The Montreal Star from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 67

I I The iVew Films i 4 Happy Family On Vacation vxf-yyt :4 iij Nvi PALACE MR HOBBS TAKES A VACATION 20th-Fox release of Jerry Wald production Directed by Henry Koater from a acreen-play by Normally Johnson baaed on the novel by Edward Streeter and with the following cast: Mr Habba Pcar Stewart Fatima John Sam Marta Wilaoa Reinal4 OarStnar Lanrft Patera Valeria Varda Lili Cantla John McGtver Natalie Tnmdy Joat Paine Minerva Urecal Hobbs Takes A tells the story of an average North American man with an average family and average problems which the film occasionally succeeds in turning Into above average humor The picture is excellent when it treats the Hobbses as a caricature of a representative North American family The first half hour of the movie takes some gentle but Intelligent satirical pokes at intra-family difficulties in general and communication troubles in particular "Mr dips badly however when it gets caught up in the specific affairs of the Hobbs family As detailed situations arise the film deteriorates into a aeries of weak Knows episodes which progressively become more tedious and more far-fetched The last half of the picture could have done well with a less lenient editor The various adventures take place during a month-long vacation which the family takes on the insistence of Mother and over the half-hearted protests of Father FAMILY includes: one pre-teen boy with acute TVitis one extremely self-conscious just-turned-teen daughter two married daughters (with children) who at the time are compatible with neither their husbands nor their parents one temperamental maid and one venerable gingerbread cottage Shake well and instant problems emerge James- Stewart plays the father who fumbles his way to a happy solution for everybody-His performance is very professional and it is a pleasure to watch his manner of presenting the easy-going head of the household Maureen is both capable and attractive as Mrs Hobbs and she has no trouble in complementing happy-go-lucky approach It does however take some imagination to believe that she has three grandchildren The rest of the cast fits gaily into the mood set by the principals and there are no really weak performances Even song is short and toler- Lili Vnlenty and Trax Colton in It Happened In A at the Prince Theatre Holdovers vss-iJk- i Take A Varatioa? at the Polar PRINCESS IT HAPPENED IN 20lh-Fox release of James Elliott production Directed by Andrew Marton from a screenplay by Laalo Vadnay and with the following cast: Elani Jasrnc Mansfield Spiridon Tran Cniton Vinatdna Mien Minardoa Coach Grabaa Bob Mathias Christina Maria Xenia Oranpa Lonea Iran Trims! Maria Marion Silva Man lent Lili Valcntp Highlight of "it Happened In is of course the running of the marathon in the Olympic Games of 1896 the first to be held for 2672 years for the film is simply the story of a Greek shepherd boy whose one ambition is to enter the marathon After overcoming various obstacles not the least is the fact that he never qualified as an entrant Spiridon as the young lad is named gets his chance and emerges the victor Interwoven is his romance with Christina a pretty wholesome girl from the same village He also meets Eleni a Greek screen star whose fiance is Vin-ardos the leading Greek marathon runner But that is a purely secondary theme The De Luxe color is a bit heavy but the camera catches some interesting scenes of ancient Greek ruins However It Happened In gets pretty boring at times but it makes a passable CHA TTS now 22 weeks for "West Side the Academy Award winning film still playing at the Alouctte while the comedy "A Majority of starring Alec Guinness and Rosalind Russell continues for a 10th week at the Snowdon Since coming to Montreln March this year "The and "Two have both had long and successful runs at every theatre they have played Now at the Orpheum they 'continue their success for a fifth week with "Judgment at remaining for a third week at the Salle Doree in DorvaL Two other movies that have met with success since their arrival in this city are now holding for a fourth week at the Monkland "Lover Come a comedy and "Cape Fear a drama Also playing a fourth week are "A Taste of the British film at the Avenue at and "Ben which stays at the Kent and Outremont theatres At the West mount "The Power and the a drama starring Sir I-aurence Olivier and at the Capitol the Walt Disney comedy "Bon Voyage" remain for a second week while the Cinerama adventure "Holiday in continues at the Imperial for a ninth week I I I For those- who excessively demanding "Mr Hobbs Takes A should be good entertainment Michael Feiner ttffc MONTREAL AT it Ail 7 antes Stewart in Hobb I.