Variety (Nov 1948)

14, PICTITBES Wcdnreilaj, Novemlier S, 1948 Film Reviews Continued from w%t It; The Plunilerors I Jungle Cji«>iiiless the opening chase, it's a mixture Hollywood, Oct. 29. of western formula on a large spale, i .J^>^'">Sr^3t''1^ot,S^ nle?l5' 'wamu.' filmecj in color. The boxoffice at-; k&y.'^SmiS;. & By?d.'mcctedbj tention should be satisfactory. t Lewis D. Colttns. Scrcenpl.iy, Jos«ph Pa- »4ri 11 i-1 i ' 1 ..A! 'W, „ 'Banoi editor, Norman Cert; eamera. Cart While film kicks off with a ocrgcr. At Paramount, L. A., Oct. 28, '48. shoot-'ein-up chase, the story-tell-; iiunning time, ss jii.NvS. ing takes a little longer to get un-1 ~,^VrW - ..Wa der way and some minutes have. wanama ' Armida passed before action hits its best i Bob Simpson .... . naiph Byrd r>i„.rinrr <c annA in o v^i'n Oolonga. wltch doctor,.. 'SmoW Whitfieltl clip. Playing is gOOa m a yain| yvonne - Dolores Cattle that concerns an army oflicer Nugaia putiy Robies tough outlaw and nls gang to jus- pj^t Pi^d co),y tice. Villain doesn't follow the ac- ! Drummer Oncst Conlcy . cepted western pattern, being a ^ji''^U^:S^Kt'' "^j^ok^caHoi! rather likeable guy despite the way, ^ccompamst • ■i-'<-ic qanou he earns his living. i . jungig Goddess" got lo* in Rod Cameron shows up excel- a desert of dry performances and lently as the hero. Plot twist has, clammy direction. Screenplay is him murdering a sheriff in open- the same old white goddess among Ing sequences and it's some time j native tribesmen routine that has before audiences will get wise that j been run through innumerable it is only a setup for him to get times prior to this. There is no Into the gang. He pits his wits' gold buried in this part of Africa, "gainst Forrest Tucker, who does, g ^^^^j. an able heavy Windup brings in George Reeves" and Ralph Byrd an Indian raid in virhich Tucker, jii^co^ej. j^at Wanda McKay's aids the lavv and escapes the rope ^^^^^^ offering a gigantic i-eward when shot down by the redskins. I foj. her—dead or alive. Femme Femme interest is .split between ] was last known to be aboard an Ilona Massey and Adrian Booth, a | airplane which crashed in the Afri- couple of dancehall babes. Miss; can jungles six years earlier. They Massey enacts romantic partner j find her living among the natives opposite Cameron while Miss I as tribe's top executioner. She Booth is beloved by Tucker. Score i condemns Byrd to die for slaying a includes two public domain tunes,' native. He finally gets his in a "Walking Down Broadway" and new tangle with the natives while ''I'll Sing a Love Song," Miss Ma.s-i trying to break away for the sey does the vocalling of special plane. Reeves and Miss McKay lyrics by Jack Elliott and Aaron manage to escape. Gonzales. ^, ' Featured trio. Reeves, Miss Mc- George Cleveland, for a change ■ ' > Is a smart sheriff, while Grant Withers is his dumb counterpart as deputy. Taylor Holmes is the respected townsman who's really I Kay and Bryd; turn in dull per I tormances along with a ca.st of na- : lives who belong anywhere but in "Mungle Goddess." Production I values supplied by William Ste- backing the outlaws and Paul Fix ^ ar/ sorelv laokine in thP enacts good characterization «s ^™ arTsS^fa te^^^^^ Tucker's gun-slinging pal. Francis Ford and others add to the action bluster with which associate pro-" ducei'-director Joseph Kane has enr dowed this one. Lensing by Jack Marta is expert and is done in an improving Tru- color process. , Editing could have been smoother. , Brog, an average film. Lewis D; Collins' direction falls by the wayside along with Joseph Pagano's screenplay. Lensing by Carl: Berger adds noth- ing. Free. Lciitlier Gloves Hollywood, Got. "iO Columbia