Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

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Page 24 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW April 15, 1939 Man of Conquest Republic Historical-Drama 96 mins. Spectacular Epic of Early America Certain To Receive Enthusiastic Public Acclaim (National Release Date, May 15) Cast: Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, Edward Ellis, Joan Fontaine, Victor Jory, Robert Barrat, George Hayes, Ralph Morgan, Robert Armstrong, C. Henry Gordon, Janet Beecher, Pedro de Cordoba, Max Terhune, Kathleen Lockhart, Ferris Taylor, Leon Ames. Screenplay by Wells Root, E. E. Paramore, Jr., Jan Fortune from an original story by Harold Shumate and Wells Root. Directed by George Nicholls, Jr. Associate Producer, Sol C. Siegel. Plot: After spending much of his youth with the Cherokee Indians, Dix enlists with Ellis and is wounded in battle. Ellis becomes President, and Dix becomes Governor of Tennessee. On the evening of his reelection he marries Joan Fontaine, but they have many misunderstandings and separate. He returns to the Cherokees. While in Washington protesting the treatment of the Indians, he meets Gail Patrick, and accompanies her to Texas. There, Barrat and Armstrong, loyal to Morgan, who will not fight the Mexicans, decline to join Dix in a fight to save Texas. When word comes that the Mexicans are on the march, killing and plundering, Morgan is convinced Texas must fight, and Dix agrees to lead the army. The Mexicans attack the Alamo. Later, at San Jacinto, Dix outsmarts the Mexicans and with a small army routs them out, thereby establishing the independence of Texas. He becomes first president of the new Republic, with Gail now his wife. SUMMARY: If one is skeptical of the claim that Republic loosened the purse strings for this picture, that skepticism is dispelled immediately after viewing it. For here is an epic produced on a scale commensurate with that of other spectacles produced by bigger companies. By virtue of "Man of Conquest," Republic can claim a place in the industry right alongside the leaders. Every phase of production treatment, including direction, photography, the musical score and screenplay, is of the highest calibre. As for performances, Richard Dix enacts the same virile type of role that made him a favorite in such films as "The Vanishing American," "Cimarron," etc., and he does it to perfection. A better choice for the character of crochety old Andrew Jackson could not have been made, it seems, than with the selection of Edward Ellis. Other performances, right down the line, are in keeping with the epic proportions of the film. The story of Sam Houston has become a sweeping panorama of drama, action, romance and pathos — elements that make a film of this type a favorite with the public. Give it your preferred playing time and promote it with a giant campaign. It is strong enough to stand on its own without the addition of a second feature. Get the cooperation of the schools and historical societies. Stress the fact that men like Houston, Jackson, Davey Crockett fought to make this a free, democratic country. OUTSTANDING: Production treatment and performance of Dix and Ellis. Catchline: "The spirit of early America live again in a spectacle as timely as the crusade for democracy." (FAMILY) Legion of Decency Ratings: (For Week Ending April 15) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Dodge City Family Next Door Hardys Ride High Housemaster East Side of Heaven SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Back Door to Heaven Broadway Serenade OBJECTIONABLE IN PARTS Unmarried On Trial The Lady's From Kentucky ( Hollyicood Frez'ieivJ Para. Drama 75 mins. Good Racetrack Yarn With Lots of Action Should Hold Its Own On Any Program (National Release Date, April 28) Cast: George Raft, Ellen Drew, Hugh Herbert, Zasu Pitts, Louise Beavers and others. Based on a story by Rowland Brown. Screenplay by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. Directed by Alexander Hall. Produced by Jeff Lazarus. Plot: Raft, an inveterate small-time gambler and his ever hungry henchman, Herbert, finally get a break with a stake to start a betting establishment and a half interest in a two year old thoroughbred. The other half is owned by Ellen Drew, who with not too much coin, is trying to carry on her legacy, a horse-breeding tarm in Kentucky. Through racing the horse over his head in his first stake race. Raft is brought to the realization that there is more to the racing game than just the betting profits to be accrued. With everyone on the farm keeping an all night vigil while a colt is born, Raft is brought to his senses by their devotion and a love is born within him for the horse and the girl, Ellen Drew. SUMMARY: For those fans who are devoted to pictures with gambling phases, especially racetrack betting this film has enough action and thrills to hold its own on any bill. Raft, as the suave bookmaker gambler, is as usual in a made-to-order role. And surprise of surprises, there is nary a gun in the entire picture. Ellen Drew does nicely as the southern girl, but without the drawl which is brought in rather broadly by Zasu Pitts, who capably assists Hugh Herbert in putting many good laughs in the picture. The direction is smoothly paced by Alexander Hall, who carries out the racing theme to a fast finish. The production is much above par for this type picture and does credit to Jeff Lazarus. The plot by Roland Brown, has been capably adapted by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. Arrange your boxoffice to resemble an entrance windov*? to a racetrack. Have your ushers and doorman attired in jockey outfits. For ballyhoo have a jockey ride a horse around town with a sign reading "I'm on my way to see 'The Lady's From Kentucky'." OUTSTANDING: George Raft and Ellen Drew. Catchline: "A girl and her horses put him on the right track." (FAMILY) Back Door To Heaven (Hollywood Preview) Para. Drama 85 mins. Unusual Picture Has Plenty Of Food For Thought But Lacks Entertainment Values (National Release Date, April 21) Cast: Wallace Ford, Aline MacMahon, Stuart Erwin, Patricia Ellis, Iris Adrian and others. From an original story by William K. Howard. Screenplay by John Bright and Robert Tasker. Produced and directed by William K. Howard. Plot: The village school teacher and five of her pupils, four of them boys, go through their parts in the grade school graduation. The dullest of the boys, knowing he is to be called on to perform, steals a harmonica. He is convicted and sent to the reform school. Fifteen years later, the school teacher is about to be retired, one of the boys is a successful small town banker, one is in a penitientary, the girl is a burlesque queen and the others are failures. Upon his release the prisoner contacts each of the others, ending up with a prison break from a death cell to attend a class reunion promoted as a publicity stunt by the banker. The escaped convict is killed as he flees. SUMMARY: Producer-director Howard earns praise from two sources on this picture; first, because of superb sympathy in the execution of his three-fold official duties, and second, because he made the picture on the assumption that there are moviegoers who think. However, the latter premise takes it entirely away from the entertainment group, and makes it a picture which must be sold through an appeal to the intelligentsia. The parts are all finely cast, with top honors going to Wallace Ford as the criminal, Aline MacMahon as the understanding teacher, and Jimmy Lydon, a youngster will bear much watching. The tempo is neither theatric nor romantic, therefore the film should have a campaign directed at club women, educational societies, social welfare groups and others. A special preview with quoted excerpts from the leaders of these bodies should be a high spot of your exploitation. OUTSTANDING: William K. Howard's direction. Catchline: A gripping study of Americana— What are we doing for youth? (ADULT) Frontier Pony Express Republic Western 58 mins. Plenty of Thrills, Action, Fast-Riding, Singing in Rogers Film to Please Patrons (National Release Date, April 19) Cast: Roy Rogers, Mary Hart, Raymond Platton, Edward Keane, Noble Johnson, Monte Blue, Don Dillaway, William Royale, Ethel Wales. Original screenplay by Norman Hall. Directed by Joseph Kane. Associate Producer, Joseph Kane. Plot: Rogers, a Pony Express rider, discovers that Dillaway, Mary Hart's brother, is a Confederate spy working under Keane, who seeks to get control of California for himself. Keane hires Johnson, an outlaw, to waylay Pony Express riders and sub( Continued on page 31) For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation