Variety (Dec 1939)

VARIETY PICTURES Wedncs<lay, December 6., 1939 Film Reviews -Continued from pace 14. Heaven With Barbed Wire Fence , sei ios by Million Dollnr Pictures this j season feHliivin;; the Brown Fnmily, a colored couiitorpart of the Hardys, .loiit'ses and other film family I groups. With a good score and l«.resl. ll-s the ncareit to a liberal f^'" "'■jR''^-''' ^'^f PHrt for Jean Rogers since she was' nl'-NcKi o e( orts yet turned out. sprung from the cliff-hangers, and ! ""-^ Hollywood, gives Glenn Ford and Nicholas:" Chief defect of the picture is that Conle their first major billing. ' it runs 80 minutes when 60 would Us about kids on the road. Miss hstve been ploniy to tell the story Rogers, left homeless in Spain by Jn'fl sell the music. The extra 20 the war. had gotten a job on .ship minutes are ovcrlong .scenes, too ob- ■which she jumped in New York, and viously padded, and slow the produc- was lamming cross the continent to lion. It also sutTers on technical California. Ford went for a veal counts, most flagrant offense being estate pamphlet so hard, he took his Ihe freiiuent out-of-focus blurriness. city-earned savings, shot the wad on'Lighting; too, is universally poor en acreage, arid then lit out to got a'"i the pan shots as the camera rich on it. Conte is discovered en-: moves away from, toward or across route, a bitter youngster with itchy; a scene, are jerky, feet. Miss Rogers, being an alien, i Although 'One Dark Night' should upon joining the two-lads-ifl-a-bo-x—^cei-lainly gel top grosses in colored car, puts them all on the dodge from houses, it is doubtful that it could be the law, so not a little of the pic' sufficiently sold in standard spots for hangs on perpetual flight from one, the ofay trade. Far more entertaih- boxcar to another, always west, ing than many Hollywood B's—par- Their group is increased by dandy-1 ticularly if it were reedited—it hasn't tongued Raymond Walburn, one-; a sufficient number of genuine sit- time prof, who was put to flight byi ualion laughs or exploitative quali- the gaping mouths of his classes, and I ties to make it hurdle the color-line, became a bum by choice. | Manlan Moreland. formerly of the Walburn, with an experience edge vaude team of Manten & Miller, on the others, takes his frames easily, takes the top role, that of a shiftless only approached by the film's other husband who for 23 years of married veteran, Marjorie Rambeau, who: life has alwavs had a deal in the runs a joint where everybody orders' oflfing which necessitated living on two bottles—one to drink from and; the work of his wife and children. :' the other to conk with. Th« D«„^,.o »,i i„o v,»»- ! ic ' After being shamed out of his honie 'The Rogers gal has been in muUi-1 he discovers radium in the desert quipkies and second or third femme g,,,, becomes rich, purchasing the ^^.'^c ^ ♦°v5- ^ir"'*»u-''°"r'"iKht club owned by the villain of fh"^ ''r-P.'.-f" Although; the piece, Lawrence Criner, who is the scnpters sought;, to make her a ; making advances to Mireland's ^™oi-w"»if''f,,'I^"^/"i"i"'l' f."''. daughter. Josephine Pearson, a woves-herself to "the front for better • dancer there consideration. Ford doesn't have any i .n -.u particular luster, but Conte shows I ^ A*^''"! generally so-so with ^jtay. 1 Criner the only member of the cast Ricardo Cortez directed capably. Best go for this one will be the ac- tion houses, or the nabes. Barn. ONE DARK NIGHT (With Songs) (ALL-NEGRO) Million nollar release o( Harry M. Pop- hin vrndiicilon. Features the Brown Kmn- l)y. inverted by Leo C. Popkln. Siorv. Billle Mycin. Songs, Porter anil I..an«:. At .Apollo. N. Y.. week Nov. H, 1939. lliin- Blng time. 80 MINS. . Cam: Mantan Morelon^r Betty Treadville. Jlcnphlne Pearmn, John Thomaa. Arthur Kay, .lesslo Grayson, Bobby .Sinimoni'. I.