Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1939)

February II, 1939 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 41 and mouth" disease. Fearing a quarantine, they attempt to transport the cattle by truck. "Gene" stops them. The state veterinary arrives. Through a trick engineered by "Shepby" and "Belknap" cattle are given a clean bill of health while the herd belonging to "Wheeler," to whom "Gene" has lent money, is quarantined. "Gene" is jailed on a charge of interfering with the veterinary, but escapes in time to balk the culprits and clear "Wheeler." Previewed in the projection room in New York.— P. C. M., Jr. Produced and distributed by Republic. Associate producer, Harry Grey. Directed by Jack Townley. Original screen play by Charles Arthur Powell, Paul Franklin. Production manager, Al Wilson. Photography by Reg Lanning. Film editor, Lester Orlebeck. Musical supervisor, Raoul Kraushaar. P. C. A. Certificate No. 4986. Running time, 58 minutes. Release date, February 3, 1939. General audience classification. CAST Gene Gene Autry Frog Smiley Burnette Martha June Storey Wheeler George Cleveland Dr. Sommers Jack Mulhall Belknap Walter Miller Shelby Gordon Hart Sheriff Hal Price Prof. Wentworth Earle Hodgins Carter Ethan Laidlaw Tom Ross John Beach Wilson Jack Ingram Madden Bob Woodward and Sherven Brothers Rodeoliers Torchy Blane in Chinatown (Warner Brothers) Comedy, Mystery The series vogue has a way of perpetuating its characters so that they seem like old friends. Two boys in their teens, shopping for film fare although it was a Friday morning and the schools were in session, happened along at the Palace theatre as this reviewer arrived. The Palace bill won out because one of the boys had seen previous "Torchy Blane" films. The friendly rivalry of "Torchy," girl newspaper reporter, and "Steve McBride," a detective, is continued in the same vein as in previous releases, though the story borders on the weak side. The setting is anything but Chinatown, but the mystery concerns Oriental heirlooms and Oriental lore. The comedy is handled by Glenda Farrell as "Torchy" and by Tom Kennedy as "Gahagan," "Steve's" shadow. Barton MacLane plays "Steve." Reviewed at the Palace theatre, New York. An afternoon audience appeared to be enjoying "Torchy's" latest adventures. — P. C. M., Jr. Produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. Directed by William Beaudine. Story by Murray Leinster and Will Jenkins. Screen play by George Brickner and based on the characters created by Frederick Nebel. ' Photography by Warren Lynch. Editor, Frederick Richards. P. C. A. Certificate No. 4700. Running time, 58 minutes. Release date, February 4, 1939. General audience classification. CAST Torchy Blane Glenda Farrell Steve McBride Barton MacLane Gahagan Tom Kennedy Baldwin Henry O'Neill Condon Patric Knowles Mansfield James Stephenson Staunton Richard Bond Convict's Code ( Monogram-Crescent ) Melodrama "Convict's Code" is straight melodrama with some rather grim comedy and an unusual love interest situation. Economically produced, nevertheless intelligently written and directed to be complete within itself, the picture features Robert Kent, Sidney Blackmer and Anne Nagel, and in support Victor Kilian, Norman Willis, Maude Eburne, Ben Alexander, Pat Flaherty, Carelton Young, Howard Hickman, Joan Barclay and Harry Strang. "Tyler," framed into a jail sentence but out on restricted parole, is determined to avenge himself. He is employed by "Warren," who, though "Tyler" doesn't know it, was the man behind the plot that jailed him. Then he falls in love with "Warren's" sister, "Julie." He participates in a loft robbery to learn his persecutor's identity. He unearths the secret, but avenging himself upon "Warren" would mean unhappiness for "Julie." The picture seems to have the entertainment substance that will satisfy patrons of the market for which it is designed. It does not offer any great cast names but it has story and production quality to hold the interest of ordinary folk. Previewed in the General Service Studio projection room in Hollywood. — G.M. Distributed by Monogram. Produced by E. B. Derr. Directed by Lambert Hillyer. Original screen play by John W. Krafft. Edward Stein assistant director. Russell Schoengarth film editor. Photographed by Arthur Martinelli. P. C. A. certificate number 4912. Running time, 65 minutes. Release date, February 4, 1939. General audience classification. CAST Dave Tyler Robert Kent Julie Warren Anne Nagel Gregory Warren Sidney Blackmer Bennett Victor Kilian Russell Norman Willis Mrs. Magrudei Maud Eburne Jeff Palmer Ben Alexander Sniffy Pat Flaherty Pete Jennings Carleton Young Warden Howard Hickman Elaine Joan Barclay Tom Lynch Harry Strang Homicide Bureau (Columbia) Crime Melodrama "Homicide Bureau" deals with a nefarious "protective association" in the scrap iron industry, a band of gangsters who force the dealers to sell their metal to foreign powers for munitions. Outside of that approach to a social and economic problem of the