Variety (Apr 1946)

1« VUM REVIEWS We«lne(Mlay, April 10, 1946 m.ii ti.iii. 1.11.'.Ill Ki ll:<u: Minili. I. 1:.-. •■! II. .,. .1.1 ll... I.I KaKv lo Wed (SONGS; COLOR) Hollywood, April S. , i..|.- .Iiifk Ciiiiiinhup" iiiMlii. Vi.ii .|..hllM.II, KrHllll^r .Wlli .111 II;.II. l\. --n:ill' Wjilli: rt';lt■^||•■^ ♦* I 11 .s It.imii-. /. lli n 1)1111'. IMi. I liii...|.-l l.y l-Iilwiirrt j;ii/./..-ll. I.. I>..i..lli> K llll!^ll•>•• n«ni .-..ii- ... 1..: I..i.l\, " l.\ M.iilrliil> Wcill.lr -: Ki 11 l;.i;ii:lil. CO'iH.-'^ Ol.li. iT. .'Iitlli'tll.il'l. Il:iri v IH.|.|. 11.I.I. 'I'.-.I I .i..itiiii. i:.-..ti t lt>. l:...il .-:..|. Hl;ili. h. ». II. K.ii.i.ii.c Ii Mill MINS. ti.l .|liV.|i..ll. .l-.liliiii .l:i|.>, Poiliilm' : iifrll. ^l l :.- II- h..llK.-<. Ulllfll 11l:illi- H'll ...lii'i I'.iillilili.. t'l..\:il.l.i r-'i- .i, . \1 > ■ Iliiritn'.i'. • .lil'.l. I'r .'il' SlluWll .M:Hi'll •J.*i..*li. Ilill .*^|ii' .. l-'.i .|. I II:..... 11 hi -. ].•... u II.. I. .!..> 1 'I Nil'. .\l|. iii.i; .. i:..iii..... .11 II:.-.;-.- A II. III.Ill > I!:.1.1.1. 1. |l..|:.i. . -.^iiill Ii . . . II. . |. Il..|i-n:. Iliii'ii.. I ,1 i:..>.,. :i . Villi .l.iliii.'.-ii .|.:.si4ii.i' w.iii. u.; -. l.ll.Mll.. - I! .11 : ... K»,.-11:111 ml . . ,i-.h:II K.-MlivMi.v ......Il.v Ililil-.-ll-. ,'.". 1! -11 . r.hl. ! Il.v :i..i>Mi ; .. . ..Illlli' I Kli;iM ...lilliiii. .M-i. Ii. II ■ ,i.i»..|iirni.., \Vi II r:ilii ll:i\'\ .. . ,.liili:illl:lii 1 r.l.. . IllliK-}* l'".;n-.1 . . . : .l>li:l 'rniA-. I ^ ..<yi,II .M.-mi ...S<iluli-.T I"., .lui'if Moiro l);i.< rrfiirbishcd Uw old '•I.ibclrd l.;id.\'" sci'ipt with l)ril!i:iiii fii'iir. pli'Uiy or run and assured bi)x- ofVifC .still-..;. It all adds up ia top- notcli rntrrliiininont that will Hvl biu i-( turns. .^c(•Olll Is on comedy \viVli. nn (iKcasloiiiil .sons; in the new Ircal- nirnl. and Jack CiJmminfi.s' piortiicr tion );iv(s it a li(!lit trcalmcnl to Miako it sfll Willi all types aiidiciicc;. Miirtiiioi' names ot Van Johnson. E.srh(r Williams. Lucille, Ball. Koo- nan Wynn (-inch customer lures. Eddie Bux.zclls direction cinpha- sizi-s iishlne.ss and speed, despite picture".s.lonK footage, and draws thr Ijost Tron-i Dorothy Kingsley's adap- tation or the "tiibeled .Lady" -;cript by Maiirinc Watkins, .Howard Em- met l no«crs , and George Oppcn- . lieimer. I'lot. ' briefly, concerns, a ' ncw.spapci- raced with a libel suit by » rich playKirl and how the' sheet brinjis in a areat lover to compromise the sal .so suit can be forgotten. Around that' premise: are b'liit dc- li»!htrul lines and situations, plus some prime broad conicdy playing by sev- eral or \hi) principals that Vrecps the interest high all the way. Music and prnducllou numbers are introduced logically into the. plot, although dance numbers are so much added flash that isn't needed. Van Jnhn.son as the. great lover and Esther Williams, the libeled lady: team romantically for fan favor and acquit thcm.sclves effectively ill the plot development. Lucille Ball is a standout on the. comedy end, partic Miniatore Reviews "Kasy to Wed" i SoilKS-Color) (M-G). Lush .produOlion .ind' name ea.