CINEMA
"Twelve o'Clock High." (Gaumont and Marble Arch Pavilion.)— " My Foolish Heart." (Carlton.)—" The Angel with the Trumpet." (Plaza.) Twelve o'Clock High is one of the finest war films yet made. Although we see little fighting, the war is brought considerably closer to us than in many more active pictures by virtue of Mr. Henry King's acute observation of the fighting man. Here we have a group of U.S. airmen stationed in England, the pioneers of daylight precision bombing, and these young men, weary and sickened by their losses, are beginning to crack up. Their much loved Colonel, Mr. Gary Merrill, who agonisingly identifies himself with his pilots, is relieved of his post, and Mr. Gregory Peck steps in with the assumed manners of a martinet. Determined that personal loyalty shall be replaced by pride in the group, he exercises a rigid and seemingly unsympathetic discipline, stopping leave, closing the bar, severely punishing minor offences and haranguing the men to the effect that if they think their lives are precious they had better think again. The pilots in a body apply for transfers; but before these have materialised Mr. Peck, by leading_ theip day after day on bombing missions, strengthens their morale to such an extent that they withdraw their requests.
To this film can be*applied, without exaggeration, that overworked word gripping. It is beautifully directed, the dialogue, or to be more precise, the inarticulateness of ordinary men faced with extra- ordinary situations, is most effective, and the complete lack of sentimentality—nobody mentions home or mother—phenomenaL * * * * Directed by Mr. Mark Robson, My Foolish Heart is a relief if nothing else. As a matter of fact it is something else, but certainly half its charm lies in its uncompromising lack of romance. Miss Susan Hayward, who gives an excellent performance, both drunk and sober, is a woman who has a love affair with Mr. Dana Andrews and omits to tell him when he is setting off to the war that she is expecting a baby. Needless to say, he gets killed. In desperation Miss Hayward steals Miss Lois Wheeler's Mr. Kent Smith, marries him to provide a father for her child, and takes to the bottle. It is a sad story, and it really does make one feel sad. Both Mr. Andrews and Miss Hayward have a tenderness, not to mention a beauty, about them which goes straight to other foolish hearts, and the film is well devised enough and sincere enough to keep one in a warm, melting mood.
* * * I fear that, in spite of many laudable qualities, The Angel With the Trumpet is a bit tedious. This historical survey of a Viennese family from Mayerling days to Nazi nights is well directed by Mr. Anthony Bushell in satisfying sets designed by M. Andre Andrejew, but it is unfortunate that the players, ageing with appalling rapidity and an assortment of wigs, fail to encourage either interest or sympathy. Miss Eileen Herlie speaks Miss Clemente Dane's admir- able lines well, but I, at any rate, found it impossible to care what became of her. She has a great sense of style, but no humanity. Mr. Norman Wooland is a good, grave Prince Rudolph, Mr. Basil Sydney a noble and kind maker of pianos, and Mr. John Justin a handsome elder son, but the only character who seems to have breath in her body and blood in her veins is Miss Maria Schell. She has a small part in which she makes a large contribution.
VIRGINIA GRAHAM.
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