Variety (Mar 1949)

20 PICTURES Zanuck's Tax Refund Continued tiom page 2 cess profits; Fox Big Horn Theatre , Corp., $506: Fox De Luxe Theatres, inc., $799 excess profits; Fox Kansas Theatre Co., $844 excess profits; Fox Ozark Theatre Gorp,, $563 plus another $i;i,127 excess profits; Fox West Coast Theatre Corp., $3,620; Anna Marie Foy, $076, and Eddie Foy, Jr„ $1,207; Ava Gardnex', $1,936; Billy' Gilbert, $823; Nils T. Granlund, $2,761; Sidney Grau- man, $3,775; Cliarlotte Greenwood, $4,062; Gumbiner Amus. <Co., $1,919; Sam Hayes, $576; Horace Hcidt, $4,778, and Adaline Heidt, $4,778; Skitch Hen- derson, $2,804; Alffed Hitchcock, $4,160, and Alma Bevilla Hitchcock, $3,783; Walter Huston, $1,618, and Nan Suther- Jarid Huston, $1,607; Betty Grable James, $2,928; Harry James, $556 em- ployment tax; Allen Jenkins, $716; Victor J. Jurgens (c/o Louis De Roche- nnont Assn.), $757; Marie MacDonald Karl, $5,073; Genevieve Tobin (Mrs. William) Keighley, $2,300; Frank Kin- ■ sella, $912; Cass Daley, $787; June Knight, $1,001; Peter Lawford, $777; ^Fraricis Lederer, $1,115, and Marion J-ederet, $l,lfe;.-.Allen Le May, $1,615, : and Arlene Le May, $1,016; Sam Xevene, $1,664; Bambi Lynn, $860; In- grid Bergman Lindstrom, $890; Long Beach Pleasure Pier Co. (.Silver Spray ■ Pier), $4,607; Peter Lorre, $4,552, and Kaaren Verne Lorre. $1,861; Ernst Liibitsch, $1,822; Lynn Barry Luft, $715; Kenneth MacKenna, $879, and Mary Philips MacKenna, $774; Fecdric March, $753, and Florence Eldridge March, $753; Roddy McDowall, $3,189; .Miller Amus. Co., $8,392 excess profits; Ann ■ Miller. $4,073; Frank Morgan, $4,479; Patricia Morison, $2.4-10; Wayne Morris," $530; Conrad Nagel, $893; National Theatres Corp:. $556; Silver Spray. Pleasure Pier, $1,294; John B. Nesbitt,- $788; Richard M. Ney, $1,837; Jack Oakie, $2,235; Margaret O'Brien, $2,273; Johnny Coy, $1,536. i Reginald Owen. S1.415; Pathc Labora- tories oij Cal,. $2,629; June Preisser, $530; Irene Rich, $3,116; Robert Rlskin, $5,727; Charles Buddy Rogers, $501' ■W<esley Ruggles, $2,439; Sandorf Thea Wednesday, IVfarcli 2, \9^^ Co., $1,233; Combined Bronjc Amus., Inc.. $5,025; Marc Connelly, $2,433; PendcU and Aline Corey (ol L, A.), $1,686; Vicki Cummings, $1,100; Jean Dalrymple^ $2,740; Galo Barriga-Diaz (MGM International), $858; Nat N. Dorf- man, $3,083; Jessica Dragonette, $1,420; Drama Holding Corp., $883; John and Beatrice Elberson, $2(135; Billy Eck- stine, $2,148. Cliff Edwards, $1,846; Duke Ellington, $1,827, and Mercer laUngton, $671; Jose i Ferrer, $1,340; Film Classics, $2,669; Firm Amus. Corp., $2,265 employment tax; Dwight Fiske, $2,519; Kirsten Flagstad, $1,304; James Lawrence, $6,562; Ralph Forbes, $825; Morton Gould, $2,164; Bernard Grubman (c/o Cinema Enterprises), $752; Ralph and' Edith Harte (o£ Hollywood) $1,883; Hearst Radio, Inc.. $679; Hercules The- atre Corp., $6,020 employment tax; Marcus A. Heiman, $9,908; Richard Himber, $754; Dolly Haas Hirschfcld, $1,677; Mirianij Hopkins Brock, $2,367; Inteinational Newsreel Corp., $645; George Jessel, $6,297; Junior Orpheum, San Francisco, Ltd. (RKO), $3,022 employment tax; Oscar Karlweis, $1,038; B.. F. Keith >Columbus Go., $2,247 employment tax; Keith Moss Corp;, $9,299 employment tax; Keith Ohio Corp., $5,302 employment tax; Dennis J. King, $586; Haila Stoddard