Charles Vidor

The romantic story of Hungarian pianist Franz Liszt (Sir Dirk Bogarde), whose scandalous love affair forced him to abandon his adoring audiences.

At their villa in the south of France, beautiful, spoiled young American heiress Louise Durant informs her wealthy father Nicholas that she is going to the music conservatory in Zurich to study piano and be near her beau, Paul Bronte, a violinist in his final year of study. The headstrong Louise adds that she plans to marry Paul, although he does not know this yet. In Zurich, Louise rents an apartment from Frau Sigerist, and meets fellow tenant James Guest, an American studying piano on the G.I. Bill. The following morning, Louise auditions for Prof. Schuman and, acknowledging her unexceptional talent, tells him she wants to study at the conservatory to be near the man she loves. When the kindly professor cautions her that great musicians do not always make good husbands, Louise confesses that she does not share Paul's passion for music. Schuman then tells Paul that he has chosen him to perform the violin solo in Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D Major with the Zurich Philharmonic. Paul leaves Louise alone in Schuman's waiting room for hours while he practices the piece, and she finally gets angry and walks out. Paul finds Louise in her room packing, and although she is disheartened by the thought of always coming second to Paul's music, he persuades her to stay. Louise strikes up a friendship with James, and allows him to use her piano to practice. One day, Louise gets a telegram from her father asking her to join him in St. Moritz, and brings Paul with her. Nicholas concedes that the young man has a certain "arrogant charm," but warns Louise that Paul will never need her as much as she desires. As the date of his concert debut grows nearer, Paul gets into an argument with the conductor at a rehearsal, and when Schuman reproaches him, he walks out in anger. When Louise tries to console him, Paul bitterly blames himself for being unprepared. Schuman gives Paul another chance, and Paul tells Louise they must not see each other until after the concert. Louise reluctantly consents, and the lovers speak only on the phone during Paul's intensive rehearsal period. On the night of the concert, Paul performs with great passion, and is so much in demand after the show that Louise is again left waiting alone. Paul's career is immediately launched, but Louise feels excluded and takes no pleasure in his success. When Paul tells her he must continue to focus on his work, they quarrel and Louise walks out. From her apartment that night, Louise sees Paul kiss a pretty conservatory student and drive away with her. Later that night, Frau Sigerist hears a noise coming from Louise's room and goes to James for help. James breaks down the door, and they find Louise on the floor, unconscious from taking an overdose of pills. Nicholas is summoned, and is impressed by James's devotion to Louise during her recovery. When she is well again, Louise prepares to join her father in Paris. James asks her to stay, and although the now-hardened Louise lightly dismisses his protestations of love, his desperation moves her. Time passes, and Paul tours the world as a concert violinist. One day, after encountering Nicholas on the street in Paris, Paul calls Louise at the Ritz, and she happily agrees to meet him. While waiting for her in the bar, Paul sees James at a booth, drunk and miserable. Paul is surprised to learn that James married Louise several weeks earlier, and leaves the bar in disgust. Louise seeks Paul out at the concert hall and offers to divorce James, but while he admits he still loves her, he rejects her offer. A conversation with Nicholas convinces Louise that she needs to redeem herself in Paul's eyes by helping James, and she tells her husband they must go back to Zurich. James returns to the conservatory, and Louise patiently supports him through his long hours of practice. In time, James's first concert appearance is announced, and Louise sends her father a flyer with a note saying she wishes Paul knew she did it all for him. Nicholas passes the flyer to Paul after a concert, and Paul is pleased by the change in Louise. Soon afterward, Louise comes home and finds a letter slipped under her door. On the evening of James's concert debut, Louise tells him she is going away with Paul after the concert, and implores James to see that he can succeed without her. Despite his obvious suffering, James plays brilliantly, unaware that Louise is watching him from the back of the auditorium. Paul comes for Louise and finds her watching her husband with great emotion. After the concert, James is standing on the empty stage when Louise appears and rushes into his arms.

