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" ' SHORTS REVIEWS Opinions on the Current Short Sub'iects- Going to Blazes MGM (Theatre of Life) 21 Mins. Very good. Informative as well as interestholding. Latest in the new series which uti lizes real people, actual backgrounds and true happenings, this examines the nation's $600,- 000,000 annual fire loss. The film opens with some human interest touches in and about the fire house. Several views of average small town fires are shown and then the causes are explained in detail. Filmed with the cooperation of the Associated Press and the Los Angeles fire department Make Mine Freedom MGM (Cartoon in Technicolor) 10 Mins. Good. A different type of cartoon which emphasises the benefits to be found under American way of life as opposed to "isms. The average man and woman are often puzzled which way to turn but eventually they give a star-spangled reaffirmation of America's belief in democracy. Kitty Foiled MGM (Tom and Jerry Cartoon) 7 Mins. Good. A clever and amusing cartoon ir Exhibitor Has His Say (Continued from page 3) die of a story. If your patrons like a show that's easy to understand, skip this one. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Fair.—George Mac- Kenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage. * * UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL Destry Rides Again (U-I)—Reissue. James S.ewart, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Winninger. I ran this one years ago and it is just as good as ever. It's fine. Plenty of action spiced with comedy—a song or two and a wonderful cast. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale, Kas. Small town patronage. * * * Great Expectations (U-I)—John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Bernard Miles. A very fine production, superbly acted and directed, well :.eserving of the Academy awards it won. Business was slow as it naturally would be on a picture of this caliber, since a sense of appreciation for the finer things of life is generally lacking here. It deserves far more exploitation than Universal gave it. Played Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.—Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Ftural and small town patronage. * * * WARNER BROS. Dark Passage (WB)—Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett. Bogart is good in this one and the story fits his type okay. People enjoyed it. Played Fri., Sat. Weather. Okay.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * * Hare Grows in Manhattan (WB)—Short. This is one of the best Bugs Bunny shorts I have ever played. Adults as well as children waited for the second show to see it again. The print in excellent condition, also the sound. Played Sat., Mon. Weather: Fair. —S. N. Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Rural patronage. * UMy Wild Irish Rose (WB)—Dennis Morgan, Arlene Dahl, Andrea King. The audience liked this. I found parts of it a little boring and would have liked to have seen more of the minstrels. Arlene Dahl is all right. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Rain.—Marcella Smith, Vinton Theatre, McArthur, Ohio. Small town patronage. * * * In Technicolor in which a little canary is costarred with the mischievous mouse and the watchful cat. Tom Cat thinks he is going to catch either the bird or the mouse for his lunch, but the two little creatures lead Tom a merry chase and finally outwit him. The Midnight Snack MGM (Tom and Jerry Cartoon) 9 Mins. Good. Another clever cat vs. mouse cartoon in Technicolor. The mouse-hungry Tom lies in waiting to pounce upon Jerry when the tiny rodent emerges from the refrigerator with a huge hunk of svîss cheese. He holds the mouse by the tail while he further tortures him by making a feast out of the icebox goodies. But the cook arrives and' chases Tom with a broom. You Can't Win MGM (Pete Smith Specialty) 9 Mins. Good. Dave O'Brien again enacts the role of Mr. Average Man who finds himself on the losing end while trying to cope with ordinary household problems. He struggles with a trick cigaret lighter, a hammock that won't stay up, a persistent insurance salesman and the Newsreels Movietone News, No. 36: Eisenhower holds press conference at Columbia university; New York loyalty parade; Japanese eucharistic procession; apple blossom festival; Texas City first recovery festival; burned-out city of Laramie helped out by little Marshall plan; fashions in gold; Citation wins Kentucky Derby. News