Denton Record-Chronicle from Denton, Texas • Page 17

Sunday, March 1, 'Pandora' Is Unusual Drama Filmed In Spain There is absorbing entertainment on the Campus sere nein M-G-M's "Pandora and the Flynig Dutch- mad," co-starring James Mason and Ava Gardner in the fascinating story of a beautiful American girl who, while living in Spain, falls in love with a mysterious Dutch painter and finds her fate inexorably held in his hands. Filmed on location in magnificent Technicolor, against the picturesque, mountain-fringed Costa Brava of northeastern Spain, the story's action engenders excitement in a series of cumulative episodes, among them a thrilling race-car trial speed run at 250 miles per hour, ending ith tho car enveloped in flames; and breathtaking sequences in the bullring, climaxed when a matador involved in the heroine's life is gored to death. But while there is action, excitement and suspense in almost every reel of "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman," the story is primarily a modern juxtaposition of the famous legend of the 16th Century Dutch sea captain who murdered the wife he thought unfaithful and was condemned to roam the seas eternally, or until he could find a woman willing to give her life for him. The counterpart of these figures in the yacht- owning Dutch painter and the American girl. Pandora, who loved him enough to give up her life for him makes for a fascinating romantic drama laid against the color, pagcntry and gypsy music of the Spanish scene.

James Mason offers a powerful and gripping performance In the dual role of the modern Dutchman aware of his fateful destiny and, in the flashback scenes, of the historic sea captain of the legend. Ava Gardner, in the most demanding and dramatic role of her fast-rising career, is fcriZliantly effective as the American girl who exerts a fatal fascniation upon almost every man who enters her life, and is compellingly beautiful in the superb Technicolor photography. While the co-stars hold first attention throughout the narrative, there are admirable supporting performances upon the part of a handpicked cast. Nigel Patrick is excellent as the daring racing-car driver, willing to give up even his precious car to prove his love for Pandora. Shelia Sim gives spark and fire to her role as a girl jealous ot her most fascinating rivnl.

Harold Warrender lends a convincing authority to his portrayal of the archeologist who unwittingly sends Pandora into the arms of the Dutchman, while another stand-out role is played Mario Cabre as the matador whose passionate love for Pandora brings about Ms own death. The man behind "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" is Albert I.pwin, who has done a remarkably successful job in writing, directing anil (with Joseph Kaufman) co- I SECTION TWO--PAGE PIVR TWENTIETH CENTUUY 'VENUS' Ava Gardner, currently appearing; on the Campus screen as the heroine of a tempestuous romance with James Mason in M-G-M's thrilling Technicolor love story, "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman," is known as the Twenteth Century Venus because of the perfection of her face and figure. Statistics: Height 5 ft. 6 weight 125 bust, 36 waist 2314 hips 37 in. Wears size 12.

Her hair is brown, eyes green. J. P. HARRISON WINS FOURTH PRIZE IN SHOWMANSHIP MATCH Interstate Manager J. P.

Harrison has been announced as fourth- place winner of Twentieth Century- Fox's "The Day the Earth Stood Still" showmanship contest. The local theatreman received a telegram Friday from Charles Elnfield, studio vice president and director of advertising and publicity in New York, who also revealed that Harrison's prize is a $350 United States Defense Bond. LUCKY NUMBER 13 Before Steve Cochran left for Kanab, Utah, and filming on Warner "The Lion And The Horse," color action drama, he was presented by the studio with a new permanent dressing room. Although newly decorated bungalow is lettered Steve insisted on taking along his old dressing room number--13. producing this unusual picture.

He has infused his story with spectacle, unflagging action and novel background, and the result is a drama that cannot fall to absorb and entertain everyone who sees it. Einfeld's telegram reads: "Con gratulations. You won the fourth prize of a $350 United States Defense Bond in the showmanship contest for "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Don't faint before I you that the judges and I think you did a great, great job. Letter follows. Best wishes and regards." The contest, held last year, wa open to all American and Canadian theatre managers.

First prize was a $1,000 bond; second, $750; third, $500; $350; fifth, $250; sixth, $150; next 10, $100; next 15 $75; next 100, $50, and next 105 $25. "A man cannot win something like this single-handed," Harrison said today. "It takes the co-operation of many." The showman declared that the prize would be divided among five persons who helped with the local Interstate contest entry. Of the thren major awards oi fered In Hie last several years by Twentieth Century-Fox, Harrison has placed in all. He won $500 firs prize in the "Belle Starr" contest a $500 bond In the "Mother Didn' Tell Me' 1 race, also a first prize, and the latest $350 bond fourth place prize.

the movies is the fashion among intellectuals to pan movies. It used to be nore the fashion than it is now, owning to the advent of television. It is really run to pan television; as a well-known television personality said recently, "We've got the movies beat all hollow as far as mediocrity goes." Well, we would like to say a kind word for movies. Last week, we went tooting downtown to the Palace to see "Phone Call From A and that is what has inspired this column. By intellectual standards, it is medicrc, being a bit confused and rather gushy at But, we had a fine time, and it all cost one buck and 20 cents for two hours, pretty hard rates to beat.

