Variety (Jul 1944)

10 FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, July 26, 1911 Janie (SONG) " -■< .Hollywood, July 25. Warner- Bn«.' release of Alex tiotilicl) production. Kesuures Joyce Reynolds,. ltob- erl llution, Kdwiird Arnold, Ann Harding, ltoliert Benchtoy. .Man Hale. Directed by Jlllehael Curtiz. Screenplay by Agnes Chris- line Johnsion and Charles Hoffman from, j.lav by .Iiisoiihlne Tlenlllltin and Ilersohel V. Williams, Jr..; produced by Brock : l'em- liorien; camera. Curl (iutlirif-:.editor.. 0»-en Jklrks; dialog director, Krederlcli l)e Cor- dova: special effects, r.ay.renoe Iluller and Warren l.vneli; asst. direct,,!'., frank llculh: Rouir. .rule Slyne. Silmfnv, Calm.. Trade, shown in h. A. JulS" 34. '14/ ltunulnK lime. lira mins. i>vtv Dick Lawrence.- I'harles con.wny'; Lucille. 'Conway....... John Van Drum- c,.,.. }tcardou ■,...• Klsbeih <Vmvay.. ;-•.. Mrs. Thelma I .an rrii, April..../.'..:,..:...,.. WUbcr "Scoopec", ..Sol. Mickey Paula Raines' .,, Beruad.ine build;:'... Carrie l.ou Trivett. Hortense lloiniotl... "Dead Pad" ■IW.'.Ui'' Susan -Wiley..... PholOKranhtr. SKI. Carl ' Culm;.,! l.ucas... ,. . Janie.......... ■ ■ ■ ■ ,. It.iliort Hutton ..Kdward Arnold .,'. . Ann HardlnK Uobert llonchley ;.. Man Hale . .Cliire Foley . : Harbara HrbWn IIall If MrD.ulel ... .Dick .Erdman, ....lactic Moran :. .Ann C.illjs Kuilt 'l'.obev .. VnKJni.i PHion i 'dlleen Townsend William 1 ranibes eiii-sio I'.ee Keltic /'.Peter SVackpole Michael Harrison .'.'.itussell Hicks . .Joyce / Reynolds carried along at a swift pace by di- rector Allan Dwan. Scripting is tight though story development is obvious. Bendix, of course, provides substantial marquee value. / Bendix and O'Kecfe, who also comes through with a corking com- edy interpretation, are central char- acters as Army buddies and competi- tive Casanovas usually after the same girl. O'Keefe, as the handsomer of the two, finally runs into tough op- position from Bendix in a play for an Australian girl (Helen Walker). Bendix, unable to win the girl, final- ly steers her away from his fair- weather Romeo pal into the arms of John Loder. ■ .;' Among the stronger bits Is one where Bendix sells the idea that O'Keefe, who impersonated him, is slightly berserk-and can be soothed only with bagpipe music. Mori. This is a cinematic version of Brock Pemberton's play of the same name which had'a successful Broad- way run for two reasons. Wider lat- itude-of presentation allowed by the camera in comparison to the .stage makes it excellent diverting enter- tainment for profitable biz as sold or billtopper in the regular bookings, Script of the film.closely follows the play in detailing the romantic ad- Ventures of small-town adolescent Janie when an Army camp is estabr llshed nearby. Her editor-father, Ed- ward Arnold, writes editorials con- demning the camp's establishment and its possible adverse effect on Ihe highschool girls of the commun- ity. After displaying the small-" towney antics of the scholastic kids, and the inability of Arnold to under- stand the new • generation, soldier Robert Hutton turns up for a whirl of romanceWilli Janie. Suddenly de- ciding. she's grown up. she tries to toss over school crush, Btek-Erdman, but latter stays in pitching to upset the new romance: culminating in in- viting squad of soldiers to the.house one night during family's absence to disrupt quiet evening of Janie and Hutton. It's a wild but orderly blow T . out, but Arnold blows up. on return simultaneously with the cops, M. P.'s and commanding officer of the camp. Janie wiggles out of things