Variety (Jan 1949)

Vedncaday, January 26, 1949 FILM REVIEWS John Loves Mary Hollywood, Jan. 22. W«rner» releliM of Jerry Wald produc- tion St«r«Bon«ld BengMi. J«ck C«r.on; JStbrei W»yn» Morrl*. Edward^ Arnold. wSSa rm. KathMtoe Alexander, Paul Harvivj introducing Patrjcia Neal. Dl- 5.Ptid Irv David Butler. Screenplay, Phoebe' ahd Henry Ephron; from stage £lay by Norman Krasna: camera, Peverel Slarley; music, David Buttolrii: editor, ISeSto::v.::::««i senate? McKlnley.. Edward Arnod I iiiv Herbiah Virginia Field Ph%i» McKirfey... .Katherine Alexander Seachwool." .. -^^^^ ■ ■ Norrtian Krasna's stageplay comes to the screen as a punchy laugh-getter. "John Loves Mary" rates a handsome run through all situations. Cast is headed by Ron- ald Reagan and Jack Carson, and all performers do a choice job of sbarking the broad chuckles. Word* of-mouth possibilities are excellent. The stage setting* have been ex- tended only a little in the filming, so the effect of a legit offering is still present but with the mobility of the screen. Pacing of David Butler's direction is very sharp, whipping the laughs together in rapid-fii?e order as the visual and verbal gags are brought'on. It's good fun, even at its. silliest, with a minimum of sagging moments. The Krasna play has been film- scripted by Phoebe and Henry Ephron and retains the sparkle of good dialog and situation. Plot of- fers compUcations that result for a soldier, returning, from four ,year!>; overseas to the arms of his love, when he brings back a. warbride for' an ex-GI friend. He findS; ^the friend already marriedi an4 the< ef- forts to get rid of the unwanted bride while keeping his own girl, Miniature Reviews "John Loves Mary" (WB). Strong comedy with Ronald Reagan, Jack CarsoA, Wayne Morris, others for b.Ot: "Shockproof" (Col). Melo- drama of parolees and officers ' who work with them, plus ro- mance. Average business. "The Life of Riley" (U-I). Neat comedy starring William Bendix; bright b.o, prospects. "Bad Boy" (Mono). Story of Variety Clubs' Copperas Cove, Tex., Boys' Ranch; okay biz; "Blondie's Secret" (Col). Very good entry in the Colum* bia series based on the comic, strip.-. "Rose of the Yukon" (Song) .iRep).' Alaskan non-name mel- ler; for lower rung of dualers. "Henry, the Rainmaker" (Mono). Excellent family com- edy for su^tporting brackets. "Woman of Evil" (French) (Indie). Edmond T. Greville clicks again with sex meller; ■ big for arty spots. "The Small Back Room" (Lion). Suspenseful British war scientist drama;' w i 11 draw. "My Last Mistress" (French) (Indie). Sacha Guitry stars in French oldie;: mild even for arty spots. happens to. him and the ' girl when love moves into their lives. . Situations come together with pat coincidences that, while okay, melodrama, don't make for cre- dence. Threat motivation is > sup^ plied by John Baragrey's character as a gambler: for whom the girl had originally killed. He continues to convinced of his love sets up some i make her keeping of parole rules very funny consequences. The re- difficult, although she spends his turning GI theme seems somewhat I money with a flourish that keeps dated, but good comedy is hard to : age and this one has all the essen- tials'for solid chuckles. > Reagan's portrayal of John; the reaming soldier, is a hep enact- ment, but broad enough for the baffling circumstances in which he finds himself. Carson is . the GI buddy-for whom Reagan sacrifices plenty, and muggs his way through a lot of laugh footagei Film heralds the introduction of Patricia Neal from the legit stage, and the femme comes into pictures -with a choice performance that augurs well' for her future. Her Mary has humor, a-.: slight touch of dizziness and a iS;<]^ect valuation of a young girl in MVe and eager to hold her man. ; : Wayne Morris romps honxe a ii^Ihner as a lieutenant now advanc- ing rapidly in theatre usher -cir- cles, and the same able touch is given Edward Arnold's pompous senator, K a t h e r.i ne Alexander's liiDther, Paul Harvey's slightly . addled general, and parts played by Ernest Cossart and Irving Bacon. It's a small cast, but a. hand-picked -one, and each knows exactly what to do. .^.Showmanly production guidance by Jerry Wald gives film a glitter th9t properly shows off the fun. Cjtre he used in, casting also is re- flected in the other credits. Pev- eral Marley has done a class lens- | Giuis irig job, and David Buttolph's mu- ??