Variety (Mar 1945)

FILM REVIEWS W«daegd»y, Mwrch 21, 1943 Whheut JLove . linhiiy. ., - . 1'iiln' nilllUlif.il. .ililiiiv l-'i link SiiIMvkii. 11 -V.'-.V.. .Wiil.h, ir.. ;IH'i. liuO- ill Vh.vs }'.,! Jlllllil'llMll Klll> IiliuW-.. Vit-nini l...»i.l.,' I'mll linn II... K.lwiiKi i'.iIIIii^ I'l.'l. >>nr Cl lit/.. A nun h'li..i>-i- •: ■> J «':■•> isi I ■ i .. Kl''v;.l... ||.. Si t L" . . ... .siiiMi.ii-r Ti'-...'V . Kiiilim lno M'^il'iiVit ... .'.Lucille Hull ....... K * : r in: ■• \Vylin .,'..*, .l';irl |.>iiuinil ..-. .Pun icln Mot Isim '..'... .J-Yliv li. r>*.iri ,.:. .-.. !*:>*>iI- .Mi'ii^'.y . ?. .i:i..|-l:- . l.'.V.'ll.nil'* . . j\* i'i i.i\ l>Vvi.M . .■.■.Ill .uvr l'i»j:'lVil|rr .,.. .I'liinrv i.'im'nVV trh'rily. It is a mealy role and he fin- ishes it off with his usual aplomb. Miss' Bankheud, hs Catherine. :is .ex- cellent. FirSV' the \storming, irate, ru'lci'.. then ihe ardent': femme seek- ing new roniriivlic ativojilures. tljeh as the .fOrgivuig queen: who • knows her chancellor will handle every .situ - ation: she. is convincing throughout. " • .:. ■-■ -' . '■. Wciir. lloiiMe of !•'<»«r- Competent. (roUping -aodHopflight production make ••Without Love', a' bosofl ice click despite "some - basic'■: plot faults. And. of course, Hepburn : Tracy on the marquee; ain't exactly b.o. poison. '. ' : - v . But there's ho gainsaying the gen- eral obviousness of it-.alt-; along with a somewhat stslic plot basis..-True; adapter Donald Ogden Stewart has brought it lip the minute-iji a 'war- time Washington locale; .but the;The.- alre Guild production* ;of . Philip Barry's play was fundamentally un- certain. There is a lack of conviction de- spite the adult -trooping: of': the lady scientist who aids the ^enllemanV scientist. It's a foregone conclusion' 1h.it behind, their mutual shells, of yesteryear amours, they'll clinch eventually. Hers was.the idyllic love; loo shortlived.' but '..a ' /perfect two years, until his death:- and -Tracy's love life is something out of a.Paris-. Ian past. ■ '. .'." V< A bit of that long arm of coinci- dence crops up when the slick men- ace, well done by Cari Esmond. : of Madrid; New York; D. C, ;>rid;pbints" east; happens to. want to rent Miss Hepburn's house. Ditto is the 'acci- dental doubling-up .on-a rainy night in a D. C. taxi, vyltich-throws .Tracy' together with the tippling Keenan Wynn. whose cousin is Miss Hepburn-:-: . Hence Tracy bivouacs -in- the house which he shortly takes over as a lab-:, oratory for a new aeronautical oxy- gen helmet'. . ■'•"'',- i '-. Interspersed is an -intelligent pooch who has been trained to-curb Tracy's somnambulism, which.. is 'planted- early for boudoir; usage later: Sbitie^ how this is inconsistent wjth 90 stoic ■ character as Tracy, but somehow,, also, it's made acceptable, as is the squabbling Wynn-Patri'cia • Morison business, and tHe .rest -o( lit. All of- which is wholly to the; cast's cr,ed.il. : ; Usual lush Metro appurteriaiices, Including a very fetching Bronislau Kaper musical setting. : Abel. % Hoval «««iindal *<••»• Kox l>l«lii.» nf • Krnm t,ul>iu.'ll pro- diK-liun. .Slum Tiiltilliih HiinMit-ml. J'huiltK Cnl.llin. Anne Hii'tlel'. Wllliiiili, BJIhe: fi>n- Tine* Vliiifiu. l>i|i- t . .Ui„h;i Aiieiy Nig L nil- mull. Ylnillinli . Suhnliiir. .MlkllKll Rnauninr/ Din-.if.l i.y oihi PiviitinKer. s.»iceh|i|nv. Kilwin .liiHiim Mn>i>i-:' .idi,iilc.l l>v ili-iuin' KibiiH hum h piny l>\- I.hJum Ijlni. .Mrl.