when Alan Hale appears as priority official from Washington to give Arnold per- mission for neW printing press. Erd- man joins the Navy, and Janie bids her two flames goodbye, as the sol- diers move out and the Marines move in to encamp near the town. Picture takes fullest advantage of ■Juvenile pranks and adventures to " turn them into laugh content for the customers. Little Clare Foley, nine- year-old, is only recruit from the stage cast, As, the mischievous; and pestiferous kid sister who's always snooping around and finding out se- crets, she provides a highlight char- acter of the piece.' • Joyce Reynolds capably handles the title spot, displaying fresh per- sonality that .will get her far on'the, screen. Hutton is well-cast as. the young soldier, while Erdman clicks as the scholastic admirer. Arnold gives solid , performance as the father,while the happy-go-lucky bachelor Robert Benchlcy neatly grooves for his usual excellent characterization. Ann Harding, Alan Hale. Barbara. Brown. Hattie Mc- Daniel, Ruth Tobcy and Ann Gillis combine to add strong support.. Script by Agnes Christine John- ston and • Charles Hoffman is com- pactly set up, and takes advantage of opportunities of displaying antics and talk of the younger generation. Direction by Michael Curtiz is zest- ful throughout. One song, "Keep Your Powder Dry.'' is presented by mixed chorus at the soldier party. Wait. Music in Manila I ian (SONGS) Hollywood, July 25, 1tHQ release of John H:. Auer .product ion, directed by .Auer. Feature's Anne. Shirley,- Dennis pay. Phillip - Terry. Screenplay by Lawrence Kimble;, story,. -Maurice Tout brntfel. Hal .Smith; .Jack.'Sertoli; camera. Ititsscii Metty; editor, Harry Marker.; asst. director, . James Casey ; nv.mtatre, Douglas' Tracers; . sonRSc Lew . Pollack arid llcvb Mauidson; score. Lcieh l.larlibe; musical director. (I. Hakaieintkoff. Tratlesbmvn in I.. A. July 'li. '44. Runnini; time. 80 .MISS. Fritnklo.'... .... . ... . .,"*. . . . .. .' .'..-Anne Shirley Stanley............, i..........., Dennis Day dull any., ■'.■.■..■'.;; ......... Phillip Terry Professor....; . . : ;'.; Raymond Walborn Mi s. Pearson............ v...:.luhe Daru ell Gladys. ,..„...'.';.'..,............. .VJ'a'tll.fJJrll! Charlie Uarnet Orchestra . ■ ' . " . ;Xi!oMenendez Khunibn Band * • Miniature Reviews "Janie" (Song) (WB). Fine diverting entertainment, in tune with current audience require- ments. ■ -. .-, "Abroad with Two Tanks'*. iSmall-UA). Service comedy- farce, .'-.with William Bendix, geared for okay biz. ."'."'■'...■ "Music in Manhattan" (Songs) (RKO). , Fluffy farce in tuneful mood for amusing audience re- . action, '. '■ .".';..-.; "Falcon in Mexico" (Songs) (RKO). Latest detective meller, w ith Mexican setting, strong sup- porter for all runs. •Clime By Night" (WB). Strictly a "B" whodunit for the ■ duals. ,;'?,' ; ■' . -. "Return of the Ape Man" (Mobo). Average chiller, suit- able for duals. "Sundown Valley"— (Col.). Pleasant western dualer. "Una Carta tie Amor" (Mex). Strong dramatic fare inter- spersed with: plenitude of Mex- ican harmony, v . ■'.'