20th Century-Fox Dynamo (June 3, 1939)

8A NEW DYNAMO “Young Mr. Lincoln Special” TYPICAL SMALL TOWN EXHIBITOR SAYS: “LINCOLN WILL GET AWHOLE LOT OF MONEY! WONDERFUL!” Joseph Lyman, owner-operator of the Princess theatre at Whitehall, 111., was among the many small-town exhibitors from three States who entrained or motored to Springfield, 111., for the world premiere of “Young Mr. Lincoln.” Following the premiere he walked up to St. Louis Salesman George Ware, who had only a few days ago sold him the 1939-40 product, and voluntarily cut loose with a barrage of superlatives describing his reaction to the production. Mr. Ware thoughtfully invited your correspondent to meet Mr. Lyman, who then volunteered this significant observation and thought: “I tell you there is the finest motion picture I have seen in many, many months. I never enjoyed any picture any more. ‘Young Mr. Lincoln’ surprised me in many ways. First, it was not the sort of picture I had expected. This one finds young Lincoln not only a thoroughly human chap, but a young man who liked more than anything else to make his friends, who thrived on human, who did the human things, weak and strong, all of us do. The drama is great, but the comedy element is the big surprise. And what good taste the studio showed. Mr. Zanuck deserves not only the congratulations, but the thanks of all of us operating theatres, particularly in the small towns. “I say particularly in the small towns, because I think we operators are in closer contact with our customers, because our customers, in the final analysis, tell us what to show and how long to show. They have a greater interest in our business and we in their entertain- ment. And I tell you I, for one, am very thankful for a picture like this because I can, in all honesty, promise my patrons a rare enter- tainment, a great evening. This picture will send my regular customers out of the theatre serving as the best advertisement for it, for it is so thoroughly worthwhile. I think it is a wonderful picture. I think it will get a whole, whole lot of money and I for one am going to start advertising it tomorrow—right after I get home. Promise of this picture will help my business in the meantime, for I know the reports in the big cities and prior run situations will be raves.” “JUST WHAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDS!" COAST OPINION SAME AS THAT OFEASTERNERS FOUR STATES OFFICIALLY THANK ZANUCK FOR PRODUCTION Not only the city of Springfield, but the thanks of four states—Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Iowa—were officially conveyed through company representatives and stars to Production Chief Darryl F. Zanuck for “Young Mr. Lincoln.” These thanks were conveyed at the luncheon of the Mid-Day Club of Springfield. Below a section of the head table. Left to right are: Springfield’s Mayor John W. Kapp, Cesar Roinero, Alice Faye and Publicity and Advertising Director Charles E. McCarthy whose forces staged one of the greatest world premieres in the history of motion picture exhibition. (Continued from page 3) fore darkness introduced a daz- zling display of pyrotechnics and when the sun arcs started stabbing into the heavens. The Cosmopolitan banner un- der which this company is re- leasing “Young Mr. Lincoln” was hailed as specially befitting. Young and old of all races and creed paid tribute. PRAISE FOR ALL Audience and press acclaims were heaped upon everybody connected with Zanuck’s great achievement. But, Henry Fonda’s perform- ance swept all. Opinion was that here is the portrayal that will win the 1939 best-acting honors for male stars. The Los Angeles Examiner, Herald, News, and other news- paper critics went the limit in praising the performance. But outstanding as was his performance, none overlooked the fine work of Alice Brady. Marjorie Weaver, Pauline Moore, Arleen Whelan, Eddie Collins, Richard Cromwell, Don- ald Meek, Dorris Bowden, Ed- die Quillan, Spencer Charters and Ward Bond also came in for commendation. The direction of John Ford was characterized a master- piece. Ford, through “Young Mr. Lincoln,” tonight earned for himself an army of men and women who would gladly vote to give him the Academy’s award for directorial results. Kenneth MacGowan, the asso- ciate producer, was not forgot- ten. Lamar Trotti’s original story is surefire for considera- tion by those who distribute the Academy honors. But, what impressed all was the keen eye that all kept in turning out a