-hlor I.iiiisyfl; -join-™, A 1:1 IIin- Miller: villiur, 1'.niilhy . S|ifni7>r. Ti'iKjtKliuivn' In 'N. -V... Xlunh HI. N.V K111111I11K Hi,,,.; »4.-.MINK."' Til*. t*7..irlnii < - li.iii.-|.|l.,r ... Aiiiih Aluel " M;h-i,iiI» ile l-'Mny i'ii|iluiii Suh.iv-.... CpiipviiI lt>.n>|,v. .. Ahiliiknfr I'Ulv. r,».ll. ii'Ii .i. IMn.li'i-liini,* illn -I I!, ilil.iiiii'. XlKt-I ■W.i 1 lii-v;.. 'U* iinl^ ('lr..ft-.|V.|-. l-ii) 1 |l o : ■IV.'.I :, •'llllli'lll;. A- r:., <>..i-.hi.i; Al 10. m;.. liuiii'iiiiK Sin i-)i> -k. I liilnWx. I i.iVinr >\ inVi.ii ,-., .Mil sin ii'.'.,.: . tiil'Ho. .'^ ..... Siili- li •.Mt-i'i-iIi'. , Alfill,('i»>.i;inv , i*. .It'-'ltl .Si|V)|>|.,lll. ; . J .\'||->V Nrnilli Till:.. .: ('1iii)ii)^is. ... AIi'mhi ,Mil.-li|-i yiir A1.J5 .M:ui:i'i.K.,r. . ■ ll..y \Vi|li;iiii. .<iiil|- l- X..ill. .slaW. Iliikll' -■i;:. lisililii.^ AiViii-V-'y • :•: S!.i,:.,iiiii:i>, ■ K'ii>' .\|l;hnii i'i..i;iii JLtyli-' .11 ililir: f.lil.iil-. 'Sniil <. ■ Y \\>-i>-\ .'lif AI..V. Ii , li» MINS. ■.-.i'-,l;:i.-ll ll:llllll.>l>i< . . .. .. . . .Nlt.i'l Ullll-C . . : .'. . Alii"11 V .MnilllT , i.jiiiiiiiihjlinH-' '.;.: .::l'i|jl|-l':i\iVnJiull ...-.'».Ili.ilnu-K.lliil.i-rf ,\ . . .'■. Il:."i|v' i.'.ii.linir . ... . . .S.rllV Slll'l'lll ril. ...:.... ,<:.-n'ln 1 Stttli- ..:'... l-"t"i■•!If - llilllrr . . v .. .'. IJu'viil Civil;: Tarxnn and AmazonN . . RKO 'ivleps?' iif siil. '.Kexier: iii-ojiii-.itfin. Sln'|-ji -Jiilihny \V.ej»uimiili>r;' ^HiViiiln ...loyi.-o'. Jiilmuy shi-ITIeld.- S( : i-m.n|iliiy.-' Mkiih. .Iiu-vbv-' ;inil, MiiiJ.liif I,. Pritclzri : li»K«il ( ii\ i-Iiki-- Hi;Leis ciet(l*'l by Krt'uiir Kirt. Kurminhii: oamei'-H. A.Mile Stout; illrfi-^or. Kii'ii .\Vu-' nfnnn: .qdlln'i-, -HiiIi^li. 0. OiHUiiiill. '"Ti'ii.Ii'- Khuvvii N'. T., MhicIi 10. 'V>. rUilinliiK rliiif;. 78 .M1N». .Tavxnn, t ...,,.-..;:.: .Jolinny AVeiwuililiei- Jfllte... ..'.'. ; .. ,S. ,..'. .'. : ^ :-. .'llreuilH .Tovr#r Buy..-............,.......;,. .lulmny Sliftiriciil Henitei:N4in :.-..: HfniV. -SiepWnituii AitiHx^n.Qiifen...... ...'.. .\liii-ik;bii!<penHkiivii : Balllnt*r... . ......:...'.. ,Bhi4(iu: J)g( hunt AndreK.... ...v...-..-..nnH/DnuglnK Spirvfi-M....;.. , ..1. : if. -Kei rJiiuii AlliUlH.......:., . ,;..... .Shh l^y O'Hatji Brennejr-.........Sifv»n (ici^y Tiilluliili Hidlhlieliil . . .(il.-irlPM Coblii-i) ;..,.:-, A line. • liiix i el* .. ... wniiMih .Kyilnv. . >.-f-V-iili:l.|\l.. ^Vl(-|. . . . .< . . M llil-liil . .Vuoi'. ..... .site - niiniiih - >■»■-. .'Vliiiihnir. Snknliiu* t>i imkf ii I it-1 if I-* I ... . .Mlklliill ll;i tilliin\-- «•» i» 7.~T7.T.... .IiIkIIv sviiiT.ir Vn rl:. I ln»ky ,. Dun n.ni tli.H WilUKlllkoW .jftgit IIIW.llf I' "A Royal Scar/dal" <s a highly. Kilarious comedy. The skill and un- erring flair of Ernst Lubilsch for deftly handling sophisticated male- rial holds solid throughout. Add to this, superb perforhiances by Tallu- lah Bankhead and Charles Coburn. In particular, and the wit of the orig- inal play by. Lajos Biro and M.el- chior -Langyel, and'it all adds up to fine screen entertainment. Film will click everywhere.V . - ' This version- of Catherine the Great's saga turns out to be a farce of real proportions: although never eclipsing the Czarina as an.extremely vigorous personality. sin-rounded by palace intrigue and a . parade of lovers.. Lubilsch and director.'Otto