Variety (Jul 1948)

12 FIOl ilBVIBWS Vcdneaday^ July 1:4, 1943 Be«l River Hollywood, July 13. tlnltfea ArtlBiB roleiise of HowarU Hinvhs fChai'los K. FPldman) production, directed iiy Hn,wk«, fo-rtlWcted, Artli«r ,{losBon. Btartr-John Wayne, jrontgomei-y Clltt; tea. turcs .lowino Dro, Wnltei- llrennar, Cfileen OfttVi John lroliiml, N'ouh Bi'iTy, Jr., Hiin-y Carey, Si-., Harry Carey, Jr. Soeenplay, Borden ('ha.se, Charles ficHecn; from l-lia.?e s eatevepoPt story; camera. HiissoU Havian. editor, Christian Kyliy; score una sontt, ui- jnitrl TloWkin, Pieviowed Jvily ». *»• Matthew (Jarth .MonlKomery Cllft •Fuss MUlay..,.. ' " &root Nridlne... ■ m ■ .Joanne Pru Iter Bronnan .Coleen Gray Cherry Valance,., .......John Ireland imster MeGce ..Noah Beery, Jr. aSr. Melville..,.;.. JJaji bnthner ■ *PeeIet Yucoy.... .t... Matthew Garth (boy) Quo Bunk Kenufally.. . "SV.'ilt Jersens...... Slniin.-^.,........... I<are<lo .•• •The'Wninelt'r. ..Harry Carey, hr , .Hawy Onrey, Jr. I'aul l>1x MU'liey Kuhn ...Chlei; .Yowlaohlfi :. ...lvan,l'iiri-y .........iiiiy JlyHo Hank U'linlen Dan White ,A\'llllam Sell Old Leather.. •... • Hal Tallotcrro "Red River" will take its place among the other big, boxoffice- iinportant western epics that have come from Hollywood over the yeai\s. It's a spectacle of sweeping grandeur, as rugged and har^.as ihe men and the times with which it deals. . Rougn and tough with action, the film brawls and sprawls over two hours and six minutes of foot- age with such a tight, sure grip on the" imagination that the few slow Sipots will not hinder its bo.\office reception. A money film from any angle—expensive to make but with an almost unlimited grossing por tential—"Red River" is slotted for iniDortant ■ playdates and bigtime returns. ^ Howard Hawks' production and direction have given a masterful. Interpretation to a story of the early west and the opening of the Chisholm Trail, over which Texas cattle were moved to Abilene to meet the railroad on its march across the country. Also important to "Red River" Is the introduction of a new star— Montgomery Clift. He is a young man who should have an im- portant future in films. While "River" is his first bigtime screen job, actor's second venture, "The Search," is already screening. Clift brings to the role of Mat- thew Garth a sympathetic per- sonality that invites audience re- sponse. He reads the Garth char- acter with an inistinctive, non- chalant underplaying that is sock. Hawks has loaded the film with mass spectacle and eartby scenes. His try for naturalness in dialog between principals comes off well. The staging of physical conflict is deadly, equalling anything yet seen on the screen. Picture real^ Istically depicts trail hardships; the heat, sweat, Hust, storm and marauding Indians that bore down on the pioneers. Neither has Hawks overlooked- sex, exponents being Joanne Dru and Coleen Gray. John Wayne has his best as- signment to date and he makes the most of it. Picture is not all tough melo- drama. There's a welcome comedy relief in the capable hands of Walter Brennan. He makes his every scene stand out sharply, leavening the action with chuck- les while maintaining a character Bs rough and ready as the 'next. Sharing co-director credit with Hawks is Arthur Rosson. The pair have staged high excitement in the cattle, stampedes and other scenes of mass action. The first grade script was writ- ten by Borden Chase and Charles Schnee from Chase's Satevepost story. . Russell Harlan's camera has captured breath-taking scenic beauty and the music score by Dimitri Tiomkin is-an important contribution. Brofir. Miniature Reviews "Red River" (UA). Thrillins epic of the old west, potent boxoffice. "That Lady In Ermine" Musicat-Color) I20th). With Betty Grable