Boxoffice-April.07.1958

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FEATURE REVIEWS Story Synopsis; Exploitips; Adiines for Newspaper and Programs
THE STOKY: "High Hell" (Para)
John Derek is determined to take four ininprs up to his
gold mine atop the Canadian Rockies despite the fears of
the townspeople at the foot of the peak that blasting during
the wlJiter may bring do\ni an avalanche. Derek promises
to use his d>niamite cautiously and they fight through a
snowstorm to the mountain cabin only to find Derek's ia^
partner, Al Mulock. and the latter's attractive wife, Elaine but
Stewart,
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already there. With the weather so bad, Elaine is
forced to stay on and slie causes dissension among the miners.
When a rich gold vein is discovered, the other men disregard
Derek's warning and steal d.vniamit* for stronger blasts. In
the fight that ensues, several men are killed, the mine is
sealed off forever and Derek, who has kept his promise to
the town, finds happiness with Elaine.
EXPLOITIPS:
Play up John Derek as star of "The Ten Commandments"
and "Omar Kliaj-yam" but use stills or enlargements of
Elaine Stewart in her tub-bathing scene. An attentiongetting
giveaway could be made of hard candies covered with
gold foU—to simulate gold nuggets.
CATCHLINES:
Five Men and a Woman Trapped in a Mining Cabin
on Top of the World . Filmed on the World's
Mast Rugged Mountain Peak ... It Reaches New Heights
of Excitement ... He Wanted All the Gtold—and the
Woman Too!
THE STORY: "A Girl in Black" (Kingsley)
Dimitri Horn, an unsuccessful writer, goes to Hydra, Where
he rooms with an imixjverished widow, who lives with her
son and her daughter, Ellie Lambetti. When the son learns
that his mother has a lover, he beats her in the streets to
the humiliation of Ellie. who has turned down the advances
of George Foundas. handsome fisherman. The latter jeers
at Ellie, which arouses the sympathy of Horn and this soon
turns to love. Foundas then plays a ghastly joke on the
lovers, wliich almost costs Horn his life. The joke turns
into a tragedy and several townschildren are drowned. Horn
IS accused of murder by the townspeople, but Ellie forces a
confession from Foundas and manages to find happiness
with Horn.
EXPLOITIPS:
Stress the fact that this was filmed on the Island of Hydra
already shown in "Boy on a Dolphin," recent 20th Century-
Pox film. Play up the fact that Michael Cacoyannis also
directed "Stella," a highly acclaimed art house film of 1957.
CATCHLINES:
Filmed on the Greek Island of Hydra . Startling
and Thrilling Film Prom Michael Cacoyannis, Who Directed
the Stirring "Stella" . . . Romance Mixes With Ti-agedy in
a Tale of Modem-Day Greece.
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THE STORY: "Suicide Battalion" (AIP)
Michael (Connors, John Ashley, Russ Bender, Scott Peters,
Walter Ma-slow and Bing Russell, assigned to a demolition
squad of the Army, make up a volunteer mission behind
the Japanese lines in the Philippines. The mi.ssion calls
for them to blow up secret United States papers left behind
when headquarters was abandoned. The papers are secreted
in an underground vault. Only two of the men survive when
the squad gets into action to complete its mission, but the
dangerous assignment is satisfactorily accomplished. Interspersed
in the stoi7 is a love triangle between Jewell Lain,
war correspondent, and Connors and Ashley, and there is
more intrigue between some of the other men and warfront
cafe girls Mai-jorie Stapp. Jan England, Isabel Cooley, and
their boss, Hilo Hattie.
EXPLOITIPS:
Play up Michael Connors as a favorite with the yoimgsters
in both theatrical films and on television. Since he has only
recently dropped his former first name, "Touch," you might
let the public know he is one and the same actor by using
the "Touch" in parentheses or quotes.
CATCHLINES:
An Army Demolition Squad Volunteers to Blow Up Secret
U. S. Papers Behind Jap Lines . . . They Were Six in Number
When They Left on Their Secret Mission, But Four
When They Returned.
