Variety (July 1950)

10 FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, July 5, 1950 The Cariboo Trail (COLOR) Hollywood, June 30. 2Qth-Fox release of Nat Hdlt produc- tion. Stars Randolph Scott, George •‘Gabby’* Hayes; features Bill Williams, Karin Booth. Victor Jory. Directed by Edwin■ L, Marin. Screenplay, Frank Gruber; Story, John Rhodes Sturdy; cam- era (Clnecolor), Fred Jackman,. Jr.; music, Paul Sawtell; editor, Philip Martin. Trade- shown June 20, *50.. Running time, 80 MINS. Jim , Redfern..... >... .. .Randolph Scott Grizzly ........... , George “Gabby" Hayes Mike Evans,..,,.......... . .Bill Williams Frances........,............ Karin Booth Frank Walsh.. . I Victor Jory Murphy,.........,.....Douglas Kennedy Miller ....,........,...,....... . Jim Davis WiU Gray..Dale Robertson Jane Winters.., ............ Mary Stuart Higgins....................James Griffith Ling...Lee Tung Foo. Dr, Rhodes .Tony Hughes. Mrs. Winters.. .. .Mary Kent Jones....; ... J... ...... ...Ray - Hyke Jenkins...;. ;............ Jerry Root- Assayer...................... Cliff Clark. Bartender ............Tom Monroe Chief White Buffalo.... ... .. Fred Libby Stage Driver........ .“Kansas’* Moehring Nurse..............Dorothy Adams .Hotel Clerk.......... ...Michael Barret “The Cariboo Trail” is a scenic, outdoor action feature that shapes up well for the market where Ran- dolph Scott starrers usually get a good. play. The scenery and the action ; are rugged, the plot good and the pace fast, all factors that weigh in its favor. Colorado’s mountain fastness does a strong doubling job for the Cen- tral British Columbia locale of the plot, providing plenty of eye-filling beauties for Fred Jackman, Jr.’s camera to lense in Cinecolor while the action is run off. Title derives from the section of the country in Which the story is based—not from animal—and Nat Holt’s production supervision Vnakes full use of locale and other assists to earmark this oiie as easily marketable product. The Frank Gruber script, based on John Rhodes Sturdy’s story, has Scott and Bill Williams trekking into the far northwest from Mon- tana. Scott eyes the country as a great ranching section while Wil- liams is thinking of gold. As they near what for them is the promised land, the small herd they are driv- ing is stampeded by henchmen of Victor Jory, kingpin of the terri- tory, and Williams loses his arm. Scott, with Williams blaTTTing the cattle for the crippling, tries his luck alone in finding fortune and battling Jory, Script finds time for a light ro- mantic touch in between Scott’s ad- venturing with the wilderness, Jory’s gunmen, and hostile Indians. Taking care of this is Karin Booth, a beauty in color who is interested in Scott’s welfare. However, stress of Edwin L. Marin’s direction wisely stays with the action and he sets up any number of fast-moV- ing chases and fights to insure quick movement. Cast fulfills the various assign- ments most capably. In addition to Scott's expert heroics,, Williams does well by his part of the embit- tered pal, and George “Gabby” Hayes fits in neatly as an old pros- pector who takes up with Scott. Jory’s villain is a smooth job. Ex- cellent are Douglas Kennedy and Jim Davis as two of Jory’s gunmen. Lee Tung Foo, as a Chinese cook; Dale Robertspn, Mary Stuart and others expertly carry out produc- tion aims. Paul Sawtell’s music score is themed to the action premise and sharpens some of the more rugged moments. Editing is tight, holding the film to a swift 80 minutes, a very good length for the market. Brog. stock losses and arouses the other ranchers against him. In order to keep them paying fees to him, Withers acquires the killer horse by bribing a veterinarian who has been Ordered to put the beast to death. The vet, L. Stanford Jolley, makes out a fake death certificate for the horse, but later turns against Withers and is murdered. But. not before the killer has de- stroyed many valuable horses on ranches throughout the territory. Rogers finally tracks down sev- eral clues and .learns that Withers has been using the horse for foul purposes. He and his pal, Gordon Jones, surrounded at the climax by Withers’ gang, are saved by the heroism of Peter Miles, Cleve- land's grandson, who brings help to the rescue although he had heretofore had a deep fear of rid- ing a horse. Rogers shoots the stal- lion at the end, . Cowboy star is his usual pleasant self, leaping