Variety (Dec 1944)

FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, Decciiiber 20, 19M 14.11. Tomorrow (he-World riiiliil AiiiMK ivIi-ilM' of Irf-Mi'l 'I'll".111 i„,..iiii'ili>n. siiiiH I'n.rrli- .Mnrili. lli'ii.v Kii:.l; li-.mnis -^Kipiiy lli>Mli'loi-, Atlli'.i Miii'ii'1ii->:-l, D.rt.li-ii liy. Lt'Hlif*- J-'flunil. S> ••ii|<l.i>. i.:iV»lnlT. .Ji'.. iiM'l I^'itiii'1'1 ic i >M*;.ii, tiiHitr. Aim ll:in'*hi'n,>? U-ni\ Sli.iil». l'fc\ i"'WV"l N. v., Ui'i tlLiKiiiiii: liiilf. Hll AIIN!*. .. ■ ; . .Kl-i ilrli- M..i^ li r.i'li.v v^j'i-l'l . .. .Ai;iir> Mii.iri'ili-.i.l .....Skl|.|>.v ll.iilu-i.i- .Jiiim vSiiiiiii . , I-M.ll Aiii;.ihl Uuil.v W Mtiiiilit ,.: . , .■.M:ll\lM ll.ivir I'.il.'-y \Jlll 'rllinui'v't ... .,\l;irv Nrwi.'ti. ., -. : .■I'ulil Kil.l.i "1 soiiBWlogy. Jolmny M^rcer-HaroW .Mien .have supplied a .set .ot cxcel- loiil songs, including n dandy novelty hi •Acoent-Tehu-alc the POS-ilive ; |\\o covkliiB ballads in "Let's Take , . , I ihc Lonfi Wav Home" and "I Proljiisc Ym'."lhc lallcv as a duct .with Bc^lty. lliillon. playiiiK Ihe alter oi{o, and incirtcMl;.lly a song wliich seems a (■inch to become a.s •slaiidarcj as Hc"in;rl(l de KoviMi's not dissimilai-ly lilled "Oil Promise Me." Miss Hut- um on her own lii-de-ho.'i heisclf to :i wow .-icore with "There's a. Fella in PouKhkeepsie." while '^Old Black .Ma.nic" is reprised in-a delicious nb iin Kiank Sinali'a. Crosby is cast as the new push crooner." and . hi.s niikc-ehilehing — ■ sianee. aci-enlcfi by the .whiiinyinji Reformation of Na/.i yoiith. a prob-; ,|,i|,irs. leaves no. secret as 16 whbin lem toicerully projected in "lomor- , j-jj^. pj„j.|^i ,,,,fj,,..; ifs a dandy take mo 1. Il:iitl^. .Kii' tl.l. I. . ,.|'H 1 .1. - I ... K. . I I'.i r'.ii i'i..ini-..:. I-'. .1 .!:« Si."- II. .Mil •.■ S- li.i..l- I'l .III .11. Jll...ii....ii. , row the World" on Broadway a .-iea- son MKO. has been dealt Svilh no Ic.-s iissiduously in L^•^iler Cowan s scrivii pi-esentalion of the same story. "Tii- niorrow " as a picture is. a bar.-ih realization that .such a problem e.K:.^is and. as .such, can scarcely be callrd nil' on The Voice, but it's not harsh: ill fart, it's a .<ympatheti(' salve for ;ill iiul-of-seivice crooner.'--. It!s liiiallv :e-:tabli.shcd..tliat: Crosby is- al- lowed to eniisl in tiic W:i\y lal'fir.st Uiri'iei;! down for' color blii.idiie.ss) but, because of Mi.ss lUitlon'.s wacky llie type lilm to which-patrons will : |„.j^.j,||,;„j^„i\; t;,ki.|i 6lV active fliick in droves for entertainment. , .,,,(1 |,j^.p„ ., vatiiig Its Kiimness is too omniscient, loo . ij,,,;,.^!,,,. l„ \V/i^VB recruitin.i,' foreboding, but there's no dcnyiii« i ' Hutloii plays both twins tjf a s'.sler act. one her fami.Iiar zany sell and tluv other-acon.servativi? t>vin sister, older by 12 .minutes. ■. The blonde is the hoyden: the darker is the inore coii.scr.valive and iiij i bobbysox .-jwooner like her inadcap It's a problem liiany will want to see unfolded. ' "Tomorrow" can thus hardly fail to achieve a good incas- I lire of bo.NOfTice returns. The play has been literally adapt- ed, excepting, of course, for various liituations who.sc scope could oiil.v '>e I .jjsior. Spurned, Cro.-iby is iiitri,i;ued enlarged upon by the screen. It.