Kirkland, $1,488; Robert W. Kirkland, $3,937; Dorothy Kirsten, $2,276; John Klempncr, $2,250; Lafayette Radio Corp 0£ Illinois, $6,732 excess profits; Bert Lahr, $2,222, and Mildred Lahr, $4,964; Jack Lait, $2,763; Jessie Royce Landis, $546; Herbert and Ruth Lang- ner, $2,814; Francine Larrimore, $1,811; Bert, Jr., and Evelyn Lebhar (Sta- tion WHN), $3,638; Lew-, Leslie, $568; Arthur Lesser, $1,313, and Shirley Lesser, $1,320; Mildred Lewis (suc- cessor to RCP Theatre Corp.), $3,356 plus $2,056 excess profits; John Loder. $1,838. Loew's Dayton Theatre Co., employment tax; Loew's Indiana The- I atre Co., $2,959; Loew's Theatre and Moscow Mulish? It has been about three months now since the Ameri- can industry forwarded to the Kremlin Its list of 100 pix available for sale to the Rus- sians, but no word has been received from Moscow yet. The list was prepared and for- warded via the State Dept. in conformity with the agreement made by Motion Picture Assn. ! of America prexy Eric John- i ston when he was in the So- I Viet last year. Agreement calls for the Russians to select pictures from the list in blocks of 20. They have been told if they can't lind on it 20 that they like, a supiSlemental list will be prepared. In the meantime, Yugoslavs have made some se- lections from a similar roster, submitted to them and it is expected that the first prints will be OK their way to Bel- grade sooii. Film Reviews Continued from page 8 Commie Hex Continued from page 2 $718; Santa Barbara Realty Co., $849; Johnny Long. $4,090; tre Corp.,, L. A, Music Co., $3,374; Joseph Sohildkraut, $555, and Marie Schildkraut, $555: Liza- beth Seott, $5,115; David Q. Selznick, , $529; Ii'ene M. Selznick. $7,308; Douglas G. Shearer, $4,143; Julie Bishop Shoop. ,$570; Louis Sobel, $551; Lionel Stander, $688, and Jehanne Stander, $688; Don- ald Ogden, Stewart, $605; Geraldine Brooks Stroock, $1,757; Preston Slur.qes. $935; Robert S. Taplinger, j $6,372; Elizabeth Taylor, $1,001; JoVm Charles Thomas, $6,082; Thomas Pro- ductions. Inc.. $1,486; Kay Thompson, $1,186; Marta Toren, $514; Mel Torme, $3,977; Sonny Tufts, $5,871; United States Pictures. Inc.. $2,603; "Venice In- vestment Co.. $554 excess profits; Ver- mont Avenue Theatre Corp.. L. A., $2,272; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., $8,401 sales tax; Dame May Whitty, $3,342; Mae We.st. $2,901; Western Costume Co., $6,807 excess profits; Bert Wheeler, $680, and Patty Orr Wheeler, $654; Andrea King, $1,105; ZaSu Pitts Woodall. $2,018; Sol M, Wurtzell, .$4,077, and Marian Wurtzell, $2,914; Nan Wyhn $590. Large New York returns; Advertising Arts Corp., $81,924 excess profits; Dorothy Brecker, of Roseland Amus. Co. (dancehall), $12,640; Nancy Brecker $2,646; Dorothy, David L. and Meta , Loew Brecker, .$930 employment tax; Irwin S. Chanin. $5,394. and Mary Chanin, $800, Paul Chanin, $2,755, and Sylvia Chanin. $7.073;. Columbia Elec- Luba Malina, $3,283; Fletcher Markle, $583; -Charles Martin, $598; Dorothy Maytlbr, $908; Media Records, $6,228, excess profits; Helen Smith Menken, $678; MGM Distributing Corp., $1,234; MGM of Egypt, $7,517; George Mon- aghan (Station WOB), $659; Henry Morgan, .