OLD FILMS IN NEW GUISE

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 March 1947, Page 7

OLD FILMS IN NEW GUISE

Since 1941 William Bendix has developed sufficient box office stature to justify an experiment by Hal Roach with the re-issue of two pre-war Bendix films. “The McGuerins of Brooklyn” and “Taxi, Mister,” the latter being a sequel to the former. The original cost of the two pictures, together, was 400,000 dollars, and their gross to the producer was 600,000 dollars. One ran 51 minutes and the other 55 minutes. Grace Bradley played opposite Bendix in both films. Roach has re-edited the film s and combined them into a 68-minute feature labelled, “Two Knights From Brooklyn.” The only additional scenes necessary were two newspaper inserts- bridging the gap between the stories. The cost of the re-editing was less than 1000 dollars, so Mr. Roach considers he can not go wrong. • • • • ATOM BOMB FILM’S WORLD PREMIERE Five world centres —Sydney. London, New York, Washington, and Ottawa—simultaneously held premieres of M-G-M’s new film “The Beginning or lhe End,” this month. This is the first time in entertainment history that a film has been released in this manner. The reason for the international premiere was the dramatic theme of the film, which deals with the discovery of the atom bomb. Opening night festivities in each centre were broadcast and filmed. In attendance were political, scientific, military, and educational leaders, and stage and motion picture personalities. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, Tom Drake, Beverly 'Tyler, Audrey Totter, and Hume Cronyn. Made with the co-operation of the White House and the United States War Department. “The Beginning or the End” depicts many famous living personalities, including President Truman and Professor Albert Einstein. The late President Roosevelt is also portrayed in the film. • • • • Gene Tierney, who speaks French fluently, has received a bid from Producer Jacques to star in a French movie. • • • • Maureen O’Hara refused to take a movie bath in a scene in “The Homestretch.” She said the folks back in Dublin would be shocked beyond words to see her do anyniing so unladylike. 9 • • • Th e romantic scenes in “The Razor’s Edge” cost the studio over a million dollars—in fact, one scene between Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney aione came to over a hundred thousand. Victor Mature has picked his nine favourite feminine stars. Vic sums them up as follows. Rita ftayworth, most beautiful, Linda Darnell, most alluring. Cathy Downs he finds the sweetest, Grable the sauciest, and Lana Turner the sultriest among his favourites. Ann Shirley he thinks is most restful, Hedy Lamarr most exotic, Gene Tierney the most exciting and Carmen Miranda the most fun. While making “My Darling Clementine” out in Monument Valley, Arizona, Vic spent many weefa on a Twentieth Century set with two of his favourites, Cathy Downs and Linda Darnell, and he says that experience only served to confirm his opinion.