release o£ Richard (lumc- WjUiam Asher production, directed by Quihe and Asher. : Features Cameron Mitchell, Virginia Grey, .Tane :NiRh. Sam JLeveno, Henry O'Neill, ■ Bliikc Ed\viird.s. /Sdrecnplay, Brown Holmes: .from. Sateve- post story by, Ilichard English: camoni, Henry Freulich: editor, Viola Lawrence. At Vogue, Hollywood, Oct. 27, '48. Run- ning time, .75 l^IJNS. ■ Dave CoUms ,... ..... : .Cameron MiLi'heU .Tanet Gilbert..; Virginia (.Jrey Cathy. Bernie ■....: , Dudley v.Vince- Reedy. i.. i-, \ Huerta Fernandel!, Mrs. Hubbard ... ... Mr Hubbard .Diike ./ Beteree .........., .. Ti'imblc ..... ■.lan<! .NiHh ...... .Sam f.cvene. .... Henry O'Neill ;.,. .Bfalco. Edwards;, ,.;. -. Bob ■ Castro .,. i. ; Sally Corner ..Stanley Andrews. . ■... . Eddie Acuit¥ . : Ralph Volltic .Walter Soderling (fiiaHel . London, Oct. 27. General Film Di.stributor.s' release of I Arthur . Rank (Gainsborough-Sydnoy f: IJox) production. Stars .:Hermione Bad- 1 delcy, Duk Boearde, Mervyn .lohns, Cecil i, Parker, Basil' Radford,, Fraitcoise Rosay, .Susan Shaw, Linden Travcrs, Nauilton Wayne, Mai Zetterling; Directed by Ken Aunakin, Arthur Crabiree,: Harold French, Ralph Smart. Screenplays by R. C. Sher- riil: adapted Irom tour stories by W. .Somerset Maufjham; camera, Ray Elton, Bernard Lewis; , editor, .Jean Barker: music, John Greenwood. Al,Odeon, Lon- don, Oct. 2u, M8. RuniiinB time, l!iO MliiS. The Facts of Life Henry Garnet. ... Basil Radford Leslie.. v..,,...,.. .Naunton Wayne Ralph.. ......... ,J,an Fleming TUomas;'.:.......lack Raine iVfr.s. Garnet ..... . Angela Baddeley BrankSome ....; ..Tames Robertson Justice Nicky,;...;.:.... ...... .lack WatlJng .John .. ..; ; . Nicel Buchanan .Jeanne.;.......,,., Mai iCctterling The Alien Corn George Bland ..; .:. ,... Dirk Boijarde Sir Frederick 'Bland v; Raymond LovoU l.adv Bland;;;...: book of verse purporting to de- scribe her romantic experiences. The intermediate two, while lacking the high level of the first and last, are certainly' more than potboilers. An undergraduate son of a member of the landed gentry who hopes to become a profes* siona} pianist, provides the melo- dramatic theme of '"The Alien Corn," while "The Kite" is an un- usual story of a .simple young man, very much under his motlier's domination, who put. his kite-flying before his wife and cheerfully goes to gaol when she wrecks his latest invention. Individuality of story and treat- ment by separate casts and direc-: tors does not detract from the en- tertainment value of the finished article. Contrasting: characters and plots add to the freshness and charm of the picture as a whole and, in effect, give the customers four complete pictures for their original stake. Direction and pro- duction throughout maintain- an extraordinarily high level, and the casting, even down to the smallest bit, IS uncannily accurate. Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne, al- ways a perfect team, have the backing of Jack Watling and Mai Zettcrling. Dirk Bogarde,. sup- ported by Raymond Lovell and Honor Blackman, take the honors for "The Alien Corn," in which Francoise Rosay excels in a small part. George Cole as the kite flier and Hermione Baddeley as his possessive mother carry the third subject, and Cecil Parker and Nora Swinburne are perfectly chosen as the Colonel and his wife., Although off the beaten track, "Quartet" is a picture which de- serves widespread popularity,: and should go a long way to raise the standard of British product throughout America. myro. Sir Alexander Korda has purchas ed the British remake rigutt. (Sir Ralph Richardson will play the Cervi role.) ■ '. The story treats of « girl ap- proaching motherhood without