Maclean’s Movies

CLYDE GILMOUR

BEST BET

THE GREAT ADVENTURE: A wildlife film from Sweden, directed and photographed by Arne Sucksdorff in a manner that marks him as a universal poet of the modern sound camera. Without such all-toofamiliar devices as whimsical music and a punning patronizing commentary, he gives us the story of a year in the lives of a couple of farm boys and in those of the wild animals that surround them. Highly recommended for customers of all ages.

THE BIG KNIFE: Overwrought and arty though it is in its less beguiling moments, this is an interesting melodrama about a power-drunk Hollywood producer (Rod Steiger) and a rebellious film star (Jack Palance) whose destiny he wants to control completely.

LADY GODIVA OF COVENTRY: A mildly entertaining eleventhcentury charade starring Maureen O’Hara (decorously concealed under thick red tresses) as history’s best-remembered bareback rider.

THE LEFT HAND OF GOD: A hard-boiled adventurer (Humphrey Bogart) masquerades as a priest while trying to escape the clutches of a despotic Chinese warlord (Lee J. Cobb), and slowly a nearmiracle occurs in his own soul. Rating: fair.

PASSAGE HOME: Some excellent acting and a rousing storm at sea fitfully enliven this sluggish British drama. The plot is the one about a lone woman and thirty sailors afloat in tropical waters.

SEVEN CITIES OF GOLD: Except for one unfathomable ‘‘mystic’’ incident which never is explained, this is a good widescreen outdoor drama—with strongly religious overtones—about the founding of the first mission in early California. With Michael Rennie, Anthony Quinn.

THE VIRGIN QUEEN: Bette Davis (under a red fright-wig) portrays Elizabeth the First, with Richard Todd as the dashing Sir Walter Raleigh, in a corny but enjoyable story of Tudor England.

Gilmour’s Guide to the Current Crop

Above Us The Waves: Submarine war. Drama. Good.

Aunt Clara: British comedy. Fair.

Bring Your Smile Along: Musical. Poor. Cattle Queen of Montana: Western.

The Cobweb: Hospital drama. Fair.

The Colditz Story: Drama. Good.

Court Martial: Drama. Excellent.

The Dam Busters: Air war. Excellent.

Female on the Beach: Drama. Fair. Footsteps in the Fog: Drama. Poor.

The Girl Rush: Comic musical. Good.

House of Bamboo: Suspense. Good.

I Am a Camera: Comedy. Fair.

It’s Always Fair Weather: Satire and musical comedy. Excellent.

The Kentuckian: Adventure. Poor.

Lady and the Tramp: Cartoon. Good. Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing:

Romantic drama. Fair.

Man From Laramie: Western. Good. Marty: Comedy-drama. Excellent.

Mister Roberts: Comedy. Excellent.

The Night Holds Terror: Crime. Good. The Night My Number Came Up: British suspense drama. Good.

Night of the Hunter: Drama. Fair.

Not as a Stranger: Drama. Fair.

Out of the Clouds: Drama. Fair.

Pete Kelly’s Blues: Jazz drama. Good. The Phénix City Story: Crime. Good.

The Private War of Major Benson: Comedy. Fair.

Raising a Riot: Comedy. Fair.

The Scarlet Coat: 1780 drama. Good. The Seven-Year Itch: Comedy. Good.

The Ship That Died of Shame: Sea fantasy-adventure. Fair.

The Shrike: Psychiatric drama. Fair. Special Delivery: Comedy. Fair. Summertime: Romance. Excellent. Svengali: Melodrama. Fair.

Tight Spot: Suspense. Good.

To Catch a Thief: Crook comedy-drama. Good.

To Hell and Back: War. Good.

Trial: Drama. Excellent.

The Trouble With Harry: Comedy. Good.

Ulysses: Adventure drama. Fair. Unchained: Drama. Excellent.

We’re No Angels: Comedy. Fair.

You’re Never Too Young: Martin-andLewis comedy. Good.