into action to foil the heavy and singing songs with Foy Willing and liis Riders of the Pur- ple Sage. Miss Evans also does okay on one number and provides the love interest for Rogers. Pat Brady, Jones, Withers; Miles, Cleveland, Frank Fenton and Jol- ley give good support. Trigger arid Trigger, Jr., (after whom the pic- ture was named for some reason) and the killer horse are all mag- nificent. Edward J. White’s pro- duction work is sound, but William Witney’s direction drags at times. Dag. The Savage Horde (SONG) Hollywood, June 30. Republic release of Joseph Kane pro- duction. Stars William Emott, . Adrian Booth; features Grant Withers, Barbra FuUer, Noah Beery, Jim Davis. Directed by Kane. Screenplay,. Kenneth.. Garnet; story, Thames Williamson, Gerald Ger- aghty; camera, Reggie Lanning; song, Stuart Hamblen; editor, Arthur Roberts Previewed June 27/ *50. Running time, 90 MINS. Ringo. .William Elliott Livvy Weston. .■/... ..... ■ Adrian Booth Proctor.. ;............. Grant Withers Louise Cole. v ........... . .. . Barbra Fuller Glenn Larrabee............. ;Noah 'Beery Lt. Mike; Baker.Jim Davis Dancer. .-.Bob Steele Col. Price.«.......... Douglass Dumbrille Judge Cole,................ Will Wright Fergus...............,..., .Roy Barcroft Buck Yallop .Earle Hodglns Stuart .Stuart Hamblen Sgt, Gowdy .,.. Hal Taliaferro Trigger, ,IK (SONGS-COLOR) Hollywood, June 30. •Republic release of Edward J. White production. Directed by William Witney. Stars Roy Rogers, Dale Evans; features Pat Brady, Gordon Jones; With Grant Withers, Peter Miles, George Cleveland Raynor Lehr Circus, Foy WiUing and Riders of the Purple Sage. Songs by Peter Tinturin, Foy Willing, Darol Rice screenplay, Gerald Geraghty; camera (Trucolor), Jack Marta; music, R. Dale Butts; editor, Tony Martinelli. Previewed June 28, '50. . Running time, 88 MINS. Roy Rogers....... .Himself Trigger .;.. ................... Himself Kay Harkrider............ ...Dale Evans Bifflc. .•. ..j...,. ..Pat Brady Splinters,. .Gordon Jones. Monty .Mansort... i Grant. Withers Larry .' Peter Miles Col. Harkrider .........George Cleveland Sheriff Pettigrew.......... Frank Fenton Doc Brown..'. .1. Stanford Jolley Rancher Wilkins . .Stanley Andrews Raynor Lehr Circus Foy Willing and Riders of the Purple Sage Miniature Reviews “The Cariboo Trail” (Color) (20th). Randolph Scott in good outdoor action feature. Favorable draw. “Trigger, Jr.!’ (Color) (Rep). Roy Rogers western with ^battles between Trigger, and a ' killer horse. B.o. prospects QK., “The Savage Horde” (Song). (Rep). Okay William Elliott action feature. “Beaver V alley” (Color) (RKO). Second in Wait Dis- ney’s True-Life; Adventure series, Appealing novelty. would discourage U. S. adher- ence to the pact and thus jeopardize its over-all effectiveness. Furthermore, the U. S, “Manufac- turing Clause” may succumb to pressures from other quarters. Though still strongly favored by labor groups and some printing in- interests, the industry as a/ whole, with government support, favors its elimination in the broader in- terests of free interflow of coiri- merce. Many believe elimination of the clause would ultimately open new IT. S. markets to English- language books from abroad. For practical; reasons; much of the; printing would be done in the U. S„ thus aiding both labor and ence. Second in Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventure series, it is a j the printing industry, smart followup to “Seal Island,” 1 Roy Rogers and his horse, Trig- ger, will nave their usual strong appeal in this Trucolor western, as always, with the added excitement of deadly battles ^ between the “smartest horse in .the films” and a white killer stallion. More or less standard plot is lifted out of the rut by the sequences showing the killer horse on the rampage, These save “Trigger, Jr.” from slow-paced direction and lack of punch in other scenes, Rogers is the head of a traveling western show in this one, winter- quartering on the ranch of an old showman, George Cleveland, and his pretty daughter, Dale Evans. Menace is supplied by Grant With- ers, operator of a range patrol service. Cleveland. knows that Withers is responsible for some “The Savage Horde” is another version of the saga of Ringo, the famed gunslinger of the old West. While more formula and less costly than the Ringo feature currently in release. Republic’s version should get by in the general