Variety (May 1950)

It PICTURES W^dnejBday, Way 17, 1950 ConMnucd from page • 83 the latter’s boyfriend, gives a caricaturized portrait of a hoodlum. Rest of the cast is okay in stock parts. Hepn. ShU Lak<^ Raiders ' Republic release and production. Stars: Allan **Rocky*' Lane; features Eddy East Holiday ;first discovered the disease and he instantly recognizes that a niistake has been made; It subsequently transpires that x-ray prints were cbrtfused. Then the young man sets off in a borrowed car .to tell ■ T. ^ y . V. i 1.^ ' An«n ivuuRy : j^iwne; leti^urcc ciuuj the doctor what he thinks or nim , waiier, Roy Barcroft* Martha Hyer. Dl and gets killed in a crackup. reeled by Erea r:. Brannon;-associate pro- • • 1 io fi-ij ducer. Gordon Kay; screenplay, M. Coates The principal part is a field day ^ camera* John MacBurnic; music; for 00iness, Who. turns in another * sure, polished performance. Chief femme characters are warmly played by Kay Walsh and Beatrice Campbell, the former as a sympa- thetic hotel housekeeper and latter as the wife of a philandering cur- fency smuggler. Many of ; the hotel residents are more cari^ catures than characters,, but to- ^ gether they make a contribution to j maik Uhe comedy and drama of the Stanley Wilson; editor* . Richard L; Van Enger.' Tradeshown N, Y„ May. 15* '50. Running time, 40 MINS. Allan «*‘Rbcky" Lane . Allah "Rocky" Lane Nugget Clark... ...Eddy Waller Brit Condor. s;.......,;.. .Roy Barcroft Helen Thornton............ Martha Hyer John Sutton. ,... V.....;. .Byron Foulger Fred Mason..Myron Healey Luke Condor...... ,Clifton. Young Head Marshal;;;..... ..Stanley- Andrews Sheriff., ..........;.,; Rory Mallinson Deputy Marshal..Kenneth MacDonald Myrq. i Lake Raiders” is brie Of ' 1 the better eritries in the Allan Stiiif? Pi**ull©nM^^ I‘.'Rocky” Lane <Beries. Pic relies Hollywood, May 12. j more on susperise than action for its thrills; however, there’s enough gunplay arid fisticuffs to satisfy. Most of film’s 60 minutes is cen- teied in a ghost town where Lane, a guy who is. falsely accused of camera, Ira H. Morgan; editor, James f murder (Myrpn Healey) and a Sweeney. Freviewed May 11, '50. Run- j xyhlskered - friend; (Eddy •Waller) carries. Cast, under the. tight reining of Alfred Braun, is exceL lent, topped by Petra Peters as the innocent inmate; Richard Haiis-*' sler, as her. vis-a^vis; Ralph Lothar, as the noridescript artist who’s re- sponsible tor her plight; and: Alice Treff as her mother; Production accoutrements, including .. Fritz Arno Wagner's’ low-key photogra- phy '^and Herbert Traritow’s score/ add to the film^s dramatic impact. Picture carries adequate English titles with the German dialog. Stol, .Columbia, release'of Sam Kal’/;man pro- .duction; Stars Warner Baxter; features Onslow. Stevensi Karin Bbotli, .Kobert Staayne, Richard Benedict', Brett King. John Bleifer. Directed by Lew Landers. Screenplay; Howard. J. Green, Robert Li- , hott, Frank Btirt; story, Henry E. H^lseth: n’ibg time, 44 MINSi Roger Manners Jim Evans .. Shirley Manners Stanley Brown., Tony Gavin. • Kid Beaumont......... Jailbreak Jimmy • I . Warner Baxter . .Onslnw Stevens ., Karin Booth Robert. Shayne Richard. Benedict . Brett King . John Bleifer. Leo T. Cleary } are being held captive by a gang of criminals. Pic’s story has Lane eventually , proving the accused murderer irinocent after the qsual rough stuff; ^ , Throughout yarn the trio are Tht c5«d’’;;, ^.uiX i torced^tQ look for a cache Pf gold "Flash" Russell...