Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

Page 14 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 5, 1940 Down Argentine Way 20th Century-Fox Tech. Musical 90 mins. (Prod. No. 113, Nat'l Release, Oct. 25) AUDIENCE SLANT: (FAMILY) LIGHT AND FROTHY AND THEREFORE MADE TO ORDER FOR THESE TIMES. BOX OFFICE SLANT: SHOULD DO AN EXCELLENT BUSINESS. Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, Charlotte Greenwood, J. Carrol Naish, Henry Stephenson, Katharine Aldridge, Leonid Kinsky, Chris-Pm Martin, Robert Conway, Gregory Gaye, Bobby Stone, Charles Judels, Nicholas Brothers, Thomas and Catherine Dowling, Six Hits and a Miss, others. Credits: Produced by Harry Joe Brown. Directed by Irving Cummings. Screenplay by Darrell Ware and Karl Tunberg. Story by Rian James and Ralph Spence. Music and Lyrics by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren. Dances staged by Nicholas Castle and Geneva Sawyer. Directors of photography, Leon Shamroy, Ray Rennahan. Art direction by Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright. Film editor, Barbara McLean. Musical direction, Emil Newman. Plot: Ameche, son of Stephenson, rich Argentine horse breeder, goesi to the U. S. to exhibit. Stephenson forbids Ameche to sell horses to anyone named Crawford, whom he has long hated. Of course, he meets Betty Grable and after consummating a deal, finds she is a Crawford, so he reneges. But she follows him to Argentina, where they fall in love. Stephenson doesn't know her real name. Then they conspire to race Stephenson's prize jumping horse, though he is opposed to flat racing. The horse wins and Stephenson finds out about Betty, but all is forgiven. Comment: This is a tuneful and colorful picture and can be rated as excellent entertainment for these times— when light pictures are to be most desired. The story is gay and frothy, the music is catchy, the dances are pretty to watch and the Technicolor photography enhances the entire production. Harry Joe Brown has done a fine job on the production end and Irving Cummings can be credited with a triumph in direction. Outstanding among the players is J. Carrol Naish, who, forsaking the role of villian for once, plays the part of an old Argentine servant to perfection. In fact, he is the only one who fails to forget his accent. Leonid Kinsky also deserves plaudits for an excellent performance as an Argentine gigolo. Carmen Miranda sings several songs in her inimitable style and audiences will probably go out raving about her. She is no beauty but she does have that "something" necessary to put herself over, which she does in a great big way. To sell it, use the covers from the songs, especially "Argentina," which should turn out to be quite a hit. Use coloring contests to bring out the Technicolor angle. There are many contests suggested in the press book. Catchline: "Rhumbas ! Congas! Laughter! Songs! Stars! All in the gay night life of Buenos Aires." Legion of Decency Ratings (For Week Ending Sept. 28) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Billy the Kid in Texas The Quarterback Cherokee Strip Wagon Train Gay Caballero The Westerner Laddie Dulcy Dispatch From Reuters SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY I'm Still Alive Schubert's Seranade OBJECTIONABLE IN PART Too Many Girls gold by forcing the state to break away from the Union, Rogers escorts a "dummy" shipment and sends the gold itself in care of Hayes. But Miljan, through a chance remark from Jacqueline Wells, Rogers' fiancee, learns of the plan and has his men attack the Hayes wagon. To cover himself, Miljan later implies that Rogers stole the gold. With the help of Hayes, Rogers succeeds in proving his innocense and bringing Miljan to justice. Comment: The latest in the Roy Rogers series of westerns is satisfying entertainment not only for his admirers but for average outdoor fans as well. With its setting the frontier of Civil War days, the picture has a plot that, while not too original, holds enough action and gunplay to keep the spectator's attention fully riveted on the proceedings at hand. Added entertainment value is furnished by the presence of George "Gabby" Hayes and Sally Payne who, together, provide wholesome comedy relief. That a team of horses can pull the bars from a jail window is proven a fallacy, which is just one example of the scripters' efforts to be as logical as possible. Jacqueline Wells is an attractive heroine with little to do, while John Miljan as the villian is suave and crafty. Catchline: "Excitement and action aplenty as Roy rounds up a gang of conspirators." the big catch. With the cleanup of the gang, the entire town leaves for the free land in the Strip, where a new settlement is to be established. Comment: This is the first big special production from the maker of top outdoor pictures, Harry Sherman. That it will enjoy a wide success at the boxoffice, is a foregone conclusion. Here's quality entertainment for the western addicts, perfect in every detail, and good enough, to rate top billing from the big cities to the small hamlets. Any audience will enjoy its action and color, and rave