>L pegs this one as 'a b.o. winner. "The Cat Crf«.ps" lU i. Noah, Beery. Jr. and FrCH-Brady in- a .strong whodunit thriller. "XlBht In I'aradlKc" <Color.l lOi. OorKeou.sly dressed film ranla.sy wilh pieiily or csoapi.st entertainment ror (jcncral au- (licnVe.s. . - ".loc Palnokai Cbaiiip" i.Mono) Coiuie-strip . pri-/.ell)5hler -yarn . okay lor secondary spoi.s. .".Shf-Wolf of l.onUon" (U). . Weak horror liieller. . "Ilninc oirihe Ranpc" iSon^s- ,.Color I iRepV. . Fair oatuner in. color. , "The C'apliV* Il*arl" lEagle- ;I,ion>: .Scmi-dpcumcntary about British IriKips in Nfa/.i war camps: doubtrul as U..S. entry. "Sonif of Old AVypmine"; iSooKS-Color) iPRCi. Standard' musical western with Eddie Dean; color adds little. "Oeyll Bat's DauKhttr" tPRCV: Suspen.scCul horror-mcller will siili.sTy. the Tans. "the Years Bel ween" iGFD). Daphne dii MaurierV current London hit likely, okay for .so- phisticated U. S. audiences. lug itscir seriously, but inomculs when modern dialog slang ;ind tongue-in-cheek action creep in arc '. good for ehiiekles. The Erno.st : Pas- cal script occasionally gets on a.soap- ■ box to propagandlM that big coun- tries shouldn't pick on small neigh- bors, but. otherwise adheres .strictly t;) furthering commercial enlertain- incnl ailiis. Emmet Lavery adai>lcd Crom the George S. Hollii);'.u novel. ■ ••Pciicnck Fciithcrs." Merle Oberon plays Princess .De- ! larai. who aims to marry King Crocr sus for his ;jolil. The .ijolddigger ro- mance is all set until Turhail, Bey. as Aesop, appears on I he .scr nc. Bey had loi^g ago Icaifncd. that t!\o world won't listen to wisdom from a youth so runs around di.sjulised :\y. :m old. crippled man: Plot clevi-lopnu-nt .concerns Aesop's cIVorts to win the ■ Drincc.-w'J'fipil keep Croesus amu.setl ] and liis necit'intact. :ile wins the girl, . saves liis small country ot Samos | :rom destruction ami the coiiple live ; happily, ever after, all in the best airy talc maiincr. . . . ■ ; Mi.<s Oberoii and Bey are an cITee- tive team-romantically. Costumes of ■Ihe fcmme lead are eye-lllling. capa- bly tilled liy Mfs.s Oberon.; Love .sccues between , the two are done with a reali.stic \varri\lh that adds to. iappial. Be.v. ii propi>.rly d;:shiiig as : the lable-tcllcr.' appe-iring !o aclvan- lane in Ihe clinches aiid as bearded Wiseman. Thomas Gomez fhows up 'Hymn of the Nations' Thirty-iTiiiuile lllm. to ho Iri'de- .shown ne.\t wCck, prior to goir.g into lirnernr distribution,, wMs rc- vli.w-'ed in Vakiktv -May1944. At that time Broii said ot it; "This musical dueiimcniary, llrst of its kind, is a .slirriitg Hint— .'VrturoToseanini's musical tribute to democracy.. A .iUm smdy of an: N3C Symphon.v Orcheslra performance of Verdi's 'L.t Fcr-/.a del Destino' Overture and Verdi'si . 'Hvmii'of the Nations' at Studio an in New York. intci:»per.sed- with .shots of To.scaiYini at his Riyerdale. N. Y.. home, ih's 'iivcs the narrator i Bur;;c.ss Meredith). the chaiiee to de.scribc briefly the maestro's long struggle against oppre.s.sion; Tenor Jaii Pcercfc and IhQ Westminster Choir a.s.si.st in the .'I-lymn'... .wi.lli .a iiu illing oVerair efl'cei." . ' Film was produceil by OWl foi' ovi r.scas prooaganda and was ex- hibited in 2'8 languages. and. 4.*) counti-ics. Fir.st public U. S. showitig will be run .starling at, Litlld Carnegie, N. Y.. April '20. Ma.ver-Bur.styn . is handling do- ine.stie release ou non-prolit basis. The 4'apllv«* ll«nrt (BRmSII-MAOE) London, March 27. 1.;iik)i'-I'Iiiii - l-t-li.|lM. ' ii( j.^lltill^ .Sill,11,1:1, .\l(..lini.| hill I lu-mlllclloil. S(i|i-N .Mi..|ui«^l K'.Iki-iiM'. Uli-fi-lt.!! .tiy lld.^U ' Ui.;ir.ii 11, I llliljiy. Iiy- .XiiKUB Ahii'IMuilI, <.:ii> .Mm-* mm fi-iuii jiiii'iv liy i*;ili-Ii'k Kli-wim i-;iai.-r:i. DoiikIii.* .^-^li mill.. .Iii.-k l\irUM-. .M ihlniii' iliiiiii-i. KulniliiK time, I.OH .Ml\.<^. i*ii(il;illl Klll-rt lllisoh. . IVII:i .Mill-lull ., .Ml^ '.Miiwlii'iiy l*l-iv(ilo . Kvi.hs., -'.