$6,095; North Carolina Thea- trical Corp., $2,704; Emmanuel Ornstein, $3,590; Axleeh Whelan Owen, $6,853; Lawrehce J. Owen (c/o Guy Lom- bardo), $650; Paramount Pictures, $4,150 employment tax; Tony Pastor, $894; Lucille Coleman Paul (c/o J. W. Seligman). $3,436; George Paxton, $3,943; Wilfred Pelletier, $2,524; Jack T. Philbin, $750; Marion HUttpn Philbin, $2,047; Jane Pickens, $i!,02e; Monte Proser, $9,386. RKO Midwest Cor^., $907 employ- ment tax; RKO Orpheum Corp., $1,411 employment tax; RKO Radio Pictures of Near East, $1,143; RKO Theatre, Inc., $1,116 employment tax; Natalie Rach- maninoff, $1,489; RCA, $9,540; Howard Reihheimer, $3,771; Republic Pictures and its wholly. owned subsidiaries, $6,450; Ethel Robertson (Columbia Artists), $550; John R. Robertson (Co- lumbia Artists), $554; Samuel Schneir der (Apollo Records), $1,422; Kon. stantih Simpnov, $2,043; ,lra J. Sobel (c/o. M. J. Weinstein), $8,299; Ida S. Sobol (same). $4,095; Sono Osato Elmaleh, $1,219; Bella Spewack, $3,150; K. T. Stevens (L.A.), $709; Ted tronics Inc., $1,826 plus $10,169 ex9ess': Stra,eter, $2,544; Joan Tetzel, $978; The- profits; Debs Memorial Radio Fund, | atre Guild. $6.1551 excess profits; The- $27,579 plus $2,466, excess profits; atre, Inc., $616 employment tax; The- Arleiie Francis, $10,992; King Features, J atrical Realties, Inc., $2,123; Conrad $11,512; Kipnis Family, $11,482; Leon &j ThibaiUt $554 Eddie's, Inc., $9,135 plus $10,319 ex-1 , ■ • cess profits; Panoramic Radio Corp., glass window at a next-door de- partment store. A whole detach- ment of police is on duty at the Stafa and, from time to time, they have, to summon ^ergency rein-^ forcements." ' Other pix doing great currently are "Hunchback of Notre Dame" in Warsaw and Lodz, "Dragon- wyck" and "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic BuUet;Un Cracow, "Ziegfeld Girl," "Sun Valley Serenade" and. "Casa- blanca", in Polish subsequents, "Gulliver's Travels" in Prague, "Men. in Her Life" and "Adven- $525 I tures of Mark Twain" in Sofia and "Ninotchka," "Best Years of Our Lives" and "Sinbad" in Berlin. All this, of course, would be de- stined to make the U; S. distribs much happier were they getting coin out of these countries com- mensurate with the big b.o. In some countries, U. S. revenue :is completely frozen, and in the pthers the best they get back is costs of prints and operation. Despite the constant propaganda blasts from Moscow, the Hollywood product continues to play in all of the Iron Curtain lands except Rus- sia itself, Rumania, Hungary and Yugoslavia and it is likely that Yugoslavia will shortly be off the nix list. Main reason the Communists let the American product appear is apparently their own inability to provide enough film to keep thea- tres alight. In most countries, the Russe product is guaranteed 60% of screen time, but it doesn't hold up to that average because, aside from numerical. in.sufficiency, it earns few holdovers or any kind of extended playing time. he finally has a show-down with the doctor, with the physician coming oft first best. Another novel twist is that of having the robber strive to reform the village's bad girl, a femme at war with the world. This off-shoot to the main plot at times gets out of hand as the director has laid too much emphasis on this young miss as a bad character. And the sudden switch of the gal, from hating the millionaire, into falling madly in love with him when she learns his true identity as a bank