Variety (September 1955)

FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, September 7, 195,^ The Quartermass Experiment (BRITISH) Typical science fiction meller with good production and Brian Donlcvy to provide U.S. marquee appeal; attractive dualcr. London, Aiig. 30. Exclusive release of Hammer produc¬ tion (U.S. distribution by Columbia). Stars Brian Donlevy and Jack Warner: features Margie Dean, Ruchard Words¬ worth. Directed by Val Guest. Screen¬ play by Itichard Landau and Guest from BBC television play by Nigel Kncalc; camera, J. Elder Willis: editor, James Needs; music, James Bernard. At London Pavilion, Aug. 22, '55. Running time, 81 MINS. QuaivCrmass . Brian Donlevy Lomax Jack Warnei Judith Carroon . .. • Margie Dean Victor Carroon.Richard Wordsworth Briscoe . David King Wood Rosie .. Thora Hird TV Producer . Gordon Jackson Christie ., Harold Lang Marsh . Lionel J cl tries Green ’.Maurice Kauffman Taken from a BBC television play, “The Quartermass Experi¬ ment” is an extravagant piece of science fiction, based on the after effects of an assault on space by a rocket ship. Despite its obvious horror angles, production is crammed with incident and sus¬ pense. It merits rating as a reliable dualer on either side of the At¬ lantic. ■ Production qualities are better than average for this type of pic¬ ture while the star billing for Brian Donlevy (in the title role), provides useful exploitation for the U.S. He is the scientist, who designs the new rocket that is sent hurtling into space with three men on board. It crash lands in a small English village, with only one sur¬ vivor. The mystery is what hap¬ pened to the other two who have disappeared without trace although the rocket ship remained air sealed. The plot is mainly con¬ cerned with attempts to restore the one survivor to health. His well- meaning wife has him smuggled out of a clinic, but he breaks loose, causing death, destruction and ter¬ ror as he changes from man to monster. This is unrelieved melodrama without any femme interest, ft draws ils entertainment from a series of wildly improbable hap¬ penings. There Is an occasional over-plus if horror closeups of the victims. There is a big climax when the monster is trapped in West¬ minster Abbey while a mobile tv unit is beaming a program. Donlevy p’ays the scientist with a grim and ruthless conviction. Jack Warner gives a realistic in¬ terpretation of a Scotland Yard detective. Richard Wordsworth, with only one word of dialog, makes a valuable contribution as the survivor. Margie Dean is completely colorless as his wife. Val Guest’s vigorous direction is matched by other competent tech¬ nical credits. Myro. Tlio Woman For Joe (BRITISH) (Color—VistaVision) Stereotyped fairground meller, moderately acted; moderate b.o. hopes. London, Aug. 30. Rank Vista Vision production and re¬ lease. Stars Diane Cilento. George B-:ker; features David Kossoff, Jimmy Karouhi. Directed by George More O'Ferrall. Screenplay, Neil Paterson; camera (Tech¬ nicolor), Georges Perinal: editor, Alfred Rocme; music, Malcolm Arnold; "A Fool and His Heart” toy (Jade 1 -^Fishman. At Gaumont, London, Aug. 25, '55. Running time, *1 MINS. Mary . Diane Cilento Joe Harrap . George Baker George Wilson ..Jimmy Karouhi Max David .ICossoff Ma Gollalz . Violet Farebrother Lemmie . Earl Cameron Butch . Sydney Taflcr Vendini . A. J. Dean Freddie the Kid.Patrick Westwood Harry the Spice . Derek Sydney Prince's Circassy.Verna Gilmore Igg.v Pulitzer . Martin Miller Sol Goldstein .......... Meier Tzelniker Gladys . Miriam Karlin Sullivan. Philip Slainton .lack Evans .,. David Gabriel Franz . Dennis Rosairc Mlephan . Frank Paulo Doctor (Hospital)......Douglas Ilurn Landlady . Amy Veness Manager . Edwin Ellis Manager’s Wife .. Joan Hickson Saleswoman . Majorie Stewart Doctor (Circus) .Terence Longdon “The Woman for Joe” is a fair¬ ground story which breaks little new ground. The melodrama fol¬ lows a conventional pattern, is de¬ void of any surprise twist, and limps rather lamely to its inevi¬ table climax. At best it can only be classed as a moderate b.o. can¬ didate. .. The high