Variety (Oct 1945)

Wednesday, Oelobcr 31, 1915 PICTURES 17 Film Reviews $|M'IIIm»iiiiiI v,,il...l ArllntH ri'lPlise ol' Jl»tiVl«l (>. Selx- „U i,)o«l.lcll.m. Htm* i»KfW l,i.-mu«,», Mm Kivn. .St.'Voll .tll'l/iy. IWIl llin v..,. i. : ,".lm> Kunl'mil, -Jonn Aonor. JMrifiPil liy Vn'-rcl ilHflwuH, K.-iwni.lny.. >:«mi. Il.-ilu. C,-.,.,! on nou'l' by I'Viiik-Ik JJ.-.-liiil,-; .-ini.oio. t.'n.x*' Hai-tiPSI must.-, MlkliiH lbw.a: urmun s.„ii*iu.-. Wiilniiloi' Dull: pi >-• »»#»> «<•- .luuii'H liascvi; clitw. Vt'ltlijim Kl-ts- „\^i iihwioiv l.ow'eli- Knrii'll. -Oii.'iik it,.! :!i ' • IS. :u AmIop. N. V., i A'u-n•<!«.>-. Viinlitlli'UlllI". mi MINS, ■• nslam-i'. Petorwin UiKi-l.l ll.MV'iimii. : UriM-.n-yavyli ' 11-;s11 Ai ,(:•:■ D.W'iiM I'imts iriulrlim-l.. ......Kln.n.la KlVinluii * •..l).'h,l;KlH.- 1 -.V —.........-t ..«;. (•:. -■••:: . ..• Nni-nwn C11 > > 11 - E J.ubll.'l. M„irse uclwllv*.-; |.,ilIc-.ouiii> llUi'- SlMto (i.,i..)ii'iii...':, . i,i. (V.j,l,..v:.... ....... .. In. Ui"C lli-ulov :..-....Iii'ii<>1' SV..| . ,VI.'i.i>- Kill.i) .'.. .AVrill.-iV-t- l''..r. .. .. .Hill Gooilw ii . . . ; I ••. V,- " \\' i M.-i I ...dcom.' SK'!.,!.' ...Mull .Vl'oi.ii ..;.. .Itjtrrv • I:, ...v, Ml ll:,l,r .. . . li' Klx. T'liilii.'; .■-Mli'hii"! Chi Mi." I*iirsnif to Algiers (SONGS) I'lilvi'PMil voU-mm- (it Key Wlllhini N,-i|i |ll'niluclf.il>. illI'l'l'll-il l.y Ni'W- l>XWIIIi\ i. i.im. ilrtci-i, limviml penixliw. Slid* Unsll li.'uli- turn: St.'H Ilium-. S.-l.'lMi|.l:iy. I. kiiiI I.im>.- I.:,w.-<l on i-hiirncli'i-.i i-ii'ini',1 l.v -Sh .ViWiii- Conim Doylo; ranjiTH. I'niil Jwroo: oilitoi-, S.iul A. Omiilljltul; Inllsi.-, jLiilsiir l-'iiiiihil.l: .lliiUiM illmi'toi'. Ilnymmul K.s>-- lor; ii>wi. iHi'ii'lor, Kewnrir Woliii; Hums, .lii.-li HiMoliM-Miltini RoHl'il.. Kivi'MI C -I- Ilusnf. -AI Itnillo. N. V.. ttCi'lv.Oi-t. M. "'1,7, liiimiiiiK c. «.". MIX*, . : Slli-rlooU llilhllff... ..... . .... Iti.sil lii.tlil/olif Dr. W'alsnir. 5ci s 4 Jinni- (•'ln'llii:.,.: :.: .,,,viin-.|..rii. I!I.h-.I:hi Agullui l illiilinni. i . ....Kiifi'illinl Iv jiiruii :.M'n:iin i<i.*-..-!. .Intlii Mm .VI i I'r-lciu'. .Vlinbioi-.. ..-. ..I'l-il -i ii- Wi'il'toi-ii rSiinlc.nl. . ....... ..Vli,i l„ji I...UTV rxikiiWs i..'.»ii<. vim-, i i I Kiimfli.n. lii-lVilil II:.1.1 n ■irvf.ur...". ...... . lii's Kvaim 'U.'Miirtriiiil I'i'..|.ii.'u.i' .T.nii Dill.. ii .h.lnili»".'ii K\;i n il(is» H.".« I I'll- W.r Will!,; II WilM.MI IV .1. II. (.1.- n liliy) .1, H.\ lln.U l'..|l.-.' (t-i|il:l ii-i.ti.-,' simiiiiH.rii"'''" - Shi.i^iii I •H i', is T.-l.tv InMil'i V.i.lfr.Mi 111 ln.nl- Illi ll.-.i'.l Itari- ll |.'..l«nul l''ii|.lln:;: 'David O. Solziii.cli has "devisod tiniquc production values for this Al- lied Hitchcock-directed version of a psyehcJbgica] mystery novel with tlie result that top grosses should b:' assured, especially in the first-runs. Inmid Bcryman and Gregory Peel: on the marquee arc Dltis factors also. The story, employing as it does psychiatry and psychoanalysis in a minder mystery, would not lend il- sclf for anything b_ut a skillfully blended top budget product ion. Even though these terms, and those more clinical, flow through the diulog.- donVlet the scientific words fool you. While an adult picture all right, beautifully played and photographed, it's still for the women patrons.; con- taining all the suspense and charac- terization made to order lor them. The science of analysis during mental illness has been touched on before in "Lady in the Dark." but never the scientifically. "Spellbound" is based on the novel. "The . House of Dr. Edwardes," written by Hilary St. George Saunders in eollaboral ion with Leslie Palmer, and published under the pseudonym of Francis Eeeding. Alfred Hitchcock worked wilh eminent English psychoanalysts before the adaptation was