Variety (April 1953)

22 PICT CBBS P'K&wty Wednesday, April 15, 1953 Film Reviews Continued from page 6 more difficult to follow, the sena- tor goes to the match and poses the sort of question that pokes gentle fun at Britain’s national sport. Basic yarn concerns an English cricketer playing his final game, who is heartbroken when his only son fails to show up after having spent the day writing poetry. On last day of the test maHi, wb<m the youngster intends to make amends, he somehow gets involved in an invitation to meet a distin- guished poet, but the balance is restored when the writer proves to Michael Ansara and Michael Fox, among others. Julie Newmeyer contributes some okay visual effects as a metallic paint dancer. William Castle’s direction fails to put much punch into the picture, despite the frequent battle sequences. • Producer Katzman has provided a good share of physical trappings. „„ ^ These are shown to advantage via more interested in cricket than the fine Technicolor lensing of bis protege, and the pair drive Henry Freulich, as. are the eye- wildly to the ground. A bunch of ° frontrank' English by Miss Fleming. MischaBakalein- p i ay themselves in the koff s score fe. g ° 0( *» film and, while their acting limita- Havlick edited to a smooth 81 tions are obvious, it is a shrewd move to hypo b.o. returns. Pro- fessional cast is headed by** Jack That Man Jprom Tangier I Warner with a solid and appealing t ~ I performance as the famed cricket- er; Robert Morley, as the poet, has some of the best lines in .the film It XBappens Every Thnrs. reporter who invests In a rundown weekly.in a small California town. Forsythe, from television, has'a good screen personality to go with Jiis acting talents. The two-stars, with able assists from the char- acters played by Edgar Buchanan and Jimmy Conlin, a couple of ec- centric old-time typesetters, and Frank McHugh and Willard Water- man, bring the picture off success- fully. First news event for the Eden' Archive is the birth of the cou- ple’s second child, a daughter; an event that occurs simultaneously with the couple’s arrival. Condi- tion of the newspaper nearly makes the pair give up, hut they tackle contests to build the sag- & "n^'hrfp the'drought” - and takes full advantage of them; ridden farmers in the community. united Artist® release of Eiemsee over- Brenda Bruce does a touching jod T ctnnt i<s flip main comedv seas production. Features Nils Asther. as a barmaid Who IS in. love Wltn pef/ downpour sTartsjSrtTs JJ“J« Forsythe is ready' to seed clouds screenplay, Jahn Meehan. Jr.; camera, plays an umpire, and Adrianne with Hru i>p Don Maikames; music, Elizabeth Fire- Allen does a satisfying job as War- \viui uiy stone. Tradeshown in New York, April 13, n p r 'c ci<tpr Rav Jarksnrt is made Although,!., ^nothing to to umc. .0 mins. ^ ^ ofVtffiS? VZ Young cricketer’s son, but Stanley Maxted Plodding meller. Slim b.o. chances. liutlvl WV IVIIIltf* with the'rain, he gets the credit Ssie'::::::::::::;:::::: RoSSd vSfS anyhow, . find «>?_ couple ^Jiving MawrSESwSSSS I foes a fine Job asthe senator and high on the hog in public favor un til the rain reaches flood propor- tions after several days. Miss Joan Swinstead contributes to the Thia U a minor lPfl^iiP entrvwith fun with her Portrayal of MorlCy’s uoiis (tner seveiui uuya. ivnoo inis is a minor league entry wun K pp rp i. arv Young and Forsythe are packed to slim chances, even on the program- _ ... . leave town for the city, after ad- mer market Exploitation possibili- Technical credits are up to mitting defeat, until a weather ex- ties, centered on Nils Asther’s re- standard. Camera work by Bill pert reveals the storm would have turn to>the screen, are too weak to McLeod is firstclass. R. Holmes- happened anyway. The townspeo- pull it through. There’s plenty of Paul provides effective decor and pie forgive, and the couple