• '•Music in Manhattan" is a light filmusical farce, with sufficient pas- sages of laugh entertainment to carry through the general runs as a strong. supporting attraction: , Plot revolves around efforts of Anne Shirley and Dennis Day to catch, on as song-and-dance team in show biz. After clicking in night club circuit, pair stage show with young talent on Broadway, but the customers are scarce. In snagging plane accommo- dations to Washington in attempt to pry loffse some coin from her father's estate, Miss Shirley is in-' correctly identified as bride* of war hero Phillip Terry. Girl is whisked from airport to hotel and established in Terry's suite, launching compli- cations of bedroom farce tempo. Re- sultant publicity puts , show over; Terry visits his pseudo-wife in her N. Y. apartment, and when his mother arrives to meet the bride, it's a round of cinch laugh reactions. Pair sneak away for secret marriage, with Terry writing annulment per- mission, and departing for speaking tour. Miss Shirley then, discovers love for the flyer,, with resultant clinch in cute ending. ■ ; : . Miss Shirley blossoms out as a pin- up aspirant, capably handling the lead and neatly putting over several song and dance numbers. Day does well as the confused suitor who's much concerned with the marriage masquerade, and will catch attention from his radio following with three song numbers. Terry plays straight as the flyer for good effect; while Raymond Walburn,. Patti Brill and Jane Darwell provide good support. Nilo Menendez and his rhumba band is on at opening as accompaniment for Day and Miss Shirley to deliver "One Night, in Acapulco." Charlie Barnet and orch also appear in one production number to display fine arrangement of the snappy "I Like a Man Who Makes Music," sung by Miss Shirley With chorus aiding.' Tie five songs provided by Lew Pol- lack and Herb Magidson add much to the entertainment factors of the film.. Script displays many amusing mo- ments for cinch general audience re- action, while producer-director John Auer provides a generally-fast tempo. Wait. where suspects and clues abound. After neatly winding up the plot, the Falcon proceeds to guide the audi- ence through scries of episodes to finally pin down the culprit in work- manlike style..'. '.'■';"■; ■ '.' •>•;>,' iH Drama is-crisply. displayed through compact script by George Worthing Yates and Gerald Geraghty, and paccful direction by William Berke. Tom Conway continues as the ama- teur sleuth, and gets good support from Moha Maris; Martha Mac Vicar,' Nestor Paiva. Mary Currier, Miss Callejo, Joseph Vitale and Fernando Alvarado. Mexican characters are displayed to fine advantage,, and pic- ture will catch .plenty of attention below the border from the custom- ers.' Scenic backgrounds of a large lake and the natives adds much to production values. Two native .song numbers also add color to the setting. Walt. dine, he decides on the latter's brain for the experiment, and kills his fel- low-scientist to make the transplant- ing: Balance of film deals with the escape of the monster, and the crimes it commits until it is finally destroyed. . Lugbsi and Carradine give okay performances, and Frank Moran is satisfactory as the monster. Michael Ames and Judith Gibson offer stock variations of the romantic duo. Pro- duction is satisfactory and direction okay.. Broti, Sundown Valley .-v..'- (SONGS) Columbia release of .litck Fine production. Slant' Charles Slairelt; ':fenturea Jeanne Hates and Dull Tailor. Directed by Ben- jamin .Kline. . stury . and screenplay, JUici ward;, camera. • (Jeoixe .Meehari; editor, Aaron Stell. At New i'ork theatre. N,.T„ we'eic of July IS, ii. Running lime, 68 MINS. ' J- ..Charles Starrett Dub Tailor .. . . .Jeanne .Bates ....'. . Jessie Arnold ... ,t,'iattty Cooper .* lack iirgram . Wbeeler. Oakman .....Joel Friedkln ,'. . .tlraee T.enard ..Kddle T.auKhton . . .Koi rest Taylor Tenmvsee; llsmblers ' ,- nnny Waiiely ami Saddle Pals siovo Oenlon.,'. ('a iinohbiill..,., . Sidney Hawkins Moot Jobnsoii. . . HOilge illllernv H.trc Adams."