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Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Setting to the Public FEATURE REVIEV^<br />
Comedy-<br />
The Hucksters A Drama<br />
MGM (728) 115 Minutes Rel. luly 17. '47<br />
Clark Gable is back in his roving-eyed, romantic stride<br />
in this amusing, realistic and remarkably adult picturization<br />
of the sensational behind-the-scenes novel about radio<br />
advertising. The combination of Gable, in his first picture in<br />
more than a year, and a book that topped the best-seller lists<br />
for months will insure strong grosses generally. While a few<br />
of the book's more racy details are eliminated, the film captures<br />
its cynicism about radio in splendid fashion. As regards<br />
entertainment programs, patrons will realize that it's not what<br />
the public wants but what the sponsor wants that counts.<br />
Dictatorial sponsors, sugary soap operas and annoying singing<br />
commercials all come in for some clever ribbirfg under<br />
Jack Conway's astute direction. Sydney Greenstreet is literally<br />
immense as a coarse, bombastic radio sponsor and<br />
Deborah Kerr is refreshing as the object of Gable's affections.<br />
Clark Gable. Deborah Kerr, Sydney Greenstreet. Adolphe<br />
Menjou. Ava Gardner, Keenan Wynn. Edward Arnold.<br />
price<br />
$125<br />
0. $«<br />
inler'<br />
Crossfire<br />
RKO Radio ( )<br />
A<br />
85 Minutes Rel. Aug. 1.<br />
This plea for religious tolerance is a forceful film that shou<br />
set an audience back on its heels. The story is effective<br />
the adult dramatic way it bares the grim story of blind r<br />
ligious, hatred in America. Because of this stark theme tl<br />
picture doesn't make for relaxation. Suspense and action a<br />
maintained at a high pitch from the opening scene to tl<br />
smash finish. The film doesn't preach. Instead the messac<br />
for tolerance is skillfully woven into a story of murder mo<br />
voted by anti-Semitism. Photographic effects are excellei<br />
FiKO recruited top talent. The dialog is as natural as tl<br />
characters. Robert Ryan, a soldier crazed by drink ar<br />
hatred, kills Sam Levene, a Jew, and later murders his ov<br />
buddy. Robert Young, detective, exposes Ryan. Geore<br />
Cooper, innocently accused of the crime, returns to hi.s wil<br />
Edward Dmytryk directed.<br />
Robert Young. Robert Mitchum. Robert Ryan. Gloria Graham<br />
Paul Kelly, Sam Levene. Jacqueline White.<br />
Dra<br />
Pacific Adventure<br />
F<br />
Drama<br />
Columbia (835) 97 Minutes Hel. July '47<br />
With all the world conscious of the need for further trailblazing<br />
in aviation, this Australian-produced film about one<br />
of the smallest continent's heroes, is timely. Since it is a true<br />
account, the danger of early air travel is not minimized and<br />
this makes for many thrills and much suspense in the drama.<br />
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, affectionately known to the Aussies<br />
and others as "Smithy," was one of the flying pathfinders<br />
who broke air record to show what could be done,<br />
was knighted for his exploits but saw his rivals get badly<br />
needed airmail contracts. He had romance and marriage<br />
but these are of secondary importance in the film, which is<br />
well made but a little heavy for entertainment purposes.<br />
The absence of star names will hurt its boxoffice appeal unless<br />
exploited for its air action and general excellence. Ken<br />
G. Hall directed.<br />
Brute Force<br />
Univ-Int'l ( ) 96 Minutes Rel.<br />
Considered for its productional. technical and thesp<br />
worth, this stark subject reflects the excellence and meti<br />
ulousness which are expected in Producer Mark Hellingei<br />
output. Whether those sizeable assets will be sufficie<br />
to make the picture a popular and profitable exhibitic<br />
venture is, however, a moot question, the answer to whii<br />
probably will be varied and dependent upon film tastes<br />
respective communities. Those who enjoy light screen fa<br />
will shun the offering—and well they might—as being e<br />
aggeratedly realistic and entirely too brutal, grim, sangi<br />
nary. It's a prison story, probably the most unyielding a<br />
proach to such ever filmed. Its cruel, sadistic theme is not f<br />
the tender of heart or the squeamish of stomach—yet the:<br />
is always a possibility that the feature will attract in suf:<br />
cient numbers. Jules Dassin 'directed.<br />
Ron Randell. Muriel Steinbeck, John Tate, Joy Nichols. Nan<br />
Taylor. Alec Kellavvay. John Desse.<br />
Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn, Charles Bickiord,<br />
