Variety (December 1951)

wnM wmvmmn i Pewnliep 26, 1951 The (COLOR) This is engross!** African- localed story of middle-aged romance and adve*tiire. Top* notch adult entertainment, ex- cellently performed* Hollywood, Dec. 25. United Artiste release c' * ^ his production* produced Stars Humphrey Bofart. w . burn; features Robert Morley. Directed by John Huston, Adapted by James Agee and John Hasten; based dn C. S. Forester novel; camera (Techitfcolort; Jadt C*£ ««; editor, Ralph , Alan Gray. Previewed Dec; 21* 'W, Running time*. 104 MINS. _ CharUe Allnut... ..... Humphrey Bogart Rose....... ., • • • • - .Katharine Hepburn Brother. .;•••.» • ;* ■»*,.•»••* - Robert - Morley Captain.. »• w 1st Officer ............ -Theodore Bikcl and Officer. .. .Witer Gotc l Petty Officer>......**.... -Gerald Onn 1st Officer j W ulm»r and Officer,...... .Richard Marner Akriet Wfifh*mt CrfHK . lf Murdtf Without Crime,;* British-made picture which Stratford Pictures is releasing . In the U, S,, Was, reviewed from London hy Variety in the is* sue of Feb. 14, 1951. Melo- drama opened at the Midtown ^ Theatre, N. Y., yesterday (Tues.), Associated British . Pictures Corp. production stSra , Dennis Price, and Derek Farr, Myra felt that the film is a -'typical example of a stajgeplay transferred to the screen with- out any substantial revision of the script/*' Critic saw few U. S. possibilities in this four- character yarn, which, involves brawls, blackmail and a poi- soned drink. Neither the small cast’s acting nor J. Lee-Thomp- son's direction: drew praise from the reviewer. This story of adventure and ro- mance, experienced by a couple m Africa just as World War I got un- derway; is an engrossing motion picture as put on film by S, P. Eagle and John Huston (Horizon- Romulus) ; for united Artists re- lease. Just offbeat enough in story, locale and star teaming of Hum phrey Bogart and Katharine Hep- hum to stimulate the imagination, It is a picture with an unassuming Warinth and naturalness that cm* have a bright boxoffice chance through good selling and word-of- The independent production unit took stars and cameras to Africa to film C. S. Forester’s novel, “African Queen,” against its ac- tual background; The Technicolor hues toiiie on the screen with the Dark Continent’s natural, soft tints and serve to sharpen the telling of a story that deals With a brave deed done by a couple completely mismatched in every way except their adventurous hearts. While strictly a novel in the way Huston has used camera, the script he did with James Agee, and his direction; the Story has a documentary feel without any of the detachment usually noted in that particular technique. . ' . Performance - wise, Bogart has never been seen to better ad- vantage. Noi* has he ever had a more knowing; talented film part- ner than Miss Hepburn. The - plot is a simple affair. It concerns a man. and woman, com- pletely incongruous as to coupling, who are thrown together when the war news comes to German East Africa in 1914. The man, a Sloven, gin-swilling, ne’er-do-well pilot of a steam-driven river launch, teams ■ with the angular, old-maid sister of a dead English missionary to contribute a little to the cause of the Empire. The impossible deed they plan is taking the little, decrepit 30-foot launch known, as African Queen down uncharted rivers to a large Central Africa lake and then use the small boat as a torpedo to sink a German gunboat that is prevent- ing invasion by British . forces. " They go about such a derrin’-do mission with normal fears and misgivings, but with a kinflred spirit of adventure and an air of “it must be done,” that they actu- ally accomplish the impossible. African wild life passes in state- ly, natural procession as the little ship threads its way through such hazards as swift rapids, waterfalls, rain, mechanical difficulties, mad- dening insect swarms, choking, floating grass islands, and attack from a German fortress passed on the way. Enroute, there is a change of relationship from the stand-off- ish, respectful mood that launched the odyssey to a warm, intimate, genuine emotion between the mis- matched crew. Climax Comes when the couple reaches its goal, only; to meet failure In original plans when a storm swamps , the doughty Queen as she charges on the gunboat with ingeniously fashioned, home-made torpedoes. Bogart'and Miss Hep- bum are captured by the Germans, delay a. hanging Ceremony long enough to be married, and just as the vows are finished the gun- boat runs afoul of the