-i a .... vivid story of a youngster brought to America from Germany, ihlo the home of a college professor whose philo.sophies have been g6ve):;>ed by those of the boy-s fathei", a well- known liberal killed by the Nazis be- caiuse of his views. The boy has been geared m the Nazi way, taught that his father had been a traitor to the Third Re.ch. Repudiation ot the American concept end an attempt to inculcate Nazi fears into the minds of his American schoolfellows almost succeed. He would al.'io break up the impeiiding inarriage between the professor and his Jewish fiancee, and this. too. is nlmost realized. But. the mental di.s- lortion that prompts hini almost to ii(ll the profs young daughter brings \S, a climax the boy's malfeasance. Then the sudden realization by. the yoiing.stcr of Nazism's fallacies. • "Tomorrow" is very objective . in lis treatment, and the authors be- lieve, apparently, that all Nazi youth • can be .steered correctly, eychtually. The authors are vague in their solu- iion. but there's no doubt .that it's a solution that should be left untold for the present. It's somewhat dif fcrent when one is dealing: of fic tional Nazi youth and the real thing. Time will dictate the proper c6ur.sc. Fredric March and Betty Field arc starred in the roles played originally by Ralph Bellaniy and Shirley Booth, and both qivc dignity to the parts.of the profc.s.<or and his bride-to-be. But the maiii accolade must go to Skippy i Homcier. as the young Nazi,, in the ' characterization he created o.n-Broad- way for Theron Bamberger's legit production. Agnes Mporchtad plays March's spinster sister, and she. too. gives a well-deflned performance, as does the rest of the cast,- Of the support Edit Angold. as the maid, re- peats her stage role to ladvanlage. while Joan Carroll is properly pre- cocious as March's'datighter. : L-slie Fenlon establishes himself ■new in Hollywood with this film, but this time, as a director. The for- mer actor, who became, a Briti.sh film director before joining the Brit- ish Royal Navy—from which he was recently discharged—hasn't attempt- ed to deviate from the original stage- play, and this was wise. There was very little that could have, been im- proved upon over tlic original pro- duction. And "Tomorrow" a.s ,a' pic should achieve A commensurate suc- cess—mainly because of one per- formance. Kahn. by lier. iis against the .swooning adu- ation Of her sister. Sonny Tufts is, he other guy, a pal who doiible- ci-os.scs aiid is .cros.sed in tlic Quirt- Flagg tradition.' , . The show-wiihin-a-show (since lliaf.-i- part of the WA'VE .recriiitirig technique) permit.s song-and-dance specialties by Crosby and Miss Hutr. ton. The latterls ych for males iii- roduccs a--.scene. "If Waves Acted Like Saiior.s." which is a topical .-•witch on ah old legit revue .scene. ■It Women Played Poker. Like'Men." It's in this WAVEs show that Crosby arid Tuft.s click with the rhythmic Accent-Tchu-Alc . the PtDSitive" along with "Promise- You.""Long Way Hoine". is pijrt of the rohiantic. motivation, behind-the-scenes.- Of cour.se. being twins, the hoyden's bad deeds, in order to snafu her sister's lioiiest romantic (jmotions, croatie the- usual ambunt ol misunderstandings through mi.stakcniidcntit^es: but it all ends happily-after a breezy 99- mins. ' :Producer-dircctOr . Sandrieh has kept the tale fliiid .and the pace ac- celerated. Scriplers Allan Scptt. Ken EngUind and Zion Myers have sup- plied a" basically good structure, punctuated' by appvoprialely breezy banter, at which Cro.sby is a master, jproviding the chatter is in the i groove. The.v do as good a job for: The Groancr as does Carroll Carroll oh the. radio. Productionally. also, the twd-^ply Hutton personations are well done, a credit both to the cam- era and to Vera .Marshe who. meri- toriously, gets billing, as the acting and photographic double for the star. The rest of'thc support is coriipetent. ■ .4l>cl. Miniature Reviews '"Tomorrow Ihe World" lUA- Cowan), Fredric March-Betty Kicld-Skippy llomeier (Umiza- lion of Broadway hit; sock b.o. "Here Come llie Wives" iMu: .sical) 'Par)! Tiptop Bing. ('ro.'