Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1938)

September 10, 1938 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 81 MERRILY WE LIVE: Constance Bennett, Brian Aherne, Billie Burke, Patsy Kelly — Too clever for our crowd. Didn't draw at all but the manager and cashier thought it was great. — A. N. Miles, Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. NAUGHTY MARIETTA (Reissue): Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy — Satisfactory reissue. Played July 19. — L. A. Irwin, Palace Theatre, Penacook, N. H. General patronage. OF HUMAN HEARTS: Walter Huston, James Stewart — We should have more pictures of this type. Although it does not click at the box office, it is one fine piece of entertainment and everyone should play it. Played August 22-23— Cecil Ward, Stone Theatre, Bassetts, Va. Factory and country patronage. PORT OF SEVEN SEAS: Wallace Beery, Maureen O'Sullivan, Frank Morgan, John Beal — There is just a question if this picture should not have the label of adult. It had that in the Chicago run. The picture is well produced and the scenes restrained but the story revolves around a baby born out of wedlock and that as always is a controversial subject. However, the younger have the reputation of knowing all the answers and it is above the heads of the children, I hope. It did a little above average business.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. RICH MAN, POOR GIRL: Robert Young, Lew Ayres, Ruth Hussey, Guy Kibbee, Lana Turner — A good picture but one that I doubt very much if it has any real box office appeal. The cast is good but they are not real box office names, and the picture has never been heard of before. A light picture with some real good humor. Interesting throughout and one that should be recommended by the patrons. I expect to see more of these pictures wth this same cast. Why not make it a series like the Jones family and the Judge Hardys. Running time, 72 minutes. Played August 28-29. — Pearce Parkhurst, Paramount Theatre, Schroon Lake, N. Y. Small town and summer patronage. RICH MAN, POOR GIRL: Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Lew Ayres, Lana Turner — Absolutely terrific picture. It has everything except box office power and if you can figure some way to get 'em in, it will be one of the most successful pictures you'll ever play. —James I. Denham, Rex Theatre, Port Lavaca, Texas. General patronage. SWISS MISS: Laurel and Hardy, Walter Wolf King, Delia Lind — Swell. But not as good as some of their other pictures. Business fair. No kicks about the picture. Running time, 72 minutes. Played August 14-15.— Oaty Elmore, Best Theatre, Charleston, W. Va. General patronage. SWISS MISS: Laurel & Hardy— Right up our alley for one of the poorer of these actors. It drew, however, so why complain. People want to laugh, so the producers had better give us more comedy and less drama, if they want film rental. Running time, 74 minutes. — A. J. Inks, Crystal Theatre. Ligonier, Ind. Small town patronage. SWISS MISS: Laurel and Hardy— Laurel and Hardy always click here. Played Saturday with weak western and did good business. . Played August 19-20. — Cecil Ward, Stone Theatre, Bassetts, Va. Factory and country patronage. TEST PILOT: Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy — Very fine. Didn't do the business anticipated. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. TEST PILOT: Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, Clark Gable— What more can I say about this picture than has been said. Business was way above average and the picture is a thrill from start to finish. Let's have more of its kind. Played August 11-12. — Cecil Ward, Stone Theatre, Bassetts, Va. Factory and country patronage, TOY WIFE, THE: Luise Rainer, Melvyn Douglas, Robert Young, Barbara O'Neil, H. B. Warner — I played this about three weeks after release and sorry I used it. Should have waited until some exhibitors reports hit these columns. Drew a record number of walkouts and was the most generally disliked among the male patrons of any picture I have run this year. O.K. for the ladies that enjoy daubing their noses. — L. V. Bergtold, Westby Theatre, Westby, Wis. General patronage. TREASURE ISLAND (Reissue): Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper— Still a fine picture and did some nice business on it. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. YELLOW JACK: Robert Montgomery, Virginia Bruce, Lewis Stone, Henry Hull, Charles Coburn — Here is the picture that the Red Book magazine listed as their July "Picture of the Month." It is worthy of every theatre's best playing time and a little extra effort to put it over. We had extra hot weather the three days we played it so did not gross so much but everybody liked it because it is different. Played July 31 -August 2. — A. N. Miles, Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small town and rural patronage. Monogram ROMANCE OF THE LIMBERLOST: Jean Parker, Eric Linden — Truly a motion picture which Monogram should be very proud to have in its lineup. Notwithstanding the excellent performance of the leads, Mar jorie Main walks away with the picture. Played August 17-18.