Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1939)

36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD June 3, 1939 SHOWMEN'S REVIEWS This department deals with new product from the point of view of the exhibitor who is to purvey it to his own public Young Mr. Lincoln Twentieth Century-Fox Character Study An astonishing adventure in showmanship is presented in "Young Mr. Lincohi," revealed at its premiere this Decoration Day evening at Springfield, out where Abraham Lincoln's career began. The like of this picture in the nature of expression of the Ford technique of direction. its story concept has never before been While it chances that it will not be practical nlTered outside the art rinemas and never "^^"^ exhibitors to present this Lincoln onerea outsiae tne art cmemas ana never pj^^^^.^ ^j^^^^ ^j^j^ thousand dollars worth ventured with the greater mass public to of songs and personal appearance of the now which this pretentious and ambitious celebrated Marian Anderson, as was had at offering is addressed. the premiere, there is considerable suggestion .,,r . , ,, . . , , value in the idea of so programing the presentaYoung Mr Lincoln is sincerely and ac ^ion as to give the picture special setting, curately titled. It is a character study of The admirably managed presentation at the Lincoln in one special and initial phase of Fox-Lincoln theatre in Springfield was marked his career, and it is substantially all devoted by its high degree of dignity, completely in to the expanded and exhaustive treatment accord and tune with the day's imposing proof an episode, a novice lawyer's first murder gram of events honoring the memories of Lintrial, coin and the traditions of his Illinois. T \, ■ ,, ^, , , , , . ^, The showman happily will find in the picture In this altogether remarkable production the abundant suggestion of exploitation treatments, makers have made the primary assumption that production of a calibre and quality entitling the audience knows the life story of Abe Lin ^-^ ^^^j^ ^^^^ distinguished support and coin and that it will find entertainment in a j^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^l^^^^l educational groups cross sectional examination of him as a per -^^ j^j^ community sonality in the period in which he was finding recorded with proper credit and himself On no other presumption might one gciation of their contributions that Darryl understand the swift, graphic but unthreaded ^a^^^^ producer in charge, had as his asso and almost unplotted references o Ann Rut ^j^^^ Kenneth Macgowan and that the incisively ledge^ or the unwoven strands involving Stephen remarkably sharp cut story and screen play A Douglas. came from the hand of Lamar Trotti. It is the pictures presumption that the spec Springfield premiere was the final gala tator really knows all about Lincoln and to ^^casion of the abundant and eventful program a degree of knowing that will contribute to the ^j^^^ ^^.^ ^^^^^3^ Lj^^^ol^ days in Mr. implied dramatic intensity of the phases so Lincoln's own home town.-TERRY Ramsaye, effectively sketched under John Fords most . o.. • r /j artful direction. Sprtngfield. To the public not so interested in the Lincoln Produced and distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox. J-.. xi ■ i -11 i • i Producer. Darryl F. Zanuck. Director, John Ford. As tradltion the picture will present a pioneer story fJe°ate producer, Kenneth Macgowan. Original screen of a murder trial in the backwoods, not re piay, Lamar Trotti. Music, Alfred Newman. Pho markable for suspense but richly laden with tographer, Bert Glennon, ASC. Art directors, Ricliard 1 J Div and Mark-Lee Kirk. Set decorator, Thomas sentimental concerns, some excitement and a L^tie Film editor, Walter Thompson. Costumer, surprise climax. Royer Sound engineers, Eugene Grossman and Roger Henry Fonda in the title role has by his Heman. P.C.A. No. 947. Release date, June 9, 1939. r J -J ji jj J i u 1 1 1 Running time, 101 minutes. General audience classi performance decidedly added to his laurels and fication enhanced his importance to the picture stage. r4<?T It may also be observed that Alice Brady in Abraham Lincoln '. Henry Fonda the role of Abigail Clay, mother of the boys Abigail Clay Alice Brady accused of murder, develops all of the sympa Mary Todd ^A^kln Whelan thetic possibilities of a considerable part. Efe""^'^ '.'