Variety (May 1948)

ft IWLM REVnSWS WSeilaeBdiiy, May 8, The EmiMror Witlix (COLOR-SONGS) Hollywood,. April 30. I^ramoiint rHesao ot Ohiulen Braokelt praductlDii, Stnis Binir Cro»l<y, Jonu Fon- taine: feuturotf Rolimd Culver, i,iUcUo Wat- sou, Ulohanl Haydn, Hurold VeiraUyfia, Blvcctcil by Billy WlWcr. Written by Eni«Uott and 'Wlldorj camera (Tcc'linlcolor), Oi'orgo BarncBi music, Johann Strauas; jsi'oi'O, Victor Yoiing;,: »oni;fi, Jatnes Van I'Jousen, Johnny Burke; vot'al arrangementa, Joseph J. LUiey: edltori Uoane Harrison. Tradesliown April 30, '48. KlrtninR time, 10,5 -MINS. ■VlrBll Smith., .lllns Crosby Johanna AuK"8ta ...lo.>in i'ontalne Baron Holenla, ,... .Uoland Culver Prlnvess Bltotslca..,X<ucile AVatson Emperor Franz Joseph......Rlcfiard ilnydn Chamberlain Harold Vcrmllyca Br. Zwlebaok........wSlK Unman Arahdurtaess Stephanie..........Julie Dean 'Chauffeur........i .■..Uert Prival ■ Inn :PTOprietress........ ,AUna Ma'crorie Cbambermnid..Koberts.^ Jonay Brean C*lrl Paramoiuit relewm of P, J. WoUoon pro- iluntini). ' Star« Betty . Button, Macdonald Carey; features Patrlo Anowles, 'Virginia Field, waiter Abelb Feggy Wood. Directed by lifltclveU Leiaen. Screenplay, Arthur s'heekninn, from play by Ulmer Mloe; earn- eru, Uaniel U FapP! special photograpblo erteots, Goi-dpn Jennings; mual«, score, Victor loung; munloal nunibfra staged by Billy ):)anlcl8! coBtumeu, Kdlth Head; art direction, Hans Dreier and John Meohan; editor, Alma Maororlo, I'reviowed in N, Y., May t, '48. Kunalng time, »3 MINS, IJcorglnu AUerton.,, lietty Hutton Clark nedlleld.,.. ...Macdonald Carey ,ilm Lucas I'atrlo Knowlca Miriam Allcrton Lucn.s......VU;!!tni» Field George Allerton • i .ucy ^llerton . Claire... Cicorgo Hand, .......... . ... . ., - , ; Music Te.ichSr ,.J5arosih Cunningham Antonio Frank JPuglla .Walter Al>el ...I'ejsgy Wood . .Cni-olyji Butler ,I,qwrtl Gllmoro "The Emperor Waltz" should solve , any ticket buyer's entertain- ment problem. That's the only kind ox problem it attempts to re- solve, and the way it goes about it is strictly enjoyable. Such a natural parlay as Bing Crosby, Johann Strauss melodies, comedy, and gorgeous color, played against a breath-taking scenic background, is eaimarksd for the Aiftlest kind of grosses.: < Film Is a costumer laid "in the days" (sic) of Emperor Franz Joseph, and is played to the hilt by Crosby; Joan Fontaine and their supporting cast. Auditors will find little that'a particularly surprising in the fableT but will .be able to assume a relaxed position and con- centrate on being amused. Picture ' has a free-and-easy air that per- fectly matches the Crdsby style of natural comedy. Coslar Joan Fon- taine, better known for heavy, seri- ous roles, demonstrates adapt- ability that fits neatly, into the lighter demands and she definitely scores with cliarm and talent as the Crosby foil. ' . One complaint likely to be made by audiences is'that Crosby doesn't «ing enough. What the. crooner does deliver registers sCrongly, as to be expected, and there's a load of music otherwise to fill the sharp Victor Young score. Johnny Burke wrote special lyrics for three Johann Strauss melodies and teamed with .^ames Van Heusen on clefiing one new tnne. Standouts ia the .music:' depart- ment is the Crosby toudh on "I fjss Your Hand, Madame," pldie y Fritz Rotter and Ralph Erwin; and "Friendly Mountains," num- ber Imsed on two old' Austrian, yodel song$. "ISadara?" is tepriMO several times and Crbsby reached back into his groaiier past to give it the extra special treatment of "boo-boo-bah-boo." In for roman- tic treatment is "The Kiss in Your Eyes,", old Viennese tune with lyrics by Burke. , , There's plenty of pageantry in the staging of the title number, using the colorful", swirling of richly costumed dancers in the palace ballroom as eye-filling back- drop. "Friendly Mojintains" has backdrop