— Charles Rossi, Strand Theatre, Schroon Lake, N. Y. Summer patronage. ROMANCE OF THE LIMBERLOST: Jean Parker, Eric Linden — Acting very amateurish but it was different to the extent that it pleased at least part of the very slim audience.— James I. Denham, Rex Theatre, Port Lavaca, Texas. General patronage. WHERE THE WEST BEGINS: Jack Randall— I don't know how this fellow Randall does in other theatres but with me he is one of my best western stars. Of course, sometimes his singing almost ruins the entire picture but outside of that he is a popular singing cowboy. Monogram has been giving him A-l productions. Leave off the singing and add more comedy or novel music. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. Paramount BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE: Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper — Very fine picture. Many, many comments as to the value of this picture. Thanks, Paramount, for another excellent film. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. CASSIDY OF BAR 20: Wm. Boyd— Have never yet played a bad western in this series. All are above average. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. COCOANUT GROVE: Fred MacMurray, Harriet Hilliard — Another fine Paramount musical that pleased very well. A little different. A little suspense till the end. A little better than some before it. Play it, it will please. Played August 1-2. — Cecil Ward, Stone Theatre, Bassetts, Va. Factory and country patronage. COLLEGE SWING: Martha Raye, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope — This picture is even worse than terrible. How Paramount can make such pictures as "Wells Fargo" and then produce a thing like "College Swing" is more than I can see. I have run some bad shows but this topped them all. People got up and walked out and that does not help your business any. Had it booked for a three day run but cut it out the first night. Burns & Allen are through, and Martha Raye might as well fold up too as far as my patrons and myself are concerned. If you _ have _ this one booked, cancel, by all means. Running time, 86 minutes. Played August 21-23.— M. W. Bretzke, Bretzke & Gainor, Lyric Theatre, Kenmare, N. D. General patronage. DOCTOR RHYTHM: Bing Crosby, Beatrice Lillie, Mary Carlisle, Andy Devine — Good program picture that did quite well at the box office. Recording good. Beatrice Lillie did not help the picture any. Running time, 95 minutes.— P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. GIVE ME A SAILOR: Martha Raye, Bob Hope, Betty Grable, Jack Whiting — While not as good as some Martha Raye pictures, this one seemed to please and business was fairly good. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. GIVE ME A SAILOR: Martha Raye, Bob Hope, Betty Grable, Jack Whiting— Only fair. Not what it was cracked up to be. Some thought it was fair. It wasn't too bad in my estimation, nor was it by any means good. There were some real laugh scenes. From past experience, Mr. Exhibitor, remember it's Martha Raye put out by Paramount, and use your own judgment. Running time, 80 minutes. Played August 23-24. — Pearce Parkhurst, Paramount Theatre, Schroon Lake, N'. Y. Small town and summer patronage. HEART OF ARIZONA: Wm. Boyd, Natalie Moorhead — Just a western and a poor one at that, but doubled it with the five Disney Awards and packed them in. Try it. Running time, 63 minutes. — W. E. McPhee, Strand Theatre, Old Town, Maine. General patronage. HER JUNGLE LOVE: Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland, Lynne Overman, Dorothy Howe — A very beautiful picture with a fantastic story. Drew better than average business and believe it pleased although we heard no direct comment. Overman is very well liked in supporting roles. Lamour very beautiful and glamorous. Running time, 81 minutes. Played August 7-8. — Horn and Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. HUNTED MEN: Lloyd Nolan, Mary Carlisle, Lynne Overman, Dorothy Peterson, Delmar Watson — While the theme of this picture was rather implausible, the audience seemed to appreciate it and although Lloyd Nolan, Mary Carlisle, Lynne Overman and Dorothy Peterson turned in very fine performances, I felt that Delmar Watson stole the show. Running time, 66 minutes. Played August 23-25.. — H. J. Quartemont, Parkway Theatre, Milwaukee, Wis. Neighborhood patronage. HUNTED MEN: Lloyd Nolan, Mary Carlisle, Lynne Overman, Dorothy Peterson, Delmer Watson — A perfect sermon on the folly of crime. Any exhibitor will do a_ favor to children to let them see this one. It has sentiments that are worthy of a bigger production. (Continued on following page) United Artists PROVES that Motion Pictures are your Best Entertainment with . . . ALL BIG ONES ^/ "Algiers" "The Cowboy and the Lady" "There Goes My Heart" "Drums" (See Pages 87 to 90) "The Young in Heart" {Adv.)