Variety (March 1950)

FILM BE VIEWS The Outrider* (COLOR) Hollywood, March 3. Metro releo^e of Richard Goldstone pro- duction. Stars Joel McCrea; features Ar- lene Dahl.Barry Sullivan. Claude Jarman, Jr., James Whitmore?-Ration .Novarro. Directed by Roy Rowland. Story and screenplay; Irving Ravetch; camera CTech- : Hi,color), Charles • Scho'cnbauip; music, Andre Previn; editor, - Robert J. Kern, Tradeshown March’ I, ’50., Running time, 93 MINS. : , • „ _ Will OWen •.....,..,... Joel McCrea Jen Oort .r. Arlene Dahl Jesse Wallace ....> Barry Sullivan Roy G.ort ......... Claude Jarman, Jr. ~ .... James; Whitmore ! . Wednesday, Mareli 8 , 1950 Clint. Priest ... v.. Don Antonio Chaves. Keeley..... • •. . • Father Daniascq :,.. . Ramon Novarro ...;, . Jeff Corey .. . . Ted de Corsia . Martin Garralaga “The Outriders” is sturdy meat I for the action fan. Its assets are 1 polished off by smart directorial pacing and actioriful color-lensing. Richard Goldstone’s production is a sound example, of obtaining value for the dollar spent. Much use is made of . special • effects to dress the film, giving it a scope beyond its actual cost. : Payoff to ! both the distrib and the exhib should.please. .. ; Principal motivation. of Irving Miniature Reviews “The Outriders” (Color) (M-G). Joel McCrea in good outdoor drama. Topnotcn for action trade, , • .; “A 'Woman of Distinction” (Col). Screwball comedy team- ing Rosalind Russell and Ray M i Hand. Good b.o. “The Reformer and the Redhead” (M-G); Hilarious comedy, June Allyson-Diok Powell starrer abetted by a friendly lion. “Barricade” (Color) (WB), . Western programmer in color. Spotty entertainment. “The Girl From San Loren- 7 . 0 ” (UA). . Okay ; Cisco Kid . westerner for. diialefs, “Great P I a n e Robbery? < UA)., Lightweight mailer with Tom Conway; mild entry for lower rung of dualers. “Horsemen of the Sierras” 7C6l>. Air)'her Dur^htrO T Cid saddle opus, good for the'juve action market. for mayor on a reform ticket. He makes political opportunity by rat- tling a skeleton in the closet of the group that controls elections in the , town. He seems set for a bright career until a redhead, In the per- son of Miss Ally^on, enters his life. She’s the daughter of the zoo- keeper, Cecil Kellaway, just kicked out of his job by the political party. She believes in. Powell, ldve blooms,, then gets a setback when she dis- covers his Conniving,; but every- thing is made right for the finale clinch. .. Toppers are Powell’s first en- counter With Herman, who wants to be a friend , 7 and later Powell’s cap- ture of a nian-killing lion in the belief that it is his old feline pal. There are numerous other touches that serve to emphasize the clever Panama-Frank, handling and make this one recommended; Powell and Miss Allysori wallop over their roles. Particularly de- lightful is Miss Allyspn’s: forthright A Royal Affair “A Royal Affair,” French- made, which opens at the Nor- mandie theatre, N. Y., today (Wed.), was reviewed In Variety from Paris, Jan. U, 1950 under its original tag M Lo Roi.” Starring Maurice Cheva^ lier, pic deals with the days of the First Republic, with a mythical king's visit to France and the furor it Causes in the lives of many important diplo- mats. Reviewer .