and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; solid b.o. "Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (Par). Suspenseful thriller with high exploitation values. "Texits, Brooklyn ann Heaven" (UA). Romantic com- edy with light marquee values; mild b.o. "Shed No Tears" (EL). Minor melodrama for secondaries only. Dull development and slow pace. .. ■ "Train to Alcatraa" (Rep). Melodrama for secondary book- ings. Okay plot and action. "A Friend Will Come To- night" (French) (Lopert). Mi- chel Simon, Madeleine.Sologne in World War 2 spy meUer big for arty houses, ■ damned—with his inner sight to opening events, and occurrences that follow leading up to strong *^^'john Farrow's sure directorial hand is seen throughout unfolding of picture, scripted melodramatic^ ally by Barre Lyndon and Jona- than Latimer. Megger has main- tained highly-charged atmosphere, and has able actor in Robinson to give credence to character. Robinson makes most of role, and has lovely support in Miss RusselL Jerome Cowan, Virginia Bruce, William Demarest and Roman Boh- nen also contribute heftily to in- terest. John Lund, co-starred with Robinson and Miss Russell, isn't so fortunate,, in evoking interest but his role is necessary to plot Production reins »we re well handled by Endre Bohem. John P. Seitz' camera work, as well as Eda Warren's tight editing and Victor Young's atmosphere score, likewise contribute to film's quali- ties. Whit. .ever, is not sufficiently sustained to generate topnotch comedy. Sey-^ eral romantic sequences open in a farcical mood but wind up in a deadpan clinch, thereby muffling the laugh reaction. This film is a departure from previous Grable musicals in its ab^ sence of any special production numbers. Score by lyricist Leo Robin and tunesmith Frederick Hollander is integrated directly into the action in the manner of contemporary legit musicals. One number, "This Is the Moment," is standout, while two others, "The Melody Has to fie Right" and "Ooh, What I'll Do!" are adequate. Samson Raphaelson's screenplay is a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale about a married princess who .saves her tiny mid-European country from invasion by bewitching the enemy's commander. But despite the martial ingredients and 19th Century plume-and-sabre ^ ffour- ishes, the story is lacking in move- ment. Main comedy device is an ances- tral gallery of portraits within the castle which becomes alive in face of the danger to their homeland. Miss Grable, also playing a medi- eval heroine who was in a predica- ment similar to that of her descend- ant, steps out of her frame and leads the amorous campaign against Douglas Fairbanlu, Jr., a Hungarian colonel. Latter retreats uncTer the confusion of double images but finally wins the princess' hand after she dumps her cowardly husband. Despite this switch, film exercises super-caution , in not straying out- side the censorship codes. Top players, assisted by a solid supporting cast, play their part's to the hilt. Miss Grable registers strongly in lavish costumes, and handles the musical numbers and dancing chores in usual personable style. Fairbanks cuts a neat figure as the tough warrior who softens up under femme influence. Cesar Romero, as the chicken-hearted husband, furnishes the best comedy bits with his mugging and double- takes. Walter Abel, as Fairbanks' aide, and Reginald Gardiner, as one of the ancestors, also contribute ftrstrate performances. Backgrounds for this tinter are tastefully dressed with superb cam- era iiandling extracting the maxi- mum color values. Herm. Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven (ONE SONG) TTnited Artists release of Robert S. Golden production. Stars Guy Madison, Di.