In a remote region of post-independence India, the love of a blind British woman pricks the conscience of an arms dealer. During India's first years of independence from Britain, Steve Gibbs lands his armaments-loaded plane in Ghandahar province, hoping to get rich. Pacifist Prime Minister Singh hopes to reach an agreement with guerilla leader Khan, the maharajah is a fool, and the British residents are living in the past. Steve's love interest is Joan Willoughby, a parson's blind daughter. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) is in Buenos Aires playing dice with locals. Soon someone holds a gun to his head, but a man with a snappy cane helps him out and also tells him about a casino on the other side of town. At the casino, Johnny makes sure he looks his best and enters the gambling room. He watches a short man win with a late bet at the roulette table. He goes to the blackjack table and wins several hands after requesting each time to cut the deck. Two tough guys says the casino director wants to see him; Johnny tries to fight them, but fails. The director turns out to be the man with the cane and goes by the name of Ballin Mundson (George Macready). Johnny admits to cheating, but instead of being thrown out he manages to persuade Mundson to hire him. Soon World War II ends, and there is a party at the casino. Mundson is due to leave town and leaves Johnny in charge; they have gained each other's trust. When Mundson returns he has Johnny come to his house. Mundson has brought home a woman, Gilda (Rita Hayworth), as his wife. When Johnny and Gilda see each other it's clear that they know each other, though they don't tell Mundson. That night at the casino Johnny sees the man from earlier winning at roulette again in suspicious manner and learns that it is Mundson's way of bribing those that allow his casino to continue despite gambling being illegal. Johnny has dinner with Mundson and Gilda. When Mundson leaves the table to meet with some German men, Johnny blames Gilda for marrying Mundson for the money. Gilda dances with another man, Capt. Delgado, and even gives him her phone number in front of Johnny. Later that night Mundson reveals his suspicion to Gilda that she knows Johnny from before and warns her that she should not make any missteps. Another night at the casino we see the man from before looking for his bribe at the roulette table, but his bet is turned away. Soon Johnny finds Mundson in his office talking to the same man; the conversation is about tungsten trading, Mundson telling the man he should not be selling the metal according to their agreement. Johnny goes downstairs to get Gilda out of the way, who is again enjoying herself with another man, and he and Mundson have a drink in the bar. Suddenly there's a gunshot, it's the man with the tungsten who is out to get Mundson; he misses, but in the commotion goes into the washroom and shoots himself. Scared by the threat to his life, Mundson tells Johnny about the cartel that he runs to monopolize tungsten and control the world, and gives him the combination to the safe in his office. Later that night Gilda returns home from town with the young man, Gabe. Johnny knocks the guy over and has him leave and tells Gilda she should not make trouble with Mundson and that he will make things appear right even if she does continue to cavort with other men. One night Johnny wakes up by the sound of Gilda singing in the casino room with only the washroom attendant, Pio (Steven Geray), as audience. She's been out again. Johnny takes her home and they tell to Mundson that they have been swimming, together. Another night the casino is having a carnival party. Two Germans come to Johnny's office and demand to see Mundson; Johnny rings Mundson. Mundson talks to Gilda about being late for the party; tension runs thick between them. At the party Johnny and Gilda dance; Gilda comes on to him, but he refuses. A man, Obregon (Joseph Calleia), who's been hanging around the casino for weeks, tells Johnny there might be trouble. Johnny gets a message that Gilda has left and wants him to pick her up later. Soon a man is revealed to be dead behind his mask, and there is commotion. Johnny finds Mundson in his office and warns him he might be in danger. But Mundson tells Johnny to go find Gilda, then calls an airfield and makes some arrangements. Johnny picks Gilda up, and they go to the house. Gilda suggests they make use of the time alone. He goes to her room to throw her out, but ends up kissing her. They hear a sound and Johnny sees Mundson leaving the house: he has seen them. Johnny goes after Mundson in a car, and so do the police, headed by Obregon. They follow Mundson to an airfield and watch him take off in a plane and crash down into the ocean, assuming that he is dead. However, we soon see Mundson being picked up by a boat, revealing that he had indeed intended to escape from the police investigation. With everybody thinking Mundson is dead, Gilda inherits his fortune, and Johnny takes over the casino and the cartel. Gilda and Johnny get married, and he takes her to a new home. Gilda is happy, but Johnny does not intend to live with her; instead, he makes sure she cannot have contact with anyone. One of the Germans from the cartel comes to see Johnny and tells him that Mundson held the tungsten patents unrightfully. Now he wants them and the cartel leadership back. Gilda comes to see Johnny, wanting a reason for his treatment of her. He blames her for cheating on Mundson and wants to punish her. Seeking company, Gilda starts going out with other men, but Johnny has them disappear one by one. Realizing Johnny wants to keep her in cage, she runs. We see her as a club singer in Montevideo with another man, Tom. He persuades her to go back to Buenos Aires to get an annulment of her marriage. But when they arrive, it turns out Tom is on Johnny's payroll, and Gilda is back in her cage. Obregon talks to Johnny, wanting him to reveal the names of the cartel members, Johnny says he knows nothing about it. Gilda starts singing and dancing in the casino and flirts with the men. Johnny doesn't like it and hits her. Obregon comes again, closes down the casino and puts pressure on Johnny. Johnny gives him what he wants. Obregon tells Johnny that Gilda is waiting in the casino. Johnny overcomes his pride and asks Gilda to take him with her back to America. Suddenly Mundson appears from his office, explains how he is not dead afterall and announces his intention of killing them both. But before he can, Pio stabs Mundson with his own cane. Obregon comes in seeing what's happened, but lets them go, saying afterall a man can only die once. Gilda tells Johnny, "Let's go home."