?by • Betty Hutton - Sonny -Tufts .starrer, with socko .s()ngs. . "I'll Be ,Seeing You" (UA). • Tasteful,-timely romantic drama; siars (ringer Ro«Ors-Jo,seph ' Cotlcn-Shirley Temple. "Can't Help Singing" (Songs, ■ Color ) IU >. Deaniia Durbin ' fllmusical. Avilh line Ki-rn ,scorc, ' due for top biz. "Prarllcally Xou/s"- - i P a r>. Claiidelic Colbert and Fre<| MacMuria.v; in Mitchell Leiscn ciiinody. a parlay;-for strcing b.o. .!'Gontlc. .-VniileV iM-Ci.V. A,: weslcrn abkiuf traiii robbers ■ which siiould do from moderate .10 good biz.. .\ (lualer, ; . •■■'bake I'jufid Serenade" (Rep). I.aviSi ■ icc-^roniahcO; will- !dO good biz as .solo iiv certain sit- uations.' ••Between Two Worlds" (M-G-). Continuation of - '•Dr.Kildare" series! .starring Van Jbhnson. 0:k. as top dualer.. . "The Kightlne Lady^' (Color) 20thr. One ot the best docu- mentaries of the war, gripping, exciting., and solid boxolTicc. ■ ."Double Exposiire" (Par). BrecJty prp.iiVain drariia for .g6od support in the regular, duals, .. ••The Misslne Juror" (Col), Plausible inuider. - in.vsler.V; good lower-rung dualc!'. "House of .Vriiniitnslein" lU): Ciood hoi-ror niellcr. latest entry in the profitable .series, for dials. ' "The Mummy's Curse" . lU ). Ghoulii^h goings-on in the Cajun country. Strong for dual supijort. ' "Dahgerdus Passage'; (Par) . Formula action meller geared for -dual supporting spots. popular disc and vadlo-playcd tunes, while the lively "Californ-i-Ay" and "Can't Help .Singing" also have a chance .for their novelty tempo,. Story deliberately Unfolds as' a light adventure ron)ance in musical comedy technique. It's relaxing aiid diverting throughout, line framewoi'k on which to .sot up the niu.sical: and .production' numbers, and. to set oft the gorgeous .scenery of. the Utah locations di.splaye^i by the Techni- color photograph}'. Picture'i,s set:in the IS.SO era, open- ing in Washington to introduce Miss Durbin as the daiightor of air in- tliiential senator, who's determined to marry a cavalry olTicer. When the .senator's inllucn.ce ships the latter oh quick no'tirc to a California, post, the girl follows biit nev^r quite catches up. After reachiog'a mid- \vcst river town, .she joiri,s: a Wagon Iraiii'i meets lip. with advcntiirpu.s Robert Pai.cel and eveiitually. falls in love with liiin b.v the tiiuc the. traiii reaches CaUtorhia. ' . Liivish aiid su|5erb p'rodiii'lioh num- bers fi-equcntlypunctuaic the p(-<)- cccdings for disphiy of the Kerii ,song$ with large crowds of color- fully-ccstumcd exlra.s . being used with, apparent abandon by the prij- duct ion'Office. Frank Ryaivls direc- tion is okay, while the .script in- clines to looscly-as,sem,bled sequi^nccs at times,')ind a liberal amount of corn and slapstick is s6wmi along, the route.' .Miss Durbin, mo.st photogenic for the color cameras, excellently han- dles the top a.ssignnient. providing lightness 10 her role ^ throughout, Paige clicks iii role opposite the star, while Akim Tamirolt' aiVd Leonid Kinskey romp conlfiuially as a couple of Russian coniedians with ' routines always on the broad .slapstick side. Andrew ToinbCs. David Bruce. .Thomas Gomez; 'Olin Howliri and I George ClevcUiiid provide support in ' - VVnIf. 