Variety (Jan 1947)

9: . wsMM mmvmmB Hollywood, Jto. 25. 5Wth-Fox «k»ae ot Louta de Bochemont Jcoduotlon. Stara Dana, AndrewE; fcaturek ftn» Wyatt. J, CoW. Car% WHUams, Arthur Kennedy. Sam Levene, Taylor Holmeo, Kobert Keith. Ed Lesley. Directed liy Ella Kaean. Screenplay, Richard MurDhy; based on an article by Anthony Abbot. Imblished In Keader's DiBest; camera, Herbert Brodlne; music. David Buttolnh; editor, Harmon Jones. Tradeshown In Los AnBeles, Jan. 24. '^17, Running time, 81 Henry Xj. Harvey D.ina Andrews !MrH. Harvey Jane Wyatt <?hje£ Hobinson Lee J. Cobb Irene Nelson, Cara ^VilUamK John Waldron... Arthur ICennedy TVoods '. 4 i , . ,8am Iievene Wade ; Taylor Holmes McCrcery .Robert Keith Harris , ,,.i,..Bd BeRley Crossman. . . . . ....... ..... ..Staillp CooIidKe Cary . . . ^ . , , , , Lester Lonentan Whitney .Lewis Leverett SKt. Duean , . .Barry Kelley Mr. Rogers.. .....Richard Garrick Lt. White Karl Mnlflen James. Ben Laokljind Annie, , .Helen Carew Father Lambert. .Wyrley Birch Rev. Gardiner ...Johnny Stearns Cartucci '. . .Guy Thomnjan Mrs, I.,ukash ,,. Lucia .Seger Dr. Rainsford .Dudley Sadler Mayor Swayze......... .. .. .^Walter Grcaza Miss Manion. ..Helen Hatch Mr. Lukash. Joe Kiizan Miss Roberts, ................ .Ida McGuire O'Shea. . . . .George Petrie Callahan .John Carmody Judge Tate.......;.... Clay Clement McDonald............. K. J. Ballnntino Stone William Chailee O^ironer Kdgnr Stehli Hill Jimmy Dobson Sheriff l.iawrence Paquin Warren, Anthony Ross ■ Herron. .Bert Freed ilohnson , Royal Bcal "Boomerang" is gripDing, real-life melodrama, told in .ipmi-documentary style. It's the third such factfiction production by Louis de Hochemont for 20th-Fox release and carries plenty of entertainment punch for all situations. Based on a still unsolved murder case in Bridgeport, Conn., plot is backed up with strong cast and exploitation values to make it thoroughly .saleable as suspetiseful, thrilling whodunit. Dana Andrews heads the convincing cast and furnishes a stout marquee name. His role is realistic and 8 top performance job. While carrying a fictional name as state's attorney, the role, in real life, has its counterpart in Homer Cummings, who went on from the state post to become Attorney-Genetal Of the United States. Case on which plot is based deals with murder of a Bridgeport priest and how. the prosecutiiig attorney establishes the innocence of the law's only suspect. No attempt is made to fasten a phoney ending on tale, picture leaving case still unsolved as in real life. ' Richard Murphy's script gives Elia Kazan's direction a. solid foundation. All the leads have the stamp of authenticities. The dialog and situations further the factual technique. Lee J. Cobb shows "up strongly as chief detective, harassed by press and politicians alike wliile trying to carry out his duties. Jane Wyatt has only a few scenes as the wife of Andrejws but makes them count, Arthur Kennedy is great as the law's suspect. Cara Williams, Sam Levene. Taylor Holmes, Robert Keith, Ed Begley and others reflect careful casting, Lensing was done on location at Stamford, Conn., the locale adding to realism that features entire production. Credit for ace camera work goes to Norbert Brodine. Other contribuiions are in keeping with the genefal excellence. J5ro£f. '@ mmm "BoomeraMg'' (20th). Thrill,Jng fact-fiction melodrama with high boxofflce content. Told in semi-documentary style. "Soncs of Seheherazade" (Songs; color) <U«1.) Cpstumer with music of Rimsky-Korsakofl for customer appeal. "Bead Beckoning" (Col.). Satisfying whodunit with Humphrey Bogart, Lizabeth Scott; good: boxoffice. "The Shop At Sly Corner" (British-Lion). Picturization of London legit hit dubious b.o. factor for American market, "Trail to San Antone" (Songs) (Rep). Routine .Gene Autry fare. "Wild Country" (PRC). Dull oatuner in the Eddie Dean series, "I Live As 1 f