I COVER THE WAR

(director: Arthur Lubin; screenwriters: George Waggner/story by Bernard McConville; cinematographers: Stanley Cortez/Harry Newman; editor: Charles Craft/Erma Horsley; music: Charles Previn; cast: John Wayne (Bob Adams), Gwen Gaze (Pamela Armitage), Don Barclay (Elmer Davis), James Bush (Don Adams), Charles Brokaw (Muffadhi), Franklyn Parker (Parker), Jack Mack (Graham), Sam Harris (Colonel Hugh Armitage), Pat Somerset (Captain Archie Calvert), Olaf Hytten (Sir Herbert); Runtime: 68; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Tremm Carr; Universal; 1937-UK)

“It’s a B film that gets by with some good action sequences.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Arthur Lubin(“The Thief of Baghdad”/”Hold That Ghost”/”The Incredible Mr. Limpet“) effectively directs this low-budget war story set in North Africa. The Arabs revolt against English rule in their protectorate of Samari. In London, the experienced American newsreel cameramen Bob Adams (John Wayne) and Elmer “Slug” Davis (Don Barclay) are assigned by Atlas Newsreel to cover the story and get photos of the Arab’s elusive leader Muffadhi (Muffadhi).

Bob meets Pamela (Gwen Gaze) at the Damascus airport, her uncle, Colonel Hugh Armitage (Sam Harris), and her fiancé, Captain Archie Calvert (Pat Somerset). Bob’s nerdy younger brother Don ( James Bush) also arrives. He just quit medical school and seeks work with the newsreel company, which is something Bob believes is a mistake.

Don goofs things up by showing his inexperience and allowing two gunrunners (Jack Mack & Franklyn Parker) to use the press pass Don stole from Bob to reach Muffadhi’s camp. Meanwhile Bob takes a romantic walk with Pamela. Because of Don’s rash act, Bob is suspect as a gunrunner. The action picks up when the gunrunners are killed by Muffadhi, and Bob and Elmer must escape confinement by Muffadhi to warn the Brits of an attack.

It’s based on a story by Bernard McConville. It’s a B film that gets by with some good action sequences.

REVIEWED ON 1/29/2016 GRADE: B-