Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1939)

86 MOTION PICTURE HERALD August 5, 1939 IN THE CUTTING ROOM Irish Luck ( Monogram ) Crime Melodrama This will be the fourth in a series of pictures in which Frankie Darro has been starred by Monogram. This time he will be cast as a feell boy in a metropolitan hotel and as a lad whose penchant for amateur detecting is continually getting him into trouble. However, as he gets into all sorts of trouble himself and involves others in dangerous predicaments, he is instrumental in unravelling a mysterious robbery and murder case that clears an innocent young man of complicity and traps the culprits. Dick Purcell will be seen with Darro again and the principal supporting cast will feature Lillian Elliott, Sheila Darcy, Dennis Moore, Mantan Moreland and Howard Mitchell. Origin of the screen play which March McCarthy prepared is "Death Hops the Bells" of which Charles M. Brown is the author. It is being directed by Howard Bretherton. Release date: August 22, 1939. Bad Company (Universal) Oil Field Melodrama A lot of titles, of which this label is one, concocted nowadays don't even make a remote pretense of defining the thematic subject matter of the productions they are presumed to identify. Such a designation as "Bad Company" is wide open for lots of interpretations as the designation for an action adventure story of the Texas oil fields. Be that as it may, "Bad Company" will detail a few episodes in the life of a quick witted, courageous IrishAmerican lad, who without Charged with 1,000,000 volts of Box-Office Power. COPYMCHT M P. CO. METRO PREMIUM CO. THEATRE DIVISION Offices and Warehouses in all Principal Cities. influence or money and with only the help of a rascally English expatriate and a son who wants to aid a scapegrace father in regenerating himself, beats a scheming promotor at his own game and brings in a million dollar gusher. Production background, of course, demands that much exciting action, spectacle and human interest will amplify the theme. Jackie Cooper and Freddie Bartholomew, last together in "The Spirit of Culver," will be starred and featured. The supporting cast will include Alan Dinehart as the unscrupulous financier, Melville Cooper, seen in "Robin Hood," "Dawn Patrol," and "The Sun Never Sets," who will play the renegade, and Dorothy Peterson and J. M. Kerrigan. Release date : Not determined. Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (20th Century-Fox) Comedy Mystery Excitement plus mystery, comedy, and romance are the ingredients being blended in this newest Charlie Chan feature. With Treasure Island, the site of San Francisco's Fair as the setting, thrills that provide smiles and chills are promised to pile upon one another from the moment a China Clipper flies through the Golden Gate with a mysteriously dead man aboard until the final moment when the great Oriental detective traps the least suspected character as the perpetrator of a bizarre crime. The story also will expose the activities of a blackmailing fake psychic medium who preys upon the gullible in all walks of life. Sidney Toler will be seen again as Charlie Chan. For feature support he will have Cesar Romero, now in "Frontier Marshal" ; Pauline Moore, Sen Yung who became Chan's number one son when Toler inherited the title role, Douglas Fowley, June Gale, Douglas Dumbrille, Sally Blaine, Wally Vernon and Donald McBride. John Larkin prepared the original screen play and the production is being directed by Norman Foster who handled "Charlie Chan in Reno." Release date: September 8, 1939. Death of a Champion (Paramount) Comedy Mystery There are some interesting facts about "Death of a Champion" that exhibitors should find it advantageous to know. Basis of the production is one of Frank Gruber's stories which appeared in Black Mask Magazine, one of the most widely circulated pulp magazines. It was adapted by Stuart Palmer and Cortland Fitzsimmons and is being directed by Robert Florey. The picture will introduce a picturesque new detective character, Oliver Quade, to theatre audiences. Quade is successful in peddling encyclodepias by the simple process of demonstrating that he has learned the answers to every question. He dabbles in solving crimes as a side line. This role will be played by Lynne Overman. Featured with him will be young Donald O'Connor and such personable and capable players as Robert Paige, Joseph Allen, Jr., Virginia Dale, Susan Paley, Harry Davenport, Frank M. Thomas, Pierre Watkin, May Boley, Grace Hale, Hooper Atchley and Guy Usher. It is promised that the picture will be one of the most exciting, baffling and amusing mysteries of the year. At least it has all the necessities — suspense, action, thrills and numerous killings in it. Release date: September 1, 1939. Television Spy (Paramount) Television Melodrama "Television Spy" will show what a marvelous medium television will be when it gets here. It won't be a scientific film. As a matter of fact it will be a melodramatic exposition of international intrigue and, of course, a love story, founded upon an attempt to steal a television invention with almost everything that happens happening via television. However the spies fail in their battle with the courageous young scientist and, true to picture making technique, the heroic lad and the menaced girl fall in love (via television) in the end. The picture will feature William Henry, who before this production's release will be seen in a strong role in "Geronimo," and another member of the studio's "Golden Circle of New Faces," Judith Barrett. For support they will have the services of William Collier, Sr., Richard Denning, Anthony Quinn, John Eldredge, Minor Watson, Morgan Conway and quite a contingent of lesser known players. "Television Spy" is based on a story by Andre Boehm which William Lipman and Horace McCoy adapted and which Edward Dmytryk is directing. The television consciousness of many people is a natural exploitation angle of which showmen may elect to make use. Release date : September 8, 1939. The Fighting Gringo (RKO-Radio) Western The locale of this newest George O'Brien adventure film is the southwestern part of Texas, near the Mexican border, of 60 years ago. Use will again be made of all those features and angles which have elevated its star to high rank among western actors. In his 14th consecutive RKO-Radio picture, O'Brien will have the support of a carefully chosen cast. His leading lady, Lupita Tovar, is by no means a newcomer to film audiences and such troupers as Lucio Villegas, Leroy Mason, William Royle, Glen Strange, Slim Whittaker, Ben Corbett and Martin Garralaga have long been active in outdoor adventure films. The behind the scenes personnel have been closely identified with George O'Brien pictures. Bert Gilroy has produced nine of them, David Howard has directed 21, and Oliver Drake has written the screen plays for seven or eight. Release date : To be determined.