Variety (Jul 1944)

18 FILM -REVIEWS t^RlETf Wednesday, July 19, 194* Since Von Went Away Totted Artists release of -David O. Scl/- jiick iiroduotlon. Sla'VS Claudotte Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotlen. Shirley Teifi- l)le, Monty W'oolley, Igionel Barrytnbre, Hnbert Walker. Directed by JohnCrom- well. Screonuliiy. by Selznick fronr Mar- Kiir*t Buell Wilder's book; camera.- Sianlev Cortcy.. i-iee XJainres, Jack CosK.ruve. t'lar- *ti,-e Sllfer; production desfwietl l»y -Win, I.. IVi-riia; music. Max Stelner. I.otlls Korbes: editors, JIh| V. Kern, Jas. K. Xewcoiji. John 1). i-'aure, Arthur l-'ellbws, Wsyland . Jtl, Hendry; prod, asst., BaiTmra Kmi: Hssfe prod, mgr.. Fred ft. Ahern,; asst., di- rectors, Lowell J. I'nrrell. KMvyard Moll: dances. . .Marty Crail; "Together!'■; .ihetite Winn, by DeSylva, Brown *r Henderson. Tradcsliowh July 17. '44. Jtunnins time, 158 MISS. - ■• ..'-. ■' ":■;■'[ . Cast "(besides above starred); Ha I no. Me- punicl, Jane Devlin, Idoyd CorrlKan. «.!«r» 4lon Oliver. Alines MoorChead. ttoht; AhdeU: boo. Irving Bacon, Alleen PrinKle. tbas: Williams. Wullis Clark. Neila Han. la-o- niilo .Mostovoy, Cindy (Jarin-r. Jas. < alWIe; »leb. Chandler, John A. James. Mary Anne Dnrkin, Jove.e" Horne,'' Anne IJillls. (Irady- Kiitlon, Kuljv Vainly. Jackie Moran, Ruddy ♦ lOl'n'ian, Patricia Peters, Andrew M.-LaK- leiY. Addison Richards, Geo. I.loyd. V.arbara Pepper, O-uy Madison, Mill Warren. Byron Foulger, Harry llayden. : Edwin M-a.vwr-ll, Bursell Hoyt. J.oudie Clanr. Hon Na.laiian, Hcleii Koford, Florence Bales. Conrad, [Un- ion Theodore Von KHz, Adeline de.'Walt Kevnolda, Christopher Adams. Jimmy Dodrt. Ma it ha Outlaw. Verna Knopf. -Kohl. Cliorrv, Kirk Barron. Karl Jacobs. Cecil Bollcrino, Jack Gardner. Doodles Weaver., Dorothy Adams. Jas. Wesleifield. Warren riviner, Paul Rahul*. Richard C. Wood, Ralph Reed. Willard .lillson. Dorothy Jlafiii. PeKRy Maley. Knur. Johnson. Dor- othy Dalndridge. Shelby Bacon. Kddie Hall. Warren Burr. tela Bliss, Kilene .lanssen. Harlan .Miller, Mrs. Kay Veldiuan. Neyle ilarx, Johnny Bond, Ruth Roman, .Betsy Howard. Stephen Wayne. Win. B. David- son. Tom Dawson. Marilyn Hare. Jonathan Hale, Walter Baldwin. Kric Sinclair. Crain Bt.evc.ns.' Albert Basserman.- .terry Revell, Na'/.imovo, Jimmy Clemons. Jr., Kecnan M'ynn,. '•'■'.•:•'-''- ■*.'..*."'; ' pressed by minor bits. Joseph Cotten as the Hiltons' "best man" is capital. Monty Woolley as the captious cod- ger turns in his usually expert per- formance, but Robert Walker as the shy GI shades all the males with a bellringing performance.» Miss Col- bert along with Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple are dream-castings, so expert are their performances. The latter, now grown up, is a b.o. natural all over again. And Miss Jones, less monastic than in "Berna- dette,"' is effective opposite Walker i her real-life albeit estranged hus- band). Not forgetting Soda, a pug- nacious English bulldog who's a scene-stealer oh his own. The rest of the back-of-the-camcra artisans may well point to their respective credits with pride, whether it's the production design, the lensing. edit- ing, score or whatever the technical contribution entailed.. Abel. Dragon Seed v , ' M<ilo release ri( Pandio S. Herman mo- diiclion. Stars Katharine Hepburn. Walter Huston; Aline Macidahon, Akim Tamlroir and Turban Bey. Directed by Jack Con- way anil Harold S. Kucnuet: Screenplay. Marguerite Roberts and Jane Milt-fin. based .hi novel by Pearl S. Buck: camera, Sid- ney U'agnrr: special effects, Warren Ncw- lon'ibe; score. Herbert Stothart: editor. Har- old P. Kress. Tradeshown in . X. ;Y., July 14. 44. Kooning time, MS MINS. .lade..............."..;. .Katharine Hepburn "Since You Went Away" is David G Selznick's first production since "Cone With the Wind" and ■•Re- becca," both Academy prizewinners. This is a similar smash. It's a box- office raopup, an audience heart-tug and, in no small measure, a human document of World War II as it af- fects all of us. Film's dedication "to that fortress—the American Home is inspired. ."Since You Went Away" may he viewed by some as perhaps a year late in release, but a decade hence it will still' graphically mirror, the emo tioris of USA 1943 under sacrifice, love and devotion; The same captious grdtip may also question Ih'e almost-three-hour unreeling, but retrospect will unveil much that is durable to the average film fan. It is meatier than the. black-market chophouses the theme decries, and is the type of film that will jet repeat trade. Being a Selznick production, and so generous.in footage, it should be established pronto that "Gone ] p j es With the Wind" ran almost an hour ■ longer. And, of course, this film is not in Technicolor. '.. , As David O. Selznick scrcenplayed his own production, from Mrs. Mar- garet Buell Wilder'.?- book, "Since You Went Away" is a heart-warming panorama of human emotions, refiect- l,i ok Tan... — *• Liriit's wife..... ; Wu l.ien !** Kr. t.eo San...., .lap Kttchen Overseer. ThlMl Cousin's Wife,. 'I'hird Cousin.. . .. Lap T*w. Cantabl Sato . .. ......., (lr.4lid. . w;ife. of Wu FouV.t ll Cons l.ien. lib. Shen. .WaJter Huston ,. . Aline MacMahon V... .Akim Tamirbff . ,*,.... . Turhan Bey ......Hiird jlalfield ..... J. Carrol Nalsh .. .Annes Moorebcad . '... . Henry Tra vers .,. .* Robert Dice ...... .Robert Lewis ;. . V'rances Raffert.y .Jacqueline Dc Wit , . .Clarence. Tainrr .. .Fsiul -K.■'■.Burns . ....Aniitl Demelrlo Miniature Reviews "Since You Went Away" ( Selz- nick-UA). Boflo b.o, "Dragon Seed" (M-G), Kath- arine Hepburn starred jn titptop filmization of Pearl S. Buck.' novel. Significant film, solid b.o. "The Seventh Cross" (M-G). Spencer Tracy starred in boxof- fice drama, adapted from Anna Seghers novel. * "Win* and a Prayer" (20th). Entertainmcrit, factual account Of a carrier's mission in the war against the Japs. B.o. prospects excellent,' •'':■,"■■;'.".'.;. .>'':-:. : ' "Jungle Woman" tU). In the chiller groove; okay dualer. ,' ; "Minstrel Man" (Musica)J (PRO. Benny Fields stands out sharply; boxoffice chances OK. "Outlaws of Santa Fe" IRepV. Routine saddle drama aimed for the twm-billers. * . / "Call of the South Seas" (Rep) Routine island drama- romance: dualer. .• "The. Contender" (PRC). A minor dualer. The .Seventh I row* . Hi Met to release of I'aildro S. Bernian pro- dijetion. "'Stars silencer Tracy: fcat..ures' Si«ne llasso, Hume- t.'rtfn'yiv. Jessica Tandy. Herbert' ttudley, Fetix HreKsarf," AK'u's Mooreltenil, Kay CollllVs. Kurt Kaloh. .Di- rected by Fred ./.Innemau. Sci eenplay, lleleit Deiiiscb, from novel by Anna Scull- ers; Webb aniera, edi) ■ l'ork III »IINS, C.colKV ileisici . •4Vinl ,, i'atil Jtoede'i ... I.icsi l Ki.cder. . Mine; iiimidll.. l-.'raiia Maiiirt.. I.'uldl Solilanmi Wallau.- ..-, , '. . f.UUcli. . . .. . .•'.'. ; M**rs. Saner.,.... llriino Sutter...■./ F'ledler. -.. .... D)V l.iiwetisirht l.i'O Mi l liijinn ; l.riU . FuclUr.iliv Karl: " Fl'Ouuiti st-oi e, . Ri 'J'lnonas IticliflrdSi .I'r^viewed July 111; '44. .RbiirttWK Mine; .Hum .;.|e Mo . 11 Spencer Tracy Tlasso Cronyn Tandy d-hc'utl" l.'udlcy Ibe.isurt Collins Cramub ntllerlno l.o.