Variety (Apr 1945)

20 PICTURES Wednesday, April 11, 19|,> All-Star Bond Short, 'SfHringfield' Tolerance Pic Have Socko Appeal By ABEL GREEN ♦ Two ex;.aordinary 'shorts are available to the Htm industry, both previewed this past week. One is titled "All-Star Bond Rally." a 19- minule subject with a cast that reads like a benefit bill, and. or course, is geared for the 7th War Loan. No question about its importance and value for every theatre, every exhib- itor, every fan. But equally important is Warners' short <20 mins;). "It Happened in Springfield," written and directed by Crane Wilbur;, produced by Gordon Hollingshead. This is a socko appeal to decency and Americanism, an ex- position of American democracy and racial tolerance at work. It should iorever muzzle any potential bigots. It presents the famed Springfield (Mass.) Plan for promoting civic har- mony by .teaching the youth of America from its formative ages on ■what brotherly love really means. Not for naught will the •■•Youth on Parade" program on a nationwide hookup of 80 CBS stations April 28 pay tribute to Hairy M. Warner in recognition of his efforts in prodiic: ing "Springfield." Not for naught has the Warner Bros, prexy broken a lifetime practice and written his first direct-lo-lho-exhibitor letter m'ging maximum dating of this vital short. llope-Crosby-Slnatra-Kibber, et Al. Back to the "Ail-Star Bond Rally." Darryl F; Zanuck produced it for the War Activities Committee of Motion Picture Industry for its participation in the forthcoming 7th War Loan; Tom Connors. 20lh-Fox distribution veepee, is distrib chairman of the drive. Fanchon proditced: Michael Audley directed: Don- Quinn au- thored: James Van Trees photoged; Alfred Newman did the ' musical score; Fred Serscn was on special ef- fects; Emil Newman, musical super- visor; Stanley Rabjohn edited: Tom W. Baily was a production coordi- nator, and Jimmy McHugh and Har- old Adanison wrote the stirring "Buy a Bond" theme song which distin- guishes this Short. Get this cast: Bob. Hope emcees: participating are Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Fibber McGee & Molly, Harry James' band. Betty Grable. June Haver, Linda Darnel). Vivian Blaine, Jeanne' Crain. Faye Marlow, Harpo Marx and Carmen Miranda. Not just walk-ons or walk-lhroughs either. The enlireriD minutes are so skillfully meshed and edited that only Marx's harp solo seems a shade overboard. This is a marquee mouthful which should make every exhibitor lick his chops at the prospect of playing it. Idea is to get widest circulation, and Connors states that the normal 687- print allotment has been upped to 1.200 prints, so as to get exhibs to show it at every show, not just the quickie supper shows, etc., prior to the Bond pilch. . With V-E day virtually here, it is feared that a possible formal armis- tice may cause a cessation in Bond- buying at a time when the need is so great. From practical show biz and ODT. perspectives, this j:un 7 packed 19 minutes should forTend the idea of Hollywood stars' bain- storming, unless absolutely neces- sary, to hypo dwindling sales. This is a canned all-star, gala show avail- able to all. For free. And for Uncle Sam. ,% As for "Springfield." a competent cast, comprising Andrea-King, War- ren Douglas, Charles Drake, John Oualcn. William Forrest and. Arthur Hohl, depicts what mob hysteria tan do to .stir up neighborhood hatreds against.peaccloving. foreign-born cit- izens. In this case Qualen is the be- loved storekeeper. John Knudson. with a son i Warren Douglas), wounded in action, -returning to see his father's shop vandalized. Miss King! as the