20th Century-Fox Dynamo (August 12, 1939)

10 NEW DYNAMO MORE SMASH OPENINGS FOR “STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE" Continued from Page 2 First Weeh-EntI Below are two scenes of the crowds “Stanley and Liv- ingstone” drew at the Roxy theatre on Saturday and Sunday. Top scene was taken Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The | scene below was taken at 2 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. L„ On Friday it banged its way into a second week—and that verb is used advisedly, for the opening of the first day of the second week was attrac- tive of the same huge crowd and long lines that waited for the doors to open at the premiere. Here was the New York opposition to “Stanley and Livingstone,,” all of which attractions were elaborately advertised and with each taking considerably greater newspaper display lineage than has been utilized on the Zanuck special: “Four Feathers” at the Capitol, “Beau Geste” at the Paramount, “The Old Maid” and “Each Dawn I Die” at the Strand (latter being succeeded by the former Thursday night), “Mr. Chips” at the Astor, “In Name Only” at the Music Hall, and “They Shall Have Music” at the Rivoli. However, the opposition to the day-and-date show- ings in Los Angeles and Hollywood was practically | ingstone” drew at the Roxy theatre on Saturday and Sunday, j the same. ‘ Ton soono was taken SatnrHav afternoon at 3 nVlork The I The newspaper reV iewS On both Coasts were superlative in every way, agreeing with the extremely enthusiastic notices “Stanley and Livingstone” earned in the trade press last week. The latter reviews were reprinted in New Dynamo last week. Sixth, Seventh Dans ® er , e are "; e . c ™ w * s 7 ** that poured into the Roxy during the last two days of the thriller’s first week. Scene at bottom was taken in the inner lobby Thursday night. A total of 120,729 people paid to see “Stanley and Livingstone” at the Broadway house in its first seven days there. THE REVIEWS Howard Barnes in the New York Herald-Tribune wrote the following: “It has considerable dramatic force. With Spen- cer Tracy giving a sensitive and commanding portrayal and Sir Cedric Hardwicke offering a persuasive char- acterization, the film has emotional and ideological content as well as being an intriguing record. What distinguishes it as much as anything, to my mind, is the show’s lack of hokum. Hav- ing set out to celebrate a strange quest and encounter in the heart of darkest Africa, it does just that with little juggling of actual facts. “ ‘Stanley and Livingstone’ is more documentary than conven- tionally dramatic in treatment, but that gives it a peculiar and entertaining appeal.” Bland Johaneson of the New York Mirror observed: “Mr. Spencer Tracy does such a truly magnificent job of acting Stanley that every inch of ‘Stanley and Liv- ingstone’ resounds with strange truth. Opening yesterday, the picture pro- voked a spontaneous hurrah of applause. And it is a curious picture, a first ex- cursion into spiritual mo- tives in adventures. It has simplicity, dignity, reality and a deep emotional pull. “Mr. Tracy has given no finer performance and Hollywood has turned out few such restrained and tasteful true stories.” Kate Cameron of the New York Daily News reported: “The arduous adventures of the New York Herald’s star re- porter is being graphically re- lived in an absorbing production. The highlight of the film is Stanley’s defense of himself and his indictment of the stiff- necked members of the British Geographical Society. Here Spencer Tracy comes into his own as he delivers the stirring speech with suppressed passion that is intensely moving. It is his one chance for great dra- matic acting and he makes the most of it. Henry King has done a good job in bringing the story to the screen in so inter- esting and dramatic a manner.” After going into a lengthy analysis of the film’s many as- sets, from the production and acting standpoints, Sidney B. Whipple of the New York World- Telegram emphasized that by all means “this film is worth see- ing.” The New York Journal-Ameri- WIRE FLASHES! OUTGROSSES “PACIFIC” BY $1,009 SAN DIEGO, CAL.—“Stanley and Livingstone” is off to a great start. On its first day, Wednesday, it had outgrossed the business done at the opening of “Union Pacific” by exactly $1,009. Audience applauds at completion of every performance. SENSATIONAL IN SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO—“Stanley and Livingstone” is doing outstand- ing business at the Paramount. It opened to 33,341, beating “Second Fiddle” which enjoyed spectacular success at the same house. BIG OPENING ENJOYED IN BOSTON BOSTON—If the audience’s reaction, the newspaper reviews and first day’s business are any criterion, “Stanley and Livingstone,” which has just got under way at the RKO theatre here, is due for a run. Management reported a sellout exactly one hour and 10 min- utes after the ticket sale started. FINE REPORT FROM WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, D. C.—“Stanley and Livingstone” opened big at the Palace here Thursday. Friday newspaper termed it the “best picture of its kind.” Raves greeted Spencer Tracy’s performance. 120,729 PEOPLE APPLAUD "STANLEY" IN FIRST SEVEN DAYS AT THE ROXY Friday morning the Roxy Theatre, New York, reported that 120,729 people had paid to see “Stanley and Livingstone” during the first seven days of its engagement there. This was representative of the biggest draw any of the strong vehicles enjoyed at the other motion picture theatres on Broadway, equal to what “Four Feathers” at the Capitol and “They Shall Have Music” at the Rivoli drew combined. can printed the following: “Darryl F. Zanuck adds another to his long list of notable contributions to the screen with ‘Stanley and Livingstone.’ Masterfully told, the filmization provides thrilling drama, romance enough and imposing real- ism. Spencer Tracy’s per- formance is of the highest order. Tracy is at his peak for the film. It’s carefully constructed, superb in many respects and marks a defi- nite high point in the art of placing thrilling historic drama on the screen.” Archer Winsten of the New York Post added the following: “Too much cannot be said in praise of the straightforward, honest performance of Spencer Tracy, nor could any one have portrayed Dr. David Livingstone than Sir Cedric Hardwicke.” “ ‘Stanley and Livingstone’ is the best break the Fourth Estate has had on the screen since the beginning of the Stereotype Era,” wrote the New York Times’ critic. A feature of the drawing power of “Stanley and Living- stone” is the number of women that it has been attracting to the Roxy theatre. Note that fem- inine ticket-buyers domi- nate all pictures on this page.