—... Rusty We$coatt ( which the gang believes Healey has BiJi Coat^io ..:......; ' hidden. However, latter has no Sandy ;0Kara • i --,- • • R r • jcnoAvledge Of where the foot is 1 ic o« Stashed.; Whether or not the boys / wm cash l and vious litti® melodraina that ^ w.u, away Avith their lives has, inO- serve satisfactorily as supporting {^ents that might affect some fin- inaterial m .the . general . situation. ; g0j.|^gij_jji^0j.^ Production gairi^s an authenHc note. . Acting holds up weil, especially by .being fil*Bcd to^a considerable by:Lane; Healey also gives extent at the Nevada state pen. a credible performance, while VVarner Baxter does the lead,; Waller turns in an intelligent por- portraying an airplane erigirieer trayal of the : oldtimer. Martha failed for embezzling $400,000 from / Hyer fills a brief spot routinely, his company, innocent of the theft,; Roy Barcroft and Gliftoh Young Baxter finally rebels against his . m^e beiieveable heavies, confinement, escapes to run down his partner, the real crook/ Karin Booth, Baxter’s loyal wife, already is working on the partner, Robert : Shayne, in art attempt to find the loot. Just as she,.has been success- ful, Baxter appears on the scene, chased by Onslow Stfevens, govern- ment agent, and finale sees juistice dealt out in the proper doses. Hostile: Ivountry Hollywood,/May 13. Lip^ert Plctuvesi Teleasb of Boh Or- mond production. Stars Jlmiriy Ellison, Russ Hayden; features Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight. Betty Adams. Directed by Thomas Carr. Original screenplay, Ron Ortiiohd, ‘Maurice Tombragel; camera, Ernest - Miller; editor, Hugh Winn. Pre- viewed May 12, '50. Running time, 5t MINS."' . Shamrock.,;.;..,,...,..,. . Jimmy Ellison Lucky....,,,...,....,... . . Russ Hayden Colonel...,..., Raymond Hatton Deacon;. ...;... ........... Fuzzy .Knight ^Vnn ...........i....^^letty ^^dan;S Tom ►.'........... Tom Tyler Knowlton...,;.;...,...... .George .Le>yis Ed .■.. - ii -*■ * * . Johh Cason Sheriff.%.........;...;.... ..Stanley Price Curt..............., Stephen Carr Pete ...................... Dennis MoOrb Oliver,.. .... iGeorge. Ghesebro Agate....;..............Bud O.sborne Fred ..,.,.... .v...; Jimmy Martin Mr. Lane........ .'•,. J. Farrell MacDohald Bartender,;;..,;.;...:.!. Stanford Jolley Dad.... .................. .. Cliff 'jTaylor Marie... ;...... Judith Webster Rancher.;....,; . .George Sowards Rancher. .James iVan Horn ■ A. ‘‘Hostile Cpunti’y ■’ .launches a hew western series With Jimmy Ellison arid Russ Hayden as the saddle heroes:. Initialer is an okay addition to the Saturday iriatiriee market, featuring a lot hf riding, shooting and horseplay; / Both Ellison and Hayden are graduates of the •^Hopalong Cas- sidy” oatersy and Western fans are being re-familiarized With the pair via Hoppy’s cuiTent video play, a factor that should help the play .tor the new series in the galloper market, ' Ron Ormond produced and scrip- ed with Maurice Tombragel, set-. ting up some rnore .or less standard western ingredients. Plot is a bit Complicated in characters and mo- tivation but clears up before the climax: Ellison arid Hayden ride standout as the. barman who is the cehtef of the battle of nerves, tem- pers and hopes, There is ho music but an impres- sive, creative uae of sound, such as the creaking of an anchor chain as a woman walks hopelessly through the streets, the brutal chatter of a rivet gun as the mur- dered