stays location footage to give the Tan- Helga Cranston edits the produc- on to nut out the paper every gier-Cabash atmosphere, but it’s tion with skill. Benjamin Frankel s Thursday. stock stuff, for the most part, and music admirably fits the produc- Script,. which Dane Lussier a< *ds Jibtlo to pic’s values, wrote from an adaptation by Leon- Yarn is a run-of-the-mill affair ard Praskins and Barney Slater, is about a spoiled, rich American girl threaded through with human lit- Coleman) meeting an intri- tle incidents that help maintain guing Continental (Asther) and _ * . - A«r^in4«« A I Ivv 1 KftM «a,A«>/« 114 A tion. Myro. Tito Seven Ravens (GERMAN) Max and Arthur Alexander (Noel the smajltown flavor and audience tfon. d Based el on S a Grlmm h faSy°telef“cam- interest. All cast members fit Wjth dull dialog and era, AUonse Lufteck; music, Walter their roles expertly, whether large Pl<gs along at a tedious pace. ffie'soMms ,Y ” P or small. Background -score aids John Meehan, Jr has conceived »• Running thn e,soMiN S. the humorous touches in-the foot- a Jl™ 1 ?.? 2 1 ?!-(English Dialog ) age, and Russell Metty has given 1 Coleman finds herself wed to a «((« xiuoa«, nickuo after an all-niehfc drinking Filmed in the American zone of the production good photography. a h n us 4 b»d 6 disappearl Germany, "The Seven Ravens" is after the marriage and in her ef- an interesting all-puppet version of forts to track him down she dis- a Grimm fairy tale. Subject isn’t covers that he was an . imposter strong enough for general release, carrying a stolen passport. Man but will fit in nicely where juve- her husband was earboning, of nil e trade predominates, as at Sat- course, is Asther. She bargains urday matinees. Picture also with him to act as her husband for shapes up as suitable supporting one month, to avoid embarrassment fare on the art house circuit. S PTpmfnp im wiiu«m when she returns to hej: Victorian D^hl brothers, German pup- Lund^ganf^fe^ati^e^^ymo^^Burrf^jean grandmother (Margaret Wycherly). peteers who produced this venture, Byron, Michael Ansara, Michael Fox, Con- Her father (Roland Young) is in employed ’ a stop-action *• process Rob c rt <, G?kft'’DS?Sf r by Mhoota WUh ^ fc C °F le> aIld c tie. Screenplay and. story, Robert e. Kent; sham is accomplished successfully. ag physical movement of camera (Technicolor), Henry Freulich;.. Before the month is up they go the figures is concerned. The true- f hr ° u s h a c , 0Up A e oi L hassles w 5. icd la m f “rth er ac- Running time, si mins. leads up to the discovery that cented by the fine camerawork of cieonatra Rhonda Fleming they’re really meant for each other. Alfonse Lufteck, whose black-and- Ma C rkAnihow:::::::.TfeTmoSdBS; Story is developed1 Slowly, with white lens ably captures ae stray- charmion Jean Byron slight comedic relief from Youngs book atmospheie of the Grimm £ 1 ° lu ? Mlc Jl? e , 1 A n) S* :a featherbrained antics. original. .V/.7.'.'."7.\7.7.V cSSSawSg J Asther fills the bill neatly as the Yarn, of course. Is woven around Domitius John Crawford dashing and romantic count and the efforts of a flaxen-haired girl Cytheris Jane Earton Miss Coleman and Miss Wycherly to free her seven brothers of a Marcuiiiis **. ’. *,*.* Fredric Berest ara competent in their assignments, curse which transformed them Golden Girl !. Julie Newmeyer Supporting players, unlisted in the into ravens. Her mission spans credits, offer .little help. Elizabeth seven years. Just at^the end of Producer Sam Katzman, who oc- Firestone’s musical score is okay, the period she’s suspected of casionally dips into history for Technical credits are poor, and witchcraft, and is condemned to be story material, dusts off some in- the filnl overall is hampered by burned at the stake. However, Brog. _ * Serpent ef flic Nile (COLOR) Fair b.o. for the general mar- ket. cidents in the life and loves of | slipshod editing. Cleopatra for mediocre results in “Serpent of the Nile.’