1*11 He .SR«>lnf$ You (ONE SONG) 'riiili.il Al-llsl.-*-:rcIi-iiHr iif niir,^ S.-<i;ir.v |ii'iiilli,-linn.. .•^iiir.*4 IlitiKi.r .ltiiKcri<. .Iilhi-iiI) fillIcii. . ,Sltii-U'.v 'l'<-in|il*i; rl■Illn^^rt ',SiiilitK llyliiKl.^ii. ••|-(.iii 'riiify, I'liill WIIlH, llin-.c lltirrlK. Kr-niiy: Itiiwi'ix, Uli-oi-li'd liy Wil- lliiiii l>li-lf l-lc. Si*i-t»eiiiil:iy, Mtirtfin l*nr- >-niiiioi: -iMiffd nil i-,-l(ll<i' lilliy hy t*li:ii-|rB .MiM-lliil ^-iniU'i-ii.. Tiiiiy (i:iiifllii: cillliit-. -\V1I- lliiiii II. '/AoiiU'V, soinf, --I'll He , SeeInK Vnu,'^ liy ,<iiinniv |-Hln iinil Irvlnir 'Kiiliai, ri-mlo.-^lii.u-ii III .V. V. I)',-. IS. 'H. Iliiri- iiliilt I line M MINS. .Mm-y Mni-rilmll '/:i,-ll:ii;.v MiirKim.. |l:illjli|-ri .Mlll-]4|l:ill Mis. .Miii^IihII ... .\Vi-. .\l:ii..'lni!l ^'wniiMon I.ll'iil. (tniro .... lin- ml 'I'l-iilii.... ll«r« f'oine ilie Wav«8 (HUSICAL) PiM-niiKitint' rckn»;o i\( -Mnri; Snndrlch m-n- ^uciloii, illrei-U'd liy Suiiilrk^.' Stuin liriiK Cronbv, Ilcliy lliltinn, Sonny Tiltlx, (li-iK- tjml ii(-i-ceii|i|iiy.. Allan 'Sc6tl, ICAn KiiKlun«l. Ziun MytTH; hohkk, ,fo)inny; Kten*oi'rHui-ol(l '>i-l6n: iiiunin •lii-i'fllull, I^nht: K, O.iilijn; -v(H''(ilii, Jon. ,1, l.lllcy: music usoc.luir, 'l*riiy Seiiilevft; duin-OH. Onniiy Dure; - i-Hinoi-n. OliAS. r.jinr;.' fioi'tlon Jonnln^n. Paul 1,or- imo; editor, >:il.su-i»rlh Troajr)and', 'rmdr- ftlioivn N, y, Deo, 15, M'4. Running ilnie. M .IIINH. Jolmny <!flbot,...;...:.'.,, SuhIo Si nofffiniii'y Allltfoti ■Windy Rill li Tp'x. ..,,..' i.. Pm-oi hy ^. Tjifitil. Townsi'iiil Idiibrl Billid rrfln^»^.... KuMlKn l\(L-k — IliKli llHnklnc Oiricni- Soulilo lor Body. Hulipn. ..lUiiK f^ro-iliy .HnUy llmiiiii '..Sonny 'riifls .........Anil Diinin. i...'.tiWfln Criiwford .; ....N'ool Xrlll CiiiliPrlne CnilK .. .Mni-Jnrlo Kcnnliiiw ..'. i. .-.IJiirry Hoi-i-Ik. ..,...,, :Man .(Miirko •Minor "U'ntpon , Vera. ^l:ii->ilio A kinda (iorny title, "Here Conic the Waves" manai;es to surmount the handle and. emerges as a tiptop film. Presumably launched at a time when it wa.s expedient to propagan- dize-the WA'VE movement, old tcm- pi)s fiigtt aind the film backlog situ- •lidn nave. .somewhat- dated Hdark Sandrlch's production but not'to the 'degree it'siot b.o.-' For it; is. "Hci'e •Come the,'Waves" has plenty to pleasie all audiences. - Der Bingle, the effervescent Betty Hutton in a double role, and Sonny . Tuttii are.. an undeniable marquee • and b.o. parlay. They -play it across 'Uic bMid for a clean sv/eep. Interspersed . In . Crosby^s oifty .ninKCi- RiiKCrs .liiMfiili fdit'^n . Sliirli-.v 'r,>iii|>li! =111 ini; I'.ydiKKtn ..-.. .'riiiii •I'lilly ••hill WIIlM ...Diiio lliiri'lH -. Kr-niiy. l|ii\\-ci-« "I'll Be Seeing 'Vou". is a timely storv about Christmas and a shells ':hocked war vet. It ties up the im mediate problem of the spldiei p.sy' chiatric finding himself in civilian life*with the perennial problem of a convict readjusting herself to society after, paying her debt. A poignant, romantic drama, done with taste and hone.sty.' and. acted siiperblyi it is sure boxofftce. - A quietly moving, seri.sitive story about two niisAts adapting them . selves to the world- and each othbr, the Him has the right touch through but. being never mawkish or cheap, A beautiful