lease" (Superfilm) (Italian-made). Weak operatic film slated only for Italian-language patrons. Walter Reisch's direction of his own script often wavers in the treatment oE plot elements and characters. Adding to ludicrous spots 'are a variety of accents, topped by the' Broadwayese and 20th century flippancy tossed into the 1865 period by Eve Arden. Plot purports to be based on an incident in Rimsky-Korsakoff's life, when he was a midshipman in the Russian navy, and is aimed at showing the influence the background had on his music. Jean Pierre Aumont plays the young composer. Yvonne DeCarlo is the Spanish dancer with whom he falls in love during the week's adventuring. Miss DeCarlo has three dance numbers, terped to musical accompaniment of "Gypsy Song," "Fandango" and "Scheherazade." Latter is elaborately staged for the finale. Charles KuUman is seen as the ship's doctor who encoiurages the composer. Role gives him chance to highlight "Song of India,'* "Hymn to the Sun," both with new lyrics by Jack Brooks, and "Fandango." Brian Donlevy does a chain-smoking captain of the training ship who tries to-malce his students the pride of the Russian "navy. Philip Reed is a Russian prince and midshipman. Reed and Aumont are called upon to stage a whip duel, only spot of action in the footage, and not too exciting at that, over the favor of Miss DeCarlo. Miss Arden is Miss DeCarlo's wise-cracking mother, who lives a fashionable life while her daughter supports the family by dancing incognito in a waterfront cafe. Richard Lane, ship's lieutenant; John Qualen and others in the cast do their best with characters. The Edward Kaufman production Has been beautifully dressed, Broff. Tlie Shop at Sly Corner (BRITISH-MADE) London, Jan. 23. British Lion release of Georfe King production. Stars Oscar Homplka, Derek Farr, Muriel Pavlow, Directed by George King. Music by George Melachrlno. Screenplay by Katherine Strueby. from play by Edwiird Percy: additional dialog. Reginald Long. Camera. Hone Glendinnlng. At Bturtio One, London, Jan. 22. 'iT. Running time. !U MINS. Deacius Hciss Oscar Homolka Robert Graham .Derek Farr Margaret Heiss Muriel Fnvlow Archie PellowCB Kenneth Grinith Cordcr Morris Manning Whiley Mrs. Catt Kathleen Harrison Major Elliot Garry Marsh Professor Vanetti.. Jan Van Loewen Ruby Towser........ Irene Handl Inspector Rohson. , Johnnie Schofleld Song of Selseherazade (SONGiS; COLOR) Hollywood, Jan, 25. XTniversal-Intematlonal release of Edward Kaufman production (as.sociate producer. Edward Dodds). . Stars Yvonne DeCarlo. Brian Donlevy. Jean Pierre Aumont; features Eve Arden. Philip Reed. John Qualen. Charles KuUman. Written and directed by Walter .Reiscb, Story inspired by N. Rim, Bky-KorsakoU music; camera (Technicolor). Hal Mohr. William V. Skall; editor, Frank Goss; musical adaptation and direction. Mlklos Rozsa; lyrics. Jack Brooks; chore•ogranhy, Xilllfr Xosch. Previewed In Holly■wooa. Jan, S*, '47. BunnlnR time, loS .MWS, Cara. Yvonne De Carlo Captain, . , .Brian Donlevy Him*ky.Ko(sako(f....,Jean Pierre Aumonf Madame de Talavera., Eve Arden Prince MIsohetsky. , Philip Reed Dr. Klin ' Charles KuUman IvorenKo. .John Qualen Lieutenant.. ....Richard Lane Lorin , Terry Kilburn Pierre George Doienz Fioretta. .Elena Verdugo Hassan. ................... .Robert Kendall Sultan. ......... . ............ . vRex Ravelle Orderly. ................... Mickey Simpson Giant. .