turned over to Ben Hecht for the screen- play; • . Gregory Peck, suffering from am- nesia, believes that he committed a murder but has no memory of the locale or circumstances surrounding the crime. Ingrid Bergman as a psy- chiatrist in love with Peck tries des- perately to save him from punish- ment for the crime she is certain he could not have committed, and in do- ing so risks her career and almost her life. Both Peck's identity and the solution to the mystery arc dis- covered by psychoanalysis and Hie most important solution stems from the analysis of one of Peck's dreams. Salvador Dali designed the dream sequence with all the aids of fu- turism and surrealism in his sets. These sets, chairs and tables have human legs and roofs slope at 4fi- degree angles into infinity. This is a new screen treatment for the solu- tion of a murder mystery by the scientific interpretation of* dreams, and the customers should be greatly intrigued. Some of the concluding action takes place on a .ski run where the suspense and accompanying musical score create such a tension that the audience at the preview was liter- ally bound as by a spell. Miss Bergman as the female psy- chiatrist gives a beautiful character- ization of the scientist who discovers her heart really rules her in treat- ing the mental ills . of the strange youth she blindly defends. Peck han- dles the suspense scenes wilh great skill and has one of his finest screen roles to date. An outstanding per- formance is scored by Leo G. Car- roll as the doctor who is a victim of the ills he treats in his patients, and his closing scene is one to bring .the fans to the edge of their seals. John Emery and Michael Chekhov turn, in . ii'W".performances as the associate doctors.' ' Alfred Hitchcock has handled his - players and action in suspenselul ' manner and. except for a feu- epi- sodes of .much"'scientific dialogue. ; maintains a steady pace in keeping the camera moving. Photography i.= of the highest, as are the sels com- mented upon above. ■ • Latest Sherlock Holmcser from Universal will not disappoint albeit slightly below par for the course. Introduction of four songs adds a novelty note in the detective meller series. Marjorie Riordau sings three of 'em and Nigel Bruce clears his throat with "Loch Lomond" for at-', eeptabl'e chuckles. Action takes place for the most part on ship bound for Algiers and since this setting limits the action somewhat there are lapses'wher*-the yarn becomes too wordy. Produc- tion values of ship sequence very good, however. Naturally RatlVbpno and Bruce are the focal points so the tepid romance between Marjorie Riordah" and Leslie Vincent is secondary. Basil Rathbone is expert as Holmes and Bruce continues to"-blunder along as the amiable Dr. Watson. Marjorie Riordan is the thrush from Brooklyn, an unwilling "agent for jewel thieves. Vincent is heir to a mythical kingdom! Rosalind Ivan has a comedy characterization of an athletic female passenger and chief among the conspirators who board the steamer at Lisbon is Martin Koslcck. Production, direction and camera work are all okay within limitations of story, and suspense is maintained until hist footage. Tin* S«'v<'iiUi Veil (BR1TISII-MAI)E» London, Oct. 19. hvWml film l>ifU-ll"«"ivi< mireieo of Sy.l- |.,-> |-. t i.\-(lrtiiH m».l»<:tion. . Slnr.J Ann Twlil. •Iniiu-f. .Mnsui'i. Dhwl.'il !»• Ci'llil.tui ivn- n..||. SI.m In- .Muriel ninl Syiln.-y llm: iNiiu'firn. ISC'etiiiiW Wycf. Jiert JhiSoii.. ai IshvA'or HniVaiv tiwiKrc. l...n.lon. cv.l. is. •4.-.. JtllDUlllK linio. "Jt JIIN."i. NI,.|iol!iS,.i IIiih«h -M'lSOii ..I llr. I.. ,'ll U'.vilcn JSrnoli... Dr. ICf 111 111-. Jrvlli Ci.n.lni-10 ........ . I li'i'li.'i .. .1 UlSli -M. |> Ml.. I I . .', Yv.nin.- ........JiiivlJ : jlnllDillK I Ann.1.1 (Ini.lsl.i . .