Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1940)

Page 26 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 12, 1940 Drums of the Desert (Continued from page 13) seeking revenge for the execution of his brother. Although still on the sick list, Lynn, with Manton Moreland, Byrd's trusted Sergeant, go to the rescue and succeed in crushing the insurrection with the aid of the parachute troops. Lynn is again wounded, and in his dying words, gives his blessing to Lorna and Byrd whom he now knows are in love with each other. Comment: Theatremen will find this one of the best pictures turned out by Monogram in a long time and almost any type of audience will delight in its unreeling. Fine direction and production, plus an above-the-average cast, combine to deliver a piece of real entertainment, interesting from beginning to end. The film has just about everything you could ask for, action, drama and comedy, and they are all merged in an expert manner by Director George Waggner. Ralph Byrd, Lorna Gray and Peter George Lynn turn in fine performances but it is the work of Manton Moreland, Negro comedian, that rates the most praise. His portrayal of the Harl em number racketeer who was pressed into the service because he could handle a machine gun, is outstanding. The film also has additional appeal for the Negro houses. Paul Malvern's production chore is top-notch. A man dressed as an Arab will attract attention out front or for street ballyhoo. Try and get the Arabian spirit into your lobby with hangings, etc. Catchline: "The parachute troops invade Morocco." 79 mins. Angels Over Broadway (Hollywood Preview) Columbia Drama (Nat'l Release, Sept. 30) AUDIENCE SLANT: (ADULT) SURE FIRE WITH MAJOR CITY AUDIENCES AND CRITICS. BOX OFFICE SLANT: WILL NEED EXPLOITATION FOR MOST LOCATIONS. Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Rita Hayworth, Thomas Mitchell, John Qualen, George Watts, Ralph Theodore, Eddie Foster, Jack Roper, Constance Worth, Edwin Earle, Jimmy Conlin, others. Credits: Written, directed and produced by Ben Hecht. Associate producer, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Director of photography and co-director, Lee Garmes. Art director, Lionel Banks. Film editor, Gene Havlick. Plot: Fairbanks, Jr., near-gangster, seeing Qualen tipping lavishly in a night club, steers him to a crooked gambling game. Rita Hayworth, a young dancer, gets to the table first, so Fairbanks pretends to know her. Mitchell, a playwright, on leaving, gets the wrong coat, finds a suicide note in Qualen's overcoat. Returning to the table, he learns Qualen has embezzled money and must make good by morning. Mitchell sees Constance Worth, with whom he has had a break, takes a diamond clip from her dress, gives it to Qualen to pawn. Qualen joins the game, but Mitchell effects a reconciliation with his wife, leaving the three flat. Fairbanks makes a deal to get all Qualen wins over $3,000, but the latter leaves with his money. He is trailed, a battle occurs, and the police apprehend him, discovering his partner, Theodore, as real owner of the money. Rita and Fairbanks are attracted to each other. Comment: Ben Hecht has here an artistic triumph, with smartly bitter dialogue and some great camera work to create a vehicle which Thomas Mitchell completely steals. It is a critics' picture of the first rank, and should prosper accordingly in major city locations. Other exhibitors will need to consider carefully what their audiences prefer, and the average theatre will need to pair this one with some fast, lighter entertainment. Mitchell's individual acting as the alcoholic playwright, ranks as one of the year's greatest performances and should be given the lead spot in any advertising and publicity. Fairbanks is less convincing as the small time crook, with the rest of the players adequate. For those who find camera work of interest, Lee Garmes earns honors close to Mitchell for refreshings change of pace. Since this is such a critics' picture, it merits a special preview for the reviewers, little theatre groups and others who might appreciate this achievement of the unusual in story and camera treatment; so as to get as much advance wo rd-of -mouth comment as possible. Use off-drama page ads on the book and city life pages to stress this true picture of New York night life by one of the few American writers who knows it at first hand. Catchline: "From heartbreak to happiness between dusk and dawn in a Times Square night club." Meet the Wildcat Universal Mystery-Comedy 63 mins. (Prod. No. not set— Nat'l Release, Nov. 22) AUDIENCE SLANT: (FAMILY) ENJOYABLE FILM FARE FOR NOT-TOO-DISCRIMINATING PATRONAGE. BOX OFFICE SLANT: FAIR, BUT A GOOD TEASER CAMPAIGN BASED ON THE TITLE SHOULD HELP. Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Joseph Schildkraut. Jerome Cowan, Allen Jenkins, Robert O. Davis. Frank Puglia. Credits: Associate Producer, Joseph G. Sanford. Directed by Arthur Lubin. Story and screenplay by Alex Gottlieb. Director of photography, Stanley Cortez. Film editor, Arthur Hilton. Plot: Margaret Lindsay, in Mexico City in search of material for the picture magazine she represents, gets into trouble trying to "peg" Bellamy, whom she has reason to believe is the notorious criminal, The Wildcat. On learning his true identity (he's a detective from New York), she seeks to work with him, but again spoils things when she "lets the cat out of the bag"_ while Bellamy is being held by the real criminal, Schildkraut, who poses as an art dealer. The two are held prisoners while Schildkraut engineers an art gallery theft, but the ingenious Bellamy and the arrival of the police save them from the fate The Wildcat had planned for them. Comment: An enjoyable mystery-comedy, "Meet the Wildcat" should find receptive audiences in the average community, especially among those patrons who are not too critical in choosing their film fare and who seek to while away an hour or so in pleasant relaxation. The "mystery" is solved about half-way through the picture, but the comedy, which is amusing without being rib-tickling, is liberally sprinkled from beginning to end. Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay, Joseph Schildkraut and Allen Jenkins are satisfactory in their respective roles, while Arthur Lubin's direction is so-so. Develop the mystery angle in your exploitation by arousing interest in the identity of The Wildcat via teaser posters and ads. Stencil the sidewalks with animal footprints leading to your theatre. Catchline: "Meet the Wildcat . . . and get your fill of laughs and mystery." Frontier Vengeance RePublic Western 57 mins. (Prod. No. 72— Nat'l Release, Oct. 10) AUDIENCE SLANT: (FAMILY) MADE-TO-ORDER SCREEN FARE FOR THE ACTION FANS BOX OFFICE SLANT: SHOULD DRAW IN NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES. Cast: Don "Red" Barry, Betty Moran, George Offerman, Jr., Ivan Miller, Obed "Dad" Pickard, Cindy Walker, Kenneth MacDonald, Griff Barnette, Yakima V3,"^*1' rjack Lawrence, Matty Roubert, Fred "Snowflake Toones. Credits: Associate Producer, George Sherman. Directed by Nate Watt. Screenplay by Bennett Cohen and Barry Shipman. Original story by Bennett Cohen. Director of photography, Reggie Lanmng. Film editor, Edward Mann. Musical director, Cy Feuer. Plot: Miller, operator of a stagecoach line, is trying to put a rival line, operated by Hunter out of business. When Barry arrives in town' he takes a job with Miller at the insistence of Millers son, Offerman, an old school chum Observing Miller's crooked tactics, Barry resigns, without explaining the reason to Offerman who is made to believe by his father that Barry left the outfit because he (Miller) would not cut him in on the profits. The night before a race to determine the winner of Government mail contracts, Hunter's barn is fired by Miller's man. When Offerman learns his father gave the orders, he confronts one of the henchmen, is killed. Barry is accused, but Miller proves his innocence. The Hunter coach wins the race. Comment: This, the fourth of Don "Red" Barry's westerns, maintains the entertaining pace set by the first three. If it isn't better than the others, it's at least equally as good, and that s considerably in its favor. The story starts out in regulation fashion, with the rescue of the heroine from a runaway stagecoach; but from there on it takes some surprising twists that will keep any spectator thoroughly concerned with the cinematic turns of events. Barry takes this cowboy hero business seriously, but unlike many others, convincingly; in other words, he can act as well as ride. Betty Moran is a winsome and charming heroine— an ideal choice for Barry's leading lady. Creditable performances are also offered by George Offerman, Jr., and Ivan Miller. Display generously the action posters. Use a life-size cutout of Barry in the lobby. Catchline: "He fights hardest when the cards are stacked against him." (More Box Office Slants on next page) STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP MAN A OF MENT CIRCULATION, ETc! REQUIRED BY THE ACTS OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST 24. 1912 AND „„ „ MARCH 3, 1933. pf SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, published weekly at New York, New York, for October 1. 1940. State of New York ( County of New York iss Before me, a Notary Public, in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appeared E. M. Brenner, who, having been duly sworn according to law deposes and says that she is the Business Manager or the Showmen's Trade Review and that the following is, to the best of her knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc., of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption required by the Act of August 24, 1912, as amended by the Act of March 3, 1933, embodied in section 537, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit: 1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher. Charles E. Lewis, 1501 Broadway, New York, New York. Editor, Charles E. Lewis, 1501 Broadway, New York New York. Managing Editor. Robert Wile, 1501 Broadway. New York, New York. Business Manager, E. M. Brenner, 1501 Broadway, New York. New York. 2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder, the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding one per cent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, companv, or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well as those of each individual member, must be given.) Showmen's Trade Review, Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York, New York. Charles E. Lewis. 1501 Broadway, New York N Y M. R. Winston, 241 Central Park West, New York, N. Y. 3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state ) None 4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in eases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the names of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner: and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by her. E. M. BRENNER Business Manager Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of September, 1940. FRANK K. ZIMMERMAN Notary Public, Queens County Queens Co. Clk's No. 3138, Register No. 7300 New York Co. Clk's No. 75. Register No. l-Z-55 My Commission expires March 30, 1941