down-to-earth box office picture—an entertainment that would tickle all types of theatregoers. No Hollywood premiere at- tracted more attention than did this press-preview. Miss Anderson’s recital brought the crowd to its feet in repeated ovations. She was given a royal recep- tion when she acknowledged the introduction by Louis Brom- field, author of “The Rains Came” and who is here writing the screenplay for another im- portant K-7 Zanuck super spe- cial, “Brigham Young.” THOSE ON HAND Mr. and Mrs. Zanuck had as their guests: Messrs, and Mes- dames Samuel Goldwyn, Jack Warner, Spencer Tracy, Cedric Gibbons (Dolores Del Rio), Charles Boyer and Pat Patter- son, Jay Walter Rubens and Vir- ginia Bruce, Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, as well as Richard Barthelmess, Arthur Hornblow and Myrna Loy, Mi- chael Curtiz, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Constance Bennett, Gilbert Ro- land, Marlene Dietrich, Erick Maria Rennarque, Joan Bennett, Walter Wanger, Kay Francis, Norma Shearer, Bette Davis, George Brent, Joan Crawford, Louis Bromfield, and others. Mr. and Mrs. William Guest hosted Dr. and Mrs. Joel Press- man (Claudette Colbert), Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Mayer, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cooper (Sandra Shaw), Mr. and Mrs. David O. Selznick, Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn Leroy, Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Goetz and Mr. and Mrs. Max Gordon. Henry Fonda and his wife are in South America, but the star’s mother witnessed his triumph. Among the personalities in “Young Mr. Lincoln” who at- tended the press premiere were Alice Brady, Marjorie Weaver, Arleen Whelan, Eddie Collins, Pauline Moore, Richard Crom- well, Dorris Bowdon, Eddie Quillan and Ward Bond. Celebrities who gave or were included in theatre parties were Alice Faye, Mary Nash, Edna Mae Oliver, Ruth Collier, Bin- nie Barnes, June Gale, Anita Louise, Nancy Kelly, Gloria Brewster, Loretta Young, Linda Darnell, Maria Ouspenskaya and Barbara Brewster. Also, Joseph M. Schildkraut, Cesar Romero, Sam Katz, John Cromwell, Kenny Baker, Jay Paley, Claude Stroud, Edward Norris, Jack LaRue, Gregory Ratoff, Robert Ellis, Edgar Ber- gen, Nunnally Johnson, Judge Georgia Bullick, Mrs. Evelyn Hamburger, Mrs. Marie Fox (Mrs. Zanuck’s mother), and Mrs. Louise Norton (Mr. Zanuck’s mother). Mrs. E. B. Rosenkranz, Mrs. Mary Zigler, Mrs. Pathia Power (Tyrone Power’s mother), Mr. and Mrs. Don Ameche, Warner Baxter, Irving Cummins’s. Harry Joe Brown, Sally Eilers, John Carradine, Chick Chandler, Kane Richmond, Sol Lesser, Hal Roach, William Seiter, Max Gor- don, Henry Lehrman, Pandro Berman, Milton Brend, Charles R. Rogers, Melvyn Douglas, Helen Kahagan, Lou Wanger, William Koenig, Edward Kauf- man, Ernest Haycox, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil B. DeMille, Ray Griffith, Sam Engel, Harry Brand, Grant Mitchell, Si Wil- lis, Murray Feil, A. Lastfodel, Hanz Stromberg, Gene Markey, Hedy LaMarr, Fred Metzler, George Marshall, Lou Wer- theimer, Preston Foster, Stuart Erwin, June Collyer, Harry Krogan, Jack Cummings, Jerome Kern, Mr. and Mrs. Sol M. Wurtzel, Harry Rapf, Ken- neth McGowan, Lamar Trotti, Phil Berg, Walter Kane, Lynn Bari, Sidney Lanfield, John W. Considine, Jr., Dan Thaw, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Brown, Alice Joyce, Ernest Lubitsch, Frank Lloyd, Richard Dix, Admiral and Mrs. Andrews, and many others. I Producers, writers, directors and actors and actresses were the most jubilant in praise of Henry Fonda’s performance. For a long time it has been suspected that he would make a good Lincoln. But Fonda is better than just “good.” His is one of the greatest perform- ances in screen history. That is the view of industry attaches and of the critics. “Young Mr. Lincoln” is the first picture booked . into the Wilshire under its new policy. Charles Skouras, head of the Southern California division of National Theatres, predicts “Young Mr. Lincoln” will bring “back millions to motion pic- ture theatres and away from the radio, for to see it is to rave and that’s what I expect theatregoers to do.” Some critics say “Young Mr. Lincoln” is the finest picture Zanuck has produced. Eddie Collins, Marjorie Weaver, Pauline Moore, Arleen Whelan, Richard Cromwell, Ward Bond and others in the cast were introduced. It certainly was a big and great night and “Young Mr. Lincoln” is the best news since “Jesse James” was previewed.