« Riiey Sic score pertly backs the hilarity Without intruding. Brosr. her in a fetching screen wardrobe Girl is taking the easy- way out until she falls for her parole Of- ficer. When the new hsippiness is threatened; she shoots Baragrey and flees with Wilde, After a tor- tuous chase, they decide to face the music, Baragrey reforms, the cou- ple is cleared and there's a happy ending. Wilde does well by his assign- ment, and Miss Knight brings a strong personality and s.a. to her part. Baragrey, Esther Minciotti, as Wilde's ' blittd mother; . Sam Brooks, parole officer; Russell Col- lins and others in the. cast handle their assignments capably. Film is a frontroffice production without producer credit, and sight values are in .keeping with the story* There is a good lensing chore by Charles Lawton, Jr., ap- propriate music by George Dun- ing and expert editing by Gene Havlick. Brog. with originality. Brecher'g debut as a director also comes off strongly. Inventive visual gags are scattered throughout. Bendix, duplicating the role he created on the-air, registers solidly in a completely uninhibited per- formance of mugging, doubletakes and pratfalls. As Riley, Bendix is center of a- yarn concerning the trials of a family man in a low-paid California aircraft job. Loosely built, story succeeds in delineating a group of pleasant characters in amusing situations. Rosemary DeCamp does a stand- out Job in portraying the warm and understanding wife of Riley. Meg: Randall, a newcomer, plays with a: gay, light touch as Riley's daughter who offers to make the- supreme sacrifice for her father's sake. Bill Goodwin, as a heel;*James Gleason, as Riley's sidekick, -and Beulah Bondi, as the good-hearted land- lord, all chip in topflight perform- ances Fragile plot is based on Riley's efforts to win a protpotion and earn a few more bucks after, his home is put up for sale. He'gets upgraded to an executive post, but is unaware that his daughter engi- neered it via a promise to marry the boss's son. Latter is a playboy who needs to get married to collect from a trust fund in order to pay off some bookies, Just as the wed- ding march is being played, how- ever, Riley discovers the truth and breaks up the ceremony, sending his daughter back to the boy she really loves. Lesser roles are played compe- tently by Richard Long, as the ro- mantic juvenile; Mark Daniels, as the playboy; Ted de Corsia, the bookie, and Lanny Rees, Riley's teen-age son. Settings, camera work and editing are firstrate, while Frank Skinner's baclcground score blends with the pic's light at- mosphere, • Herm. Bad Boy Hollywood, Jan. 21. Monogram release of Paul Short (Allied Artists) production. Stars Lloyd Nolan,: .lanp Wyatt. Audie Murphy, James Glea- son, Stanley Clements, Martha Vickcrs; features Rhys Williams, Selena Royle, James Lydon, Dickie Moore, Tommy Cook. William Lester. Directed by Kurt Neu- mann. Screenplay, Robert D. Andrevrs; added dialog, Karl Kamb; story, Andrews, Paul Staorti camera^ Karl Struss;. music score. Paul Sawtell; editor, William Aus- tin: Previewed in. HoUywood, Jan. 6, M9. Runnint! time, 85 MIMS. Marshall Brown ........ i ., .Lloyd Nolan Mrs. MarshaU Brown.........Jane Wyatt Danny. Lester...... .... .Audie Murphy The Chief.. . .. ...i.i, . /. James Gleason Bitsy . .............. .Stanley Clements Lila. Strawn............. Martha Vickers Arnold Strawn., .Khys Williams Judge Florence PrentissSelena Royle Ted Hendry. . James Lydon Charlie -. .... ... . .;Dickie Moore Floyd .. ..,......'........'Tommy Cook .Toe Shicilds . ..........:.. William Lester Texas Oil Man............ Walter Sande Sheriff Wells ............ Stephen Chase Doctor Fletcher.,.., .Charles Trowbridge Mr. Pardee ...... i.... . . .Francis Pierlot Mrs. Mechan Florence Auer Bell Captain.,..r.Georee Beban OUie Bill Walker Mrs. Strawn......... ...Barbara Woodell Newsreels Nifty Inaugural Job NewsreelS'last week did one of their finest-jobs in recent years in handling the Presidential Inaugural and surrounding events in Washington. Apparently under the lash Of the job they antici- pated from television, the reels, showed unusual imagination, con- scientiousness and vdrive in turning out the best possible record of the historic day. All of the companies, devoted their entire end-of- the-week releases to the events in the Capital, and the results were well-rounded, informative, interesting and highly-entertaining reels. They couldn't compete with video on a time,basis or in.fullness of coverage, of course; but it Is open to question whether or, not the- atre audiences didn!t do just as well as TV watchers in having the highlights