Variety (October 1954)

Wednesday, October 6, 1954 Pft&i&rr 11 other again and marry after a mad courtship, Engulfed by the social whirl, the drinking, the flirting, tragedy strikes. But an irresistible compulsion brings back the strayed lover to the scene of his first flaming meeting. Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Van Johnson, Walter Pid- geoiv Donttd Reed with Eva Gabor, Kurt Kasznar. Pro- ducer Jack Cummings. Director Richard Brooks. Screenplay by* Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein and Richard Brooks, based on a story by F. Scott Fitz- gerald. A screen masterpiece filmed in magnificent Technicolor ifi real Parisian locations. "BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK” (Cinemascope— Color) Spine-tingling suspense, the kind that makes movie hits, takes place* amidst a brooding row of houses in a tiny desert town (especially constructed near Lone Pine, Cal.). Virtually every one of its handful of citizens is involved in a murder during a brutal out- burst of mob violence. Four years later a stranger arrives. What happens is something for the goose- pimples. Great Cast: Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan and Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan, John Ericspn, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin, Russell Collins.. Producer Dbre Schary. Director John Stages. Screenplay by Millard Kaufman. CinemaScope and Color give bigness, to a big theme. Adaptation by Don McGuire based on a story by Howard Breslin. "THE GLASS SLIPPER” (Color) As beloved “Lili” continues to enchant New York after a year and a half, the same star, producer, director and writer (who did ballet librettos, lyrics and screenplay) have collaborated on a new triumph, Appealing Leslie Carbn, Edwin H. Knopf, Charles Walters, Helen Deutsch have done it again—aided | ; ' » • . o by co-star Michael Wilding with Keenan Wynn, Elsa Lanchester, Barry Jones, plus the work of dancer genius Roland Petit featuring his World-famed Ballet de Paris. Leslie Caron is utterly adorable as the lonely scullery maid who overcomes untold obstacles of poverty and mistreatment and the competition of the favored girls to win the prize catch! Drama and dance and delicious humor, sadness and sigh-inducing romance to the music,of Bronislau Kaper will keep audiences enthralled and uplifted. "ATHENA” (Co/or) Aptly described as “The Nature Girl With The Body Beautiful,” “ATHENA” is a refreshingly different kind of musical comedy enacted by a group of effer- vescent personalities who keep things fast-paced: Jane Powell, Edmund Purdom, Debbie Reynolds, Vic Damone, Louis Calhem with Linda Christian, Evelyn Varden, Ray Collins. Written by William' Ludwig and Leonard Spigelgass. Produced by Joe Pasternak. Direc- ted by Richard Thorpe. Print by Technicolor. Athena is one of seven daughters of a faddist colony and into this setting comes a pompous young lawyer, who soon learns uninhibited and primitive ways of life arid love. Beautiful nature girls, hilarious activities of the faddist colony, add up to an appealing love story, an attract tion for young and old. Songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. "THE PRO0IGAL” (Cinemascope — Color) One of the great film spectacles of all time, Lana Turner is the pagan beauty. Edmund Purdom is the prodigal son. Co-starring Louis Calhern with Audrey Dalton, James Mitchell, Neville Brand, Walter Hampden, Taina Elg, Francis L. Sullivan, Joseph Wiseman, Sandra Descher. Breathtaking scenes: Heathen Temples of the ancient Idol-Gods, Baal and Astarte; the teeming streets of Damascus and all the fabulous settings that occupy more than 400,000 square feet outdoors and four of the world-s largest indoor stages. There are 18 speaking parts and in its spectac- ular scenes 4,000 extras are employed. Producer Charles Schnee; Director Richard Thorpe. Screenplay by Maurice Zimm. Prepare for a CinemaScope and Color attraction beyond your wildest imagination. Adapta- tion from the Bible story by Joe Breen f Jr. and Samuel James Larsen. IN PRODUCTION! “HIT THE DECK’ 1 (CinemaScope-Color) —- Not since “Anchors A weigh” such rollicking entertainment. Three sailors on the loose in ’Frisco meet a night club singer* an actress and the Admiral’s daughter. Starring Jane' Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Walter Pidgeon, Vic Damone, Gene Raymond, Ann Miller, Russ Tamblyn with Kay Armen, J. Carrol Naish, Richard Anderson, Jane Harwell. Screenplay by Sonya Levien and William Ludwig, based on the musical play “Hit The Deck” by Herbert Fields, presented on the stage by Vincent Youmans from “Shore Leave” by Hubert Osborne. Joe Pasternak, producer. Roy Rowland, director. 14 top songs from the master, Vincent Youmans, Lyrics by Leo Robin, Clifford Grey arid Irving Caesar, choreography by Hermes Pan. “MOONFLEET” (CinemaScope Color)— Great story of daring ploits with its background of rugged English Coast and its story of a young boy and the mail he idolizes, brooding adventure in a strangely contrasting triangle of exotic women. The cast: Stewart Granger, Viveca Lindfors, George Sanders, Joan Greenwood with Jon Whiteley; Melville CoopeE Screen- play by Jan Lustig and Margaret Fitts based on the novel by «J. Meade Falkner. Producer John Houseman. Director Fritz Lang. “IT’S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER” (CinemaScope Color) ■- Another Big musical under way. Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Gray and Michael Kidd. Producer Arthur Freed. . Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. Written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. “INTERRUPTED MELODY’’ (CinemaScope-Color) - Curtis Bern- hardt, director, and Jack Cummings, producer, are making a picture with the promise of “The Great Caruso.” It‘is based on the dramatic fife story of Marjorie Lawrence, opera star, Who overcame disaster at the height of her career. Starring Glenn Ford, Eleanor Parker with Roger Moore and Cecil Kellaway. Written /by William Ludwig and Sonya Levien. fn the Cutting Roomt: “GREEN FIRE’’ (CinemaScope-Color) — High ad- venture in the efuest for an emerald mine. Filmed in South America, it stars Stewart Granger, Grace Kelly, Paul Douglas, John Ericson With Murvyn Vye and hundreds of others: Andrew Marion, director. Arniand Deutsch, producer. Written for the screen by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. “MANY RIVERS TO CROSS” (CinemaScope-Color) ~ Fast-moving action picture rich with laughter, romance/ suspense. Colorful backgrourid of pioneer America. Starring Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker with Victor McLaglen, Russ Tamblyn, Jeff Richards, James Arness. Producer, Jack Cummings. Director, Roy Rowland. Screenplay by Harry Brown and Guy Trosper based on a story by Steve Frazee. SOMETHING TO REMEMBER: Preparing “BEN-HUR” in the fabulous dimensions of CinemaScope, Color and with Stereo- phonic Sound! YOUR FUTURE: Hitch your wagon to the Studio of the Stars!