Premingcr haye'- neatly interwoven the court intrigue with - her . w:k. amorous proclivities: -The Mr.eam' of captains Of the palace guards is pointed up somewhat briskly. . Yarn concentrates oh ' imjjeiuous William Eythe, yo'uii^ cavalryman, who has ridden-three' days and[ tiighLs to warn the Czarina about two plot- ting generals. Because he admittedly is not tired after his slrcntious ride. Catherine ignoros his impqtuosUy. and slight dumbness to . have; him await a noeturnal inleri/iew. - Thai Ihis inlerviow is successful i*-borne out by .subsequent-.events as Eythe is rapidly- pyramided''.Mi-jit lo com- mander of Ihcrjtuards and. uitimat'ely to rank of general. When the Czarina: actually falls in .love Wilh.;Eythc, she banishes Anne Eaxlor, 16. Whom he is engaged and 'who is . a Jady-in- wailing lo Calherilic; Pa>-arr',':is a plan to seize the throne '-whieh is thwarted by. Eylhe, .so he ahd Mis' sweetheart arc foii'lven as-Catheriiie launches on a new roihance-.witlv a romantic marquis ri'om Frahce. . Throut'l) the whole story the adroit maneuveririi'' of Charles. Coburn. as .Mi* p.»-.".. '<; 1. ii,,. . ..i.,,.- -.„• Another of the . Basil Rythbbne- ■ Nigel Bvuc,e, Sherlock Holmes-Div Watson-mysteries in the light-budget \vhodunit vein for Ihe diialld.rs, this; one is belter llian ' average, ■' ■ v avn deals with the disappearance., of. all' members- of "The.-Good'Com- rades'. Club.." except one. -who sup- posedly is' to jlThertt .the . insurance policy- covering the' sroup. : . Holmes is. called' iiV,.ahd with 'the- >i',d of TJr; Walsbii, finds Several • cities -\yli.ieh lead , to.' Ihe ...nnding; of ;lhose \vl)o, faded IrOm sight;, in a. secret hiding: place In the'cellar oi a large English- mansion.'. '■': ' ■'■ .-■■' .- nathbone and Bruce go. through their paces in the usual oh-so-Brit- ish manner, aided' by Dennis Hoey. as the 'police inspector, and Aubrey Malfie'r,' as ther surviving .member.: Settings, are substantial, djalog' trile: at times but- interesting enbujgh.' The. camera work by- Virgil. Miller could have been belter. S(en. The-usual- Tarzah.adventures have been screened in an African setting, with the .three stars' doing a good ■job, and the supporting cast perform- ing competently. A good dualer. ; Story cbneerhs. Tarzan's. efforts -to keep, faith. with mysterious Palmy- rians whose. valley hideout is peopled only by' women. Queen of the-'Aitia- ?.0ns' trusts Tarzaiv knowring he: will heVer reveal: secret. ; . ' ■ ■ Umvittingly; the Tarzin household chimpanzee, Cheta. reveals to group of. Europeans that Palmyi-'ians are somewh'ere in - the neighborhood. Group, composed of scientists and a co'^iple"of. greedy .traders, are led- to the hideout by Tarzanl's son. In: de- nouement^ Europeans war against (he.women, allJiut/.two ar e killed.. Tarzan traps remaining two in quick- sand, rescues his erring son' whom the Amazons have meanwhile sen'/ tenced to death. Photography is-good, and African wildlife is pictured smoothly.. AH three stars dp some gpod swimniingi and Chela is very engaging. Fury in the Pacific "Fury in lhe.Paciflc'- , :is a must for ev^ery.'American-Ua r»st-mov-' -ing. factual report on' the fight- ing in-the .Pacific which every . theatre operator in the U. S: should book, and fast. It tells the moving,.gripping story.of the price being paid- in blood, by Hie American nation, for the