ben- efit of clergy. She persliadeaA a chance acquaintance to pose as her husbaad so that a place in the household of lier strict parents can be insured. Deception, with its borderline situations always deli- cately handledj works out well until the father discovei's a photograph of the man's family. With the ensuing confession, tlie father re- :lents sufficiently to take care of his daughter. It's apparent that the yarn could not have been treated :as simply and as effectively if it were produc- ed in; Hollywood. Production code would demand that the girl be punished for her misdeed and con- I sequently entire tone and character of the film would have to be! changed. : | Performances are of ton cut. I Adriana Benetti as the mother-to-j be provides an excellent account! of jierself, but the best rounded performance is by Cervi who helps bring out the basic injustice and pathos of, the entire situation. Portrayal indicates he could love the girl, but circumstances force him to return to his shrewish wife. Aldo Silvani as the stern parent, who is eventually touched by the^ kindness shown his daughter by .a totaji stranger, gives a gratifying resulted In a tpeedler pace. Non-< name cast handles its tasks ade* quately. Camera work of a trio oi lensmen capably catches the grim-i ness of th« scarred, mountain ter- rain. : Inasmuch as tha picture has a deeply religious background and was made with the cooperation of the Vatican, it's bound to have the backing of the church wherever screened, Exhibitors will also benefit by the public's general in- terest in the Cassino battle. For although the Fifth Army was sur^ that the heights of Monte Cassino were being used by the Germans for military purposes, the Ameri- cans were never able to prove it. UA Admits Cpntinned from viigc I cient money in England to support any extensive production sched- ule on its own. UA exec veepee Arthur W. Kel-, ly first broached tlie subject to the NFFC during his recent trip to England, throwing out feelers to get the British reaction. Fol- lowing his return to the U. S. two weeks ago, the pitch was Ijiken up by David H. Coplan, UA's man- aging director in England. Com- pany based its bid on UA's rec- ord in distributing British films, performanrerivhiie'deft hi,mor"is | ?i?i'l"li.il^''fn ilf^x^^ Th^'^ displayed by Giacinto Molteni as I British-mades in the U. S. than the girl's grandfather. "^^er companies combined Tlio Ploi to Kill (BRITISH) United Artists release of Selected Films production. Stars Derek Farr. Mart.i La- barr. Dircetotl: by ■ Wllliain Freshman. Previewed N. Y, Oct. 22, '48. Running time, -,l*3 .WIN.si., ■ :■!' • ■:, , Peinberton Grant;........... Derek Farr ^^atahe Trubetzin ; ,•.. Marta Lnbarr i^aul Shcrek;, :.■...,... .Manning Whiley Giuseppe Anialo's direction con- tains a smooth pace and colorful embellishment of incident without marring the essential story line. Englis,li subtitles are okav British decision on the application: isn't expected for several weeks. Even if the NFFC okayed UA's bid, it's considered unlikely that ! other American distribs would be There is only one "detracting' eligible for loans from the $20,- factor in the film. In editing for U.S. audiences one sequence has been eliminated in a jarring manner. The void is quite disturb- ing. ■ Jose. Irene, Browne ;,,,.,. . Honor: Blackman .,,;,. .„. , George Thorpe .■..;,.;.., Mary Hinton Francoise Rosay The Kile ;.,,, :, Bernard Lee ,. Frederick Leister ; .., George M,erritt .. ,.,,, .George Cole David Cole licrniionc Badtleley. .;. Mervyn ,T6hhs Susan : ,Sh«w Cvril, ChambcHairi ■Daphne. Martin .