«.. . . . .Sol Haines tittle Bieter. Florche Rozen Students: William Brooks, teonard East. Edv^ard Kelly, Russ Vincent. Peter Varriey, Charles Robertson. Tom Skinner. Warren W. MoColIum, Ernie MIshens. Marvin Press. Fred K. HartBOclr. Gordon Arnold, Bill Cabanne. Don Garner. George Holmes Basso Milio Shcron Native Girl.. ..Patricia Alnhin French Girl Joan Fulton The music of N. Rimsky-Korsakofl and eye value" of brilliant color give "Song of Seheherazade" entertainment elements not otherwise found In the fluffy, ineptly directed and played story. Production dress has plenty of sight appeal by virtue of magniflcent «olor lensing by Hal Mohr and William V. Skall. Score contains 10 Rimsky-Korsakofl tunes, ably adapted to the Screen by Miklos Ro«a. Three, with lyrics by Jack Brooks, get the benefit o£ Charl^ KuUman's fine tenor voice. Basis for display of composer's music is his suptiosed escapades during a week in Spanish Morocco. Stoiy has a comicropera flavori and i Be^id Reckoning (ONE SONG) Columbia release of Sidney Bidden production. Stars Humphrey Bogo-rt. Lizabeth Scott: features Morris Carnovsky. Charles Cane, William Prince. Marvin Miller, Wallace Ford. Directed by John Cromwell, Screenplay. Oliver H. p. Garrett and Steve Fisher, fi'om adaptation by Gerald Adams [and Sidney Bidden of story by Allen Rivkln; camera, Leo Tover: editor. Gene Havlick; .song, Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher; musical score, Marlin Sklles. At Criterion. N. Y.. Jan, 2S, '47, Running time, 100 TONS. Rip MuMock. , Humphrey Bogart Coral Chandler .............. Lizabeth Scott Martlnelll ,3tlorris Carnovsky Lieutenant Kincald ..........Charles Cane Johnny Drake ..•.......^..William Prince ICrause Usrvln Miller McQee f .Wallace Ford Father Logan , James Bell Louis Ord George Chandler Lt. Col. Simpson William Forrest Hyacinth ................ «Ruby Dandridge Humphrey. Bogart's typically tense performance raises this average whodunit quite a few notches. Film has good suspense and action, an . I some . smart direction and photography. Despite occasional slowdowns or a mawkish bit, pic will satisfy the mystery fans. It should do okay. Columbia borrowed Bogart from Warners to play the role pf a tough ex-paratrooper captain ' returning home with a pal to be honored by the War Dept. for fliieir achievements. When the pal jumps the D. C. train, to go home instead, the perplexed captain follows to find himself enmeshed in gangland, murders and romance. Hisi pal, he learns, had .enlilited imder an alias because he was convicted of a killing. Two days after said pal arrives home, he gets bumped off. Determined to solve the mystery and avenge his friend, the captain digs into his pal's haunts. .He meets UD with the nitery singer the pal loved, and with the tough club operator who has some mysterious hold on the girl as well aS some vague part in the .friend's disappearance. Bogart's interference brings about another death, several beatings to himself from the club-owner'* gang, and a love-affair between singer and paratrooper, before the several mysteries aire unveiled and the stories jelled. Gunplay and chase figure in the proceedings to heighten the interest. Script uses a flashback method for part of the telling, to add v.'-iety. Bogart absorbs one's interest from the start ,•. a tough, quick-thinking ex-skyjumper» Llzaheth Scott stumbles occasionally as the nitery singer, but on the whole gives a persuasive, sirenish performance. Morris Carnovsky is guavelv unscrupulous as the gang chief, and Marvin Miller sufficiently sadistic as his somewhat sheUshocked henchman. George Chandler and Charles Cane are realistic in supporting roles, while Wallace Ford makes a real portrait out of a safecracker bit. John Cromwell's direction is sure and smooth, except where the script occasionally falters, Camera work of Leo Tover has some unusual shots and is uniformly good. Song, "Either It's Love Or It Isn't," sung by Miss Scott, has the appealing, sultry quality to suit the films mood. ■ ■ Bron, Biggest boxoffice asset of this picture is fact that play, on which it is based, has run in London's West End for over two years. Absence of Oscar Homolka from screen for considerable period makes marquee value problematical. Picture will have to rely mainly on word-of-mouth and a 15-minute cut would speed up story and help