-.na Lynn; leatarrs .fames Dunn, Miohaiil Chekhov, . Florence Bates, Lionel Stander. Directed by 'William Castle. Screenplay, Lewis Meltzer; based on istory by Barry Benefleld; song, "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven," Ervln Drake, Jimmy Shlri; cam- era, .'VVilliiim Melior; editor, ..Tames New- coih; musical director, EmiV 'j^ewman. Tradeshown N. Y. July 9, '48. Running time, 78 MINS.-;.- Eddie Tayloc...Guy Madison Perry Dunklin.... i.Diana Lynn Mike ...,.;,./.'.■...*■ ."i......... James Dunn The Bellhop... „. Lionel Slander Mandy.'....;... . .. ....... .. .I'^lorence Kates Gaboolian................. .Michael Chekhov Buby Oheever .'.Margaret Hiiriillton Pearl Cheevcr......... , .MOyna MaBill Opal Chcever..... ...Irene R.vaii MacWIrther .Colin Campbell Capt. njorn .Clem Bevans Carmody, the Cop............ltos<;oo Karns The Agent ........William Frawloy Hern Is.........',.... :.Alvln Hammer l>r. Dansiin,...............IGIrskine Sanford McGonical.. ..,....., John Galidet Policeman...... . . , James Bnrko 'I'hibauU. Guy Wllkerson Copy Boy.,.,............. .Andio Munihy Bartender......................Tom Dugin Par's Unusual Trailer Considerably more - ambi- tious than in its first try last year. Paramount has come up with a nine-minute combina- tion public relations pitch ana trailer of future product un- der the label of "The Magic City." This briefie which Par will distribute'cuff0 is a smart operation for exhibs playing Paramount product who can book the pic without upset- ting schedules. Its trailerizmg phases are not too blatant . while it cannily sells Holly- wood along the lines recently urged on the majors by the Theatre Owners of America. "Magic tees off by declaring there is no slump in Holly- wood. It promises full speed ahead and the delivery of "the greatest array of pictures ever turned out by the studios. Then the camera focuses on a typical day in the Coast city and on the star, tech- nician and ordinary worker putting in their methodical chores. Naturally, activities at the Paramount studio . takes the main attention. Par's film of the same genre last year, "Made in the U. S. A." was minutes long. It was booked into 11,- 000, situations. The present pic has the disadvantage of being longer. The added time, how- ever, is well used to build general interest. Company is using some 400 prints for wide distribution. Wit. order characterizations, -,„„„^ convicts showing up are Mi H Stone, John Alvin, Michael & Marc Krah, Denver Pyle Philip Ford's direction of th. Gerald- Geraghty script keeps va™ moving forward at an okay naS and production values marshaUpS ■by Lou Brock within the limSpS budget are good. Lensing andothw technical contributions are stand, ard. " A Friend Will Cowe Tonight (Un Ami Viendra Ce Soirl (FRENCH) T.opert Films releasei of Constantln Gett man prpduetlon, .Stars Michel .Simon- Sil ture.s .Madeleine Sologne, . Louis Salou: .■^fiturnln Fabre, Directed by KayinoiS Bernard. Screenplay, Jacques Coinpaneej Raymond Bernecrd .froin original by Com' patiecz; camera, Robert IjCtebyre? bmki trround music, by Arthur Hortegg^ir.' ^re- M .mN'i' ^ ^" ^"""'"'UlM, Michel Lemaret.. . .MlcheV Siihon Helen Asselin....... ^Madeleine Sologrn Commissioner Martin.....,.... .Louis Salon Commander Gerard, .•. i.i;.:.. .. .Louls B6I00 Philippe Prunier^a.turnln FaW Dr. Tiller.....,,,..,v.:,,.;,....l>aur,BeranrJ Dr. Ijestrade...,. i,. Mnrcel Andii Jacques I.iCroy.^ Jacques Clancj Pierre nibault............ Daniel Gelin Dr. Pisaut...............Claude Lehmwii The baroness .Lily Hounet Beatrice — ....Yvette Andreyot Claire .Ceeliia PuroMl That Lady in Ermine , (COLOBr^-MUSICAL) 20th.