about the performances of the hand-picked, stellar cast, particularly Richard Dix, who matches his outstanding work in "Cimarron." The above-the-average supporting cast includes Florence Rice, Victor Jory, Andy Clyde, George E. Stone and Morris Ankrum ; each scores a personal hit with their portrayals. It is by far Director Leslie Selander's best effort to date, and Russell Harlan's photography is a big asset to the excellence of the finished product. The top-flight Sherman production values are evident in every foot of the film. Decorate your lobby and front in rip-roaring Western style and dress house staff as cowboys. Offer prizes for the best story on the actual happenings in "Cherokee Strip," and get your newspaper to cooperate. Cowboy, on horseback, will make a good street ballyhoo stunt. Catchline: "Tops in outdoor entertainment." Young Bill Hickok Republic Western 59 mins. (Prod. No. 52— Nat'l Release, Oct. 21) AUDIENCE SLANT: (FAMILY) SATISFYING OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT. BOX OFFICE SLANT: SHOULD GO OVER WELL WHEREVER WESTERNS ARE POPULAR. Cast: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Jacqueline Wells, John Miljan, Sally Payne, Archie Twitchell, Monte Blue, Hal Taliaferro, Ethel Wales, Jack Ingram, Monte Montague. Credits: Associate Producer and Director, Joseph Kane. Original screenplay by Norton S. Parker and Olive Cooper. Director of photography, William Nobles. Film editor, Lester Orlebeck. Musical director, Cy Feuer. Plot: To keep a shipment of gold from Miljan, European agent trying to stir up strife so that he can gain control of California's Cherokee Strip (Hollywood Preview) Paramount Western-Drama 86 mins. (Prod. No. 4005, Nat'l Release, Oct. II) AUDIENCE SLANT: (FAMILY) OUALITY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WESTERN ADDICTS AND ALL OTHERS. BOX OFFICE SLANT: WILL CLICK AT THE TICKET WINDOWS. GOOD ENOUGH FOR TOP BILLING FROM THE BIG CITIES TO THE SMALL HAMLETS. Cast: Richard Dix, Florence Rice, Victor Jory, Andy Clyde, George E. Stone, Morris Ankrum, Douglas Fowley, Addison Richards, Charles Trowbridge, William Henry, Tom Tyler, William Haade, Ray Teal, Hal Taliaferro, Jack Rockwell, Robert Winkler. Credits: Directed by Lesley Selander. Screenplay by Norman Houston and Bernard McConville. Based on a story by Bernard McConville. Director of photography, Russell Harlan. Film editor, Sherman A. Rose. Art director, Lewis J. Rachmil. Associate producer, Joseph W. Engel. Produced by Harry Sherman. Plot: Richard Dix becomes a hard-riding, fast shooting United States Marshal sent to clean up a large section of Oklahoma known as "Cherokee Strip." He discovers that the town is run by Victor Jory and his kinsmen, who' had carried on a bloody feud with Dix and his clan for years. He also discovers that Jory is behind all the stage holdups, bank robberies and cattle rustlings, but he lacks the evidence. With Andy Clyde he wanders into their hideout in the "Strip," and after finding out their power in men, rounds up his own family for Dulcy (Hollywood Preview) MGM Comedy 73 mins. (Prod. No. 106, Nat'l Release, Oct. 4) AUDIENCE SLANT: (FAMILY) SURE TO PLEASE ANY AUDIENCE LOOKING FOR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A SUITABLE COMEDY FOR ANY SPOT. Cast: Ann Sothern, Ian Hunter, Roland Young, Reginald Gardiner, Billie Burke, Lynne Carver, Dan Dailey, Jr., Donald Huie, Jonathan Hale, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Hans Conried. Credits: Directed by S. Sylvan Simon. Screenplay by Albert Mannheimer, Jerome Chodorov and Joseph A. Fields. Based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. Director of photography, Charles Lawton. Film Editor, Frank E. Hull. Produced by Edgar Selwyn. Plot: Ann Sothern decides to invite Roland Young and his family to her summer home on the Lake, in order to give Ian Hunter a chance to interest Young in his new airplane motor. Dan Dailey, Jr., Ann's brother agrees with the plan because he is in love with Lynne Carver, Young's daughter. An unexpected guest is Reginald Gardiner, who introduces himself as a well-known financier. Ann's silly and preposterous endeavors to help everyone, finally turns things into an uproar. Through no fault of her own, Ann is finally responsible for straightening matters out both for love and business. Comment: "Maisie" comes back to the screen as "Dulcy" in this one and makes it a very funny picture with her zaney brand of comedy. Romping along at a fast pace, with many an amusing episode, it is sure to please any audience looking for this type of entertainment. In addition to the sparkling portrayal turned in by Ann Sothern, there are fine performances by Roland Young, Reginald Gardiner and Dan Dailey, Jr., and the other members of the cast. Although little of the original Kaufman-Connelly plot has remained, there are new gags and situations that add to the entertainment of the picture as a whole. S. Sylvan Simon's direction brings out perfectly the comedy value in the screenplay; it's a skillful job. Production values are of the high MGM standard. Windows and cooperative newspaper ads should be ar