-.. :■:. ,lolin Coleman.... lianndck- ..:.:.. HailVvay Passenger; irenr.y ,Blarie,; :: . ;,-. Gusliijig, Woman,:;, Noia Swinliuine i, H Roberts ;Glan(le AlILstcr Will'rcd Myde-White ■;, ISrnest, Tlieslger , .., llcnry Edwards ..; Linden' Traver.s . ...'. ;, : Felix Aylmer ,:.*., .,.;,.16hnKalcw ,, •:,; Lynn Evan.s; . .Cyril , Haynioitd ... .; Clive Morton ,. .M.-;r|(are,l Wtlhefs "Leather Gloves" makes lor I p^uia pleasant fare in the supporting l uncie John .. slot. It's a prizefight yarn ^\ ilh ,"""" twists, presented in a style to rate , casual interest. Production renre-! Puson \isitor sents good expenditure of butleet ^iuyernor , coin in shaping picture as an okay |,'eX\i"Srbuiy . entry lor its market. Herbert (boy) /..; Performances are good, is the t'"^'"" Sunburv. direction, except for a iindway .^""'I"'''' lap.se. Plot has a philosoiihicai, Reporter , , . , , . . angle or two and the hero doesn't I The Colonel's LMy get ,the girl, Cameron Mitchell i.s ! E"'"";?' Peregrine:, <. cecit barker :^cellcnt;:as a lightheavy pug on.ii^t^"""^^^^^^^ ' ' the bum who changes, for the bet- i ciub Man neoule^iinf ^UT?^ smaUlown , ?^'V^„V"A^,V^„nd people with whom he comes m ' nuke ot iicvcici contact during one brief wcf!l{ " ' Duul production job bv Rit'liard Quine and William Asher is cai-- ried over to double-stinl on di- rection.: They: start the fiUir^ fol 1 i neatly and : bring ;it to a .strong conclusion,;.eijceept:,for Iho ; iTiiddle,' An; o r i g i 1 • By ^Sbmerset sag, do,, well, plot brings Mitchell: Mau.sjliaBi,; ■coupled wil.ir a .script bv . to a siiiall town. He talks his way G- SherriO', is a gitide to I , on a tight card,'falls fpria.gii'l and ;;Piece ; of; satisfying,- ^sophisticatBd' prepares to fake a loss to nick up pntertainment. in "Qu.-utcl" the some cash. He finds the en I rqcs satisfaction is iniiltiplipd four ,i,or: iiis opponent and gives', tlig ,kid (iine^; and :each of the sub jects that 2: Jickihg so he'll, get , out of the So to the\inakihg of, ttii.s picture ngnt .game. .Finale again has Mifcli- a'tftough iiidividuaiisfic in theme. eJl on the move to other p.i'^turos. cind treatment, have the M.iugham Aiding Mitchell's good woik arc "'i*- <''"fl .sharpness of characteriza- Virginia Grey, Jane Nigh, Sam '•'o." Ss the connecting link. In Levene, Heniy O'Neill, Blake Ed- Britain it is a prestige picture plus, wards and others. Okav scripting and is by lar the best to come from chore was turned in "bv Brown '^'''^ Svdncy Box outfit <-ince "Sev- Holmes, story twists and dialog '^"'-'^ Veil." It al.so merits the ap- probation of Amei'ienn, audiences ! who are alwajis reM#to: show their' appreciation- of , G,la.s,s:'•entertaihi inerit. ' ' ,;, ' "„ ;,.'.■' '',-■ ■■;:'■; :;■■■;;-::■. , Of the four stories that ni-akd tip ' the film, the first and last are un-', dOubtedly the: mci.st iiitriguihgi; "The- Facts of Life" is a superbly ' told piece of a 19-J'ear-61d who (lis-i regards his father's advice on hi.s' first (rip to Monte Carlb and out-; Wits an obvious adventuress, arid i ■"Jfhe Colonel's Lady" is a delight-! ,ful:y;arn 6f ;a.!c61oricrs wife whb' Aimed for .the U. S. exploitation market bv a British indie, "The Plot to Kill Roosevelt" spins a sen- sational yarn that'll oven tax the credulity of the : kids. Other facets of this production, from the thesping to the camera work, are equally hard to swallow in their crudity. Pic's sole asset lies in its title, which may earn it' a :spot as dual program filler. ' Fantastic plot is localed, for most part, in Teheran, meeting place of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin during the war years, where synthetic Ai'abs, Germans, Ameri- cans and Ru.ssian; are shown en- gaged in espionage and military activities. Through an inexplicable bit of