of the Day, No. 270: Palestine report; army bids goodbye to "Ike"; May day around the world; apple blossom time in Dixie; film story of 1948 Kentucky Derby. Paramount News. No. 73: Apple blossom time; the General takes leave of his troops; May day around the globe; Kentucky Derby. Universal News, No. 140: Red demonstration overshadowed in Oslo, Copenhagen, Toyko and New York; May day celebrations; Eisenhower takes over presidency at Columbia; Citation wins Kentucky Derby. V/arner Pathe News, No. 75: Eisenhower leaves the army; Europe hails new U.S. aid; bus village for Tokyo homeless; chimps in the news; Kentucky Derby. Movietone News, No. 37: Republicans battle for presidential nomination; President speaks about housing and family welfare; a gas blast demolishes home in Long Island; tornadoes in West Virginia and Texas; General Wainwright honored by Masons; chimpanzees clean St. Louis zoo; the U.S. prepares for the Olympics. News of the Day, No. 271: President sees peril in housing shortage; spectacular flight over China's highest peak; flash tornado leaves wide ruins in Texas; Dewey's campaign in far west; fashions in lace for summer wear; lighter side of the news. Paramount News, No. 74: Primary battles; the world's tiniest dogs; family life meeting hears President; Olympic divers. Universal News, No. 141: Navy's Mothball fleet ready for action; Truman lauds family life; princess inspects Holland coal mines; tornado levels Texas town; gas blast wrecks New York residence; helicopter flies inside building; chimps do spring cleaning; diving queens in pre-Olympic workout. Warner Pathe News, No. 76: Freak disaster across • coun:ry; Holland princess visits coal mine; trouble in Trieste; Koreans riot in Japan; major minds baby by radio; moonlight fashions; Great Americans—Emerson, a shirt with too much starch in it. One of the funniest moments show him trying to wash his car while passing vehicles continue to splash mud from nearby puddle. Puss 'n Toots MGM (Tom and Jerry Reissue) 7 Mins. Good. A reissue of one of the mos; popular Tom and Jerry cartoons. When a pretty kilty comes to call, Tom trots out all his tricks in an effort to impress her. However, he reckons without Jerry, the mischiveous mouse, who spoils his act. Battle for Greece 20th-Fox (March of Time) 17 Mins. Good. The latest in the MOT series on the "cold war" between the western powers and Russia. This issue points out the fact that in Greece the "cold war" is really a shooting war between U.S. and British-trained Greek troops and those of the left. There also are scenes of Prime Minister Sophoulis, the 88- year-old Greek leader, and his cabinet, plus shots of the American and British military missions. With Greece constantly in the headlines, this short is timely. All American News, Vol. 6, No. 289: 104- year-old ex-slave and Civil War veteran celebrates birthday; Colonel Davis welcomes air corps recruits; Haile Selassie received memorial album from people of Brussels; Cincinnati Clowns beat Memphis Red Sox in exhibition game; annual Wood Lake Country club rodeo in San Antonio thrills crowds; annual women's AAU indoor track meet at the University of Chicago. • All American News, Vol. 6, No. 2"0: Nurses learn X-ray technique; Booker T. Washington basketball team wins national championship; the Earlie Wightman family of Pine Bluff, Ark., is named "form family of the year" by the Farmer's Home administration; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Barnett display curios of trip to Africa; national defense conference held in Washington. • Telenews Digest, No. 18: Red marchers in May day parades around the world; first films of civil war in Costa Rica; first ERP aid ship arrives in Holland; western nations meet in London to discuss military pact; Norway—U.S. warships in show of force; the body of Manuel Roxas, first president of the Philippine republic, goes to its final resting place; Bulgarian Prime Minister George Divitroff, former head of the Comintern, arrives in Prague to sign a pact with Klement Gottwald; aluminum from wrecked planes is converted to household articles in an industrial reclamation project; Congress moves to outlaw the Communist party; climax reached in oleo-butter fight; Eisenhower, still in uniform, is greeted on the doorstep of his new house at Columbia university; first new half-dollar in 32 years is minted in Philadelphia, home of Ben Franklin whose portrait appears on the coin; European children, in New York for the UN Overseas Aid Appeal, are shown the sights of the city; Camden, N. J. police lake thousands of illegal slot machines for their last ride to the city dump; new liquid spray waterproofs clothing; Ted Horn wins a 100-mile competition for America's lop auto racers at Arlington Downs; development of an electricdriven surfboard brings another water sport within range of the lazy fan; expert skijumping contests in Norway are attended by King Haakon; Olympic competition is brought down to kids' level, as Sweden starts national matches for the vital sports of marble-shooting and tricycle racing. 14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 15, 1948