^Fox release of Ernst Lubltsch pro- duction, directed by Jjubltsch. Stars Betty .Grable, ]>ouglas FairbaukSj Jr.; ftfatiires ; CJcsar Komei-n, Walter Abel, Ileglnald Gard- ..Iner, Harry D.ivenport. Screenplay,. Sam- fion Jlaphaelson; songs, Ijeo Robin, Fred* «rleit Hollander: score, Alfred Newm.in; camera (Technlcolot-), Leon Shamroy; edi-. tor, Dorothy Spencer. Tradeshown N, Y., July 10, '48. liunnlnK time, 811 JIINS. l<^raneeeca and Angelina....... Betty Grable ratonel ntid Duke. ..Pouglas Fairbanks, .Tr. 3Marlo.^,:-*................ .... ^Cosar BoMero 2f ajor Borvat fa.. v , Walter Abel Alborto. .IteKinatd Gardiner XiUlgl.... .Harry Davenport trheresa..................Virginia Campbell Captain 2Qovak.........)Ildmund MacDonald Night Has a Thonsand Eyes Hollywood, July 8. Paramount i-elcase of l^ndre Boheiii pro- duction. Stars Edward G. Robinsoh. Gall Bussell, John -Lund; features Virginia Bruce, William Demarest. Directed by John Farrow. S<;reenplay. Barre Lyndon, .Tona- than I.tiiimer-, based on novel 'by Cornell Woolrich; camera, John F. Seitz; music, Victor Young; editor, Eda Warren. Trade- shown in Los Angeles, July 7, *48. Bun- nlng time. 80 MINS. •lohn Triton Edward G. Robinson Jean Cnurtland. Gail Ru.-^sell IClUott Carson.. .... ^... .John Lund Jenny........, ..a ......,.Yttglnla Bruce Lieut. Shawn.. .William Demarest Peter Vinson... .......... .. .Richard Webb Whitney Courtland.......... .Jerome Cowan Dr. Walters. ..^.....Anslow Stevenson Mr. Oilman....... John Alexander Melville Weston Roman Bohneii Mr, Myers..., ..Luis Van ROoten With Betty Grable and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., charging up the marquee voltage for this lush TecE- nicolor musical, "That Lady in Er- mine" has all the trappings of a boxoffice winner. This pic was tem- porarily cut short in the middle of shooting by the death of producer- •director Ernst Lubitsch last No- vember, but Otto Preminger fin- ished it without any break in style. Preminger, at his own request^in tribute to Lubitsch—rreceives no billing in the credits. Fanciful yarn of a Oraustarkian princess and a Hungarian conqueror Is treated with that light, spoofing of romance associated with "the Lubitsch touch/' That touch, how- Suspense is the dominating ele- ment in this thriller which follows a man who can foresee the future.' Told in broad strokes Of tenseness, picture can expect handsome re- turns with its strong exploitation possibilities. Plot which might easily have gone overboard in handling, instead is a steadily-moving yarn of a mind-reader who eventually dis- covers the frightening fact that-he he can actually t6ll what is to happen. Told in flashback form, story starts with Gall Russell about to commit suicide by jumping from a trestle onto a track in front of onrushing train, in terror after having been told by Edward G. Robinson, the diviner, that she will meet a violent death within a few days. Events in natural order then are narrated by Robinson, from time he learned he was giftedi--or "Texas, Heaven and Brooklyn" is a rambling film that will have only a mild boxoffice impact. Lack of marquee weight will not help in overcoming other drawbacks of the production. Attempts to cash in on the two great national cliches of humor, Brooklyn and Texas, is treated in a plodding style with much hokey sentimentalism and few laughs. Major flaw of this film is that the screenplay contains neither plot nor point. Story begins uncer- tainly, proceeds aimlessly and ends abruptly. Confusion Of the pic is highlighted by a deficient editing job which leaves some sequences dangling in the middle, wholly un- explained. This glaring flaw was likely necessitated by heavy scis^ soring to bring the running time within dual bill needs. This .yarn is concerned with the adventures of a Texas lad, Guy Madison, who travels to New York to become a playwright. En route he teams up with a run- away Texas gal with a yen for the Brooklyn ozone. In New York, Diana