THE STORY: "Jet Attack" (AlP-Zuma)
John Agar and his two buddies, Gregory Walcott and
Nicky Blair, are forced to accept the aid of Russian nurse
Audrey Totter after they are shot down behind Chinese
Communist-North Korean lines. Agar's pals do not trust
her, but he does, and his faith in her proves not to be misplaced
when she ultimately helps all three of the men
maneuver the escape of a vital United States scientist who
has fallen into the hands of the Reds, and who the men
have been trying to rescue for months. Aided and abetted by
a band of guerrillas. Agar manages to get hold of a Communist
MIG, and, with the scientist, makes his escape.
EXPLOITIPS:
Play up the names of John Agar and Audrey Totter, both
of whom are known to moviegoers. Hold a special preview
for Air Force men in the area, especially honoring those
who have seen duty in the Korean battle. Promote a radiotelevision
discussion on safe flying, or have a flight insti-uctor
come to the theatre and address a group of teenagers
on Air Force tactics, etc.
CATCHLINES:
High Adventure! Unbearable Suspense! In This Daring
Tale of Action Behind the Enemy Lines During the Korean
War . was a Russian Nurse, but They had to Trust
Her—She Held Their Lives in Her Hands . Happens
When An American Air Force Pilot Steals a Communist
MIG and Flees for His Very Life?
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THE STORY: "The Last Bridge" (Union)
Maria Schell. a nui-se-doctor in the German Army that
invades Yugoslavia, is tricked into going behind the enemy
lines, where she is captured and forced to give medical aid
to then- wounded. Although she is reluctant to minister to
the enemy she is watched over by Bemhard Wicki. who
gradually convinces her that even the enemy are human
bemgs. When a typhus epidemic breaks out, she faces danger
to secure drugs for the Yugoslavs. The Germans arrive and
capture the town and her former sweetheart. Carl Mohner
pleads with her to return. But she insists on taking the
medicine back to the stricken partisans. As she is crossing
the last bridge to get to them, fighting breaks out. The
fatally wounded Maria manages to get the drugs to Wicki
before she collapses and dies in the middle of the bridge "imgc.
EXPLOITIPS:
Stress the fact that Maria
_
Schell is currently starring in
"The Brothers Karamazov" and won the best actress award
at the Cannes Film Festival for "The Last Bridge" Also
mention or display copies of the Time Magazine and Life
Magazine covers on Miss Schell
CATCHLINES:
The World's Most Magnetic Actress in Her Prize-Winning
?r. L- \A ^^T''" ^^° Pi-ofes.sed Her Faith in Humanity
„ ^ ^l^^^J'^ 'War . . .
Winner of the Cannes Festival
Award the Golden Laurel Award and the International
Critics
Prize.
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THE STORY: "The Narcotics Story" (PoUce)
The picture's continuity liinges on the story of Sharon
Strand who is first attracted to the use of narcotics through
an adventurous and curious bout with marijuana. In relating
her experience, detailed information of unusually
authentic character is supplied regarding the manner in
which dope is secured and distributed by the leaders of big
narcotic operations down through the small fry among
"pushers" and users. Considerable footage is devoted to the
way the addicts take various kinds of dope; theu- degradation;
the extreme means to which they resort to secure the
daily dosage made necessary by their cravings; and the
methods that the police employ in tracking down the sources
of the drugs and in apprehending the men and women who
fatten on their distribution.
EXPLOITIPS:
Invite interested adiUt authorities to a special screening.
Include among them PTA officers, juvenile recreation administrators,
law officials, clergymen, and all others who
might have to deal with the dope addiction problem. Arrange
assemblies in schools and have local police officers
discuss narcotic situation using "The Narcotics Story" as (
background material.
CATCHLINES:
.liaii Documented Step by Step, the Pit-Falls of Dope . . . Never
is sf a More Sensational Motion Picture Theme . . . Now the
Whole Shameful Story Can Be Told.
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April 7, 1958