Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

THE LEAGUE OF FRIGHTENED MEN —COLUMBIA The Cast: Walter Connolly. Lionel Stander, Irene Hervey, Allen Brook, Eduardo Ciannelli, Walter Kingsford, Leonard Mudie, Kenneth Hunter. Producer: Edward Chodorov. Director: Alfred E. Green. Photog’ rapher: Henry Freulich. Original: Rex Stout. Screenplay: Guy Endore, Eugene Solow. What it's about: Nero Wolfe (Walter Connolly), detective extraordinary, is called in to solve the mysterious murders which have struck at a group of college classmates. Suspicion points to Chapin (Eduardo Ciannelli) who had been crippled for life by a hazing accident perpetrated by the group when all were students, but Nero insists he is not guilty. Each day a new m.urder is committed and each day threatening notes are sent to the remaining men. Working his way through a maze of clues, each of which points more and more conclusively to the guilt of Chapin, Nero finally invites the “league of frightened men” to his home. There he reveals that Bowen (Walter Kingsford) is the killer, having stolen funds entrusted to him by the men and then killed them to silence their complaints. WHAT to do and HOW to do it: This is the second in the series of Nero Wolfe mystery pictures, the title role in the first having been created by Edward Arnold. Build all advertising around the angle that here is a further adventure by the new master film detective. Make an art lay-out for the lobby showing a group of men — the “League of Frightened Men” — cowering under the menace of the threat of death. Work up a photo strip for the lobby, showing all the popular movie detectives. Include in the list Philo Vance, Sherlock Holmes, Nick Charles and others, mentioning Nero as the newest addition to this group. BOOK STORES GOOD MEDIUMS Arrange a book store tieup on the series of Nero Wolfe books written by Rex Stout, paying particular attention to the book of the same name from which this story is taken. Get a few copies of the book for the center of a lobby display. In the film, Nero is shown many times drinking his favorite beverage, hot chocolate. Using this idea as the basis for an ad tieup, show stills of Nero drinking it. Carry copy which will sell a popular brand of chocolate. The selling angle might be this: “Tf You Want to Find the Most Popular of All Hot Drinks You Needn’t Call in Detective Nero Wolfe, Just Ask Your Grocer for a Can of Peter’s Swiss Chocolate.” There are several stills available showing Lionel Stander and Walter Connolly snapping pictures with a candid-camera. Use several of these stills for an ad tieup with camera shops or with magazine stands selling the popular candid-camera magazines. Snipe the town with teasers which read: “What is the League of Frightened Men?” CRIME ARTICLE SERIES Get the police chief, or head of the Bureau of Investigation to author a series of newspaper articles on the modern methods of crime detection employed by police. Have him pick out several actual instances which are similar to some o? the happenings in this film, and comment on the efficiency of Wolfe as a criminologist. Run a hidden message puzzle in one of the local papers, concealing a series of italicized words in the want ads of the paper, which when searched out and put in their natural order, make a plug for the film, or give a clue to their identity of the murderer. In the March issue of Esquire, there is an article on the brutalities of hazing among college students, similar to the hazing incident which resulted in the crippling of Ciannelli in the story. Use tear sheets from the magazine for a lobby display, and get the opinions of local students and educators on the merits and objectionable phases of the practice. Insert ads in the personal columns of the local papers which announce a: “Meeting of the ‘League of Frightened Men’ at the Rialto Theatre. Signed: Nero Wolfe.” Use the same copy for handbills and throwaway sheets. Adlines: Nero Wolfe Again . . . Solving Another Baffling Mystery . . . and Acting as Aide de Camp to Cupid. Here Is Nero Wolfe’s Biggest Case . . . and Your Biggest Movie Thrill. Death Strikes at a Group of Frightened Men . . . But Nero Wolfe Saves the Day. BOXOFTICE :: April 24, 1937.