-Uo: or-... M .. .. oly Caul Ciillfoyle. ,Sit'ven ilerav* , Kurt.. ImicIi .Krri.n Verne . lb -tii. .ne Fahrenliu iioii» In,. l-Vau.lv In. r,iubMia,n.n ■! Mt^nlie i Wi-tiKraf ice /ucCo i:n Miillei- y" Muiyon. taken to a sanitarium for research study. It's here that J. Carrol fJaish, a doctor, becomes suspicious that the girl Acquanetta had been converted from ape form. Subduing her with a hypodermic when she is about to commit murder, the girl dies of an overdose. Picture opens on inquest where Naish is being questioned, his weird story of what happened being accepted when a reexa/nination of the body shows it-to-be that of an- ape, Naish renders his usual' steady performance, while others., giving a suitable account of themselves in- clude Samuel S. Hinds, as the cor- oner; Milburn Stone,; : lionfamer; Douglass Dumbrille, da.. and bois Collier and Richard Davis, who ate paired romantically. Ciuir. rates and becomes the food comp- troller;, as the patriot brothers and cousins learn to handle arms, sabo- tage their ..occupation authorities and generally retard the militaristic might, the power of a new and great- er China starts to assert itself. In Jade and Lao Ei's new-born son is "Dragon Seed," the hope of the fu- ture .China. Capitally scrcenplayed by Mar- guerite Roberts and Jane Murfin, with Jack Conway and Harold S. Bucquet as directors, producer Pan- dro Berman has achieved an arrest- It is almost documentary its contemporaneous fact-presen- tation. But it has romance, suspense for all its grim In 1937 Albert Lcwin completed what the'late Irving Thalberg start- ed, and so Metro had an Academy prizewinner in Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth." In 1944 history may' j ing" film be , repeating itself with another i Peart. Buck saga of a more contem- .. lnd hcjiest emotion wartime I P or aheous .and less idyllic China>.'j realism.' ..Y ;-• '•'./ Dragon Seed 'is a fine film in any- An ofT-scrccn narrator delves in body's-sweepstakes. It will wow 'em \ and''out'of'the screen to take up " ■ . ,••'. ■ ::. "■. '. . " where the. dramatic dialog leaves off. at the boxottice. A" soft sepia cinematography is ideal China under the Jap heel; a re-, "doubtable China tilling its soil, but later destroying its own crops rather than have them fall into Nipponese hands, looms as a beacon of hope and courage for all the civilized peo- As Katharine Hepburn. Walter Huston, Aline MacMahon, Akim Ta- mirbff.-Turhan Bey, Hurd . Hatfield, Frances RafTerty and all the rest of the very: competent cast troupe It, they make "Dragon Seed," for all its 2'i hours, a , compelling saga. Misses Hepburn and MacMahon and ing the usual wartime frailties of I Hiistoh are especially effective his 'the thoughtless and the chiseler-, the trionically, and one soon, -forgets confusion and uncertainty of young |Tamiroff's vodka accent in the ideals and young love, all of it pro- jected against a panorama of utterly J captivating home love and life in the ( wholesome American manner, - J Claudette Colbert is the attractive, understanding mother of Jennifer Jones, 17, and Shirley. Temple, in her earliest teens, all of whom adore Iheir absent husband and father, Timothy, a captain off to the wars. All the emotions of "what right has an over-38 father got to leave his family and a good advertising agency post to fight a young man's war" are cannily limned.'.'' At no . time is ..it maudlin. It is always authentic, en- dearing and as true-to-life as death and taxes! The father is never shown;- only, his photo , in officer's uniform, along with closettps of other domestic memorabilia. True, Selznick's continuity has given director John Cromwell an episodic script, but it is... this narrative form which makes tor so much audience-appeal. Each se- quence is a" closeup, a character study, a self-contained dramalet; Whether it's the cocktail lounge or the church; the hangar dance or the dining-car sequence: the convales- cent ward or the steak house; the ice- cream parlor or the bowling alley; the rehabilitation ward Or the ship- yards; the l\r. depot or Xmas eve at the Hiltons—each and every scene is an arresting, heart-warming, oft- times intensively soul-stirring .close- VP- " .