Boxoffice-October.04.1952

Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips
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irOR STORY SYNOPSIS ON EACH flCTURE, SCI RCVERSI SIDE)
17 Orjmj
Way of a Gaucho ^
(Technicolor)
Springfield Rifle
(Ww-iirColw)
20th Century-Fox (229) 117 Minutoa Rel. Oct. 'S2
Against magniiiconlly spectacular Argentine backgrounds,
their panoramic beauties etched in vivid Technicolor, is unlolded
a story ol tempestuous action and Homing romance,
one which will oxert strong appeal among a wide crosssection
oi moviegoers. The ollering bears the unmistakable
stamp of authenticity inasmuch as it was photographed
entirely in the land of the pampas, the thespian topliners
and technicians having been sent there from Hollywood,
while the majority of the large supporting cast was recruited
in the Argentine. In all respects the end result is a
masterful job of picture-making and an enviable credit for
Philip Dunne, who produced from his own screenplay, and
lacques Tourneur, whose direction successfully captures the
sweep and grandeur of the story and locale. Showmen
will find no paucity ol exploitation possibilities.
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V/ciuor Droa. (204) 93 Minule* R*l.
An aclionp-aced ou'.doora drama I:
p«..riod which ha» Gary Coop«r's 'op
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•
p«rformance to carry 11
:.cTColor makes Its best shov,
i.'qu.
Oct 25. 'S2
Civil War
draw and
^.../ photographed mountains •... , ,j.
Tho predominantly male cast is studded w.
portrayals, particularly by David Bnan, a..
civilian, Lon Chaney, as his surly aide, and
as a treacherous Union lieutenant. While t;.
angle is slight, Phyllis Thaxter makes the moat oi her ta
scenes as a loyal wife As directed by Andre do Toth
spectator must pay close attention to remembc-.' whii
characters have Northern and which have Southern syi
pathies, but this is a minor flaw in a well-plotted tale,
duced by Louis F. Edelman.
Rory Calhoun. Gene Tierney, Richard Boone. Hugh Marlowe,
Everett Sloano, Enrique Chaico, Jorge Villoldo.
Gary Cooper, Phyllis Thaxter. David Brian, Paul KoUy. Philip
Carey, Lon Chaney. Guinn "Big Boy" Williams.
Everything / Have Is Yours
F
Musical
(Technicolor)
MGM (306) 92 Minutes
Rel. Oct. '52
Marge and Gower Champion, the youthful dancing team
who scored in "Show Boat" and "Lovely to Look At." can
also put over a popular song and carry off light comedy
situations in likable fashion. While their first starring musical
has the customary MGM lavish production numbers, pleasing
tunes and fine Technicolor photography, it lacks a strong
comic piersonality to put it in the hit class. Dennis O'Keele,
the only other name draw, is capable enough but his is a
colorless, sland-by part. Selling the Champions' song-anddance
appeal should bring good, if not sensational, business
generally. As wiitten and produced by George Wells,
the film starts off in a backstage background, takes time out
for some domestic sequences and winds up with c: typical
Broadway musical finale. Monica Lewis sings well. Robert Z
Leonard directed.
Back at the Front
Comedy
Univ.-Inll (223) 87 Minutes HeL Oct '52
Bill Mauldin's widely known cartoon characters. Willie
and Joe, herein make their second screen appearance and,
supplied with a gag-laden script that wisely minimizes complexities
of story structure in favor ol laugh-provoking situois
tions, turn ihe ollering into a thoroughly entertaining enteTK
Although short on marquee names. Ihe lilm is sufficientlj
diverting to rank as a strong topside booking lor the dualer
Its productional mountings are bolstered through authentfc
on- he-spot footage shot in and around Tokyo, in which localiH
the plot unfolds, and which can be utilized to advanlage m'
di-alting merchandising campaigns. Tom Ewell and Harvey
Lembeck, as the toplining dogfaces, both contribute excellent
comedy performances, while the supporting cast iSx
dominated by Mori Blanchard. The Leonard Goldstein pro-|
duction was capably directed by George Sherman.
Marge end Gower Champion. Dennis O'Keefe, Monica Lewis,
Dean Miller, Eduord Franz, lohn Gallaudet.