>li^.. l-^vriiiH. I 'liriiiii 1(1. Iliii-sriil). .,t,, M I-..I. lliii-7,riill.... I.ii.ilt. Ih.|i^iii\ .Ml-}!. I.i.|lilii\.. ,-... I'lim. Kiilii.'ri .Miir>il»4ii. ..Mri,liii: i>.-.'My I^.-ili;.! imili* - i|illil(l. .Mill .M:is,iii I'l-iviilii MiiMlK.w.s. l-'lii-sii'l-. I.ri-iii. ll:il li.y ..;... (*til-.ililb. Iliil-I.-y. . . . I':Im|1.-iIi .\K-li,iiiKlill. Mr. .Ml lliillk'nn . r.i.i yl I'iii-l i». . ..... ..MIi.1k1.'1.U...Ij;ii.\o . ItiiivlliM. l\i.m|ii>im .|.'rflili.l-li.|i' ),t.isi.rr ... ..MiM-vyii Jiiliii.1 .. .liiii.'h^l 'PliumaA. ........Iili'k Wiiiiirr ,:. .t!liiily!4 ;U<.h>i4in .. .iiu|-i|.)li J:i,.kst>ii Kltloc .Miinfn . Uub'iiri WViiil'liuiii liiiHll IViiir.inl ... .Oiiy.. ,Mi.iiil"if>n ........IImmy; Uuiik'v . ..Ivill-..t Sl;l|irit»-k' .. .D -r. l; 11.111,1 . . . . . ..hilhv Iliii-i-Hlt .\|.iri:rtf- l-^i-/.v|iii,iiVn Diii-I.l Uc-li- ....Vl..| |..| ■ K..il.,,..i 1 ea.se., But' Geraghty's original fol lows few of the fatiiiliar lines and ihe Edward Dcin-J'crry ; Warner scripting i.S: crisp enou.gh" to Ut a longer vehicle. In fact, much of the dialog and situations nicasure up to the "A'-' mark: ^ ^ .........q Unlike so many Shcrlock-spobk IW. Howard Greciv-" lakes full advaiv chillers having antanals in Ihc plot, taage of gorgeous mOuntitig. Trick the black cat in this play.<! a vital role in-solving the mystery. The number of people bumped off before repor- ter Brady unravels the mess is astounding. Actual.killcr is .skillfully concealed until the climactic light and revelation of the missin.;; $200,000. Picture ii? virtiMlly. a screentest for Fred Brady, as the reporter, aiid this per.so'nable young actor turps it into a starrine vehicle for himself. He'll be heard from in the future. Noah Beery, Jr., as the photog a.s- sigited to: the case^ ca.shes: in on his humorous role and proves excellent foil for Bf-ady.: 1 Jonathan Hale is excellent as :thc cuts deeply' into whatever suspeu.se it might have had. Scai-eitvpf. "amc- ialcnt.in. the cast will make for a - ■ ;• —rT " . , j i lack-lu.strc marqtiee, groovhv.; the excellently as the rich.jni.serly aiid ,,,,,, f„^. S'^h'l^l.SAU^rx^'^ioLDwigh^ y. _Bab.ock. .Mvo wrote e.oest.s^has..n.y.!5^e^o;'tg.m.l^^^^^^^ basing his story on' .a "wolf spirit" curse plaguing an hrislocraiic Lon- don family. Idea is glo.s.scd over by .scripter George Bj-iekcr after its ini- tial introductipii. hoiiycyer. and the picture winds .lip as a guc.s.sing game for the 'audience: to Hgurc oiit who's bdeii committing all the werc-wolf murders. Bal>cock ha.s thrown too many clues into the. story to giyc the audience .inuch trouble. . wants to marry on^ .scene with others in Ihe.ca.sl 1 making the rest .of her appearances I in trick ; photography as .she . seeks ! veiv^eance on Croesu.s. Rav Collins. Irascj-llv chamberlain: George Dolenz, iMohn Lilcl. Ernest Truex. Jerome Cowan and others expertly aid the I dcvclopii-ient. ' '. Color lensing by Hal Mohr ahd cariiera work by ,Tohn P'. Fulton adds to the interest. Editiitg keens fllin to a tight 84 minutes. Music score by Frank Skinner is an effective part of the backgi-pund. Bros. Xrly he, sequence political candidate on whom the fantastic Shakespeare, Kccnan i '\tL?t hV^A?,tML\^ Wvnn s deft cdmedv *ork also "'^"8' "'-^ daughter, in love with w e"sis^iard foi- s™Ud the reporter. Iris Clive makes the pie.s.ses naio loi soua laugns as ine _ hit i-ol*.. stanrt nut I newspaper's manager ■who concocts the .schemes designed to save the sheet's bankroll. He's a certain fiU ascr. . Cecil .Kellav^ay, Mi.ss Wil- iams' father: Ben BlCie, Johnston's valet; Paul Hai-^rey, publisher; June Lnckhart Jonathan Hale and others ure excellent. What will probably prove the big- gest laugh-getter in the 'film is an unbilled canine—a sad-«yed springer .spaniel—who flgures in - a sequence wherein he undertakes to instruct neophyte Johnson into the art 6r 'duck-hunting. Buzzell's direction carelully plays up the caninf! expres- :>ion or disgust and hopelessness ac the situation for guaranteed audience reaction. Cailos Ramirez' vocal ability isn't Kiven Ihc best display on '.'Accrcate Mas." Liicillc Ball, backed by dance troupe, gets over "The Continental Polka." by Ralph Blane and Johniiy Green. Ethel Smith is spotted Tor two organ numbers, both of which will be well . received. They are "Toca Tu Samba" and "Bonoca Dc Pixe." Cummings: marshalled topflight technical aides to furnish backing for Ihe fun. Harry Stradling's Icns- /iiig or the tinter gives a bcaiiiirul di.splay or the colorful settings. Musi- cal .score, supervision and direction by Johnny Green and orchestrations by Ted Dunciaii are both on ;he credit side. Brofli. mystery girl, a bit role, stand out. Paul Kelly. Douglas Duinbrille. Rose Hobart and Vera Lewis head the stout support : George Rotiiason cont ributes a skillful camerain^ job, whila R-jssell Schoengarlh's editing is well above par.. .Wear. •lo4>! Piile«ka, l.'iiaMifi ^l.iil.iKniiir i-olcnw ttf lliir K:. ('iif.filri- iini- iliii'liiiii.. I.yiiiiici^s l.t-ii^ Kniil. -Klyrtf Kiiiix, -Jui. lvlrkivi>,Hl, ill-.. (•:ituiiriio L'iiiiiiiiilli. Ul- iT*.|fil i,y itr^iiiiiiii r.l, Uii'ri:.. .^ot-fntilfty, lii-iil-K^ .MiiKkov iillO All>$l-r tlo'Villii;' m-lR- luiil, Mill I-:. ('Ili.slei-, lillHI'il UN llltlll Kl.sli^i- .■Hi-iooii tilrip: I'.niioi-a. T\rii Klliif.^ At VJ..1111-I11. .V. v., .Mirll iri, '40. lUinnlnic |ilii|.. .«INS.: Kuijliljy Walfili... • AMii... :.-.. Jim: lii^ikH n.ii-liil. l/.riy,:............ l-:u;;i-ii.e. :. Siniik.,!- ,., nr/.Ai-Ml**r. .Mom 1*itlunka... .; Pop I'aluokii. ..\l 1-0SI.-I i..... i.'iii-ly. . .■. ; Allium- >h-.f. ijl>oi-l:iiul,M-.. .\li-«. \':lli I'l-HHK*.. .Mis. Sliiironl...,. l-'io.lilio Wf.!!?*..., floffyi-fi ; .. ]\lglit la Paradise (COLOR) Hollywood; April 6. •Inciiiin rXlfXuiurer GolltMit. assnolutt iii-n- •itio'ii. SiHiK/Mci'in Ohef'oii. Tui'lmii Key; rt^Hiii»-M nioiiDiji ({iim'-:!, Huiulei-Kdufil. It:iy t'lfiiii)}). Kiiic.it Trucx. Gf^orge Dolrnz, ■luroi^iH I'iMvaii. P'M'i-cK'il l>y Ai'tliui' T,ul)ln. SctrHhhhiy, Krnei't: ('nM-nl: n'laiUatl'^ii, I.H vtMv: froiii novrl. ••roa<'0<-k'»> (Ti.liiiMtanii. ilHl Sh>Uv (iiiU W. irgw.tv.) CJrJ'i.iH-: h|i«M-iiil iitiiVuiKtnpliy. .lulin V. Knl- iiiti': iiiii.<'lciil M'ni'o ilii'Pi'l iijli. 1-*riiiil; Skitiii»-i; ftliliii-. Millitii l.'iiriMil); tiili: f)«iliK. ,l:u k Bionkft Miiil Ki'Ank Shlnnrr. I'rcvlew-il AiM-il :.. -111. niiniiInK Wnn-, Hi MISS. T.Mii Rn-ol :,.KIvi'i» Knox . ..luf KI(\wiK'wl. .IV. .K(hibi:iln (*|nnnt>lll ■ San yrr ... l-:ilshii I 'iHik. .1r. ^aiii Mi-IJitnlrl It.iht't'i Kfnt. ,,.,. .S:if;ih >'n«li(*»n Mklufl' Murk »..* ...'.. .l<ou So\XL Vlni-'»ni ...AI■^^ntll|■M- l.iiHxIn CiiriDi* Diumr .l*:il'IiW Htiuli>^K nmiy Iliyilii> . riiil '/.;iiiiU .. ;-liiuniy .MrT.:ir>)>ii Tli«% rat CreepN t'liiifi'Mil rcl,.:ivo of lIowni-0 ,AV|.|..^.|i i-tii- <lii. I l-'.'iiiiH-i'M. Noall Bec|->', Jr., l-'r.-tl n<:„iy. i.jiiii Ki-ily. I.>lre<-te<l Ijy i-:rl.- i'. K1111..11. .-M-iviiliMkiy Iiy EOwitrd I>».|ii :iii.| dfiry Whi-o.