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public FEATURE REVIEWS The Fuller Brush Man F Comedy The Iron Curtain F Semidocumentary Melodrama Columbia ( ) 92 Minutes Rel. 20lhFox (816) 87 Minutes Rel. May '48 Remembering the numerous jokes of which Mr. Fuller's bright boy has been the butt, and with cognizance oi Red Skelton's celebrated talent for buffoonery, comedy devotees will chuckle at the mere prospect of the latter portraying that itinerant purveyor of household gadgets. When they see it as an actuality, the chuckles will grow to loud and continuous guffaws, for seldom has such a carnival of gags and slapstick been reduced to celluloid. Mounted wi;h the opulence characteristic of Producer Edward Small, the vehicle was hand-tailored for Skelton's sizable and diversified bag of tricks. Inescapably the offering will find a place on the "must see" list of all seekers of escapist entertainment—and that spells top grosses in any man's show house. It's a Harold Lloydish story with the title roler a lovable goon getting into jams. Directed by S. Sylvan Simon. -lit) Tni\ ns[/ A title familiar in the daily headlines has been lilted onto a semidocumentary melodramatic story based on the aiomic bomb spy disclosures in Canada some time back Canadian backgrounds are used to give it authenticity. It Communist front organizations had not been carrying on a campaign against showing of the picture, it would be just another good spy story, with suspense well maintained. Because of the opposition from friends of Russia it has become a controversial film supposedly charged with social significance and an intent to influence international policy. This makes it necessary for an exhibitor to decide whether his audiences want straight entertainment — escapism — or entertainment weighted with political problems. William W. Wellman directed from a script by Milton Krims. Sol T. Siegel, producer. Red Skelton, Janet Blair, Don McGuire, Hillary Brooke, Adele Jergens, Ross Ford, Trudy Marshall, Nicholas Joy. Gene Tierney. Dana Andrews, June Havoc, Edna Best, Barry Kroeger. So This Is New York Comedy Fighting Father Dunne F United Artists (581) 80 Minutes Rel. Because with praiseworthy adroitness the picture captures the feeling, atmosphere and dialog of the writings of the late, great Ring Lardner, it should assert a strong appeal among the countless enthusiasts about his works. The film is based on one of the author's most popular yarns, "The Big^Town." Its continuous humor, resultantly, is characterisically wholesome with just enough tongue-in-cheek to assure an additional fillip for the sophisticated' and nostalgic. Another very definite exhibition asset is the presence in the topline of Radio Comedian Henry Morgan, who has millions of listening fans, many of whom will be eager to see him on the screen for the first time. Those two phases alone should guarantee the offering's boxoffice success—especially in de luxe bookings—and they are bolstered by class in production, performances and the direction of Richard O. Fleischer. Henry Morgan, Rudy Vallee, Hugh Herbert, Bill Goodwin, Leo Gorcey, 'Virginia Grey, Dona Drake, Jerome Cowan. RKO Radio (- -) 93 Minutes Rel. June '48 Pathos, tender humor and a strong religious theme are woven into a good boxoffice bet for family situations. Pat O'Brien is warm and human as the struggling priest who built a home for underprivileged newsboys in the early 1900s. The story is not dissimilar to "Boys Town" in that it strikes a note of faith and brotherly love. Deft underplaying of the more emotional scenes avoids suggestions of sacchirine sentiment. The laughs are well paced, Una O'Connor and Charles Kempner contribute two outstanding characterizations with delightful touches of humor Arthur Shields, familiar to audiences, is a crusty Irishman who sponsors O'Brien's project. Darryl