day, the film is a typical crime melodrama concerned primarily with the problem worked out by the police homicide department and its tough and impetuous ace detective, in exposing the association. Action is the keynote from the opening sequence, the killing of a man in a telephone booth, to a gun battle between the gangsters and police on the deck of the boat carrying the contraband arms. The film is practically devoid of romance. The girl in the case is introduced with a flourish as a police laboratory expert but her subsequent appearances are brief and of small importance. The film is directed by C. C. Coleman, Jr., from a screen play by Earle Snell. The cast is headed by Bruce Cabot, with Rita Hayworth. Marc Lawrence, Richard Fiske, Moroni Olsen and Gene Morgan in support. Reviewed at the Rialto theatre, New York, where a predominantly male audience, which is the usual situation here, watched the goingson, intently, if silently. — P. C. M., Jr. Produced aind distributed by Columbia. Directed by C. C. Coleman, Jr. Story and screen play by Earle Snell. Photography by Benjamin Kline. Film editor, James Sweeney. P. C. A. Certificate No. 4628. Running time, 59 minutes. Release date, January 5, 1939. General audience classification. CAST Jim Logan Bruce Cabot J. G. Bliss Rita Hayworth Chuck Brown Marc Lawrence Hank Richard Fiske Captain Haines Moroni Olsen Briggs Norman Willis Blake Gene Morgan Thurston Robert Paige Jamison Lee Prather Specks Eddie Featherston Police Commissioner Stanley Andrews Buck Rogers (Universal) Cartoon Serial The epic pen point personage, "Buck Rogers," steps entertainingly from his widely syndicated newspaper panel into a serial script as thrilling and as fantastic as the original cartoon. In the screen variation, the doughty "Buck" and his faithful band of nimble confederates are in combat with a character of unique villainy. "Buck" and his pal, "Buddy," crash in their dirigible and because of a strange persevering gas remain in a state of suspended animation for 500 years. Then they learn that the world has gone to pieces under the domination of a super-racketeer, "Killer Kane." "Buck" attempts to break the mobster by enlisting the assistance of the people from the planet Saturn. In the three first episodes shown, it must be said that the enterprising Mr. Rogers seems to have bargained for more than he can handle. One of his air ships blows up in mid-air, another is crushed between granite gates and he is paralyzed by the rays of a strange gun. The action and the strange characters and contraptions should appeal to the imaginations of the juvenile and action seeking trade. Buster Crabbe has the title role and is assisted by Jackie Moran, Constance Moore, Jack Mulhall and Montague Shaw. Release date, April 11, 1939. Running time, 12 chapters, approximately 21 minutes each. Paramount Pictorial, P8-7 ( Paramount) Pictorial A well chosen collection of interesting items is detailed in this newest number from the Pictorial grouping. The initial sequence is devoted to a visit to a Mexican Sunday rodeo with interesting and humorous results. Next is the life story of the gorgeously feathered creatures living in America, with appeal to nature lovers and school classes. The final topic is the intricate construction necessary for the manufacture of the musical instrument known as an accordion. — Running time, nine minutes. Screen Snapshots (Series 18, No. 4) (Columbia) Celebrities More than two score motion picture personages appear briefly in this subject, pegged to football. The subject builds gradually, from the football potentialities of Dick Foran's young son and John Mack Brown's slightly older boy to the professional game played by former college stars. Between come Mickey Rooney's team and a demonstration by Joe E. Brown and his two sons, one of whom is a college varsity player. The other celebrities appear as spectators. Running time, 10 minutes. Going Places (No. 58) (Universal) Interesting Windmills, both large and small, from the ancient days to the present, are described in picture and dialogue. Graham McNamee introduces Thomas Broughton, of Barnstable, on Cape Cod, who has a prosperous business manufacturing mindmills as weather indicator novelties. The second part of the reel takes the audience to Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon and humble abode of the ancient industries of fishing, farming and goat herding. Corsica still stands quaint and serene after the rise and fall of many empires. — Running time 9H minutes. Annual "Movie Party" To Show Amateur Films The tenth annual "movie party," at which there will be showings of amateur films, will be held April Nth at the Barbizon Plaza Theatre in New York. Started in 1929 by Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McD. Little, to show amateur films, the annual screenings have grown until now films are first submitted to a jury which selects those to be shown. Over 300 invitations have been sent out for this year's showing, going to 32 states and 20 countries abroad.