Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 20 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW June 17, 1939 ^ House of Fear (Continued from page 19) has been acting under orders from Robert Coote. SUMMARY: A "whodunit" that is swell entertainment for the followers of mystery stories. A thriller-chiller with lots of good comedy and plenty of eerie atmosphere and all the usual horror props, that emerges as an above the average programmer for many spots. Good direction by Joe May of the clever screenplay, gives the picture many suspenseful and exciting moments. William Gargan plays the part of the detective turned theatrical producer in order to solve the mystery with ability, and El Brendel, Tom Dugan, Dorothy Arnold and Irene Hervey more than hold up their end of the show. Associate Producer Edmund Grainger has turned out a production that should give general satisfaction. Man dressed as spook (in long sheet) should be used for street ballyhoo, with card on his back "I'm From The House of Fear — Look Out," Green floodlights illuminating theatre with ghastly glow, will aid in lending the correct, weird atmosphere. Place a large sign in lobby, requesting patrons not to reveal the guilty party. OUTSTANDING: Production and Direction. Catchline: "A Backstage Phantom comes to life." (ADULT) Daughters Courageous WB Drama 107 mins. Excellent Cast Makes for Vivid Characters and Sustained Emotional Interes!!' (National Release Date, June 22) Cast: John Garfield, Claude Rains, Jef¥rey Lynn, Fay Bainter, Donald Crisp, May Robson, Frank McHugh, Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane, Gale Page, Dick Foran and others. Screenplay by Julius J. and Phillip G. Epstein. From the play "Fly Away Home" by Dorothy Bennett and Irving White. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Plot: Fay Bainter's four daughters willingly consent to her marriage to Donald Crisp, prosperous and long her friend. Fay is an "Enoch Arden" widow; her husband, Claude Rains, and father of the four girls having deserted them 20 years ago. Suddenly, Rains reappears, establishes himself in the home. This unusual domestic situation goes on until Priscilla falls in love with John Garfield, scofifer at conventions and with a yearning to travel. Both Fay and Rains see that a marriage between them will mean the same unhappiness for Priscilla as their own has been to Fay, and Rains decides to leave the home and wander again, his words of advice to Garfield convincing him to join Rains in a "rendezvous with the universe." Thus happiness comes for the other three daughters, all with plans for futures that can be assured by Crisp's comfortable fortune, as well as for Fay and Crisp. SUMMARY: The same flavor that made "Four Daughters" so widely appealing pervades this splendidly acted and produced film. The story is episodic and slow to set its mood, but it proceeds to a climax that provides many effective and affecting emotional scenes — an especially notable one being the scene in which Fay Bainter and Claude Rains discuss their past, their daughters' happiness and the bitter conclusion to which all this points for Rains, who must wander again, though he'd rather remain near his daughters. Throughout the film there is a quiet emphasis on humor and lightness that will make most spectators follow events and deeply sympathize with the characters. Complimentary tickets to families consisting of four daughters; street stunt with sign reading: "I'm only one of the four girls you'll meet and love in 'Daughters Courageous'"; newspaper tieup featuring stories of local daughters who have won happiness, success or fame by reason of their courage. OUTSTANDING: Acting of entire cast. Catchline: "A prodigal father returns, and throws his family into chaos." (ADULT) Down The Wyoming Trail (Hullyivood Previezv) Mono. Western 62 mins. This One Is Okay for Action Fans and Should Prove Good Saturday Fare (National Release Date May 18) Cast: Tex Ritter, Horace Murphy, Mary Brodel, Bobby Lawson, Charles King, Bob Terry, The Northwesterners and others. Original screenplay by Peter Dixon and Roger Merton. Directed by Al Herman. Produced by Edward Finney. Plot: Tex Ritter gets a job as foreman of Mary Brodel's ranch, when Mary fires her foreman Bob Terry, because of his association with Charles King, an outlaw. Tex's old friend, Horace Murphy, who also works for Mary, asks Tex's help in locating a gang of rustlers. Framed, Tex is accused of murder and escapes into the hills. With Murphy's help, he finds that Terry and King had planned the