Hickman is excellent as the newsboy O'Brien couldn't save from a life of crime. He accidentally kills a policeman and is hanged. Heartbroken. O'Brien continues fighting for his boys. Ted Tetzloff directed Pal O'Brien, Dairyl Hickman, Charles Kempner, Una O'Connor, Arthur Shields, Harry Shannon. River Lady F Action Drama (Technicolor) \.,T Under Caliiornia Stars F Musical Western (Trucolor) Univ-Int'I (661) 78 Minutes Rel. May '48 Republic (731) 70 Minutes Rel. May 1, '48 Exhibitors in the market for an outdoor actioner with romance will find "River Lady" to their liking. The four-way love interest involving Yvonne DeCarlo, Dan Duryea, Rod Cameron and Helena Carter is milked for all it's worth against a brawling 19th century background of logging camps and a Mississippi gamiiling ship. Technicolor photography proves highly decorative and helpful. Half the time the romantic antics of the principals seem to make little sense. Miss DeCarlo, owner of the gambling ship, and Miss Carter, daughter of the local lumber king, compete for Cameron's love. He works for Miss Carter's father first as a logger then as an executive, and is in love with Miss DeCarlo. So is Duryea, a gambler. However, Cameron resents Miss De Carlo's efforts to make a gentleman of him and he marries Miss Carter. Direction by George Sherman is crisp. Yvonne DeCarlo, Dan Duryea, Rod Cameron, Helena Carter. Lloyd Gough, Florence Bates, John Mclntire. Herein Roy Rogers is portrayed as himself, a motion picture and radio star and a gentleman rancher. At first blush such story idea appears to have considerable merit. But when the scriveners thereof were confronted with the unavoidable necessity of interjecting those basic ingredients demanded by western fans, they found themselves in trouble. For dramatic backbone they decided to make a kidnapping victim— in reality it's hossnapping—of Trigger, Roy s horse. Then, to bolster that weak thread, they latched onto the hackneyed device of a boy and his dog. The result is an unconvincing literary hodge-podge in which the standarn fist fights, gun duels, chases and villainy seem out of piacs. On the asset side, however, there are effective Trucolor photography and the usual sprinkling of pleasing musico. interludes. Directed' by William Witney, Roy Rogers, Jane Frazee, Andy Devine, George H. Lloyd, Wade Crosby, Michael Chapin. House Peters jr. Casbah Melodrama Guns of Hate F Univ-Int'l (655) 94 Minutes Rel. April '48 On the lavish standard, from bizarre costumes, exotic dancing by Katherine Dunham and her dusky cohorts, to the emotions of the people who live in this out-of-bounds section of Algiers for which the film is named. Tony Martin, co-owner in the Marston studios which produced this, plays and sings effectively the part of a glamor-boy thief, Pepe Le Moko, who cannot leave the Casbah for fear of arrest. Peter Lorre, sinister in his suavest manner as the police inspector, uses Pepe's infatuation for a French girl tourist to entice him outside the safety of the Casbah. For sophisticated audiences, this will have bizarre charm, but those who come to see Katherine Dunham and her dancers risk disappointment. Neighborhood shows and small town situations will not be impressed. Settings are interesting and it is well cost. John Berry directed. Yvonne DeCarlo, Dan Duryea, Rod Cameron, Helena Carter, Hugo Haas, Thomas Gomez, Douglas Dick. 932 15 ôyomcF. May 15. 1948 RKO Radio (819) 61 Minutes Rel. Selection of titles for run-o'-mill westerns apparently is just as much a production problem as determination of story material. Obviously the handle hung on this Tim Holt starrer could aptly apply to almost any stock galloper. It happens, however, that the yarn is the one about the fabulously-rich lost gold mine, rediscovered by the old prospector who promptly is done in by the heavies so that they can get the well-worn map and jump the claim. While evident in prescribed doses are the action ingredients, the film nonetheless assays a few karats below the laudable average established in their field by the long line of predecessors in the Holt series. That's nothing to worry about, however, because the offering will do its part in the field at which it is aimed. Directed by Lesley Selander. Tim Holt. Nan Leslie, Richard Martin, Steve Brodie, Dell, Tony Barrett, Jim Nolan. Myrna on
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Page 72 and 73: COLUMBUS John Pennington, Cincinnat
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