Though not exactly ideal fare of the long-suffering exam-taker, "Dark Victory" is, nonetheless, a picture which deserves consideration and respect. In fact, anytime a producer goes against the laws of "sure-fire box office" and puts out a tragedy that relies on dramatic effect rather than gag lines for entertainment, that producer has a lot of respect due to come his way, but he's also courting box office defeat. Fortunately, by the grace of the gods and the acting of Bette Davis, "Dark Victory" is no defeat, although it is a rather dark victory. After all, watching some sleezy little minx whooping it up with only ten months to live is not exactly riotous entertainment, and when mixed with some funereal acting by George Brent and a new triple-threat Cleopatra named Geraldine Fitzgerald breaking into tears at the slightest provocation, the total effect becomes rather depressing. In fact those who may go for relaxation after a three-hour Sanskrit exam may become a little embittered about the whole thing. But those who want to see acting in its very finest form, those who want to see a top-notch actress in a top-notch role, a drama that has real emotional uplift, those men better take a trip right up to a certain building on the Square and ask for Bette.

Second feature and second of the "Blondie" sagas is "Blondie Meets the Ross." From the first of the series, it looked as if Hollywood had found another "Hardy Family" goldmine. But the ore has proved to be pretty weak.