-Y'l-Y ■ There is so much meat, so much contemporaneous camera portraiture it's little wonder that Selznick. Cromwell and his cutters were faced with an editing problem. . It is a film that should make the women cry with honest emotion.;. It's a tough film—true—for the mothers and fathers and sisters and sweethearts, each of whom will re- live their own "Since You Went Away." But it doesn't compromise with realism. < Some of these sequences may prove shockers indeed to many, but the scenes in the rehabilitation rooms, convalescent wards and psychiatrist's office bring home, realistically, how much Uncle Sam is doing to take care of his heroic nephews. The film fan who can't face this sort of cine- maturgy probably ducks the news- reels for the same reason.,. Productionally. the film is ultra in every respect. The stellar septet are stars all the way, and betimes hard Chinese setting. traces ' the valley of the good th, with its peaceful inhabitants, to whom the roar of the Japs' can- nons is still leagues away. But Jade iMiss Hepburn) has learned of the Nippon*' evil; she learns to read, and eventually her Lao Er (Turhan Bey) her husband, is brought from petty marital jealousies into a full realiza- tion that their love must carry them beyond their village. They must help Free China remain free, and even the venerable Ling Tan (Walter Huston) and his devoted wife (Aline Mac- Mahon) realize that turning-the- other-cheek is no way to cope with the aggressors. ■ - -V As the Japs take over; as the greedy merchant (Tamiroft) collabo- for the China' wheat and rice fields. An atmospheric unobtrusive score by Herbert Stothart (who, incidentally, also did the music for "The Good Earth") is a valuable corollary here also; ■ ■■■ -. '. ."'•'■ ;, . "Dragon Seed' is of the same pat- tern "which ■ obtains in this world's present battle between the oppress- ors and the oppressed. The antag- onists find their quislings in all races; here Akim Tamiroff imports Jap goods, because of lower costs, until finally his bazaar is burned by the young students* whom he ignored or stalled too long. As his reward \\e becomes a Jap puppet until that fatal banquet scene .when Miss Hepburn pulls a patriotic Borgia arid poisons his sumptuous repast, exterminating the entire Jap command. ' The pillage and the rape, the loot- ing and the brutality that come with the conquest of every Chinese village by the hateful Nips have their coun- terparts in the fascist strongholds of Europe. The peace-loving Huston's plea that "all men are brothers and they should not kill each other" points its own moral. "Dragon Seed" could be transplanted from peaceful China to peaceful Norway, France, Holland. Poland or Belgium^ The same factors obtain, and the appeal is universal. As Metro and its skilled artificers—thespic. directorial, pro- duction—have fashioned it, the ap- peal is not only universal, but good entertainment. . Abel. ." March of Time Pussyfooting? There has seldom been any pussyfooting about the Time-Life organiza- tion when it comes to reporting in printer's ink.'."Arid that goes almost al- ways for Time which, however, had tq do : an ostrich act with Its latest, Americans All. ■., '. ' . ■.-;? ... '. •• • ■ Presumably, what wound up on the cutting room loor was more potent thnn the bare 15-minutes unreeled. Where MOT's normal 20-minute foot- age warranted extending this treatise".on unity among all races, apparently the let-us-have-peace type of exhibs influenced chopping the short to 75% of- normal length. "Americans All" just skims ..the surface- of the anti-Semitic, anti-Negro and other un-American aspects. What it so lightly touches,on we all know. So the reel offers nothing hew except projecting a couple of idealistic theories. No panacea is advanced, save the so-called "Springfield (Mass.) Plan," showing American goodwill to fellow-Americans practiced in the Springfield public and parochial schools. ;. '.