-i- .ritiiii iirlKlnnl liy rJoi-:it.i Hi-j-- HKlil.i ; i-:ilili.r:i. lii-ul-^fe ilobln.soii: :inJili»l'. JtiiyM-l- S'-lliii.|ik'nrlh. JVevlPWi^iV X. Y.. Moil 4. (tiitinliiK tlinp,.(Mt AIIN.S ..... .1 . . .iVolllt JlHi.i-v. .Ir. l.oj.s i'..lli.ri- T'llll K.lly . .tlOllKlO.s'. Oil/iil. ill.-' ........... .'Fi'eiJ J:i-:iiiy .i.. i. .ilOM* 1 )iil>;ii I .......J011M(ll:ill ll:lli ..». .. ,.\*i>rn. J..-H i..* .......... ..Il-ll" I'll!-.- ...AVIIIIdin ll:i\I.IK..II -.....\rllnii- I.lii'i Jcn-y Joroiiii' >-|:i>ll. . <;:iy Kllii.l, . .. . . Ki II I irmly '('..Ill .Mi.| 111 l\->.y. •ri-i-iy .Mi-liiils. .. <'iiliiiii. riilmi i-.. W:il Klliiil . .. *'i.i(i \\-iiniiMls. . K \ I'll 1 lOi'.-iil. ..., i-;.i;i..i )-iililii.lii.r I'.ih.-li I UiilHrHl. . .\l-f.|l|l. . , • . . • ■ a . , . f'l-l.l-.HIIK, . ,,,, I .-\ll..!<j':l. 't.i-.iiijiu.x..: Ki-lKl'l .Miiliimiiii.liii-. ..Viriiiiii .Sl-l-illA .S..ril.i.. .., i,, lllull l'lli.>:l. |-||.lllllell.;H ■ • . • . .s..i:il.i. ,,,, llllTll l'r.'><l...-.i.,, ' l.i..||l|.|li,li'l. ., Stiliilliiiir. .,, .Miii'lir.il.l I'l ii-.'l I'litlii'K .Mliiil.ll ' |-:i1 .Mlllll. li...,^, I':il:i>.|. .Nhiiiti'll I':illi,.,. ,M:iiili'n...,', f:il:ii |. .Mlll.l.-n, .... P.-iliii;.. .Miii.li-n,.... I':'il:li.-|. .M:!i.lt.ll..... *|-.,\Vll^l^''■llill II. ;,.. ^ '|-.iivii.-iiiii ir. ..... .-,, 'rnivti.. iilii 11 ; riillii.- .U:iL.iliii...,. ■ .sliiL-Ini: .S|irt.hilly; ., I l>'.|:ir:ii .M-.ytii-lltfl-. . I i':ilii.-|. .Mlii'li'U I Ills ' .l.iirilji . S\cvW. Olici-ou Tlllllnil Uiy 'I*liiiii-:i.s Coiiii.y. ...i::il.: ?^iiil(.i-:;ii:ir<j ......... I(;iy I'lillin.H ii)>Dri;f l)oli.|i/. ..Iiiliii r.lii-l ........ KrllPHl 'I'l lii-x I.-I'.llll|. I'liWilll .l>i<ii;.-hi!'.s Diioniiilli' , . .. r:iril .l':i\-illl.'ill^ll .M:i:-viii Milti-r . i .■ .^iii-.>iil <>ls«.n .Ki'lKiiil Riiili-y i..Wi.|. WilliK lliiviK ,... Itii...f-:iiiiir. .Mun'iiv ......'. IhillH lli.i-).i.rl .Itiiili. Viiliny .. .Kai i-n \. CilyliirtI ..Kalll|.''.|l O.Miill.y ..l\:ll-r.ll Uiillillii .....Ki-n y Vi'iiiKliit ...... 11:11111 ICi;.iiiu-ily , , Illllfi r:.ill.lii11 ..... 1.. Kilhi .M..1-1::.11 ...;Arl Miles , AI Cli.i.il.v .. ;. . I::ili ii-l:i .Ml^iiii ..' .'hi|i l.yiinn ..hiiiirH lliilliin ..'..;. .11:111.:.n. l^ii*.!* .; ..I.-Hii- '|-ri»iil .. . .. «p . ..Tolli 1:11111. . Monogram's '.'Joe Palboka, Champ" will draw Ham Fisher's comic-strip fans, while the many boxing-ring ] shot.s will attract flslicuft tollowcn;. Pic will do all right for itself in modest quarters. : Fight fans, though, may feel a little cheated lat thie come-on gimmick of Joe Loui.s, Manuel. Orti?. Ceferino Garcia, Henry Armstrong and other ring greats being advertised on the billboards, while being shown only ficctingly in passing on the .screen. Average public will Tind pic just another ring -romance of the young iinkiu^wn di.scovcred by a promoter^ developed into a contender.' and suc- cessfully battling for the champion- ship despite connivings of gangstei-s. The society gal who falls for the fighter and is his inspiration will aLso have a familiar ring ino pun intended).: Pic is modestly budgeted. Dialog and direction arc routine but okay while catiicra work, especially in ring shots, is good. Vet comic Leon Errol has an appealing: role as Knobby, grufl', sentimental ijromoter and Palobka's manager. .lue : Kirk- wood.. Jr.. pa.ssably lilLs tive bill of the handso.me. earnest young lighter, and. Elyse Knox is decorative .