Now, there are almost as many varieties of movie goers as there are movies. Mnny younger patrons go to spoon and eat popcorn. In our opinion, it is better to spoon in the movies than in beer joints and popcorn is harmless enough. Then, there are intellectuals who do not go to movies made in Hollywood. They go to foreign films, which ire considered more artistic.

It is amazing how much more artistic ihe words, "I love you," sound in Italian, which we do not understand, than they do in English. In English, corn; in Italian, art. As far as goes, the Italians have certainly done some wonder- "ul things in movies. So have the French, and so have the English But we saw a movie the other day, "A Place In The Sun," which we Local Intermit Mintgtr J. P.

Harrlion has hit appreciation to Mrl. W. M. Loveless, IM Woodland for calling this letter to hit irrentlon. considered art, and it was made in tired, old mediocre Hollywood; nor was "A Streetcar Named Desire" far behind.

And both these movies worked under the handicap of our being able to understand every word. So far, we have left out a large and important body ot movie goers. This is the group to which we happily belong, intellectual clod we is the group which is sick to death of trying to balanca family budgets; of washing dishes, hanging up the clothes on the line, changing the diapers, pleasing the boss--in short, it is the group which wishes a short respite from life as it is. This is the group which climbs into the family car and wanders off to a movie for a couple of hours. It seeks not art; it is not particularly concerned with whether the heroine can act; it cares nothing about whether the plot too "slick," the direction too static.

It has no technical interest in the movie whatever. It just wants to get out of the house for a couple of hours, live somebody else's life, and not shatter the budget beyond repair by doing all this. We don't think this is en ignoble wish, and we think It is filled by Hollywood like nobody ever filled it before, not ever in history. It seems possible to us that if the French peasants had bucn able to dash off to a movie once In a while, there might never have been a French revolution. When the movies try for art, they sometimes fall flat on the well- known face.

So do books, and so do plays. Sometimes, they succeed, and so do books and plays and whenever any one of them does, it is a grand and inspiring thing. But, most of the time, Hollywood is just trying to help a man pass two hours with pleasure for 60 cents. That, we submit, is a high purpose, in these days, well carried out. Even in our well-known Department of Morale Lifting--the Mlllnery Department--we can't do as good a job.

Not at least, for 60 cents. County Children To Get Another All-Comedy Show Denton County are going have another "cartoon day" next Saturday, according to the Interstate Management, which announced 11 top cartoons and comedies will be shown. Included 'n the program are: Hugs and Mugs, Three Stooges; The Lonesome Mouse, Tom and Jerry; Tho Uninvited Barney Bear; The Fly's Last Flight, Goofy Gym- nasties. Goofy; Toy Tinkers, Donald Duck; Pluto's Htirt Throb, Pluto; Pgtty Tat Trouble, Twsetie Pie; Wearing of the Grin, Porky Pig; Rabbit Fire, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, and Belch Nut, Woody Woodpecker. Chapter Eight of the serial, "Overland Wlft Kit Carson," will also be of the Kid.

dlo Show program. Smoke Jumpers Paid Tribute In 'Red Skies' Red Skies of Montana," Twentieth Century Fox's excit- ng Technicolor saga of the 'Smoke Jumpers" starring Richard Widmark, Constance Smith and Jeffery Hunter, will open Thursday at the Campus Theatre. Filmed In the mounUlm of the Northwest witli the full co-operation of federal authorities, "Red Skies of Montana" brings to the screen, or the first time, the exploits of he parachute shock corps of the J. S. Forest Service--the intrepid ire-fighting heroes who ball out if ancient Ford tri-motor planes stalemate raging timber blazes isolated and often unchartered vilderness.

This blazing tale of heroism ind danger backgrounds a tense, Iramalic story of two men who question each other's courage in he face of their common enemy. Producer Samuel G. Engel and Mrector Joseph M. Newman spent our weeks during production urniiig down the artificial tract in history scaring seven acres of man made woods with 100-foot flames. The conflagration cost Twentieth lenlury-Fox $250,000 before the ast embers died awny.