...': Cab Raxler;.. ... .hie. Clllowa'v. Sally JeniiS.. ..; Tom 'Carietnn... GuirtSlsh't Hawkins W. < rime Ky >i>*iil tcr ISros...release of WlUUtrtj Clemens nroflui.-tiim,'. .directed liy -.Clemens. Stars Jane, \\\vman,'.'-.'Jeromo . Cowan; features i-'aye. Jvmcrsci).- t'haiies Lane. Eleanor Parker; Screenplay l,y lticbard Weil and Joel Mal-Oite, from nncol by Oeoffrey Homes; . ciimerir,.* Hehrv Sharpe; editor, Dnujs Coubl. T.rndcshi.u'n. .V. Y,, Julv 'ii. M.' UuniiiiiK time, ,Ti..MINK. Itoltbie Sam i' VtlrPCe. lilipbell. Aliroad WiSli T%vo Yanks nniletl Artisls i release of K.dward Small produeiioh. l-'ealiircs. Wllllatn Bendix, Helen Walkeiv. Dennis 0'K""£e. Direded be Allan Dw'iitv. See/ia.t'io,. Cliarles Rdjfe.f^. Will'rie Malroncy. 'l'ed Sills: oi'iKinai; Vred flitiol: adaptat ion. Kdw.'ird . lv. Seabrook'. 'I'edSVOll Chapinan; 'cantera.. Charles J Jaw- ton: eilifor.-. jticbard I.I'"erill'ance. 1'ivviewed at Mayftifr. X. • V..-. Jritv. '»'.■ '44.-:. Running, time. 80"MIX.S. ...Wiillam Be'nTfijt .'....Helen Walker ....Dennis tl'Keel'e ..., .'*. .. J, tin l.O'ler .'.(leurge Cleveland . , 'i . Ja'itot. T.ainbert ... ';. ...lames iriavlii .Aul'.ur Hunnicuit ...'.Wlllard. Jlllsoit .;. .Hi rbet't: Kvnhs , . . Wllliiim 1'orrest. ,,'."..,."J.ill0 Abljott ' Hilt Kornski ..,.. Joyi'e Stlln:t ! tv.,, J"'IT fleardun.... t'Viil Xortll Rnderick Smart. Alice i Sergiirnt Wiggiii! Arlde....... Mandsnhle. M;. bet Colonel Hart ' Salesman........: "Abroad-With Two Yanks" is com- mercial comedy-farce which should stand up'strongly. Geared for hefty b,b. in the major: situations it 'will likely do even bettor .in the second- ary and subsequent bookings.. - Plainly, slapstick ih conception and development. "Yanks" is aimed at and will likely .secure solid audience response. It contains a heavy pro- portion .of sustained gagging se- quences which chalk up an impres- sive laueh score. Surefire, as always,: is the bit with William Bendix and Dennis O'Keefe, dressed as femmes, '. in a chase and fisticufl' routine; , '■■' • , Yarn about U. S. cioughboy adven- tures abroad, though by no means an unusual theme,, is intrinsically ap- pealing; and the production has been Falcon in Mexico (SONGS) , Hollywood. July 25. RKO release' of- Maurice Gerittfltty pro-, iliiciion. Slars Tom Conway. Directed by William , Herke. Origintil screenplay by Ueurge Worthing Yates and: Herald C.of- aghty.. based on eharacler created ,hy .\ll- cliaerArlen: camera, b'rank Uedman: edi- lor.: Joseph Moriega; asst. director. William llnrfmatr; special effects. . Vernnn 1.. Walker; Tradcshown. in I,. A.. July -.*►,. MJ, Itunning time. 711 MINS. . ...■:,» falccn.-;. '.'.* . . lt.'H|U('t. ......... Kart.'arti Manuel..... ... . Mania Dudley'......, D'llores..: ....;,.,'.-;, V\ w lnth'rop Hughes.. Anton. ....... ,';.-.'.. SenoV Yharra J'ttneho..-.. i ,.'..;. ...". lliimti'irey IVade.^, .Mexican Delectivo.: Mexli'an. Doctor. .Tom cm\w timers. .Jrnn .. ..Martha Mil, ...... *. ;,\'esior :*l'ai\'a ,.•. , . «, ,'. Mary Currier ..'. : ,.,Cecilia- Ca'liojn ......Mipory. I'nrnell ., . . . . ••Joseph Vitale .. .I'edfo Do Cordol . 1'Vr.nando A Icarado ."., Itryant Washburn ,;./., .riecrge T.ewis ........ -Julian Rlyer't ..Tuanlta and Iiuth Alvarez Falcon takes a trip below the bol- der'into picturesque Mexican back country to. unravel a most tangled murder mystery. This is a strong en- try in the Falcon scries, of sleuth mellers, and will provide fine sup- port in. the regular bookings. ; Plot centers around the mysterious appearance of new paintings attrib- uted to an.artist supposedly dead for a decade. The Falcon gels immersed in N. Y:. when assisting a Mexican girl, Cecilia CaUejq, to recover pain t- ing tif which she was. the Subject. Btit the art gallery owner is. found murdered, and. the Falcon whips into action to quickly contact the young daughter of the painter and fly to Mexico. Few hundred miles south of Mexico City there's a modern inn. Siicrirt Ambers. . . . . Dlst; Aliorney Hy.nl 'ivltpipote Operator: "C . Hiek 111 Desk' A'itonMunl,'. i 'bnulT'ofir... Dad ,M in ..l.'ine Wyman .-.Jerome. Cowan .,. li-kyei Eln^rsoiv ,.. .Cliarles lamg . . IHleanor Pit rker .'Stuart Crawford .... .. .Cy Kendall ..Cliarles .Wilson .. . : .Tuanita Stark , .Creigbton Hale .... .Oeorge Gnht Hank Mann ....Rill Kennedy .......Dick Rich -.... .Fretl Ivelscy "Sundown Valley" presents . a ranch-range loaded with patriotism. Idea of cowboys going in for defeat of the Axis is a comparatively fresh slant on westerns, and some pleasant 'musical interludes also help. Fist- fights.and a wagon.-race supply the main action for a passable double- feature thriller. • ." Fisticuffs instead of gunplay seem, to mark this western, with Charles Starrett . pitching in almost every reel or so to dispose of some villain by Marquis of Qtieeiisbury rules. Starrett has. taken over the manage- ment of a gun'sifth't plant and has to battle absenteeism, negligence and saloon and gamblinghouse keepers, in order to keep production up and the Army's needs supplied. He man- ages . very .well, aided by Jeanne Bates, the Tennessee Ramblers, and Jimmy, Wakely and his Saddle Pals. Ramblers and Pals supply hillbilly songs ,and music for the various shindigs Starrett rig,s up to keep his factory crew happy. Acting is stand- ard for westerns, with Dub Tailor's comedy a little on the feeble side. Satisfactory direction, keeps the story moving. ■ Broil. This low-budget Warner film, a frankly unpretentious "B," is. for the lower dualers.' Lacking marquee value, with only Jane Wyman to back up the exploita- tion angles, "Crime By Night" is filled with talk and tends toward boredom,. Supposedly a mystery picture, anyone should be able. to pick out the murderer in short order. Dialog is so full of cliches, etc., that even the actors are hampered in their performances. Miss Wyman, in the role of secretary to private detective Jerome Cowan, goes through her paces stiltedly, while Cowan is anything but believable in his portrayal of a slick dick who is not averse to making a dollar from as many as three parties in one case. Faye Emerson, too, suffers at the hands of. poor story and scripting as the phoney vaude agent who proves lo be an international spy and mur- deress. : .Direction by William Clemens, fails to score in any respect, Film lacks suspense. Settings are ordinary, and even thriller fans will be disap- pointed with this one. -.- ■ : Stcn. It el urn oC (lie Ape Man ■M.onogrnm release of Sam Katzmnn-Jaek D.iei/t production. Stars Rela l.ugosi; fea- tures .JubmCarradino, .Ft;ank Moran, Judith C.ibson, Micbuel Ames. # Directed by l.'hil Rnseii: Associate: producer. Hartley Sal-ecky assni-iiiie' ..director. Arthur Hammnnd Seret'itiil.iy. Robert Charles: camera;. Ma.li 1 l.cl>iciiid;'c,l.itor..far! l'ierson: At Xew theatre. X; : Y.. week o! July IS, 'U. 110 MISS, . . . Belli" t.ugosi ..., John Cari'adine ,U>.. Frank Moran ..ri.'. JuillUl. Ofhson .....Michael Ames ........Mary Currier ....... Ed chandler .. .*. .Mike Donovan . . i'George Kldridge .Horace Carpenter ..... .Ernie Adamn Yorli- 'KUnntiiR nine, l'i'.ir. Devter. . Prof, tlilmorc. Ape ;Uiiiister.. Anne.. . . .:,.. . . Steve. ' ,. . -Mrs. Uiltnoi'e. sergeant..,..., l'nlicefnan. *..; Pafrul'maii. . Wrilciima)).'