«wren(;e Criner, Monte Hawley. Alfred Giflnt. Ruby Logan, Guernsey Mor- tcw, Herbert Skinner and The Four Tones. outsliinding. Miss Pearson is weak, but she's attractive and makes an appealing ingenue. John Thomas, her vis-a-vis, is good. Betty Tread- ville plays the family mother, Arthur Ray the grandfather and Jessie Grayson the grandmother. In the Mickey Rooney part is Bob Simmons. He has only a walk-on role, merely being introduced so that future films can be built around him. Bit he does is bad. Mu.sical portions are handled by Ruby LiOgan, who works in the man- ner of Billie Holliday, but not with the same finesse, and The Four Tones, male quartet. Latter are socko in their 'West of Harlem' num^ ■ ber. Miss Logan does 'Shake It and All-Negro film Is the first In a j Break It,' to which Thomas and Miss Pearson intro a new terp routine pt which Lenox avenue will no doubt see more; 'Sharpest Man in Town,' another Harlem natural, and a torcher, 'Alone Again.' Herb. OVERLAND MAIL ^fonof;i':nn pritiln.'Miin anil rolonne. .Stars Jack lt:in<l.'ill: ri-:iiiiii'.s, X'liu-t* |tiii-niMl. Ul' rorled liv Ituhcrt Mill. Smry .'iml kiti-imv pl:ly. Itoberl Kliiiiii l I: o.llloi-. ItobiM t tiulilfn; riiineni. llfvt I,iin;:enerkftr. .\t AlVn.T. N. v.. cluiil. .Sov. l;i. H, M'.l. llun- nlnic thni', A7 .MIN.><. Jack .Tuck nnnil.tll roivliy ViniM* Harnett M.Ti-y lean Joyce I'niliit TilMtram folTIn rurtcr Cii'iirKO t^levolanJ n.TW.«ion (Hen StrjiiiKo Huko Oeiinls Miiorc Sipilnt Mfirill MrlNirinick Mui'k *....Joo tiarcla llliinille :..M.ixlne lx>8llo Joe...... lames .Shrrlilan l.ui;*) Hal Prlre rnnrho Hnrry .kernels Rusty Wonder Korso Jack Randall rides again for Mon- ogram in this new cactus-country meller. This time he's abetted by redskins, two Federal sleuths, stage- coach, mail pony riders and a gang of counterfeiters. It's lively fare for spots where they go for westerns. 'Overland Mail' has about every- thing in it but first-rate romance. The heart palpitations are taken care of eventually, but obscured in the tracking down of the counter- feiters. Despite many incongruities, this western is fairly gripping for its type. Starts off as a tale about a pony mail rider but interest in him shifts as he joins a femme Federal agent in rounding up the counter- feiters. Randall is improving in his emot- ing, but still clicks be.st when on his pony or throwing punches. His bronc. Rusty. lives up to the rep as being a skilled thesp. Vince Bar- nett makes considerable out of the supporting role of Porchy, his buddy in the mail service. Jean Joyce, as the disguised federal agent who falls for Randall, is only so-.so. Maxine Leslie, as Blondie, looks promising. Standard western support is headed by George Cleveland. Dialog is better than pa.ssable, while Bert Longenecker has taken the curse oft .so many pounding horsehoofs with his customarily slick photography. Weor. 'Twinkle' to Lanfieid Hollywood, Dec. 5. Sidney Lanfield moved in as di rector of 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" at 20th-Fox, replacing Walter Lang, who has been shifted to an- other picture. 'Twinkle.' which gets the gun next month, is Linda Darnell's first star- rer. (WITH SONGS) . Universal release of Trcm C'arr prudiir- linn. Stars Hob Baker: features Marjnrle IteynoltlH. Directed by (George Wukkiut. Story and adaptation. Joseph We)«t; phD- tngraphy. Harry Neumann. At Ari'na. .N, v., dual, Dec. 1-3, '30. Running time. THE PHANTOM STAGE ^'^h/resident Teddy Roose- veil s Reclamation Act, which per- mitted the homesteading ot wast* western lands. The Mesquiteers in- ject themselves into the proceedings when the homesteaders are faced by an unscrupulous group that threat- ens to disrupt the Government-spon- sored project Generally, the yarn Is poorly moti- vated, with a number of situations left su.spended, but with the type audiences at which the picture is ob- viously aimed there should be no question. Carole Landls is properly decora- tive as the daughter of homesteader Charles Middletown—despite an in- discriminately 1939 hair-do in a 1906 setting—and there's the barest sug- gestion of romance between her and But the call for advcn- til MINK. Hub -Mary Cilzzly f.awson Denver... ... Runt .