Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

OPINIONS ON CURRENT F E A T U R E P R O D U C T I O N S 20th Century-Fox (750) 80 Minutes Rel. May 7, '37 Brilliantly cast and ably directed, this romantic farce, imbued with a continental savor which gives it a delightful polish, strikes a smart, distinctive note stamping it as one of the season’s most agreeable comedy offerings. Backed by the recognized boxoffice values of Loretta Young and Adolphe Menjou and with a sterling performance by the up-and-coming Tyrone Power, the film’s romantic gaiety overcomes the rather labored story, given added strength by Edward H. Griffith’s adept direction. It is Menjou’s picture. He projects a clean-cut characterization, richly flavored, as the Parisian headwaiter through whose scheming machinations Power is drawn into a tangled web from which he is extricated by Miss Young. Explosive satire is contributed by Ratoff as an ex-member of nobility. Adolphe Menjou, Loretta Young, Tyrone Power, Gregory Ratoff, Charles Winninger , Helen Westley, Christian Rub. Cafe Metropole F ‘Z;::;; United Artists ( ) 70 Minutes Rel. May 7, '37 Light as air in texture, highly fantastic and improbable in conception, this effort at slapstick comedy by Samuel Goldwyn is easy to take. Jammed with laughs, it will satisfy the average audience without taxing their mental processes. Plenty of good marquee names will bring satisfaction to the boxoffice. Hopkins and McCrea are splendid in their comedy roles and Winninger is his usual self than which no more can be asked. Story deals with Hopkins’ attempt to separate McCrea from a portion of his fortune with which to finance Winninger, as McCrea’s improvident father, in a new venture. She gets the money and her man at the same time. John G. Blystone directed. Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrea, Charles Winninger , Erik Rhodes, Leona Maricle, Ella Logan, Broderick Crawford. Woman Chases Man F GB (3620) 83 Minutes Rel. Mar. 1, '37 The fine directorial hand of Raoul Walsh is mainly responsible for the fast pace and lively humor of this British army comedy, injecting as he has American wisecracks and much red-blooded action into the familiar and obvious story. His players struggle hard to rise above the unbelievable situations, with Wallace Ford and Anna Lee being most successful in turning in neat characterizations. Ford is an American racketeer who takes another man’s passport and flees to England to escape a murder charge. Here he is forced to enlist in the army to escape detection but the love of his major’s daughter begins to work a reforming influence until his former sweetheart from New York turns up to expose him. Escaping to China, he runs into several exciting adventures with bandits and winds up as an international hero. Wallace Ford Anna Lee, John Mills, Grace Bradley, Paramount (3642) 77 Minutes Rel. With a cast of expertly selected players all giving grand performances, this first Fanchon production is ear-marked for swell audience reaction. It is a gay, tuneful comedy — a setup for the talents of Charlie Ruggles, Ben Blue, Eleanore Whitney and Johnny Downs, whose clowning, singing and dancing get credit for much of the film’s success. Ruggles and Blue are particularly hilarious, the latter clinching his spot as one of filmdom’s top comics. Charlie, a department store head who believes implicitly in astrology, is told that in order to see the successful culmination of his own romance, he must first foster a romance between two young people. The youngsters are Downs and Miss Whitney, who after many set-backs are brought together. Directed by Lewis Seiler. Charlie Ruggles, Eleayiore Whitney, Johnny Downs, Ben Blue, Marjorie Gateson, Kenny Baker, Phil Harris. You're in the Army Now F Turn Off the Moon F Musical Comedy RKO Radio (783) 60 Minutes Rel. May 28, '37 At last departing from the usual western-action formula, this reaffirms George O’Brien’s position as one of the top adventure stars of the screen, giving him one of the best roles he has had in his film career. The novelty of the story boosts it to top billing on any program. It will be a heavy grosser and sure-fire entertainment. O’Brien exhibits plenty of his pleasing personality as the Hollywood cowboy star who, on location for a picture, is mistaken by the niece of a ranchwom.an for a real cowhand. As a lark he and his writer pal, Joe Caits, carry out the deception and round up the villains by airplane. Cecilia Parker plays the heroine in great style and Ewing Scott, who collaborated on the original screenplay, turns in a good job of direction. George O'Brien, Cecilia Parker, Joe Caits, Maude Eburne, Charles Middleton, Frank Milan, Stanley Blystone, Hollywood Cowboy F ^vesu... M-G-M (731) 97 Minutes Rel. May 14, '37 With a proven money-getting cast, this gripping film of war, love, sacrifice and loyalty, ably produced, directed and acted, will prove another in the long line of boxoffice successes with which Metro is winding up its current program. Documentary insofar as its pleas against war are concerned, the story is action-crammed and will prove grade "A” entertainment for those who enjoy cinematic portrayals of life in the raw. Spencer Tracy and Franchot Tone take every advantage of meaty parts, while Gladys George does everything possible to turn in a good show in a role, the possibilities of which are below her proven talents. Picture unfolds the story of a meek lad whose experiences in the trenches turn him into a cowardly, ruthless killer of gangdom. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke. Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, Franchot Tone, Edgar Bearing, Ma^y Lou Treen, Cliff Edwards, Charles Troxvbridge, They Gave Him a Gun F Warner Bros. ( ) 105 Minutes Rel. May 29, '37 Here’s a million dollar’s worth of talent in a picture far inferior to its cast’s ability. The lines are often stilted and unnatural and action, prior to the final fight sequences, is slow. So, despite the draw of its top three cast names, this film about fight managers and the game of fisticuffs emerges as just an average programmer. Edward G. Robinson, a fight manager, discovers and grooms Wayne Morrison, promising heavyweight, but Wayne falls in love with Jane Bryan, Robinson’s sister. Robinson, who wants to keep his family out of the fight racket, is furious, and to get 'Wayne out of the way frames him in a fight, giving him wrong directions. At the cost of his own life, however, Robinson relents in the nick of time and the boy wins. Michael Curtiz directed. Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Wayne Morrison, Jane Bryan, Harry Carey, Soledad Jiminez. 'Universal (1011) 80 Minutes Rel. May 16, '37 This depiction of life in the navy, which might have fibeen just another programmer, is given a fresh slant and Jlifted into sweeping heights through H. C. Potter’s mov, Singly intimate direction. It is Ray Milland’s best oppori| tunity in motion pictures so far, and he makes the most ' of his role as a navy aviator with an appealing and com? petent performance which should win him many fans. jiThe difficult portrayal of the navy wife who must tutor IJherself to fit into the tight circle of the navy’s social life “^at the risk of ruining her husband’s career is ably handled j by Wendy Barrie, and William Gargan adds a touch of I deft comedy. Good scenic shots of Hawaiian backgrounds I and some excellent flying sequences put this picture on a a high enjoyment standard. I'Ray Milland, Wendy Barrie, Kent Taylor, William Gargan, Polly Rowles, Mary Philips, Samuel S, Hinds. Kid Galahad F Wings Over Honolulu F Drama CLASSmCATION— A ADULT — FFAMILY — JJUVENILE BOXOFFICE :: May 15, 1937. 23