of processed Tyrol crags and valleys (actually Jasper Na- tional Park) filled with native yodelers and dancers. Multiple functions of Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder on "Waltz" have given film an infec- tious quality that surmounts the gorgeously apt trappings against Which is laroiected the fable of an American travelling phonograph salesman and his dog who crash the court of the Emperor, fall in love with a countess and her poodle, defy tradition and ..find happiness. . Crosby uses his terrier to simulate the famed Victor "f>'= master's voice" trademark — strange trailer for Victor by Decca recording artist, incidental- ly. The Brackett-Wilder dialog has zing, the pace is zippy and the results well worth 105 minutes 6f theatre time. Crosby's romp into such lushness is directed at pleasing solidly and his yen for wss Fontaine is un- derstandable considering the pic- ture she makes in Technicolor. Roland Culver delights as Miss Fontaine's impoverished father whose chief aim is mating her poodle with the Emperor's pet pooch. Richard Haydn registers strongly as the Emperor. Lucile Watson, Harold Vermilyea and others also click in- their assign- ments, George Barnes' camera takes every advantage of the sumptubus production backing furnished by the art direction and settings. Spi cial photographic effects and process photography are firstrate production additions and all other technical functions rate a salvo, Brog. EL's 'Cat' Tinier Hollywood, May 4. First Technicolor!! feature for Eagle Lion release will be "The Big Cat," to be produced independ- ently by William Moss with Lon McCaUister as male topper. Shooting starts June 15 near Big . Suri CaL, where the entire film will be made* Paramount has turned out a sure boxoSice winner in this film ver- sion of Elmer Rice's smash play of two seasons ago. The picture has strong comedy, with a few moving scenes. In has romantic appeal, lots of color and action, and a satis- fying ending. The title and star names Should also have ample marquee draw. ' The screen treatment is natur- ally, and perhaps properly, bi-oader than the original play. This resulte primarily from the production and Mitchell Leisen's direction rather than from the Arthur Shcekman adaptation. Thus, the film turns the play's humor into outright com- edy and .sometimes into slapstick. Possibly this will mean wider mass popularity and larger grosses, but i t inevitably loses much of the subtle^ and the ingratiating qual- ity of the play^ This broadening treatment ap- plies to practically every phase of :he picture. For instance, the fact that the heroine is a chronic day- dreamer isn't left to the yarn's title and the use of fade-into-revme technique, but is put into, explicit words by an off^screen voice, at the very start. Similarly, the heroine is no longer a young woman who merely clings to immature escap- ism, but is downright adolescent, if not bordering on the infantile,. The family is no longer ordinary middleclass, but oBviously rich. The home is not a modestly com- fortable one, as in the play, but is now a mansion, handsomely fur- nished and expensively servanted. The girl's mother, no longer philo- sophically Tetdgned to her daugh- ter's vagueness, is an lU-tempereo. scold. The sister is not an un- happy iSrl disappointed m mar- » to * weakling, but a hard, selfiish schemer. ^ : ^ ■ This sledgehammer treatment provides some very funny scenes, as when the heroine daydreanaher sister's wedding in terms of school- girl sentimentality, when she fan- cies herself a fallen woman com- mitting suicide in a tawdry cabaret. It also provides one of the most moving sequences in the picture, -when the heroine imaghies herself doing a last-minute substitution for the prima donna in "Madama But- terfly" (with Metoperai soprano Na- dine Connor singing the famous One Fine