detective work, a British cor- respondent learns of a conspiracy by, an international armaments ring to kill F.D.R. because his post- war peace plans would put them out of business. In clillhanger stylo, the plot is foiled just as the varmints; are about to set off the dynamite planted under the Presi- dent's car The ca.st is of stock company calibre. Manning Whiley, as the villain, registers with the most competent performance, although his youth and his heavy role don't mix. Derek Farr, as the British journalist, and Marta Labarr, as a shadowy femme fatale, are barely adequate. Others in the cast bor- der on the amateurish. Herm. (ITALIAN) Supetfilin release of. Pastor 'Arluro t.eniiniti) production, directed by Ccnv imti. Screenplay, Gemmiti, VirRilio .Sabel, (.lovanni Paolucci; camera, Picro t'orla; lupi,_ Vittorio Delia Valle, An!(elo ,Tan- naielh, music, "VdrJano T.u>ldii EnRlish titles, Charles Clement. Previewed N, Y , ,9,<?'- 27. '48. Runnins Unie, Mi\s. rhe Head Abbott Alberto C. LoUi Don Maitino fiUberto Se^ell Don Etisebio Ubaldo L.iv iVTaria............ . ... Alberto... Marco .;.. ,: . ... Carmcla .... Vila Silent Capt. Ricliter.,.,,,.. Rodolplio Ncuhatis ^"••onio ^ , , , Livio Bussa Father of .-Vnlonlo Giuseppe Porli Also i»; groui) of onsinal survivors of iMTonte: Cassino , ' 000,000 fimd. Council to date has granted only about $8,OftQ,00p of the, fund to British pr0duceri^!>bui; is expected to reserve,, the baslance for other Britishers as ah attempjt,4' to help the native; industry mSet the new 45% quota regulations." UAi meanwhile, has set no defi- nite plans for British prpduction, pending action by the NFFC on the loan application. Plans for ttie six films, which were tp have been produced in England by Mary Pickford and Lester Co\van havei" been temporarily shelved and a zor'a"pi.i'//a i decision lor other British pro'Juc- P'^','",.^"^i™ I lion would require approval of the Silveuo Bias, ^^^^.^^ (hi Ilalian; English Titles) "Monte Cassino" is a sombre, Kelly, Bagnall Huddle On ITA Hollywood, Nov. 32'.-:',-;' Arthur Kelly is here for huddles semi-documentary relating the' iih George Bagnall on United various incidents that led up io the ' Artists' outlook in England. He's bombing of Monte Cassino \bbev also slated to meet producers this during a decisive phase ot (he I week before planing back to N. Y. Italian campaign of the past war Friday (5) It s a moving and touching film} "Red River" reporledlv opens houses''''""' "^""^ art'Nov.25inLondon's'^West End ^^^h Battie of C'lssinn WIS nno nf ii,„ Ijenefit premiere at Paramount most dra^Ltic's iVglfes 0^^ . ^"ves to UA's Pavilion after Mark Clark's Fifth Array in its''^''"^'^"^^^ drive to the north through the rugged Italian mountains; But another battle, almost equally a.s dramatic, was taking place within and nearby the walls of the I 400- year-old abbey. . ■ ' That fight was waged by tlie ab- moth's studio and homeoffice top- •bott, monks and brothers ot the ^P^*"^- which hasn't yet been .settled, abbey against the German troops , Apparent stress that 20th w ill now in the Cassino region who sought Place on reissues indicates it will to prevent the monastery staff endeavor to replace its indie B trom administering to the needs of product with the oldies, m*?^'.^"'.