-..;Muli Mi 3D PIC FOR N.Y. GARDEN "The Man In Gray,'' Gainsborough production being released by United Artists under J. Arthur Rank deal, is the third UA feature to play the Winter Garden, New York, instead ot "Adventure for Two." previously scheduled. '■Johnny in the Clouds" goes into the Garden,after the current "Blithe Snirit." Bobbysox svvoonat.rn fans and jive hounds-—beware! For here—mag- nificently and intelligently done—is an exposition of the way English kids are put and kept in their b'uee. It's due for good b.o. on both sides o( the Atlantic. ' In adult American eyes the merci- less discipline to which a teen-age, sensitive orphan girl is subjected by a grim bachelor guardian will doubt- lessly smack or sadism. In England "The Seventh Veil" should arouse, no such audience reaction. Caning of kids of both sexes by school teachers is an everyday occurrence in Britain, and in the home the inn subjection of youth to age is also plenty rigorous. So this pic w ui'd be of major imoorlawcc if fur no other reason—and there ar.a plenty— than it brings into sharp contrast a fundamental difference between the two countries. Presented bv General Film Dis- tributors as a Sydncv Bo.s-Grtus production, directed by Coniplon Eennett. and scripted by Muriel end Sydncv Box. "Veil" has for its b.o. appeal only the names of ils two stars,, Ann Todd and Janus Mason. BUI the results of the team of tech- nicians should make them all assume a greater stature. Aoart from the engrossing storv as it surges swiftly to its tromendmi- climax Iherc is*a feast of harniony by Ihe London Symphony-Orchestra, conducted' by Muir Mathieson. ac- companying an uhidentiiled piano ■virt.iii'sa—ostensihlv^J VlisS Todd . Ti'tfeM'efers. to the screen every Ininvin uses to hurdle his innermost thoughts. Like Salome, ordinary, prflple' will remove one . or two—ov more—veils for the benefit of friends, sweethearts, spous.s. But, unlike Salome, nobody ever sheds the seventh veil. -How Miss Todd is made to do this is the backbone of the .pic—and it« achievement . is (ilinert niaghifibchtly. Although primarily .Miss Todd's pic. vvithotif in any wav dctractiiv.' from her superb performance it must be said that she has no mo- nopoly of the acting honors.. Herbert Lorn, the young Czech spotled a.year aeo as a potential Valentino, gives to the role of the psychiatrist—who Miniature Reviews "Spellbound" (Selznick-UA\ Psychological mystery drama, starring Bergman. Peck, directed by Hitchcock, good b.o. , ''Pursuit to Algiers" (Songsi (Ui. This OK Sherlock Holmescr further distinguished by four.' songs. "The Seventh- Veil" (British), Ann Todd-and. James Mason in British-made boxoffice click; okay for U. S... -'•; "Latin Quarter" (British). ■ British-made drama ' that'll go only, in England, if there: ho names for TX S. "Skeppar Jansson (Swedishi. Good Svensk film, should do , well in arty houses. - induces Miss Todd to cast aside the seventh veil and bare her mind to him— a degree of great authority. Mason does more than hold his own. :"-»'. T((!b. . TI«iinil«'i*lioh (i-KCHNICOLOKl VV..r .V.Mlvlli.'M Koll'llsu of ISih .Vllii.v l-V,ri-« ,1-Iiim- Villi OTnllon l*li-tlni-uiijli I ini.iln.Mi iiK.H'i- coiom.-m.l ui. I.i. Hon.- c; Kn'laiT. Dlii'i.tcl. l.y I.i. Vol. wnilvm Wvl, v. Hillli'il by (Vu.l. i. Stm-K will.l i.y X\/Hri. I'.c.-l.-i Kurnltft (urn Cl.l, (l.-.il Kill.il,-: initinl.-.l l.y l-Mu. n- K nml l.loi'll l3ri.ll?P.K. I'lTVii-Hi-ll X; v.. I "II ■■I.