1949-02-18 — Page 5

P

CINEMA WORLD

ORCHID IN THE

DAISY CHAIN

Almost any actress can appear fairly good when the vehicle in which she is appearing is a solid, gripping story. It takes a very good actress to appear good in some vapid chronicle, and an

even

botter ono to make that same vapid chronicle worth paying money to see as a film. Yet that is what Joan Crawford does to "Daisy Kenyon," Twentieth Century Fox's contribution to this week's programme at the King's. Thot the novel of the same "the other womon". name, by Elizabeth Janeway,teur-stained parting. could ever have been a best- seller, as is claimed, leads one to suppose that there is still an inordinate number of servant- girl

world,

Comes the

Scarcely have the sabe died down when the careery one is

hurtling down the aisle with the third alde of the triangle Mr. Fonda) who is an ex-Gi anxious to prose on with a new life and wife, designing fishing craft the while.

He,

mild too, h cross to bear In the shape of mamory of previous spouse who died tragically. There follows, In the true style of the paper-backed passionette, of the the active unwillingness

believe that first gentleman to Daisy could possibly prefer the second gentleman in spite of the marriage, the divorce scene

Daisy is cited which

A VERY PRETTY PICKLE

About the only people who will not enjoy "Out Of The Blue," Eagic-Lion's Hollywood- offering at the Lee this week, are the pillars of temperance secieties and those whose eye- brows lift in time, with the elbows of others.

THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1949. ***

Virginia Mayo

This is caused by the film's complete preoccupation with the activities of, and on behalf of, a sprightly wench who flies through the story with one wing low, us- ing the level of brandy in a bottle Ann an artificial horison, Dvorak in the tasty tippler and have good taste in selecting undoubtedly she takes the honours in the laugh department.

For once, this is ■ comedy with no pretensions. No effort has been made to tell a sonalblo story and every effort has been made to keep the action swift, simple and completely crazy. The result is an unqualified

success.

in the English-speaking

Basically it is the agewarn tple of that wellknown human adven- ture into geometry, the triangle. Miss Crawford is, of course, the apex -if that is the right expres-

The nonsense starts with hen- alon. It would be much more

peckert hustand George Brent satisfactory to refer to her as the

spearhead spouse Carole hypotenuse.

and Then one could say

Landis quarrelling over a dog that her square is equal to the

belonging to neighbour Turhan sum

of the squares on the other

Bey, an artist. The dog's hit-and- two sides. In terms of entertain-

mun tactles on a zinnin bed bring ment value and ability (In this

about a

demand from wifey that nim, at least) that is accurate.respundent, and the subsequent Brent gets Bey removed from his

That is not to say that thair setting down of the whole bub-

Wifey then holidays is any great fault in the par- bling broth In

highly satis-appartment. #

oT for the week-end. formances of Dana Andrews Enctory and moral fashion.

Brent gets himself picked up Indeed, and Henry Fonda., Both are

the more the story is

and followed home by God's gift competent actors, and, what's contemplated the more one ad-

It more, have proved it. But not mires Miss Crawford. Similarly, istillers, Ann Dvorak. in "Dalay Kenyon." The script inuch credit must be given to Oturns out she has a weak heart, This is demonstrated when she has them under its thumb. Preminger, who directed, and topops off in a faint on Brent's

the various technicians who terrace. smoothed what must have been a lumpy path for the whole cast.

The Daisy Kenyon of the plece is a career woman, a magazine illustrator, Inevitably in this kind of story she is Introduced to the customers while in the throes of A soul-battering affaire with

handsome. masterful character

who has (strictly according to the rules) wealth, a wife and two children. It is Mr. Andrews who bears these assorted crosses.