picture.of smalltown life' and an average farhily's problems, it tearis the tear-ducts a bit but never too Often. ■ l^ssentially a One femme pic: it can't miss. ' The .story concerns, a girl on Christmas furlough from' the state penitentiary, . where she is- serving ';a, terra lor. manslaughter, and an Army sergeant on furlough from the hos- pital where he is being treated as a neuro-case. The sergeant got his ,shellshock after ia bayonet wound in the South Paicific; the girl accidental- .ly caused,the death ot her employer when she resisted his unsolicited ad vances, Tliey meet on a train,, the girl go ing to visit relatives for the.Xmas holiday, the- soldier going anywhere on a 10-day leave at doctor's orders to prove that he can mingle with people again.. The girl invites the .soldier to her aunt's home and, in the 10-day leave both have, the sol- dier strives successfully to shake, off his nervous ailment while fallibg in love with the girl. The latter, also in love with him, and trying to help the .soldier, in his' rehabilitation keeps her pri.son .secret froni him. Wheii he finds o.ut, there is a crisi.s. but it .settles as the two rpnew their love again for th'e. future When bolh will be free. What distingiii,<hes the story is its ^eneral honf,^ty and lack- ot obyibiis hi,<;trionics,. the many fine touches of family life and the perform.-ince of the cast; There are many mem- oiablc moments, as the Christriias scene when the. plum pudding is .served and the family sings carols: the .scene in Ihc kitchen when niece and auiit are di.scu.ssing .society's re actions to. wrongdoers; the scene when the won-ien buy a dre.ss .which the giri can wear oiily ohce, and finally the bedroom .scene when the .soldier fights . Off for.-the last time hi.s recurring war fright.' Joseph Gotten gives a fine por- raiv of the slightly befuddled sol diei^ slowly coming out of his semi stupor under the influence of a.sym pathetic family, while Ginger Rogers s again a noteworthy dramatic actress as the embittered but re signed young woman struggling for a dream she once thought .forever lost, Shirley' Temple is a charming study of the eager awareness of a 17-year-old, And . Spring Byington and. Tonri TuUy • give well-etched^ human performances as under standing, .sympathetic parents.. William Dieterle's direction Is a little slow sometimes, biit .suitable to the film's moixl. Dialog' is sim pie. and natural, and performances honest. Bron I brief scquchccs. I*ra<«1i«*all.y VoiirN . (ONE SONG) . Pili-anlolini i-,.|i.:iM'(* „r ' ',Mil,-lli.ll I.i-i.n-ir llV-lltUli-llUn'. ,Sl;it,-« (•.liiudi'llf 'l-^«,llicl'l. .I'*i-i'd .\l5ii-,Miir|-ay; ■ fi'alm-i.M illl l.iiiiili,- nnlii-rl KiMU.IllPy, Ci-ril Koll'liwirv. Pij-l't-li'll liy .- I.i^lticn. . Si-i-opn|iliiy )<y *.Nm-niiiii Krii.^itia; inirra,- fliai-rcH l,aiii.', .Ii-..- ilni-tlnii .li'ii- iiiiiKK, J. I>(^v<^r*.iiii\ .li'iniliii:!*. I''iii\-iiil ■ I';diiiiai-l;' niiisir, VI,-Im- Yniniu^..-sini'jr. .*^iiiii i>ihi'iv: i^dfliii', Pimiiii 11)11 i-isiiii. I'vi'vlowi-d N, y , Di'i-. H, 'I I. Iliiiininir liinr.. IIO .MINS. VfUKy ^hu-lill-. (-lautli-ll,*' r,ill,i'rl l.t. t.-<.i;.l Haiili'l ll.'lla.ny.l-'i.'il .Mi'ii-.Miliray. .Mhi-ri Ili'DKi'll • • ■.',,. - - ili'l l,ainli .Marvin r. -.M«-.\;liii i ■«•< 'I Kollawiiy .fililuo ^liiiiiHiin. . . Iliili.-i-i Iti'iii-lilfv ililUaiiiltM-.'I l.ii-|i<.' .;.' 'I'l,in' Pnwcr.-i .Mil.v-lf-al runii-ily .-ilar, ,..l.-in,. l-^iaviri; l-:i,.i1 .\Lw'\- '.,;,..'