Day" aria from that opera).. As the seK-preoccMpied heroine, Betty Hutton gives one of her most skillful performances, to date. Be» 3ides her familiar vitality and drive, she underscores the comedy in the part and does reasonably well dramatically. Although it may be merely an illusion, Miss Hutton at times seems to read lines with an intonation curiously reminiscent of Betty Field, who created the role brilliantly in the original Broad- way play. Macdonald Carey is likeable as the brash newspaperman, though he also gives the character broader dimension than intended by Elmer Rice. Patric Knowles is rightly stuffy as the no-account son-in-law, while Virginia' Field is effectively enamel-^ioated as the chilly sister. Walter Abel is invariably plausible as the quiet father, whom his daughter always conceives in a pro- tective role in her daydreams. Peggy Wood plays the unpleasant mother emphatically, and' manages to give the part a touch of humor and warmth at the close. Lowell Mimatore ReYkws "The Emperor Waltz'' (Color - Songs) (Par). Bing Crosby and Joan Fontaine cos- tumer for heavy boxoffice, "Dream Girl" .(Par). Broader ahd probably more* popular edition of the Elmer Rice play; jshould pull heavy grosses. "Silver Elver". (WBl West- ern drama of silver mining days. Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan to spark b.o, "Assielned to Danger" (EL). Gene Raymond in gangster meller; strong second feature for dualers. "Waterfront at Midnight" (Par). Neat action melodrama for supporting position. "Heart of Virginia" (Rep). Pleasant programmer dealing with horseracing. "13 Lead Soldlera" (20th). (Sood "Bulldog Drummond" whodunit for supporting mar*' ket. . ; ■ "Good Time Girl" (GFD). Mild British melleir.Aa Juve delinquency. "I Woqldn't Be in Tomr Shoes" (Mono), Programmer whodunit for smaller situa- tions. "Who Killed 'Doc' Kobbin" (Color) (UA). Hal RoacK comedy In "Laff-Time" serteft; okay for lower half of dualecs. "Gelosia" (Italian) (lAOd. Heavy Italian drama geated strictly for foreign-langiu|;« spots; limited appeal, ^ helped. Owen Crump's production guidance fumlshex strong physical values, which are enhanced by Sid Hickox' lensing but missed on in- suring story tightness. Film could stand footage trimming. Brog. Assigned to Hanger Kagle Xilon rolcaue ol Bugouo ling pro- ductlou. Stare Ccna.- Kaymond, Noroou Hash, Ulrectod by Oscar Buettlcher. Screen- play, Iiiugeu* lAvg, based on story by ltob» ert M, Kent; camera, ^.ewlB W, O'ConnoU; edllor, W, Donn JtoyeB. Tradeshon-n in N. Y., April 23, 'SS, Bunning time, «S MINS. Dun Sullivan .....Oene Ilayinond lionnle,, ,; ,Nori>en NaHh l'>ankl« Maijteil Robert Bice .loe Qome?. ....^***><^artin .Konleck Jney.i.,<-..... (Dene Hvaim Matty l<'^trmer>,...«>>.•.»,...Half llurolde Biirgle Krltz,..:,,, ,.»*.«. ..Jack.Overman ISvle, , >. .Mary Meade Gilmoce -is -a believable cafe so- ciety wolf, KoA Xsau^ Cvaadmi- ham does a laijii^ble' bit as an uninhibited Vocal teacher. ' . The production is. physically im- pressive, at least in supplying a toney background to the procecdr ings. Leisen's direction has help- ful pace, though it takes the fine edge off the original story. There are some effective musical and dance shots as part of the heroine's daydreams. The musical score is excellent. Hobe., Sttver-Biver Hollywood; April 30. •Warn^in roltsaSe ot Owen,Crump produc- tion. Blkrs Bttiurt Flynn, Ann Sheridan; tea- turea Thomas Miteliell, VtXux Dennett, Tom D< Andrea, Barton MDclAne. Monte Blue; Directed by ■ Raoul' Walah. Screenplay, Stephen TjOnKStreet, Hawlet Frank, Jr.; trom neyol \Sy Ijongatreet; camera, Sl« Ulckox; music. Max Stelncr; editor, Alan Cropland, J.-." Tradeshown at 1.08 Angelej! April 27, M8. . Hunnlng time, MS JllN*. "Mlko" McCitmb..... ....Errov Plynn Genrgla Moore...Ann Sfaeriaan John Plato Book Thomas" Mitchell Stanley Moore.....Bruce Bennett •Tistol" Porter..,.. ..Tom P'Andrea "Banjo" Sw«cnesr„....'