considerably. Film gathers pace and is truly cinematic in the second half, but the first part is deadly slow and too explanatory without explaining much. More, too, should have been made of the romanSs between the two young lovers. This part of the story is unworthy of the talents of Derek Parr and Muriel Pavlow. Homolka plays Heiss, the kindly old Frenchman, owner of^^an antique shop at Sly Corner, apparently interested only in beautiful things and the violin playing of his daughter. But now and again stolen jewels find their way to Sly Corner and Archie Fellowes, assistant in the shop.rdiseovers that Heiss is an escaped prisoner from Devil's ..Island. Threatening to reveal this to the daughter, Arcbie -systematically blackmails the old man, and climax comes when the young scoimdrel' decides he wants to marry the girl. Heiss strangles the blackmailed and, with the help of a friendly crook, dumps the body, which is discovered by the police. Scotland . Yard takes up the chase, which ends in a box in a concert hall. Heiss commits suicide while his daughter is winning laurels playing the Mendelssohn Concerto. ' Homolka gives an excellent performance as the shrewd, kindly fence. He makes, real his love for his daughter and his passion for beautiful things. Kenneth Griffith reenacts his stage part and ne^cb toning down for the screen. Derek Parr and Muriel Pavlow could do no mOre than they did with iheir nebulous parts, and two character gems come, as usual, from Kathleen Harrison and Irene Handl, Direction is competent and production has a nice quality. Frederick Grinke was responsible for, the violin playing of the Mendelssohn Concerto and Schubert's Ave Maria. Picture should play to profitable business here, and may fit into dual spots in America where Homolka's name may draw. Cane. Tra^l to San Antone (SONGS) Republic release ot Armand Schaefer production. Stars Gene Autry; features Peggy Stewart. Sterling Holloway. William Henry. Directed~by John English; original screenpltiy. Jack Natteford. Lucl Ford; songs. Deuce Spriggens, Sid Robin, Joe Burke. Marty Symes. Spade Cooley. Cindy Walker. Autry! camera, William Bradford: editor. Charles Craft. Tradeshown in N. Y.. Jan. 24. '*'!. Running time. 67 M1N8. Gene Autry., Gene Autry Kit Barlow Peggy Stewart Droopy Stearns Sterling Holloway Blek Malloy.. .William Henry Ted Malloy .........John Duncan Cal Young. i.. ..... .Tristram Coffin The "Commodore".. Dorothy Vaugban .Sheriff Jones... .....Edward KeaHe S«m-... Ralph Peters Tjiemselves. , .Cass CouatSr " and Champion Motherhood pf Man' "Brotherhood ot Slan," animated color cartoon short discussing the equality of mankind from a scientific basis, is a successful approach to an unusual subject, and an entertaining film to boot. Based on the w.k. pamphlet, "Races of Mankind," by Columbia profs Ruth Benedict and Gene Weltfish, the 10minute short .shows similarity in races through body makeup, blood types, brain, etc., and differences caused only by environment, training, etc., to. preach in a simple, highly effective way the theme of racial tolerance. In concept, script, drawing and animation, the film shows cleverness, imagiration and humor. Sometimes it's a' little naive, and in a sense too sketchy and incomplete. .But subject is vast, and on the whole the cartoon does an excellent job. Film, previewed in N. Y. Thursday (23), was produced by Stephen Bosustow for United Productions, with Rrffeert Cannon directing, and screen story by Ring Lardner, Jr., John Hubley and Phjl Eastman. Cartoon is. being sponsored for domestic use by the United Automobile Workers Union (CIO), and thenar "Dept. civil affairs division^has just bought it for re-orientation purposes in occupied territory. _ Bron. search for the horses via airplane and, in a climax that won't be believed even though seen, lassos the stray horse from the air. Windup is a stock racetrack