Biography of Frederic Chopin. Professor Joseph Elsner guides his protégé Frydryk Chopin through his formative years to early adulthood in Poland. At a recital in a duke's home Chopin insults the new Russian-installed governor, and must flee the country. The professor takes him to Paris, where he eventually comes under the wing and influence of novelist George Sand and rises to prominence in the music world, to the exclusion of his old friends and patriotic feelings towards Poland. —Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com> Under the tutelage of Professor Joseph Elsner, Frydryk Chopin showed great promise as a pianist from an early age. Even at age eleven, Chopin also dabbled in composing. At that age, Chopin was also very patriotic about his homeland, Poland, especially against the ruling Russian authority of the Czar. As a young man, Chopin indeed has become an excellent pianist and composer, playing for the Polish royal house. But he is a man frail in health. An incident at age twenty-two forces Chopin to take immediate leave of Poland. He and Elser decide to go to Paris to take up the offer of the famed publisher and promoter Louis Pleyel from eleven years earlier to perform in concert. Despite his brilliance, Chopin's rise to prominence as a concert pianist and composer is not a smooth one, but one assisted by the equally brilliant pianist/composer, the already famous Franz Liszt, who is a great admirer, and writer, the forthright and strong willed George Sand, whose interest in Chopin is more than in his music. Sand begins to take control of Chopin's life, which is against the direction seen by Elsner, in terms of what Chopin does professionally, how he carries out his work, but perhaps most importantly how his patriotism to a troubled Poland seems to be waning, as witnessed in part by putting off completion of his polonaise, which was to be a tribute to his homeland. —Huggo

At the New York Bulletin newspaper, its owner, Robert Drexel Gow (Charles Coburn), who has invested $2 million into this five year old project, receives a teletype story that the newspaper's editor, Max Wharton (Alexander Knox), is resigning to enlist in the army. Robert is livid, both at the news and the method that he found out about the news. There is a second story on the teletype: Max's wife, the famous novelist Paula Wharton (Irene Dunne) - who Max calls Paulie - is in Hollywood adapting her latest book into a movie screenplay. To the newspaper's Board of Directors, Robert rants his displeasure. Thirty-nine year old Max, joining them, tells them that he told them of this news two months prior, the only unknown at that time being the time of enlistment, which is in five hours. Max wants to do his duty as a citizen and responsible journalist to be close to the war, World War II. Robert's view is that without Max, the newspaper will fold because Max *is* the newspaper. Max counters that wouldn't be leaving unless he felt his hand picked replacement, Edward Kennedy (Robert Emmett Keane), could do the job, and that the newspaper has a strong editorial policy that guides what its employees do. From Hollywood, Paulie telephones Max. Not previously having known what her husband's intentions were, Paulie congratulates him on his decision. After Max informs her of the plan of basic training then possibly officer's candidate school, Paulie decides that she will move to where ever that school is to be close to him. The timing is perfect as she has seven or eight weeks worth of work to complete her screenplay for producer Joel Nixon (Pierre Watkin) before she makes her move. Before Max leaves, Robert wants to know his whereabouts at all times so that he contact him to solve the plethora of problems he foresees happening at the newspaper during his leave. Max wants no communication with Robert or the newspaper while he's gone, as he sees it as a point of distraction from his more important work of getting through army life. After completion of basic training, Max sends Paulie a telegram that officer's candidate school is in Tetley Field, Florida, and that he has rented bungalow 26D at Palmetto Court for her. In Beverly Hills, Paulie, having completed her screenplay, is packing. Joel warns her that her move will be a difficult transition as those bungalows near army bases are notoriously small and broken down. Despite not planning on working while there as she sees supporting Max as her full time job, Paulie is taking her typewriter. She doesn't quite understand Max's motivations, but she wants to see her husband succeed in this passion. As Max goes through the rigors of army school life which includes the rote memorization of scientific and technical information (this process which he finds overwhelming), Paulie arrives at Palmetto Court looking for bungalow 26D. As the army horn blows in the distance, recruits around the complex rush off. Despite getting into trouble for being late back to the base, an officer candidate, seeing this pretty woman in distress, carries Paulie's luggage to 26D. Walking into 26D, Paulie sees a woman inside. She is the last tenant, Jan Lupton (Jeff Donnell), whose husband Roy (Loren Tindall) has just graduated to second lieutenant. Jan recognizes Paulie from the photo on her latest book jacket cover. When Paulie mentions Max's name, Jan also recognizes it from the newspaper. Jan gives Paulie the lowdown on life in 26D, the best bungalow in the complex: the bedroom light switch is in the living room, the living room light switch is outside the front door, the refrigerator makes loud noises (but at least you know it's working), there is no sink in the small kitchen, there is no shower, there is a small leak in the roof, there are