Springfield' schoolteacher, takes the GI and his buddy to the Mass. town to prove how, at the Charles Brookings School, the town has fought and won its fight for racial tolerance. It's a a tiptop exposition, not too preachy, replete with attention-getting, hard- hitting action. One of the deftest production nice- ties is when the film goes, silent and only shows the hatemonger's distort- ed features as he spews forth his poison. There's the message also that if children didn't assimilate the pho- bias and prejudices from their elders they'd, be unaware of any hates. It's all well gotten across. Carroll Signs Engel Hollywood, April 10. Harry Engel, former casting di- rector at Republic, signed with . Earl Carroll to represent the night club operator's properties for film pro duction, as he did in the recent case of "Earl Carroll's Vanities." Deal also calls for Engel's assist ance In Carroll's theatrical enter prises after the war. Film Reviews Continued from page 14 s Tlie Bullfighter* of exciting crowd shots with fight- ing, bulls running wild through a crowd of aficionados. "Bullfighters" will deliver its share of laughs but not much more.. Domi. I.«>fcvc It to Blondie (SONGS) •iillimlnii vi-lciiM* of Hurl Kelly inoililif linn.-; l-Vainifs I'cnny S.lni;li:lun. AriUni- l.ukv. I.in-ry Slmmx. DlrectPtl.liy Ai»l»y Itir- lln. Si iTfiiphty, Connie l.rc; ,'iniipni, l-'innz I*', dinner; Ciirioi-. .Al Chirk. Al I'li.riiniiiiliiL. llinuklyn, wtrk of April 5. *4.V ttmili Iiik linn-. U MINS. iii.imiii-.......:'.. DiiKWoml Ali.VlinlltT Kiln Ro^ri's.., . .1. i\ IJIlliil.L., l-:.l.lii> llmier. . , Alv lli. I'.iukif. : .Mis. M.ro.lllh.. Mr. riiilillf..... M:i [turnii..... .. Ill-Ill'}-. ,.v. "Illr. .'..- M;ik'illl..i Dl|l*y . . ....... Penny SIiikIcioii , ; . Ai-llinr l.nkf ..: I.urry Siunnn Miirjnrli* Vi'i'iivrr Iinliilhiin Hnl»* ..I'hlrk- rillllnlliv ... ...... Diinny .Miiinmm . Murjtnle Aim .Mnlrhip ........... Knlii .Moi'Kun ......... .Ai'llinr Siuu-e . .Kilillf Ai-llff ; Kml Cinff link llli-.V . -. . M II lJild Ulnnne Ilorwlf Columbia has a staple neighbor- hood or duals commodity in the Blondie" series, so that It was a good idea to renew it after a two- year layoff. "Leave It to Blondie" holds to the acceptable average of the scries. ' The story is a little hard to lake, but the film has the usual agreeable small-town situations and . typical mild comedy bits. In addition, it has a couple of songs • for novelty and some very amusing moments when the bewildered hero. Dagwood Bump- stead, develops a cold arid tries some home-made remedies. The Bumpstead household has en- tered a songwriting contest. Dag- wood and Blondie are in it because they rashly issued separate large checks for charity and can't cover. The kids are in it to help .out the folks. Dagwopd's boss is in it to land a real estate deal. There's a dark- haired woman real estate prospect and a brunet singing teacher., both of . them complicating Dagwood's ex- istence and arousing Blondie's jeal- ousy. Dagwood, as usual, blunders his way out of it all. Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake carry out familiar roles with ease, -with young Larry Simms in strong support. Direction is smooth and production adequate for this modest budgeter. Broil. Fog Island it peters out into tiresome obvious- ness. Strictly h lesser d,ualler. Story centers about two feuding next-door neighbors, played by Ed- ward Everett Horton and Tom Tully. Each has a son, and one has a daugh- ter too. Two neighboring youngsters are in love, elope, and discover in process of getting marriage. license thai legal -documents indicate they may be brother and