quality lensing, with the VistaVision cameras, captures the atmosphere of the fairground, hut the carousels and other side¬ shows never emerge as an integral part of the yarn. The production suffers from an inadequate script and too leisurely direction. Direc¬ tor George More O’Ferrall rarely lakes up the slack in the narrative. The yarn centres on a traveling fairgrqund showman (Cr.orge Baker), whose luck changes when he buys an educated midget (Jimmy Karoubi) a* a special at¬ traction. The dwarf’* own brand of authority putu* him In a com¬ manding position and all is fine until he persuades the showman to recruit Diane Cilento to the show. Inevitably, he falls for her and she falls for Baker. A conveniently timed fatal accident provides the solutiom- Apart from the personal charm .engendered by Miss Cilento (she is going to Broadway this fall in “Tiger At the Gates”), there is little if particular note in the act¬ ing side. Baker hardly comes to grips with his role while Karoubi rarely convinces with his apparent i authority. Experienced performers ! of the calibre of David Kossoff, i Violet Farebrother, Earl Cameron and Sydney Tafler are restricted ‘ by the limitations of their roles. Technical standards are adequate. Myro. Tifjpr Girl (Russian) (COLOR—SONGS) Artklno release of Leninfllm produc¬ tion. Stars Lena Kasatkina, Peter Kadoch¬ nikov; features L. Bykov, P. Sukhanov, K. Sorokin, G. Bodganova-Chcstnokova, N. Urgant. Boris Eder. Screenplay, K. Mints, E. Pomcshchikov. Directed toy A. Ivanovsky, N. Kosheverova; camera (Sovcolor), A. Dudko; music, M. Wein¬ berg. At Stanley Theatre, N.Y., Sept. 3, ’55. Running time. I* MINS. Lena ... Lena Kasatkina Fyodor Yermolayev. .Peter Kadochnikov Petya Mokin ..L. Bykov Circus Manager . P. Sukhanov Bookkeeper . K. Sorokin His Wife _G. Bogdanova-Chestnokova His Daughter . N. Urgant Telcgin .. Boris Eder Lena's Mother . T. Peltser Lena’s Father . A. Orlov Almazov . S. Filippov Magician .... V. Korolkevich Since Russian films are notori¬ ously lacking in a sense of humor; “Tiger Girl,” with a circus locale, comes as a pleasant surprise. It’s the Soviet version of a romantic comedy enhanced by fairly good Sovcolor tints. Where they play Russian pix, this ought to be a pop¬ ular entry. For those who don’t often get to see Soviet productions, “Tiger Girl” should come as something of a revelation. If the Russian claim they invented th« film camera (as they probably do), thev certainly have far to go in learning how to use it. Apart from the acting, which is quite, good, A. Dudko’s lensing is stiff and extremely in¬ hibited. Once or twice there are angle shots, but on the whole the camera is a stoic observer of a rather commonplace little story. In the main it’s all about the daughter of a circus vet who gets along well with the tigers. The sailor who loves her wants her to quit circus life. The daredevil rider, who also loves her, just wants her to stay put. In the end, the daredevil boy wins her hand and they embrace, briefly and rather self-consciously, as if kiss¬ ing just wasn’t something for the camera to watch. Lena Kasatkina is probably the heftiest romantic lead the screen has seen for some time, but she has a dimply smile and is great at displaying flashes of anger. Peter Kadochnikov as the daredevil motorcyclist looks handsome and occasionally emotes. L. Bykov as the rejected sailor has a genuine sense of comedy,, and writers K. Mints and E. Porrieshchikov re¬ serve for him their best lines. N. Urgant as the vain Olya is okay and P. Sukhanov does ,a good job with the part of the fatherly circus manager. Soviet circusses, at least the one one shown in the film, aren’t like¬ ly to put Ringling Bros, out of business. Yet there are some ex¬ citing scenes involving the girl and the tigers, and there are a couple of pleasant songs woven into the story. Sovcolor, billed as “magnif¬ icent,” is hardly that except in some of the outdoor scenes when it comes to life. Hift. Refute ‘Andersonville’ Anti-Southern Slant Refuting the impression that MacKinlay Kantor’s “Anderson- ville,” recently bought by Colum¬ bia Pictures, has