murder in order to get him out of the way. After a thrilling fight, the entire gang is captured and Tex proven innocent. SUMMARY: A standard western yarn that should satisfy the Saturday Matinee audience and the lover of two-fisted action. Story is well told and brings in the novelty of an Elk stampede in the natural setting of snow-covered Wyoming hills. Tex Ritter, as usual, furnishes most of the action; both JULY 17-22 ICED COFFEE WEEK. Here's your chance to He up with local grocers on coffee promotion by serving iced coffee in your lounge or foyer. Plug it in your ads, programs, and on the screen. Get displays in cooperating grocers' windows in exchange for credit cards in the lobby. 17th COLD DISCOVERED IN THE KLONDIKE, 1897. Play any picture with an Alaskan background. Tie up with dealers in old gold, jewelers and banks. 19th FIRST OVERLAND MAIL REACHED CALIFORNIA, 1858. This is your opportunity to tie up with any Western picture or with a film dealing with the air mail. Devote a display to the progress made in mail delivery from 1858 up to the present — a period of 81 years. 22nd ALEXANDER McKENZIE, first white man to cross the Continent north of Mexico, reached the Pacific Coast, 1793. Here, again, you can tie up with a western film. Since the Constitution was already four years old at the time, you can play on the fact that the West is still young. with his fists and in the rendition of four catchy songs. Horace Murphy handles the comedy assignment in an able manner and Mary Brodel, Charles King and Bob Terry are effective. The film has been given good pace and brisk action by Director Al Herman. Sell this in the usual western manner with ten gallon hats and other cowboy equipment in the lobby. Window displays of the Tex Ritter merchandise tie-ups should be arranged. A man in cowboy regalia mounted on a horse, could be used for street ballyhoo. OUTSTANDING: Tex Ritter. Catchline: "A new job for Tex . . . impersonating Santa Claus." (FAMILY) inside Information (Hollyzvood Preview) Univ. Drama 60 mins. Fast Moving Cops-and-Robbers Yarn Should Satisfy Both Young and Old (National Release Date June 30) Cast: Dick Foran, Harry Carey, June Lang, Mary Carlisle, Addison Richards, Joseph Sawyer, Grant Richards and others. Based on an orginal story "47th Precinct" by Martin Mooney and Burnet Hershey. Screenplay by Alex Gottlieb. Directed by Charles Lament. Produced by Irving Starr. Plot: Dick Foran, rookie cop, is assigned to the precinct under Harry Carey, oldtimer of the strong-arm school. Carey has little use for Foran's scientific methods, until a combination gun and camera, designed by Foran, identifies murderers of a policeman. Tracing a heelprint found at the scene of the robbery, Foran finds that Grant Richards is one of the mob and he is traced to the jewelry store owned by Addison Richards. Foran investigates the establishment and overhears them plotting a robbery. Carey refuses to take iForan's information seriously, until his niece, June Lang shames him into it and the robbers are trapped. SUMMARY: If you're looking for a good melodrama, one that will bolster any dual, here's a fast moving cops-and-robbers picture that should satisfy both young and old. Director Charles Lamont has interwoven a clever crime-does-not-pay angle that keeps the story moving, without letup, until the final fadeout. Dick Foran, as the rookie cop with a flair for scientific crime detection, turns in a fine characterization and Harry Carey, June Lang and Addison Richards all do well with their assignments. Contact crime prevention agencies and local police and arrange an advance showing, sponsored by local newspaper. Lobby display of old and new police paraphernalia and equipment with sign "Modern Police Science vs. Old Strong Arm Methods" could be used. OUTSTANDING: Dick Foran and Charles Lament's direction. Catchline: "Trapped by science." (FAMILY) Sims Uses "Castles" Pressbook Material For Newspaper Insert The effective manner in which pressbook material, mats and stories, may be used for a special newspaper insert has been demonstrated by J. I. Sims, who operates theatres in Orangeburg, S. C. Sims for his campaign on "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" made up an insert of four pages printed on pink paper and covering highlights of the production. He arranged with the Orangeburg Times and Democrat, a local newspaper, to enclose these in each copy. The theatre insert was a lively one throughout with all stories headlined like a newspaper. Two display advertisements were used and several mat features.