-, ijllluilriit llinp, 4X JUNX. "Thunderbolt." distribution of which is still to be decided by the War Activities Committee cf the Motion Picture Industry, seems anti- climactic in view of the fact that tactical procedure depicted in the lilin has lost much of its timeliness with the end. of the war. However, film can serve the practical purpose of acauainting the lay strategist with a little known phase of operations, and. more important, serve as a re- minder anew that war is not a pretty thing. Film, itself, is a superior produc- tion made in Technicolor from a 16, mm. original photographed by auto- matic cameras installed in various parts of the combat Thunderbolts used by the 57th Fighter Group based in Corsica. Documentary concerns the air operations surroueding the American and British advance in Itrly, The ground troops were stymied at Cassino rftcr air assaults leveled the city-. The fighter com- mand then decided that air-power was not used correctly and decided In bomb enemy supply lines behind the Gustav line. Thunderbolts equipped with 501 lb. bombs, then made bridges, railroads, roads and shipping their targets, unt-'l enemy vvrs weakened bv lack of supplies, and t>iis effectively paved Hie vva" for a 250-mile advance by the ground troops. Graphically the film can stand on its own as a supporting film. Col. Wyler. now a civilian, directed so that human interest -was not lost, despite nccent on the combat onora- tiors. Pvoduc'ion sneer's lot of time w'th the clean-cut kids com- prising the. fie liter ivrouo. "s a subtle iori" of saying, "bon't let i' ivip. pen .again.'' Jose. (BRITISH-MAnE) . London. Oct. 17. -Aiiiptlo.m i'itni Con.. ii'Ii'iis.- N..U..1KU l'-Iiio. (Stiii,. )>:ti-i-H-lE* i Dli-.Ttt'il :iii.l n-i-ittoii by V'.'i n< Mills K i-jiVn. il: m ui': by l.i .■AliltolKl'." '. Vv Uils-; ,1,1 D. .\i,,k CK't. •■! .lin-l:!-oo. by :fti>.-'«> ■ ftllljibrr ■ II I -.llj.l foil, if S, Willit. rftvl -X.'Ui y Ilii mi .K.-iiil.lr, Leekinf in name values for the U. S. "Latin Quarter" will hit a ; ood number of British provincial' screens. But this is no meritorious adjriitibn to native product. Derrick -de Marncy. starred, is also resoeiate producer. Produc- tion is adequate. Opposite him—as a homicidal maniac sculptor—is tall, cadaverous •very English-looking Beresford Egan. who makes ho at- tempt Whatever to live up to the name of the character—Minetti. He suggests an Italian about as much as a ..glass of pale ale: Frederick Valk. in his usual role as an omnis" [Ki i t p sycft iutrjsl ; — ;1 tho ugh this breed hadn't, hit. the headlines .in 111!.!.'!, period of the pie—turns in a workmanlike p'crformatice. sorely handicapped as. .he is by dialog studded with cliches. Joan Green- wood, as the ballet dancer who turns niof'el only to be strangled by the sculptor, is easy to look at. ■ Direction by Vernon S<-wcli matches the.script of his authorship. Except for two utterly ext'tmcoit • sequeneesr—a long, drawn-out ballel rehearsiil and a hysterical masquer- ade party in which nearly-nude girl guests are carried about on the shoulders of semi-nude young souses —the director's tempo, is funer." Ily slow. -. - Tfilb. Inside Stuff-Pictures John Chapman, in his Sunday (28» N. Y. Daily News column, la-shed out against program listing of actors in Broadway shows "by special arrange- ment with" film producers or agents. With a bow to VAHirrv—"this pieea is appearing by special arrangement vvlth V.vrikty which gave me the idea" —Chapman went on seriously to say he was tired of reading such credit lines, claiming that whenever he did, he couldn't help losing some interest in the player and the play. . .. '. "For .1 know." he said, "that if the show is a bit. the player will be called back for a movie contract before* the year's or two years' run is oyer, and that the chances arc that Chicago and other generous followers of the stage won't be allowed to see the little-darling or handsome lug on tour." Chapman admitted that good roles are "actor-proof, "but it is human to want to, see a show, if it's a big hit, with its original cast, and : road cities have been complaining for two .generations about aecond-hand com- panies, masquerading as 'the Original Broadway Cast'." War and Navy depts. revealed last week that Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, jr., son of the former -showman aiid ambassador to Great Britain, was killed. Aug. 12. 