robber is not done so convincingly; Despite this obvious weakness^ the story as a whole is exciting and well-knit. Smart direction by Maurice Saurel is further height- ened by the superb performances of Pierre Fresnay and Fernand Ledoux. Former as the daring robber turned philanthropist 4oes the role; tip brown, while Ledoux, as the'medico, virtually thefts the picture. Andree Clement, as the devil's daughter, furnishes a new and entirely different screen type, turning in one of the most vivid femme portrayals to come from France in some time. Remarkably strong supporting cast is headed by Therese Dorny and Serge Andreguy. Armand Thirard's camera work is topflight, being especially fine in the dra- matic giin fight between the robber and Paris gendarmes and in the wild auto ride with a drunk at the wheel. Bretonneche's editing also is sharp. • Wear. Rank Shutdowns = continued from page 3 b $57,520 excess profits; Louis Prima $9,508; Leon Prima, $2,593. and Made- line Prima. $2,594; Radio Develop- excess profits; Stanley Co. of Ameri- ca. $21,600; Stanley Mark Strand Corp., $1,269 plus $15;177 employment tax; Ticket Office Equipment Corp., $680 plus $10,042 excess profits. Warner Bros. Artists Bureau, $3,388; forward toward further production- al savings. ■ Tom O'Brien, M.P., and general secretary of the National As.sn. of J. Meyer Schine, $568; United De- troit Theatres Corp., $4,014 employ- ment tax; Ernest Truex, $2,511; Gloria , „ — Swanson. $1,674; Universal Picture p^^^^tre and Kinematographv Em- inent Research Corn S3 101 nius S'i4 164 ! *^°'"P' °* Mexico, $2,660; Universal i ployecs, described the shutdown ot !". . .!, ^°ll\\.r]!:. I'i" . picture corp. of North Africa, $1,271; : Gainsborough and Shepherds Bush Waybro Picture Corp., $1,306 excess ] as a "tremendous shock" followine profits; _Kathleen Winsor, $1,142; Ed ^ in the Wake of other layoffs He wynn f?,948. . , ^Isq hit hard at industrialists whom Following are misoeilaneous refunds: I he termed "most unpatriotic" for Interstate Circuit of Texas, $68,071 ] failing to support British produc Wamci Bros. Distributing Corp., .$4,146; I ^''<:«ss profits; Henry L. Balaban, | tiott. Warner Bros. Theatre,, $585 employ- ment lax; Warnel- Bros, of Wisconsin, $21,114; Warner Bros. Theatres' of Pennsylvania, $839 employment tax; Harry Warner, ;$819; , Jack : Warner, ,$1,059. Other New York retiirns , Xaboratories, Inc., Mu.sic Corp., $809 profits; ,American Theatre Society, $3,700; Harry and Beniice Antrim. $792; ;Audlt6rium Conditioning Co. (Len-iuel Skidmoi-e), $4,395; AVCO (including radio station subsidiaries). $13,364 plus $11,619 excess, prbfits; Phil, Baker, $1,316; Chicago, $12,343; Balaban & Katz Corp., i T„/iite » * W Chicago, $5,107 employment tax; I if *J?"*^^ Others, O'Brien : Lcoininster Allied Theatre Corp., of l^tt Hank to carry on the bUr-' Keene, N. H., $841; Maine Theatres i ">r years and: he: cannot be | Corp, of Boston, $30,5;i3 excess profits; ' expected to shoulder the entire re-1 Butterfield Michigan Theatre Co.. $1,345 I sponsibility. MeanWhile the A.ssn ■ cxce.sB profits; R. B, Wilby (North ^ of Cine and Allied Technicians er the \ Gscar Homolka, $1,717; Ace Film ■ C,wlina) $1,345; Fred W. Rfckelson; general council will eonsid .