Film Preview – Bognor Regis Observer – Saturday, 07 June 1952

PAVILION, SELSEY. "HALLS OF MONTEZUMA," a 20th Century-Fox Technicolor drama showing at the Pavilion, Selsey for the first three days of next week is the "All Quiet of the Western Front" of World War 2. The film is a most realistic description of the locating of rocket guns on a Japanese-held island in the Pacific, their destruction by carrier-borne planes and the final assault on the island. In a masterly way, the director shows the reactions to the horrors of war by individual soldiers and he has brilliantly succeeded in three days' leave after leading his platoon in a fierce attack on reconstructing for the screen an action which was typical of many which won back Pacific territory for the Allies. Richard Widmark gives a magnificent performance as the lieutenant in charge of a patrol sent out to take prisoners and he is brilliantly supported by a huge cast headed by Reginald Gardiner, Jack Palace, Salo Homeier, Richard Hylton, Karl Malden, Richard Boone, Jack Webo, Bert Freed and Neville Brand. "NIGHT INTO MORNING" is the attraction for the second half of the week. Headed by Academy Award winner Ray Milland with John Hodiak, Nancy Davis, Lewis Stone and Jean Hagen in other top roles, this is the drama of a love so great that it threatened the very existence of a man. Ray Milland comes to his new role as Professor Phillip Ainley from his recent successes in many diverse offerings. It is a part which for suspense and dramatic intensity rivals his Academy Award role of the drunkard in "The Lost Week-end." A pictorial as well as dramatic highlight of the picture is the scene showing the spectacular burning of a home in the midst of a thickly populated residential area. This is one of the most realistic and exciting fire sequences ever shown on the screen.