sequence ending in a photo-finish for plenty of excitement. Hardly discernible thread of romance between Autry and a neighboring ifemme rancher never intrudes long enough toslow the action. Autry rsgisters okay in the action sequences and handles three vocals in his usual style, with the Cass County trio backing up nicely. Peggy Stewart as the heart interest is a looker but not given much to do. Sterling Holloway furnishes the comic angles in broad enough manner for easy absorption. Rest of the cast iis adequate. H«rm; San Antone" is standard fare for the oatuner circuit. Made from the pat formula of Gene Autry vehicles, pic canters along a simple story line with a full quota of cow-crooning and a moderate amount of khuckleseraping and hoofbeating. Photography is marked by some exceptional scenic shots but production dress in general is at the usual level for lowbudgeters. In this one, Autry plays a -horse breeder who's concerned with the rehabUitation of a crippled jockey. Pio's villain is a wild stallion that breaks into the stables and leads astray the mare entry in the big race. Introducing a postwar note into westeMiers, Autry conductis his Wiiai CoHffitry ■ , (SONGS) PRC release of Jerry Thomas production. Stars Bddie Dean; features Roscoe Ates. Peggy Wynn,. Douglas Fowley, Directed by Ray Taylor. Screenplay, Arthur E. Orloff; .camera, Robert Cllne; songs. Dean. I^I. Blair, Pete Gates; editor. Hugh Winn. KeVtewea.fn.N.^ Y.. Jn. US. '47. Runnlntf tftn^ 60 MtSS. Eddie Dean .Eddie Dean ......,V,.i. Roscoe Aics Martha Devery .........,._:..pcggy Wynn Clark Varney Douglas Fowley Caxton I. Stanford Jolley Josh Hucklnga.... Lee Roberts g"™, ;> Forrest Mathewa ?f »i Bill Favrcett Marshall Thayer Henry HaU grown , Charles Jordan First Guard ,. Richard fcramer ■-• Ous Taute The Sunshine Boys Themselves With a slow story and indifferent acting, thelatest in the EddieTSean series is considerably below the standard of its predecessors. Sagebrusher appears headed for the lower half «£ double bills. .Replete with jShcK dialog gems as' "they must've taken the short cut," ■'Wild CoHntry*' deals with Dean, a U.S. marshal, and his pal Soapy (Roscoe Ates),. who track iiown Stan Jolley, an escaped. convict who kills the sheriff responsible for his time in stir. Conniving with the local tavernkeeper (Douglas Fowley), Jolley conspires to knoek off Peggy Wynn, daughter of the late sheriff, and take over her ranch, but Dean foils the thugs, of course. Trite story IS not improved by three soso tunes. Acting of Peggy Wynn is amatciirish. Dean and Ates are adequate while Fowley and Jolley rerister. Production values are in keeping with the low budget. ■ ^ I Live As I Ploase (ITALIAN-MADE) Superfllm release of g. A. Grande Film production. Stars Ferruccio TagliavIni: feamTvP','.™"^ Jaohlno, Carlo Campanlni. Margherlta Seglln. Carlo MlcheluBsi. oC reeled by Carl« Bugianl. Story. Mario Mattoll; camera, Bodoito Lombardl. At Cinema \erdi, N. Y. Rurtning time, g? MINS™ (fit rtolian; EnglUn Tittesy Except for houses cateting to Italian-language patrons', this pic is no b.o. factor in the U. S. Music lovers may derive some satisfaction from the highly-touted operatic tenor of Ferruccio Tagliavini, but that's the sole commendable aspect of this film. Hackneyed story is framed within a primitive production that's marked by poor thesping, mediocre camera and ju^ passable, sound recordBng. English titles are adequate. Tagliavini plays an operaticallyinclined peasant who's made thfe victim of a practical joke by his brother an^ gets packed off to Rome, where he thinks an opera contract is awaiting him. He discovers the hoax but makes good regardless. Rich and famous, he returns to his native village and marries his erstwhile music teacher, Herm. t c«nttinieit tnm jpage 4 $127,830,012. This coijipares with $120,838,889 tor '45. Pre-production expendituresfor Metro's