body is found, the Wail of a tug during a funeral, and the pic ending on the. curdling screech of a' ship’s whistle* If the pic is judged on., stateside codes it will have trouble on many counts, for Its subject is treated without sub- terfuge. : Mosk; KANSAS CITY ^ (Gontinued from page 8) Nice $3,300. Last week,“Ma, Pa Kettle to Town’’. (li) (iri.o.). and “Blue Grass ^Kentucky” (Mpno), fat $2,600 iii 5 days. Kimo (Dickinson)' (550; 55-75)~ ‘‘Devil in Flesh” (Indie) (2d wk). Pleasing $2,500. Last week, $3,000. Midland (Loew’s) (3,500; 45-05)— “Reformer and . Redhead” (M-G) and“Plfease Believe Me” (M-G). Topping average at $13,000. Last week, “Gonspirator” (M-G), arid VOmoo Omoo” (Lip), same. Missouri (RKp) (2,650; 45-65)^ “Wagorimaster” (RKO) and “Fly- ing Saucer” (FG) : with Sons of Pioneers onstage: Friday - only, Good $11,000. Last Week;, ‘‘Pirates of: Gapri'’ (FC) with eight-act vaUde, good $I4,000> Paramoiini (United Par) (1,900; ^.-65)~‘‘Captain Carey” (Par), Good $12,000, arid may, hold a few days.. Last week, “Rosie; O’Grady” (WB) (2d wk), •moderate '$8,000. Tower—Uptown-rFairway (Fox $ 20 , 000,000 PmI Continued from*page S s; the books oiproducers for the past iO or 12 years to determirie the profit potential of this type invest- ment If the survey shows irtdie pix were oh the whole prpfitahle—and Ardrey Is pretty certain It will— he thiriks there shopld be no dif- ficulty in getting A takers i;for the stock issue. It’s nbidiffereijit from any other type of Ijtiyestment, in his estimation. ^ Others Don’t Affree Other bankers’ ^W•hQ^'^e been ac- tive in pic fiharicihg' don’t agree/ First,; they point out, a survey of profits of the past 10 years-^^whioh. includes the’ lush' war' er^—is ho tipoff to preseht ■ or fu|S[re pros- pects. They think that trying lo sell the public .on the basis of, past profits, would he unjustified. Secondly, therefs a filing that motion , picture irivestri|ient$ ar^ viewed differeritiy. by ■ ;!t|ie / public from other ventures; THhy poi nt to the fact that film stocksAps a whole gerierally sell at comparaUvely low- er prices than those' of other in-/ dustries. Also, the general attitude of the pu-blic towafd/fiims is such today that in the bankers’ and Wall Streeters’ estimatiori it Would / be difficult to peddle indie investment Ardrey'admitted; that there^s a mighty big hurdle to bvercome eyeji ; before the survey can be made. That’s Whether the indie producers will Unveil 'their books. They expressed enthusiasm at the I meeting with the Bai^k^, Tru.«;t j topper on the Coast, bpi/lnade rib Ipromises. ' Midwest) (2,100, 2,043; 700; 45-65) [ George Bagnali, fo)iS^: United —‘‘Wabash Avenue (20th): Fine ! Artists v.p. and riow partner in an A ^ ^ > • 'V ' .1 ' m J 4 'a '( ' ' -L ‘ - ir« •W of direction. Gros. . Y.; May .10, ... * . '^0- R.unning time. 14 MINS. Lew Landers directlOp of the j Head Mistress ... :Gabriele Hessmann Henry S. Helseth story scripted by j Howard J. Green, Robert Libott and Frank Burt; spots okay action among the prison inmates and gen- erally keeps the film moving aridiBreuhaus the players performing acceptably. I * Sam Katzman’s production values ! ; show lip well under Ira H. Mor- j Franz schmidt /’: gaii’s lensing, and editing holds] -—^ footage to 66 minutes, a good- iIn .German; English Titles) did a g^^ job I into .new territory to visit the former’s stepfather; whom he has never seen. They find a range war oil over trail rights on property belonging