The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

bervfsection 4 Indiscretions (Tri-National) Adult Comedy Drama 80m. Sacba Guitry, Betty Dausmond, Jacqueline Delubac, Charles Dechamps, Marguerite Templey, Chrisitian Gerard, Pauline Carton, Kerly. Di¬ rected by Sacha Guitry. Apparently Sacha Guitry has reached the end of his rope as writer-director-star of his own French productions. After distinguished triumphs in "Pearls of the Crown,” "Story of a Cheat, a modified success in “Champs Elysees,” he links into a state of mediocrity in “Indiscretions.” Limited to audiences composed of sophisticates, those who understand French, this is not for the general run houses unless exploited as "sugges¬ tive." Doctor Guitry discovers his wife, Betty Dausmond, was in the throes of an extra¬ marital affair with the son of his best friend. (Charles Dechamps) In teaching his wife a lesson she won’t easily forget, Guitry exposes his af¬ fair with Dechamps’ wife (Pauline Carton) ; Guitry’s own illegitimate child by an ex-mistress, loads of other scandals. There is no doubting occasional jabs of humor, but because action is sacrificed for dialogue (it is practically a mono¬ logue by Guitry) this is unsuitable for domestic theatres. Estimate: For art, French houses, exclusively. Rangle River (Hoffberg) Family "Western” 72m. Victor Jory, Margaret Dare, Robert Coote. Directed by Clarence Badger. In this Australian equivalent to our domestic horse operas is found a film which compares favorably to the average run of westerns put out by Hollywood. Where the cowboy cinema is the rule, this should be a pleasing attraction. Headed by Victor Jory, a name familiar to Americans, the cast does a nice job with Zane Grey’s story, a small budget. Story is that of a crooked cattle dealer who turns to unscrupulous means of put¬ ting Jory’s boss out of business. Jory, Robert Coote work together to beat the crooks, but are almost ruined when the Rangle River dam is blown up. Jory settles things by knocking the living daylights out of his underhanded foe. The finale is something excitingly different — a man-to-man battle with those familiar, long cattle whips. Estimate: Pleasing Australian import -with a "western" flavor. Spy of Napoleon (Unity Films) Family Melodrama 77m. Richard Barthelmess, Dolly Haas, Frank Vosper, Francis Sullivan, Joyce Bland, C. Denier 'War¬ ren, Henry Oscar, Marjorie Mars, Brian Buschell, Lyn Harding, Wilfred Caithness, George Merritt, Stafford Hilliard. Directed by Maurice Elvey. A historical film beginning in 1869, "period of waltz, gaiety, glamour, and war,” this begins well, loses pace,, ends on a downbeat. One thing it has, for class audiences, is historical authen¬ ticity, something few American films stick to. It has not the punch for boxoffice. Film regards later life and times of Napoleon III, upstart French emperor, nephew of great Napoleon Bona¬ parte. Chief of Police Francis Sullivan discovers plots versus Emperor Frank Vosper, advises he re¬ move from France to Lyons, where illegitimate daughter, Dolly Haas, sings and dances with a troupe. In Lyons, assassin attempts Vosper’s life, leaves incriminating letter with nobleman Rich¬ ard Barthelmess, who is discovered, imprisoned. A spy is needed to detect traitors giving informa¬ tion to Prussians, daughter Dolly Haas,, informed of real identity, is persuaded by Vosper to take the role. For noble title, she is married to Barthelmess, who loves her. He is executed _ with blanks (a dramatic highlight); exiled from France. He goes to Geneva, where informer to Prussians, Henry Oscar, comes to meet confed¬ erates. Haas arrives, and Oscar, Haas, Barthel¬ mess, all board lake steamer. Risking death by landing on French soil, Barthelmess is discovered with Prussian Consul George Merritt, as he at¬ tempts to learn secret, by Sullivan. Continuity breaks here. When war is declared with Prussia, Barthelmess goes to fight. Two months later French are forced to surrender, with a stirring scene as Vosper relinquishes sword to Bismarck, Brian Buschell. Last scene, Haas and Barthel¬ mess in England, watch Vosper die, with Haas’ mother’s name on his lips. Estimate: For class spots, nabes with limita¬ tions. THE SHORTS PARADE THREE-REEL Dramatic THE WARNING. Alliance Films. 36m. Because it combines timeliness with a hint of American "security,” this film depicting war¬ time precautions taken in England should prove to be a fascinating subject for every day audi¬ ences. This shows how children are fitted for gas masks; emergency bomb proof shelters are utilized; various English fighting forces ready themselves for combat. Produced in the style of March of Time releases, this is handicapped by mediocre photography, sound. However, it is an exploitable program filler. GOOD. L. S. M. TWO-REEL Comedy BABY DAZE. RKO-Radio — Edgar Kennedy. 