plenty of moths, and you need to stomp on the floor to open the front window. There are two stores, one that sells everything but that has long lines and that doesn't make deliveries, and one that delivers but sells nothing. But most importantly, the one posting you don't want following graduation is to Crocker Field, Arkansas, since the closest housing is twenty miles away (meaning wives will basically never see their enlisted husbands), and that life for the enlisted at Tetley Field is all work, work, work. With school, Jan relays a story she heard where once you're over 21 years of age, your brain doesn't absorb the material taught anymore. Roy had problems at Tetley Field since he's close to 25. Paulie worries for Max, who is approaching 40. Roy returns to pick up his wife. He has his yet unopened post-graduation assignment in his hands, which he hands to Jan to open. She nervously opens the envelope to read dejectedly that Roy is being sent to Crocker Field. Max comes by the bungalow surprised to see his wife there already. They have a loving reunion. As Max helps Roy and Jan with their luggage to the curb, Roy gives Max some pointers on some of the school work. The Luptons say goodbye to the Whartons as they head into the taxi to go to the train station. Max and Paulie can now have a proper reunion. Max and Paulie discuss their upcoming life. Max, who needs to live in the barracks, will probably only see his wife one hour a week. Paulie, who is not used to tending to house, states that she will manage in what she considers their darling new home. She wants to be just like all the other army wives living in the complex. The horn from the base blows, meaning that Max has to return soon, and he rushes to complete the task he came to do, namely change his socks. He has left some of his personal things, such as socks, at the bungalow as reminders of him for Paulie. As Max helps Paulie settle in, he sees one of his training manuals on the floor, which he picks up and tries to cram more information into his brain. He is only getting a part of it, and explains to Paulie how difficult the memorization is. In his latest quiz in which one needs 89 to pass, he got just 89. With his difficulties in school, Max is concerned if he is doing the right thing for himself, for the country and for the newspaper. But his reason for doing this in the first place was to see the war first hand so that the newspaper could have some credible first hand account. Paulie, usually one to express her opinions, is reluctant to tell Max her view. She does tell him: the voice of newspaper also requires a level head on the home front, and without that, it is nothing. But Max assures her that he wouldn't have enlisted unless he thought Edward could take over the newspaper's editorial reign. Max is surprised that Robert hasn't yet tried to telephone about problems at the newspaper. Paulie doesn't tell him that Robert has already tried to call once while she's been there. There is a frantic knock on the door. It is the Luftons. The train's been delayed by eight hours and they were hoping that there was a spare bungalow in the complex in which they could sleep overnight, which there isn't. After an uncomfortable silence and looks between Max and Paulie, the Whartons offer the Luptons the bedroom for the night; Paulie will sleep on the sofa in the living room. The Lupton's return will delay the more passionate part of the Wharton's reunion until another time. In his few seconds with Roy, Max tries to absorb more school information before he heads back to the base. While Jan and Roy are in the bedroom, Paulie is preparing the sofa as her bed for the evening. Wanting to brush her teeth, Paulie is reluctant to disturb the Luptons to get to the bathroom, so she brushes her teeth in the living room, rinsing her mouth with the only liquid available: scotch. As her mouth starts to burn from the scotch, she tries to stomp on the floor to open the window so that she can spit the scotch out the window. After a few stomps, the window pops open, and she is relieved to be able to spit out the window. Lying down on the sofa, the refrigerator starts buzzing, so she stuffs her ears with cotton. She also realizes that the living room light is still on. She goes outside to turn the light off, but the door slams shut with a strong wind gust. As she is outside pounding on the door wearing only her negligee, several enlisted men see her and whistle. One other senior officer shoos them away to leave her alone. Unknown to Paulie, he is the base's commanding officer, Colonel Foley (Charles Evans). Finally, the Luptons come to open the door for her. Back inside, Paulie answers the ringing telephone. It is Robert wanting to speak to Max about the newspaper's future, the newspaper which he feels is falling apart. Robert is yelling and screaming how much he needs to make important decisions with Max's input. After Paulie in return yells back that Robert is not to disturb Max during this time (not mentioning Max's troubles in school), she abruptly hangs up on him. She is finally able to go to bed, but with all these concerns on her mind. Over the next several weeks, both Max and Paulie get ensconced in their new respective lives. Paulie is doing work foreign to her: housework. Max uses whatever free moment he has to cram more and more information into his brain, which he is still finding difficult to do. After a field exercise, a tired Max hops into his bunk. He is approached by a fellow student named Paulsen (John James), a reporter with the base's newspaper, the Tetley Field Sentinel. He wants Max, as the most famous recruit on the base, to write a story about himself for the newspaper. Max is reluctant