edited' and packed tightly into eight or nine minutes, rather than hours. No little credit for'the success of the .reels must go to the No. 1 man himself. Mr. Truman clearly earned paid-up cards in both Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. His mimicry, at the Electoral College luncheon, of H. V. Kaltenborn analyzing the results (in Dewey's favor) during Election Night is an alltlme gem. The President was in his best form, wreathed in a tremendous, warm smile, as he told of his feelings while he listened to NBC that night. It was one of those unpredictable; once-in-a-lifetime human interest naturals that newsreel editors must pray for. It put the perfect topping on an otherwise naturally serious reel. Herb. Royle and Francis Pierlot are among others rating mention. Kurt Neumann's direction of the Robert Andrews script is expertly paced to show up the melodramatics and a number of lighter sequences, including one comic cowboy ditty acted out by Clements. Script was from a story by Andrews and Paul Short, with added dialog by Karl Kamb. Production by Short and his as- sociate, George Bertholon, have ob- tained excellent values, and tech- nical credits, including lensing by Karl Struss, are in keeping with the rest of the film. Brog. Blonflic's Secret Hollywood, Jan. 22. Columbia production and release. Fea- tures Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms,. Marjorie Kent. Jerome Cowan, Thurston Hall, Jack Rice. Di- rected by Edward Bernds. Screenplay, Jack Henley; based on comic strip, "Blon: die,''. created by. Chic Young: camera, Vincent Farrar. At Pantages Hollywood, Jan: 22, '49. Running time. 68 MINS. - Blondie .... . . ............Penny Singleton Dagwood..Arthur Lake Alexander...Larry Simms Cookie .......... ,^,...... -Majorie Kent Radcliffie .... .i ;v......i..Jerome Cowan George Whiteside...Thurston Hall OUie.;. . ............... .Jack Rice Alvin . .Danny Mummert Dog Found Attendant.. . Frank Orth Mary . .Alyn Lockwood Mailman............. i,.... Eddie Acuff I Larry..... .. ..Murray Alper Chips Williaxn "Bill" Phillips Mona....... 1...... .Greta Granstedt Ken Marcy........'y;.,.vGrandon Rhodes Daisy ...... ,., .' .. . . ..., i.......; Herself The Life of Riley Siiockproof , Hollywood, Jan. 22. _ Columbia production and release. Stars Cornel Wilde: features Patricia Knight, John Baragrey, Esther Minciotti, Howard M. John, RusseU Collins, Charles Bates. Directed by Douglas Sirk. Screenplay JJelen Deutsch, Samuel Fuller; camera Universal-International release of Irving Brecher production. Stars William Ben- dix; features James Gleason, Rosemary DeCamp; Bill Goodwin, .Beulah Bondi. Meg Jlandall. Directed by Brecher. Screenplay, Brecher: camera, WUIIara Daniels; editor, MUton Carruth; musics Frank Skinner. Tradeshown N. Y., Jan. 24, '49. Running time, 87 MTNR Chester A. Riley...... William Bendix 1 James Gleason .......Rosemary DeCamp Sidney Monahan ........... Bill Goodwin Miss Bogle. .......Beulah Bondi Babs Riley... Meg Randall .Teif Taylor ........Richard Long Junior Riley.^i;...'...,.t. Lanny Rees Burt Stevenson............ Mark Daniels Norman . . ...........Ted de Corsia "Digger" O'DeU... John Brown Lucy Monahan. Victoria Home Carl Stevenson.........WiUiara S;: Green Irving Srecher's teeoff eftbrt as rh.fi^-i'r.-.i"" "—■"" fan indie producer is promising. a»t»ATi;^P»en i Based on the popular radio serial, «• MINS ^' Running time. CWff Marat..; Cornel Wilde tt.'Slj; Jlr"* Patricia Knight iSyA."^*?"*" John Baragrey Wxs.' Marat, ....„,.. .TTrEsther Minciota §£!!!i ^I'^^l • • • .Howard St. John Frederick Bauer.. RusseU Collins Tommy Marat, Charles Bates - GUbert Birnett S^onte Prank Jaquet f;?«an Pr<,nk Ferguson S?.?'"'' Ann Shoemaker King Donovan itFI"^ P.'>!'}»W Claire Carleton Joe Kobiski................... Al Eben -T Shockproof" is an exploitiable' n^lodrama that should rate aver- I age business. It's a patly told tale ot the parole system with a strong romantic thread to Claim attention Qtthe femmes. Cornel Wilde adds some marquee dressing. Yarn is wrapped up in a good production dress that uses i^os Angeles locales to stress seml- aocumentary flavor. While never credible, story does point up the standard melodramatics and good P*?y»ng to keep it all interesting. 41, *VI8}«s Sirk's direction moves ine Helen Deutsch-Samuel Fuller I script at an excellent pace, and it's! »i "sndling, plus the perform-1 ?."?w*' ^^^^ eive it life. Plot deals with probationary work, with Wilde 1 as one of the officers in the local I tvli-?