Variety (Jun 1948)

12 Vn3l KKVIKWS Wedn«8(Iay, June 9, 1948 Romaivee on the High ■ .Seas,. • ■' (COLOR—MUSICAL) Hollywood, June 3. Warner Bros, release o£ Aiox ttuttlleb (Michael Oiirtlz) proauctlon, ilirw'twl by, OurtlK. Btorn Jii* Cnrnon, Janis Paige,- Dun De Fore, Doris Day; features OfiCar Le- vant, S. Z. 'Saliall. Scrtenplay, Julius J.,and CPblllp 6. BjJjsteln; a'l/i'^ii iiiaiog, i. A. L. DiwrnonS! "tory, S. Ponclal Klos, (.'arlos A. Ollvarli camera (Terhnlcoior). Blwood Brc- dell: editor, Ru'li Fehr; inuhlc, .lule styn'-, Sammy Cahn. TrartoBhown June 1, 18. Kunnlns time, »« MINB. , , „ , „ Peter-VlrslI Jyk,. Ca<f n Klvira Kent ..J<">J« ^aise Mlc-hael Kent Ddn Ua lore Georgia Garrett...., • ■ • • ,1?"^ O.war Farrar Omn- I-.p™"' Uncle l-azlo ^ ^'•>'"'" . PI In Id . Foftunio Bonanoya Bhip'B Dector ,V '''i'.''' Jlio Hotel Clerit Fianklln Vangborn ir'sa MfdwU* .•:,-.T''»"« ^}"'°^5 Travrl Agent William Bal!™*)! The Dnink.,».i...... .Johnny ■ BiTBes BS?t«^n,Ve? Kenneth Brltton ■ Avon JirfiOK ■ ■ , . sjr Tjancelot Th(j Sambti JCtnBff—" t Pago CavanaWKhV^rlo; "Romance on the High Seas" is slotted for wide popular accept- ance. It's gay, slightly giddy, load- ed With tunes, laughs and nonsense. Sturdy entertainment ingredients are displayed against a colorful production background aptly fitted to show off musical numbers and light story. Cast names are sturdy, auguring well for top bookings through all situatloiis. Score has eight tunes by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. Several al- reac^ are catching radio popularity. Pop numbers are given strong sell- ing by Doris Day, erstwhile orch chirp with Sock film personality. Miss Day has five tunes, "I'm in Love," "It's You or No One," "It's Magic," "Put It in a Box" and "Two Lovers Met in the Night." In addi- tion to easy listening, Miss Day clicks in her .story character and should draw nifty fan response. Plot is a fluffy one about a wife Who suspects Her husband of being a wolf. She arranges a South Amer- ican cruise, but sends another girl under her name while she stays in- cognito in New York to do some do- mestic spying. The husband mis- trusts her and sends a private de- tective on the cruise to watch out for two-timing. The, pseudo-wife and the dick fall in love and com- plications that result rate beaucoup laughs. 'Michael Curtiz' direction whips the story along swiftly, combining the chuckles and musical moments into fast-paced entertainment. The Epsteins! script is marked by breezy dialog and a number^ of Jiilariqus '"iBiBqttencfes/'ohe isliar scene where- in Jack Garson and Oscar Levant become highly Intoxicated without ever t'aking a drink, : Cast runs^hrough the roles with evident enjoyment. Carson slaps home his scenes as the detective who falls for pseudo-wife Doris Day. The everrloving couple gets solid inteipretation from Janis Paige and Don De Fore, Levant rates some strong giggles as a quip- making pianist in love with Miss Day, and S. Z. Sakall is iri for com- edy as Miss Paige's uncle. Also showing up well are Fortunio Bona- nova, Eric Blore, Franklin Pang- born, liCslie Brooks and Johnny There's plenty doing in the dance numbers by Busby Berkeley, with top nod going to Avon Long's spe- cialty on "The Tourist Trade" against Cuban market place back- ground. Sir Lancelot calypsos "In Trinidad," and Carson wraps up "Run, Run, Run," also a calypso. Alex Gottlieb's production guid- ance gives showy presentation that favors eye appeal. Misses Paige and Day have been gorgeously gowned and make a beautiful appearance in Technicolor. Elwood Bredell's tint- ed lensing obtains the best from Anton qrot'S striking art direction and the set "decorations by Howard Winterbottom; Ray Heindorf or- chestrated and conducted the music by Styne and Cahn. Brog. Fcuilin% Fiissin' and A-Fighiiu' (SONGS) Hollywood, June 5. tJnlvorsal release of., .Jjeonard Oohlptein produi^tlon, .Stari!) D'onald O'Connor, Mar- jorla Main, Vetey Kllbrltle; features Penny SlSwards,' Joe Beeaer. Directed by GeorKe Bhei'man. Screenplay. D. D. Boauohamp from hie Collier's inag story; camera, Irvine OlaBsborg; editor, liKlward Curtlss;' inu.'iic, Xeitb. Stevens, Trndeshown,. Juno 4, '48. Bunnlne time, TS MINR. "Wilbur MeMurtry..., Diinald O'Connor Mnribol Matthews Marjovle Main Billy Caswell...... ...Vcrcy XCilbrlde ZLflbby Matthews........ —,Penny KdwardS Sharkey Dolan .Joe Bqsser Rtiauncey .Harry Shannon' Bmoi'y Tuttle.. v Fred Kohlcr, Jr. Doo Overholt:...... i. .Howland Chamberlln Bt«e« Driver..., Edmund Cnbh StABiB' Passenger,..............Toel Frledkln Guard...• ■ I. .Stanford Jolley "Feudin', Fussin- and A-Fightin' " is gay film fare that springs its laughs easily, making lor' lively, pleasant entertainment in general situations, The doings are sparked by Donald O'Connor, Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride with blcoad playing suited to slaphappy Stoi^. Three familiar tunes and two ace dance numbers furnish the Miniatnre Reviews "Romance On the High Seas" (Musical-Color) (WB). Gay tunefilm. carrying high quota of entertainment. "Feudin", Fussin' and A- Fightin'" (U) (Songs). Spritely comedy for good outlook busi- ness. ■ "Coroner Cre'ek" (Color) • (Col). Rough, tough western in Cinecolor. Strong action highlighted by one of best fights yet screened. ■ "My Dog Rusty" (Col). Sen- timental entry in Columbia's series of kid-dog supporting features. Modest tear-jerker. "16 Fathoms Deep" (Color) (Mono). Story of sponge fish- ing. In good color but slowly paced and only mildly exciting. "Germania Anno Zero." Ital- ian pic on German degrada- tion, is surefire for art ,situa^ tions. "Blind Desire" (French) (Indie): Jean-Louis Barrault, Edwige Feuillere in disap- pointing love story about a temperamental musician-corn^ ■ poser; mild returns indicated, musical touches, blending ably with the comedy. O'Connor goes to town . on his solo number to the tune of "Me and My Shadow," Terping is sharp and has several moments that will bring gasps for unanticipated agility. Second dance piece is shared with Penny Edwards and is pro,iected for pleasurable watching as team goes through vocals and footwork to "S'posin'." Third tune, the title number, is used at opening and closing for film, with the Sports- man Quartet handling the vocals. O'Connor is seen as traveling salesman for nostrums who is un- fortunate enough to demonstrate his fleet-footedness during a stop- over in the town of Rimrock. Vil- lage is readying for its annual foot- race with a rival town and lacks a runner. O'Connor is kidnapped and all the craft and wiles of the vil- lagers turned loose to force him to give his all for Rimrock, The D. D. Beauchamp script, from his own story, gives everything a slapbappy touch that makes for strong laughs as directed by George "Sherman. Latter's guidance is fast and ex- cellently valued to point up the chuckles. O'Connor makes an advantageous appearance, working, .hard .-and pleasing. "Penny Edwards does an okay chore as the romantic interest. Two solid characterizations are in the seasoned hands of Miss Main, mayor of Rimrock, and Percy Kil- bfide, livery stable owner, Joe Besser, comic sheriff, Harry Shan- non and Fred Kohler, Jr,, rival town heavies, Rowland Chamberlin, Edmund Cobb, Joel Friedkin, I. Stanford Jolley and others come through capably. Leonard Goldstein's production has given this sturdy mounting on a medium budget, assuring good re- turns. The lensing by Irving Glass- berg, editing, score and other tech- nical factors are good assists. raid on a stagecoach and theft of rich payroll