to do so if only for lack of time, but Paulsen leaves him to consider the offer. Paulie returns from a day of shopping, which she has done for four other of the army wives. Paulie turns down a dinner invitation from one of the women as she has her own dinner party to host that evening. Max is coming home for dinner and is bringing a guest who she states is the most important person on the base. After the other women guess that it is Colonel Foley, Paulie tells them that it is Frank McDougal (Phil Brown), Max's bunk mate who has the highest marks in the school. Later, the neighborhood women are all in the tiny 26D kitchen helping non-cook Paulie cook the dinner of stew, mashed potatoes and rolls. Mrs. Dumbrowski (Ann Loos) has brought an apple pie for dessert, although she states that it will be a miracle if it tastes all right as all the ingredients are substitutes except for the apples. Paulie is nonetheless grateful for the generosity of Mrs. Dumbrowski and all the other wives. Max and Frank, discussing school work, arrive as all the neighborhood wives leave. Max is surprised at how good the dinner smells as he has never known his wife to cook. Paulie takes credit for it all. Max and Frank are especially enamored of the apple pie, which tastes delicious. As Max and Frank ask her how she made it, Paulie stumbles and ultimately makes up a story. Dinner conversation eventually and unexpectedly turns to the philosophy of war and global politics. After Frank leaves to head back to the base, Max vents about the difference between someone like Frank and himself. Whereas Frank has the ability to memorize information others have devised and written, he has a narrow and suspicious view of all other nations, both their war enemies and allies. Max is happy to report that Frank's views are in the minority amongst his classmates, but that it still drives him crazy to hear such talk. This discussion makes Max think about the newspaper, although he doesn't want to think about it as he still needs to focus on school. In his latest quiz, he got yet another 89. Max begins to doubt the wisdom of what he is doing - he even openly wonders for the first time if he will graduate - but Paulie tries to support him. He also tells Paulie about the request from the base newspaper to write his life story at the base. Max is concerned that if he editorializes, he could say something controversial. But with 30 minutes available before he heads back to the base, he decides to write it using Paulie's typewriter. As Max starts to type, the telephone rings. Paulie picks it up. It is Robert on the other end. As Robert continues his diatribe about needing to speak to Max, Paulie, for Max's sake, pretends that it is Joel on the other end needing to speak to her about the screenplay. Robert wants Paulie at least to read the newspaper to see what a mess the editorials have become. After hanging up the telephone, there is a knock on the door which Paulie answers. It is Mrs. Dumbrowski, who within earshot of Max asks for her pie tin back. The latest edition of the Tetley Field Sentinel goes to press. It includes Max's autobiographical story of his life on the base, from his perspective on why he is there and what he is hoping to achieve for himself and the army for the worlds betterment. The story generates a lot of interest amongst its readers. At the grocery store, Paulie and another woman grab for the only remaining box of pot cleaners. Paulie is adamant she had it first until she learns that the woman is Mrs. Gates (Cora Witherspoon), the mother-in-law of Colonel Foley. A fan, Mrs. Gates recognizes Paulie. Getting friendly with Mrs. Gates (Paulie decides to share the box with her), Paulie extends an invitation for Mrs. Gates, her daughter and the Colonel to drop by the bungalow as soon as possible. Paulie feels this move would be good for Max. At the base, Max is called into Colonel Foley's office. The Colonel mentions that both his wife and mother-in-law are admirers of Mrs. Wharton and plan on dropping by the bungalow later that afternoon. Max is pleasantly surprised at the announcement, but surprised nonetheless as he in unaware of Mrs. Gates' encounter with Paulie. At the bungalow, Paulie tells the other wives about her encounter with Mrs. Gates. All the women are abuzz about the possibility of seeing the Colonel's wife whenever that may be. As Paulie enters the bungalow, she unexpectedly sees Robert inside. She is angry with him for coming to Florida to bother Max. She tells him that Max may not be by anyway for weeks. Just then, the telephone rings. It is Max telephoning that the Colonel and his family are dropping by shortly, and that he too will be home to greet them. Paulie hangs up without letting Robert speak to him. She wants Robert to leave, but that she will speak to him alone about the newspaper after Max is gone. Robert wants her to at least read the newspaper, and how the editorials have become uninspired. Paulie reads the latest editorial. By the look on her face, one can tell she agrees with Robert about its poor quality. However she will still not let Robert jeopardize Max's mission of army life. She tells Robert that Max does care about the newspaper, and that's why he is doing what he is doing. She also tells him the problems Max is having with his school work, any distraction from which, such as those Robert wants to discuss with him, which may be the result of him failing. If Max ever felt that Robert was part of the reason he failed, he would never forgive Robert. As such, it seems like a lose-lose situation for Robert. Robert threatens to sell the newspaper, because without Max at the helm, it is no longer the newspaper they built. Paulie knows this news