M- Knil Slim I'.nyil fliihell Ki.lMMan lllvuhiH. N .lan r..-^i'ir I'l-ie Km Dnn'.iil With Don Barry in Ihe lead, tlii» ,sh:ipes up IIS a strong dual ent-'y fur pnilrie-meller patrons, Barry plays a cowpuncher whose handy dukes win him the job ol (Continued on page 40)