«1.007; Advanced J"".. $39,748; TrI-State Theatre Corp., plus $2 974 excess W.660 employment tax; Newport News Theatre Co., Inc. (Norfolk, Va.), $5,390: New Theatre,, Inc., Pdrtsmouth, Vs., $12,790 excess profits; Alliance Theatre Corp., Chicago, $3,109; Fair- lawn Amus. Co. (D. C), $2,766 ex- cess profits; Elmer D. Rhoden $12,634 situatioil.- tomorrow night (1), While 800 workers reportedly are being dismissed, Rank claims only 550 will be affected by the notices. _ It's been known for some time that Rank contemplated stream- George. Balan'chlne,' $1,523; "'Tallulah Commonwealth Lawrence Corp., $11,297 \ fi7m"ma'ldnK" a\'T)pnhnm"?^^^^^ Bankhead, $iJ,607; Bruc'e Barton, $893; :-x-ss Profits; Commonweahh Sercy ^^f^^flP^ ''pTv,.-TL^.?.^.- Count Basle, $4,556; Jacques and Tlieatre Corp., $1,202 excess profits; 'yvcnne Chevalier Belasco, $1,305; Hopkins Theatres, Inc., of Wilmington, Irving Berlin, Inc., $9,217 excess pi'ofits; I ^'^'^26. Nathan Burstein, $4,920; Jack Bittner, Sues Dale Evans, Rep. Hollywood, March 1. wood. His closure of the Islington studio in January also marked the first stage in a new policy. Top British producer admitted last year that he could carry out a present production program of some 40 films annually at two major studios and intimated that he could dis- $560; Sidney and Suzanne K. Blackmer,) $3,301; Elijah Brien (c/o Eagle Lion), I $571; Broadcast Music, Inc., $1,127 excess ! profits; Gerardo Brugnun (c/o Lecuona j , _ , , ^ ,, , »..i.iiieut;u uiai np rriiiii-i Hie Cuban Boys, Inc.), $1,441; Yul Bryn-i Louis Lewyn has filed $330,000; pense with Shon er s Ru<^)^ ner, $1,071; Buffalo Theatre, Inc., $1,2.52 ' damage suit against Dale Evans Islineton w%hn 7^'i^^^^^^^ employment tax; Igor Cassini, $768; and Republic. iMinglon without aflecting his out- Cellofilm. Corp., .$2,807 excess profits; j;,«>._ t;_ - j : . ' Century Music Pubiishmg, $620 em- . P/oducer charged actress prom- Ob.servers feel , Sydney Box's pJoyment tax; Cine Theatre, Inc., $922 '''''^? Jast Aug. 15 to appear in a ' transfer from Gainsborough to employment tax; Constance Collier, series of westerns for him but that Pinewood at the start of the vpir $1,480; Irving Collins (c,o Station «ep induced her to remain in series to develop Independent Fnm» nc WHOM), $968; Columbia Broadcasting, ojsposite her liusband, Boy Rogers.. especially significant. Ride, llyder, Ilidn! Eagle Lion release of Equity (Jerry Thomas) production. Stars Jim Bannon; features Don Reynolds, Emmett Lynn. Marin Sals. Directed by Lewis D. Collins. Screenplay. Paul Franklin based on comic strip, "Red Ryder," by special arrange- ment with Stephen Sleslnger; camera (Cinecolor), Gilbert Warrenton; cditur, Jce Gluck. Tradeshown N. Y., Feb. 25, '49, Running time, S8 MT.NS. Red Ryder.... Jim Bannon Little Beaver Don Kay "Little Brown Jug'* Reynolds Buckskin Emmctt Lynn Libby Brooks..... .i......P6ggy Steward Gefry................. Gaylord Pendleton Kcno Jack O'Shca Marge ... ... .Jean Builingcr Duchess.......,,:.».