Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1934)

64 MOTION PICTURE HERALD November 10, 1934 HALF A SINNER: Joel McCrea, Sally Blane— Lively all the way through. Not a dull minute in the film. Good enough for anyone and will please almost anywhere. Good in all respects and will go over anywhere. Played October 6. — George Lodge, Green Lantern Theatre, Clayraont, Del. Small town patronage. GIFT OF GAB: Edmund Lowe, Gloria Stuart, Alice White — This is entertainment that pleases. Radio great plus plenty of comedy, good music and some thrills make it a dandy show. Some patrons came in three times; it pleased them so well. A good plan is to read Liberty magazine reviews and take them in reverse. They must be paid for knocking good shows. We have too many musical shows, but they are better than the hot ones at that. This one is as clean as they make them. Running time, 71 minutes. Played October 28-29. — H. J. Lonaker, Glenwood Theatre, Glenwood, Minn. General patronage. KING FOR A NIGHT: Chester Morris, Helen Twelvetrees, Alice White — Story of a fighter who after winning championship sacrifices his life on the electric chair so that his sister's name be unstained. Splendid story, splendid acting. Lots of lafis and very dramatic situations. Should please; however, the sad ending is its weak spot. Too bad they didn't change the ending by sentencing him to five years instead of giving him the chair. Just because an author wants to be "different" the producers ruin a fine picture. It pleased here, but the complaint was, "Why the sad ending?" — Don Adler, Empress Circuit, Fairbanks, Alaska. General patronage. LET'S TALK IT OVER: Chester Morris, Mae Clarke — Good comedy drama that is inclined to be a little rough. However, seemed to give general satisfaction. Played October 16-17. — Hollis Drew, Temple Theatre, East Jordan, Mich. General patronage. LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?: Margaret Sullavan, Douglass Montgomery — If Uncle Carl and his boy would give more time to making good pictures, exhibitors would be better off. Just one ordinary picture after another has been our experience with XJniversal and "Little Man" goes in the same classification. No good and Douglass Montgomery plays the part of a silly weakling. Margaret Sullavan is good if she had good pictures. Played September 24-25. — A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre, Monticello, Ky. Small town patronage. ONE MORE RIVER: Diana Wynyard, Colin CUveThis is a very good picture, but it will not appeal to the masses. It is a dramatic romance and over the heads of the average patrons. It is an English picture and deals with their social customs, views and legal proceedings. It is lacking in action, but from a story by a wellknown author. Due to the foreign atmosphere, we played this one two days to only fair business. Running time, 88 minutes. Played October 25-26. —J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patron? je. POOR RICH, THE: Edna May Oliver— I haven't had a real box office picture from Universal this year. This picture belongs to the ordinary class. No stars, no box office. Played Oct. 10-11. — A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre, Monticello, Ky. Small town patronage. ROMANCE IN THE RAIN: Roger Pryor, Heather Angel— Pretty good musical comedy. Running time, 75 minutes.— P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. SMOKING GUNS: Ken Maynard— Maynard draws well in our community over weekends and this picture did a nice business. Universal westerns are all right and their serials are O. K. Running time, 65 minutes. Played October 5-6. — A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre, Monticello, Ky. Small town patronage. THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW: Frank Morgan, EHzabeth Young — A very nice program picture of the domestic type. Running time, 87 minutes.— H. J. Longaker, Glenwood Theatre, Glenwood, Minn. General patronage. UNCERTAIN LAD^: Genevieve Tobin— Would like to say this is a fine picture, but I'm not a good liar. This picture was banned by the Legion of Decency. Sorry I didn't ban it. Methinks exhibitors, whose name is also "Legion," will wish they had listened not so much on moral grounds, but for business reasons. The lady may have been "Uncertain," but the results to me were far from that. In short, it did not please and it did not pay. You may play it and like it. But, as the title indicates, this is "Uncertain." Played October 19.— Peter Bylsma, Victory Theatre, Napoleonville, La. Small town patronage. WHEELS OF DESTINY: Ken Maynard— Very interesting western. Good for Friday-Saturday. Running tirne, 62 minutes.— P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. Warner DAMES: Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell— A little above average business, but the picture was disappointing to our patrons and not nearly as good as "20 Million Sweethearts." Some beautiful scenes, but not much story and people are getting tired out on chorus ensembles marching around and no story. Poor business second night. Played October 3-4. — A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre, Monticello, Ky. Small town patronage. DESIRABLE: Jean Muir, George Brent— This pic URGES COMMENT ON PUBLIC REACTION M. R. Harrington, of the Avalon theatre at Clatskanie, Ore., rises to make a plea for fairness to the picture, in reports particularly from smaller centers, by urging comment on audience reaction as well as business done. Harrington points out that special community events — the championship game of the high school, a carnival, impassable roads — may came heavy damage at the box office though the reaction of those attending may be decidedly favorable. Writes Mr. Harrington: "I am sending along some reports for your interesting and very helpful section of The Herald. This is my first contribution, but I hope I shall be able to help the cause, by reporting regularly, in the future. "Have noticed that few exhibitors mention the audience reaction in reporting on pictures. They seem more anxious to mention the business done or not done, as the case might be. I believe this is hardly fair, as in small towns, where drawing power is limited at the best, other activities may cut into the business done on a certain show, yet those who did attend found the picture fine entertainment. I have found this to be the case many times and on a 2 or 3 -day run, the first night of which had outside competition, the other nights built up, largely, I believe, because of the fact that those who did attend found the picture was worthwhile and passed along the word to others. Such advertising beats all the lobby displays and other picture selling methods you can think up." ture will get by and the audience seemed to like it. There is nothing new in the story — the eternal problem of two women and a man. Jean Muir gave an outstanding performance in this one and she was favorably spoken of by a lot of our patrons. It could have easily fallen into the mediocre class, but it had good direction and the story, while not new, as I have said above, moved right along.