British istudio Was $828,079 to be amortized by future productions. Federal tax bite added to $12,929,627 of which $9,832,083 is the regular income nick and $3,097,5ii ejBcess profits taxes. Mayer's 500G Again Paces Salaries for Pix Metro production chief Louis B. Mayer, as usual, topped the salaried earnings of the entire film industry for the year 'ending Aug. 31, 1946, with his yearly contractual salary of $500,000 giving him a take of almost $10,000 a week on salary alone. In addition, Maye* gets a cut of the total gross profits of Loew's, Inc., which, in previous years, has Upped his total earnings to more than $900,000. . Mayer's salary, along with those of other Metro chiefs, was revealed in the annual company proxy statement, distributed last week in advance of the annual stockholders' meet on Feb. 27. Statement disclosed that 62 Metro execs received salaries in excess of $100,000 and 90 earnect pay between $50,000$100,t)00. Salary of Sam Katz, exec producer and reported heir to Mayer's top production post at the studio, was not listed in the statement since he's neither an officer nor director of the company. Second highest on the salary roster was proxy Nicholas M. Schenck's $224,767. J. Robert Rubin, veepee and general counsel, followed with $215,642, and exec producer Eddie Mannix received $202,607. Exec pro. ducer Al LiOhtman and veepee Ben-. Jamin Thau, assistant to Mayer, were next in line with $200,000 each. Vee ' pee-treasurer Charles C. Moskowitz received $128,428; veepee over theatre operations Joseph R. Vogel received $116,428; secretary Leopold Frieduwn earned |U0,357, and veepee over sales William F. Rodgers followed with $114,714. In addition, Metro deposited in escrow $66,25(> for the year, which may be paid to Rodgers if the company's gross rentals exceed a ceHain amount. Metro's total exec pay for the year, including fixed expense allowance, totaled $2,006,725 (exclusive of Mayer's salary, since the latter is neither an officer nor director). Ot this, $1,965,625 Was paid to officers and $41,100 to directors who were not officers. For the first time, Mayer this year was given the title of "managing director of production." Fact that he's neither a director nor officer reportedly excluded him from any cut in pay that might result if Metro ever takes a loss. Metro also laid out $206,649 for legal services for the year. Of this, $55,345 wait to Alvord & Alvord, Washington; $26,503 to George W. Cohen, Los Angeles; $20,800 to Oscar Cummins, L. A.; $58,860 to Davis, Polk, Warden, Sunderland & Kiend), N. Y,, and $45,140 to Loeb & Loeb, L. A. In addition, the company paid Central Casting in Hollywood $46,757 for extras' service; $46,280 for certified public accountants, and $55,000 to Serge Semeiienho, Boston, lor services in coiihection with financing." Several of the top execs received substantial pay hikes for the year, with Thau leading this category with an increase of $24,892 over 1945. Vogel's salary was upped' $12,142, and Moskowitz, whobecame treasurer upon the death of David Bernstein Nov, 10, 1945, received a hike of $8,500. Marvin Scheinck, veepee and eastern talent director, received a raise of $4y285, giving him a total salary of $82,285. . . Proxy statement also disclosed that Nick Schenck , had exercised his ' stock purchase option by picking up 15,000 shares on Dec. 27 and 31 for $600,000, In addition, under the 3-1 stock split, he received two addition-*^ ■ al shares for each share purchased. ° On the dates of the purchases, the closing market prices of the share* Schenek bought were 33% and 34>/6i respectively.' ' Only point of business on the agenda for the forthcoming meeting is the ©lection of 10 directors, with all incumbents renominated. These ■ include Friedman, Eugene W. Leake, Moskowitz, William A. Parker, Rodgers, Rubin, Nick Schenck, Vogel. David Warfleld and Henry BQg;ers Winthrop,