1944, when his radio-controlled Liberator explodsd over England. Co-pilot Lt. Will'ord J. Willy. Fort Worth, also died in the explosion, aiid both received the Navy Cross posthumously last February.' but details bX their deaths had been withhold. ■'-'.': Rigged as a i emote-coutrol plane, 'Liberator was crammed with .11 tons of explosives which Kennedy and Wiily wci e to : fly over aii English; field • iliid then bail out,-' Two patrol bombers were then to set the explosives' fuses and aim the Liberator at a German V-2-.'-launching site on the Nor- mandy coast, Navy inquiry- into the,- cause of the explosion was incon- • elusive. -.'.■"','■ :.'■.'..'.'••':• ':' Nelson Rockefeller elected chairman of Rockefeller. Center's board of directors and Barton P. Turnbull succeeded him as president at a board meetin.e Thursday (25).- Rdckofelkr recently returned to the Center alter five years' leave of absence, during which he cerved as coordinator of: Inter-American Affairs and Ass't Secretary of Slate iii charge'*oi: American Republic affairs. Hugh S.- Robertson continues as executive manager of the Center. -.;'■' • ;:, . . .' Paramount Studio Club is. sending 388 Christmas boxes to studio em- ployees now in the armed forces, although the war is over. To date 78 packages have beeii sent to soldiers in the European and Pacific areas. Those for sailors, coast guardsmen and marines will be dispatched this week. Shipment to former Paramount workers stationed in the United , States will be made on or before Dec. 1. Number is smaller this year because of recent discharges. . - , • '' Marines don't go in for film, acting, according to a survey by. Do-re Schary, producer, and Edward Dmytryk. director, who tried to line up a cast of young Leathernecks for. speaking roles in "The Dream of Home." Result was 14 Army veterans, three from the Navy, three from the Mer-* chant Marine and one from the Royal Canadian Air. Force, but .not one Marine. Top male roles will be played by Guy Madison, just out. of the Navy, and Bob Mitchum, recently released from the Army. New device to speed up Technicolor, cameras has beep invented by George Sidney. Metro director, for his forthcoming picture, "Cabbages and Kings." Heretofore Technicolor; with its three colors, has not been able to-register fast movement with any. degree of certainty. Sidney lias devised several photographic im.irovements currently in use in the motion picture industry. - One. of; them- is '-known- rs' the "Marcsphere camera," used for underwater shooting in Metro's "Bathing Beauty," Universal spent three days on rehearsals of thespians. musicians, special effects men and mechanical crews for one, complicated shot in "Because of Him." Action runs continuously tor 5Vs minutes, with Deanna Durbin and Franchot Tone leaving a hotel room and traveling down an elevator to the lobby and out through the revolving door. Shot is even hiore com- plicated by Miss Durbin s singing of Tosli's "Goodbye." So many sets and so much detailed art work will be required fur the Frank Ross production of the Lloyd C. Douglas book, "The Robe." at RKO that filming will not be able to start until at least five months after the end of the studio strike. Ross has completed the screenplay, except for a ^jnal polish, but must await solution of the current labor problems-before getting under way on art and set designing, Church tower built by International for its New England picture, "The