Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-23
Films in Review
By CHARLES GENTRY
Cabin in
Fine Debut
at Fox F."

al j OA
JEAN CABIN, fhe French film
star, reaches the American screen
at long last in a peculiarly absorb
ing story, "Moontide," which
opened at the Fox yesterday.
1t is peculiar in that the tale is
as unlike Hollywood as the star
himself. There have been, wonder.
fully enough, no attempts to pretty
up either the grim facts of this
waterfront drama or to glamorize
Cabin.
He comes, this staggering rough
and amiable figure. this grown-up
gamin, to American audiences in
exactly the same guise he assumed
on the French screen.
He has a personality hard to
describe because IL is such an eng
matte ione. Completely virile, he
nevertheless has kind Of careless
charm, which we understand femi-
nine fans find devastating. But
aside from the personality. Cabin
is undoubtedly splendid actor.
Certainly you can't deny him
this after you see him as Bobo,
the dock worker along the San
Pedro waterfront who gets him
self into a mess OF trouble.
THE MORNING AFTER
Because he likes to drink. he
starts one night on a round OF
dives, consuming a terrific amount
of alcohol. When he RECEIVERS he
remembers nothing, but when a
friendly Chinese barge owner tells
him that a man has been strangled
he begins to wonder, because, II
seems when Bobo gets drunk he
has a rather bad habit of choking
people.
His sidekick is Thomas Mitchell,
more of a parasite than pal.
whose chief job is to find work for
Bobo to do.
Mitchell doesn't mention the
accident" to Bobo. but he does try
to hustle him out OF town.
A DOMESTIC NOTE
Meanwhile Bobo has taken up
residence on the barge. selling bait
for the Chinaman. He rescues a
young girl from intentionally
drowning herself and pretty soon
he finds himself settled for the
first time in something resembling
home, with woman to cook Tor
him and a place TO sleep.
But this contentment is short
lived because there always hangs
over him the shadow OF the strange
death during the night OF his de-
bauch. Ida .Lupino. the girl. tries
to wipe this worry away. but there
is always Mitchell in the back
ground threatening.
A THRILLING CLIMAX
Finally when Bobo asks the girl
to marry him and Mitchell sees his
meal ticket. slipping out OF his
grasp. things come to a startling
climax.
Here. the picture. which has
tendency 10 drag little, picks UP
pace and the final scenes where
Cabin stalks Mitchell. seeking re-
venge, are about the most thrilling
we've seen lately.
Perhaps due TO Cabins linguistic
handicap, there is minimum oi
dialogue and many close-ups with
long penetrating looks which would
get little tiresone. II the various
characters didn't have such inter
esting faces.
A FAMILIAR ROLE
Lupino does very well with one
of her typical abused little tramp
roles, which Mitchell, as the
snarling betrayer. gives Cabin
plenty of competition.
Like The Informer." Moon
tide" has a strange appeal which
offsets its sordid setting.
The second feature, Rings or
Her Fingers" is one Of those
merry little comedies with a plot
as familiar as your favorite break
fast food.
Gene Tierney in her first modern
role. plays a shop girl recruited
by two slickers. Spring Byingtor
and Laird Cregar. to fleece mil
Ilionaires. We didn't know there
were any around any more. bu,
evidently they, forgot to tip on
these sharpers.
A POOR SUBSTITUTE
In any case. Gene runs into
Henry Fonda, and she takes hin
for his life's savings. Later wher
she learns he Is only a poor ac'
countant. she gets remorse and ne
doubt you've heard the rest OF this
before.
The funniest scene is the one
in which large Laird Cregar Il
trapped in a swimming pool.
Miss Tierney is quite provocative
lin looks, while Fonda. Of course
takes his own time about getting
Through his role.