loot. , • Setting is the town of Coroner Creek, where the villain has es^ tablished himself as a respected citizen through use of his stolen gold, Scott's efforts to smoke him out into the open lead to many scenes of deadly menace that will satisfy the most bloodthirsty fan. One of the peak moments of ex- citement is reached when Scott and Forrest Tucker, henchman of the villain, come together in a physical cla.sh that ends with bloody heads and broken- fists, leaving them crippled throughout the rest of the footage. It's a re- alistic staging guaranteed to sate tlie brute in the action seeker. Film stresses characterization and the cast delivers. In addition to Scott's strong work. Marguerite Chapman appears, to advantage in the femme lead. George Macready makes a menacing villain. Sally Eilers does well by a character not too clearly established and Edgar Buchanan's shdriff is top- notch. " Barbara Reed, a femme souse; Wallace Ford, exceptionally good as a ranch character; Forrest Tucker, .loe Sawyer, Douglas Fow- ley, Lee Bennett and William Bishop are among the others who add capable performances. Production supervision by Harry Joe Brown is expertly valued to make this one pay off. Scenic set- tings and other worthwhile dress- ings, have been given ace lensing by Fred H. Jackman, Jr., and the editing by Harvey Manger is con- cise. Brog. My Dog Rnst,y ., Hollywood, Juiie 5, Columbia release of Wallace MncDonald lu'oduction. Features Ted Donaldson, John liitcl, Ann Doran, Moua Barrie, Whitford Knne, Jimmy HoyO, Lewis X.. Uussell, Di- rected by Lew Landers, ,Screeni)lay, Brenda AVeLsbers: atorj, William B. .Sackheim, ilronda %A'oislier.i?; based upon characters by Al Martin; C'dmcra, Vincent I'\avrar; edi- tor, Jerome Thorns. At the Xosue, Holly- wood, June 3. 'IS. Running time, M MIXS; Umny illtclwU . .Ted D-mnldson HiiKh Mitchell...John Utel Mrs, Mitchell..;Ann Dovnn Dr. Ton! t^ordell......M',>no B-'rrlc Mr. Tucker .Wliltfoid Kane Rodney Vyle.. ,Jlmmy Lluyd Mayor Fulderwilder .,... .t^ewis L. Ru.ssell Hobble .Harry Harvey Frank I^'olcy. . . ..Otin 'Tfowlin Bill Wonlfii .FciTia Taylor Gerald Hcbble Mickey McOulre Nip WordeP .Dwayne HIcUman Tuck Worden D'avid Acklcs Saucaky Foley .......Teddy IntuUr Mrs. Foley,., .Minta Duitae Arlmckle Rusty, .....Flame Protettant's Pic Second religious film to- be turned out by the Protestant Film • Commission, "My Name Is Han," documents with re- straint and good taste the case for Christian missionary work in China. The film, running 27 minutes, was photographed on the Chinese scepe by Julian Bryan's International fnm Foundation. Its acting is ex- pert though non-professional While its camera work is slick and sharply etched. " "Han" preems non-theatric- ally in some 100 cities, June 15, with churches mainly play- ing the part of the exhibitor. The commission, however* js also plugging for theatrical distribution and with thi.s in mind has talked up the idea With several majors. They ve responded with interest in the proposal, commission spokes- man said. ' . „ Only marring factor in the film is a tendency towards, stilted and wooden language dotting the running commen- tary. Relating the efforts of the Chinese to restore their ruined farms and villages fol- lowing the Nip incursion, pic focuses on one family and how the Christian church played an important role in its life. Central character of Han, won over finally to Chris- tianity, is soundly portrayed by a Chinese peasant. Other roles are nicely sketched. Wit, Coroner Creek (COLOR) Hollywood, May 29; Columbia release of ilarry .Toe Brown (Producers Actorsl production. Stars Ran- doipli Scott, Marguerite Chapman; reaiures Georse Macready, Sally. Kilers, Kdgar Buchanan. Directed by liay KnriBht. Screenplay, Kenneth Garnet; adai>ted from novel by Luke Short; camera criaecolor), Fred H, Jackman. Jr.; score, Rudy Schrager: editor, Harvey aianuer. * Pre- ICunnlnt; time, Sflf viewed OMay Cliria Dannins, Kate HardiBOn. Younger Miles. Delia Harms.. Sherirt ^)'Hea,. AbblC Miles.,., Andy West.,.. Ernie CQmbs '18. .Randolph Scott , .Murgiaerite (^itiapm,tn ,,.,,,George Stacready .......Sally Eilers ,...... Edffar Buchanan .Barbara Heed .Wallace Ford , ,Forrcst Tucker I.iiach ''onovcri...........