Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1943)

October 9, 1943 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 11 Campus Rhytlim Monogram Musical 62 mins. (Nat'l Release, Nov. I9th) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Good musical entertainment that will please all those seeking an hour's fun. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Lack of boxoffice names may I mit grosses, but good enough to top the bill in many situations. Cast: Johnny Downs, Gale Storm, Robert Lowery, Candy Cand do. Ge-Ge Pearson, Doug Leavitt, Herbert Heyes, Marie Blake, Johnny Duncm, Claudia Drake. Credts: Directed by Arthur Dreifuss. Original story by Ewart Adamson and Jack White. Screenplay by Charles R. Marion. Additional dialogue by Al Reich and Frank Tarloff. Director of photography, Mack Stengler. Produced by Lindsley Parsons. Plot: To avoid fulfilling a radio contract signed by her uncle, and also finally to get a chance to attend college, a young singer changes her name and enrolls. The college band enters a nationwide contest, and when the soloist is unable to carry on the young singer takes her place. She's recognized and all bedlam breaks loose, but everything ends happily. Comment: This is a charming and altogether entertaining musical, which will please those seeking light, wholesome fun. It is an above-the-average offering for Monogram and strong enough, except for name value, to top the bill in many situations. Gale Storm and Robert Lowery give fine performances, ably abetted by Johnny Downs, Candy Candido, Doug Leavitt and many others. Given a cast of greater box-office strength, it is possible this offering would have been a real business-getter. As matters stand the film is sure to please those who come to see it, and will, in all likelihood, leave a very pleasant impression. The story, while not new, is well-presented under the direction of Arthur Dreifuss and the musical numbers are catchy. Gale Storm sings four numbers exceptionally well and Candy Candido presents two in his own inimitable way. A good selling angle is to get the cooperation of all school clubs and musical organizations. Tieup with radio stations and music shops and run a contest offering prizes for the best stylized singing. Harvest Melody PRC Musical 70 mins. (Prod. No. 402— Nat'l Release, Nov. 22) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Within its market, this is a class show and should please all members of the family. The music has an extra attraction for the high school agers. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Easily qualified to head the bill in all nabes and subsequents. Will round out a very good bill where it supports an important feature. Cast: Rosemary Lane, Johnny Downs, Sheldon Leonard, Charlotte Wynters, Luis Alberni, Claire Rochelle, Syd Saylor, Marjorie Manners, Sunny Fox, Henry Hall, Billy Nelson, Frances Gladwin, The Radio Rogues, The Vigilantes, Eddie LeBaron and his Orchestra. Credits: Directed by Sam Newfield. Screenplay by Allan Gale. Original story by Martin Mooney and Ande Lamb. Director of photography, James Brown. Produced by Walter Colmes. Plot: A press agent, in order to get publicity for a star he represents, conceives the idea of having her and a number of his other clients go down to the farm to harvest the crops. The idea is a brilliant success, and when the star has everything in the palm of her hand, including the farmer's son. she in Legion of Decency Ratings (For Week Ending Oct. 9) SUITABLE FQ-X GENERAL PATRONAGE Doughboys in Ireland SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Here Comes Elmer Hi Ya Sailor Mystery Broadcast Nearly Eighteen Paris After Dark Watch on the Rhine sists that her motives were truly patriotic, refuses renewal of her contract and announces that she is with the farm movement for the duration. Comment: Within its market, this can be considered a class show. The mountings have size and quality, the music is unusual, tossing out two or three numbers that have a good chance to get on the Hit Parade, the action is fast and funny and the players do a bang-up job. Easily qualified to head the bill in all neighborhoods and subsequents, the musical can be shown in support of an important feature to round out a very good bill. Rosemary Lane handles the lead role with finesse, looking as well as she has at any time in her career. In addition her singing is effective and pleasant. As a supporting second Sheldon Leonard's press agent is an example of what most people imagine a press agent is like, and a very effective one he is. Johnny Downs, fitting the farmer's son getup, sings one song excellently in duet with Rosemary Lane. Charlotte Wynters, always seen as a dramatic actress, shines in a light comedy part. Production by Walter Colmes, his first motion picture venture, shows considerable