sister. -In due time, legal tangles are unsnarled, the lovers are united and the battling fathers become closest of pals. The complications could have been funny. But direction had Horton and Tully jtct as if they were burlesque- ing whole theme, which story does not call for; while Freddie Barthol- omew; who is the lover, acts merely embarrassed. Chances are many cus- tomers will be too. Hollywood and Vine I'Ki: i-i'lr-imr uf l.rnn I'ViiiiikcfM |ii-,,(ii K -iion Slnri< -Inline KIIIkiiii. Wiiniln Mi-KiivV frn. urn** hYmiklyn I*iiiikI>,,i'ii :| ,„| Uniii'h \j,„-_ Min. Dirfcli'.l ' liy Alvxl.i •rhuin-Tii.vla. Srlf«"li|>l:iy. Kiliih WiUklim niul- (1iurli>n Wlllliims from nrittliijil xiiny li\- ,\| Ihs WhI- klnv. Wlllkiiiix hii.i lt.il.nl Wiliiml: Vmilmi. Mil IIiiikiiii. A| New York. X. v.. ui-i'k ol A lull !l. '-I.-., nun,ill,^ ilnir. .IB .MINS. l-'ri-y ,. . . Milium Kltl.imi Msirl lui ... Wiin,In M.-Ku, V 1 " 1 ' 1 " .....Ilino Vly.li' K. H. BriiK.n.. :..lliilnli Miirciiii U'Klilo I-Yiinklvii I'ii'iiKlHirn IVih ir I'm' Kiuiiiv" Ann .li'likliiM ; Clir.-k Ti\v. . .. -Mini Alluill.-y IIihI-oii. Allnriiry \Yjl«,in. .loi* inrivj.lit.yl. :. .AsM.«l:i'nt Dln'i-l,.i AlilCTll ■.'.'..; -IiiiIk**, . . ({.lU'lllHII . . . I)n.-lor ■•ll^llllK Hlll-iMil . I.fon HpIiihi Kllinil'l I I.Villi - . . . Wi ll I .1-AV Is. .Kinlli I.inn: .Knlii'ii iirclt: . ... I'lnii U.- WilllmiiK liny Whitliy IV'Wi-y ftohln-uin IV lllitK ....j,...linin,lln llllo.lrn Hilly - Hmii'iII.-I . D'olliil.l Ki'i:r I.illlnn lironhnn I.ilm Kill,,II Im-k Knviiioiiil l'h:irli>H' Jiii^Iiiii . I .on I'l m kor '...Mill TilKKiirl New York theatres BETTE DAVIS lm Woriwr Irei. Hitl 1HE CORN IS GREEN" With John DAIL • Jom LORRINa NW tRUCI • Ibyt WILLIAMS r-ayot >i.i st. HOLLYWOOD Piirftiiinmil rrriieiilH ClMiHlctle Colbt-rl and Krfd MicMum; la "PRACTICALLY YOURS" Tn J'ernon Brnay fiOOIIMAN mid Orch. 4'ONUOS BROS. BOH KV.4NS with ,l»rry O'Mnry PALACE B WAY & 4 7th Si. STARTS TOMORROW Randnir Krott Gjphj Roue 1m DlMh Sher* lob torni ■ELLE OF THE YUKON' . An RKO-nnillo PIcLuie Jom FONTAINI • ««or9« MINT In .-' "THE AFFAIRS OF SUSAN" . A FuranMivRt rklure RIVOLI, R'way and 49th St. "GOD IS MY CO-PILOT" Warner Uron. New Hill Sturrlov DENNIS MORGAN D«M Ctorfc • Raymond Maitty Alan HaU 111 P*?t'NOIl CAB CALLOWAY And Bit "Junipln' 4lie .Inbllw" Kxtnt AMrd Attraction SISTIR ROSETTA THARPK •'way & 47th St. STRAND PRO rflcnse of I**on Fromkt»HK piothu tlrin. Siai'» l.lnn*-! Atwlll, Jeanne <'owim. Ororxt- Ziici-d; frntui'«8' Veda' Ann Roiif. S,lnnitn DuUKhiv. Directed by -Terry Miliar. Sn^fn-' {t\dy. Pierre Gendron. Vihis^iI nn *•! l^lnwl siolv l<y HcrnH'Mne Ani<u*: .cuniei'M. Iru ,\I(hk;mi. At N>w York. X. Y„ week of April 1>. '4.V. ItunnlnK Lime. 70 MISH. \ t fo rtr:iinKti" Geni'K« /.nt'co . IJ.Miel Aiwlll l^o Ci:iinKti.... Air-- Uli.-hnclO... KHVHiniuidh Ii>i nine Cuwilii GhU. ; ShiiKin IJiiiictun Sylvia , \>il;i Ann ItnVit Jpff Inlin \Vliiln*\ EinHInf ItrmiKon .. Jit<'QiieMm- DcWit Dr.. I.ykr.. \ Ihii Kellli A lift ion.... i tSt-tn-jte l.lny.l BADIO CITY MUSIC HALL "WITHOUT LOVE" Spectacular Stag* Production* h Oil SCRKEN f Thurn.. Apr. 12 . .Donald OTO.NNOR IV««y RYAN "Patrick ltd* Groat" . IN PERSON JAY JOSTYN Radio's "MR DISTRICT ATTORNEY" A chiller with strictly .stock situ- ations, this picture is nevertheless done well, throughout. A good dualler. Story revolves around a man once rich who had served a prison term for embezzlement, and his efforts to avenge not only his conviction but also the. murder of his wife. On his foggy island estate for a weekend are gathered the gifoup of men and women he suspects of having been responsible for his downfall. Other