Boxoffice_May.09.1960

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2420 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide May 9. 1960 2419
Opinions on Current Productions
^EATURE REVIEWS
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The Rat Race F 'S' „~
Paramount (5923) 105 Minutes Rel. July 4, '60
in a In the hilarity sweepstakes, this William Perlberg-George
opieaton production could well surpass the profitable patronage
and universal popularity being enjoyed by several
similar sometimes slightly naughty photoplays of the current
season and hence rack up top grosses in all of its playing
dates. The film's humor which runs the entire gamut from
the appreciative chuckle to the abdominal guffaw is nicely
accented by large touches of drama, and these serious
moments enlarge rather than lessen the spectator's appreciation
of the subtle suggestiveness of the screenplay. Even if
the feature were less expertly concocted, it probably would
attain hit proportions because of the individual and collective
magnetism of its two stars. There is Debbie Reynolds,
in a somewhat more sophisticated role than usual, but the
same polished actress; and opposite her is Tony Curtis,
skilled and poised in the part of a naive musician. Pressing
the topliners for histrionic honors are Kay Medford as a
granite-hearted landlady, and Jack Oakie, a tender-hearted
bartender. Comic Don Rickles does right well as the picture's
No. 1 heavy. Technicolor gives an effective lift to sets and
scenes. Directed by Robert Mulligen.
Tony Randall, Eddie Hodges, Archie Moore, Patty
Don Rickles, Joe Bushkin, Sam Butera, Gerry Mulligan.
Prisoner of the Volga
F f,''", 'tZTT
Paramount (5921) 102 Minutes Rel. May '60
The weary, chanting Volga boatmen have been absent
from the screen since DeMille's silent screen epic of that
name in 1926 and this Italian-made Transmonde-Fides production
is an interest-holding recreation of those feudal days,
magnificently filmed in Eastman Color and Totalscope on
Yugoslav locations. The American John Derek, supported
by two well-publicized beauties, the Italian Elsa Martinelli
and Britain's Dawn Addams, supply marquee value but the
picture is better suited to action houses and neighborhood
wif'POts than to first runs. Directed by W. Tourjansky (he also
It
lenomade U-I's "The Cossacks"), who concentrates on the color,
excitement and spectacle of that era, which includes a lavish
wedding and ball, a pitched battle between rival hordes,
which is broken up by Cossack riders, and similar affrays,
as well as several scenes of the straining, sweating boatman
who sing the famous chant in lusty fashion. Derek is not
always believable as a Russian cavalry officer-turned-boatman
but he and Miss Martinelli, who plays a spirited heroine,
make a fine romantic team. The voices of the otherwise
foreign cast have been expertly dubbed into English and
contribute standout portrayals.
John Derek, Elsa Martinelli, Dawn Addams, Charles
Vanel, Rik Battaglia, Gert Froebe. Ingmar Zeisberg.
Jual
Trs.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn F 2^^l''.i
^^^ ^"^q*
MGM (16) 107 Minutes RoL June '60
Fine, wholesome entertainment with a tremendous appeal
to the youngsters, as well as to the grownups who devoured
•^- the famous Mark Twain tale between bookcovers in their
f"%JYO^^^. 'his Samuel Goldwyn jr. production is ideal family
'
fare which should register strong grosses generally. In addition
to the enduring popularity of the book, last filmed in
1939, sports fans will be interested in the film debut of Archie
Moore, boxing champion, while old-timers will rejoice in the
brief "cameo" appearances of Andy Devine, Judy Canova
and Buster Keaton. Director Michael Curtiz has captured the
color and flavor of the old Mississippi riverboat days, but
James Lee's screenplay is episodic and comparatively unexciting.
Young Eddie Hodges, of "The Music Man" and TV
fame, gives a natural and ingratiating portrayal of Huck
Finn, and Moore is excellent as the runaway slave who participates
in the boy's Mississippi adventures. Moore also
sings two of the five new Burton Lane-Alan Jay Lemer songs,
none of them a standout. Tony Randall, the rascally "King,"
and Mickey Shaughnessy, the dim-witted "Duke," are appropriately
broad characterizations which get laughs. CinemaScope
and Metrocolor photography are superb.