«.,» Marin Suis Sheriff ., St.in Blystone .ludge >.,.,.,....,.,.. Bill Fawcctt Pinto Billy Hammond Frenchy Edwin Max As replacement for the Eddie Dean series, Eagle Lion is han- dling a new crop of oaters based upon the McNaught Syndicate strip, "Red Ryder." Produced by Jerry Thomas, who also turned out the Deans, the Ryder group stacks up as good Saturday matinee prod- uct on the basis of the initialer, "Ride, Ryder, Ride!" Juvenile quality of the script, however, obviously limits the film's draw to the small fry. But while older filmgoecs will find the "Ride" plot to naive, loss of this market will likely be more than offset by a pre-sold audience of the, comic's lensing of Gilbert Warrenton is also a big asset. Ryder, as portrayed by carrot- topped Jim Bannon. is a chaps- clad .SJr Galahad of the plains country. He breaks un an at- tempted stagecoach hold'up in the opening reel and in the ensuing footage .joins with newspaper pub- lisher Peggy Steward in cleaning up the town's crime. Although physically a fine choice for the title role, Bannon isn't too convincing as an actor. However, his fistic prowess seems to more than compensate for his lack of histrionic finesse. Outlaw leader is capably thesped by Edwin Max; comic relief is supplied b.v Enimett Lynn, while others lend okay sup- port-under Lewis D. Collins' direction* Gilb, Roinlia, ihe Jiinjisle lloy Hollywood. Feb. 23." Monogram rclca.'ic of Walter Mirisch pi odiiction. Stai s Johnny Sheineld, PecRV Ann Garnci-; features Onslow Stevens, ,V.V?,'".'<'S Irwin, Smoki Whitfield, Martin Wilkms. Directed by Ford Beebc. Sci-oen- pl.-iy. J.-ick DeWitt! adapted from story bv Roy R()ckwood; camera, William A. Sick- ticr: editor. Roy Livingston. Prcvh'Wcd 70 'un's'"°'' gomba -, - ■ Johnny ShelTlcId Hafland Peggy Ann Garner George Harland,. Onslow Stcvi n.s Andy Barnes,.,..Charle.9 Irwin Ell, ..,....., ;.. .Smoki Whitfield Mufti......... i, .Martin Wilkins "Bomba, the Jtingle Boy" is the m'sl of several subjects based on Roy Rockwood's stories which Wal- ter Mirisch will produce. Initialer has the stuff to interest the juve- nile filmgocr and should fare okay when marketed to attract the kid- die trade. Johnny ShefTield, ex of the "Tarzan" films in which he played the son, goes it alone as Bomba" and is a neat choice to portray the jungle lad. Film is more plausible proiec- tion of a jungle adventure story than usually encountered in such sub.iects. Because it is the first, there s more footage devoted to establishment of character than can be expected in subsequent entries, but this doesn't slow the pace too much. There are a lot of scenes of jungle animals worked into the feature and, with the exception of a few duplications of clips, it's a good job of splicing that will in- terest both juves and adults. Use of sepia tint also is an added value In,displaying African setting, both studio and actual. Ford Beebe's direction keeps the melodramatics well in hand iji telling of a father-daughter team of photographers who trek to the jungle, encounter a teenage boy who has been raised among the wild jungle life. Plot keeps moving as the girl gets lost, is taken under Bomba's wing and then brought back to her friends in a windup that rings in a locust plague, a lion hunt and jungle fire to keep the thrills "for a young audience always on tap. Peggy Ann Garner works well with Sheffield and latter has con- siderable heft for his age, fitting perfectly into the character de* mands. Onslow Stevens, the father: Charles Irwin, game warden, and Smoki Whitfield and Martin Wll- kins, native guides, round out the cast. Technical : credits in the Mirisch production: are all good. .:'..y Brog. ■■; Hiddoii Danger - Monogram release of Barney E. S»reoky production. Stars Johnny Mack Brown; features -Raymond Hatton, Max Terhune^ Directed by' Ray Taylor. Screenplay. J, Benton Sheney ^nd Elliot Gibbons; cam- era. Harry Neumann; editor. John C, Fuller. At New York- theatre, N. Y.. Peb, 23, Running time. n4 .MINN. Johnny..............Johnny Mack Itrown Banty.................. .Kaymond Hatton Alibi .;,..;............. Max Tej-tmno, Valerie......... .Christine L.