* Rhonda Fleming and William Lundigan, who top the cast, may give this Columbia release ,a b.o. lift, but Gros. | her brothers regain their original form and save her in time’s nfck, Gilb. Active Indies Continued from page 4 T|te Final Test (BRITISH) London, April 7. General Film Distributors release of its general market will largely be act Films,production. Stars Jack Warner, f.oiv, v.nio . Robert Morley, Brenda Bruce. Directed restlicted to twin-bills. by Anthony Asquith. Screenplay, Terence Much of the difficulty is the lack Rattigan; camera. Bill McLeod; music, hf credibility in the Robert E. Kent l”S? ln r *{. „„ „„„„ , . , „„ ... script. His treatment of Mark &?', mins? ‘ Ap . 7 * Bunnlng J° aivf.lnn h d P ‘ Anthony’s rise to power following Sam Jack Warner new ioreign aivision. Caesar’s assassination and subse- svd X ThomnsM itchead **“ Although the majors are by now quent fall, when subjected to the Aunt EtheF. ...I!.\\\\* Adrianne AiilS carrying the ball, its worth re wiles of Cleopatra, is seldom con- Cora Brenda Bruce membermg that it was an iqdie vincing. This slice of Roman his- slnftor stamevMiited Producer, Arch Oboler, who turned tory is played straight. If a satiri- Miss Fanshawe Joan Swinstead out the 3-D “Bwana Devil,” and an cal approach had been taken, the E r ? nk r We H er ^ , « A Rl S hnrd i$£?l b indie team which got Cinerama overall audience impact would Man & n Black .. ‘ ‘ ’‘ V^ientfne ^au rdlling. have been stronger. On the Coast recently, indie Yarn has Raymond Burr, as English cricket, which remains exhibs spoke up before a sub-com- Anthony, proposing an alliance be- an imponderable to all outside the mittee of the Senate Small Busi- tween Rome and wealthy Egypt, British Commonwealth, provides a ness Committee in Los Angeles, which is ruled by Rhonda Fleming diverting * background for this They asserted that distrib malprac- P leasa ? lt and amiable comedy. Ter- tices were forcing theatres to close, and* D^ac^^erself^im^^thp^throne en 9 f e . Ratt ^ an script was originally and they demanded 'remedial ac- and place herself on the throne written for TV, and has been tion similarly- in N Y indie dis- of Rome. Her plan, however, is brought to the screen by the Tech- TwL a c i’ nipped by William Lundigan, nicians Co-operative Co., with the ? 1 l bs ^ formed the Burr's lieutenant, who brings the Union’s big gunk brought out to International Motion Picture Dis- Roman legions to Alexandria to ensure success. They have not let tributors Assn, as an org to de- vanquish the Egyptians and cause their side down. The picture is a fend the rights of small distribu- Miss Fleming’s death by suicide. . b.o. certainty for, the home trade tors of French and Italian films Also militating against audience and, with adroit exploitation, Could in the U. S. Interest is the fact that all three make the grade on the U. S. art Initial IMPDA goal, to force of the principals are unsympathetic house circuit. * elimination of subsidized distribu- characters. Burr’s Anthony is a Anthony Asquith’s light direc- tion of Italian pix in this market, wishywashy individual whose'love torial touch is in evidence through- was achieved when the new film for drink and infatuation for Miss out most of- the film. As story be- pac t between the majors and the Fleming make him lose his sense gins the England cricket team is Italo Industry snedficallv banned , she - on the other hand, having a grim struggle in the last use of American Hindi^for that fails to impress as the Egyptian test match of the season against U?