waterlogged, derelict Queen, the latter thus completing her mission, despite a/1 manner of handicap, and rescuing the. romantic, middle-aged couple. Huston’s scripting and direction, and the playing, leaven the story telling with a lot of good humor. Unfoldment has a lelsureness that goes with the characters and situa- tions, but is quickened often enough with the excitement of in- credible adventure to keep the in- terest. strong throughout its 1C4 minutes. Critically, there are a few slight flaws, most noticeable in the beginning, v/hen.plot establishment and the incidents it involves are a bit too drawn out. What comes later, though, is engrossing enou".! to make the whole a worthwhile pi nee of screen entertainment that wil be thoroughly enjoyed by most any adult.. , Of interest in the rather its abseded most of the way. Title cards are run off against & visual background of the. African locale, scored only by the sounds of the animals native to the scene. Quick editing has permitted a few reprising shots during the story, but this is minor against the feeling the film creates. Jack Cardiff photb- graphed, with second-unit lensing supplied by Ted Scaife. The score is by Alan Gray, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra un- der the baton of Norman Del Mar. Outside of Bogart and Miss Hep- burn, cast means little in the States. Robert Morley figures at the be- ginning as Miss Hepburn’s mission- ary brother, while Peter Bull is the German captain on the gunboat finally cut under by the Queen. Brog. Boots Malone ■JH CM fa lfcer^r Ytrt .* ... / Zany remedy with etrackle* tor companion booking date* tn general fans, Hollywood, Dec, 20. RKO t«1mw of Irwin Allen, Irvins Cummins*, Jr.* production. Stars Groucho Marx, Marie Wilson, William Bendix; fea- tures Don DeFore, Geno Lockhart, Dae by Frederick Hazlltt Brennan; earner*. Nicholas Musuraca;. editor* Ralph Daw- son; music. Roy Webb. TradMhown Dec. 18* Bl. Running time*#* MINS. Benny Linn:*.....Groucho Marx JanA Sweet....-Mori# WUson Tim Dunne van... ...William Bendix Bert Sedgwick,,......... .'.. Don DeFore Garvey.................. .Gene. Lockhart MUllcent...Dee Hartford Navy Lieutenant.......,. Hanley. Stafford "High Life",..... .. ... Teddy .Hwt Drive-In Manager...../.,• Percy Helton Skeezer .George X. Stone Good human interest film with racing stable background. Average prospects In general release. Hollywood, Dec; 19. Columbia release of MUton Holmes pro- duction. Stars William Holden; features Johnny Stewart. Stanley. Clements, BasU Ruysdael, Carl Benton Reid, Ralph Dumke, Ed Begley, Hugh Sanders, Henry Morgan, Ann Lee, Anthony Caruso. Billy ’earson. Directed by William Dieterle. Written by MUton Holmes; camera, Charles Lawton, Jr.; editor, A1 Clark; music, Elmer Bernstein. Previewed Oct. 18 , '51. Running time, 103 MINS. Boots Malone ..William Holden The Kid. Johnny . Stewart S tash Clements......... Stanley Clements . reacher Cole...; BasU Ruysdael 'chn Williams:......... Carl Benton Reid "c.ckett:.................. .Ralph Dumke Howard Whitehead.... .. Ed Begley Matson... .Hugh Sanders Quarter Horse Henry.;... .Henry Morgan . '/rs. 1 Gibson Ann Lee ce .. .Anthony Caruso lOddie Koch................ Billy Pearson Foxy Farrell...............John W. Frye Goofy Gordon........Harry Hines -enny West... ...Toni Gerry Red .Hurley Breen Lou Dyer;.................. Whit Btasell . Cabbage Head Earl Unkraut Colonel Summers.........Harry Shannon Touting Clocker........ . .John Call About average boxoffice results shape up for '-Boots Malone,” a well-done drama effectively pre- senting the attachment between a man and a boy against a racing stable background. Appeal is par- ticularly good for. the family trade. As producer-writer in the pres- entation by the Sidney Buchman Enterprises unit at Columbia;, Mil- ton Holmes has told the story? with good emotional moments and sen- tinent without being maudlin. This handling also is reflected in the direction by William Dieterle. Plot deals with the relation- ship between Johnny Stewart, a 15-year-old who loves horses, and William Holden, a jockey’s agent down on his luck. Story is run off against an authentic racetrack background, drawing a good pic- ture of the less prosperous side oi: racing and the hanger-ons. Stewart, being screen - intro- duced, appears as a rich boy negr lected by his career mother. He takes up with Holden, who decides to go along with the kid as long r.s his money holds out by pretend- ing to teach him. how to be a win- ning jockey. Their