The Hour oil3
MGM (- -) 79 Minutes Rel. Nov. '52
An interest-holding moderately suspenseful melodrama of
society jewel thieves in 19th century London which has
Peter Lawford to give it fair name value for general audiences.
The picture was filmed in England and Roland Culver
and Derek Bond v/ill also be familiar names to devotees
ol British product. This will satisfy as a supporting dualer
but is not strong enough for a top feature. While there is
never any mystery as to the identity of the jewel thieves.
Director Harold French keeps the audience guessing about
"The Terror" who murders 11 policemen until the exciting
chase climax in a deserted warehouse. Lawford gives a
polished portrayal of the playboy jewel thitf and Culver
is excellent as a wily Scotland Yard superintendent. Dawn
Addams, now in Hollywood, is an attractive young heroine.
Produced by Hayes Goetz.
Peter Lawford, Dawn Addams, Roland Culver, Derek Bond,
Michael Hordem, Heather Thatcher, Leslie Dwyer.
Strange Fascination
Columbia (505) 90 Minutes
A
Melodrama
Rel. Nov. '52
This latest Hugo Haas production is frankly a "shocker"
and its best exploitation possibility will lie in emphasis on
the charms of Cleo Moore, who plays the sexy dame whose
powers of seduction bring about the downfall of the middleaged
and sensitive European composer-pianist, played by
Haas. Haas as producer, director, author of the screenplay
and star, acquits himself well except for some trite dialog
Miss Moore certainly demonstrates her claim to enrollment
in the ranks ol the newer exponents of cinematic sin. There
is no single light touch to relieve the steady march of the
film's tragic events and the spectator's realization that things
are bad and getting no better fast. Haas' performance is
practically flawless, although it is almost painfully realistic.
Mono Barrie, also starred, gives a convincing portrayal of
an older woman who sincerely wishes to help the artist.
Com
Cleo Moore, Hugo Haas, Mono Barrie, Rick Vallin, Karen
Dr. Hens Hass, Lottie Berl, Gerald Woidler. Leo Rohrer, Edward
WcrwTowetz, Alionso Hochhauser, Mahmoud Amir.
Sharpe, Marc Krah. Genevieve Aumont.
1414
BOXOFnCElOctober 4, 1952
1413
./Vest
Or
Tlien
'ludes
Tom Ewell, Harvey Lembeck, Mori Blanchard, Barry Kelleyi
Vaughn Taylor, Richard Long, Russell Johnson.
Captive Women
RKO Radio (- 64 Minutes ReL
F
Drama
Despite the grind-house implications of its rather shodd];!
title, here is a provocative and thoughtfully developed'
science fiction opus purporting to predict what the world
may be like in 3,000 A. D. if the sources of atomic energy
are not maintained under the watchful eye of the peaceloving.
Within the limitations of its modest budget, the
offering—written and produced by Aubrey Wisberg and Jack
Pollexfen—carries considerable dramatic impact and should
prove a thoroughly acceptable booking in virtually everyjl
situation. As concerns cast, there isn't much marqueM
strength, but performances are good and alert showmen wiB
be quick to seize upon the subject matter as the starting
point for aggressive exploitation campaigns. Albert Zug
smith was the associate producer and Stuart Gilmore i^l
credited with the directional assignment.
Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, Gloria Saunders, Ron Handell,
Stuart Randell, Paula Dorety, Robert Bice.
Under the Red Sea
RKO Radio ( ) 67 Minutes
Documentary
ReL Oct '52
Sol Lesser, who sponso.'ed last season s successful "Kon-
Tiki," herewith contributes another exploratory adventure
subject which, while it does not pack as much in the way of
genuine excitement and suspense, s'ill contains an abundance
ol material tailored to the tastes of the customers who
derive a vicarious thrill from tales of far-off and little-known
segments of the globe. Footage shot around and beneath
the Red Sea by Dr. Hans Hass, Viennese research scientist
has been adeptly packaged and edited to comprise a compact
entry that is eminently suitable for bookings as the offbeat
partner of a more orthodox feature in dual situations
There is sound, but no dialogue, except for narration by Les
Tremayne. Some truly spectacular underwater photography
includes glimpes of such ferocious marine creatures as the
manta ray and whale shark.