^";, A Pafoled murderess. Pa-' Knight is assigned to his care, and story Is based on what' Life of Riley" has all the ingre- dients for a tasty b.o. package. Pic is a well-patterned medley of fast gags, comedy situations and mer- chandisable sentiment, all wrapped as a bright and breezy bauble for easy digestion, particularly in nabe situations. • William Bendix's name gives it the necessary marquee lift. Brecher's scripting powers this pic at a sustained comedy pace. While occasionally smacking of com, the: lines for most part crackle A Man About the House "A Man About the House," British Lion production being released in the U. S. by 20th-^ Fox. was tradeshown in New ^ York, Friday (21). Film, a ro- mantic yarn about two spin- sters who are left a legacy by their uncle, was reviewed in Variety from London, Aug. 6, Drawing power in the U. S. will undoubtedly be hindered by lack of marquee names,- , Variety stated, opining that "the be.st it can attain is the. dualer spot." Review also noted : that "acting was good all around, with beautiful outdoor shots and a pretty slick and workmanlike direction." VBad Boy" kicks off under the surefire auspices of Variety Clubs International. Boosting that char- ity organization's Boys Club Ranch at Copperas Cove, Tex., and the work done in rehabilitating young criminals there, the film seems set for a natural ride through the areas where VCI is most active. Otherwise, it has the general entertainment merit neces- sary to sell tickets on its own. There are good exploitation pos- sibilities in the title and story, and in the first large-scale introduc- tion of World War II hero, Audie Murphy, in the title role. He has an ingratiating personality and some latent thespic ability that should register with the younger set of. filmgoers. With continued experience and good roles, he has possibilities. With plenty of good .story points 1 to support it, "Bad Boy," never- theless has some critical weak- nesses that keep its overall score from being 100%. Deficiencies are largely . plot holes that leave some of the- motivation foggy. As the title points up, yarn is about a bad boy, facing a stiff rap for an armed holdup after a record as a delinquent. His custody is reluctantly -turned over to the- Boys Ranch at Copperas Cove. He proves too tough a monkey for the VCI rehabilitation work to crack under standard treatment, so the ranch's head starts digging into the boy's past to-find the cause so a Cure can be effected. The re- search brings to light that boy be- lieves he was responsible for his mother's death, and film ends on another victory for VCI's youth reform. , Lloyd Nolan plays Marshall Brown, ranch head, and Jane Wyatt is Mrs. Brown. These two. with James Gleason as Nolan's assistant, put a lot of . sock into the film. Stanley Clements, James Lydon: and Dickie Moore, among the sun- dry reformed youth characters on i the ranch, point up the juvenile ; roles, William Lester, Martha I Vickers, Hhys Williams, Selena Fans of the Bumsteads will wel? come. "Blondie's Secret." Other general theatre audiences will find a lot to chuckle at, too. Film measures - up -among the better enr; tries in tlie Columbia series. It's a vacation that springboards the fun in this one. The Bumsteads are ready to take off for a lake- side siesta after three false starts when the boss asks for another postponement. After that, there's another ' delay, and just to make sure the Bumsteads don't escape, their baggage is filched.by the boss' aide. Before the Chic Young comic strip: family is able to get off to a happy start, plenty of other script complications are rung in for laughs. It all unfolds at a fast pace under expert direction by Edward Bernds, and the screenplay by Jack Henley introduces fresh antics to polish up the standard, stunts that make the Bumsteads a well-known family. Penny Singleton's Blondia by now I fits her like a second personality, I and she makes it a delight. Ar- I thur Lake's Dagwood also is sec- 1 ond nature and funny. Larry 1 Simms and Marjorie Kent are 1 Alexander and Cookie, respectively, I and Daisy is still around with her ! (sic) pups to help the fun. Jerome I Cowan, Thurston Hall, Jack Rice, i Eddie Acuff, the long-suffering 1 mailman, and Frank Orth are i among others keeping in pace, i Production values are standard 1 for the series. Brog, Bo9e of the Ynkon (SONG) ' Republic release of Stephen Auer pro- duction. Features Steve . Brodie, Myrna DcU. WUUam Wright. Directed by George Blair; Screenplay, Norman S. Hall; camera. John MacBurnie; editor. Harry Kelleri song. Eddie Maxwell, Nathan Scott. Trade, shown in N. Y., Jan. 20, '49. Running time, SO .MISS. . Major Geoffrey Barnett. . . Steve Brodie Rose Flambeau .Myrna Dell Tom Clark ............. .WUliam Wright Tim MacNab... .......Emory Parnell General Butler............ Jonathan Hale . Jack Wells . Benny Baker Frenchy Frenay........;,... i Gene Gary: Doc Read.. , ............ Dick Elliott Alaskan Men C?!.^??""""* Eskimo Girl ;....;.... Lotus Long Capt. Xossoif;........... Eugene Slgalofc . A fortnight meller of the north country, "Rose of the Yukon" stirs some excitement. It's a supporting feature. Fact that film has no names is a handicap. Producer Stephen Auer has done a nice job of transplanting the usual oats - opera formula . to Alaska. Only the race, neat the I end, between two dogsled. teams I seems tame compared to the gal- . I loping steeds of the western gen- j try. There's the usual hero (an I Army major) and buddie, here an ! ex-Army pal who has ^one. sour i in his quest for hidden riches in ^ I Alaska. Also, there are the min- - ! ing camp saloon singer and: the : I gal who gets straightened out by said major before she becomes in- I volved in a murder case. ! Steve Brodie. does extremely I well as the major sent' out by I Army Intelligence to discover why 1 a supposedly dead Army , 'captain I turns up as winner in an Alaskan [ betting pool. William Wright is ] okay as the captain who ultimately 1 has to face a murder charge; while i Myrna Dell is fairly convincing as I the barroom singer.' She sings "Its ; Not the First Love," film's, lone I tune, in acceptable fashion. ! Support is headed by Benny ; Baker, Gene Gary and Lotus Long. I Last-named makes an impression I although only doing a bit as an [ Eskimo girl. George Blair's direc- tion is standard. Camera work by John MacBurnie is standout; par* ticularly cn outdoor shots. Weor. A Canterbury Tale "A Canterbury Tale,". J. Arj;hur_Rank (Michael Powell- _ Emeric Pressburger) produc- tion tradeshown in; New York. Friday (21), was reviewed in Variety from London May 31, 1944. Film, depicting an Amer- ican soldier's encounter with English customs during the war years, was looked upon by Variety as "a genuine article as far as English sincerity and dignity are concerned." Pic's changes in the U. S. looked good, critic added, since Amer- ican audiences have devel- oped a liking for this type story. Stars Eric Portman and Sheila Sim. CaSt turns in fine performances, as do Powell and Pressburger in the produc- tion and direction department; but special notation was given to Erwin Hillier's camera work;' Henry, tiae Rainmaker Hollywood, Jan. 18. Monogram release of Peter Scully (MaT« fair) production. Stars Raymond WaK burn. Walter Catlett: features William Tracy, Mary Stuart, Barbara Brown, Gary Gray, Addison Richards, Mary Field, Robert E. Keane. Directed by Jtan Yar- brough, Screenplay, Lane Beauchamp; original story, D. D. Beauchamp; camera. William Sickner; editor, Peter Scully. Previewed in Hollywood; Jan, . 18; '49. Running time, 64 MINS. Henry Latham ..Raymond Walburn . Mayor Colton . ...........Walter Catlett Charlie RichardsWilliam Tracy* Barbara Latham . Mary Stuart Mrs. Latham Barbara Brown David Latham .. Gary Gray Steve Richards. .Addison Richards Mrs. Richards....,..;...... Lois Austin Georgie Colton... .... George Nokes Mrs. Sweeney Mary Field Scton . , Robert E. Keane School Teacher ............. . Ruth Le« Marilyn Loper..;........... Patty King Mrs. J>arkerEdna Holland Mr, Peabody.......... ., Earle Hodgins Rev. Bascom......... .Barton Yarborough Bum ii..; Lennle Bremen "Henry, the Rainmaker" makes a stout film for the family market. As a supporting comedy, it spins- gentle humor7~is" clean and fastly— played. Although -modestly bud-:.: Keted, all concerned get the most : - for the coin expended, and the.gen- eral situation will find it a Worths while secondary feature. Plot to.sses off a lot of homely wit as it depicts the feud between a smalltown citizen and the mayor. It's the kind of situation stuff with apt characters that could be car- ried through a series. - Raymond Walburn is the indig- nant Citizen who decides to run for mayor when the city's garbage- disposal sy.stem is stymied over a contract fight. When the race gets too hot, the incumbent solves the , garbage problem and Walburn - turns his attention to relieving a drought threatening the town. He calls in a rainmaker, there's a deluge and angry townsmen make (Continued on page 22)