.v.]B8rton Maclipne "Buck" Chevlgee. Monte,Blue Major Spencer.....'..... Jonathan Hale Slade k..> Alan Bridge Major Rnas i.' ...Arthur Space Major Wilson,,^. Art Baker President Grant..-.;.,.,>..<...».J0« Crehan Dear Murderer "Dear Murderer," Universal release of J.* Ari;hur ' Rank (Gainsborough) production, tradeshown in N. Y., Monday (3), is an adaption of St. John Leigh Clowes' popular stage drama.. Film was reviewed in Vahiety from London, June 4, 1947, by Catie, who thought American audiences would probably, find It "too stagey and gloomy," Reviewer notes that the story of a successful business- man who murders his wife's lover "does not have enough emotional momentum to make it universally acceptable." Cast, headed by Eric Porlman and Greta Gynt, play -their parts with conviction. Review also pointed out that picture "might 40 as supporting fare in U. S." Typical gangster film brings Gene Raymond back to the screen in a starring role that showcases him- effectively. "Assigned to Dan- ger" should furnish strong, help on t winners. As an insurance Investigator checking on a daring payroll rob- bery, Raymond is kept busy trying to save his own hide because the thugs get the Jump oa him. Bulk of action occurs in ah Isolated inn, where the gangster chiefs wife has arranged an ideal hideout. Main interest centers on the seriously wounded mobster chief's efforts to live and Raymond being forced to operate on him when mistaken for; a< medico. JMrector -Oscar Boei* ticher has built continuing, sus- pense around the chances of the gangster to recover and Raymond's efforts to get away and notify tbe sheriff. Raymond and Noreein Nash, as the gangster's VfU^, do well enougih in a number of romantic inter* ludes. . Statuesque beaut does enough to hint future jpossibllities even though she's a bit stilted in her first; scenes. Raymond does well by a somewhat sterner role than he's been used to. Praise should also go to camera- man Lewis W. O'Connell, Standard supporting cast is headed , by Rob- ert Bice and Gene Evans, wear. Hearit of Virginia „ .„ , Hollywood, April 29. BOj^ublla release pf Sidney Picker wZl,. t on. Stars Janet Martin, Kobert L*i,Tl?? Fmnklo Darro; (eatuves Paul liu™, JiS McUanlel, Tom OhRtterton, Bennle fct??,? Wirectod by n, G. Sprlngsteei^ oriffi Ncreenpiay, Jeriy Snukhelm; added dlntLv Jolm K. tiutler; camera, John MaoBinSiJ! editor, Irving M. Si.ho.!nberg. IwS April 28, '18. Wunnliib' time, 60 MINN " Virginia. Oiiltiy . ■ Dun l.,ockwoi>U Jimmy l-lastcr Whit aaltry. "Klunilower." .Toncff...... Doctor, A*urdy... • Breesy Brent Bud .T^andoen; .v das Sliitlon Attendant. .Tanet MarUn ...llobm i.owt.ry ....PrunUie DnrrJ Paul H,„.,t ....Sam McDsniei '.Tom Chiittcrlon ...Beniilo BitttiDit. Ulon v*rii«te .,,.«ilmuiia eobh W«t«rfrmt mt Midnigitt Hollywood, May 4.. Paramount release of William Flne-Wlt- Uam Thomas production. Features William Gargan, Mary B*th Bughea, nichard Tra- vis, Itiohard Cnuie. Dirtoted by Willlum Bcrlcc'. Screenplay, Bomard OlrarO: rum- era, Bills w. Carter; editor, Howard Smith. TteAaihmta in tjos Angeles, May 4, '48. nuttiflng time. OS WNSk v - MlKe Banrohttb...,. v,... .'Willlamr Oargan Sthel Navack..,,i,..,<Mftry Beth Hughes Socks Barstow...,.,..<,..i.Richard Travis Benny Hanrohan...•«..*>.. ,lliuluird Cnine Helen Hanrolwn.Cheryl Walker Hank Brenuner,.,« Horace MiiMahon Woody..^.>...^.........John Billon Joe Sargus .,.,X>ouglns Fowley Commissioner Kyan..,....