action market at which it is headed. Its chances are okay, but could have been better had the script stressed action more and talk less. William Elliott carries the story load as Ringo, a fast man with a gun and on the run from a self- defense killing of an Army officer. Travel brings him to a small town where the little ranchers are being crushed by the empire dreams of Grant Withers. Elliott sides with the faction of small ranchers and stays’ on, at the risk of having his pursuers catch up, to help ruin Withers- grandiose schemes. Thames Williamson arid Gerald Geraghty provided a good action story, but the scripting by Kenneth Garnet and Joseph Kane’s direction emphasize the dialog'too much in the first half, making the good movement in the latter half a long time coming, However, when it does start going, Kane whips it along and stages a number of mass clashes that will pay off with the shoot-’em-up fans. Final gunfight, a typical street-stalking melee, gets across neatly. Elliott is a good, tight-lipped western hero and will be liked. So will Adrian Booth as the girl who loves Ringo but can’t take his gun- fighter reputation. Withers is a ca- pable heavy for this type actioner\| Noah Beery, Barbra Fuller, Jim Davis, Douglass Dumbrille, Will Wright, Roy Barcroft, Earle Hodg- ins are among others standard to a western cast. Presence of Bob Steele as a sneaky heavy will come as a shock . to the moppets who have been following his hero ad- ventures in old oaters via tele- vision. As producer, Kane shaped the physical values in okay fashion to show off the outdoor plot. Stuart Hamblen both defied and sings one stock prairie tune, as Well as play- ing a small rancher. Reggie Lan- ning’s lensing gives it all a good display and other technical assists are able. Brog. Beaver Valley (COLOR) Hollywood, June 30. RKO release of Walt Disney True-Life Adventure production. Directed by James Algar. Screenplay, Lawrence Edward Watkin, Ted Sears; narrated by Winston Hibler; camera (Technicolor), Alfred - G. Milotte; added photography, Karl H. Masldwski, Murl Deusihg; technical ad- viser, Emil ,E< Liers; animation inserts, Jack Boyd, Dick Anthony;, special process, Ub Iwerks; sound, C. O. Slyfield; editor, Norman Palmer; music, Paul Smith. Tradeshown June 29, *50. Running time, 32 MINS. first of the group planned to show nature in the raw. Beautifully told in color, sound arid music, and with a good dramatic pattern; this short feature should command attention for lower-case bookings. Alfred Milotte took his cameras into the wilderness of Montana and Minnesota to obtain the footage that has been put together in fas- cinating fashion. It’s the story of a beaver pond arid the wild life that inhabits it. The industrious beaver, busily building his dams and lodges; the playful otters, wil- derness clowns; the slow coyote; the birds, crickets and frogs; spawning salmon and hungry bear are all there on film to intrigue for a very short 32 minutes. Some Of the things, that stand out in the interesting footage include the “Frog Symphony,” a composi- tion by Paul Smith that accom- panies the croakers’ bellowed- throat serenade at dusk, and the striking manner in which the soundtrack brings, to life the voice of the woodland inhabitants. There’s humor to be found in the way the otters clown. Particularly amusing is the use pf snow-covered banks by the otters as natural to- boggan slides; Scenes of a mer- ganser teaching her young to fly; a raccoon hunting crayfish; the un- derwater feeding of moose, and any number of others command full attention in this unusual sub- ject. . Technical credits rate high. In addition to Milotte’s lensing, other footage Was contributed by Karl H. Maslowski and Murl Deusing, and it was all done with the coopera- tion of the Montana Fish arid Garrie Dept, and the Minnesota Division of Game arid Fish. Winston Hib- ler’s narration of the script by Law- rence Edward Watkin and Ted Sears;; Smith’s music; James Al- gar.’s direction and Ben Sharp- steen’s productiori supervision help the natural action. Editing by Nor- man Palmer is excellent. Brog. La Forza Del Dost ino (ITALIAN) Genoa, June 23. Union Film release of a Continentalcine- Gallone production. Stars Nelly Corradi. Gino Sinimberghi, Tito Gobbi, John Kitz- miller. Directed by Carmine Gallone; screenplay, Gallone, Corsi, Poggi, De Felice; based on opera ;by Giuseppe Verdi; camera, Aldo