to the stepdad. There’s a lot of riding before the hero pair can find out what the shooting’s all about, rescue the stepfather and corral the baddies who have held him prisoher while trying to steal his property. , RaVmohd • Hatton and : Fiiy^v iVirls B©liiiid Rars (GERMAN-MADE) Films Internationa!: of America release of Central Movie Co. production. Stars Petra Peters; Directed by Alfred Bravn. Screenplay; .OttO Heinz Jahn; camera. Fritz Arno Wagner; music, Herbert. Tran- tow. Reviewed at Rialto. N $16,000. Last week, “Buccaneer’s Girl” 0), light $10,000. ’flRSTIN i Wanda Schniidt. Elfie Meyen ...., Lore LiebhOld.... . Isolde Loring...... .Ruth' Ha.usmeister , . . Petra Peters . Susi Deitz . Edelweiss Malchin . .Marianne Prenzel . Micheline Hoerl.e . Richard Haussler Alice Treff .. .. Ralph Lothar Fritz Wagner .. Wblfgang Kuhne indie unit, was namedlby BiMPP as chairman of a cOriiiriittee to work with Ardrey. HP is now i n. the process of getting Jpg a list of questions to which replies are felt necessaryv This list /Will be pre- [ sehted to .the prodificers to de- Montreal Mav 16 I termine Whether the^jRro wiMing Big news hero this week "'The air their books to provide the Third Man,” smash at Loew’s. I fihswers.^ ^ ^ ^ - ‘‘Willie Gomes Home” looks okay! Indies Angles at GapitoL i Top industrylte in a position (p Estimates for ’This Week 1 know opined last week that many Palace (G.T.) (2,625; 34-60) — /of the iridies will not>he Wirilng to Stage Fright” (WB). Poor $11,000.} disclose their records,' He asserted Last week, . ‘‘Reformer and Red- head” (M-G>, $15,000. vthat so many indies used angles for their own enrichmenWto the ^of banks and other in- ^ rvest6rs--lhat they have no desire length for release intentions. Brop. Women From Heacl- f|iiarter» ‘Girls Behind Bars/’ filmed in / the American zone of Germany jlast year, might be termed the j sequel to the German film classic, j/‘Maedchen Jn Uniforiti,” Fpir that j Very reason, :despite its haying a Republic release of Stephen Auer pro-• . j . .. - m duction, Features. Virginia Huston, Rob- 1 Standout cast, excellent, direction ert Rockwell, Barbra'Fuller. Directed by Geprge Blair. Screenplay, Gene Lewis; camera, .lohn Ma'cBurnie: editor, Harold Minter; music, R. Dale Butts. Tradeshown N. Y„ May 10 40 MINS. and there is good dirty work staged by Tom Tyler, John Cason, George Lewis and others urider Thomas Carr’s toi**ectiori: Erriest Miller gives it capable action lensing. . : Brog. Uit Homme i^tarelie Hans FaVilie (A Man Walks ill the City) /'/.(FRENCH) Paris, May 2.. Corona release, of Sacha Gordine pror Joyce Gates... Ruby ............. Max Taylor. , ... . . .. . ., Ann Rogers ..... .,... Captain Parr.: Joe Calla Hi<-bard Cott Sj’.rrt iV Leo Pawley ......... Bies.«ie Collier , Customer, drunk...... Drunk Captain Brady > ...... Officer Allen Robert Rockwell . Barbra Fuller Norman Budd . . Frances Charles and good production background, ‘‘Girls” carrie.s an old-hat aura/ ductlon. Directed by“ Marcello'p'agUcro. that will militate aeainit it 'popn i Screenplay by Jauslon.. Features J. P. indi, wui miiuaie againsi ll even 1 Keflen, Ginette Leclerc, Robert Dalban. Coco Aslan,' Yves Deniaud, Andre Valmy* Camera,; Nicolas Hayer; editor, N. .Marco. At Gaumont Palace,. Paris. Running'time. '50. Running time,/in the art hOuses for which it Is Virginia Huston ' grooved. ^ Sehsatioi!al-minded ex- hibs might take advantage of the ! 