-is the girl-friend. Edtiardo Cianhelli is suf- licic^ntl.v metiacing as the gangster chief. Prizcdghlers Lou Nova, a.s the ch;-mp. and:'Jimmy McLarnin, as a rerci-ce, add some color in bit narls. Broil. : Young girl, last remaining.descend- ant of the ill-toted, family, believes the curse has fallen oh her when a scries: of murders by a wolf^like creature are committed iiv the vi- cinity of her home. Ob.ses.^cd with the idea she's committed the inuii'- ders under the spell of the curse,, she breaks, her engagement to a lawyer. Events move slowly to a tepid climax when: she . gives herself up to the police who then reveal the. real killer. June Lockhart, daughter ot actors Gene and Kathleen, is appealing and sympathetic as the heroine but her constant underplaying of . the horror motif helps negate the Aim's attempt to be a shocker. Don- Porter, as the lawyer who helps unmask the killer to \yin the gal, is'a little .too foppish to win favor as the hero. Sara Haden is outstanding as the girl's aunt and Jan Wiley turns in a nice perform ance as the cousin. Eily Halyon shines in-a bit role as the maid of the family. Producer Ben Pivar fur:nishc<l the fllrn with rich inounting.s or Xx)ndon at the turn of the century. Jean 'Varbroiigh's direction. although spotty, helps keep the.:lilnr going at as rapid a pace as the loosely-woven script will allow. Maury Gerstthan aids the dim's mood with .some lurid camera .shots of tlie murdci,-: in London fog. Sifll First lilm to be made in oeeupied Germany, this combination of ilpcii- mcntary and suspf useful drama' ought to knsick them bold over here. Whether Americans will like this story, showing the effect on Engli.sh, Sc'ott;h.and .We'sh women, of Ihe im. prisonmcnt of their husbands: sweet- hearts and sons in German,wart-mo 1 compounds, is .somethiiig el.se anain. I lls length and geiieral theme inakes' •this a doiibttul.entry iiv the U; S. I SeOond only, to Ihc unrelieved >:rim • 'reality of^ life, as it was livc.i in Star lags, the outstanding, merit of "'I'hc Capliv.t Heart" is the luimber of su- perlatively "good perfornVanccs I inned • To Michael Balcon as protlticer must go chief credit for t4ie news-. . (x-l fldelity of the prison camp se- quipnce.s. For tlic Ijrilliant p'ortralvals of diverse characters, dircetor Basil iDeardcn .should take the.bpvi's. Both owe a lotto exceptionally llpc .script* ing by-Angus McPhail and Ciiy Mor- gan. . Michael Bedgrave. as a Czech, cdiu eaicd . in England and fleeing , rroin the Gestapo, takes oh the idcutil,v' of a. dead English army officer ami is. jailed in a Stolag vvith Brili.sh'sol-. dicrs. He: escapes lynching only to nnd him.sclf marked down for a vi>;it to a Nazi gns chamber. Even when he convinces the British of the truth of his -Story, and after he has won freedom through- repatriation, he's up against the task of .squaring him- self with the wife of the dead man Who.se identity he has. assumed. The' fact that, this flnal sequence holils one's attention says .something, for the writing, acting, and dircctih:;. - Mervyn Johns, Basil Ra<lford, Jimmy Hanley and Jack Warner also deserve praise; .The. teinnic voles are necc.s.sarily bits with Rachel Kemp- son best as the deceived widow. . Tfllb. SoniC of Old W.y«»MiM tSONGS-COLOR) VWC ivti»nK^ lit Il6lj**lt l.;i)riii*lt iiiii.liir- iluii. illm-iiil Iiy l-lniincit, siiirii K.i.ii* Draii: --ri.RUirt.-.( ■Jeiiliiri'i* Hull, lali K'-.i 1. Al'l*-i Uni.. s.ni-nli Piiililf-n. ili-iKiiml i..-i".-,i-. Iiliiy bv* frail.