.,. IliiHj-iii.iiy -ll- .fjiiiiit .MiTi. ,Mi';:liii t|,<ah"l 11 imiIi.I|iI| I,a (.•l-.i.-i,. ., . .Mil.ll.iil KiMUinny do from, moderate to good business on the duals. Locale is the Oklahoma territory . and the tlnie. 1901. Action centers around two' brothers of the school the James boys made famous and the pioneering mother ;with whom they, live on a ramsnacklc ranch. Because they want to return to Mi,ssoiiri, from which they migrated, the trio hold • up a tralHi but while .siispicioiv points strongly 10'them, a U, S, marshal, whom. they, befriend by .giving, him shelter ill-their.homo, i,s loath to be- lieve they're guilty. The clrciim-, ,slances. leading up to-cvidonce that the brothers and thoi'r iholhcr com- mitted the holdup are. .somewhat im- plausible, while also not according to Hoyle' is the chance the niiirshal . takes in letting the two boys escape after their mother has "been..shot. He .pcitinits them .16 aid in a siiiillght with a local sherilT. who's ;i -criiok. one.of the brother;? being kilted in ' the battle. Then the marshal, instead of lakiiig thfc'other bvothci; into vlis- lod,v, puts him.on a train for a iiciirbv . point where, he lijlls him, a -lU-puiy : will be. wailing to arrest him. .\ waitress who quits her job and is U ft stranded, also being taken into the, hon'ie of the train A^obbers. Ili.s ii.vio the picture a bit awkwai^dly for ro- ; hiantic'ihlcrcst. Title of "Gentle Aiinie" relvilos 1o Annie Goss,' the mother, playi-d fl^ivlv ingly and with Warmth by Miii-jorie Main. She could have been ilea 11 less dialog, howiever. There are some stretches where she . nearly talks herself to death. Janics Craig gives a smcioth performance as the U. S. marshal, while Donna need plavs the rorrianlic - interest opposite hini. She's okay. The two.brothers arc Henry Morgan and Patil Lang- loir, good types for the,i;olos.. Barton MacLnhe provides s'liitablc menace as the shelift, John Philliber ire-, ceiilly deceased) as an iti»icrant.ph(j- lographer who like.-i his. grog, .!•. amusing in a lesser'role. Camera job by Charles Salerno if very good, Clmr. liHke Plai'i«l S4>r«>hit4le (MUSICAL) lt,-|iiii<ll<' riM<»a.n» nf ll;iri-v Ci-.-v |,.i,i.liii>- Hull. Star,! Voiir ll.rulj:i ll'il l.^loil'. |.>ali)l»« l-;iii{pnM I'lillolli',■ V^-''-a Vau'iii., Ittili.-ii l.i\- inu.stnii,- .'^l^>)lhlll\I,> Itarlli^liii-.. I ii«-, ,-i,-.,l l,v- .-^ri'-vu Sokfly. .Si-,r»*pn|ila>. IXrk li-.v-nii; lly- l.'illll mill DiifiM (illlirrl. /kiiii I'liuliial l,v l-'i-fik-i-lt-k Kiilmor: i-:iiiV<-i-.i, ,|,iliii .'viii.n: (-.li- lur, .\rllllli- .Jtiilioil.o;/ fimiK. •'\\ iiMi-v . U't,ii'' ifi-rliiiid.'' Iiy Hi iril aii;i SiniMi. I'le- vli^iii-.l .V. v:. IJ.'c. IS. •■II. Itiiiiniiii: liiiii, 8,1 .^|l.^'^<. 4'aii'l Holp .Singing (MUSICAL; COLOB) . Hollywood, Dec. 14. fnlvcrsari-clram- nf Kcllx Jarimon (Kiiiiik slinu') ;|ii',idiK-tiun. .siiii-h llvaniiH Uni-liin ri-iiliii-M Kiilii-i-l I'aiKri; .M<lni •rnniii-Orr. Di l-ci-lod hy l-^rank 7t.\:in.. .Si-i-eiMl|il;iy, •Fa.w.lH II, .l.'osM-i- iMifl -i;.\-aii; .v'tiii-y, , lolni Kliirfr iillir l.,l'0, 'roivilfJi*ild. InisTil on •;iHrl .of Ilia Ovoi-liind- 'ri-ail,^^ liy .-snniuol' .1,. and. i^iu-Ua I.I. W'lli'jihiiwiliy; <;;iinf>t-a, Wiiilily lll-i'ilpll, W. .Howard lirooili.; i-dllol-. T.-il J:. Koill; wM. illi-i-i'lor. Wllllniii lloir.