victories on the approaches lo Japan. _ It's concise.' awesome, unfor- . gcttable:" Aiid it will do -more'■ IP bring home, to the. people the:, fact that •.'There's a war st,ill go- ■ing on',! than any curfew. Con- versely, it's also effective' in making necessary - Wlirtime re- stricllohs on Ihe "' home front easier to. ilridersland.and to' bear,. "Fury", is the first filni lo be- . produced Jointly by the Ariiiy, Navy, Marine Corps; the Air Force, and Ihe Coast: Guard. .' g . Nine or the camera, crew of 39 under the direction of Com- mander. Bouncy M. Powell, USNR- fell- ia--batHe during the Riming-of the invasion of Peliliu and.Angiiar islands in the Paia'us ■: group of Japanese Mandalc'd Is- - ; lands. 500'riilles from the PHIt'p-': . pinei . One: of ' the crew tvas'. killed;. .Released through - the Office of War rnfbrmalion. the film pulls no punches. '. Corn.- - ihan'der Powell produced.. - : , ''FuVy" .is being distributed "by Warlici: Bros-, tor the' War Aetiv- ' itios Cbmmillce . of; Ihe jnotlon ' . pi/ turc.-iiv.Ui.slry.. Runs -20 niih- -' y {n * .. ' . , ;f f ,ri. ' Miniature Reviews • "Without Love" (M-G). Hep- burn-Tracy insure strong box- . office.. '■'': '■'^r'- ; -' ■ • "A Royal Scan-}al" < 20th). Bankhead. ^Coburn, Eythe. in strong. LiibitSch :farce coniedy; ■ big boxufike. --' • ' ' 'House of Fear" iUV. OK Sherlock Holmes series dualler. "Tarzan and the Amaxons" (RKO). Aii OK twinner. " . "GI . Iloneynipon'* - (Mono). . Lusty.' ,'cohiedy,- just, short of. risque okay dualler.' :• "The Man Who Walked A lone" ■'-iP'r?0>:'-'A humorless;'diialeiv--.: • Walt for ^Me" •: (Artkino) •.fSoiigs). GOot^ \-tpr special arty ' houses. - - ■-'■■■.■. :'. : . ■' "The Kid Sister" (PRC). Light comedy,' nice dualer. ■ - : ; - tit Honeymoon. Moii.'^f-;itii-.- rfUMijie ■-n(- ; f.liiilslfy . I-JK-.HM in-iiiiiri'lluM: . ShiiTt-' (In le 'Slui-nV; 1 r«Hllli'i'H ri'ifi- i:i.uSsi,.)i. .iilvoi-lfil-liy t-liM K':iili-ii.'lii.; S»-iei.uiiliiy:.' i(l,'h:i.i-il .W^U.^.Ir,: inlanli^d ri.iiiu. I'li.y: i.y <\. J. Iliililfn.-.Huiifji rinu'ihi nni" Ujii-Ici]. ruk^ .IiiI^ii<iiii.-:- ii<l<lli1nii:.it.-- : (llHlji)<.: -I-iiji' :|t\':in: ,-;ii(i<.i<n', lljtrry' .Vfimi-iiin: I'lli* liM-.jili-U:il:i] furilfi.; Al II l\'() \ (llf f.- HrffnlC-' l)ii. X. v.; w.-i'lt M .Mnj-vli 1*-tttIm-— linn-- limit \imii US .MIXS. .: Ann Iioli-.'. .'.. . Kin. . ■;.;.. TllnU'Ci'.:...... Ai-i-.-... .. .V. ijiviiiin..-. ; :, -.. I .[< |ll_ Itll ll.liLlI . .Iniiiiii....i :.M|-h. Hni'/nti.:'. )\f y. 1-lin'nfP.; '. Ciil. .Sniiiii..;..;; ■.Mi'n. Sniiih llulf Sl .-. -. I.v \ci: |-'iiiikhiin' .....:. ...-.:Aril-\e-.iiiil£-i ... •:.. ,»'>!■ tik.v.teiifc*. ... '.'.-.-.■.ilpfimie C'nwiiii* ...:.. VhViiilti. Hi-isHii-;: ..';..';.: ... Unliilf I-j|»\v4h ,...... . ,,«HII ll<lilK|'n». ..:../..... ,Rli|Ji l,fe .:....:. Anilif w T.imljf m; .'.. ;, . .-ilunHllirfii HTiliv .... ; .;...... . IwlH A'ii-*ihr .InUli ..Villf nliilft' ■Ninjiil-. Hl'rtivii. .'. .. ...;; .-.m|ill ..viilf llllim ^ll i-."Ilviwii......;..... ....: .I'liilrfl W)llriif,y '.Cn-iiy "Sif l.n. . SorHl.: Hlil'rl|-:i|i .,. . |.'|-.-i.nk SKivi'ii-i . ..liii'k 'Oyfriiinn A fairly , lusty : corncdy,. skillfully kept from verging on the .'rlsqije,' tliis low-budgeter is acceptable fare as a minor dualler:'' ■' ■ GI. couple's efforts to '.consummate, Iheirv-marriage . is being constantly frustrated..-.'