It la ng obvious to the patrons. in the stalls as it to those in the dress circle that this cannot go on. Sure enough, the career girl (not wishing to confuse the customers) realises that she can- not handle the additional role of

STAR

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ONE BREATH OF SUSPICION BECOMES A WHIRLWIND OF MYSTERY

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UNSUSPECTED

MICHAEL CURTIZ

CAULFIELD RAINS TOTTER BENNETT HATFIELD

------TOMORROW-------

Deanna Durbin Donald O'Connor

in

"SOMETHING IN THE

WIND"

MAJESTIC

SHOWING TODAY

AT 2.30, 8.20, 7:20 a ́v.ku. p.m.

she

5

Co-

10

makes very sultable fiancee for Turhan Bay In "Out Of The Blue", He player' un artist and is therefore required to

• girlfriend

Sa

NO TALK

TO SPOIL THE VIEW

Primarily, a film is something to be seen, a point which is forgotten as often by the spec- tator as by the producer! Honce it is occasionally both in-. teresting and instructive to al- tend ja film which can be ap- |preciated by the eyes alone.

Such is "Spring Light," a Peak Film Industries Corporation (Shanghai) production coming to the Lee

this week. As there will be no English titles and not on English translation of the story in the programme the non-Chinese viewer will be on his own from the start.

oven

The

atory

J

Cupid Has Four Legs

Hollywood.

The ́ ́comedianna' Mario Witson and her husband, Allan Nibon, are back to gether again because their pet Yorkshire torrlar, named Hobbs, got lonesome.

Maa Wilson cancelled divorce plans after her actor husband slipped Into hor apartment and left the torrfor with noto attached to his collar reading: "Dear Mo- ther, my father can't keep ma in the manner to which I'm accustomed. I have not eaten or

drunk all day.. don't even enjoy passing lamp post. I'm very long- some,

guess I'm yours."-United. Press.

a change.

appears to about a girl who, white flea plete attention to the peting for Ing. from her wartorn village] is picked up by a smooth and somewhat shady character. Though pleasant and attractive at Bret, thie gentleman, after he has married the girl, turga -Qut

to „baj something less than Prince Charming.

A true-blue boyfriend of the girl's, left behind when she took to the refugee traff, and later when presumed dead, turns up to give sot [In, the film a happy ending of sorts.

It is refreshing to be able to watch the Images on the screen without the all too frequent in- Rietion of a lot of dialogue to

"Spring Light". has some very fine photography and ex- cellent direction which make It worthwhile. for anybody.

The first and Igst scenes (both fairly long) could take their place with pride alongside the best that hai bean produced Elsewhere. It is significan:] that In neither of these spatch used to any extent. Subtle use of the camera and lighting and consitive make it unnecessarys

acting

humpe her over onto. Bey's tor- race. Bay is not particularly amused, evan police complications However, things are smoothed out in that direction and Boy opens the way for one of the funniest concs in the flim by

It is only fair to mention that dressing up a fomize dummy

nonsensical the standard of photography and to represent Miss Dvorak and

the direction mentioned above calling in Brent to weslat in visual Impressions with

True, it is not seem to have been maintain- burial service.

not always possible to know ex-ed throughout, and that some of Virginia Mayo projects here arl-netly what is happening in the the shofa (presumably from mirable physique into the melt- story. But one can

always use stock) are downright poor. How- ing pot an Bey's fiancee. It is to her credit that she contributes has any after a lifetime of look-seeing films but is suffering from a little imagination (If one atillever, for someone who enjoys to the humour of the piece as ing at Hollywood) and one can a slight surfeit of tediously slick well as to its generally attractive derive a great deal of enjoyment super-productions, this is the an appearance.

from the devotion of one's com-swer.

The nonsense carries on with sustained tempo till the ultimato sorting out is achieved and every- body is allowed to show clearly before the curtain falls that they are going to live happily ever

Thinking she is dead, Brent after. For those with an over-

serious tum of mind this is all going to be a little trying if they let themselves get roped in to see it, but for those with a fow hearty guffaws looking for an outlet it is just what the doc- tor grdered.

Take Your Pick

Hollywood.