-ind: HoncH, JiTiline Kr-i-ii. I-:, Y. IIIU'lni'|-(;;'Ni>iii-o'And d| ii-dli»l. 11. .1. Sail PI-; urt'lipsU-.illiiii'a. I.'mnk SkliiiKi'. I'i'vvlru'cd.al rnrllmy rii-i-iQ, i3<-c. 1,1. ^-14. IlunniiiK llnu., HU MINS. Ciii-olinc, ■ ,.. r„'i\vriii'. HrPKOly , I,a(liani , 'Uoiipii.t, Spniiinr l-^i-oMi,,., ^llw Mi'liPun. .*Jiid ,'<ani;-,,.,',,.. ''ui-MI,-ili-H..,, ..Vinil i'ls...y ItiKPlow .Miirfilla):.,.'..'..., '.. llpniuin niirldn ..itubi-rl rulgp. ..'. .\klin •Canilrolt • . .Diiyld llriliro , ,l.4ronld KhiHkcy ,,,,,,lluy I'ollliiii ,,,.Jiin(i Vincent i.Alidl-PW TnmlH'H .'.'ItioiiiUH (iiinicz ...Clnin niiindick .. . . . .Olln Ilowlln .Ijpoi-^ro ('Ip.vplund Paramounfs b;iltciy of Claudctti^ Colbert and Fred MacMurray. with I Mitchell' Lt-i.sen producing-and. rii-1 reeling, makes "Practically Yours" practically a boxo'fTicc lincli. Pic is deft combination (if chuckles and hcart-throb,s, plus a sock pa- triotic, theme thai can't mi.s.s. Story has MacMurray brought back'from the Pacific after a one-ih-a-millibn escape when he put his N.ivy plane into a suicide (Jive fo destro.v a Jap carrier. Hero, iiv a radioed farewell to crew members of an accompany- ing bomber, lells of his devotion for Pe'ggy," in reality .hi,s pet dog. But the folks back home, who hear the itarewcll speech via radio transcripi- tion, jump to co.ndusion a former c6- workei" (Miss - Colbert) with- Mac- Murray in a N. Y. b.ilsiness office, was in his thought.<! \vhcn he put his ship into the "suicide" dive. . Well-meaning friends succeed In hooking the hero into marriage plans, and because they're so much in the public eye, the couple decides to keep up the pretense which, of course, soon becomes the risal thing. Situash is well-handled throughout and works for a full crop of laughs, Cecil Kellaway. as the, millionaire employer 'who "adopts" the (jouple; Isabel Randolph, his wife, and Gil Lamb; simp office worker, kick in neat support along with Robert Benchley, who handles his minute assignment okay. . Particularly worthy bit is that by Mikhail .Rasumny. as'an arty photog trying to instill .Some inspiration into MacMurray - and Mis.s Colbert ^while he snaps a "perfect ' lovers" pose. Film's only s6ng. "I Knew It Would Be This Way." is a pleasant prod- uct from Sam Coslbw, handled nicely by Jane Frazee in a, nitcry se- quence, her only appearance, Rose- mary Dc Camp, as the wife of a flyer who didn't come back, also de.s<!rvcs favorable hicntidn; Doim. Vi-ia lla>t-ll.-k. . I •ai I ri.riiiak ....... I -iiliilI,-.-!'* ..'........ Paul .loi-ilair Ii'-iji-- .-. WcMi. . . ,';. Ma,, lu ll. . Si|,..ii .Ilu-i-l.l .... Uali.-i- llilida.......... .\l..\..i- i-.ili I'l .-Idi'nl... l;a\ >-,llili' ai|il (l|,-li. : Vpi "Can't Help Singing" is a bright, colorful, and gay fllmusical. notable for the collection of new tunes by Jerome Kern and the - fine scenic mounting accentuated- by the TechniT color photography. It's Deanna Dur- bin's initial color starrer, and her first fllmusical comedy' vehicle. Pic- ture rates as fine "escapist" enter- tainment to hit hefty profits in all runs and holdovers generally. Kern's songs, with lyrics by E.-Y. Hai'burg, add much strength to the picture. "More and More" and "Any Moment Now" will .ris6 high In the Gentle Annie - . HolTO wleiwr uf nnlu rt Sli-k |)rodui'i|i>n ]-''vuturc« JaiiiPD i-'iaiv. Doitnft Iterd, Mm- Joi'lc Main, Itpiiiy MorKaii. I'mil r.HnRloii. llni-loii .Vfad>anp, .lolin .Plilllllicr iiml MorilK .