Lynn adopts a pickpocket, Florence Bates, as her mother, and moves in with a trio of Flat- bush spinsters. Story, which James Dunn, as a bartender, unfolds through long backfla.shes, travels through one flat scene at Coney Island and another in a whacker Brooklyn riding academy contain- ing mechanical horses and eamels; Sudden end to the film witnesses the romantic couple back in Texas riding the range. . : Madison registers pleasantly but isn't given much to do. Miss Lynn is also likable personality but finds it tough-going through such awkward lines as "Brooklyn is a wondrous place indeed." Best thesping bits are supplied by Lionel Stander, as a lippy hotel porter, and Florence Bates, as the honest-faced dip. Dunn als* does nicely in the bit part of the bartender. One pleasant number, "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven," is ren- dered in accompaniment of the credits. , Hem, Shed No Tears Hollywood, July 10. Eajj-Ie i,ton release of Robert Frost pro- duction, stars Wallace I'ord, June Vincent; leaturcs Robert Scott, Frank Alborlson, Klchard Hogan, Elena Vci-dugo, Johnstone White. . Directed by Jean Yarbrough. Screenplay, Brown Holmes, Virginia Cook; from novel by Don Martin; camera, Fi-ank Rcaman! editor, Norman K. C6rf. At Vogue Hollywooa. June », '48. Running time, 70 MINS. » Sam Grover Wallae* Ford Mna Grover .Tune Vincent Ray Belden ,.., Robert Scott Huntington Stewari: ..Jonathan White Grover Dick Uogan. Hotton ...Pxank Albetlso» to fit it as fiUer material on dual bills in lesser situations. Very mild screenplay deals with an insurance fraud and backfiring blackmail with cast trying hard but seldom succeeding in breath- ing life into plot. Dialog is trite and Jean Yarbrough's direction meandering. June Vincent, the real heavy, talks husband Wallace Ford into faking death to collect a $50,000 insurance policy. Suspicions of Richard Hogan, Ford's son by an earlier marriage, upset the perfect scheme and the detective he hires takes a blackmail to bolster his regular fee. Windup has Ford appearing to shoot Miss Vincent's new love and, to a chorus of screaming lead and police sirens, a death leap from a 10-story win- dow solves all the plot's problems. _Ford manages the most interest of the cast. Among others are Johnstone White, the blackmailing private eye, Robert Scott, Miss Vincent's new-romance, and Frank Albertson. Stronger direction by Yarbrough could have given the Brown Holmes - Virginia Cook script a little lift. Production values achieved by Robert Frost are^ minor and lensing by Frank Redman is standard. Brog. Train to Aleatraz Hollywood, July 9. n.^^' ul'" "■e'ease of Lou Brock produo- imV;- ^t-'™,Donald Barry, .Tanet Martin. William Phipps; features Roy Barcroft. Juno 6,torcy Jane Harwell, Milburn Ktone, Chester Clute, Ralph Dunn, Richard Irving iSl?, • M'chael Carr. Directed by PhUlp Ford. Original screenplay, Gerald VtSV'?.'. Reggie Lanning: editor, "ng'fhSraf-MLsr"'*■ Donald (In French; Ewfjlish Titles) / A gripping, unusual spy meller, '( this is one of the better Frencli ■ contributions. . Unfolded before a backdrop of Maquis underground operations in France during the last war, "A Friend Will Come To- night" has action and an unusual amount of suspense. And. with'. Michel Simon as star, it spells big •' ! boxoffice for arty theatres. Story is mostly told in a private ; mental hospital o^ French Alpine region near Switzerland, at time the Nazis were prowling the see- tor in the fall of 1944. Yarn shows , the German forces trying to locate among the inmates the brains , of the underground. Simon as a bewhiskercd inmate, turns in another splendid charac- terization. His portrayal of a so- called world piiilosopher, as he fends off interrogations by the Nazi secret agent, furnish