.throughv.various/ arhiy emel ; gehcies.' When bridegroom isn't suddenly assigned to oVernight-duty, jusl'as. gal- has dbniied loveliest neg- ligee.' he's tod tired to'care after xei lurning-ft'om 37.-mile.hike'.. . - :' . Hilarious scene comes when gam-' j?ler, who- has gi udBe' agaih'st.bride, manages-through witless assistant to trap .husband's superior officers; and at'-leasl a company of plain Joes, in newly weds' apartment which : used to be gambling' joint and has been declared • out of bounds. Husband goes to the clink; But bride's spinster a'uht. who had been the girl-friend" of young- man's colonel in -first'-world war,' helps cleat; up -the situation. ■ ■ - Script is lightweight stuff: and- dia- log undistinguished,- But direction is :smobth and acting' good throughout, an especially good job beings turned •in by Jerome-Cowan as the. gambler' and Frank .Jenks as. his assistant. The Man Who Walked Alone -P)»C i-flVaye nr T.fon I-SoinkV-s imiiliintluiV, Sflilry IJii vfii iVBi leii. Kny Alili idije;: 1 (f«. I iil-ir!* -Will l hi;. .I'Hilfi 11 nil- Giiiiiiv (Big Buy) -WIIII-iniN. ■Wrlilf-n hint illi:fi-le<l l,y'CliriHl^ Oibiiimf':' .fiiinfi-ii. jiiniPH-Biinvii. At ,\'e\v Vork. x. ; y,„ wf«k u( Sljiivh ;i7. . n«o- ninK (inif. 14 MIXH. •■ I'lii. '.Mill-lull .Scull..., XVDIu-lmlnii- Htinlini'iiiil Wlicsiim.........:,... ('llHlii'i Mm. 'HHiiiniuliil'..;. Alvlii.' Bully.;.... .. ■I*-i I I'lfili Hn nniiiiii'il. 'Audi '. lliiiT.lp I Mr. .Mniirop. :■..;... .\lrfi. .Mopi'-if...,.'..... .. Diiylil d'Bi'ifll . . Kiiy. Alilrhlkf ........Wnller CaU<-U . .. .Biif. Hoy WllllKjni. ; Imilifl K-,ni(lnliih j ..-........ SinliV>',Hiili'riT~ Ntini-y .iunp ItohlnNiin ,..,.....'.;.: Kiiih [>t .. :...... i'ln-»ll>i' ClOli' ...?..',Vlyliin Oiiklnnil Wait for M* (RMtUn-Mada) ■ '- (lONOB) Ailklno r*lrmi«' of .V'inlml jilt SludlOR (Alnm Alu. (ISHIl). pi-oduollon. : Kemulf* V;il«niliiR. SerovH, Boi li Bjlnov. T.«v Sv»rfl- ilp,' HfiiipnplHJ', Kon-il»n(ln Slinonov; Kni- 'lli-h .llHlo-t mill lyrk'ti (hroimhout ,hy Mllii -Kbk'pli: jtiiiHli*, :Xlk.nlnl .KHMkov: . cHinei'n; s. ■ ItnbAhhkln: 'rinileNliowii, X;' V.V' Mnivli 14. KuiiiiliiK (Imp, H7 M1XH-. - , . i;iaa'.. ....;.. VRlciulnji flmoVR Nlkoliil. ,v...,... :.'.: .Boiln Blliiuv MMiii'. i. ........ .T^V.rSvsraKir AinliVl. i. ..Vlknlnl. N«sv«'iuiV' Si'iiilii.-...'.,,..'.......'...;:,. .'.^NI'iIh 'Xornkolii rVilin,.;, ;:... ...,...'.'. , ,... Plnlr.:aiiiogii Jliifln.::.:...;.',, . ..• • • •.'Biwiii Tliipklou: I'm 11 Ifnn:..,, ,.. f,'.....,...-Aliloji ..M«rl?lioV - ...Unii. SlnnvllVll ;:., :^]tx Aii'iblon: PiikIiii'.C .:. , Ixilllllfl'. In the hands: of some people with a sense, of humbiy tfve - material- of which this picture, is made qoiild have been a passable, fllrh. something along the. lines of "Hail the Con- quering- Hero." As it stands. It's a humorless piece that doesn't manage to emerge--froni the stockpile for a single moment; A minor dualer. . S.tory centers about medically dis- charged.pbrporal Who had decided-to settle in the hometown of a dead buddy. ..WalkiiigVtoward the town, he is-given a lift by a rich girl Who had taken: her .'fiance's'-par for a getaway from the': mail's she'd prefer; not to marry. They get piwehed itwice. once foiv,being. injjie automobile that had been reporte'd stolen, agaih for tryiog •o climb into the gal's country home' through, a. window.. :, Hero is' suspected by girl's family ; of being a deserter and. is so reported I to ,cOps. Biit iiislead Of a posse, there ■ come the police band; .plus rtiavor ' and governor, lo greet the returned 1 hero. • Girl' who sworfe she wb'tiid I never man* the other guy/had sonic-- [how got i)ilo,'her. wedding gown.