-I'M KliviiliiiiiKli: lamKS. Kaliih llillllKi'i-. I.4'0 Itolllll, Killlli. nniil. .Mile .Vhiblp. I'arl lloi-ilp: I'anirir.i. m-Iiu imi, .MhiciI r.rlMi'ai.l: iillloi', HiikIi Winn. At NViv -t'lirk. N". Y.. iliiiii, AiHll :!. Hi. tlim- iliiiK (I'liii-. «.1 MINN. |.:i1,ll<< tlPi'd.. .Ma ('oiiw-iiy... I'lii-y'i-iiiii? ICiil. Vii-ki^y 1-|ii'li. l'>/.i-a..-.'. Sllin V.iifk I..ni.1.i\v ....I'M.lio D.'.iil .,.Sitl':.li railili-il ...... .\I I..I Kiiift .. ..Ii.onir.-r II.ill .; l.;'iiiiiit-n l.yi'in .i::iy Kl.liT ..liiliii I'in Ill-Ill f-r Ian K.'illl Home Ob ihtt Kan|(e (SONGS: COLOR) n'Mlillillr l-olDiis.^ or r.uuiN Oi-ay |.i<i..lii..| imi .Sons. .Monlo Malr. A'Irlaii IIimiIIi. lli:'i-(-ii.,l liy Uiilii'i-l .S|in-|iKN|i-i-n. S.-i«'i-iiiilii.. i;..Hj lairlil iilKo: .siin v. Hi'iiy lliii'liriili.".' I Hi-i. ii:o-,l .M.-C.iiivill..; ..; -i-a l.\lll^.lIl Ion, .\liii-i-.-l r.*l*l.-ai-il: (..liiiii-. I'haili-N i*l;irt; lllllliiriil illrM-lor. '.\foi-w.ii Si-.ill; .;.io;;.s: iliir- iloii l.'iii'Vlfi-. Ki'o *':ii-..ioii. i:ti.ii Siipiircr. -|*)-ait.:>ili„wil .\. v., .\|ii'll ^. -li:. l;iiiiiiiiii; liiii.-, .W .MIX.«i. . .Mooir Half. llolllliP * iiirlll,, ■ i'.i-i/.'/.ty Carlli. -... I'lil) i:ri-IIi - 11:111 J.iiliK. I'H.iil . Iliikoi- Sliiii.WaniM'P :. .-'Ili-rirt I'oMPr...," I I..-11.S011 Sliiti'siiiiiii. ... Jliib .Sulall :i|i.l .S..IIS Thi.s nhn fable out-Aesop's,Aesop, and in doing .so oflers pleiilV for cus- tomer amusement. It'.s a tipto,r fan- ta.sy of love and. advchtiirc in the totn l of King Croesus. The richness Never pretending to be anything : of the Croe.sus court gives cxcu:;e for more than a le.s.ser feature, "The Ciil ' lush production trappings and'WsiUcr Creeps" turns out to be nearly iin j Wangei's guidance makes the most hour of grijiping'mystery. - Capable-! of the background in splendor and ca.sl headed by Noah Beery. Jr.. iiiid .settings, eostirmes, etc. It's all de- Fred Brady, piits across Gerald Ger- ; signed to Hit the eye with color and aghly's ori.uinal .story glibly wjth im : entevlaih.' and registei.s on both coitiits. ■ Marquee values arc good to slimulalc initial sales. Dii eetiuu by Arthur Xubin giiidcs the pla.vers through the plot at .a vood pace, manages a iiumber of obvious assist from director Erie C Kenton. Picture is a sprightly du:ilc)-. Idea of having a riviCi'ler solve a Filicide of 15 years ago, Avhcn it's lopped as'an actual murder is not exactly .new. .Nor Is the ticup wilh a pending election with ono pr Ihe candidates involved In the murder .Siio-Wolf 4»f l.,4>n«l»n 't-iiivi-i-:';il iPl'ittae -of -Hon .'iMv.nr 'tn-o.lii.- ii..ii, l-'i.aliiri-H Doll. I'lirlvr. .Iiiiiii l.,i.-kbiir.i, .Sara llailrn, .Xnn \Vili-y. 1 lin-i.-ti-il li,- .iphii V:ii'iii-oiii;b. .Sirrceliiiliiy, iJi-oi-Ke. lirl.'kVi-,. )i:i>i-(.tl oil. oi'tKlrii'il )iy' J>ivii;b( V.' Uatirork; i-.tiiu-ra, .M:i(ij-y (iPrHlluun; (.illior, I'uul l.iin- iIick: .Al iliallo. .N. v.. n't:i;k Ala-il .", Mij. IIUllllllIK till)':. <tl .MtNN. Mill i-y IMlyllls AHi-iiliy....; .Marliiii Wliiilii oii,. i.-i.i-oi.., ;....., I ll>.jii'..-l.'n- l'l..-li-p. .. . I.:il 11:1111. . '.':, Ihiiiiiali... .....'.... .. .Div'iulit .S..i;.'.iii 1 'ons'|:'.l,lr. .Ml.s; .M.-llnioin. .......Doll riii-l.n- . ...Jiiou J.i|i.I{liiii-t ..;... .'S-ili Jlail.'ll ..Inn \Vili.y .'..... I)- iini.s J loi'y ...1.1.1.1.1 I'oi'rlf^ii ......KilV Malyoil .. . .Miirilv K.i.sl.-i k . l.-l-piloi i.. W'li-lo.-li ...i.'Irnn r:l:iiplti-k .M.yllr Mall. . .A.h ::.ii n h 'r.'iii i-'iiiiii,.i-ioii . ..I'.oliliy lilakc .. I,"llo.\- .MaKoii . ..Kov Hiiri-rori . K.-iiii..' runi.-iiii :. .-I'.ii.i.i nii...i..r . . . . ..I:..