100 scx-exploitation artgleSj of which! there are many. to $6,000 following socko opener to the indies as to whether the at $13,'OOQ. 1 financing plan ever progresses be- Loew’s (C.T,V (2,855; 40-65) .^/yond the initial stage., “If they ‘‘Third Man” (SROh Smash $22,-; take the attitude that they don’t ,000. /Last week, ‘‘’Three Caine / want to bare their books, then Home’’ (2()th) (2d wk), $14,500. I that’s that,’/ he declared. “If they imperial. (C.T.) (1,839; 34-60) ; don’t want to cooperate^ it indi- ‘‘Borderline”_: (Ul and^. ‘^ilitary j cates they think the plan a good Academy ^-’®?,9 y«?Jf l idea/but that thCy don’t want the week, J Inspector General” (W B) i monev badlv enough Orpheum (G:t.) (1,040; 34-60)-] “e®";*'' contact regarding_flo- “Gun Crazy" (UA) and “Satan’sJ st®®'' ‘s*®®- Ardrey Cradle” (UA). Average $6,500. * said, ‘‘had not promised Or^ Last week. ‘"Quicksand” (UA) and' mitted themselves tO -anything.” ‘Big Sombrero” (UA), $6,000; I 1 a. " J lii. r pic is the story or the people of mtb V^^Jus • ftop-drawer quality of ; a pprt who live by emotion, and film, which was scripted, prp- '^»-- ' .^.Tici? KiSsdhe^n j duced and directed by Germans, demonstrates this country is fast regaining the film-making t^hni- j this type of film. It is honest, sin- ques which^ won some pre-Hltler : and filled .with a bawdy, salty Leonard Penh , 9®*^™®" ’‘'®' I hunior that gives ll unusual depth. : 'nown. Despite, the political hot- ithe art house and sureseater set "Womeh From Headouarters” is ***** i w*** be drawn by its .passion and a rouSn/ Sler sfated fo? the ' ''‘{fl*-®'. °**'’! steers .dear of any . slice-of-life . theme. Good explbita-: hoS ehd%f dUalers - Pie eoes , P°**t*®®* overtones, unless the gen- tioii and word-df-mouth should thrS th e mdt ion Of a dofumeh- f ®.'u e®®"°*"*^ conditions leading , give pic a happy run in stateside tarpon femme eon? hill tW to the wrong-doing in the yarn of situations, i tioiv faUs to cariw^mueh ^ Some Of Uie reformatory inmates | Shot pn location, and directed in production dres^is ohay for a t*gh;;**“^g“;‘5;f :^^ hfe I® '“ 5 ^ ■r-.K everi th?t-fhC usual frustrated, spinsterish ' longshoreman, Jean; tries to help a to [matrons who want to rule thei^-lbrutal friend keep his job, but-to and slufifiinc tham are usual^to^^ inmates with, the irpn /no avail. The friend’s abused wife, rstanS warm-hearted under--Madeletoe.loves Jean and ^ to a standaid cops-and-robbers I standing one who. tries to reform:! herself upon hirii. The husband ■ toY^lvus around Virginia j them via humane treatment arid f suspects and stalks him. . He at- Bert Conway Mario. .D\v>'.ver Sid Marion .John DeSimone G.il Herman the irony, sordidness and rare glimpses of beauty of their lives. Film avoids the cliches Inherent in They include Blythe & Go. and Lehman Bros. ■ “They expressed in teres t/* ; banker explatoed. “If the survey Huston, as a_ rookie, who isHepict- J tiie stern 'headmistress who is ed as engaging .single-handedly, in a crime mop-up. She winds up cracking a dope ring but the pic stretches the action so thin that iI finally led to, believe in the latter course.; . Interspersed is a touch/ ing tale of one; girl, unjustly epn- vieted of robbery with intent to fails to show how she accomplishes 1 kill, the everits leading up to her the mi.ssion. En route, she en-' arrest and the way her case reacts gages in some awkward romancing; favorably on her co-prisoners and with a male cop. the matrons. Miss Huston makes a nice im-1 -Script has