-, ' Massachusetts' Gov; Saltonstall is cited favorably, as is a statement drawn up jointly by the late Cardinal O'Connell. Archbishop of Boston, and Bishop Oxnam of the Mass. Council of Protestant Churches, and read by Msgr. Haberlin, who is depicted declaring that "racial antagonism offends both the precepts of the Almighty and the traditions of our beloved nation."' ' ■ ■ ■:.■: ■' ;.:. ■' ■■.■.'■■,■■.■' ■' '. .-■' '■ ••:' -•' Nonetheless, the opening shot of two young hoodlums shattering Epstein the tailor's shop, Jim Crowism in action in southern trolleycars, and kindred manifestations, leads to no solution. The National Conference of Christians and Jews is doing an excellent job (its president, Dr. Everett Clinchy, ap- pears in the film): liberal Dixie journalists such as the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch's Virginiiis Dabney. who agitates" for more colored employ- ment, also appears in the sequence, as does a reenactment of the Spring- field Plan. But there is no vivid conclusion Or hope of a solution to "Americahs All." Howei-er, for all its major-shortcomings, MOT has a highly provocative and significant reel, sketchy as it may be, which merits widest exhibition for most extensive education. And room for education there is, considering such manifestations as attends the persistent scissoring of Lena Home and other Negro artists' clips in the Mason-Dixon belt. Or disturbances, such as have occurred with Columbia's feature film, "None Shall Escape," showing desecration of a synagogue and ins.ult to the rabbi by the Nazis, atid which sequence was not unsympathetically received by certain bigoted individ- uals in Brooklyn. Philadelphia and other localities. ■ ,;-. Abel. Two years ago a virtually un- known writer soared to the best- seller ranks with a fanfasfic tale of Nazi bestiality. ,. It was incredible. —^yet.utterly believable. Anna Segh- ers' novel. '"The Seventh Cross." be-r came a Book-of-the-Month Club se^ lection. And now. as a Metro film starring Spencer Tracy, it. has all the elements of boxoffice power. r '■ There is much in "Cross" that Mrs. Seghers has obviously seen, as she herself is a refugee from the Third Reich now living in MeStico City. It is a tortuous drama that is. at times, slow-moving, but it never lags in suspense. It weaves a pattern around its central character that never loses interest. It is a film that has been given a fairly literal screenplay adaptation, and the production, ac- coutrenfents are all there\ too. . "Cross" tells the story of seven men who escape from a concentra- tion camp, and it 'follows the death or capture of six of them. Upon their! escape the camp's commandant has ordered seven trees stripped and crosses nailed to them. It is his plan, as. each fugitive is caught, to pinion them to the crosses and let them die of. exposure. And so this becomes' the story, of the seventh-cross—the. one that was never occupied. It is the story of George HcisieK w.ho makes good his escape amid a web of almost unbe- lievable circumstances. The sheer fancy; as he eludes the Gestapo at every turn, is gripping drama. Mrs. Seghers related in her book, and Miss Deutsch has maintained that thought in her screen script, that all Germans are.not necessarily Nazi. There can be no doubt that there are many Germans in the Third Reich today who are awaiting the time to overthrow the incumbent government, and it is of, these peo- ple that the film