an anti-Southern slant, Donald Friede, World Pub¬ lishing editor, last week pointed out that the novel has been made the December selection of the Civil War Book Club. Club selections are made at the combined advice and counsel of such Civil War historians as Bruce Catton (“A Stillness at Appomat¬ tox”), Stanley F. Horn, Allen Nevins, Benjamin P. Thomas, Bell I. Wiley, a Southern historian, etc. “Andersonville” tells the story of a Confederate prison camp during the'war of the States. “Andersonville” is due for issue by World Publishing in late Octo¬ ber and, according to Friede, was bought by Col for a flat $250,000, the original asking price. Metro Readies New 65m Camera for ‘Int’1 Revue’ Hollywood, Sept. 6. Metro very likely will first use its new 65m camera on “Interna¬ tional Revue,” which director . George Sidney will film on loca¬ tion in 22 countries. New process is still in the development stage, but studio already has had several satisfactory tests. Partially an adaptation of the Cinemascope system, it will be competitive to 20th-Fox’s new 55m process now being used for “Carou¬ sel.” Hollywood Production Pulse Capsule Foreign Film Reviews Venice, Sept. 6. i Shuzenjl Monogatarl (The Mask and Destiny) (JAPANESE-COLOR). Shochlku production and release. Directed by Noburu Nakamura. Screenplay, Kldo Okamoto; camera (Eastmancolor), Toshlo Yasumi; editor, Toshio Ogata. With Teiji Takaahhasi, Mlnosuke Bando, Chikage Awashima. At Venice Film Festival. Run¬ ning time, 100 MINS. This is another Japanese film in color apd evolving in the 12th Cen¬ tury, with royal intrigue backed by a k theme of fate and tragedy as sword fights and thwarted romance culminate in a final wholesale series of deaths. All these types of pix should be compared to their forerunner, “Gate of Hell,” and this does not stack up too well enough to succeed it. Too much gratuitous exoticism and sword¬ play mar the attempted poetics about a monarch who would rather have been a humble man and a maskmaker. „ Too Eastern and slow for most Western patrons, this could only have possible U.S. specialized spot¬ ting to cash in on the “Gate” ap¬ peal; otherwise it is of little value for U.S. situations. Color is lush and lavish; costuming exquisite with technical values tops. How¬ ever, direction and acting haW-not been fused well, to t^e ''film’s detriment. , v ” Mosk. Venice, Sept. 6. Ord«t (The Word) (DANISH). A/S Film Ccntralen Palladium production and re¬ lease. Directed by\Carl T. Dreyer. Screen¬ play by Dreyer frbm play by Raj Munk. Camera, Henning n-jpendtsen; editor, Dreyer; musi^, .JMUi Schicrbeck. With Henrik Maltoarg^'Er^il Hasa Christensen, I retocu .ndrerdorff,- Cav Christiansen, BrlKitCeVTederspiel. At Venice Film Fes¬ tival. Running time, 120 MINS. ALLIED ARTISTS Starts, This Year .77 This Date, Last Year ...... 18 COLUMBIA Starts, This Year .. 28 This Date, Last Year .20 "GAMMA PEOPLE" (Warwick Productions) (Columbia Release-; (Shooting in Austria) * Exec. Prods.—Irving Allen, A. R. Broc¬ coli Prod.—John Gossage Dir.—John Gilling Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, Martin Mil¬ ler, Rosalie Crutchicy (Started July 25) "JUBAL TROOP" Prod.—William Fadiman Dir.—Delmar Daves Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Rod Steiger, Valerie French, Felicia Farr, Basil Ruysdacl, Charles Bronson, Noah Berry Jr., Jack Elam, Robert Knapp, John Dlerkes, Juney Ellis, Don Harvey (Started July 28) "SAFARI" (Warwick Productions) (Shooting in London) Exec. Prod.—Irving Allen, A. R. Broc¬ coli Prod.—Adrian D. Worker Dir.—Terrence Young Victor Mature, Janet Leigh, Roland Cul¬ ver, Orlando Martins, John Justin (Started Aug. 2) "THB BDDY DUCHIN STORY" (Shooting in New York) Prod.—Jerry Wald Dir.—George Sidney Tyrone Power, Kim Novak, James Whit¬ more, Rex Thompson, Jerry Antes, Nat Brandwynne, Shepperd Strudwlck (Started Aug. 8) "THB WAY WB ARE" (William Goetz Productions) Prod.—William Goetz Dir.—Robert Aldrich Joan Crawford, Cliff Robertson, Ruth Donnelly, Vera MUes, Lome Greene (Started Aug. 29) METRO Starts, This Year ... 13 This Date,. Last Year . 