(M osk). notes, “oh its frothy theme; good t r e a t m e n t and Chevalier’s , pull, pic will please in all stateside situations.” Review also stated “the Chevalier charm is in good evidence, and he gets a chance to deliver a few songs in his usual sdeko manner.” • ' ; Film is being released by ' Discina International. of ^wiping out all their, rival* for the oil-rich ranch. Burnette sings some nonsensical songs, lets his prisoners escape and gets scared witless iii a haunt- ed house, to< please juve audiences. Lensing is good, and tight editing brings the film down to a fast 59 minutes. Bril Singoalla (FRENCH) > Paris, Feb. 28. Dlsclna. release of Terra Film produc- tion. Directed by Chriatian-Jaque; Screen- . •play, Pierre Yery, Christian-Jacque; dia- log. Pierre Very. Stars Viveca Llmlfors, Michel Auclair; features Louis Scignier, Henri Nnsslet, Johnny • Chambot, Marie- Helene. Daste. Camera, Christian Mntras; music;.Hugo Alfven; editor, Jean Pcsag- neaux. At Studio Etolle, Paris. Running time 100 MINS. * Singofilla ...» t , *...«., •.«,, .Viveca .Lmdfors-. • El-landMiollcl AucJair Priest. :. . . ............-.’.Louis Seignior. Gypsy Chief............ . Henri NVssict Elf rid .........;. .Marie-Hclene Daste Sorgbarrt;........ ..,.. Johnny. Chambot i Pic is a medieval costumer based- approach _ to.courtship. .■ .D 3 Vi&, Lesteri who are the objects of the ■ on an old Swedish legend of skullv. Wayne, Powell s cynical. partneiy^ ^{^5 unfailing generosity, : duggery between the nobles arid the < Regular team of Henaldo and gypsys. It lacks the rhythm and sss» lh!;i a !liS’ ai?Avnr^ r fn the P> law Carrilld turn in par performances genuine poetic feeling necessary to •oueh the usual quota of heroics and; gWe it art A tuut- ; also turned 1 ture of styles gives it a glorified the sheriff, 1 oater air with leering villains, a ! and David Sharpe, and DonV Har- 'j Her?n.. full fledged attack on a coveied for the Yanks into an ambush. They j^ usse jj join the train when they help beat principals are thrown together off an Indian attack. Before the • accidentally several times, each ambush destination is reached .Me- : meeting ending violently with Miss Crea has fallen for a comely widow, Russell enraged in her mistaken Arlene Dahl. Action comes to a belief that Milland is spreading the ,, de- " Brog . IBarric*a<le (COLOR) ; Wagon train with bows and arrows in good evidence. . There is mar- naliliAHv riuee appeal in k Viyeca Lindi'ors, iiwipifj rv j and with its exotic background pic Conway; ®?afmes 1 WP ul <i loom in second-run spots. Margaret Hamilton, Steve Brodi/e.. Directed I Story concerns . a.' nobleman wild by Edward L Cahn. Screenplnyy Richard . meets a fiery gypsy during a hunt G; Hubler and Sam Baerwitz, from story falls tnaAlv in liivo rnmiJi by Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene; cam- ; a RP madly in lOVe. l/Ompll- era, Jackson J. Rose;, editor, Norman A. | cated story becomes sheer hokUnl Runriing Fa t?me 10 iT mins' Y ' March ’ 50 ; i due to the sketchy characterization; Hollywood, March 3; w ' T r . ^ ! of the leading players. Overlpng I. ' Warners release of 1 Saul Ellkins produc- I - - - - _ _ P ■ * ■*' - * * *••• ^ «« nininMn • conclusion when McCrea helps de- newspaper reports. Finally, Mil- ! f .^aimers ^^o 0 man au n a ? o H ci S nrk i0 n^ ' Mrs.: Judd .. •;.:.; *. *.;;;Margaret Hamilton : love scenes are cloying. Michel feat the ambushers, saves the train land i S invited to the college by , r ,Vdoesn’t have the per- and wins the girl., Gweriri. doubling for, Cupid. : Bal- Morgan Farley, Waiter Coy, George Stern, i carter - navidBriice i suasive strength necessary to piny Roy : Rowland’s direction- .packs a ^ f 00 tage centers on risible • wniSfS 1 - : 'Sebastiari ,v; /!.