Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

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METRO-GOIDWYN-MAYER 1941-42 Releases 'HONKEY TONK' STRONG CAST IN FAMILIAR TALE Rates • • • on names HOLL,iWOOD PREVIETW MGM. 10b Minutes. Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Frank Morgan, Claire Trevor, Marjorie Main, Albert Dekker, Henry O'Neill, Chill Wills, Veda Ann Borg, Douglas Wood, Betty Blythe, Harry Worth, Lew Harvey. Directed by Jack Conway "Honkey Tonk" revives the tired old plot of the dashing, attractive confidence man, quick with his fists and quicker on the draw, who falls in love and marries a beautiful young and respectable girl who stands by him to the end, at the same time sacrificing her own principles and ideals. It is pretty corny stuff for Metro, producer Pandro Herman, director Jack Conway and the stars. But, at least, it is done well, punchy romantic stuff, loud, exciting, and even moving occasionally. The period production, laid against the background of the old West, is impressive — giving spirit and atmosphere to the piece. Aimed at the masses, it is bound to attract good grosses generally. Gable is Candy Johnson, who moves in on a town, gains control of it and wins the affections of Lana Turner, daughter of Frank Morgan whose racket is collecting fines. Things become a little too rotten, however, and even Morgan finds them repellant. He is the leading spirit of a Citizens' movement to rid the community of Gable and his henchmen. Just as he is about to reveal facts and figures, he is killed. Turner is hurt as she rushes to the scene. Gable, realizing that disaster is at his heels, tricks his gang into fleeing — he hops a train for new fields of conquest. Some months later Turner seeks him out and they start off together. Gable's performance is one of his best. Lana Turner is so beautiful that it doe.nt really matter if her act.ng is less auspiciou;. Frank Morgan wins sympathy as her bibulous father whose first concern is the welfare and happiness of his daughter. Claire Trevor is the inevitable beer parlor "hostess" and, of course, she's grand. There is an outstanding performance by Marjorie Main as a not so saintly mission leader. Albert Dekker is convincing as the heavy and Chill Wills satisfies in a comedy spot. There's vigor to Jack Conway's direction and he may take much of the credit for making good entertainment of a routine and familiar story. HANNA (Hollywood) 'SMILIN' THROUGH' MOVING LOVE STORY Rates © ® + or better generally HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW — MGM. 100 Minutes. Jeanette MacDonald, Brian Aherne, Gene Raymond, Ian Hunter, Frances Robinson, Patrick O'Moore, Eric Lonsdal*. Jackie Horner, David Clyde, Frances Carson, Ruth Rickaby. Directed by Frank Borzage. "Smilin* Through" is a handsome photoplay — a tender, moving and beautiful love story — but it is also a remake! Exhibitors are urged to watch the first run results closely in order to estimate this attraction's draw. Its production and entertainment values are such that this may be one of the few remakes to overcome audience prejudice against second hand celluloid. At this point, however, an accurate prediction is impossible. Following the pattern of the original plan exactly, all temptations to bring it up to date have been wisely resisted. The Technicolor photography is lovely, enhancing the production considerably. Studded with fine performances by a cast of ranking principals and sympathetically directed by Frank Borzage, it will have particular appeal for women. Musical moments have been woven into the script as a logical part of the proceadings and Miss MacDonald's voice is heard advantageously in several familiar, well loved tunes. This is a story of deathless love — the tale of a man who grows old and bitter after his fiance is killed at the altar by a jealous suitor. Later in life, his niece falls in love with the son of the murderer. He opposes their marriage until after the war when the young man comes back, a ho:e"ess invalid unwilling to tie the girl to h'm. Her uncle relents and as a consequence he is happily reunited with his sweetheart in death. Attempting the most dramatic role of her screen career, Miss MacDonald is a revelation in the dual part of Kathleen and Moonyean. She has never been lovelier and her work in this should gain her a vast new following of admirers. Brian Aherne's character work as the uncle is matched only by his own enactment of his younger, romantic days. Gene Raymond comes through with flying colors as the dashing Ame ican who joins the British forces. It is a different role for him, de.-nanding depth and intense emotions throughout. Raymond meets every challenge of the script. Ian Hunter is outstanding as a kindly, sympathetic vicar — a bystander in the romantic cavalcade. Other parts are mostly bits, although Frances Robinson stands out as a maid. HANNA (Hollywood) 'MARRIED BACHELOR' SAD COMEDY Rates • HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW MGM. 83 Minutes. Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Felix Bressart, Lee Bowman, Sheldon Leonard, Sam Levine, Murray Alper, Roy Gordon. Directed by Edward Buzzell. Leo must have blushed as he emitted his familiar roar before a picture so utterly lacking in entertainment qualities as "Married Bachelor." It is a perfectly vile picture that is supposed to be funny, but succeeds only in being pathetic. Much of the trouble lies in the fact that it is too slowly paced. Not that the story is any good, but speedier direction would, at least, have hidden some of its flaws. As for the dialogue — well it simply has to be heard to be believed. It consists largely of translating gangster talk into English and the scriptists of this opus must be very peculiar individuals to think for one moment that it is funny. Tab this one as among the very minor Metro items and duck it if possible. The story is all about shiftless Robert Young, who suddenly finds himself posing as the author of a book on marriage. He almost loses the affections of his wife, Ruth Hussey, but at the end they are reunited. The performers cannot be blamed for the vapid material, but Sheldon Leonard, who has become one of Hollywood's favorite gangsters, again delivers one of the juiciest pieces of half-baked ham the screen has offered in months. The direction suggests that Eddie Buzzell was snoozing through most of it. HANNA (Hollywood) 'THE FEMININE TOUCH' SCREWBALL COMEDY IS BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT Rates © • + generally HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW MGM. 93 Minutes. Rosalind Russell, Don Ameche, Kay Francis, Van Heflin, Donald Meek, Gordon Jones, Henry Daniell, Sidney Blackmer, Grant Mitchell, David Clyde. Directed by Major W. S. Van Dyke. A clever script, top notch performances and W. S. Van Dyke's speedy direction contrive to overcome a shallow story premise and "The Feminine Touch" emerges as some thing quite entertaining. It is zany from start to finish, packed with a number of good gag situations and dialogue that sometimes borders on the hysterical. The finish is frankly slapstick — too long for comfort, but it may be cut down by the time the film gets into release. Not a sensational picture, mind you, but a good comedy, this will do above average business in all locations except action and rural spots. Rosalind Russell is married to Eton Ameche, the author of an imposing book on jealousy, a characteristic in which he does not believe. This infuriates Russell. In New York where they have gone to sell the book, she receives considerable attention from Van Heflin, the publisher. Ameche remains unmoved until he finds them together at Heflin's lakeside cabin. He discovers that Heflin has shaved off his beard and, knowing that Miss Russell dislikes whiskers, he believes they have had an affair. Much to her delight, he saves her honor by fighting Heflin. There is a romance between Kay Francis and Heflin, to add to the general merriment. Russell and Ameche are in top form. Kay Fi-ancis is good and Van Heflin is amusing throughout. There are fine bits by Gordon Jones and Donald Meek, HANNA (Hollywood) 10 FILM BULLETIN