.'.. Hunt: . : , "Return, of.' the Ape Man" - hits average in the scale of dual horror •■thrillers'.. Film shows Bela Lugosi in another...pseuclo-scienlific .role, this lime beni on bringing prehistoric iipemcn back to : life and, endowing Uicni with enOugH brain.,and power 10 maneuver through a modern-day world. . ' ',"•'■ Lugosi and fellow-researcher John Garractinc go .off' .to'the - far North, find a prehistoric man encased in a ■yhicier and bring him back to their .laboratory. Thawing the creature out,'they find it :bereft of any in- telligence. Lugosi decides it needs a brain; after a quarrel with Carra- 1 ii. I t'nria iSe Alitor ("Letter of Love"> .' - (MEXICAN-MADE) '•".',• (Songs)... -A/.teca refeusp of/Crovas, S. A.. produc T lion. Slars .li.igo Xegrele. -l-'catni'es Clloria Marin, Andres Sulci'. . l.lii ei-iiun. and orig- inal sloiv by Minnel Ziicavias. At Belmont N.-'Y.'. week of July U. 'H. Running time 115 MINS. Alfredo..: Joi kc Kegrete -Marlha...." ..........Clloria Marin Arturo. tile Colonel.-; ....Andres Soler Marlha's .MoiIh-i." ....Miml Perba Martha's • Hnitlier. . . Alejiindrn Cliiangueroti .Martha's Maid. ;, . •,'.' '. .Kimiia Roldan Alfredo's Assistant. . Anionic R. I'aUBto Despite its protracted length (115 minutes) and overboard accent on melody, "Una Carta de Amor' emerges. as sturdy fare for. aficio nados of the Mexican film.school. Director Miguel Zacarias, who doubled as scripter of original screenplay, has invested period story with judicious amalgam of. emotion- alism and comedy, tempering plot's heavy overtones. Music also plays an integral part in uniting the. vari' blis sequences of film. Chief transgression of "Una Carta de Amor" is fact that no words are minced in unravelling theme, which could well be spooled out in about half the footage expended without voiding overall effect. Result is a series of antirclimaxes making for a drawn-out finish. Told in flashback fashion, script opens with hero in prison cell and reading letter from his dead wife while awaiting execution by his French captors who charge, him with being a Mexican insurrectionist. Story then fades into . account of protagonist's early romance and exigencies encountered in trying to avoid capture, ending with his wife's immolation via poison rather than betray her husband's love. ■ Jorge Negrete and Gloria Marin "are, believable and' well cast as the dolorous couple, also coming in for kudos as vocalists. Additional prin- cipals hold up well, with camera work and direction likewise rating nods. ■■;' Pa/s Sunday Pix Polling . Philadelphia. July 25. Two communities in this area will be given a chance to vote on the Sunday films question soon. , " Laurel, Del.,will hold a referen dum within the next two months on whether pictures should be.shown on the Sabbath or banned as proposed in an ordinance passed by City Coun cil recently, •'.'.. " A referendum \vill also be held in Emmaus, Pa„ near. Lancaster, ..which now ;has. a closed Sunday. - ' CORRECT RUNNING TIME of "Since You U'ciit A way" ■>'Se1;nk1i-UA). .is 172 jitiftiites, not .152. inhis., as .misprinted last week. : I''.-.' '■■■'-.'. Converting Nazis Continued from page 1 B would have an opportunity to coun- teract the dangerous Nazi psycho- logical venom, hot only in Germany but in other parts of the Continent as well. I-. ';"■'.,,;'-:.;.'.'