scenes together rre Very effective.' Yarn picks up fester, drama when the mother Locates her son and tr%, to pre- vent his riding debut,/While Hol- c : n is faced with i'thC 1 problem. of ?r r king the boy into losing or be .’vi ed by a gambling syndicate that is betting on another horse in the rc.ee. These melodrama phases are eventually resolved satisfactorily ;nd the story conies to a good, sentimental conclusion. Holden and Stewart get excel- lent support from the handpicked cast playing thp assorted racing types. Among them are Stanley Clements, Basil Ruysdael, both sharing daily life of Holden and Ciewart;, Carl Benton Reid, Ralph Dumke, Ed; Begley and Hugh San- f’ers. Only femmes are Ann Lee, the mother, and Toni Gerry. .. Outside of being inclined to let the footage run too long at in? minutes, Holme# and Dieterle ve put the film together cred ,f .- and rate topnotch The general run situation will find “A Girl in Every Port” « chuckle - arousing companion fea- ture for regular dual bill bookings. Mirth-sparkers are Groucho Marx, Marie Wilson and William Bendix, and the zany plot is nicely paced to keep it oh an okay fun level.. Chester Erskine scripted and di- rected the story about two sailors who, during their 20 years of serv- ice, have spent plenty of time in the brig for escapades. As plot,; opens Marx and Bendix are again in hot water, latter having taken a small inheritance and purchased a broken-down racehorse. Marx is detailed to return the horse and recupe Bendix’s money, but the seller, Don DeFore, has broken up his stable at the behest of his fiancee. Dee Hartford. Miss Wilson, a gorgeous carhop, enters the plot when boys discover she owns the twin of their horse and it is sound of limb. Some race- rigging and plenty of other she- nanigans /crowd the footage. Windup fipds Marx .and Bendix decorated as heroes for capturing two saboteurs about to blow up the ,ship, and Miss Wilson has grabbed DeFore away from Miss Hartford. Abetting the general nonsense of: the theme are such sequences as Marx and Bendix both trying to make time with Miss Wilson; their kidnapping, of the two horses and hiding them aboard ship to the consternation of the captain; the capelet and strapless drCss routine between Miss Wilson and DeFore; a race scene where the twin nags confuse the announcer, and: similar incidents that keep the film mov- ing; r Marx’s wisecracking dialog and antics help the pace. Miss Wilson, less of the dumb Dora than usual, shows to advantage, and Bendix comes over excellently. DeFore, Gene Lockhart, as a shady trainer; Hanley Stafford, the harrassed cap- tain; Teddyy Hart, comCdy gang- ster; George E! Stone, jockey, and the. others aid the fun. Irwin Allen and Irving Cum- mipgs, Jr., produced with an eye On budgetary values and chuckles. Lensing and other technical assists are okay. Brog. Whistling Hills Average Johnny Mack Brown oaier, with enough action to satisfy Saturday matinee trade. Monogram release of Frontier Pictures (Vincent M. Fennelly) production. Stars Johnny Mack Brown; features Jimmy El- lison, Noel Neill; Directed by Derwlh Abrahams. Screenplay, Jack Lewis; cam- era, Ernest Miller; editor, Sam Fields. At New York Theatre, N. Y., week of Dec. 18 , ' 51 . Running time, 59 MINS. Johnny.. ......Johnny Mack Brown Dave Holland .......Jimmy Ellison Beth Fairchild....... Noel .Neill Slede .Lee Roberts Chet Norman.......... .Stan JoUey Clalne Marshall Reed Cassidy. . Lane Bradford Cora......; .Pamela Duncan Pete ;...... .Bud Osborne y and rate topnotch artists prod?n 'on # i / rm the technical ends, sviC-’i as quality is the use 'of music* or,lensing and music score. Brop.• • Johnny Mack Brown, a onetime All-American footballer, may be getting older—and heavier—but he can still toss his weight around in the right way as the hero of these Monogram westerns to satisfy customer demands. “Whistling Hills,” latest in the series, has an ItV F » » wr &prfpgti*e JM VBDIAT&U) “It’* Forever Springtime,^ Italian import cchedtued to preem Friday (28) *t the Cinema Verdi Theatre, N. Y., wa* reviewed by Variety iron* Genoa in the issue of March 15, 1950, under the title of “E Primavera,” .Hawk opined that the film Is a “delightful comedy, ably scripted by Ce- sare Zavattini, Silvio D’Amico and director Renato Castellan! whose fine paring keeps the pic moving at* a fast dip.” Picture wilt keep ’em laugh- ing in Italy, wrote Hawk, “out its heaVy dialect brand of com* edy, particularly attuned to Italian. ears, may seriously, hamper