would devastate Max. Just then, a car pulls up: it is Max. Paulie convinces Robert not to say anything about the newspaper's problems to Max. As Max enters the bungalow, his expression drops as he sees Robert. Paulie convinces Max to let Robert stay for drinks as his presence will impress the Colonel's family. As Max, Paulie and Robert rush to get ready, the Colonel and his family arrive. As the introductions are made, the Colonel and Paulie realize that they have seen each other before on the night when Paulie got locked out of the bungalow in her negligee. As the Colonel's family and the Whartons settle down into the pleasantries of the afternoon - especially Mrs. Gates gushing over Paulie's writing - Robert is tasked with being the bartender. Going into the kitchen, he finds that the freezer compartment is frozen solid and that he can't get the ice out. The Colonel comes to his assistance, banging on the ice with a frying pan after Robert has previously done so himself. The Colonel causes more problems than he is solving. Finally the Colonel does manage to pull the ice cube tray out of freezer easily. As the ice problem is solved, the conversation turns to Paulie's life in Hollywood. Max recounts that Paulie has been having many problems with Joel who is constantly telephoning. Robert knows that those telephone calls were the ones he himself made to try to talk to Max, and as such that Max is unaware that he has tried to speak to him previously about the newspaper's problems. The conversation also turns to assignments post-graduation, Paulie mentioning Crocker Field. Seeing that it is inappropriate to discuss this topic with the Colonel, Max tells the Colonel he need not discuss Max's post-graduation assignment. Robert tries to drop inferences to the Colonel that Max's age may preclude him from being the most suitable candidate for army life. They also speak of Max's autobiographical piece for the Sentinel, to which the Colonel mentions that Washington has expressed interest in it. The Colonel uses the word "strong" to describe the piece. Max believes that the piece has stirred up controversy, which could spell the end of his military life. The horn blows from the base, meaning that the Colonel and the family need to leave. After the Foley's departure, Max chastises Robert for trying to get him thrown out of the army. Max feels bad enough about the army's reception of his autobiography. After Max leaves to head back to the base himself, Paulie chastises Robert about his actions at the gathering. Robert feels that if Max had time to write that piece for the Sentinel, he can set aside 30 minutes a week to write an editorial for the Bulletin. Considering the alternatives, Paulie tells a somewhat satisfied Robert that she'll convince Max to write the editorials. Robert is still worried that if Max does manage to graduate (his fate known in about six weeks time) and gets shipped away, the problem in the long term will not have been solved. Before Robert leaves, Paulie and Robert's deal is that she will handle the situation and that Robert is not to bother Max. Paulie is sitting in front of her typewriter with a concerned look on her face and several crumpled pieces of discarded typed paper on the floor. Meanwhile, Max is still trying to find whatever spare moment is can to cram. While Paulie is typing, there is a knock on the door. It is Mrs. Dumbrowski who has come by to drop off some groceries. Mrs. Dumbrowski is curious as to the work Paulie is doing as she has heard Paulie typing during the past two nights. Later, Max comes by unexpectedly while Paulie is typing. She tells him that Joel has requested some rewrites of the screenplay. As Max attends to his task of pressing his pants, Paulie quickly hides any remnants of what she is actually writing, which is an editorial for the Bulletin. Max is still worried about Robert's comments about failure at school, worried about his upcoming quiz, and most worried about lack of any news from Washington about why they were interested in his autobiographical piece. The telephone rings. It's Robert. Still pretending it's Joel, Paulie tells him that *it* - being the editorial - will be off to him tomorrow. After the call, Max tells Paulie he is contemplating dropping out before he fails. Paulie replies that she can respect him if he fails while doing his best, but not if he quits without seeing this to its conclusion whatever that may be. As such, Paulie tests Max on his upcoming quiz, giving him clues along the way. After a few frustrating minutes, Max realizes that they are reviewing last week's quiz. He is disheartened that not only has he wasted a few precious minutes which included Paulie providing him with clues which she can't do during the actual quiz, but that he doesn't even retain information he knew previously. Paulie gives him a loving embrace as she recites the answers into his ear. Paulie completes her first editorial for the Bulletin. It is entitled, "The World and Apple Pie", which she devised from the discussion the evening of Frank's visit. She retells that story as a metaphor for what is happening in the world in its global context. Paulie allows Robert to believe Max is the editorial's author. Robert is thrilled with the piece and prints it. In turn, Paulie is thrilled that Robert likes it and that this ruse is working. As such, Paulie continues to write editorials for the Bulletin, all on the theme of Max's special vantage point from within the army and his view on global political happenings. As he has made a conscious decision not to read the newspaper, Max is unaware of what Paulie is doing. As Max is taking his final exams, Paulie is on the telephone with Robert. Robert wants Paulie