treats to a consider- able extent; This.is a.film of fine performances. There are one or two characteriza- tions that might possibly eclipse that of the central one. played by Tracy, who. as usual, underplays and gives one of his invariably creditable poo-' trayals. However, there arc times when he appears unusually well fed for an inmate of a concentration camp. Of the supporting players. Hume Crony ri. of the New York stage, gives a performance at least equal to that of the star. As the rather dull-witted Paul Roeder. who aids I his friend, Heisler, in his escape, j Cronyn has the best of the support- ing parts. Jessica Tandy, as his wife, does well in a smaller role. Others who do notably, though none of their parts is big. are Ray,Collins. Signe Hasso, Agnes Moorehead, Herbert Rudlcy. Felix Bressart. George Mac- ready. Paul Guilfoyle, and Kurt Katch. " "Cross" is well-directed by Fred Zinneman who maintained the ele- ment of suspense throughout. It was obviously a tough editing job that mainly achieved its purpose. "Cross" may not be alone in its political propaganda, but it is prob- ably the first major film story to .point up—by its symbolism—the manner in which the Nazis have vio-. lated the sacraments of the Church. Mrs. Seghers has: suggested . in "Cross"—and humanity will agree-— that Adolph Hitler has become the modern-day Pontius Pilate. Kahn. mil ,1. Wats Wing and a Prayer 20lh,Centulry-Fbx release. *if William A. Batcher-AVulter .Minus,-,, orodm 11,01. Fe.i- tures Don Ameche, Dunn A odi> «-s, : l.'iioi teji nickford. Wllllubi-liythe, Slr.Cciliic Hard, wlcke. . Kevin 0''Sh:*n. li.iciiard .iacckel,. Henry* Morgan, Itb-liard Crane." llir'-, ; ied by Henry Hatha-vvay.' tlon. Jerome duly; edlto camera, -Glen MacWlllii N; Y. July - J2. 14. MISS. Itlnko Harper..'., "... .vtoulton............'. .'. Oscar Scott..... ; CaptAih Waddell Admiral.......... ;Sb Cookie Ounninnlinm..... Heeay Bessemer.-...:.... . Malcolm Bralnard...... KnslKn Gus Chlsholm.. Executive Officer.. Rnsign Cliff Hule. . . ... I 'aducah Hollow.ay;,.;'. Com. O'Donnell. . ...... ii Webb; cwe.|-.(n tuie, UA A ilie. lie': A.mh l e\vs ii '.Kit Its . .ni.-Uord Hon . . I';,,-., . . . Willia .Cbaib-s Cecil ic. I la .■.'.'..Ke\ in \y ,. Iticliard -la lleni v \1i.i-r n : . . ..Itlchn | d t 'rime .... ."Olehn .l.anitiin .. . Keimv McKvov . . i . Itobe-n Bailey ', .... Heed i lladl.ey : WHeji ck'el •langlti Woinan •f'nive!5<al'-release' of Will Cowan produc- tion. . r'e.uuirefi Acciua"neli.a. :Kvelyn .Ankers, f. l!ili;i"ol Naish; .S»iMUe| "Hinds.' Directed >'»• licit ilia lil I.e. Bnrtf, ; Slory.- Henry Silcher; adaiMaiioii. Rernuvd ,15i*huh'ei-f," Henry Su<-her and Kdnard Dein: ediUir.""' Rav Snvder;' caniera. .lack M»i-Ke.n7.le, At Kiallo. ,\. Y., Veck-July 14. '44. Running tline,-SOMINS, Paitla ..,,..;..-,......... ,■........ Acotianetta . .'...Kvelyn Ankers ., ..1. Carroll Naish . .Samuel s. Hinds .. . Lois (.'oilier .....Milburn Stone ilouuiast Dumbrille ...'.. Richard Davis ,:, . :-Vanil "Rryant .... .Plei re: Walkin This is a (oicefylly entertaining factual account of naval strategy shortly after Pearl Harbor when everybody was asking where our fleet was and the answer to that ■ question which came after the mem- orable battle of Midway. A shooting picture of excellence, the prospects for boxoffice success are very san- guine. There are no women-iiv the cast, but it' doesn't matter; While the stern business of waging war, in this case against the Japanese in the South Pacific, and the equally stern character carved by Don A ir.eehe, dominate the action, doffing it is a moderate amount of pleasing.comedy relief. Called the Story of Carrier X. a footnote in the credits points out that for military reasons the name of the carrier