Variety (April 1953)

not REVIEWS Wednesday, April 29 , 1953 (COLOR) hi eidf mubeS. Slnsf cast udtA | never once becomes flamboyantly j sinister. Same can be said for i Kathleen Byron, playing bis 5 scheming wife. Standing out as the small Edward is Bex Thomp- son. It is’hn endearing impersona- tion of a small boy beset by grown- up troubles, even though at times his dialog is mumbled, also a fault * -— ,j —=“■ T —de* Hollywood, April 28. Jgg*.*33* JJJ'^SSfaciSIto'bc foWd with Laughton's Goaacr, aetMak Kerr, Omiat lajufc-f livery. Among the others to be re- toyi;fe»mres^ ramtewd are Leo G. Carroll’S is SSSi as young Boss’ tutor andBob- mied barCwsTSdaeT; ww fby. J»njert Arthur’s pageboy, . _ Technicolor photography b y Charles Kosher is a work of art, ■uuicwWkiQ* Kaon. P ig«fe«J Aprfl 2M like the old masters of the era, y- j yghy **■*- 111 rich in light, shadow and . color. i Miklos Roisas music score is fine, Cattwriae. — Jgf" * never once intruding too strongly £■*«*“*£ cbari “iUyM^[i on a dramatic scene, and it is full little identifying melodies fmr Ana Seymour ........... l^Mtw Brron | humnmiiK touches in the SCnpi. 8tJJj ,3r — SggSSS Costumes, art dirccMn. editing by tort agrom^ E. Winters and other tech- Mr. mhb«. tro p . cannon }} n | r ^i contributions add to the -^aa^SSS|; Brag. r<nu Bcs « ... NoreM Cbwi;. • — ‘ Danish Etawr .. Tttep«4 Ana 0* * 1* j n FTiiitfi Stewart bt«Bmrd ..... Dot _A*ten» Blether Jac*. DonsUoTfl Archbishop Creamer ..... T - mnsden Hare Sir WSDtom Pa*et letter Matthews (SOXGS-COLOR) Margaret Irwin’s fine book on| the life and times of the girl who was to become England’s Queen Elizabeth has been made Into a Temarkably engrossing motion pic-JRae. Steve Cochran; futures B*JinowI gmwiwwv - . -- -S —- ■*=-!- w— 1 Allyn McLerie. Ray Venerable musical decked out in color, btfl b.o. prospects appear spotty. . . Hollywood. April 23. Waxncw releaae of Hndl Fahr prodne-l lion. Sure Kathryn Canon. Gordon Mac- j fure. St rong m Hiiw I prospects for boxofuee attention, J Screenplay. Raloud KiVbee; based on play “Young Bess” is a romantic drama br Lawrence «Awab. t^J*****"*' told aga i n s t a Tudor setting that j bers> Frank Maadel: e^toa^edml- takes perfectly to the lavish qual- |j color), Robert Burks editor., wuttvn liy of the Techaicolnred presents- j Ray Helndorh music adaptation. Max Steiner; sons. Jack Scholl. Serte Walter. Preridhed April 14. 'S3. Runninr time, 11* MINS. Margot ................ Kathryn Grayson Paul Bonnard. H Khobar..Gordon M a rtt a e Capt. Fontaine - Stere Cochran | ROM, 11 O’OMk “Home, 11 ©’Clock/* *n Italian import tradeshown in N. Y. last week, was revised by Varbett from Genoa May 28, 1932. Hoick opined feat Giuseppe DeSantis* latest di- rectorial effqrt will require “heavy selling abroad • • • due to its downbeat struc- ture/* Story is based upon an actual happening in Home three years ago when a stair- way, jammed with girls seek- ing a stenographer’s job sud- denly collated. * ...... “Unrelenting in its indict- ment of society and the unem- ployment which it claims is the sole cause of the tragedy/’ the reviewer wrote, “the pic- ture too often forgets the hu- man angle for the social one/* Direction of DeSantis* how- ever, was praised by the critic who noted that “he draws bis characters sharply through- out,” Likewise, performances of Lea Padovani, Lucia Bose and Raf VSallone, among others, vert commended. AJE.E. Corp. is distributing the Paul Graetz production in the U. S. Pic opens at the World Theatre, N. Y. today (Wed.). Sewdil at (COLOR) competently project the round of secomendt and humor featured ft the script by Norman Corwin, Leonard Hpigelgass and Karl Tun- berg. Agues Moonhead appears only briefly, but capably, as £ nun at the start of the story, Arthur Shields, Ober, Williams, Margate Gillinore and f^e others do their share in carrying out the story aims. Technicolor photography by Rob- ert Planck is of high standard, and physical values competently deliv- ered. Daniele Amfitheatrof s mu*> sic score generally fits the plot mood but is allowed to get com- pletely" out of hand during the storm sequence, thundering about the sound of the wind and rain to the point of distraction. TWo, tra- ditional airs, “Green Sleeves” and Frere Jacques,” are nicely spot- ted. Brog. Fair Wind to Java (COLOR) ' bon. This is no pompous, awe-struck j and stilted period piece. It is a human story, sensitively written, directed and played. Romance Charming Greer Garson-Wal- ter Fidgeoa drama of cJdM- less couple and a little orphan, hardened by P*or title, but good bA for family trade. East Indian adventure yarn in color, with Fred MacMurray leading the heroics. Okay b.o. poesIbUities generally. Hollywood, April 28. Republic release of- Joseph Kane pro- duction. Star* Fred Jfaeifuxrax, Vera fiat ston: features Robert Douglas, Victor McLaglen, John Russell, Buddy Baer. Claude Jarman. Jr.. Grant Withers, How- ard Petrie, 1 Paul fix. William Murp hy. Directed by Kane. Scr e e n play. Richard Tregaskis; based on novel by Garland Roark; camera (Trucolor), Jack Marta: editor, Richard- L. Van JCnger; -special effects. Howard and Theodore Lydecker; mane. Victor Young. Previewed April 28, '53. Banning time, f2 MINS. Captain BoU Fred MacMurray Kim Kim . Vera Ralston Saint Ebenezer Polo Besar . Robert Douglas Victor McLaglen Hollywood. April 28. gg?” - i iuinniii MGM release cf Edwin H. .Knopf pro- Kung ..v................... Buddy Baer a diaa** aro rirb in Cwmtion? court tape, fomame ....... faction, Stars Greer Carson. Walter Chess ............... Claude Jarman. Jr. Jousseff TLzrmonA Mamy Pidgeon; co-stars Donna Corcoran; tea- Jason Blue Grant Withers Beajy mck Wesson | nre> Agnes Moorchead. Arthur Shield s. Reeder Howard Petrie nSSPwntJ&ZZi WPhilip Ober. Directed by Jean Negule«». Wilsin Paul Rx Gett. Blrabean .......-....... Ray Couins screenplay,’ Norman Corwin. Leonard Ahab ................... William Murphy Hasten ....................._Pa ul tTctnu Karl Tnate rc based on story rim/wf .......................... Suja intrigue conjures suspense, and there is a suggestion of action -throughout, even though no mass clashes or extra-jammed scenes are used. Film even finds the time to take some humorous jibes at early English court pomposity and form, gaining rewarding chuckles for thus leavening the heavy, cer- emonial splendor of the Tudor era, Sidney Franklin has cast his production well, players being par- ticularly adaptable to catching the npirit of the times and “furthering the elegant quality of the presen- tation. The four-star bracketing of 'Jean Simmons, im the title role; Stewart Granger, the dashing, he- roic Lord Admiral, Thomas Sey- mour; Deborah Kerr, the beauti- ful Catherine Parr; and Charles Laughton, the gross, pompous Hasan wuiui Stdfelon* Karl ToaMts: toMd on story Dancer •«♦.«• ».... Sidata V Mmt Mcfihcrry; camera <T«chnlcoIor). Gusti .........ft........ Philip Ahn Laehmcd William Conrad Neri .........i.......... Trevor Bardette Lt Duvallc Mark Dana Stephen Bekassy ..... . . , well-worn. ——_— Henry VHT. insures marquee bn-c with charm and are nicely deliv- pact that can sell tickets, as well J by Mary Robert Planck; editor, Ferirl* WetMrter; | Lieutenant musie, Daniele Amfitheatrof. Previewed April 36, *53. Running time, H MINS. . . - . ... — • uw Patrick J. McCbesney Greer Garson General market Will find this Re- SS* J ‘ McChesll * y .'.V DomSTcSwS Public adventure feature equipped ' * V.V.V Ague* Moorebead with all the necessary ingredients ........ Ar p^ li pober to enjoy an okay boxoffice re- MaSSo Gm^re sponse. Piracy on the high seas, John Lupton romance ' and adventure ashore, added flash, and cask with^thefand a fahutehs loftuhe In dia^ familiar names of Kathryn Gray- coin^n^mlrdweu'r.*.*ten woife monds guarded by a tempera- s6n. Gordon MacRae add Steve Rer. williams Michael Pate mental volcano, are some of the K :±v:::::;v; piS'^ ^s. ^cai^m James Motley victor Wood tncks that keep the film moving Sister Dominique Perdita-Chandler and living UP to action market de- Michael Hayward ........ Walter RMdwm b Mrs. Ames Ida Moore manos. Fred MacMurray heads the cast After two times around as a film vehicle, once in 1929 and again in jiS«aih» 1943, this Venerable romantic mu- Father Reiny . sical has just about run but of en- ^ n G i^ ln S y * • S tertainment vitamins. It has been SjjceSSvw* dressed up in Technicolor hues for Artemus I •• 4 • 9 4 Cochran, but there is nothing in this version to indicate a more than spotty boxoffice pace as it plays through the general market. Both story and the songs are Latter wear their age as splendid trouping. Each of the stars, as well as other individuals in the cast, contributes standout work. « George Sidney’s direction dis- Charm and gentle humor mart j? «£ screen veraon of Garland I cnann ana are niceiy aeuv- «tnrv nf a mlddl^-aVed child- Roarks novel, Tair Wind to i by Miss Grayson and Mac- ““ wumVSS ^va.” playing the sea captain out . but aren’t of sufficient fan- Jjgj S5? 