imagination, and a flair for the topical, with good musical judgment. Direction by Sam Newfield keeps the action fast and the comedy snappy. Sell this over your local radio station on tieups with presentation of the song numbers. Music shops should cooper; te. There's a natural tieup for selling in all farm communities as well as urban localities. The U. S. Farm Administration will cooperate by supplying data, printed information on liow to help and material for exploiting the idea of urban help for farmers. Run a contest on how the city people can help the farmer, inviting statewide competition, and you will draw down considerable news space. Universal Hi Ya Sailor Musical 62 mins. (Nat'l Release, Oct. 15th) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) A collection of specialty acts that will be enjoyed by the jitterbug fans. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: A good filler with a heavy dramatic feature. Cast: Donald Woods. Elyse Knox, Eddie Quillan, Frank Jenks, Phyllis Brooks, Jerome Cowan, Matt Willis, Florence Lake, Charles Coleman Mantan Moreland, Jack Mulhall, Ray Eberle & His Orchestra, Wingy Manone & His Orchestra. Delta Rhythm Boys, Leo ibiamond Quintet, Mayris Chaney & Her Dance Trio, George Beatty, Hacker Duo, Nilsson Sisters. Credits: Produced and directed by Jean Yarbrough. Screenplay by Stanley Roberts. Suggested by a story by Fanya Lawrence. Directors of photography. Jack Mackenzie and Jerome Ash. Plot: Four merchant seamen go on a fruitless search of New York for a music pub lisher to handle the song one of them wrote. In doing this they run up an enormous cab bill and the lady driver hangs onto them for her money. When she learns that by having a popular night club singer present the song, any publisher will take it, she finds a way to get the boys to see the singer. When they get into trouble, she has her gal-cabbie friends help them and all ends well when the song is accepted. Comment: Fortified with a dozen or more songs, this is more a musical revue than a straight comedy picture, for it is a presentation of a number of entertainers who are given a chance to display their specialty acts. The fact that there is little story won't interfere with the entertainment the theatregoer will derive from the proceedings, especially the jitterbugs and other fans who go for this type of variety amusement. Among the specialties are the Delta-Rhythm Boys, a colored quartette; a comedy dance act by the Hackett Duo; the Leo Diamond Quintet and the Nilsson Sisters and the very lovely dancing of Mayris Chaney and her Dance Trio. In the cast of players, Donald Woods and Elyse Knox very capably take care of the romance, while Phyllis Brooks as a night club singer puts over three numbers quite well. Ray Eberle and His Orchestra do a few numbers with Ray singing two of them. The production and direction by Jean Yarbrough are good, bringing in just enough of the romance to tie the picture together and spot the musical and specialty numbers well. There are quite a few catchy new numbers, so arrange your tieups with music stores, radio stations and any local bands you can contact. Play up the Canteen angle, getting the cooperation of all USO and Service Men's Clubs. For street ballyhoo arrange for lady taxi drivers to wear buttons announcing the coming of the picture, and if possible, have a lady taxi driver cruise around town with banners attached to her cab. PRC The Underdog Drama 65 mins. (Prod. No. 316— Nat'l Release, Oct. 10) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Good entertainment for youngsters and will satisfy the less discriminating of the older members of the family. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Should do fair business as Saturday matinee fare, and can serve as added number to a strong feature. Cast: B?r':on MacLane, Bobby Larson. Jan Wiley, Charlotte Wynters, Conrad Binyon, Elizabeth Valentine, Kenneth Harlan, George Anderson, Jack Kennedy, Hobo, the dog. Credits: Directed by William Nigh. Original story by Lawrence E. Taylor and Malvin Wald. Screenplay by Ben Lithman. Director of photography, Robert Cline. Produced by Max Alexander. Plot: Upset because he has no star in the window and his kid friends won't let him join their club, a youngster tries to get his dog in the Army. Pleased when the dog seems to be all right, he is dejected when the dog flunks it. His father takes a job as a guard in a defense plant, and when things seem the worst, the kid and his dog help the father catch some saboteurs. This wins a medal for the three of them. Comment: This is a programmer for the second half of your bill, and in that spot should help do a fair business. Where there is a kid crowd, it will draw and can be used as a Saturday matinee extra. Attempting to be tender and sentiinental, the picture (Continued on Page 25)