■ .Wllllain Blsliop F'l-ank'TOrdy; .., , Joe Sawyer Walt Ilardisdn.......... ,.,Busgell Simpson fitcw Shallis. Douglas Fowlcy Tip Hcnrv...................Leo Bennett JicCune .". ,Vovrcat Taylor Bill Arnold., ..;T'hll Schumakor Bay inlanders. ...v........-Warren Jackson "My Dog Rusty" is another of Columbia's sentimental little sagas dealing with a child and his dog, It will fare no better no rworse than other entries in the series in the secondary bookings for which it is slated. All the to-do in the Brenda Waisberg script deals with a kid whose habit of lying ruins his father's c.aippaign for mayor. None of the plotting is particularly be- lieveable and treads a' saccharine path. The kid's meddling that brings temporary disgrace on the father, the parent's attitilde toward an unruly son and the lack of rea- son for the son's disobedience makes for dull doings. Ted Donaldson fails to register as the bad boy but the combina- tion of kid and dog, in the latter instance the handsome Flame, is always good for certain type of family audience. John Litel and Ann Doran are okay as the father and mother, a,<i are Mona Barrie and Whitford Kane, a blind man. Lew Landers' direction over- comes, to some extent, the weak script. Producer Wallace Mac- Donald has haped the physical budget values in okay fashion. Technical: credits are standard. Brog. direction, makes for spotty inter- est. Lloyd Bridges does the nar- rating, portraying ex-Navy diver who hits the beach, at Tarpon Springs in try to get on a sponge boat. He .ioins with a new boat owner and crow in the highly com- petitive industry and the doings follow a formula line in try for melodramatics. The underwater sequences were filmed in Rainbow Springs, Fla„ and Marineland Studios at St. Augustine, Fla. Menace, outside of human villainry, is supplied by deep-water denizens such as sharks and giant dams. ' Underwater shots have beauty but don't match supposed 16 fathoms deep location of action. Lon Chaney, Jr., portrays the crooked sponge dealer whose henchmen try to best the new boat crew. Arthur Lake is in for broad comedy as camera-snapping tour- ist. Eric Feldary makes an ade- quate boat owner-diver and shares romance with Tanis Chandler, Bridges shows best, along with 'John Qualen, Dickie Moore and Harry Cheshire. Film is presented as an Arthur Lake production for Monogram re- lease. Irving Allen's direction would have brought off the melo- dramatics with more interest had the pace been sharpened. Jack Greenhalgh did the good color lensing and other credits are stand- ard. Brog. (iSermnnia Anno Zero (Germany the Year Naught) (ITALIAN) ■ Rome, May 30, L'nivcrsaliii-CinB release of 'reverlllm (Roberto RoH.scHini) production,. Direction and original story b.\' Ro.'^sellint; screenplo>'. Bossollini and Max Colpflt,. C'arnera, Robcvf Julliard: editor, Kratdo Da Roma, Pre- viewed" Roine,» May 30, '48, Running time, -» .VUJJS. in the accepted sense. German dialog also won't help, at least with Italian-language trade, al- though it adds to the film's au- thenticity. \ Film deals with terrifying do- ings. There are boys in it who kill their parents and then com- mit suicide. There" are girls—but they're prostitutes. Tlicrc are school teachers—but they're of perverted natures. All this, on the terrifying background of bombed- out Berlin, where phantom-like people ar^ living as they can, o^e selling black market goods which he immediately steals again,^,another playing for the-Allies' enjoyment the. record of one. of Hitler's speeches among the ruins of the Chancery. Film has a , sequence of great poetry. When little Edmund Meschke, after having poisoned his father, meets the school teacher who suggested the crime to him and tells him about his deed, the man chases him, horrified. The boy can't understand why, but he realizes that something monstrous has happened. 