its, cbgpces, abroad.”" - Story concerns a young man who commits bigamy and the complications that come as a result , of it. Castellani directed his non-pro players “in such ,a. delightfully natural and be- lievable manner” that largely overcomes story discrepancies, A. F, E. Corp is distributing in the U, S. okay story with a‘ surprise ending and enough gunplay, chases and villainy to hold its own in the usual oater-groove. ; Teamed again with Jimmy Elli- son, BrOwh in this one is a roving cowboy, who agrees to help Ellison, the local sheriff, track down the identity of a group of masked stagecoach robbers. Seems the rob- bers are led by a costumed individ- ual, who has taken advantage of a local legend about the “whistling hills” to signal them via a weird whistle when the stage hoves into sight. Although Ellison resents the stagecoach line’s dependence on Brown, an outsider, he goes along with the private-eye business on horseback and the two of them, after, the usual number of fights, duels, etc., outgun the bandit crew and unmask the mystery leader. Brown is credible in both the thesping and action departments. Ellison is good in a role that calls for just as much action, Noel Neill, who plays the stagecoach Owner’s niece and provides whatever love interest is allowed in these cactus chronicles, over-emotes, but she sits a horse well. Stan Jolley is more believable as her uncle, and Lee Roberts, as the chief villain, is okay. Production and technical credits are on the plus side. Director Der- win. Abrahams keeps the action perking, and Ernest Miller, took full advantage of the western, hill country with his camera work. ~ Stal. much to do in the tap femme spot Joe Satfyer and John Call suppiv some chuckle# as cavalry top kicks the dirty work is in good hands' mid among-toe ether* rating men- tion are Eddy Waller, prospector; Miguel In c lan , as Geronimo; Rob^ ert Dover, as his son; John Baer Shayne and Carl Benton Reid. ' The Edward Small production gets a good action affect while watching the budget dollar, and El- 113 Carter’s 'cameras give it an okay hue treatment, Brog. ** • -4 - .. U . . ’ Wti^erlloy (BRITISH) Lacks name*< but dramatic enough fer aeme arty theatres, _ FrodUcUoit* release ' of Karl Hart! production. ^ars_ Bobby Henrey. Directed by Karl. HartL Screenplay, Gene JSarkey, fronn orjgtoal. story by Hartl; camera, Robert Kradier, Gunther Anders;- music, Willy Schmidt-Gentner. Trade- shown In N. Y., Dec. 20, '51. Running time, 84 MINS. * ■ Sebastian Giro........*. • ...Hobby Henrey Rocks Cooley.,...,..,.Robert Snackleton Ann! . ........ •> • ♦ . .Cbrlsta Winter Miss FrlsbiO • o'** ■* »M.i« ■««»»^Muriel Aked Gorik .«.••*••****• Brook^Joncs Prof**' -Hindi* • • *>a • • a*.*- «-*Pfiul Hirdmuth Audi.v*• • Oscar Werner Pozzo«••• • «•*«utrsio>ScbftstiAxk Cflbot Nik. , Klaus Hirsch Miss Kitsch,. .,* •........ June Elvin Do# ...• - • •.. ..... - -.:.... .Lowe Indian Uprising (COLOR) Cavalry vs. Indians actioner for more general playdates. Hollywood, Dec. 25. Colunibia release of Edward Small pro- duction (Bernard Small, associate). Stars George Montgomery; features Audrey Long; Carl Benton Reid, Eugene Igleslas, John Baer, Joe Sawyer, Robert -Dover, Eddy Waller, Douglas Kennedy, Robert Shayne,Miguel Inclan,'Hugh Sanders."Di- rected by Ray Nazarro. Screenplay, Ken- neth .Garnet, Richard Schayer; story, Schayer; camera (Superclnecolor), Ellis Carter; editor, Richard FantL Previewed Dec. 21. '51. Running timer 75 MINS. Captain McCloud.... George Montgomery Norma ClemsonAudrey Long John Clemson /Carl Benton Reid Sergeant Ramirez........ Eugene Igleslas Lieutenant Whitley John Baer Sergeant Keough Joe Sawyer Tubal.Robert Dover Sagebrush.................. Eddy Waller Cliff Taggert ...Douglas Kennedy Major Nathan Stark. Robert Shayne Geronimo .Miguel Jndan Ben Alsop....... ..../.....Hugh Sanders Sergeant' Clancy .John Call Can Avery. Robert Griffin Jake Wilson ...... .Hank Patterson Major General Crook Fay Roope Lieutenant Baker... Peter Thompson Portrait cf* Clare “Portrait of Clare,” British import which opened at the .Midtown Theatre, N. Y„ Yes- terday (Tues.) was reviewed from London by Variety in the issue of Aug. 2,1950. Myro described the Associated Brit- ish Pictures Corp. production as “dubious boxoffice propo- sition, and a doubtful starter for the American market/’ Reviewer called the film as “very ncrrly a static biograph- ical study of a woman who eventually -finds happiness after a tragic youth.” Mar- garet Johnston, who portrays the title role* “is an accom- plished actress worthy of. much hotter.material/- Richard Todd “is moot inadequately served 'in a minor role/’ Stratford Picture'’ is distributing it in the U. S. This is another standard, cav- alry-vs.