12 Here is that arty house paradox, a brilliant, almost monumental lilm, yet with a stigma of anti-b.o. on it because of its uncompromis¬ ing, heavy going style and a touchy : religioso theme of faith and mir- 1 acle involving a conflict between Catholic and Protestant views to¬ wards life and religion. Carl Dreyer, responsible for the silent masterpiece, “The Passion of Joan of Arc” and a more recent film, “Day of Wrath,” is just as unspar¬ ing in this film. Style is sombre and intelligent, with a shocking scene of a cae¬ sarean operation sequence. Acting is perfect as is the direction which make? this a profound study of faith and belief. This is essentially talky. It is definitely a prestige item and may well become a criti¬ cal gambit for a more daring U.S. exhib. It might be worth the effort in a few special situations. Techni¬ cal credits are tops. Mosk. La Cicala (The Grasshopper) (RUSSIAN- COLOR). Mosfllm production and release. Directed by S. Samsonov. Screenplay, Samsonov from story by Anton Tchecov; camera (Sovcolor). V. Monakhov; editor, F. Dobronvarov. At Venice Film Festival. Running time, *0 MINS. For a change this Russo film dips back into the rich soil of its turn-of-century writers. A short story of Anton Tchecov is^rendered unerringly with its warm interpre¬ tation of a ‘ A pathetic group of flighty,.-ferty butterflys and the too resigned men of science who fritter away their lives in blind pursuits. There is a well paced dramatic feeling in this film. Its acting, mood and technical aspects are tops. Pic looks like a good bet for Russo film situations and might have interest and word-of-mouth potential for some special U.S. spots on its well adapted dramatics, topnotch acting and fine rendition of a nostalgic period. The director, has kept this be¬ tween satire and drama. Color is fine, with music an asset as is the j editing. A mood piece of limited U.S. chances but denoting a change of pace in Russo film- ! making. Mosk. REPUBLIC Starts, This Year . 9 This Date, Last Year. . 5 20th CENTURY-FOX Starts, This Year .15 This Date, Last Year __ .10 "THE LIEUTENANT WORE SKIRTS" Prod.—Buddy Adler Dir.—Frank Tashlin Tom Ewell, Sheree North, Les Tre- mayne, Rick Jason, Rita'Morono (Started Aug. 22) "CAROUSEL" (Prod.—Henry Ephron Dir.—Henry King Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Came, ron Mitchell, Barbara Ruick, Clan Mae Turner, Audrey Christie, Robert Rounseville, Suzanne Lucky (Started Aug. 22) "THE RAINS OF RANCHIPUR" Prod.—Frank Ross Dir.—Jean Negulesco Lana Turner, Richard Burton, Fred MacMurray, Michael Rennie, Joa 4 Caulfield, Eugenie Leontovich, Carlo Rizzo, Paul H. Frees (Started Aug. 22) UNIVERSAL Starts, This Year . .22 This Date, Last Year .20 "PILLARS OP THB SKY" Prod.—Robert Arthur Dir.—George Marshall Jeff Chandler. Dorothy Malone, Keith Andes. Ward Bond. Lee Marvin, Svd> ney Chaplin, Floyd Simons, Michael Ansara, Olive Carey, Felix Norlego, Glen Kramer. Pat Hogan (Started Aug. 18) "THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US" Prod.—William Alland Dir. ,J —John Sherwood Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason. Leigh Snow¬ den, Gregg Palmer, James Hawley (Started Aug. 29) WARNER BROS. Starts, This Year . 16 This Date. Last Year ...... 12 "THB LAST HUNT" Dir.—Richard Brooks Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger, Lloyd Nolan. Russ Tamblyn, Debra Paget (Started July 13) "LUST FOR LIFE" (Shooting in France) Prod.—John Houseman Dir.—Vincent Minnelli Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Nlall MacGinnis, Pamela Brown. Roger Livesey (Started Aug. 2) "MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS" Prod.—Joseph Pasternak E ir.—Roy Rowland an Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Karl- weis, LUy Darvas. Jim Backus, Cara Williams, Liliane Montevecchi Guest Stars: Lena Horne, Frankie Laine (Started Aug. 2) "TRIBUTE TO A BAD MAN" (Shooting in Colorado) Prod.—Sam Zimbalist Dir.—Robert Wise James Cagney, Stephen McNally, Irene Papas, Don Dubbins, Vio Morrow (Started Aug.- 15) PARAMOUNT Starts, This Year .. 9 This Date, Last Year . 12 '.'THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" Prod.