■.";, ■; Nebehzal, who produced ''May. erling" (directed by Anatole Lityak); pointed out that the educational job could not be done with American pictures or with American stars ap- pearing in German pictures except possibly players of German or Aus- trian nationality. He said that the Germans, inherently suspicion?, wouldn't believe the import of German-language pictures with American players, but . would be on the alert for a trap. There would have to be German-language films with German players, if the re-edu- cating process, via the screen, is to ■ be successful. Big Market . . Aside from what he considers the major interest in offsetting the Hit- ler propaganda which has been widely sown not only ; in Germany but in many other parts of Europe, Nebenzal stated there, would be strong commercial aspects to pro- duction in Germany. He pointed out that the continental market for German product was considerable before Hitler came to powci'.. '/ German film production, broken down by the Government demands for -propaganda films and discrimi- nation on racial and religious grbunds, could be quickly revived by American production methods. Many of the artists,;•directors,' tech- - nicians, producers and writers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who fled Germany, would likely return, Ne- benzal said; He added that the pro- duction of films almost exclusively for propaganda purposes was the major, factor in the destruction of the German film industry, Nebenzal, who returned to the U.S. from France in 1939, plans to start production of an, English-lan- guage remake of "MayeVlirig," origi- nally in French with Charles Boyer, in tlie fall. It is scheduled as his second production for UA release. Nebenzal is reported dickering with Robert Donat to come to the U. S. from England to play the lead. .. Producer, meantime, has sold put his. interest, in Angelu.s Pictures, which produced "Summer Storm," setting a three-picture deal inde- pendently with UA. Angelus has an- other picture commitment with UA. Nebenzal left N..Y. for the Coast over the past weekend. Hypo to Italians . V American films are playing an im- portant cultural and economic role in the lives of the Italian people, restoring a semblance of normalcy to a nation shattered by 20 years of fascist rule, German occupation and internecine warfare, according to^'e- ports received by the OfTice of War Information from the American Mili- tary Government in Italy. Special performances have been held in various communities for the benefit of. the poor, for evacuated and bombed out citizens, and for the reconstruction of churches, monu- ments, etc. Screenings are literally attended by the entire population of towns, who demonstrated great en- thusiasm at seeing American stars and pictures. . . ">,-' '■"' Pix Freelancing Continued from page 1 •specific assignment rule on a short- term contract of employment which extends over, six weeks at a salary rate in excess of 20% oyer the high- est long-term salary rate of the in- dividual without-prior approval. "No employee be hired under the specific assignment rule on fiat term . deals, at a salary rate in excess of 20% over the highest long-term sal- ary rate of the individual without prior, approval. "No employee be hired under the specific assignment rule on a daily or. weekly, basis where the salary rate totals $1,000 per week without prior approval';" •• Chief objection, according Jo Bert Allenberg, prexy of the Artists Man- agers Guild, is that the modifica- tion w.ould seriously interfere with the casting and- production of pic-, tures.. A studio, would be requiml to get prior approval for every free- lance deal, with . the exception of small-bracket players drawing l«ss than $1,000 a week.