characters are there, including a for- mer cellmate, of the ex-convict, an escaped lifer who somehow turns up as butler, the vengeful man's step- daughter, and her college sweetheart; When the doings are over, all in- volved in the plotting and counter- plotting had met their just deserts, and the sweethearts go back to the mainland presumably a happy couple. George Zucco plays • the principal role for all it's worth, and is given excellent support by the others, prin- cipally Lionel Atwill. Ian Keith and George Lloyd. Good acting is sup- plemented by smooth production, combining to lift a murder story that's not too subtle into a picture that's above the mediocre. JOSEPH GOTTEN i «06ers1 s ;* ! SHIRLEY IBmitHsu,?^"* ': tube -fSSss?*; CAPITOL KANE PILOTS OWN YARN Hollywood, April 10. Joe Kane will produce and direct his own story, "Bells of the Gold Coast;", Republic, starting in May. Picture will deal with adventure, and romance in the early days of California, • ■ As the title implies, this film is about Hollywood. Aimed at satiriz- ing the picture,capital,. it achieves considerable success, resulting in a well produced comedy on an adult level. Decidedly a superior item for a double bill. The satirical barbs are aimed at the commander of a big movie studio who has a dozen members of his ramily working for him. a brasshat eccentric producer, and the industry in general which is shown capable of making a star out of almost any- body or anything. In this instance, the fabulous film concern- makes a star out of a dog. and the takeoff re- sults in some genuinely funny busi- ness. Best in the piece, in addition to the dog which really deserves, top billing, are James Ellison as the writer newly plucked from the sidewalks of New York and ordered to do a script about Hollywood; Wanda McKay, who is cast as the gal who has made her way to Hollywood in the hopes of, becoming a star: and Enimett Lynn as the owner of a -hamburger stand who rises lp heights as land- lord of valuable Hollywood real es- tate. Lynn's performance is socko topping that of /all others for gen- uineness and real fun. Cnr s . Behind (he Knemy Lines (Newsreel Documentary) Glulie Kilm I'n. (Ji.nn>.-, X. .luvim) rdmsp of i-ul'llll'ril Niul kjiiI lllnm. Bllllnl mill ■ oiniiUfil hy MhJ. Hii.h Dnrr WDvlm-k: imi- mllon. Burt Pi.IIbiiI: k.„ii.. Bilwiinl v.yulr Al Mi.ilri.f. (;iili-,i(t„, A|.i-II 4. -tr,. nilnnliiK llnif. Ilfi >IINS. As the name indicates this captured footage gives the American public a view of the war from the eyes of Nazi and Nip .cameras. Much : of the stuff waj shot in the early days of Hie conflict, both on the European and Pacific rronts and was apparently meant as propaganda to prove to the Jap and German home fronts that their armies and navies were in- vincible. That was when things were going their own way. German scenes take you back to the rape of .Poland, conquest of the The Town Went Wild lyn i-'ii.t. X. Y Hint' I inn'. "iB MINS. . Duviil 1'iinivny........ I'reiUlif RlN1inloinc» Hull Ilin-rJxiin ,. lumex r.iiliui Kvi ri lt I'niiwuy....Kihiiiril Kvrmu llnrlnn .lltiiry llni-rllioii ..'......•....'.'1'nni *riill\ I'lirnl }I:ii-rlHnii '. ;.llll JliimiilnL- .Mnhhin ll:iiTlnnn.. Mlnmi Ci.inl.i-ll l.iii'lll^ < - nnu:iy ;{ Itulli |><. Mllllo Wnikrr. UoIk-iim smliii -luil|;i> lliiiirle., MhiiiI« 101.in Mi- Mr. Tu-rpille-. ; <'liiirli>s lliillnn Mr. Vt'nlkl-r I<>i i-Ih Tn) li,i -hn,[li'C nf .llir Hrmi'p.. ., ...Ilninlv 4'■■itlIn ■llii- I'liblk- UfrndPl\ Mnnli- Ciilliiin I Dl.-nrli l Alliirnry... .I'liiirli-.i MmIiIIiMkii Dim-iui* Ifpnilrlrkfi. Vv*i\ ftiirlnn .lurtK» Si-hmnk .'