-just Vthe'-sartie,"and ends "iip ridin j in' the ! pai-ade besides the ebriDorai. Nolhiiig. i particularly .wrong with any of- the I cast. ;biit there is hbthinc o>it<Uiiid- ; ing with any of them, cither. . - GRANT BOWS IN 'HEAVEN' '.;.' ';". Holly wood,'March 20; •. Fh;st job by• jack Graiii in his new, capacity as associateVprbdti'cer a i PRC will .be 'Two XicR'e'ts-.to.'.S'ea^-.' en," tale of a night club, starting March 31, '.. ^ ;•.. , Meanwhije./Grant-is readying 1 his second. ' p'rodtVutibn,!,. a yarn ■ .jibout American railroads in' wartime, • > •', ; (Eng)ish difllop niid soii(/s voiced (diiblied): by Dbifiio Kenth,. Aler- nnder Scourby, . Snn/ord Meisner, •Puiil ' Man ii, Eupenle Cjiapel, Bvron McGrnili, Grnci Coppiii, Louis Sbri.n, B«ijb«y<t! ■■Fii.liVr; iVjlt Hare, . Bill Qiitil.il.): '.•: :"' '■ ■■'' •'; ' ' • Iii"-Wait for Me"; the Russians have focused Ihejr cameras on the home front; producing a film 1 hat's as ia- l'erostii.ig : to. Americans as.it is to the Kremlin folk. Theme is the^faithftilr ivess, oi', \Mce .versa,: oC the : soldier's- little woman back home.' Looks like ; a good shot for houses specializing iii Sov'iet fare. - . Story • centers about Russian air- force major (Boris.Blinov);and; his blonde ■ .wiife t I Valejitiiia.^ Seroya);- When he .is! officially reported miss: ing after a'.crash behind the Nazi I iniSis. -she insists.. he's "alI ve.' and w.i II coine back. Keeping the home fires burning, she throws. JierSelf into: ;home defense : work:; laboring in a waiplant.. digging -trenches, for clhe defense of Moscow.-meanwhile shun- ning all male .attention.- A year to the day later, he returns, tickled to find she had kept faith. • A • thin- but pleasant little • song weaves its way through , the story. dubbed.vin;th'e American.^version, by Ddniia Keatli. The'me. of. the song, as Of ;the entire picliire. i^ a pbeni by Simonov which -sold -over 1.000,000 copies in the Soviet Union, <lnd : to which 18 Russian composers had set music. \ . ■'.-"..'■ •: ; On the whole, smart-scripting'and even, production have made, the pic- ture unusually nostalgic and. linmelp- dvainatic for a Russian war 1 ftlm, ; , Juxtappsihg:'. the •: -faithful Ayife,'s staunchness is aonlhe-r , war: bride ■who drowns her -sorrows over. Tier "missing'' husband in wild parties, until -he returns lo discover her in- fidelity. TWO sequences may. seem a bit ham'my to more sophisticated Anierioan audiences, ..In one. the hero,'turned 'Partisan, wipes out ah entire, Nazi outpost.'.single-handed. 1 In the,'other,. Lev .Sverdlin spoils ail otherwise excellent performance with a remark'directed tob. uns'ubtly to the audience rather than to.'the cast. : But these little'blemishes don!t mar the fact .that all of the principals turn lii ,a very good job, With Sv'erdlin. as a warfroht photographer and pal of the flier, doing best of all,. ; the Kid Kln<«>r PRC-i'»'|nMHe iit Sli(MHin(l \*eit(i*Ul prodiir- llyn. : mor«'Ro«er. Pryor mul .hidy <;lfttk: feHdneji Kiiink" .l.enkx,'. (VhhI nitre ^"ii nh. Oli'.oi'tNl liy Sum Np\v(1pI(I. Scii*r»|i]iiy. Fi'piI Myl*>»:. fainer«. '.!H»neji Hnm-n, . At Ni»\v Viiik,' N. V.. week of .Mti^;h 17, ^r v uiiii- iiink Mine, ftft M^NH. . : ' J; AWililn HnritM K ; ..'