to speculate on whether he will pass or fail, which she refuses to do. She just convinces Robert still not to talk to Max directly as that will distract him. She vows to let Robert know the outcome as soon as she knows. Back in the examination room, a dejected looking Max is the last to hand in his exam. And in her bed, Paulie says a special prayer for Max, wishing Max happiness regardless of the outcome. The examination results listing those that have graduated are posted on the bulletin board. As Max scans down the list, he stops at number 271, which is his name. He has graduated near the bottom of his graduating class of 300, but he has passed nonetheless. He is elated. He rushes off to tell Paulie the news, she who is not home. Max is told she's gone for a walk to get away from the nervousness surrounding the impending results. As Max waits, Joel arrives from Hollywood looking for Paulie. Max tells Joel that Paulie has been diligently working away doing the rewrites he requested. Joel replies that Max must be mistaken as he has not spoken to Paulie since she left Hollywood, and that the movie project was delayed meaning no work needed to be done on it during the intervening time. As Max thinks about it, he thinks he's figured out what Paulie has been doing. He goes into town to the library to read recent editions of the Bulletin. He sees the special editorials from camp with his name attached to them that he knows he did not write. Paulie arrives home to an empty bungalow. Mrs. Dumbrowski informs her that Max had been by and that he graduated. Paulie sees this news as a mixed blessing. The telephone rings, but Paulie decides not to answer it as she contemplates what to do. It is Robert on the other end. After several attempts by Robert to get through, Paulie finally decides to answer the telephone. She tells Robert the news. He in turn tells her that in light of that, he is coming immediately to get Max to sign the papers necessary to sell the newspaper. Max, outside, overhears the conversation. As Max enters, Paulie is unaware that Max heard her conversation with Robert. He doesn't tell her that he did. They embrace over his success at graduating. She looks at even the brighter side that he graduated above 30 others. He corrects her: it is only 29! But she does say that Robert called and that he may be coming for Max's graduation tomorrow. The telephone rings again. It's a request from Colonel Foley to meet immediately in his office. At the Colonel's office, the Colonel tells Max that he has news from Washington about Max's autobiographical piece. They like it and as such are asking Max to speak on behalf of the graduating class at tomorrow's ceremony. Max agrees. At graduation, Paulie is sitting with Mrs. Gates and Mrs. Foley. Robert comes by and sits in front of them. Paulie is angry with Robert's insensitivity of dealing with the sale of the newspaper so soon, so that Max can't even enjoy the success of graduation. She is even more upset that he is selling the newspaper after Max wrote those special editorials when he should have been focusing on school. Also coming by and sitting near to them is Joel, who Paulie did not even know was in town. Nearing the end of the ceremony, Max is called up to speak. As he starts, he mentions to the audience that there are many things he has wanted to say about what the army is doing and what they should be doing in the face of the global condition. Instead of reciting a prepared speech of his own, he will instead recite a piece he found only yesterday that sums up his thoughts more succinctly than he ever could. The title of the piece is, "The World and Apple Pie". Paulie is distracted with Robert as Max begins, but she soon realizes that he is reciting her first editorial. After Max finishes to great applause, Paulie rushes off. Later back at the bungalow amidst packed suitcases, Max, Robert and Joel wait for a missing Paulie to return, her whereabouts unknown. As Robert gets prepared to tell Max the news about the sale and to get him to sign the necessary papers for the sale, Paulie returns, giving her husband a loving embrace for what he did at the ceremony. Max tells her the story of how he found out about the editorials. She tells him that she did it because of Robert's threats to sell the newspaper otherwise. As Robert pressures Max to sign the sale papers, Max comes up with a better solution: keep the person who wrote those editorials. It is only then that Robert understands that Paulie is the author of those editorials. Paulie doesn't want to do it as she wants to follow Max to where ever his next assignment is rather than move back to New York without him. Just then, the Colonel and his family drop by. The Colonel wanted to drop off Max's post-graduation assignment notice personally to him. Saying that he caught the inference at Paulie's questions during their earlier visit, the Colonel pulled some strings so that Max would be assigned to Crocker Field, Arkansas. Paulie and Max know that Crocker Field is the one place she can't live and spend any time with him. But she vows at least to take the train with Max to Crocker. As Robert and Joel try to speak to Paulie about their respective reasons for being in Florida, Paulie instead has them on the more immediate task of packing all the suitcases into the waiting taxi. As they are leaving, the new army wife of 26D arrives. Paulie gives her the quick lowdown on life at 26D. When Paulie demonstrates how to open the window, Paulie has done it for the last time as her stomping feet break through the floorboards. As Paulie and Max rush off, she implies that she will take the newspaper job, but on Max's orders, Robert must now call Paulie "boss".