* :• *..*i-Mircei Journet I the brooding nobleman, arid Miss wallop. The scenes are ; carefully m ishaps of the duo at the school' Sfl |h Gutbrt^%ditd^ Arthur:.^->• • Hubert Frye j Liridfors plays the gypsy in too staged for story development with- t he'deari finds every act of dis- Tradeshown Feb. 28 , a so.: Running time, ! miss liJhnStt 4 - ;Ludni P Ba?kiey : I flamboyant a riianner. There’s out sacrifice of action. Some are ^yowal plunges her deeper in hot ; 75 ^ ^ ] George Harris..Paul campbeii j staridout playing of young Jolinny alive; with tingling suspense, such water Last-minute merger results -' S. Beve,ly Jon ? Chambot as the spurned son. as the crossing of a r?.?ng river at when Miss Russell fores ♦cfp't* rpciiltq Judith Rums•. ♦ • • Ruth -Roirifttl Bob’ Peters -V. ........ Dane ,Cla T k --- , ■ , - - J. . , ,y»,wa - foreswears tne^-BossM KruKer,........Raymond Massey high flood. The roar of the water blackboard for the hearth. . Aubry Miibum. Robert Douglas as the wagons attempt the crossing Although she is not the conven- • •• Mo ^^> Fa “ e y “The Great Plane Robbery” is 1 .„ P „‘ C "J^e in three ^er- sO cluttered with com that often it ‘.?, W yy. s ^’ T ar, d Eog 7 , j r r j. lish. with Miss Lmdfors starring in and luscious hard-bittett menace into his rple, te^thht '?oio7 huS'Tn whteh the western 1 main excitement. Before the actual mValTnebactoounr Mosk" and James Whitmore is good as the , i n tlie Unlikely role of a leetur- se ttine is dressed, but it is still plot is unfolded, the story has been . p c a ' ne D acKgl0una - 04 ’ Bara en Mor (Only a Mother) (SWEDISH) Stockholm, Feb. 28. Sven^k Filmindustri production and re- lease. Stars Eva Dahlbeck, Racnar FaU-k; features Ulf Pallftd, Hugo Bjorne. Ake Fridell. Mona Geijer-Falknei’, Max ion , Sydow, Margareta Krook, Miml PoDiick, third iriembeiv_of the adventuring English professor, Milland r€ i a tively unimportant filmfare! padded out with countless inane tno. Ramon Novarro is excellent pieces together the necessary ingre- slated f or the secondary market. ; episodes which seldom advance the as the eiderly Mexican who is lend- dien ts of genteel sobriety, cpnfu- j Majority of audiences will find story. ' mg his gold: . S-thiffv-SiToln.v-;' ^ ion ail( ^ indignation. His ■ f01 ^“5?'’ : - : Willia'tn'' Sackheim’s scripting of his) Ultimate in hokum is the alleged th ei * e .B a■ PjfiY bit-^of ^shifty villainy ^ Miss Russell’s antics is soundly: s t or y dull. Plot idea has all that is; laugh tag-line when the loud and contributed by Jeff Corey. Cl^upe conceived, Gwenrt delivers with his nece ssary to set up an action west-, homely N. Y, femme proclaims she an ^ ^ ie °^“ ers c0 custoniary quiet and humorous : em but the few good moments of is in L. A. for a reunion of bathing 1 mi.cir* mairofl h competence. Minor roles are none of , mo vement are smothered in the [beauty winners—she was “Miss self obv&u"at ttmes t0 ° ** a11 wel1 i tp S;| al ^ n p i ,1 '||i.“f c ° £ 1 Elsa wldb01 ' ,! ’ olof ^ id * riin ’ S& t bv ,e ctarie^ ra SST ; ^ d ^Mrect°r Edwerd.