. ,\ y . :', . .Roger IVyrtr ;iTnnn JirtlllriKiwOilli.. ... ,'.Tii(ly. t'lnrk KOu'l Hr>HiiiK*w<jrl)r..Ooiixliini-o \Vui (I) Rirrulur. . ... I'Vnnk -Teak* Mli llrfipl. (Iia <VlK.- •>.-.... .Tt'rtiNiy piiKtih *ritiniiiy........:......'.:«;.«- TlU-iuwd' Byron Mr*i. WltffilitH/.. .'.■..Mliiev^i I r rec:i1 Aft*. Mull Imb)»w'9i t Ik-. . i. . ;... Iluih . nuliliifmn .l\.ni.-Ai; -: 1'■- ■ pri yfrV Wyniif* . This- Is an example of a good; light 'comedy, done/well on a very tight budget. Nice supporter on a dual bill. '' ; ■ ^. ' ' - .. • . Yoimgei- of two daughters who's been brought ,up according to the psychology book .decides she*s grown up and' goes after, - the man. whom 4 Col. Blimp' Running, two hours: and 43 , minutes in its: original version ' , as shown in England almost' two . years ago, Areher. Films' "Life : and Death of G61. Blimp"-(Brit- ish-made). has been cut. IS min- . ■ Utea for- American cbnsumptibh. as trad'eshb.wn in : .N.-. Y.. 'March 16. 1945: Starring Deborah . Kerr,. Roger tivesey and Anton Walbrook, it's been produced, ■ 'directed, and authored bv Mi- - cheel Powell, and- Emeric Pi-ess- • . burger. •.- ,': '' ■■ ■■?'. Jplo,; irr "Variety," June 23; "1943, reviewing the pic in L'on- doh; called - it, *' ; . an excellent. • film whose -basic story could' . have been told within horrhal ■ feature limits.. .carefully and intelligently Written. . directed "• and prodiicedj .and 'should rank . - as an important feature in Amer- ' : lef"' .:•' : - vl, 'Blimp" is ;the story 6l, ah English army, careerist, fromi the ' Boer War to Ihe present one. and- deals'with the'stuffihess and ...long-siiice dated : 'owtlook '(in- ; cludlng-^for a. tlme-r-a t,6o-(Qler- : '• ■ant. attitude towardsthe Qer- , ■■».:mans) by which they continued . to operate milifarlslically.. • To / these ,,Low, the famed : British .. caric'elurist. fastejied the ap- pellatibn of. "Col. Blimps,",a title ■ . that Jolo correctly suggested .would tneaji nothing outside of . . England for boxbfflce purposes. mama had tabbed for older sister Judy Clark plays the youngster very well, and the rest of cast, suppoi ta her capably, . ■:/: • • .."..>.' At reception for the older girl's cool swain, the kid, who'd been or- dered to stay in her room; crashes ' the. .gate, by posing as the family maid, She. jets 'herself: embroiled with a burglar (Frank Jenks) who takes her for a. moll working .'the- same racket,. She and. the burglar wind up at the hbme of-the mairi- monial catch later In the night. There's no reason for this.: but ifg all dbiie sp; smoothly, ar»d the ensuing comedy is so engaging, thai no one ' should mind the lack of logic. In the end, of cdurse, the 'bright young- ster had taken the man away from the older sister. . . .: ■',... ; Women of the. cast arc best. Com- ing close to Miss Clavk's, good work ' ,ls, the job .done by Miheiwa. Urecal ■ and. Peggy; Wynne. Script never tikes its. light material too seriously; - production is in same vein; and the short' running :tirne helps- make .the ' whole thing palatable... ; Continued from pare l dangers of whichi-vverie discussed'at- the Isst-Hays: office meeting dI'U; s,' ' foreign department heads, ' French' ofliciais could block topnotch' • flfriis it it