„LI?L 1 * beauty, primarily due to the stilted Australia. Opening shot depicts a w^fno" dialog. U. S. senator arriving to conduct ? ned to take lts bee£ to Washing- Lundigan, too, has his moments &• fact-finding mission on Britain’s t0R *. SEATTLE (Continued from page 8) an They Almost Lynched” (Rep). Good $8,000. Last week, “Kettles on Vacation” (U) and “Port Sin- ister” (RKO). Fair $6,500. Music Box (Hamrick) (850; 90- $1.25) — “Moulin Rouge” OJA). Great $11,500. Last week, “Ander- sen*' (RKO), in 7th week, five days, swell $4,500. Music. Hall (Hamrick) (2,263; 65- 90)—“Desert Legion” (U) and “Ro- mance & Rhythm” (Rep). Okay $7,50Q. Last**" week, / “Sombrero” (M-G), eight days, so-so $6,300. ‘Hans’ Hot 11 »/ 2 G, Prov.; ‘Salome’. SocKo $9,000 Providence, April 14. “Hans Christian Andersen” is still going strong at RKO Albee. Also on the strong side, are Strand’s Second week of “Salome,” and Loew's State’s “Call Me Madam.” Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (2,200; 50-$l)— “Hans Christian Andersen^’ (RKO) (2d wk). Good $11,500. Last week, socko $18,000. Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-65)— “Trouble Along Way” (WB) and “Seeing Eye” (WB) (2d wk). So-so $3,500 for four days. First sesh, neat $10,000. ' Metropolitan (Snider) (3,100; 25- 65)—"Off Limits” (Par) (2d wk). Good $7,000. First sesh was happy $ 11 , 000 . State (Loew) (3,200; 44-65)— “Call Me Madam” (2d wk). Nica $9,000 after healthy $15,000 in first. Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 65-$l) —“Salome” (Col) (2d wk). Socko $9,000. First sesh very strong $15,000. J of vacillation. But, fortunately, his portrayal shows enough virility and drive to meet the combat require- ments the role demands. Fair sup economic crisis. And he is rushed headlong into the pi’evailing grim mood, by newspaper headlines ask- ing “Can England Survive?” And port is provided by Jean 0 Byron, to make a complex game even. In yet another move to insure strength through unity, indie labs throughout the country recently banded together into an associa- tion to look after Their interests. BALTIMORE i (Continued from page 8) fast >$25,000 after socko $29,000 first week. , Keith’s (Schanberger) (2,400; 25- .90)—“Off Limits” c (Par) (2d wk). Fair $8,000 after $10,200 last week. Little (Rappaport) (310; 25-90)— “Justice Is Done” (Burstyn) (2d wk). Hypoed by p.a. of film’s star, Claude Nollier. Looks like a good $4,000 after $4,400 for first sesh. Mayfair (Hiqks (980; 20-70)— “Fair Wind To Java” (Rep) (2d wk). Moderate $4,300 after $5,200 opening week. New (Mechanic) (1,800; 35-90)— “Call Me Madam” (20th) (2d wk). Tilted scale building for still po- tent $18,600 after $21,500 for first round. Playhouse (Scwaber) (420; 50- $1.00)—“Little Sheba” (Par) .(420; 50-$l)—Still same as record open- ing week, $7,000. Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-70) —“Small Town Girl” (M-G). Dis- appqinting $8,500. Last week, “Des- ex-t Legion” (U), $9,800. ’ ’Broadway’ Sock $11,000, Omaha; ‘Battle’ lusty 7G Omaha, April 14. Half of city’s downtown houses are playing holdovers but both new pix, “She's Back on Broadway” and “Battle Circus”. are scorihg sock sessions. Stiff competition coming from quickie strippix at Town The- atre. # Estimates for This Week Brandies (RKO) (1,100; 50-$l)—. “Peter Pan” (RKO) and “Bear Country” (RKO) (3d wk). Ends three-week stay with hefty $9,000. Last week, $13,000. Omaha (Tristates) ((2,100; 20-70) —“Battle Circus” (MrG) and “Code Two” (M-G). Sock $7,000. Last week,'“Bwana Devil” (UA) (2d wk>, $7,500 at 50-$1.25. Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 20-70) —“She’s Back on Broadway” (WB) and “Jalopy” (Allied). Tall at $11,- 000. Last week, “Call Me Madam” (20th) and “Operation A-Bomb” (RKO), $10,000. State (Goldberg ) (865; 25-76)— “I Love Melvin” (M-G) and “Golden Hawk” (2d wk). Moderate $3,000 after $5,000 opener. ‘Madam’ Good 14G, ‘Palms’ Fair $7,000 in Slow Cincy 'Cincinnati, April 14. Downtown trade is tapering off this week, holdovers of Easter blooms permitting only two new bills. “Call Me Madam,” bowing in the Palace at upped scale, is the current topper at good pace. “Down Among Sheltering Palms,” newcomer at the Capitol, has fairsh outlook. In the second-week wave, “Salome” holds slight edge on “Hans .Christian Andersen,” both at advanced prices; and “Desert Legion” looms moderately at Keith’s. Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (3,100; 75-$l)— “Salome” (Col) (2d wk). Moderate $10,000 trailing tall $18,500 preem. Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 55-85)— “Sheltering Palms” (20th). Fairish $7,000. Same last week for “Desti- nation Gobi” (20th). Grand (RKO) (1,400; 75-$l) — “Hans Christian Andersen” (RKO) (2d wk). Pleasing $9,500 after $17,- 000 fatso first round. Keith’s (Shor) (1,500; 55-85)— “Desert Legion” (U) (2d wk). No "complaint, $4,500 following hefty $9,000 takeoff. Palace (RKO) (2,600; 75-$ D— "Call Me Madam” (20th). Good $14,000. Last week, “I Love Mel- vin” *(M-G), $8,500 at standard scale. MINNEAPOLIS (Continued jfrom page 9) Healthy $5,500. Last week, fine $6,500. « Radio City (Par) (4,000; 65-85)— “Trouble Along the Way” (WB). With Sunday night out because of roadshow booking, hefty $5,800. Last week, fat $10,000. RKO-Orpheum* (RKO) (1,600; 76- $1)—“Hans Christian' Andersen” (RKO). No grumbling over the slightly advanced adult admission or 50c, instead of 20c, for kiddies. Majestic $23,000. Last week, “Peter Pan” (RKO) (2d wk), heavy $17,000. RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 76-$l)— “Peter Pan” (RKO) (m.o.). Third stanza downtown and still plenty healthy. Good $7,000. Last week, “All Ashore” (Col) and “Voodoo Tiger” (Col) (40-76), slim $3,000. State (Par) (2,200; 65-85)—“Down Among the Sheltering Palms” (20th). Tepid $5,000. Last week, “Sombrero” (M-G), bad $4,800. World (Mann) (400; 55-$1.20)— “Come Back, Little Sheba” (Par). Terrific $7,000,. Last week, “Magic Box” (Indie), mild $2,300. . TORONTO (Continued from page 9) ing light $10,000. Last week, $16,000. Loew’s (Loew) (2,096; 60-$l)— “Bwana Devil” (XJA) (2d wk). Off, Jbut« still hefty $22,000. Last week, $35,000. Odeon (Rpnk) (2,390; 50-90)— “Salome” (Cbl). Hefty $20,000. Last week, Abbott-Costello Go tt> Mars” (U), $11,000. Shea's FP) (2,386; 40-7.5)—“Call Me Madam” (20th)> (2d wk). Terrific $18,000. Last week, $23,500. Uptown (Loew) (2,743; 40-75)— “Ma, Pa Kettle on Vacation” (U) (2d wk), Qke $8,500. Last week, $15,000. ST. LOUIS (Continued from page 9) week, “Trouble Along Way” (WB). Fair $11,500. Loew’s (Loew) (3,172; 75-$l)— “Moulin Rouge” (UA). Socko $30,- 000. Last week, “Small Town Girl” (M-G) and “Jack McCall, Despera- do” (Col). Fine $16,000. Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 60-75)— “Niagara” (20th) and “My Darling Clementine” (20th). Fine $14,000. Last week, “Never Wave at Wac” (RKO) and “Lady Wants Mink” (Rep). Solid $15,000. Pageant (St. L. Amuse) (1,000; 90-$1.20)—“Hans Christian Ander- sen” (RKO)- (2d Wk). Good $9,000 after fine $12,000 for first frame. Shady Oak (St. L. Amuse) (800; 90-$1.20)—“Hans Chirstian Ander- sen” (RKO) 2d wk). Good $9,000 following fine $11,000 for initial stanza. Warner Continued frum page 5 but receiving only 50% of the prof- its. This, the plaintiff charged, was a “conspiracy” which became a “springboard for a series “bf colos- sal, unfair, unwarranted, one-sided gambles, launched one after the other, powered by Warner backing, capital, Credit.and resources, and dedicated to the primary purpose of enriching:' Sperling.” Suit de- manded an accounting of all profits and losses and a cancellation of the WB-United States Pictures agree- ment. Sperling started his film career • in a minor capacity at Paramount’s Long Island studios and was hired in 1932 by Darryl F, Zanuck, then Warners production chief. Later he joined Zafiuck At 20th-Fox, first as a writer and then as a producer. Subsequently, with Jack War- ner’s encouragement, he organized ^.United States Pictures. He married -Harry Warner’s daughter in 1939.