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. FRIENDS OF MR. SWEENEY: Charlie Ruggles, Ann Dvorak — This is a very good picture of the comedy type that should please all classes of patrons. Ruggles at his best in a role that was made for him. This has plenty of action, romance and spicy dialogue. This will make excellent entertainment for the whole family and please each one. The trailer will sell the show for you. Played one day to very good business. Running time. 68 minutes. Played October 24. — J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. HAROLD TEEN: Hal LeRoy— In which the producers produced entertainment instead of a headache. Those who came to be entertained, were so-so, while I got mine. Rochelle Hudson and Patricia Ellis didn't hurt the picture at all. I predict that 90 per cent of those who are fortunate enough to see this picture will advise their friends not to miss it, and that's praise enough. Played October 17. — Peter Bylsma, Victory Theatre, Napoleonville, La. Small town patronage. HERE COMES THE NAVY: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien — You'll like this and so will your patrons. Full of fun. Plenty of action. Some good scenes of the Navy Fleet, the Macon, etc. Cagney and O'Brien both good and so is Alice Faye. Did some good business and this is a good small town draw. Step on it. It will pay. Played Sept. 19-20.— A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre, Monticello, Ky. Small town patronage. HI, NELLIE: Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks — Very fine newspaper story. Editor demoted to "Advice to Lovelorn" column, hence his title, "Hi Nellie." Plenty of laffs, good plot, good acting. Clean. Plenty of action. Should please. — Don Adler, Empress Circuit, Fairbanks, Alaska. General patronage. HOUSE ON 56TH STREET, THE: Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez, Gene Raymond — Story of a girl who by force of circumstances leads a shady life. Splendid story, splendid acting, though I wouldn't recommend it for the children. Play this before you play "Mandalay." It has the same two stars as "Mandalay," but as a picture is 100 per cent better. — Don Adler, Empress Circuit, Fairbanks, Alaska. General patronage. HOUSEWIFE: George Brent, Bette Davis— Good picture that pleased my patrons. Ann Dvorak gives a fine performance. Wish Warner Bros, would give her more and better roles. Bette Davis in her usual role of vamp is good. Running time, 69 minutes. Played October 13-14.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. JIMMY, THE GENT: James Cagney, Bette Davis— Cagney goes into the "Lost Heirs" business. This is a noisy thing, not much plot, not much chance for any of them to do any real acting. A few laffs here and there. A weak Cagney picture. Did not please — and no wonder it didn't. — Don Adler, Empress Circuit, Fairbanks, Alaska. General patronage. Short Features Celebrity JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: Fair. Coloring was poor. Running time, eight minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. Columbia AW, NURSE: Scrappy Cartoon — Good cartoon. Running time, seven minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. ELMER STEPS OUT: Walter Catlett— Pretty good comedy. Running time, 19 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre. Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. KATNIPS OF 1940: Krazy Kat Kartoon— A very good cartoon. Best in a long while. Running time, 17 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. MICKEY'S MEDICINE MAN: Mickey McGuire Comedy — Pretty good two-reeler, but not as good as previous ones. Running time, 19 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. SCRAPPY'S EXPEDITION: Scrappy CartoonGood. Running time, seven minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. SCRAPPY'S RELAY RACE: Scrappy cartoonGood. Running time, seven minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. SCRAPPY'S TOY SHOP: Scrappy Cartoon-^Hardly up to previous releases of this series. Just fair. Running time, seven minutes. — Hollis Drew, Temple Theatre, East Jordan, Mich. General patronage. TEN BABY FINGERS: Sidney & Murray— Very good with a baby furnishing the interest and Sidney and Murray the fun. It made our audience laugh, which is what we want. — Harold C. Allison, Baldwin Theatre, Baldwin, Mich. Small town patronage. WOMAN HATERS: Musical— Slapstick at its "slappiest." Only fair. Running time, two reels. — Hollis Drew, Temple Theatre, East Jordan, Mich. General patronage. GOING SPANISH: Musical Comedies— Another tworeel paid for and gone. Punk. Running time, 20 minutes.— J. N. Creswell, Cedarville Theatre, Cedarville, Ohio. General patronage. Educational GOLD GHOST, THE: Star Comedy Specials— I wish a half a dozen other Educational comedies were a third as good as this one. Oh, well! Running time, 21 minutes. — J. N. Creswell, Cedarville Theatre, Cedarville, Ohio. General patronage. IRISH SWEEPSTAKES: Terry-Toons— This is an extra good and funny cartoon. Running time, one reel. — J. A. Verchot, Opera House, Abbeville, S. C. Small town patronage. I SURRENDER, DEAR (REISSUE): Bing Crosby— This reissue okay. Running time, two reels. — Hollis Drew, Temple Theatre, East Jordan, Mich. General patronage. SHE'S MY LILLY: Will Mahoney— Excellent comedy. Pleased everyone. Running time, two reels. — Hollis Drew, Temple Theatre, East Jordan. Mich. General patronage. WHY MULES LEAVE HOME: Terry-Toons— A cartoon with an original theme that is very good. Running time, seven minutes. — Hollis Drew, Temple Theatre, East Jordan, Mich. General patronage.