.Will w'rlahi 'I'lie W'nli-hiniin..,-..., > ICunnell r,\nu Niir.io Jteevcs. . Dnrulliy VhukIiii This'piclure has a fair story which could, have been good comedy. But Low Countries and early days on the Russian front showing wn'nton de- struction everywhere. Jap shots pic- ture the sneak attack on Pearl Har- bor; the shelling of Hongkonu- the bombing of Shanghai; the surrender of Corregidor and the taking of .un- fortified villages of China. Some of the film has been seen in ncwsrcols but the majority of the footage i s new. Although there aren't many shots of cither of the Axis partners on the defensive there are enough to show how the. tide has -turned; Ger- mans are seen retreating from the Russian blows and one of the high points of the picture shows the burn- ing of Berlin and what it brought to Bcrliners. Another view shows our airmen bombing Tokyo. Lack of shots showing the Axis getting a lick- ing is probably due to bcini; too busy at the time to take any pictures. Film has good exploitation possi- bilities. Although ; Maj. Whyiock could have done a better job of edit- ing it probably will not be noticed much by the public. Bud Pollard's narration and Edward Craig's niusi-, cai score are' tops and do a lot lb make the subject interesting. Morg. Chi Educator Continued from pace I ; or phrase like "big hand" is nixed when . it's overworked, and how he wished there were a similar rule in effect to nix some of the current dire radio jargon. Then he gave it' the works. "There are a vast number of read- ers of the magazine," he said, ''who have never been more interested in show business than to buy a ticket of admission to a movie or play— yet they read 'Variety' regularly. In fact. I once had a professor who ' made •Variety' required reading in a class in abnormal psychology." Something in the way of oops! was his next remark:. "But that isn't exactly what I- mean." Pulled him- self out of it fast, however, by pro- ceeding to discuss the big play given grosses, how ex-showbiz servicemen * anxiously await their copies, etc., but without ever bothering to go back and explain exactly what he did mean by that crack. Windup, ap- parently thrown in as a sop to the wounded vanities of as clean a liv- ing, as mentally sound a group of journalists as are to be found any- where In the world today, was:. "The girl who types up my -scripts came to me when she read the lines above and asked if. all the writers for 'Variety' speak the way they write. No, they don't^-'Variety' haa, been a fine training school in the art of writing for many." v Why Barbers S Continued from page 1 ss legit people, in addition to the'regu- lar classical artists. The road Is also looked upon to produce the • longest. routes ever' given for pop concert people. Many high school and college auditoriums in smaller towns are expected to house regular concert scries. Several years ago,. Music Corp. of America, in buying out the CBS tal- ent subsidiary, Columbia Concerts, sold the longhair segment to Leigh. Since then, MCA has started its own concert department headed by Harry Squires, who switched from the Wil- liam Morris office. - The field is especially lucrative. Most dales are played on percent- ages, some running as high as 70% of the lake. 5X™ It does not matter to us whether the client we are serving is a housewife, or the sharpest of diamond connoisseurs. We try to receive everyone courteously, to appraise as accurately as we know how, to make offers as generous as the market can possibly allow. The result-to us-is a reputation of which we are proud. To you, we hope, it suggests a firm in which you can repose your fullest confidence.