its full ^share of piesslori although handicapped by comedy, drarna and. suspense, as the extravagant Situations/ Robert j well as an excelleritlytoontrived Rockwell, as her boyfriend, turns i rape scene and|/some shots of the to a deadpan performance while j gals disrobing and :taking showers Barbra Fuller, as a gal who goes | which, surprise, in View of the wrong, does nicely. Norman Budd,' N^ Y. State censor Seal the film tacks the wrorig man, who -brutally beats him to death. The murder seta Up various complications. Nicolas Hayer’s pungent photog- raphy does much for the mood, and editing^ though unorthodox, brings fine detail.and pace to the proceed- ings. Mareellp Pagliero’s aireptiori catches the spirit of these inartic- ulate men of action. J. P. Kerien in‘his first important role brings depth and understaridihg to his part as Jean. Ginette Leclerc, saris makeup, gives neurotic strength to the role of the drab wife fighting tor happiness. Yves Deniaud is, a 'SkinWaude Ne Dice In D ei- AaA ‘ <T •P4-’> C3 ‘ v..»- vv.T $lo,UUU I JLilii oame ^ shows, as our experience indicates Washington, May 16. : it should, that end money has paid Crying towels are out.on main- * a hahdsome return when placed stem here this week first-runs ■ on the/right horse, then they’ll be wound Up one of worst weekends ’ glad to come in. If figures show ever here. Nothing is sock, best | it has not been profitabl,e, nat- job of bucking tide is ^ being ac-1 uralH no one’s iriterested.’’ wmpUshed by ‘‘Hig^ Lift,” nice at; How long the survey will take Palace. . Under My ._Ston .plus j on what shape indie rec*® T®i*^®,‘*,d,®‘"|.°"|y 1 ords are In. Ardrer said.. Hi, big Capitol. Final week of “Jhird h-arfdiid rpariv in nav Man’ is okay in sinaU-seater Play^ i ^ house [ lor the study, for which he U Esiitnaies tor This Week j Probably call in the research bu- Gapitol (Loew's) (2,434; 44-85)--j t^eau of some jarge college of: a Under My Skin’’ (20th) plus mahagemerit firm. rather thto Vaude; Mild $18,OOO: Last week, * certified public accountants/ ‘‘Outrtoers” (MrG) plus vaude, 1 Attitude of pther bankers and $15,000 In 5 days. / ^ ! financial sources to Ardrey’s plan Keith’s (RKO) (1,939;' 44-80) -^1 is largely colored by their tre- ‘‘Guilty of Treason” (EL). .Dim j. mendoiis respect for the/Barikei’S; Wo 11»’ I yexec himself, While they ’ve always laughed off-^and have been proved right—previous schemes for firiancirig indies^ via stock is- sues, Ardrey’s sponsorship has caused them to givie the present scheme serious thought before expressing virtually unahimous $6,500. Last week,“Outside Wall” (U), $7,000.: / / Metropolitan (Warner) (1,163; 44-74) - “Rosie O’Grady” (WB) (2d run)/,* Below average at $5,000. Last week, ‘‘Binging Guns” (Rep), disappointed at $4,500, and ! pulled after 5 d#s. Palace (Loew’s) (2,370; 44-74)*-^ “Big Lift” (20th); Nice $18,000, but disappoiriting for this. Last week, “Wabash Avenue” ‘(20th); slow $14,000. Playhouse (Lopert) (485; 50-90) -^“Third Man” (SRO) (9th-ftoal wk). Bows out with steady $7,000 for second consecutive week. Warner (WB) (2,164; 44-74) downbeat bpinion. Ardrey’s bank has. been extremely active in film financing for years. Det./Unveils One •:•/.'* /DeHbiL ■ Newest driverto in Detroit area , is Fort theatre/ iri s ub u b b a n .“Damned Don’t Cry” (WB) (2d I Wyandotte. It was buBt Jby wk-5,days)^ Thin $7,000 after fine ! las George, ©wrier of ./Mticnlgari and $14,000 last week. i Allen Park ozoners.