Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

August 4, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 31 Johnny Angel (^Continued from Page 19) Fisher. Adaptation by Frank Gruber from "Mr. Angel Comes Aboard" by Charles Gordon Booth. Photography, Harry J. Wild. Plot: When his father's ship is found adrift in the Caribbean and evidence aboard poirits to mutiny, a young captain tries to enlist the aid of the owner of the line to help solve the mystery. Refused the help, he sets out on his own and through devious methods, learns of the gold bullion stolen and the identity of the man responsible for the crime. Comment: It looks like RKO has turned out another successful murder-mystery like "Murder, My Sweet"; one that has plenty of violent action, killings-, fights and enough suspense to keep any audience, interested in this kind of fare, in an absorbed and fascinated state from start to finish. Those armchair detectives who are so apt at solving mysteries will certainly have to prove their mettle in solving this one, for the story is so well-contrived and holds up so terrifically un.til the final denouement, that it's bound to stump them. It's top product for any situation, except where the patronage is a little squeamish about their entertainment. Cast is splendid, from George Raft, Claire Trevor, 5igne Hasso and Hoagy Carmichael down to the smallest bit player, with Carmichael turning in a job that will make everybody wonder why he hasn't been seen more often "n pictures and probably set the wheels a-roll'ng for just such requests. Direction by Edward L. Marin shows a masterly hand for the way in which the players are handled and the suspense sustained. Entire production is a credit to William L. Pereira and Jack J. Gross. Captain Kidd United Artists Drama 87 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Colorful, adventurous story of the Captain Kidd pirate days has plenty of entertainment for patrons who like this type of costume fare. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Top product, especially where the names of Charles Laughton and Randolph Scott are box-office draws. Cast: Charles Laughton, Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, John Carradine, Gilbert Roland, John Qualen, Sheldon Leonard, Henry Daniell, William Farnum, Abner Biberman, Reginald Sheffield, Edgar Norton, Clifford Brooke, Keith Hitchcock, Frederic Warlock, Al Hill, Ray Teale, Reginald Owen. Credits: Directed by Rowland \'. Lee. Original story by Robert N. Lee. Screenplay by Xorman Reilly Raine. Photography, Archie Stout. Produced by Benedict Bogeaus. Plot: This is the story of Captain William Kidd, who used the high seas for piracy and got away with it, until a young nobleman set out to clear his father's name. The nobleman accomplishes this feat by going along on one of Kidd's voyages and thus discovering the pirate's treachery. Comment: That fabulous character. Captain Kidd, is brought to life in a colorful and adventurous story of his greed for gold and position. Here is a lusty yarn that will be enjoyed by patrons who like this type of costume fare. They'll get their share of killing and conniving and will also get quite an insight into the devious ways by which men of Kidd's ilk accomplished their evil deeds. Captain Kidd, as Charles Laughton portrays him, is a scoundrel audiences will love, in spite of his skulduggery. He is perfect in the part. Others who suit their assignments are Randolph Scott, John Carradine, Reginald Owen and Gilbert Roland. There'.s" a short spot in the story for Barbara Britton, and ?!ie does very well with the few scenes she's asked to handle. For action, there are quite a number of real tough fist-fights and a duel between Scott and Roland. Rowland V. Lee has directed with a masterly hand, spotting as much action as possible into the slow-developing story to give the picture movement. Benedict Bogeaus should get credit for his outstanding production values and his close adherence to detail in order to give the picture its feeling of authenticity. Should do well where patrons like adventurous costume dramas and in those situations where Laughton and Scott are boxoffice draws. Mama Loves Papa 61 mins. RKO Radio Comedy AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) May provide some amusing moments for the less discriminating audiences. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Light program fare for middle-of-the-week double-bill situations. Cast: Leon Errol, Elisabeth Risdon, Edwin Maxwell, Emory Parnell, Charles Halton, Paul Harvey, Charlotte Wynters, Ruth Lee, Lawrence Tierney. Credits: Produced by Ben Stoloff. Directed by Frank Strayer. Screenplay by Charles Roberts and Monte Brice. Photography, Jack Mackenzie. Plot: Leon Errol becomes involved with the manufacturer of dangerously poor playground equipment when he mistakenly becomes City Park Commissioner. At a reception in the manufacturer's home he is nearly coerced, while under the influence of liquor, into endorsing the manufacturer's equipment to a philanthropist but recovers in time to denounce it. His former boss bids him return to his old job, with increased pay, and everything ends happily. Comment: Production values are fair, direction is slow paced and the script writers have resorted to every trite situation in the book to provide Errol with situations in which he can use his familiar comedy tricks. There are several scenes which may provide audiences with laughs, including another exposition of Errol as a rubber-legged inebriate. Generally, however, the picture is just another Leon Errol picture with nothing added or nothing taken away from the quality of his previous comedies. Good enough for middle-of-the-week double-bill situations. Man From Oklahoma Republic Musical Western 68 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) This new offering maintains the high entertainment values of the Roy Rogers musical westerns. An original and imaginative screenplay, good production treatment, tuneful music and plenty of action make this enjoyable screenfare for the entire family. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Should keep boxoffices busy where Rogers pictures are popular, and that takes in a lot of territory. Cast: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Dale Evans, Roger Pryor, Arthur Loft, Maude Eburne, Sam Flint, Si Jenks, June Bryde, Elaine Lange, Charles Soidani, Edmund Cobb, George Sherwood, Eddie Kane, Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers, and Trigger. Credits: Associate Producer. Louis Gray. Directed by Frank McDonald. Original screenplay by John K. Butler. Photograpliv, William Bradford. Special effects by Howard and Theodore Lydecker. Art direction, Fred A. Ritter. Musical direction, Morton Scott. Plot: Lured from New York by a ruse, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers arrive in Cherokee City, Okla., to find a new flareup in a feud between George "Gabby" Hayes, representing one clan, and Maude Eburne, representing the other. Villain Roger Pryor, in order to gain possession of Maude's prop erty for its oil, contrives to play the clans, one against the other, and to disqualify their entries in an Oklahoma Land Rush celebration wagon race. Rogers loses the race, but newsreel films reveal Pryor's skulduggery to win it, and he is disqualified. The feud, ends and all is w'tW. Comment: The high quality established by the Roy Rogers musical westerns is maintained in this latest offering. So much has already been said about the high entertainment values of these pictures that there seems little to add. Nevertheless, it can hardly be repeated too often that Republic excels in this type of screenfare. In the particular case of "Man From Oklahoma," there are imagination and originality in the screenplay and production; the songs are tuneful, performances are good and direction is competent. Furthermore, despite the embellishments, the necessary action is not forgotten; it's there, in good measure, with as thrilling a wagon race as one would care to see comprising the film's climax. All this adds up to a thoroughly entertaining' 68-minute musical western calculated to please the whole family and keep average community boxoffices busy. REGIONAL (Continued from Page 30) transferred to the small craft training school at San Pedro, Cal. A stroke suffered by her father has caused Mildred Williams, 20th-Fox office manager, to remain a while longer at Furtile, la., where she was vacationing. Betty Roberts and Adele Anderson of the Warner exchange are vacationing. United Artists and RKO have completed redecorating and cleaning jobs. The Mazda, owned by Harold Schoonover, .^.urora. Neb., is closed temporarily for remodeling. Jack Riggs, owner of theatres at Central City, Neb., has left an Omaha hospital following a leg operation. R. V. Fletcher is having his theatre at Hartington, Neb., remodeled. A. J. Chantry, Osceola, Neb., exhibitor, has returned from a week at Lake Ericksen. Vern Frank, Harvard, Neb., exhibitor, is back at work after a nose operation. Tobby Stewart plans to reopen his Mayfair, Shenandoah, la., in several weeks, following completion of a rebuilding job. James Sparks had been added to the RKO list as assistant shipper. Mary Baert, RK(3 booker, is back from a vacation in Wyoming. Betty Pantier, secretary in the same exchange, is now vacationing. Sol Francis, Branch Manager J. E. Callahan and Office Manager-Booker Esther Granville returned this week from a Monogram regional meeting in Chicago. Jimmy Gray, manager of the Earl, Carroll, la., filled in for Dick Moore, manager of the Casino, Sioux City, la., while the latter returned to his former home town of Davenport on vacation. Mr. and Mrs. Berns Ellison (he manages the Columbus at Columbus, Neb.) will spend their vacat-on in Denver. WE SAY You Can't Beat * roH ** ^ ^SPECIAL TRAILERS^I On Your Nekt Order and See .^■H 1327 S. WABASH &VL . . CHKAQO ^,11^