-I, Kli-k :liillii I l:itiiitl,in r l*ioili|.r>' ShCiWolt of London" is a minor mcllei- that mi.sses because it never This' oatuner, embellished' with color photography and eiidinved with a mc.s.sage on wild life prest'rviilion. makes acceptable nabe fare although story registers negatively. Monte Hale, In his first, j-nnsliinger, carries himself well with a su'wlan- lial set of pipes, and looks convinc- ing in the muscle and gunplay slulf. He .warbles material 'sin standard style as do Bob Nolan; and the Sons of Pioiieers. who arc con.s;)icuously costiimed and part of acting cast. Interspersed with flst lights and gun battles, the yarn deals with piuns: Tor Ihc pre.scrvation of wild lirii on a zoned ranch. With Hale at the holm. LeRoy Mason is the heavy coveting this particular ranch land, but foiled by Hale's detective work. Adi-ian.:Booth plays a hard riding tcinmc rancher who finally sees the light and teams with Hale iiV the wild life cause,. Slotted songs. exclu.sively wo.sterns. are .solid on the sound track but .siifTcr frequently by poor .vyi\ehi-6n- 'y.ation. They incliidc "Happy-Go- Old "Song of Old Wyoming"' is a run- ofrthc-mill western gl6s.scd over with some lukewarm Cinecolor t-i\ts. U.se o( color process misses the boinl en- tirely in this film siliee the camera fixates on Ihe dullest elements on the set without any panning lb point up the varied splendors of the natural background. Story material i-s pUiyert out .strictly according to Ihe oatiinci 's Hoyle with enough knucklo-scraping and six-.shooting spaced througliout to win over the fans. Pleasontest a.spcct of the pie is Ed- die Dean's performance as a ca.si-al. peace-loving cowhand . w-fio. in a pinch, knows how to use his dukes or warble a song. Dean appealingly croons three standard siiddlc tunics with some excellent choral .siippcrt. Yarn concerns the eflorf^s of a pa- triotic old lady, Sarah Paddou. to drive a gang of spoilers out of Wyor; ming and make the-tei-rito;y a part of the Union. The CheyetiPc Kid,- Jennircr Holt, is iihported into town to rub her out but the long arm of coinc'idcncc gets a good, workout and the Kid turns.Up to be old cal'.s long-, lost son. Dean. ca.st as a ranch rore- man. .working for Padiien. heatls' « compctciit roster ot porforn-iers. I|k*vil Bal'9 Daagbit^r Hollywood,. April 3. • vni! ri-li-aw) of (•'1-liiik WlBbar il'nrl Ptev- li'iil) |il-(Klli*'ll0l), itllH.i.ri.|t Iiy Wi.sbar. l-'irH.- lui-es RoHomnry -I.ii l^ljiuotie, .'101111 AhV'.«.' .Si»i-r:'riiiilny.' r,i.i(Tln Jny 'from Btoi-j' liv *V1^- bar .-out l^^riini Jiionfrr; oaiiipin. Jmiirs ,s. tli-iiwii, .11-.-. mIKoi';. 'DoilKlns 'W. Uii|lI''i-; M-oi-p. .Mi'xaiiili'i- .Slrimirr. Prrvtijivnl -^lilil 'J. '40. lliiniihiK llim.. «7 MINK. .Nina........ (lo.ilriiiiiry r.n ptuii.-li« 'ffil i ,.i,,. I.. ..I0I111 .)lllllti| Srin riii.., \.. ., ..Mii-liai.|',1 .KllPli..- ...M.illi- l.minoit Dr. Klliol...., Nolan :l.':.iV .M> 1:1 ,.. 1... .M.iiil.-a. .Muni .•^ii.-iiir.-....; i-:.! i'ii>-'i.iy .^|ll. Iloilr.!. .Mki- ).:.llli(. I\:iii4 sharp suspense sequences-and lends Vqiiitc makes up its mind whether | Lucky Cowboy," ."Down' a'., the ail overall, effe'ct that will hold ;it^ ■ it's to bo a straight whodunit or h HoO Down," "Over the ' Rain'oow j lurid as ils title, is wcl weighled -Pafcnily for the duals, this: horror ettorl comes oft well in the metier lor: vyhich it was desi-' ic'. ■'Devil Bat's Diui!.'hter"iis ne\! - (iniie iis tentioh; Picture is best when treat- i horror film. Fcnce-.sittiiig attitude I Trail," and ':Takc Your Time." ■ Continued on pag<r 18)