1 to make his fortune.in the Dutch It isnt easy for a Hae . pact to create much of a stir in this era. Listening best are the title number, “The Riff Song” and, “One girl who comes Into their lives. , T Ingredients have been fashioned SS5rJ?+!2io«- +« him an together in a manner that should *"^5 S* enchant the family trade. While dCK OtUUU-OUKC TIOllVl V1CU1U6, ; j _. L r. n „mnr IfUIUI, UUl lUdUUIUldX «Xh a Wdjf Gay Parisienne," which MiS !?i e ’£. c0[ ?P^£ ly when he gets on the seent of the Grayson uses as a special piece. “I diamond fortune. With assistance Also in the musical line is a native tenii* nf Javanese dancer, Vera Ralston, dance by Albp; McLerie, but it. whom he buys, and. later• maixies like the rest of the pic's offerings, has only mild effect. Making £ 'pretty picture in color and in the handsome costuming is Miss Grayson, and she serves up her tunes well. MacRae is unbe- lie veable as the mysterious Riff Idader, but fares better on the songs. Cochran also has a hard time making anything out of his French Legionnaire role, a char- acter who is bothered both by Miss Grayson, the general’s flighty daughter, and by the fact he can’t capture the Riff hero who plays Robin Hood to the natives op- pressed by Raymond Massey, a cruel sheik who is plotting to over- throw the French. The game of hide-and-seek, good-versus-eviU is strung out over a long 110 minutes of footage, and Bruce Humber- tone’s direction can’t breed much vigor into the scenes, although a sequence or two have required punch. Eventually the Legionnaires come to realize the trickery Massey is playing, but not before MacRae, as the dashing “Red Shadow” (a term common to the character but not used in the film), and some interference by Miss Grayson, who gets herself captured by Massey’s forces, make the skullduggery pretty obvious. Familiar finale has MacRae killing off his hero character, so he can assume the audience for which picture has the most appeal. It has word-of- mouth values for that market. Plot is laid in Canada, and it’s a gentle tale of a young Catholic orphan who. wins die hearts of a to keep things legal, and despite difficulties imposed by Robert Douglas, a double-dealing villain who has two guises-rthat of an honest naturalized Dutchman and a masked pirate leader—he gets • • . , , • ■ __ 4V UV . VIUI • UOOUU1G LUv bnngs unhappiness to Bess, her irole. of ihe naive student of an- stepniother and the admiral, even- tually costs her beloved his head, even while the little King Ed warn is writing out the royal pardon that will save him. This story is the one being told by the two faithful old retainers, Kay Walsh and. Cecil Kellaway. as the film begins, and so smoothly and grace- fully does the picture slip into its recounting there is noiie of the vitiating effect that usually ac- companies a~flashback. Performances of Miss Walsh and Kellaway will be remembered. So will the work of Guy Rolfe as the evil conspirator, .a character that thropotogy and go into a fadeout clinch with heroine. Dick Wesson plays a humbling news correspondent to add some comic sparkle to the footage. Mas- sey and William Conrad, his chief henchman, are flamboyant heavies. Allyn McLerie is lost in the role of the dancing girl who yens for the Riff hero. Ray Collins, the general, Paul Picemi, and the others are as competent as the pat scripting by Roland Kibbee al- lows. Rudi Fehr production super- vision manages good sight values, and Robert Burks' color lensing is excellent BrOg. childless Protestant couple and the his fortune. But not from dia- copamunily, but not without caus- monds. The sea claims them when ing plenty of commotion that the angry volcano blows up after makes for chuckles, drama and the heavies have invaded it IE 3 *!?;* ^ entertainment in Technical trickery is a major production is f ac tor in keeping interest going good, bearing down on sentimen : along with the plot. Volcano erup- Alone” as well as added I exclusion policy practiced by the plays underrtanding of the_sud- jack Scholl-Serge Walter cleffing, teSSI Hutch, but MacMurray sees a way ject, and he ties individual scenes together- into a smooth continuity with a dramatic soreness that nev- er lets the interest flag. Screen- play by Jan Lustig and Arthur Wimperis is fine writing, deftly dialogued and sequenced to make this particular page out of history come to life compellingly. Main story gets Underway after opening sequence, a gem in itself, sets the stage for a flashback to the unhappy childhood of young Bess, her development into a young lady and the great love that took over her life before she ascended to the throne of England, the period in which the picture begins and ends. As a little girl, she was a pawn of her father’s romantic moods, ban- ished from court back to virtual exile in forbidding, lonely Hatfield House as each of her successive stepmothers test the Sharpness of Henry’s beheading ax, the same as her own mother, Ann Boleyn, had done. It is not “until gracious Cather- ine becomes queen that youngf "Bess, now 15, takes up a more or less permanent residence in the palace, finding love and happiness with the queen and her little step- brother, the sickly Edward. When Henry dies and the queen marries the Lord Admiral, young Bess con- ceals her own infatuation for the dasning hero, but her feelings are found out and used by the evil Ned Seymour, the admiral’s brother. Court intrigue and a love that will not be denied, even though it tality without being maudlin, and Jean Negulesco’s direction smooth- ly coordinates and gets the best from the script, which was based on a story by Mary McSherry. As the orphan, little Miss Cor- coran sparks the story. After hav- ing accidentally caused a fire that destroyed the Catholic orphanage in which she resides,'she and the other children are loaded on a train for a cross-country junket and stops, during which nuns try to find new homes for the young- sters. At Scourie, a Protestant community. Miss Corcoran wanders away, encounters Miss Garson, the wife of Pidgeou, town merchant and political figure, and charms her. The Wife, in turn, persuades a reluctant Pidgeon that the girl is the child for them, thus setting off a round of troubles for all con- cerned. Political opponents, chiefly Philip Ober, charge Pidgeon is us- ing the girl to get the Catholic vote, resulting In both an indig- nant Miss Garson and an infuri- ated Pidgeon publicly trouncing him; Further trouble comes when a fellow orphan, young Tony Tay- lor, who has been taken in by Rhys Williams, spreads a .firebug story against the girl and the school catches < fire shortly thereafter, School is saved by a fortunate rate storm, but the girl has run away and the whole town turns out tb find her and assure her bf the po- sition she holds in the community, bringing about a happy ending. Two adult stars and youngster lion and the tidal wave it sets off are expertly devised and nighly ef- fective.* Model work with square- rigged sailing ships jand their re- action to wind and tides in other phases of the yarn doesn’t show up nearly as well. Richard Tregaskis script gives producer-director Jo- seph Kane plenty of action se- quences to build up and help cloak fact the performances are compe- tent but stereotyped to demands of this type of fiction. There are several scenes of brutality, one concerned with the flogging of Miss Ralston to force the secret of the diamonds from her, which will take care of the more blood-thirsty action fans. Victor McLaglen, Gkqjde Jar- Raldexs mi 7 Sens * (COLOR) Good pirate mdventere yarn {■ color for actio* market. John Payne at Barfianwaa and Don. na Reed, far femme lure. Hollywood, April 28 United Artists release of Global p r£K w lions (Sidney Salkow) presentation Sta£ John Payne, Donna Reed; features Gerald ■Mohr, Lon Chaney, Anthony Cares!? Homy Brando*, attracted by Salkow Story and seretialav. John OTtea, Sidn/; Salkow; earners rt'eefcnkroior), W. Htnrmi Greene: editor. Baddy Small; music. Paul SawteU-Praitewad April 22 , ' 53 . RunoSJ uSfc£# mw PAWJEe Barfcaraam John Payna AlUa ....Donna SWcedo Gerald Mohr Pea Lea Lon Chaney Benxo Anthony Caruso Capt. Gofti .............. Henry Brandon D»to Skip Torgerson Romero Frank DcKora Ramon William Tannen Pablo ................. Christopher Dark Salcedo ................ Claire Dufirey Pompano Howard Freeman Delcado Anthony Warde Barbarossa, the red-bearded pi- rate, is back plying his trade on the Spanish Main, this time as a swaggering Hero in the person of John Payne. Swashbuckling buc- caneer doings shape up as good material for the action market, and boxoffice returns should prove sat- isfactory. Technicotered action opens with Payne escaping the Sultan of Morocco after having made free in the latter’s harem. He seizes a Spanish ship loaded with prisoner slaves destined for an outpost in the West Indies. With the ship and the prisoners, now his daunt- ' less crew, Payne enters into pi- ratical adventures, taking loot and Donna Reed, an eyeful who is be- trothed to Gerald Mohr, a Spanish officer. In between trying to tame the spirited beauty, Payne outwits Mohr and ether Spaniards until Miss Reed manages to escape. Dur- ing the flight, Lon Chaney, Payne's trusted lieutenant. Is murdered ,by Anthony Caruso, a pirate turned traitor, and Barbarossa vows to raze Havana for vengeance. Climax finds Miss Reed recognizing the pirate’s worth and spoUteg an am- bush scheme cooked up by Mohr, who figures to win glory and the governorship of Cuba for himself by capturing the buccaneer -fleets This turn of events saves Havana from the promised sacking, but leaves Mohr with plenty of ex- plaining to do while Payne and Miss Reed, With the by now re- formed pirates. free to sail for the new land of North America. Sidney Salkow produced and di- rected* as well as doing the story and ^screenplay with John CTDea. Writing and direction carefully avoid the too heavily melodramatic even using a tongue-in-cheek ap- proach. on occasion to keep a touch of lightness mixed in with the ac- tion. Playing is in the same vein, and helps make the familiar, but acceptable, plot entertaining. Payne is a good hero and Miss Reed cuts a beautiful figure in costumes of’ the period. „ Other players are up to all the demands of their characters, which are never very taxing. W. Howard Greene has given the production and the players excel- lent^ color lensing. Paul Sawtell music score fits with the picture's movement. Included is one terp sequence at a pirate’s brawl that goes with the general entertain- ment intent Brog. Guerrilla Girl Crudely-made war melodrama with no entertainment merit Lensed overseas. Hollywood, April 22. United Artiste release of John Christian production. Stars Helmut Dentine: fo* tores Marianna, Irene Champlin, RaT Julian. Michael Vale. Directed by Chriv tian. Screenplay, John Byrne. Ben Parker; added dialoe* William Koch, William Kyriskys: camera. Charles Weckejr, George St oe tael, Sidney Zncker; editor. John Christian; muon, .Bernard Bossick. Pre- viewed April 21, *53. Running time, M MINS. - . Demelri Alexander ..... Helmut Dantint Zaira .................... Marianna Nina Irene Champ 1 * 0 Vanda Ray Julian Banov ......aiichae!_\ale man, Jr., Howard PetrieTPaul Fix 2k£e oJriSfiS and William Murphy are among j tJST.V.V.V changer* MacMurray's followers who, in varying degrees of importance, Dora VeissssB There’s nothing in this crudely- help him best the skulduggery of {fashioned war melodrama that can Douglas, John Russell, Buddy Baer and Grant Withers. Outside of MacMurray, Miss Ralston and Douglas, though, there isn’t much story-carrying by the cast Sujata is in for one dance number in a harem sequence at Douglas’ pirate hideaway. Jack Marta’s photography and special effects by Howard and Theodore Lydecker do well by the color and the technical phases of the presentation. Victor Young’s music score is good: A sea chanty, “Bound fd^ the Open Sea/* and “Darling Nelly Gray,” are used for group sings by McLaglen* Fix and the cast Brog . be recommended as entertainment Independently-made overseas by John Christian, distributed domes- tically by United Artists, film. ** a confused 80 minutes of plodding plot that rates only scant attention for lowercase . bookings in the smaller spots where fill-in pro* grammers are needed. Footage apparently contained a few sequences that could have been sensationalized for the ballyhoo houses, but these have been so watered down in the scissoring the only s. a. left would be in the ad- vertising. Helmut Dantine, only name (Continued oo page 18)