Giordani; music, Giuseppe Verdi, by orchestra and chorus of Rome Opera. At Moderno, Genoa. Runing time, 110 MINS. British acquiescence Was also motivated by the fact that another international agreement on tariffs and trades, called the Havana Charter of the International Trade Organization, is now being con- sidered for ratification by the U. S. Congress. This treaty would clearly re- quire deletion of the “Manufactur- ing Clause” from the U. S. Copy- right Law, U. S. State Depart- ment, in, support of the Havana Charter' recently; testified before a House Committee that the “Man- ufacturing Clause” was simply a poorly-disguised trade barrier and not a proper subject of copyright legislation. Both the State De- partment and the U. S. Copyright Office went on record favoring its elimination arid are riow preparing to draft a law for this purpose in the event U. S. adopts the Havana Charter* . Pact in Preparation for a Year The new international agreement adopted ;at Florence has been in preparatiori for over a year. Prior to its submission to the UNESCO General Conference, it was. en- dorsed by the Council of Europe and the Brussels Treaty Powers. It becomes effective when ratified by 10 countries. As. part of the growing trend toward facilitating the inter- national flow of cultural, scientific and educational materials, the U.S. Treasury Department proposed legislation which would sireamline customs clearance by eliminating the present archaic tangle of red- tape. This represents a boori to mo- tion picture and book publishing interests in particular, since the headaches and waste of time in- volved in clearing customs is gen- erally regarded as a more impos- ing barrier to the importation of films and books than actual cost of duty. Legislation is expected to be adopted by Congress. Filmed version of the Giuseppe Verdi opera will find its appeal mainly via music lovers who will overlook its generally static qual- ity and lack of action for its mu- sical merits. Spoken commentary is used to set scenes and bridge action gaps, but neither in scene direction nor in overall structure of the pic does director Carmine Gallone attain the fluidity of his preceding “II Trovatore.” Latter, however, had the advantage of a greater adapta- bility with regard to dramatic and film values. Performances are okay though with a tendency towards the theatrical. Voices of Caterina Manqini arid Galliatto Masiho have been dubbed for prin- cipals, played by Nelly Corradi and Gino Sinimberghi. Chorus; and Rome Opera Orchestra’s music are ably blended and well-recorded, ' Hawk. June B.O. Champ “Beaver Valley” will make peep- ing-tom naturalists out of its audi- Continued from page 2 called “Manufacturing Clause.” Latter is unique in copyright legis- lation of the world in that it re- quires the typesetting, printing and binding of all English-language books seeking U. S. copyright to be done in the U. S., except for the first 1,500 copies. It is now gen- erally regarded as an outmoded dis- criminatory weapon aimed at Brit- ish printers in pre-World War I days when American industry was in its infancy. * ; British Finally Yield British delegation to the Flor- ence Conference finally relented in view of the realization that the deletion of the clause pre- serving existing copyright laws Monopoly Claim Continued iiom page 5 National Screen Service Corp.; Philadelphia'. Whereby Screen Serv- ice has acquired the sole and ex- clusive rights to manufacture and distribute poster advertising.” They further charge that Nation- al Screen Service “resorted to threats, untruthful statements, price-cutting, tie-in sales and other unfair practices in order to induce existing customers to cease doing business with the plaintiffs.” Thie producers and distributors named- as co-defendants include Loew’s, 20th- i Foxv RKO, Columbia, United Artists, Eagle Lion, Film Classics, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Monogram, Republic, and their affiliates. Two of Big 5 Continued from page 4 with World War II and its subse- quent international problems, it is expected that the current Korean situation will hypo their grosses. Twentieth’s picture, titled “Fare- well to Yesterday,” will tee off with the end of World War I and fol- low through to the present. Film, according to 20th, will concentrate on the; “meaning of events to the average man,” coming “directly to grips with the present