^BupeUgets hi ? ^ l ru S^S ^ M displayed by vnarles Dcnocn- Aflp irrniirul’Wltn A fast > .w-*- lnur 4-A rlin ! .. > music. Dae At Skandia. Stnck- tS itln ^ pnnt riVmf pictuf e oft the ground with a f ast: uses fugitives from the law to dig I with a gin "rummy game as tedious | music, Dag Wirer*. ' At Skandia,. generally successfuUn.jbis . go i d> He maintains his camp as it is pointless. ; h61m ’ Run " in K t‘me, « mins. to the movement, and the .other vppnine its develoDmehts spright-:^ in, a * Production vialues are tiptop A Womau of Distinction lumbia having hauled out enamel from the top-drawer this film its A A polish. Columbia release of Buddy Adler pro- Tlie Reformer and the Redhead Hollywood, March 4 , _ BU' . . duction. : Stars Rosalind Russell, -Ray Mil- land, Edmund Gwenn; features Janis Car- ter, JVIary Jane Saunders, Francis Lederer, Jerome Courtland. Directed by Edward Buzzell. Story, Hugo Butler, Ian McLeUan Ilimter; screenplay.. Charles Hoffman; camera,. Joseph Walker; editor, Charles Nelson; music, Werner R. Heymann. Pre- viewed Feb. 1C, ’50. Running time, 85 MtNS. 'L“V_ A'ec Stevenson .......... . Ray Milland Susan MidcUecott . .. .Rosalind Russell * f i k v Panam, and Mark Middlecott. Edmund Gwebn > Teddy Evans: ........ . ..., Janis. Carter Louisa Mary Jane Saunders Editor ’ GeorS * P; ul Simone ............ Francis Lederer j,."' £n o oa mimc .lerome . . . ..... Jerome Courtland ^^“!! ning tiine ’ Herman Pomeroy Dr. McFall .. . . M»ss Withers Chet . Station Clerk Pearl....... Merle ....... Laura . . Charlie . ... . . Alex Geri-V Kathleen Maguire •• •• Charles Evans Aiulr6 ' v Boston Hale — V nar ) e ®. . ans A.-tlnir Coiner Maxwell. />*miir turner maxweu.. . uaviu wayne Ch Clifton W Y?)unff Dr. Kevin G.^Maguire..... Cecil Kellaway June Aiiyson lensing by Carl Guthrie gives them obviously skimpy budget. Wear. could afford. The film is very dra- D?vid '.Wayne; the^proper display., ”— -- dU - Brog ..,,..... ClHton Young Commodore Parker *.*•••* . P” Tim. TJfimrdi ah Ray Collins ;::::;^ Hat,vei « h -• :> M Keith Wniiria MhKav -Loon “ ^ .... . . ; . ... .Mai' The C»t rl From San , Lorenaro United Artists release : of Philip: N. matic, and Eva Dahlbeck in the Horsomen of U»e Sierras : ro,e of tl,e “other gives one of Wnnd» MMCiv • ■. ;.... m«ivin Kaplan PU 7 ahetw q pinurnov Ll,y Rayton Parker... .Kathleen Freeman Elizabem Fiomnoy |(Jl> isfoiartl Boyle.......... .Welly Maher Harry Tyle. M lch eU:, ,. . ....,.. Alex C.«rrSr | Ki^sne pioduction. Stars Duncarf Re-: smiieTBui-iietti. “Dire«e"d vb^rred' f: | “aren : t . r 1 • : Mr. Eberle; . ........t,. Charles Evens naldo, Leo Carrillo. Directed by Derwm ; Sears. Screenplay, Barry Shipman; cam- ' Wnere censois. aien l “A Woman Of Distinction” is a T) t° m PSo.n -v,. Paul Maxey ! Abrahams.^.Sc^eenplay. Ford Beebe^cam- era, Fayte Browne; editor, Paul Borofsky. raid of a Cpuple Of nude Scenes, 5 the best performances of 1949. . „ . u . (SONGSr ^ . i Film, which has some nude 1 , Columbia release of Colbert Clark pro- i h 1av r un uri ncr'alHet ' duction. Stars Charles Starrett; features! scenes, m a y run up against censor ; T. Texas Tyler, Lois Hall, Tommy Ivo, , Ship regulations in the U. S. In r • *r ,, *-» . V ,«i — — ■. . ''‘"F >* vn *»v i vw* > a- mwa • i • • , . ’ . . i. . . • — » era,^ Kenneth Peach; editor, Marty Cohn. At the New York, N. Y.. week of Feb. 28, this film will be a great SUCCCSS* fVtA Tradeshown^^ N: \., March h ^*50. Running t * 50 . Running time. 59 MINS •>. 1 ■“ “ j . : Jr. the Redhead time, 59 mins. ■ sieve saunders-T^ ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■*’ Technical credits are outstanding.. Of- ..nonsense^ 'Oisco^;.:.