15m. Edgar thinks his wife is going to have a baby, goes through the usual torment, arranges the nursery, finds out that it is really her broth¬ er’s wife, finds he can do little about it. GOOD. (93405). H. M. Dramatic THE MARCH OF TIME, No. 10. ("Dixie, U. S.”). RKO-Radio. 20m. Painting the eco¬ nomic pictures of the south’s economic conditions with brilliant, albeit superficial, hues, the latest MOT hits upon a subject which should find plenty of playing dates through the Solid South plus more than willing audiences in Yankee terri¬ tory. Because President Roosevelt has made it known on several occasions that he considers Dixie a major political and economic worry, the Editors of Time sent their roving cameraman below the Mason and Dixon Line to disprove FDR’s stand. Showing how the National Emerg¬ ency Council has delved into conditions in the south and returned with a fairly unfavorable report on the Negro, sharecroppers, poor whites’ living standards, the film then shifts abruptly into painting a rosier picture. The last portion explains how Negroes are better off than ever, how the poor whites are being educated. The one fault we find is the fact that MOT, heretofore fearless in whatever it has undertaken, hurriedly passed over the well-known plight of the tenant farmers and the downtrodden Negroes. That minor flaw, however, doesn’t prevent this from ranking with the best of the series.. EXCEL¬ LENT. (93110). L. S. M. Musical PHARMACY FROLICS. Universal-Mentone. 1 8m. Frazee sisters, Tom Emerson and his Moun¬ taineers, the Playboys appear in the usual musical review, with a drug store background, making this acceptable musical filler. Other acts are Gilrone and Starr, Richard and Carson and Dave Monahan. FAIR. (3230). H. M. SEEIN’ SPOTS. Vitaphone — Broadway Brev¬ ity. 18m. If they adhered to a straight vaude¬ ville policy instead of attempting to inject a flimsy story to this musical two-reeler, perhaps this may have been a lot more interesting. A Winchellian reporter is charged with the duty of discouraging a friend’s son’s reportorial am¬ bitions. They make the round of nite clubs take in singing, dancing, adagio, comedy acts. When the neophyte reporter gets to doing some sidewalk hoofing, both are tossed into the can. FAIR. (4026). L. S. M. Novelty ADVENTURES IN THE JUNGLE. Conti¬ nental Pictures. 26m. Unique among jungle pictures is this fightless commentary of the fauna of the Indian jungle. While the picture builds to no thrillng, battle-to-the-death climax, it is nonetheless entertaining. More than 30 kinds of animals are described by an anonymous narrator, who takes neither himself nor his narrative too seriously. Whether he talks to the animals or to the audience — but always about the pictured species — he imbues an out-and-out natural history lesson with a sugar-coated, factual narrative that makes these 26 minutes seem not over a third as long. GOOD W. W. SERIAL MANDRAKE, THE MAGICIAN. Columbia — Serial, in 12 chapters. Warren Hull, Doris Weston, A1 Kikume, Edward Earle, Forbes Mur¬ ray, Kenneth MacDonald, Don Beddoe. Directed by Sam Nelson, Norman Deming. First chapter, 27m.; others, two reels each. The suave magi¬ cian, whose heroic adventures are known to countless persons through his daily comic strip, radio appearances, thrillingly makes his screen debut in the person of personable Warreq Hull in this action-packed (if you can judge by the first episode) serial. Returning to America after a Tibetan trip, Hull walks right into a mesi of trouble started by the mysterious Wasp, who is after a destructive radium-energy device in¬ vented by Forbes Murray, the father of the future Mrs. Mandrake, Doris Weston. The Wasp’s operatives attempt to steal the machine, but are thwarted by Hull. The first chapter ends with the magician apparently being blown to bits by the radium gun. EXCELLENT. (9140). L. S. M. ONE-REEL Color Cartoon THE BEACH PICNIC. RKO-Radio— Walt Disney. 8m. Donald, Pluto go picnicking, are plagued by an inflated sea horse, playful ants. EXCELLENT. (94114). J. NAUGHTY BUT MICE. Vitaphone— Merrie Melodies. 7m. This is not up to the Schlesinger standard. A mouse gets drunk on cold medi¬ cine; so does his electric razor friends, but the latter saves him from the bad cat. FAIR (4519). H. M. THUGS WITH DIRTY MUGS. Vitaphone— Merrie Melodie. 8 m. Very good, a burlesque on crime pictures, with the central character very Edward G. Robinsonish. The "patron” in the audience again talks to the screen. This is in the top Schlesinger bracket. The gags, etc., are above the average and there should be a lot of laughs in any theatre. EXCELLENT. (4517). H. M. Cartoon KRISTOPHER KOLUMBUS, JR., VitaphoneLooney Tune. 7m. A bureslque on the discovery 314