LITTLE BY LITTLE Robert Emmet Dolan, who composed nnd conducted the back- jroiind music for "Aaron Slick 'roni Punkin Crick," was so brll- iant a young pianist that he was full Hedged teacher In tlie music department on Montreal's Loyola University when he was just 14 years old. eaire I aq if Campus: Now Shewing Thru Mondiy: "PANDORA AND THE FLYING Cast: James Mason, Ava Gardner Rec. for anrt young people Color by technicolor News Extra: Mr. Magoo cartoon and Fox Tutidiy "HONG KONG" CaBt: Ronald Reagan, 11 Honda Fleming Rec. for adulls and young people Color by Technicolor Exlra: Pete Smith Specialty, Screenliner, Warner News Thurtday Friday Saturday "RED SKIES OF MONTANA" -Fox Cast: Richard Widmark, Constance Smith Rec.

for adults and young people Extra: Merry Melody Cartoon, Fox News Saturday Kid Show "MY DOG Recommended for the family Extra: Merrie Melody Cartoon, Comedy, Overland with Kit Carson No. 8 Texas. Now Showing Thru Monday "FUGHT OF Cast: Cameron Mitchell, Marguerite Chapman Tlec. for adults and young people Color by Technicolor Extra: Color Cartoon, Olga San a Musical. Metro News Tuttday Wtdnndty "GIRL ON THE Cast: Beverly Michaels, Hugo Haag.

Rec. for adults and young people Extra: Musical, Candid Micro-phone, Paramount News Thursday Friday Saturday 'SUBMARINE COMMAND" -Paramount Cast: William Holden, Nancy Olson Recommended for family Extra: Terry toon Cartoon. Sport- scope, Paramount Nes Dreamland: Now Ghawing Thru Monday 'MAGIC -asi: Luther Adler Recommended for the family Extra: Mr. Majoo Cartoon, Hugh Herbert Comedy, Radar Men from the Moon No. 8 Wtdnttday 'LILI Recommended for the family Extra: Casper the Ghost of Cartoon, Dennis Morgan Short Thursday Friday Saturday OF LOST "ast: Allan "Rocky" Lane Recommended for the family Extra: Pepa Le Pew Cartoon, Royal Mountics Hide Again No.

1 STRANGE MEETING ON MARS--Virginia Huston and Arthur Franz are shown in a tensely exciting scene in "Flight to Mars," a Monogram Picture now nt the Texas Theatre. The young adventurers from Earth get man's first glimpse of the strange people who, according to the screen story, inhabit the planet Mars. Journey To Mars Just For Asking On Texas Screen For merely the usual low price of admission, patrons the Texas theatre, starting today, ill -e Eivcn the thrill of a rocket trin to the planet Mars, there to meet some extraordinarily entertaining people. The Interstate management hns booked the widely heralded "Fi'ht to 1 a Monogram production In Clnecolor, which stars Marguerite Chapman as a Martin beauty and Cameron Mitchell as her lover from the planet Earth. As produced by Walter Mlrisdi and written by Arthur Strawn, "Flight to Mars" deviates sharply from the H.

G. Wells conception ot the Martin race as mechanical monsters dealing In death. The men and women of Mars in this picture are highly advanced, highly civilized people, far ahead of those the Earth in their culture and manner of living. There always has to be a villain, of course, but rhc one in "Flight to Mars," a Martian named 1k- ron, Is motivated by whaif he believes to be necessity, and It makes for a Icfjical story point. Miss Chapman, who at one time; was one of the most popular models in tho country, and Cameron Mitchell, who has a wide following, are given strong support in this picture, directad by Lesley Se-" lander.

Arthur Franz, Virginia- Huston, Richard Gaines and John with Mitchell, complete, Earth parly. Chief Martian rtles--r- are played by Morris Ankrum, Lucille Barkley, Robert H. Barratt, and Edward Earle. AT Will THEY FIND ON Fantastic terrors and wonders of a strange planet! Science's most amazing expedition! CAMERON CHAPMAN MITCHELL HANZ HUJIOM Hill ANKKUM A MONOCOAM ftCIUM TODAY and MONDAY A AVA GARDNER, "Show Boat" living symbol tin wemn by men-- dcttroyiAg thoM who you to from lU Brtt Vnt to tin MASONARDNER Tip: Smqt torchy rendition of Am I To Know." Nigd Shvto Hetett Mono PATRICK SIM WAMfNOCft CAME HOAX OR HITLER? TUST1 WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES Of THE NAZI HIGH COMMAND? UttHBt PATMOA KMGHT IT WKUAM LSMtR -ON THE SAME PROGRAM- Mr. Maggo Cartoon Riot Hugh Herbert Conwdy RadarrrMn From TODAY MONDAY A A.