-Jcott .'Jherirt .. 2>tage Driver. Rdl) Piiker .Miirjorle Itryntddrt taiMirue (Mevi'liind i-'iirrest 'I'jiylor Heed lliiwes 'l>x Valmer . ..Mur<lu(-k Mac<)iiarrle Olcnn .sirnnge Jack Kirk A stock western in the Bob Baker .series, not too well made and far less exciting than most. O-stensibly the picture was produced on a nar- row budget. For the dates where i Livingston w „ , ^ fiihii-hun^red and twdve business year* are behind of S»ni|*5bn and Company and, &$ it is the weaker product gets a nod Baker is not a strong enough'out- doors type to vie with others pres- ently catching the attention of the public but he might be stepped up somewhat in Importance if assigned better material than 'Phantom Stage.' A young fellow, he makes good im- pression singing songs of the prairie, accompaiiying himself on occasion with a quitar. Numbers are over av- erage. With him before, Marjorie Rey- nolds this time plays the owner of a stagecoach line. She looks more the type that should still be doing her home work on algebra, creating little wonder why the stage she op- erates is being constantly relieved of its gold cargo. The story con- cerns the success of Baker in frus- trating robberies that are effected by a diminutive mugg who ships on stage in a trunk, opening it en route to get at the gold. This particular stage does not ever seem to carry legitimate passengers. The trunk in which the character cast as the runt conceals himself appears to be air- tight. At least no one sees any air holes or has any suspicions concern- ing the constant shipment of trunks which, with their human contents, wegih more than they should. It's that kind of a story. In the big shooting fray toward the close, one of the guys that gets shot, dies very clumsily, being slow to hit the dust. When the picture was caught, someone yelled out in the audience 'fall down, you rat.* That's the only laugh the picture produces. Char. DANGER FLIGHT Monogram release of Paul Malvern uro- duclion. I'Valui-es .lohn 'rreiil. .Mai lorje Reynolds, Mllburn Slune. Dlreeled bv llniv- arjl llretherton: screenplay, Uyrun Mnrenn. Buwin C. J'Arsons; story. Ual l<'orreat; sound. T,. John Myers: i-iimer.i, Kri^d Jock- man, Jr.; editor. K.(lw:>rd .*«cbrniMlrr At Colniilnl Lincoln, dual. ItuiiuinK time. ■rallspln Tommy Jui.n Trent Murjorl,, Kevmd.l.. Paul 9,;,V.i.Mlllmrn Slone White? !;.""'" i?^""" ""rry ll:,rvev. Jr. Walter Wills «,m"Li''"'.i? reaching for kid biz wiU find in 'Danger Flight' a betler- than-average attraction because it's doubly geared to juve interest. Il's about flying and model airplanes and S^^rt f^^.* '^°'"'<: strip, Hal Forrest's Tailspin Tommy.' By the same token, it lends itself to multi- tude tieups by way of newspapers and toy shop.s. Suspen.se liberally fans the pic, almost a three-part clifT- hanger that'll get by on duals. thit * ^ °" premise that most bad boys are more often misuntJerstood than intentionally lure is greatest, and so the Mes- quiteers' fading lines indicate that Republic's next horse opry in the series built around the trio will deal with rescuing a pal unjustly jailed for murder in New Mexico. The trio contribute okay perform- unces, while Middleton, Ivan Miller and Betty Conipson do as well as can be- expected. It's a comeback try for. Miss Compson, now a brunet. MINNEAPOLIS (Continued from page 10) popularity here spelling dividends. Clumbing toward big $5,500, a new record for house. Last week, 'On .Toes' (WB), $2,400, light. MInneseta (Mpls. Co.) (4,000; 20- 30-40)—'Heroes Blue' (Mono) and A. B. Marcus show, 'La Vie Paree.' on stage. Unit a novelty here and is clicking in a way to produce man- agerial smiles. Huge newspaper ads threw down gauntlet at Orpheum opposition, declaring: 'We lead— others follow—nowhere in the Twin Cities are you able to buy such di- versified stage and screen entertain- ment at such low bargain prices.' Headed for big $11,000—one of the- atre's best weeks since reopening. Last week, 'Tidal Wave' (Rep) and vaude, headlining Hugh Herbert, with latter responsible for big $10,500. Orpheum (Par-Singer) (2,800; 25- 35-40)—'Ciieus' CM-G) and stage show topped by Clyde McCoy's orch. Big show for 40c scale. Should wind iiD with big $13,000. Last week. •First Love' (U) (2d wk), okay $4,200 after big $10,000 first week. State tPar-Singcr) (2,300; 25-3.')