.'.'..................Eddie ColHns In this picture we are given a glimpse of Ann Rutledge!...!!!!^..' Pauline Moore Mary Todd, without, however, elaboration to Matt Clay Richard Ci-omwel! ■', ' J 1 • -c Tohn Felder Donald Meek give her appearance and lines significance save Carrie Sue!.......... Dorris Bowdon as one has prior and detailed knowledge of her Adam Clay... Eddie Quillan part in the life of Lincoln. Judge Herbert A. Bell ^P^^'^ffr In this production one can see John Ford, |fX A.^Dougias:::::::::::;::::::'.:^^ director, pursuing certain specially artful as sheriff Billings Cliff aark pects of his technique which began to be the Juror .Robert Lowery more definitely discovered and proclaimed with ^^^^^^F^rr''^' FrancFs™ his making of "The Informer." Here again "Scrub" wii'ite'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.. ..'.'.'.'.'.i^red Kohler, Jr. is marked stylization, adroit symbolization, and Mrs. Edwards Kay Linaker despite the homely homespun . nature of the ^^^i^:::::::::::::::::::::^;^^-^^ character sketch which this picture is, there jov,n x. Stuart Edwin Maxwell persists an undertone of sophistication. It is Hawthorne Charles Halton to be expected that that school of criticism "^^^^ ^ which especially enjoys the esoteric -wm also ^^arn Clay (as a boy) Dickie Jones have a very special enthusiasm for this latest Barber Harry Tyler S.O.S. Tidal Wave ( Republic ) Imaginative Melodrama The time setting of this melodrama is the day when television newsreel reporting shall have become as much a part of daily routine as radio news reporting is now. The hero is a sort of television Winchell whose on-the-spot reporting of the news while it's happening stops traffic and general activity while the populace crowds around receiving sets on street corners, in offices, stores and homes, to see and hear what's going on. The villain of the piece is a gangster whose mayoral candidate is going to lose out at the polls unless he can stop the voting before bad news about him gets around. He stops it by taking over a television station and sending out as on-the-spot news coverage synthetic films showing New York razed by a tidal wave purportedly continuing its sweep inland. This highly imaginative but melodramatically plausible sequence provides a thrilling finish to an otherwise commonplace story about crime and politics. It is strikingly produced and stimulating both as entertainment of the moment and as something to think about afterward. It is clearly the sales point of the attraction. James Webb wrote the story upon which Maxwell Shane and Gordon Kahn based their screen play. Armand Schaefer produced and John H. Auer directed. Ralph Byrd plays the television reporter, a little stiffly, and Frank Jenks gives comedy relief. Previewed at the Republic studio in Hollytcoofi.— William R. Weaver. Produced and distributed by Republic. Associate producer, Armand Schaefer. Directed by John H. Auer. Screen play by Maxwell Shane and Gordon Kahn. Story by James Webb. Photographed by Jack Marta. Film editor, Ernest Nims. P. C. A. certificate No. 5339. Release date to be determined. Running time, when seen in Hollywood, 60 minutes. General audience classification. CAST Jeff Shannon Ralph Byrd Uncle Dan George Barbier Laurel Shannon Kay Sutton Peaches Jackson Frank Jenks Sutter Marc Lawrence Mabel Dorothy Lee Mike Halloran Oscar O'Shea Buddy Shannon Mickey Kuhn Farrow Ferris Taylor Curley Donald Barry Roy Nixon Raymond Bailey Undercover Doctor (Paramount) Crime Melodrama The second feature to be adapted from factual records contained in J. Edgar Hoover's book, "Persons in Hiding," "Undercover Doctor," though robbed by time of topical significance, nevertheless is true to life melodrama. The subject this time concerns renegade doctors, and as the story traces the brief but sensational career of "Dr. Hartley Morgan," a vivid insight is given into the lives of those unethical physicians who seek quick ways to wealth by treating wounded gangsters, failing to report their cases and otherwise shielding criminals. Bare of any considerable comedy content, while the love interest is substantial, the pic (Contintied on page 38)