'He walks' along the . ravaged stre^ets of the city, made wretched by an inner conflict which the camera masterfully catches in every nuance at the right pitch. This wandering, which leads to death,' is handled like a game—a sinister," moving game. Now it's a stone the boy picks up and casts away, then it's a ball he throws back to other boys, now it's sliding for fun on a bombed roof-side, and finally it's his voluntary jump into the void and death. This .episode, intensely breathtaking aiid done with superb artistry, is the best of the film and one of the best ever turned out. Pic isn't acted but "lived." Pro and non-pro. cast play it with uniform sincerity. Meschke is the. most impressive of the lot, deliver- ing a poignant, believable por- trayal as the young disgraced hero. Photography by Robert Julliard keeps a constant balance between location shootings and studio, scenes, latter being made extreme^ ly authentic by Piero Filippone's sets. Score by Renzo RosscUini always helps activate the drama. Quat. Blind Desire (La Part de L'Ombre) (FRENCH) Difidna International Films releaso ot ^lichel Safra-Andre Paulve . production. Stars Jean-Louis Barrault. ICdwigo Feuil- lere. Directed by Jean Deilanoy. Screen- play, Charles Spaak, Jean Dcllanoy; oam- <.r.'i, Roger Hubert: music, (Jeoi'go Auric; i'lnglish titles, Bernard Friend. Freviewed in N. Y., June 4, '48. Running time, 88.^ .MINS. .MIclicl Kiemer. .Jean-Louis Barrault Agnos Nnblet............ .Kiiw'ige I'^euiliere liobcrt Ancejot, ■. Jean Wall Pierre Morih........, Raphael I*a|ornl Madame Berthe... Line Noro I'^iinny Helene V'ervors Auguste, .y ves Dcrtiaud Jerome Noblet.. 3^an ^onnel i'Mmund. ,. ,,,.,. IQdmund's: Father, Kva Karl-Heina , Schoblteacher. ^, ,■, ... .Rdmund jieschUe .. .,. .Krnat Bittschau ..... .ingetraud Hln^C ........Franz Grueger .Eric Guchnc 'Columbia has a ^mighty solid western entry in "Coroner Creek." The stress is on deadly gunfighter action and it's rough, tough exam- ple of straight western fare that spares no punches. The melo- dramatic lieroics have-been given a Cinecolor garb that adds appeal and the general worth of this one for the outdoor trade has been heightened by some knock-down, drag-out fisticuffs that have rarely been matched on the screen. Forthright direction, by Ray En- right gives strong guidance to the Luke Short novel from which this one was adapted. Plotting follows the somewhat cryptic Short writing style but it all adds up in the end and Enright keeps it hitting hard throughout. Script by Kenneth Gamet is excellent, depicting the relentless pursuit of avenging gun- man, Randolph Scott, as he tracks down the ma^ behind an Indian 16 Fnthoms Weep (COLOR) Hollywood, June 5. Monogram release of Arthur Lake produc- tion, produced by James. S. Burkett and Irving Allen; directed by Allen. Stars Lon Cihnney, Jr., , Arthur Lake, Ijloyd Bridges, Erie Feldary; ■ Tanis Chandler: features .Tohn .Qualen, ' Ian MacDonald, Dickie Moore, Harry Cheshire. Screenplay, Max Trell: adaptation,-FoiTest .Tudd: from: story, ^"lo Fathoms tTnder,^* by Kustace L. Adams: camera (Ansco), Jack Greenhalgh; editor, Charles (Jratt, Previewed June 3, '18, Running time, ?8 MINS. • Dimltri.., . ,.. .Lon Cfhaney Peto', . Arthur Lake Douglas,.Lloyd Bridges. Alex .. .Eric Feldary ^iim ^..... V... .Tanis Chandler Athns, .John Qualen Nick., .Ian MacDonald (jeorge ,..,....Dickie Moore Mikl.. i, ,,, i..... .... .Hari-y Cheshlrd Captain Brlacoii,........,>...,.John BlciCnr ,loe,,..:..... .Grant Monris .Tohnny.,........ . ... ,John Oonatoci Bus Driver , ,,.Allen Mathews "16 Fathoms Deep" is a mUdly developed story of sponge fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, Chief in- terest lies in background and fact that it is the first feature film to be released in the new Ansco-color process. Hues compare with other tint mediums and have a natural- ness, easy on the eye. Story is tied together with nar- ration and spins oft a fuU hour be- fore any excitement is generated. This, coupled with slowly paced "Germany has backtracked 1948 years. It's now at naughts as if Christ weren't born, since they wanted to kill Him again. There- fore, don't seek traces of our civ- ilization in this film. They've dis- apoeared." Film opens with this foreword. Not the slightest sign of comedy lightens the pic, being out of place in such a dark story. The film of- fers repulsive characters and epi- sodes, too, because they're needed by the film's nature itself. Hav- ing resolved to mirror a world which has lost every moral rule, producer - director - writer Roberto Rossellini has done it without un- derscorings, in an extremely ob- jective, cold manner, turning out more document than documentary -—a film unique in motion picture history. Comparison is impossible be- tween this and previous Rossellini films. What "Open City" and "Paisan" had of heart and hu- manity is entirely gone here—-at least for three-quarters of the footage. In his denial of all the screen is supposed to call for, Rossellini has gone to extremes. Film deals with some objection- able material for U. S. standards. If censors don't frown, it will have surefire returns in art situations, even if larger exploitation seems hampered by the kind of story and lacs of commercial entertainment (In French; English Title."!) "Blind Desire" has two strikes on it for the U.S. Picture, firstly, is too strongly wrapped up with the careeer of a temperamental musician-composer, few foreign- makes of this ilk having done big biz. Second handicap is lack of iiction and humor. Hence, this looks . to do only moderately well at arty houses. Exhibitors have Edwige Feuillere and Jean-Louis Barrault for name value, but that won't be enough. Story is of a violinist-composer who is thwarted in an early ambi- tion, and it's not told particularly well.. Jean Dellanoy, who directed, had a hand in scripting. Barrault, a musician with a touch, of genius, is depicted running away from the easy-to-take attentions of Miss Feuillere, daughter of a noted musician. Ten years later she again plans to run off with him but the musician's mistress then interferes. Final meeting, 20 years after the first spat, finds Barrault's landlady, apparently his new sweetie, cutting off a final chance for the two to find happiness. Miss Feuillere lends considerable beauty to the pic. Helene Vercors •is especially fine as the mistress^ while Line Noro makes a forceful landlady. Barrault gets too much footage. . Nice production values, excellent music by George Auric and a superbly staged concerthall se- quence are some of the film's merits. Wear. Glass Maps Pic Bally George Glass; v.p. of Screen Plays, Inc., indie production unit, arrived in New York Monday (7) from the Coast to work out plans for preem of the indie unit's ini- tial picture, "So This Is New York," in Philadelphia during the Republican convention later this month. Film's star, Henry Morgan, will make personal appearances in Philly in an exploitation campaign built to satirize the political go- ings-on. '