-Indians outdoor actioner grooved to be well received by juve audiences. Reception in the general action market should be okay. If has been filmed in Super- cinecolor and has a typical outdoor cast headed by George Montgom- ery to support playdates. What transpires has a familiar look as the basic good vs. evil mo tivation has been done .often be- fore., Montgomery, cavalry captai is charged with keeping peace be- tween Geronimo and settlers. It’s a. tough job because the. Indian reservation contains rich gold de- posits coveted by Hugh . Sanders and Douglas Kennedy. Latter pair’s dirty wor|t, plus the misunderstand ings in Washington, cause an In- dian uprising that threatens 16 wipe out the cavalry, how led by Robert Shayne when Montgomery is confined to post under arrest. However, Montgomery manages to prevent the massacre, Geronimo is captured and the villains are pun- ished. Routine plot is marked by plenty of highly actionful clashes, both on a mass basis and in individual set- tos. Montgomery is a satisfactory hero, whllex Audrey Long, hasn’t Story of * young wonder pianist who finally breaks away from a domineering manager, to enjoy the things ft teen-ager appreciates, is nicely fold in “Wonder Boy.” It has added asset of. having Bobby Henrey, who did so well In “Fallen Idol,” rs the musician. In spite of some mawkish characters who pur- port to be gangsters and blackmail- ers, this film is okay for many U/S. arty theatres. The pianist is- depicted as a lad never perihitted the relaxation of a -normal youth/ It is always con- centration on his art because that piles up coin. But when his. gov- erness discovers thgt the manager who has been cheating the lad threatens to become his legal guardian, she conspires with a cab- bie to have the young pianist drop Out of sight She pays the youthful crook and his three pals to hide him in a nearby Tyrol chalet, tell- ing the police she was Attacked and the hoy taken away. Remainder of story concerns the unhappy pianist’s sojourn in the country and how he learns all the things a normal child likes—learn-/ ing to swim, fish, etc. The Ameri- can member of the gang becomes his triend and eompanioh as does tiie taxi driver’s sister. The Yank and comely Austrian girl ultimately get the boy back to safety after the other gang members attempt to hold him for ransom, Karl Hartl, who scripted the original story, has .produced and directed with smooth skill although some of his characters are oddly cast or get out of hand. Henrey is excellent as the youth who discov- ers the real life of a normal lad after years of being penned up by his musical career. But Elwyn Brook-Jones' conception of the. manager is a heavy-handed, vil- lainous portrayal. Robert Shackle- ton is slightly ludicrous when he tries to be an American gangster. Some of the lines she has to speak in Showing his familiarity with the American scene get laughs in the Wrong places. Christa Winter shows nice future potentialities as sister of the gang- leader. June Elvin is an odd-act- ing, secretary. but easy on the eyes. Oscar Warner, as the cabbie and gangleader, is satisfactory if strange in his conception of what a gangster looks like. Excellent support is provided by Muriel Aked, the governess; Paul Hard- muth, music master for the lad; Sebastian Cabot and Lowe, a su- perbly trained German police dog. Besides Haiti's fine direction, Robert Krasker and Gunther An- ders have supplied topnotch pho- tography.. Music is played by the London Film Symphony orch, be- ing excellently conducted. by Dr. Hubert Cliffonl, especially; m the concert hall sequences. Wear* , Bountiful Summer (SONGS-J-COLOR) (RUSSIAN) Mildly Interesting Soviet- made “musical comedy”; scant b.o, prospects in U, S. Artkino release " 'o t Wev Film Studio production. Directed by Boris Barnet. Screenplay, E. Pomeahnlkov and N. Dale- ky; camera (Maglcojlor). A. . .Mlshurln, n> u sic. B, Zhukovsky. .At ” Stanley. N. week of ; Dec. 22. '51. Running time, Nazar* Proteaenko Kry“ c ^°j Peter Sereda............... M- eag» * • »**•* •*.'- Tesluyk........-orskaya Dark* ........ *,..,. M. Kr«g ko f r °J f *,mov Kolodochk*.• .. B. Mcxlmof (In Russian; English Titles)^ “Bountiful Summer,” .fronr^Rus- sia’s Kiev Film Studio, gives Arner lean audiences an insifiht as to i» ie (Continued on page 22)