^.',PauI Harvey Loy. <. d .Keys Luke "Heart of Virginia" will get by as a programmer for lower halt of the bill. .Its 60 minutes riuinins time, some good racetoack se« quences and okay trouping help to overcome familiar plotting and obvious developments. ■ Principal cast weight is carried by France Darro and he reads his jockey role capably, even offsetting stereotyped dialog. Plot concerns fear complex developed by Darro when, he is responsible for the. death of a jockey friend during a race. Saga finally gets him back on a lunm when the daughter of• Ms former .employer demonstrates her faith in his ability. Romance between Janet Martin and Robert Lowery is nicely car« rled off, even though they're rival borse owners. Pair team accept- ably... Neat character jobs are handled by Paul Hurst, Sam Mc- Daiilel„Tom,ChattcrtoQ and Bennie Bartlett, Sidney Picker's- production values show ingenuity in xx&ng sniall budget allotment and direc- torial paciing by B. G. Springsteen makes it all come off pleasantly, it not outstandingly. Good lensing by John MacBumie and tight edit- ing by Irving M. Schoenberg are assists. Bros. l.*! Lead Soldiers Hollywood, May 1, 20th-FnX release ot Ben Plvnr-llern.U'd Small'•(Hellan«e) .produ«tlon. .stjus 'rum Conway; features Maria Pulmtv, lli'len WoBtcott, John Nevrtand, Tcny Jtlibnrn. Directed by Erank McDonald. M( wcniilay, Irving Blmanj adapted from orlgliwl stmy by "SnppW'L camera, George UoUiuBoai editor, 8nul Uoadkind, At Qrauman's neae, Hollywood, April 80^ '48. Banning time, M MIMS. ^ Bulldog rycummond.. .sTom Conway Kstelie ..,.......,..,<•. .Maria Palmer Cynthia.Helen Westcott Algy ,.,i,..,V>». J John Newlana Soy«|>our .Teny Klllnira • Coleman..., .WllUam Btrlllnt Inspeetoc Molyer......... .Gordon Blcharas 'Vwue.;;..>,;..,.>••.••••"■ -Harry Curding Steaiibituni. ..>.........•,. John Goldsworthy Coiner,,..■•..'.••William Kdmunds "Silver River" isn't likely, to be a bonanza for Warners, but b.o. returns' will please. Ingredients of western background, some rousing actioh, and combo of Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan sparking ticket sales indicate grosses will be on the good side. Production values are expensive, complete with mass spectacle and lavish settings. Film is long, jand there's too much footage devoted to talk. Opening sequences kick it off swiftly but as story develops, pace slows and leaves long waits be- tween robust scenes, Raoul Walsh's direction, shows an experienced hand at pointing up the action moments, and there are several se- quences, such as the barroom fight between Flynn and Barton Mac- Lane, and the mass clash between miners and villains, that come off with a wallop. " Film goes back to the early days of the west and the fight for con- trol of the silver market. When Flynn is cashiered out of the Union Army he turns his face west to cash in on gambling ppporiunitiesi From there it's a mere step into banking, mining and dreams of a western- empire that nearly come true. Character isn't sympathetic,, mitigating against interest, but Flynn gives it a good reading. Against the semi-historical story background is a romance between Flynn and Miss Sheridan. She's the wife of Bruce Bennett, miner, but Flynn starts his amatory chase from their first meeting, is eventu- ally responsible for Bennett's death and 'finally marries the girl. While Miss Sheridan adds marquee ad- vantages, she's not particularly at home in the role, but, nevertheless, gives a competent performance, Thomas Mitchell carries off the top supporting role as the drunken lawyer who becomes Flynn's legal brains in big business and then turns to politics to aid the poor miners. Tom D'Andrea depicts soldier sidekick who follows Flynn through the various stages of for- tune. Barton MacLane, Monte Blue, Jonathan Hale and others are capable. ■ ' " Simplification of the Stephen Longstreet plot, scripted by author and Harriet Frank, Jr., would have The Pine->Thomas label on this one insures "Waterfront at Mid- night" as a capable filler for dual bills. Neat action, good suspense and fast pace answer all demands of the market. Production has been given 'good mounting for budget, and William Berke's direction makes the most of