In New York City, eager to attain fame and glory, chorus dancer Maxine Martin (Leslie Brooks) enters a contest to be a Vanity magazine cover girl. Inspired by Maxine's initiative, Rusty Parker (Rita Hayworth), a fellow dancer who also works at the Brooklyn nightclub owned by former U.S. Army officer Danny Maguire (Gene Kelly), also enters the contest. The women are interviewed by Cornelia Jackson (Eve Arden), the assistant to magazine publisher John Coudair (Otto Kruger). When Jackson expresses an interest in Rusty, Maxine sabotages her rival's chances by telling her that Jackson is looking for a model with a brash personality. Consequently, when Rusty sashays into her office, Jackson dismisses her as a "gland case." Jackson then proposes Maxine as a candidate for the cover, and Coudair insists on going to Danny's club to see her in her "natural environment." At the club, Coudair is enchanted by Rusty, who reminds him of his long-lost sweetheart, Maribelle Hicks. In a flashback sequence, Coudair recalls a night 40 years earlier when he saw Maribelle dance at Tony Pastor's club and fell hopelessly in love. After her performance that night, Rusty joins Danny and Genius (Phil Silvers), another entertainer at the club, at Joe's Oyster Bar, where they engage in their Friday night ritual of searching for a pearl to bring them luck. When the three return to their apartment house, Rusty finds a telegram from Coudair, inviting her to his office the next day. Fearful that Coudair's offer will endanger the trio's close friendship, Genius tears up the telegram, but after he retires to his room, Rusty pieces it back together. Rusty keeps her appointment with Coudair, and when the publisher learns that Maribelle Hicks was her grandmother, he awards her his magazine's cover. Danny is crestfallen when Rusty's issue appears on the news stands, arguing that she should achieve success with her feet and not her face. Drawn by Rusty's notoriety, crowds begin to flock to Danny's club, and one day, Coudair brings Broadway theater owner Noel Wheaton (Lee Bowman) to meet Rusty and offer her a job. After Rusty rejects his overture, Wheaton tries to woo her with armloads of roses. When Wheaton's strategy fails, Coudair joins forces with him to lure Rusty to Broadway. To achieve his goal, Coudair sends Rusty an invitation to Vanity 's 50th anniversary dinner party. Rusty informs Danny that she plans to miss her performance at the club to attend the party, prompting an argument. Coudair summons Danny to pick up Rusty after the party, and Danny arrives at the Coudair mansion to find the house deserted except for his host. After admonishing Danny to free Rusty so that she can move on to a better life, Coudair recalls the day he introduced Maribelle to his society matron mother. When his mother disapproved of their romance, Maribelle threatened to return to her piano player sweetheart. As Coudair reminisces about the past, Wheaton drives Rusty to his luxurious Broadway theater, and she cavorts on the deserted stage. After leaving Coudair's house, Danny joins Genius at Joe's to wait for Rusty. When she fails to appear, Danny, after tortuous self-reflection, decides to sever his relationship with her. The next day, Rusty is late for rehearsal, and Danny gives her song to Maxine to perform. Rusty protests and storms out of the club, bound for Broadway. After making Rusty a star, Wheaton offers to make her his wife, and she agrees to give him an answer the following day. That night Rusty drives to Danny's club and discovers that Danny has closed his establishment and left town with Genius to entertain at U.S. Army camps and training facilities. She then goes to Joe's, where Wheaton and Coudair later find her, drunk. Although she accepts Wheaton's proposal, Coudair realizes that she is desperately unhappy. When Danny and Genius learn of Rusty's impending marriage, they come home to Brooklyn and Joe's. As Joe informs them that Rusty's wedding is to take place that night, Danny cracks open an oyster and finds a pearl. Determined to reunite the lovers, Genius takes the pearl to Coudair and asks him to deliver it to Rusty. Aware that Rusty is a most unhappy bride, Jackson exhorts Coudair to rectify his mistake of breaking up Rusty and Danny. As Coudair escorts Rusty down the aisle to the sound of the wedding march, he hands her the pearl and completes his story of his romance with Maribelle, revealing that Maribelle deserted him at the altar for her piano player. Heartened by Coudair's tale, Rusty realizes that she belongs with Danny, and as the minister recites the wedding vows, she announces that she is leaving. Still dressed in her wedding gown, Rusty hurries to Joe's and is there reunited with Danny and Genius in a joyful dance.

A wanted outlaw arrives in town to rob a bank that has already been held up! His past and his friendship with the sheriff land them both in trouble. Popular mailcoach driver Uncle Willie is in fact in league with the town's crooked banker. They plan to have the bank robbed after emptying it, and when Willie's choice for this doesn't show in time, he gets some local boys to do it. When his man does turn up he decides to stick around, as he is pals with the sheriff and also takes a shine to Willie's daughter Allison. This gives the bad men several new problems. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26} The bank of Red Valley, a small town in Utah, is robbed by a gang and three residents are murdered during the heist. However the corrupt banker Stanley Clanton has plotted the heist with the owner of the local stable, Uncle Willie McLeod, and the rancher Jack Lester and his gang. Sheriff Steve Upton is out of town investigating the holdup and is surprised by the wanted outlaw Cheyenne Rogers. The gunman that was hired by Stanley but arrived late for the heist, steals his horse and heads to Red Valley. In the stable, the daughter of Uncle Willie, Allison McLeod, recognizes the horse and rescues the sheriff from the wilderness. Meanwhile Cheyenne meets Countess Maletta and his friend Nitro Rankin. The Countess is the owner of the local saloon and suffers from unrequited love for him, and feels guilty for the crime life of Cheyenne that committed his first murder to protect her ranch. When Steve returns to Red Valley and sees Cheyenne, he feels happy to see his old friend and Allison falls in love with Cheyenne. But Sheriff Steve is getting close to Jack Lester and now Stanley Clanton masterminds a plan to incriminate Cheyenne for robbing the bank. Will he succeed? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dale Jordan is accepted by first-cabin passengers on a south-bound Panama-Pacific liner until they discover she is a cabaret girls led by Trixie Snell en route for the Bull Ring Cabaret in Panama City.