-Dir.—Cecil B. DeMille Assoc. Prod.—Henry Wilcoxonj^ Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Yvonne DeCarlo, Debra T>aget, I Judith Anderson, Edward G. Robin¬ son, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, John Carradine, John Derek, Olive Deering. Martha Scott, Julia ■Faye, Henry Wilcoxon, Douglas Dum- brillc, Ian ^Keith, Frank DeKova, Peter Hanson, Donald Curtis, II. B. Warner, Joan Woodbury, John Mil- jan, Joyce Vanderveen (Started Oct. 14) "THE BIRDS AND THE BEES" (Gomalco Productions) Prod.—Paul Jones Dir.—Norman Taurog George Gobel, Mitzl Gaynor, David Niven, Fred Clark, Reginald Gardiner, S a r£X. Be U? ver ’ Torben Meyer, Peggy Moffitt, King Donovan, John . Daly, Mary Treen, Steven Geray, Bob Car- son* Hal Rand, Roscoe Ates (Started July 11) "THE PROUD AND PROFANE" Prod.—William Perlberg Dir.—George Seaton William Holden, Deborah Kerr, Dewey Martin, Thelma Ritter, Marion Ross, Ann Morriss, Nancy Sinatra, Ross Bngdasarian, William Redfield. Ger¬ aldine Hall, Evelyn Cotton, Theodore Newton, Robert Morse, Ray Strick¬ en. Olive Stacey, Genevieve Aumont (Started July 16) "THE MOUNTAIN" (Shooting at Chamonix, France) Prod.-Dir.—Ed aid Dmwtryk Prod.-Dir.—Edward Dmytryk Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, Claire Richard Arlcn, William Demarest, Onslow Stevens, E. G. Marshall, Richard Garrick, Harry Townes (Started Aug. 29) RKO Starts, This Year .12 This Date, Last Year . 4 "GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING" Prod.—J. Edmund Grainger Dir.—Jacques Tourneur Robert Stack, Virginia Mayo, Ruth Ro- man. Alex Nicoi, Raymond Burr. Regis Toomey (Started Aug; 15) - "GIANT" Prods.—George Stevens, Henry Gins- - berg Dir.—George Stevens Elizabeth Taylor. Rock Hudson, Jamei Dean, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mer- cedes McCambridge, Judith Evelyn, Paul Fix. Carroll Baker, Dennis Hop¬ per, Robert Nichols. Rodney Taylor, Monte Hale, Elsa Cardenas (Started May 19) "OUR MISS BROOKS" Prod.—David Weisbart Dir;—A1 Lewis Eve Arden, Robert Rockwell, Jane Mor¬ gan, Gale Gordon, Gloria McMillan, Richard Crena, Lenoard Smith, Nick Adams (Started July 26) "THE LONE RANGER" Prod.—Willis Goldbeck Dir.—Stuart Heisler Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Bonit* Granville, Lyle Bettger. Robert Wilke, Perry Lopez (Started Aug. 1) "GOODBYE, MY LADY" Prod.—Robert Fellows Dir.—William A. Wellman Walter Brennan, Brandon de Wilde, Phil Harris, William Hopper, Sidney Poitler, Louise Beavers, Vivian Vance, William Frawley (Started Aug. 8) "THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS" (Shooting In Paris) Prod.—Leland Hayward Dir.—Billy Wilder James Stewart (Started Aug. 8) INDEPENDENT "FOREIGN INTRIGUE" (UA Release) (Shooting in Paris) Prod.-Dir.—Sheldon Reynolds Robert Mltchum, Genevieve Page, In¬ grid Tulean, Inga Tidblat (Started July 1) "WAR AND PEACE" (Ponti-de Laurentlis Productions) (Paramount Release) (Shooting in Rome) Prod.—Dino de Laurentlis Dir.—King Vidor Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, Mllly Vitale, Barry Jones, Jeremy Brett, May Britt, Oscar IIo- molka,. Herbert Lorn, Lea Seidel (Started July 4) "TRAPEZE" (Hecht-Lancaster Productions) (UA Release) (Shooting in Paris) - Prod—James Hill Dir.—Sir Carol Reed Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Oin» Lollobrigida, Katy Jurado, Thoinal Gomez, Johnny PuleO (Started Aug. 1) "AROUND THE WORLD IN 10 DAYS" (Michael Todd Productions) (Shooting in Spain) Prod.—Michael Todd Assoc. Prod.—William Cameron Mcnziel Dir.—Michael Anderson David Niven, Cantinilas, Luis Donun- quin, Noel Coward (Started Aug. 9> "DAN'L BOONE" (Gannaway-Ver Halen, Inc.) Prod.-Dir.—AMGannaway Bruce Bennett, Lon Chancy Jr., Farofl Young, Walter Sande, Kem Dibbs. Gordon Mills (Started Aug. 13) "COMANCHE" (UA Release) • (Shooting in Durango, Mexico) Prod.—Carl Krueger Assoc. Prod.—Hank Spitz Dir.—George Sherman . , Dana Andrews, Linda Cristal, Smith, Reed Sherman, Mike Mn/iu'ki, Nestor Paiva, John Litel, Henry Hri.n- don, Boyd Stockman, Stacey Harris, Lowell Gilmore, Iron Eyes Cody (Siartcd Aug. 25)