THE NEW FILMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25054, 18 November 1944, Page 4

THE NEW FILMS

INOTABLE AIR PICTURE i DAYLIGHT BOMBING RAID BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT Of the pictures reviewed this -week, jeasily the best is "The Memphis Belle," * 40-minute documentary film released (through the American Office of War (Information. Photographed by men of ithe United States Army Air Corps, this (picture is an exciting and impressive record of the part played by American bombers and air crews in a daylight raid over Germany. "The Memphis Belle" (Embassy Theatre) is the record of the kihd yf .work done in daylight over enemyoccupied territory by bombers of the IJnited States Army Air Force. Both 5n method and in quality the picture is reminiscent of the notable English documentary film, "Target for Tonight." The peaceful English countryside, cut and carved for the uses of war and described by the commentator as a battle front of a kind never known before, is the home of the Flying Fortresses. Among them is one named "The Memphis Belle," with 24 missions to her credit. It is with the 25th raid carried out by "The Memphis Belle" and her crew that the film is chiefly concerned. Confusing the Enemy The spectator is shown the daily routine on the airfield—the ground staff working on the aircraft, the armourers fitting fuses into high explosive bombs and loading them into the machines and the aircrews being briefed for the day's mission, the delivery of the bombs on to specific points at Wilhelm6ha veil, Germany. In a fascinating sequence, the film shows by map and diagram the plan worked out by the operations staff to divert and confuse [the enemy's fighter opposition. The film gives a vivid account of the dangers the bombers face from enemy fighters- and anti-aircraft fire. Even ■wnen allowance is made for the technical difficulties of photography, the eamera emphasises what elusive targets Ihigh-epeed fighters make as they streak across the sky. The of a stricken Fortress, spinning slowly from the formation as five of her crew bail out, adds a note of grim reality. "The Memphis Belle" is photographed in colour and in tint with results tbat Ere not always satisfactory. Some of the sequences are blurred and the colour tones in such a sequence as that showing the vapour trails formed in the high altitudes are distracting. On the other hand, the film has been cut and edited by expert hands. All the combat scenes ■were obviously not photographed during a single operation, but they have been unified into a first-class documentary film. The commentary is occasionally rhetorical, but is always effective. Achievements of British Airmen

The picture was made by Americans primarily for distribution in the United States. As the record of the work done by. American bombers over the Continent, it makes no reference to the activitie of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command over a much longer period. But in its simple and realistic narration "The Memphis Belle" will remind New Zealanders of the gallant achievements of British airmen from all parts of the Empire who, for more than five years, in daylight and in dark, have carried the attack to the enemy's home front. "The Memphis Belle" is suitable for older children. "Standing Room Only" (Embassy Theatre) is an amusing farce concerned •with the housing shortage and servant problem in Washington. There are some satirical asides about government red tape and women in war service who are too conscious of their uniforms. Although the comedy is uneven, the film is presented with Hollywood's typical pace and polish. Some droll exchanges occur between Roland Young, as a timorous householder, and Fred MacMurray as his patronising guest. Edward Arnold provides some laughs with a capital impersonation of a butler schooled in the best English fashion. "Standing Room Only" is suitable tor children.

"The Heavenly Body" (St. James' Theatre) is a tedious piece of nonsense about an astronomer (William Powell) ■who is so busy calculating the impending collision of a new comet with the moon that he neglects his wife (Hedy Lamarr). When she consults a fortuneteller, the film offers for a time the promising prospect of some clever domestic comedy. "The idea_ of an astronomer's wife dabbling in the rnumbo-jumbo of astrology is original and the symbolism of some of the ensuing action is diverting, but these conceptions are let down in the script. Neither the doubleentendre dialogue nor slapstick into which the film 'lapses is as funny as the authors apparently believe. During a vodka-drinking episode, too. the narration gets out of hand. William Powell, who has not given a bad performance for years, does his best, but betrays some understandable anxiety from time to time. James Craig is good as a warden who causes a domestic crisis and Hedy Lamarr fs her glamorous self. "The Heavenly Body" is not suitable for children. GOLF DURING WEEK MANPOWER CHECK LIKELY BUSINESS MEN IN SYDNEY SYDNEY. Nov. 16 The movements of Syduey business men, many of them executives, who play Sol f and indulge in other amusements uring the week may be checked. The Deputv Director-General of Manpower, Mr Belleinore, stated that il necessary, a check would be made on the golf courses. Mr Uellemore said business men who found time for golf on week days set a bad example to the thousands of men under their control They also made manpower's task of checking absenteeism much more difficult. Ho added that he had made the charges from first-hand observation and not from hearsay. The managing director of a company had no more right to take an afternoon off, beeauso lnfelt like it, than his most junior employee. Golf club secretaries interviewed, said that most mid-week players were Servicemen or retired business men. A fenwere night workers. One secretary stated that before the war business men often slipped out for a game, returning to their offices in time to sign the correspondence. "A number of medical men in the club play occasionally at odd hours," another secretarylsaid. "Frequently tliev are interrupted in their game when called to their patients."