*;! /'-'"i' ^^'^ agf'd and in- Company's reis.sue department is l^ctVm's II yh/'.'"'" ''='P'cbs to operate under the general super- vicUms of the war about (hem vision of assistant sales chief Wil Plug Oldies Conthiucit: from : pace 4 F«nr Sl«>{is ill Iho <'louils '< lor the action is presented in (ITALIAN) Distinguislieil Films release oi AIcSSan- di;o Biaselti (Cinos) proauctioh; ,:Stars ,&jno Ceryi. Adriana flcnetti.' Directed by (.luscppo "Smato Sciccnplay, C Zjvat- tini,:p. ,TeHini and Amato; camera, Wac- law Vit=k; mu.sic, Aiessandrb :Cicosiririi; .Oct. 27,, M8. Ruiiiiins u"ror\he'ac?tion i! ^v^Ttlf^' ' U»'ir'c." Gd^ring." £;Uer:'loge(^;er ehiloTogk^ll^Xion Ttinffrom «"'"''' «^"=<=t ^'''l^ Previewed N: Y lime. 88 AIINS. Po'Olo Bjanciiii:,, Maria ::.;.,. Mashaiiiii::,,, .Antonio ■ ,M Gioia Biani'lii;,; Conrtucfor ls(:,lTurdy-!iUrdy- .Aliui Uniborlo, Si Cino Ceivl Adiiana BenCtti .Kiii'ico . Yi.irisio' : Carlo. ■Romano (iiuditta. HissonO Ijauro . G.'!Z-/olrt October,"]943,*whcn>"Bhliire7nst l'"'^'^*'"*^^ current season approached Ca.,.sino vil)d"e im I among 20th's cat.ilog. detcr- until the following March" 'That ""'"'"^ number released and rental month brought the demise of the i '<^i'ms. Company last year handled Abbey in a hail of Amei-ican ' of the oldies but the creation of "ooios- (he new department indicates it Ab written. produced and , "iH re]ca!;o more than that during directed by Arturo Genimid, the 1948-49 season, ivionte Cassino" servos as a monu-' Hci.ssucs to date have liad a spo- 2d Hurdy-gurdy .Man Failier ; .; ,: ;■.,; :, ,rirandrath(vr,:;. .Station ^i^.-istcr;,:j; 'Passenger' : , .* . hWonian Pa^sGng*;r Another,- Passcnscr Lii'ipaiui Silvio BagiiJini Aldo Silvani ,; Giacinto Molteni Armftjido IVIigliari Artijro Br.iROiSlia Pina Galllnl , . Orcstc Bilancia lifting it about level of ordinary prizefight plotting. Lensing is good, but editing lets footage run a bit too long for best double bill .spot- tf'g. Brog, MarsbaJJ Qaits 'Bonanza' Hollywood, Nov, 2. George Marshall, director of "Bonanza" at Columbia, anklcd (he s. byjvan bimon, produceiv who eau.ses much embarrassment to her took Qver the pilot's chore. ■ husband by the publication of a Four Steps in tlie Clouds" is one of the more charming Italian cinema imporls. It's' picture that will undoubtedly do well in the ,lrt and language houses and could conceivably entertain in otner situations a.s part of a double bill. The picture contains a liigh degree of clever cinematic exposi- tion made possible by director Giuseppe Amato's deft touches of humor and colorful treatment of incident. Top pcrformatices by Adriana Benetti, Gino Cervi, AUlb .Silvani and Giacinto Molteni pro- duce an entertaining and alto- gether satisfying result. Film has been playing to Con- tinent for gratifying returns and intricate characterizations of the Pi°'"LJ!"V"S pei'iod, 30% of abbott, a pair of youthful lovers theatres in. the motropoli- and a German medical ollicor ^- ^' were playing oldie.'s. Onus for the abbey's destruction ^^''^hin a few month.s, however, the in tlie Gerimins for interest in them had died down on is placed upon _ _ ^ their failure to withdraw irorii the vicinity of Monte Cas.sino. Even alter American planes distributed the part of customers, wlio at that time had started to shop for their film fare. As a result, several of ci,nnnK'n,T"n,/'''i monastery oc;'the most piwnising7eissrrerdred''a be bomhPd nf n'l.^^^^^^^ ^^ouU .quick death, leading several of the Thi.r'i^^'dTthc? i'li'i^Jflent tnXeL^"'^^"l-"\- '''' «^ film lay the blame flatly on the'M^''^l:* "P ^ department for German high command. '|."^ handhng of x-eissues. Metro Despite the fact that "Monte ! 'o™*^* such a tieup two years ago, Cas.sino" is evidently a straight-its special handling of rc- lorward account of the abbey's 'S5,ues with sales of the foreign pic- siege, its long running time tends '■"''6s it imported for domestic re- to wring the dramatic values dry lease. That department is now before the end of the footage, headed up by M-G shorts sales More Judicious edjting could have manager William B. Zoellner.