impasse in world affairs.” Produced by Movie- tonews in N. Y. under the super- vision of Edmund Reek, the pic- ture includes footage culled from over 500,000 feet of negative, in- cluding material of the U. S, armed services and of the British, French, Dutch, Belgian; Canadian, Aus- tralian, Russian, German and Jap- anese governments. Film, running 88 minutes, was edited by Louis Tetunic and script- ed by Joseph Kenas. Jack Shaind- lin handled the musical direction, with a special score recorded by a large symphony orch* Continued frontpage 4 dates as the past month ended. “In a Lonely Place” (Col) hints as good possibilities as any of these, based on biz in a few scattered dates “Next Voice You Hear” (M-G), ap- parently a toughie to sell, is doing great on initial week at N. Y. Music Hall, but is having the advantage of annual Independence Day stage- show and July 4 weekend crowds there. “Bright Leaf” (WB) didn’t show a great deal on its first play dates “Winchester .73” (U), which did fairly well at N. Y, Paramount, is being launched extensively shortly. “The Lawless” (Par) has been ex- tremely spotty to date. “Rogues of Sherwood Forest” (Col) hints some possibilities. “Good Humbr Man” (Col), which was very uneven on first week out, indicates some strength on subse- quent engagements., “Destination Moon” (EL) looks to cash in on the novelty theme, judging from the sock week it is getting on its teeoff in N. Y. “Rob- inson Story,” from the same firm, also will likely continue to do size- able biz as long as the major league pennant races are in full swing. “Rock Island Trail’’ (Rep), okay in some engagements, is generally spotty over the couritry. “Johnny Holiday” (UA) came through with some, additional pleasing dates dur- ing the month despite adverse con- ditions, “The Big Lift” (20th) was rated a major disappointment in numerous spots, never, shqwing any ! sustained strength—iri most loca- tions, “Kill the Umpire” (Col) was in a like category, failing to catch on via the baseball angle. “So Young, So Bad” (UA) was rated fine on several initial engagements. “For- tunes of Capt. Blood” (Col) failed to draw as well as expected* Continued from page. 5 raise as much of the $150,000 as it found possible, With the Interna- tional retaining the obligation to provide the balance. N. Y. Tent’s Position New York tent, No. 35, which was established little more than a year ago, was considering a num- ber of charities as possible recipi- ents of its largesse. Chief Barker Max A. Cohen named a committee, headed by circuit op Leo Brecher, to look into the Will Rogers idea. Brecher’s group vetoed it as being too big. Committee reportedly felt also that it Would be advantageous for the, fledgling tent to align it- self with a charity which it could operate and with which it could be more closely associated. Decision was communicated June 1 to the hospital finance commit- tee at a meeting attended by vir- tually all its members, top execs of the New York tent and the di- rector. and other officials of the sanatorium, who had come down from Saranac to answer questions. Former International Chief Barker Robert J. O’Donneil flew from Dallas to chairman the session. Finance committee, aside from Montague, includes Charles M. Reagan, Robert Mochrie and Charles E. (Chick) Lewis. They put in a big pitch at the June 1 meet, resulting in Cohen’s decision to have his committee reconsider. Session at which the answer is to be delivered was originally slated for tomorrow (Thursday), but is be- ing postponed because of an all- day session of the Council of Mo- tion Picture Organization’s man- agement and personnel committee. Brecher is chairman of that. While Montague’s group fore- sees Tent 35 eventually taking over management of the Saranac insti- tution if the New Yorkers decide to go along on the financing proposi- tion, it does not feel that the tent should be handed that responsibil- ity as yet. Involved, as well as op- eration of the hospital itself, would be $220,000 in cash in the Will Rogers treasury. This money is the balance of $260,000 raised last year for sup- port of the hospital by a salesman- agers’ committee headed by Mon- tague. At that time • the major companies also pledged a total of $/75,000 a year for two years. Com- mitment has one more year to run, except by Paramount, which paid its contribution in full prior to its divorcement at the end of last year*