-/ /Duncan Rerialdo : The Durango Kid] ...... Charles Starrett i Winq. J • Tl*Pnnenn. T.aa rnpriliA 1 n., -ii- ^ ‘. ■ looselyrtied grabbag of screwball and nonsensical doings, about two * The Reformei and. warring-but.loving pedagogues s t r a : t iy P cs4pilt and fun The Panoho... Leo Carrillo j i v ;LVf.l.? r °r aS P. r ^ lauehs arefSd on rnfher broad • ’- kf ’ • - • ’ • - '' McCrea.r Smiley. Burnette........... . Smiley Burnette ?„ f fc a aLa S -.-.-;.-.:.-.-.-.-.v.-.'.-.-.-.-. By a laeks sound motivation. ; Bright ■■■mu« 5 of light Busty enough escapoidgy earmarks this • vS ni An.™„- rx* i « . , Mamies (The Riding School) (FRENCH) Paris, Feb. 14. _elease of Andre' Paulvc pro- duction. Directed by Yves Allc^rct: orig- * " ■■■': . ; inal. Script, Jaques-Sigurd. Stars Simona A’ 1 if c.- T : Another in the Durango Kid se- I S^horet, ^Bernard Blier; features Jana The .Girl fiom. San .LorcnzO is pipe • ^unvcom on of iim cinpno.ji :! Marken, Frank Villnrd, Jaques Raumer. me Ajrin nom pan L«prcnzo is r i#»« nf iBo Cioppoc" ie ! warKen, Frnnk: Vmnrd, Jaques . Raumer. cfitre ruunus . , • . , - - standard for the Cisco Kid series ! 1 ^ ’ ■ Vi . J..- 11 vV 1 • - ah . 15 - Camera^ Jean Bburgoin; cditor, Maurice tv.tre lyuima. ^ ; ^ n cast deliver delightfully. hut: *h'ev?• *. a - && entry tor the action market, ! seroin/At Balzac, Paris. Running time, fi faTwitrbe~talk‘ c noatlu^ f in Zi'! wlth aPP eal '■■&? the younger set. j 15 M ) NS - ' mt it is and no questions asked, rhe most is Herman the friendly neatly fl11 - e hottom slot in dual-| interest for the mnnnpt ti^rip is ! .. Interest for the moppet trade is what it is and no questions “Woman” at times hits aihigh level ^ on . sinte canines-.-.and provided by presence of Smiley I . Pjc is .an intelhgentj biting for irrepressible laugh content |. e ;, “Lassie” and “Francis,” have i te fJ lla .^ form ;Ula, witji Plenty of Burnette, the obese cowbov buf-: 1 !'Study ■ of the selfish, erring wife Scripter Charles Hoffman showed developed fans, there’s no .reason ^Hoping and u gunplay, for . the • f 00 n, and Tommy Ivo. as an 6^1 and the faithful, adoring husband, considerable invention in working to suppose felines can’t do the ; Juve F. and^a light seasoning of ro- p han kid who is the rightful own-' rt is done in a brilliant visual man- oi-.t his pieces of business. This ,c ame< . particularly with Herman as m?mtic interest for the nabe trade. er 0 f a valuable ranch and whom! ? e r and accompanied by fine goes double for one scene m which the shining example. ^Yarn is based on a confusion of . some gangs are trying to bump off. thespmg. Though told in flash-; ~ h a gang of varmits ; Charles Starrett offers plenty of back » fllm packs a tremendous succession of stage; slam-bang as the U. S. marshal amount of suspense and solid en- ^ ^ + —, * to Pip the rap ; who dons his Durango Kid dis-1 during charactevization. It rates as souped-up collegiate flivvers. At rected and scripted from a storv by. on the Cisco Kid (Duncun Renaldo) guise for. swashbuckling work that • a definite art house and sure- —. J. K ^ M . £1 m M V* M WM M %«rv #1 W« r ’ b' —' _ u -' V. A >3 . ' L j M J.v 1.2 m 1. ' I T a>. /"I11a\ ^ ® v I M m a. A ^ A _ — x nil.. ■ • . r ^ ■ tween Miss Russell, the woman of distinction too busy for romance and Prof. Milland, who is dragge.d_.cast Into a faked news-headlinod affair i ■ i