and other ships or in- : dividuals cannot be named. The saga of a U. S. carrier which played an extremely important role in the earlier phases of the Pacific cam- paign, the action remains with it from the beginning to the end fol- lowing the successful attack on Mid- way. Carrier was the one chosen by naval strategists three months after Pearl Harbor to carry out a mission designed to tool and trap the Japs by making it appear that our fleet was not only scattered but. also, that we feared engaging the buck toothed Nips. This led to turning of the tables in the Midway encounter, of- • ficial shots of which are cut into the picture to provide particularly ef- fective combat scenes between planes and attacks not only upon an un- named Jap carrier but also upon the one 1 around which "Wing, and Prayer" is built. While considerable is given over to authentic naval detail aboard the carrier; in the takeoff of planes and otherwise, it is interesting rather than a detriment. The editing by J. Watson Webb, cutting the footage to 95 minutes, gives the film good pace. ■'■'..■ ",-.. Production job by William A. Bacher and Walter Morosco rates tops, while the caniera crew, under Glen MacWilliams has very ably lensed the film, with the before-riawn and night scenes being outstanding. Lengthy »cast is headed by J)on Ameche, flight commander of the air force on the boat; Charles Bickt'ord as captain of the carrier; Dana An- drews, a squadron commander, and numerous fliers with accent strongest on William Eythe. cast as a former film star who gets in dutch biit ulti- mately redeems himself in the battle of Midway. Ameche gives one of the best performances of; his career, looking and acting every inch the commanding taskmaster that he plays. Less important to the action but excellent is Bickford. ■ while, Eythe impresses . very favorably in the picture-star , role. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is in only a small amount of footage as an admiral. Kevin O'Shea and Henry Morgan stand out rather sharply among the long list of others in. the cast. Ch«r. Belli Dr. l-'letcher. ,... -COronei ., - Joan Klel<-her. . Kred Jlason.. .:',... District Attorney Hob Whitney.... Miss (i.rn v ....... Dr. "Mcredilh.... ('(eoiBe. . . ... Caretaker.. Willie Joe, Finger ....-. . .Christ Ian Rub ,.., . ...Alec Crsi* ..,. Kdward M.. Hyans. Jr. Man,.. . . ... Rlcbard l^tvers Based upon.a fantastic story which, converts an animal trainer's assist- ant into an ape and back again into human form. "Jungle Woman" Is an- other in the chiller groove. Will serve okay in the dualers. '.-"':' ': ''•:■.: Acquanetta, an exotic type, plays the gal who seems lo have a strange influence over wild animals. As an ape, she is shot by a policeman and Mirisiret Man . .•..'.'. (MUSICAL) PRC release of Harry Revel tilodlb l iiuV. -Stars Benny Fields. Uladys (teorne: feahiye^ Alan Dinehart, KnScoe Karii*. .liulv Claik.'. Gloria Petroff, Molly l.amool. Kddie Kane. Directed by Joseph II. l.ewis. : Stiirv; Mar-, tin Mooney and RayJnbhd' •'!.. schroi-k..; adaptation, InvIn Prankt.vn arid Pierre.-Uen- dron; "music, Harry Revel;' lytics.-. i'aul Webstert editor. Call IMersoii": citniera.: Marcel Le Picard. %i Vii lor'ia. : -N." Y,. week July 15, 'U. Runnllifr time, »5 MVNN. Dixie Boy Johnson. Mae White... .. ..... Lew Dunn......,..', 'Tiasses White...... Caroline (Aue 111. •. Caroline (Arc ft), Caroline (Mother)... Bill Evabs.....,..; John Raltt. ..... Booking Agent.. ..Benny Vi* bis .iiiody ■rK* . Alan Diu'ebart .. Ftoscoe. Karris ,","'.. vihulj" Clink . . Uibirls - I'eii'on - , ..Molly. Lament ..li-i-iitne Cii.uau . ... .".liillri, Mailt. Kddie Kant,. Tailored to fit Benny Fields, who works most of the time in this film (Continued on page 20)