a high- light of the film. Scene winds up by Simon oHering himself as the Maquis ringleader, and willing to be shot although not knowing wliat" it's all about.. Madeleine Sologne impresses as the Jewish girl whose family has been wiped out by the Germans. Incidentally, she looks like a U. S. screen possibility. . : Louis Salou is fine as the Maquis leader masquerading as hopelessly in.sane. Saturnin Fabre, Paul Bernard and Marcel Andre top the excellent supporting cast. The unusual plot has been con- cocted Jacques Companeez, with Director Raymond Bernard collab- ing with him on the screenplay, Bernard's direction is topflight as is the lensing by Robert Lefebvre. Latter has done particularly well with outdoor camcraing. Wear. Grady, A'irglnla... Aunt Ella , Biu't Kianii CijllflUftoi-. And%J~-----'-------'--^^^ Nick . Roy iaroroft .... June Storey . ..lane Darweli ..Milburn .stone .. .<.'hester Clute A minor entry for secondary bookings, "Shed No Tears" barely gets by. Overlong on footage and slowly developed, yarn fails to generate much interest for specta- tors. Sharper editing might help Ent's Loan Contlnnea from page 3 .Richard Irving Mpi.,v ..Tohn Alvin MahnVfo;.' ■ ■ ■" ■ ■ ■'•.•'•'■•;•>• • - • .Michael Carr Mnrc Kiah Hutehms Denver PvIp 5 '^'™ln'c .Iron k/cs Cody ^JSy.V.V.V..v.v.-.v;.-;^,^'^.'^~ "Train for Aleatraz" is a budget melodrama for secondary billings Title IS apt, plot being laid on a prison train, and action overcomes load of dialog to rate casual inter- cs^^over the 60-minute running The prison train is transporting group of convicts to Aleatraz and plot builds gradually through group's planning of an escape to cUmax in the blood-thirsty break for freedom. Flashback technique IS used to establish sympathy for one of the cons, a young man with a bad record who is wrongfully convicted of murder. Before blow- off, his slate is cleaned by outside forces and the other convicts meet sudden death when they attempt to flee the train. Donald Barry is the escape ring- leader and William Phipps portrays the convict who was wronged. There s a suddenly developed* ro- mance between Phipps and Janet Martin, legit passenger on the train, and other chief femme role falls to June Storey, gunmoU who's aiding the^escape plot. Roy Bar- croft, guard; Ralph Dunn, U. S. marshal; and Chester Clute, timid conductor, give okay lawsand- of production, and "The Numbers Racket" (formerly "Tucker's Peo- ple"), which is before the cam- eras. Both pix are for release by Metro under Ent's new pact with that company. The first five films were distributed by United Artists domestically and by Metro abroad. "Tennessee's Partner," a Harry Sherman production, is still to_be delivered to UA under the Ent pact. . ... , Here's the lineup on the initial five films: Negative Total Cost Gross "Eamrod" .. .$1,500,000 $2,000,000 "Other Love" 2,200,000 1,850,000 "Body and ■ Soul" ... 1,800,000 4,700,000 "Arch Of Triumph ., 4,250,000 4,100,000 *'4 Faces West"l,200,000 1,100,000 Many of the above figures, of course, are rough estimates, since some of the films haven't played enough dates either domestically or abroad to make very close cal- culations. "Body and Soul," .P» course, was Ent's big grosser. Ho*- evfer, the profits it represents are not as large as they appear, since 50% of the net goes to the John Garfield-Bob Roberts indie unit, Roberts Productions. . "Arch of Triumph" has played only a few more than 200 dates in the U. S., with rather spotty b.o-. but tIA has been able to get good terms for it on strength of the novel and the Bergman-Boyer cast names^ Estimates are that it wiU do about $2,500,000 in the U. S. and Canada and about $1,600,000 abroad. It is figured much better comparatively for overseas aum' ences than fnr t'— ' in tw* country.