actionful screen- play. It's a cops-and-robbers yarn. William Gargan is the sturdy cop out to get the lowdown on Richard Travis, mobster who deali^ in stolen goods. Plot kicks oft' with cold- blooded killing by Travis ahd main- tains meller pace throughout. Add- ing complications to Gargan's sleuthing is a kid brother (Richard Crane) who ties up with Travis so he can get rich fast. The Bernard Glrard script brings in a few new angles to keep it moving and in- teresting, such as ha'ring Gargan believe he has shot down his own brother. Windup ties all story threads together neatly. Cast is uniformly good, paced .by Gargan, Mary Beth Hughes, Travis' moll; Travis, very good as the heavy; Crane, interesting as the kid, brother; Clieryl Walker, Gar gan's wife; Horace McMahon. John Milton and others all measure up. Good lensing is by Ellis W. Car- ter, and Howard Smith did the tight editing. Brodr. The Brothers "The Brothers," Universal release of J. Arthur Rank (Sydney Box), production, opened at the i^tton theatre, N. y., yesterday (Tues.). Cane who reviewed the picture for Variety from London, May 14, 1947, described it as "a grim meller for discriminating audiences in the U, S." Film, which tells the story of two feuding families on a Scottish island, has no boxoffice names other than that of Patricia Roc, who has appeared in a num- ber of British films shown In the U, S, Direction, camera work and score were all regarded as good, but because of its lack of marquee lure film looks likely only for arty situations. "13 lead Soldiers," another ''Bulldog Drummond" crime ven; ture, aimed at the lower half of dualers, is fast and keeps to its bushleSs of .solving some murders with a Ught but sufficiently sus- penseful air. Tom Conway gives the Drum* mond character necessary suavw ness, while lighter touch of dumb- ness is supplied by John Newlandi When an art collector is killed and two lead soldiers and an old parch- ment stolen, Conway takes over to discover why.- It doesn't take him too long to find out that when the soldiers, with the 11 mates, are placed in the right position on a 900-year-old chimney heath in Eng- land a fabulous treasure will be revealed. Two assorted groups are after the loot and give Conway - some tough complications before he wraps up the case for the police. Maria . Palmer is an intriguing mystery gal seeing the treasure, and Helen Westcott lias a less^ colorful spot as daughter of the murdered art collector. Terry Kil- burn, William Stelling, the real villain; Gordon Richards, Harry Cording and others in the cast are acceptable. Prank McDonald's direction of the Ben Pivar-Bemard Small pro- duction carries the story along at the proper clip. Mounting achieves good values for budget, Lensing, editing and other tiechnical factors are okay. Brog. Good Time Girl (BltmSH) London, April 28; GFD rclooM ot J. Artlinr ItiMilc-Si'dnW Box production, Fiamuel OoUiwyn, Jr., »»- soriate producer. Stars Jean Kent, ncnnw Price, Flora Bobsun, GritCilb Jonca. H'"'- bcrt ILom, Dli-ected by David Macdonald. •Screenplay by Muriel and Sydney Bov, tra ■(VIIiIb; editor, Vladimir Sagovnky; muKic, I.,ambcrt Williamson; camera. ,")li;Pl>'™ Dade. At Odcon, London, April 'A '"• Running tlnio, l>8 MINS. , . Gwcn Rawlinga,,,...,, .J«in ivont Bed Farrell.....,.,,....,,.,..l)'i'iintB l">'ice Danny Martin...............«rin'ltb .Tones Com t Chairman Flora K"'""'" Mil X, ITei-bi-rt J''"" 1.st Denefter Bonar ('(illeanj 2na Dcacnor IIUKh .McDcrm.atr .TImmy Kosso I'etcr fll''"^'"'? M.itron , Nora fwliil)'i''"» Mr. PottlnEcr,,,.:. Khvyn Iironk-Joi«!= Kobertn ..IIU I'»lff Mrs. Riuvilngs Bralvicc X.,yla Uiwrence I""n\.S, Mr. HnwhinB., <•";■•■•*: SS« Det. Bgt GIrlon Jnrk l«iw"> Although this picture, based on Government reports, analyze' causes and seeks to find a solu- tion to some aspects of juvenwe . (Continued on page 20)