A play boy who has dated nearly every glamour girl in town has stuck his hand- some neck. out. Robert Stack offers a list of the seven best dates.

Number one on Stack's list, as on meny a man's, is Lana Turner. Evelyn_Keyes, now married to director John Huston, is the girl Stack picks for a rainy night in front of a fire.

Jane Pawell is the girl to take roller-skating when you can't afford anything else.

Betty Grable, now Mrs. Harry James, is, believe K or not, a good date when you want to play golf. Deanna Durbin was Stack's iden of a perfect date for a premiere, When he felt like taking down the top of his convertible, Stack dated Yvonne de Carlo.. which

Wanda Hendrix is the right date for an evening at the Holly- wood Bowl.

Joan Crawford in one of the many tenee - moments

makes tha most of in "Daley Kenyon". Miss. Craw ford plays the part of a magzina Illustrator with one too

meny man in her life.

OPENING

TODAY

COLOR BY

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Jordan Road,

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SHOWING TODAY

at 2.30, 5.15,

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2 minutes from the Vehicular Ferry

The Most Up-To-Date Theatre On The Mainland

THE MOST LAVISH MUSICAL. ROMANCE OF ALL TIME!

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DENNIS

MORGAN

MY WILD IRISHR

WARNER BROS. Jubiice of Joy!

16 SONGS dold Colo

TECH

BY

ÁRENIE GAHL - ANDREA KING + ALAN HALE · GEORGE TOBIAS - GEORGE OBIBER • DEN BLUE · SARA ALLGOOD

Saturday Morning Show at 12.00 Noon CARTOON PROGRAM in TECHNICOLOR 20th Century-Fox Picture

exi

SHOWING

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KINGS

Paro

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EXTRA PERFORMANCE ON SUNDAY

AT 11.30 A.M.

YOU! HOO!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?

THE GANG'S ALL HERE!

Ge gloriove gay with sweat

1

ALICE

FAYE

...In A Song-Up

Whang-Deadle Of A. Gai Lough.and Seng Shows.

The

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THE GIRLS HE

Shake your

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CARMEN

MIRANDA

"Ul you have a

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PHIL

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Have a live Ring with THE KING OF SWING BENNY

LEFT BEHIND GOODMAN

Directed by BUSBY BERKELEY

Produced by WILLIAM Le BARON

AND HIS ORCHESTRA

LEE THEATRE

ADVANCE BOOKING OFFICE CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE +. QUIEN'S 15. G. BOOKING HOURS. 1100 m. 1 5.30 pm y

4.Shows Today At 2.30, 5.15, 7.15 & 9.20 P.M.

EAGLE-LION HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION

"Follow"

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TURBAN

GEORGE

VIRGINIA

BRENT MAYO

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Time of

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Out OF

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At 2.30,

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savagery...

Splendar and shame...

Love and hate...

A Story of

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Desperate dagger fight;"

In the, umugglers" onvo

MAUREEN O'HARA JOHN PAYNE..

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OPENS SUNDAY.

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·JOIN GARFIELD

"GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT"

Best Picture of the Year!

COLUMBIA PICTURALS-presentä

Rita HAYWORTH Glenn FORD

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The loves of Carmen

NOT THE OPERA

With ROH RANDELL VICTOR JOBY LUTHER ADLER

Deckworth Corporation Production

· Deschid and Produced in CHARLES VIDOR

5 SHOWS ON SUNDAY-

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A SUPER: REVUE.

WITH

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SPECIAL ADDED

F.A. CUP 4th ROUND DERBY V. ARSENAL ALSO: THIS MODERN AGE

"THE HUNTER”

PEAK FILM PRESENTS "SPRING LIGHT" DIALOGUE IN MANDARIN

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Take Any Kusters Trans Car of Happy Valley Hu Showing Today: 2.30, 5.15, 7.20 & 9.20 p.m.

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SPECIAL MORNING SHOW TOMORROW at 1230 DINTMENT TO TOKYO Warner Bros. Film