Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur Popular Science (Continued from page 81) scientific design which enables banks to cater to autoists; miniature model of the Mississippi to study flood control; automobile testing grounds; a pre-planted lawn which one can set up in the back yard, and a brief snatch of how men are trained for the submarine service. Vitaphone (Merrie Melody) 7 Mins. Humor content of this cartoon is not up to par for this series. But it’s just as daffy as the others with a couple of good laughs. A hungry caveman and his dinosaur sets out to find some breakfast. He runs into Daffy Duck and a series of misadventures. The ending is quite ducky. Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Vitaphone (Melody Masters) 10 Mins. Artie Shaw demonstrates why his band is among the top money-earners in his business. The orchestra has plenty of rhythm while Shaw and his clarinet playing already is well-known to music lovers. The boys don’t go in for any flashy showmanship. They swing right into “Begin the Beguine,” and Helen Forrest renders the vocal on “Let’s Stop the Clock,” Shaw’s clarinet is featured in “Non-Stop Flight” and the concluding number has Tony Pastor singing “Pross-Tschai.” This should click with audiences. Clock Wise RKO (Edgar Kennedy Comedies) 16 Mins. Edgar Kennedy’s sufferings reach a new high in this vignette of family trouble and the result is a hilarious bit of comedy. It’s ludicrous and whacky, but Kennedy’s emoting will register solidly with audiences for hearty laughs. This time, Kennedy’s father-in-law has devised a grandfather’s clock with a gadget that sets drums to beating when the hour strikes. Naturally, the thing almost drives Edgar bugs and there is much confusion as he unsuccessfully attempts to dispose of it. Bert Gilroy directed. Chained Vitaphone (Your True Adventure) 12 Mins. Floyd Gibbons comes through with another exciting yarn. This one takes place on a small island in Jamaica Bay where a group of kids is playing pirates. One of the youngsters is captured and tied to a stake with a heavy chain. The youngsters forget about the tide which keeps rising and threatens to drown their companion. They become panicky when their efforts fail, but a police boat arrives on time. The story is rather shy on suspense, but is well-told. Dual Personalities M-G-M -(Our Gang) 10 Mins. Alfalfa and Butch are at it again in a fairly amusing comedy. The rivalry over Darla flares anew. Alfalfa is hypnotized at a demonstration and he believes he is D’Artagnan. While under the spell, he challenges Butch to a duel. When he snaps out of it, he learns of what he has done. But Butch agrees with him that women aren’t worth duelling over and they frame the combat. Darla, however, fools them and walks off with Waldo. Imperial Delhi M-G-M (FitzPatrick Traveltalk) 8 Mins. Despite the fact that Delhi has some of the architectural wonders of India, it doesn’t make a very good subject for Fitzpatrick’s colorful camera. The absence of an attractive landscape hurts. Most colorful scene is the county fair and the jumpers. Others are the Tower of Victory, skilled ivory craftsmen and Delhi street scenes. Gems of the Orient Modern Film (Travelogue) 9 Mins. Done in Cinecolor with John S. Martin handling the narration, this subject covers Hong Kong and Siam, in which the highlights and customs of the natives are shown in all their simplicity. It is well handled and was accorded a nice reception at the Rivoli, on Broadway. There will be seven more in the series, such as “Call of Hawaii,” “Little Known Lands,” “California Today,” “African Jamboree,” “Greyhounds of the Deep,” “Mexico” and “Valley of Fire.” Educational, as well as first class, entertainment. Merhabies RKO (Disney Cartoon) 9 Mins. It’s a Silly Symphony and a novel idea at that. Merbabies is a combination of baby mermaids and their cavortings at the bottom of the ocean make for good fun and entertainment. The color and music are tops. Good for adult as well as juvenile programs. Ranch House Romeo RKO (Whitley’s Western Musical) 17 Mins. Where the patrons like western crooners, Ray Whitley and his singing buckaroos fill the bill acceptably. In order to stretch this out to the two-reels, there is, regretably, some sort of a story about a ranch and a gold mine which means nothing except as an interlude between numbers. To make the general air of incongruity complete, a blonde number in evening clothes is introduced into the proceedings. An Hour lor Lunch M-G-M (Robert Benchley) 9 Mins. This should prove to be a popular subject for any program. It’s a delightfully humorous account of the pressing problem of how to do everything one wants to during lunch hour. Benchley is a keen observer and the short is filled with a number of human touches which should be good for plenty of guffaws. In addition, Benchley is quite an actor himself. It rates special billing. Write Today -SENSATIONAL Theatre GIVEAWAY Never Before a More Complete Deal — 10,000 A 3,000 TICKETS V HANDBILLS And This 1939 Model HOLLYWOOD MOTOR BYKE C/3 Plus— A Free Action Trailer SPECIAL For Only B. Chicago $99.00 Chic • • • • Royal Hollywood Industries 845 S. Wabash Ave. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS • • • • Use Your Merchants! BOXOFFICE April 1, 1939 85