- 40)—'Rulers of Sea' (Par). Muchly prai.<!ed picture, but crowded out of spotlight by stage show attractions. En route to poor $4,000. Last week, ■Elizabeth Essex' (WB), $6,200, pretty good. Uptown (Par) (1,100; 25-35)—'Hol- lywood Cavalcade' (20th) split with 'Destiny' tWB). First neighborhood .showings. Mild $2,000 indicated. Last week, 'Old Maid' (WB), $3,000, good. World (Steltes) (350; 25-35-40-95). —■First Love' (U) (3d wk). Moved here after two weeks at Orpheum. Good $2,000 in prospect. Last week, 'Waltz Time' (Foreign) (revival), $1,000, light. evil John Trent; in-thetme;^ as SkS'^i Tommy, reclaims Tommy Jy.,"'.terestinK him in model- rtic»«.* youngsters can give 2'S"ess signals, equivalent to Boy Scouts wig-wag, except that model planes are equipped to do miniature sky writing. It resulu in his beinc f u-^"? a pile of publicity which turns the punk's head ^ MHhnpJ; "V^^ Marjorie Reynolds and carnP«tJ?«*i"V*''/ ''^^ threesome, Etak/r °^ "'""'■a attention ^e lr^^^ i commendable show- J.f^iiPT?,''*?^ ''^'P«<* because of lack nn^^«'i^ ''Z,'"^*' «>' the east. Trent and Stone take it half-measure, and fc^-^ri^^eaXf^^^ Bam. Cowboys From Texas n ond i„7,'"''"n"'""''-'„r ivlns,ion^ ,1^;. hi neoI« Sh.?,;;""" J^alrto. Dlre. ted Drake hS.-5 ™""L •''•^recnplay, Oliver WiniJ'n, ^" characters created by Mm-." ""cnonnid; camera, KrnesI Miller: editor. Tony Marllnrlll; 'muska score William r.ava. Previewed In Project lime.".7'5hJ?S.^- Ounian R.naldn June. [;arnlA I.andia Kiinsns Jones Charles MlddleL.n Hello .Starkey it„|(y Co,,,,,.,,,,, Klh«n I.Hillaiv •I'""'"'" Ysklina (.■iinull j'J""" -Walter Wills JCd lylcr lidward c'assldy The Three Mesquiteers characters contribute their share of action for their dualers audience. Story this time has an historical background but it's generally stereoed and simi- lar to other westerns. 'Cowboys From Texas' associates LAUGHTON SURPRISES IN MEMPHIS, $5,000 Memphis. Dec. 6. 'Another Thin Man' is another boxofTice bonanza for liOew's, Powell-Loy combo, ever popular here, is clicking the turnstiles at a merry gate despite lukewarm press notices. Surprise picture of week is 'Jamaica Inn,' however. Laughton, never a great draw in these parts, is doing as nice a business at the War- ner as is Deanna Durbin's 'First Love' around the corner at the Malco. Laughton chiller is helped by rave notices. Orpheum lone vatide house, did only fair for Johnny Perkins unit and Metro's 'Bad Little Angel' In four-day stay. Feature of the week was fact that Tennessee observed the old Thinksgiving instead of Roo.se- velt's and all the houses enjoyed b health holiday turnout. Estimates for This Week Loew'B (Loew's (2,600; 10-30-40)— 'Another Thin Man' (M-G). Picture opened strong on holiday rush and going for swelegant $8,000. Last week, 'Day-time Wife' (20th), $4,000, disappointing after good start. Warner (Warner) (?,300; 10-30-40) —'Jamaica Injl (Par). Turkey Day trade, plus bmlish reviews, pushing this to very good $5,000. Last week, 'Not Alone' (WB), $4,500, swell un- der circumstances. Malco Palace (Lightman) (2,200; 10-30-40)—First Love' (U). Doing all right, $5,000. Last week, 'Rulers Sea' (Par), $4,000, sub-par. Orpheum (CuUins-Evans) (2,800; 15-40-55)—'Bad Angel,' (M-G), with Johnny Perkins unit onstage, Not .so hotcha at $3,000 for four days. Last week, 'All Come Out' (M-G), and Ted Lewis band, $6,500, four day.s, good. Slrand (Lightman) (1,000; 10-20- 30)—'Coast Guard' (U), five days, and 'Tropic Fury' (U), two day.s. Will do better than usual at arountl $2,000, Last week, 'Mr. Smith' (Col i second-run, and 'Beware Spooks' (Col), split, also $2,000, very good.