Tony Randall, Eddie Hodges, Archie Moore, Patty
McCormack, Nevillle Brand, Judy Canova.
Raymie
F Ratio;
1-S5:1
Allied Artists (6006) 73 Minutes Rel. May '60
Ticket-buyers seeking relief from the recent flood of films
treating openly with juvenile delinquency, sex in every form,
murder and man's various psychoses, will welcome this
wholesome, heart-warming offering with unrestrained enthusiasm.
Parents, schools, churches and other groups who
have long decried the lack of motion pictures designed to
appeal to children will undoubtedly shout hosannas in
praise of producer A. C. Lyle's simple yam about a ten-yearold
lad who dreams of landing a legendary enormous barracuda
and makes that dream a reality, meanwhile proving
to all concerned that with courage and faith all things ore
cei. possible. This is ideal fare for neighborhood houses where
instjyoungsters haunt the boxoffices, but it will hold the interest
''of adult patrons, too. Directed by Frank McDonald from a
story by Mark Hanna, the plot moves along pleasantly
and at times excitingly—with a cast that handles all performances
capably, projecting the naturalness and direct
simplicity necessary to the plot. David Ladd gives an endearing
portrayal as the juvenile hero, and Charles Winninger
is outstanding as the kindly old man who believes
in the boy's dream. Jerry Lewis sings the theme song.
David Ladd, Julie Adams, John Agar, Charles Winninger,
Richard Arlen, Frank Ferguson, Ray Kellogg, John Damler.
Ski Troop Attack F Ratio:
1.85-1
Drama
The Filmgroup
65 Minutes Rel.
or man Mars dominates the package deal now being
marketed by The Filmgroup and of which pair of conveniently-timed
pictures this is by far the better and will undoubtedly
deliver more toward making profitable the tandem
booking of which it is the bellwether. Both photoplays treat
with World War II and take the spectator all the way from
the snowcapped peaks of the Huertgen Forest in Germany
to a sun-baked island in the South Pacific, the latter being
the case in the companion piece, "Battle of Blood Island,"
also covered on this page. Herein the principal assets are
to be found in action, suspense and the backgrounds against
which the picture was photographed. There is one climactic
scene devoted to the demolition of a strategic bridge which
sequence is loaded with excitement and impressively utilizes
some trick photography and miniatures. Roger Corman, who
heads The Filmgroup, produced and directed. In the former
chore he made every dollar of an obviously limited budget
perform yeoman's service and in the latter his characteristic
_ iakill is in evidence throughout. Under his piloting a com-
""'^petent cast, although it is entirely lacking in name values,
delivers adequately.
Michael Forest. Frank Wolff, Wally Campo, Richard
Sinatra, Sheila Carol.
^J
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nu:
Battle of Bfood Island
F
Ratio:
1.S5-1
The Filmgroup 67 Minutes ReL
Inasmuch as there are only two actors—plus a handful of
extras that appear in comparatively few scenes—this offbeat
offering would have been a difficult undertaking for a duo
of ranking troupers. That's because the screenplay leans
heavily toward the philosophical and soul-searching side.
The action promised by the title is implied rather than an actuality,
which permits the duo of mummers plenty of time for
mugging and scenery mastication. The feature gives the
impression that it was made for television and there can be
little doubt that it will find its way to that medium as quickly
as commitments and contractual limitations will permit.
Its theatrical screen value lies in the fact that it will be distributed
as the nether half of one of The Filmgroup's package
deals for which—and especially in view of the current product
shortage—there is always a ready and sizable market.
Its running mate photoplay is "Ski Troop Attack," which is
also evaluated on this page. Joel Rapp will have to be
blamed for the film's frailties as a theatrical booking inasmuch
as he both wrote and directed the opus which was
filmed on a patently skimpy budget on an island in the
Caribbean,
Richard Devon, Ron Kennedy.
The reviews on these poges may be filed for future refercnie in any of the following woys: (1) in ony itandord three-ring
toose-leaf binder; (2) Individually, by company. In any standard 3x5 card Index file; or (3| In the BOXOFFICE PICTURE
GUIDE three-ring, pocket-size binder. The latter, lncludlr>9 a year's supply of booking and daily business record sheeH.
may be obtained from Associated PublicotkMls, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo., for $1.00, postage paid.