\nk™iii, Dli-rrtPil liy A iidipw ,Marlon, Huupd. iii'foii novpl of Hahic niiniu. by XTuc- KInlny. Knhlor; nditptolloii, .Tja\vi-«noo ITnis- ard: pdllor. chpslor W. S< liapntcr; vainorn, Clioflps .Sulfino. l'|-pvl»>woil 111 .N. .y, Doc. 18, H4, nunnhiB iliiip,HO ,MINM. II: iil.',i U.ilMon ,.. i':iiRi'ii- I';,11. up' . \-| i :<' -V.iiillP . Illllll'll . l.ivliiK>|i.|l Sl.-iiltant,.-' |I.<;-lii-Uir .... Wiill-r I'.illi'U ... I.lii.v.l' I ..ii l-iKart . : i:i!lli 'I'l-, rv ..Willi.I III l'-i.,"lr-y I,.'in l.jl.1 ,. . . I .'i.liviv . . . .\ii.lii-.\- 'I-..1I-1.. •< lia, II.IIIA l.l\\,;IIH^ iiyal IhiWallallti, .. Ali'Ci.M'aii ,V ,Mai-k. rwinkl^'WailK, '('lio - .M'^l i y .M-lsl. ic. Ili.y il.lLLl'l.l. .' ' r;Ioyd. Rlclilnnd. .Nfiiry T.liiKPii...... Aiinlp (;oNn.....;. CullOnWOOU (iOHH,. Vliilp't Com.;.,.,,. .Sliorltf 'riiliini. niirnm*. . GanNby,,,,,,;, ,'\ ,,,raniCK Oi'jiiji ,,,,, ,1)tinnn ItfPd ... .^(m-Jorld Aliiln ,,,, ITpiiiy Moi'Kiin .,,, ,raul .T,iini;t'>n ,,)3nrton Miif*r.a|ip ,:.,.,To(m )>Ii|lllhpr , ,,>roi*i;l9 Ankrnm In the western category, "Gentle Aiinie" h.is received sufficient pro- duction values from JRobcrt Sisk, plus good performances, to iherlt fi- vorable. audience reaction. Picture'k not an upper-bracketcr but shoi£4 ■Republic has a nifty vehicle in "Lake . Placid Serenade." .Film is lavish display of spectacle, spe- cially iind girls with apparently the whole .studio, roster thrown into an essentially simple Cinderella story of loVely immigrant .skater, whd meets.her dream prince.. A .routine plot; and some very feeble humor, arc well offset by rich production numbers, .some fine outdoor .sellings and an attractive - cast. Pic,'with its' icc-.skating background, is a timely seasonal and holiday film, and will do good biz. Studio didn't stint o.n this one. There's an abundance of everything and sometimes a little loo much. For what should be subordinate comic relief to a :b6y-and-girl ro- mance, Republic has thrown in five comedians in Vera 'Vngue, Walter Catlett, Williarn Frawley. Andrew Tombes and Eugene Pallette, with only-thc last-named genuinely amu,s- ing and the other four (Tombes Is in for only a brief sequence) prac- tically wasted on stale gags and corny situations, . In a bewilderment of musical se- quences, ice ballets and gaudy pro- duction numbers, stiidio has included besides the legitimate ice specialties, the music of Ray Noble and his or- chestra and Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians. It even. drags in Roy Rogers, the cowboy .star, for a song sequence. Surprisingly enough, the Cinderella story, stands Out in spite of all the fulsome display:. This is- entirely^ due to the appeal of tlie film's star. Vera Hruba Riil.s- ton, a Cztfch professional. skating .star before she became a film actNiess, She's In her natural Element here in an- ice-romaiice. Lovely to look at. beautifully biiilt, and a graceful figure on skates. Miss Ralston makes an appealing ■ heroine, especially when clad in the quaint peasant'cos- tumes of her native land. A winsome duality heightens her Cinderella role. A ■ brilliant performance. on skates polishes film off to make it cs.sen- tifiUy a star vehicle for her. Story concerns a Czech village maid who wins the national skate championship and Is sent to America to represent her couiitry at a Lake Placid carnival. Outbreak of war prcvcrits her return, but discovery of a rich, lost uncle (Pallcttc) keeps ber from being stranded. When a love affali: develops between skater and her uncle's junior partner, and girl discovers the mian Is practically (Continued on page 17)