Carlo. Ann Blyth. Ella Raines. Sam Levene.<br />
Yvonne I<br />
The Millerson Case<br />
Mystery<br />
Columbia (817) 72 Minutes Rel. May 29. '47<br />
This latest episode in the Crime Doctor's psychiatric and<br />
criminological career finds Dr. Ordway, rigged out in rough<br />
hunting togs, on his way into the hill country of West<br />
Virginia for a long-delayed vacation. Since the Crime Doctor<br />
has made eight films since 1943, he really needs it. Arrived<br />
in the hills, he finds a typhoid epidemic raging and joins the<br />
county health authorities in the war against disease. A<br />
reel or two is spent in establishing that although rustics<br />
usually are crude, lazy, ignorant and hostile to modern medical<br />
techniques, they nevertheless are simple, good hearted<br />
folk, amusing in their way. This may be news to urbanites<br />
but the rural areas probably will find these sequences rather<br />
slow. After some delay the murders commence, and Dr.<br />
Ordway duly fastens them on a scraggly-bearded illiterate.<br />
It's a mediocre film. George Archainbaud directed.<br />
,1th. I\<br />
St 46'<br />
A Lady Surrenders<br />
Univ-Int'l ( ) 108 Minutes Rel. July 19^<br />
Tremendous appeal for the ladies is registered in this Pre<br />
tige release. There are moving performances by a popul(<br />
British cast, impressive scenic shots of the Cornish coast. A<br />
added draw for art house audiences is the excellent music<br />
background supplied by the British National Symphony O<br />
chestra. Musical highlight of the film is the orchestra playir<br />
"Cornish Rhapsody" at Albert Hall, London, with Margar-<br />
Lockwood at the piano. The love story is tragic and somi<br />
what slow moving, but the final embrace between Miss Loc<br />
wood and Stewart Granger should leave audiences in<br />
happy frame of mind. Miss Lockwood is a famous piani<br />
doomed to early death by a heart ailment. She meets Grange<br />
former RAF flyer who is going blind. She persuades him<br />
save his sight through an operation, but Patricia Roc force<br />
her to give up Granger. Leslie Arliss directed.<br />
F<br />
Dra<br />
Warner Baxter, Nancy Saunders, Clem Bevans. Griff<br />
Paul Guilfoyle, James Bell, Trevor Bardette.<br />
Barnett.<br />
Margaret Lockwood. Stewart Granger, Tom Walls,<br />
Patricia<br />
Roc.<br />
II<br />
For the Love of Rusty<br />
F<br />
"'""'<br />
Columbia (812) 69 Minutes Rel. May 1. '47<br />
This third film in the f^usiy series has much that will appeal<br />
to both young and old, and especially to dog-lovers, but its<br />
psychological phases of the father-son relationship are pretty<br />
foggy. Also, the tuxedo-wearing, homely-philosopher type of<br />
veterinarian living in a trailer seems a bit phony at times,<br />
as does the incident where he falls asleep and allows the tea<br />
kettle to put out the gas flame and Rusty comes to the rescue.<br />
Ted Donaldson is not exactly the average American boy he<br />
is supposed to be and neither do the father and mother<br />
seem average parents. However, there is much human interest,<br />
comedy and pathos in this film, which is designed for<br />
the lower half of a double bill and for children's matinees<br />
and family night consumption. A series of incidents rather<br />
than a definite plot. John Sturges directed.<br />
Black Gold<br />
Mono (Allied Artists) ( ) 91 Minutes Rel.<br />
Tear-jerking through tried and true methods is combine<br />
with the thrills and suspense of horse racing to furnish<br />
highly acceptable parcel of entertainment. The picture tel<br />
of the story of the breeding and training of that valiant<br />
the turf whose name supplies the title. Its best assets at<br />
a sterling performance by Anthony Quinn, who portrays th<br />
horse-loving Indian who owned Black Gold, an exciting n<br />
production of the Kentucky Derby won by that bangtail, an<br />
effective Cinecolor photography. It is the second to appee<br />
under Monogram's Sunday suit banner. Allied Artists. Whi!<br />
not as lush thespically or productionwise as the initial)<br />
("Fifth Avenue"), the feature nonetheless is weighty enouc<br />
to benefit any program. It can be a topside billing in mar<br />
situations and is dependable as strong support on the de lux<br />
dualers. Produced by Jeffrey Bernerd; directed by Phil Karlsoi<br />
F<br />
Dra<br />
Ted Donaldson. Tom Powers, Ann Doran. Aubrey Mather. Sid<br />
Tomcck. George Meader. Mickey McGuire.<br />
Anthony Quinn. Katherine DeMille, Elyse Knox. Ducky Loui'<br />
Kane Richmond. Moroni Olsen. Raymond Hatton.
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