becomes necessary as a prdtec- . live measure for native fU^ti produc- tion. • Discrimination . agaiitsU 'any one distributor is also possible un-; der the regulationywhlch/U. S. film execs believe,.should be adjusted to conform, with' wartime' and postwar conditions. ; Pointed out by American distribu- tion reps that regular French- cen- sorship has always been hot merely reasonable but even liberal. Decrees of this 'type,.'hbwe'yer, ire'.cphsidr ered, in ieffect an arbitlary form of, additional censorship. As one exeo put it, "It gives more power lo-bu- reaucrats who can bar many pic- • lures' even if the censors a'piprove them." ' : ' '• - Whiley'the-'esti.hiate-.-'Or.-il^'l.pr.Oi': ductiphs does, not -.include rill; jilms. produced in the U. J S„ during' the period: referred to, it is considered as about the number believed- suit- - able : for export. ; • ;: v '' If the ban is not modified some of the greatest- artistic and commercial films.produced in the U. S. during Ihe war years would never be shown in France. Simultaneously, the. rul- ing would necessitate a readjustment ' in- calculations of major dihiribs who^ haye flgul'ed. on the huge slock of Alms, which have never been dis- ti'ibuted'in many foreign areas, as a : backlog which would yield •'velvet'' revenues for the next five years. Much of .the potential revenue bi some $20,000,000 ^ annually from this source would have to be written off. Spanish Customs Penalizing restrictions are also re- ported cropping up in other foreign lerritpiies. Spanish officials are re« . ported 1 holding up free distribution of American films even -whera permits have.. been issued for . such .importations. Practice in - Spain • Is' for a. U. S. major to purchase!'"tt".na- live film for say. 100,000: or 150,000 pesetas in return for which a.permit is given to import an American film.- Spanish authorities, however, while . hot declaring such permits per- manently invalid now require that all outstanding permits be pre- sented for revalidation before U. S. films can be imported. Once,-a per- mit, is presented for revalidation : Spanish officials hold up okays sys-' lemicaily to.regulate and slow jlown. the.flow of XJ.-'S. product:into Spain, •. As a vesulti U. S. dollar balances ac- cruing to film companies in Spain are. kept at a minimum;. In Middle East-territories, under- stood, that, practice pf chaVging. up various costs of theatre operation to Ij. S. dislribs Is reported gl-pwihlf: In ■ one area a percentage .of the film : rental is deducted for die upkeep " an exhibitor organualion. 'In. an- other Ihe increase in cost • of ;livin|i. which 1 necessitates a wal'iime cost- of-living bonus lb employees in lhe- : ■ aire operation, is charged up to dis- Iribulors. - '. -That Casbah .Cut. - , v French- aulhpr.ifies at Algiers liAve: stopjjed licenses for the imporlalioa':. of fj-.'. S.. .films' , in . North. ATr.lca.' Pending a decisioit frrtin officials hi ■ Paris, exception ' is being made ■ far pictures' on propaganda or;.,HfH.slic. merits. .' ;' ' ■ ■ ■ ...'■..'". : "-"::'. ;. : ; ' > "' Under this procedure all U. S. films destined for North Africa miist' be shipped Arst 16 Paris for censor- ship and other French Government cer.ti.ficaiibn, .If app'rbylid in Pa l is BliVis may .then; be. shipped to North Africa -if transportation facilities are available. . ■■' '■..:--.?;:..;