S.tranger," is the highest set erected on a film lot since the war began. Tower.reaches a height of 125 feet, the limit under the Los Angeles build- ing code for motion picture layouts. Structure is permanent and cost $100,000. Highest set in Hollywood history was built by D. W. Gri.Tth for an ancient sequence in "Intolerance." . Odd situation on "Connecticut." *Vvith two houses publishing unrelated tunes bearing the same title'. Variety Music, a Robbins-Melro Subsidiary, is promoting one by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, writers of "The Trolley Song." while Abner Silver's* Starlight Music published a similarly titled tune by Nick and Charles Kenny last month. Silver isn't a member of MPPA, hence not restricted in. ils u^e of the title. Latest March of Time. "18 Million Orphans." deals with the present pre- dicament of the Filipinos, who are to be given their independence next July. Title is derived from the fact that the islands are in a desperate con- dition after the war, but the United Siaies hasn't decided yet how much help to give them once they are released from their roles as a U. S. protectorate. Ski'ji|»2ir JaiiNNon ("Skipper .laiisson") (SWEDISH-MADE) 1'BO.Hrf'oO mill ilivl l ilmK'rl j',1 Sl-llioil.-l Kiln ii. Jin-. Slurs. KiRiml Wiillni.: t>iili;jl..: Ibijir. -Ulvci-loil ■)> waHHii; s.-iv«i.|:. . W.-.ll, i I Svi-n l!il»fiibw'i:. »iiwi.-. |.;,.i«. fli llllnil n mnl'.XoiliiOl Horlliiu.. ,\i .Mil M-. I'liOln.nw. X. v.: Vn l; of o<-t;.- I.",. UnnfliiiK liii,.-. Sill MISS. .l.,n:..on.. KJabvit'-Wi.lirii l.oriiliinn'i....... . ,IIi«ikIo> ll"i!.- : SI.il.loio Ai.nii l:.,l. n iillo.v SJolitolit.*; '....'..nlof Il.-i-ssH- VV,-.l>l-bli,.|....' ..Vjilli- Visi-hi-.. Lilly,. -,-, i.iii i..-i is-.-.m .in llllj. W.M.Ti.lli.l ... . , , .VI..I 4V1 '.l-i I.'.-Ill o | i./w Swediah xrith EikjIIsIi .Titles' '>. . "SkOppar Jiinsson" is- the gay sKu-.v. [.'•of, a' coilniving old sea-dog who ic- i turns from fie stweir se^-f jtisulojig i enough to. set things straight in his i little native village—and then .sets sail again. Written, directed and sli.rred in by Sigurd Wallen. noted Swedish character actor, it's one of the best new Swedish film's ar.d I should do-top biz in the arty houses. 'Picture is filled with the sally humor. I of . the Swedish archipelago's fisher- lolk and where the English sub- | titles leave much to ,be desired, ex- cellent acting makes the simple plot I easy enough to follow. I Story revolves around Skipper 1 Jansson (Wallen i, an almost lcgcnd- ;ry character to his native, villagers because of his reputed exploit* on the high seas. Returning to the vil- lage after having allegedly discov- ered buried treasure in Bermuda, Jansson finds the two fanfilies to Whom he's related feuding over the deed rights to a field conncctiuij their two farms. Naturally, the son of one family loves the daughter of the other family and naturally, leo, t both families play up to Janssofi, hoping some day to get a cut of his money. It turns out. however, that what the skipper has brought back rrom his travels is not pirate treas- ure but some simple philosophy and the ownership deed to the d'spt ted field, both of which he uses in pur-:- su::dlng his relations linall.v to -.-Jifti'lT each other Over a Swedish schnapps; Wallen.is excellent irftherler.tl rc.Te and his skillful direct'on keeps the pace consistently fast. Douglas Huge, lending , just the right touch to his portrayal of . the . .skipper's senti- mental old crony, runs him. a ch>se second for lop acting honors. The sweeping panoramas,of the Swedish island and fjords are an eye-treat. Good bet for Hollywood: winsome Gunnel Brostrom. doing a fine job ;>s the gal frpm Stockholm, who tries to lure the fisher-boy avsay from his hometown sweetheart.