-irson Carson Myron llc-iJcy Mason Marslutll Hucd Benda .......... Kenne Duncan I SheriiT.... / Edmund Cobb f Russell Steve Clark i Clerk .'Milburn Morante Trigger .......... Carol Henry I Sanderson Dill llalc I Joe........... 4 Bob Woodward Loop .Boyd "Stockman Perry. .Bill Potter Another in Monogram's .series of Johnny Mack Brown westerns, "Hidden Danger" follows the fa- miliar pattern of low-budgeted j oaters, with plenty of gunplay, I galloping and fisticuffs to satisfy the juve and horse-opera patrons. ■yarn revolves- around the forma- tion of an illegUimate Cattlemen'! Protective Assn., whose leader (Myron Healey) has persuaded the ranchers to sell their beef to him for less money than they would get at mark'eti Some diversity Is supplied by Max Terhune, a ventriloquist, and Raymond Hatton, Brown's side- kick, with a little romantic interest injected via €hristine Larson and Marshall Reed. Direction, production and cam- era work are all standard. Ilozinu the Lov<^-rhild (CZECHOSLOVAKIAN) Verity Films release of Ozechoslovalt State Film Monopoly production. Start Marie Glairova. Directed by Otakar Vavra. Screenplay by V.-iclnv llc-^nc from story by Vavra. At Amlias.sniior. N- starting Feb. 25, '49. Running time, 1«0 MINS. ■ ,. Father Anthony., Ho7.lna Jan Karf NicOlo ......... Potmebily........ Joffn Kovar Brother Bartolo.. Father Boniface.. Afra ............ Strakova .'... Zdenek Stcpanek iVlaric Glazrova Francis Kreuzman ...Ladislav Boliao . .. . . .U\n Plvei! Giislav Hllmar ..... Sa.sii Rasilov . Atonin Solo Lola Srbkova : . Zdcnka Bal(lov» I (In Czech; Enqlhh tilU's) _ I This is described in tlie credits as a- historical play. ,Unforlunateiy Otakar Vavra, who wrote the orig- inal .story and directed, apparently was overwhelmed by this I'jict ana ' has turned out a strange. cu#ber| some pot-pourri. Not oven a '|'"'!^ impetuous performance by Mane Glazrova can save it from being.a I .slovenly presentation of a tragic story. Looks a mild entry even tor ; foreign-language spots. . „^ I Chief drawback is tlial much ex- I traneous matter has been alloweu I to seep in. Opening reels • sumed in ponderous bmltvng Z , of characters, many of wliich mean ; little to the main story, ami m mounting the background. Plot T^' volvCs about a 17th Century trji edy. This legend about a,"""° ling who is finally slain by nej youthful Italian lover Is largely done with a heavy hand, . i The fiery performance ot !Vi m I Glazrova is wasted in this prf '"^ ition. .Stepanek makes the AliBOf :of the St. Agnes mona.stery stately and then very eailliy. Dui , is so much better than ihe oinu characters he .seems excellent. . ! This effort of the CzechoslovaR ; Slate Film Monopoly rales as » 'routine costume picture as ' by American .standards. Bombasiit acting, faulty makeup, n'-^^^^M [tinuity and uneven photofirapw are among its flaws. V**"''