The Exhibitor (Jun-Oct 1939)

THE EXHIBITOR Servisection 2 Taking a few liberties with Lloyd C. Douglas’ powerful novel, but not dis¬ turbing the workings of the plot, Para¬ mount megger Frank Borzage has fash¬ ioned a photoplay which deserves high ranking on anyone’s listing of “bests.” In spite of the absence of top-flight marquee names, “Disputed Passage” should do okay by itself in the matter of bringing in heavier grosses. It is a sombre sort of affair in which the ideals of two doctors conflict. Surgeon genius Akim Tamiroff, so imbued with science he cares nothing for the heart, finds an apt pupil in John Howard, who despises his teacher, but soon becomes like him. Into Howard’s life comes sensuous Dorothy Lamour, cast as a white girl brought up in and devoted to China. Tamiroff breaks up plans for their intended marriage, and Howard goes in search of Lamour in war torn China. He joins doctor Victor Varconi in aiding the wounded and is seriously injured while rescuing a youngster. Tam¬ iroff comes to the rescue with a miracu¬ lous operation, and Lamour makes it further successful by just smiling. Estimate: Can do big biz if sold prop¬ erly. Jamaica Inn _ Adult (3906) 99m. (English Made) Charles Laughton, Leslie Banks, Mau¬ reen O’Hara, Marie Ney, Emlyn Williams, Wylie Watson, Morland Graham, Edwin Greenwood, Stephen Haggard, Robert Newton, Horace Hodges, Hay Petrie, Frederick Piper, Herbert Lomas, Clare Greet, William Devlin. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Once again Charles Laughton emphati¬ cally proves his claim to a position among the screen’s greatest actors. Once again alfred Hitchcock emphatically proves his claim to a position among the screen’s greatest directors. Putting them both to¬ gether — as in “Jamaica Inn” — results in one of the top pictures. With the right amount of push behind it, this British filmasterpiece should reap a nice profit. From beginning to end, though, it is all morbid. Nobleman Laughton raises money to maintain his position of wealth by masterminding a ruthless crew of cut¬ throats who lure ships against the rugged rocks of the Cornish coast. After the ship is wrecked and its crew murdered, most of the loot goes to Laughton. Police lificer Robert Newton poses as a member of the gang and is saved from hanging only by the sensational discovery Maureen O’Hara. Together they escape and New¬ ton eventually brings the murderers to justice. Estimate: Deserving of best selling facilities. $1,000 a Touchdown (3903) Family Comedy 73m. Joe E. Brown, Martha Ra ye, Susan Hay¬ ward, Syd Saylor, John Hartley, Eric Blore, Joyce Matthews, Joseph Swickard. Directed by James Hogan. Even the Joe E. Brown and Martha Raye fans will have trouble getting any satisfaction out of this bottom dualler. The story is silly and even a strain for those who are broadminded about movie plots. Brown, afraid of crowds, is the son of a famous actor. Martha Raye is the grand¬ daughter of the man who founded Madi¬ son College, currently in financial difficul¬ ties. Brown meets Raye, and Joe be¬ comes the head and football coach of the Madison College of Dramatic Art. But the school is a flop and a football team of All-Americans is bought to bring pres¬ tige to the college. But no teams can be scheduled, so a team of pros is sched¬ uled to start the season. The football game breaks all records for nonsense, with Madison winning, but the net result is pretty much of a waste of whatever talent may be present. The kids may like it, but even they might be critical. Estimate: Bottom-half dualler. RKO-RADXO Three Sons (004) Drama 72m. Edward Ellis, William Gargan, Kent Taylor, J. Edward Bromberg, Katherine Alexander, Virginia Vale, Robert Stanton, Dick Hogan, Grady Sutton, Adele Pearce, Alexander D’Arcy, Barbara Pepper. Di¬ rected by Jack Hively. Offering a thespian workout for Edward Ellis and serving as a vehicle to introduce Virginia Vale and Robert Stanton, final¬ ists in Jesse Lasky’s second “Gateway to Hollywood” talent search, “Three Sons” turns out to be just another dualler which might possibly be featured in the prov¬ inces. Vale and Stanton have practically nothing to do, but the former impresses by her singing voice and looks. Ellis and wife Katherine Alexander establish a de¬ partment store in Chicago following the big fire. With J. Edward Bromberg’s help, they watch the store grow as their three sons and one daughter sprout up. The sons — Kent Taylor, Stanton, Dick Ho¬ gan — as well as daughter Vale, turn out to be a no-good mob, who even sell their father out. However, Hogan seems to have reformed and shows promise of better things at the final fade-out. Estimate: Dualler. 20th CENTURY-FOX Here I Am A Stranger (009) Family Melodrama 83m. Richard Greene, Richard Dix, Brenda Joyce , Roland Young, Gladys George, Katharine Aldridge, Russell Gleason, George Zucco, Edward Norris, Henry Kolker. Directed by Roy del Ruth. Youth has its say in this top-flight pro¬ gram-show, which has a college back¬ ground, but which doesn’t allow itself to fall into the familiar groove of most rahrah stories. British-educated Richard Greene enrolls in the American univer¬ sity his father attended. Kindly professor Roland Young tells Greene where to find Richard Dix, the father he hadn’t seen in 19 years. Dix, a washed out newspaper¬ man, gets a new lease on life as he and his son get along like pals. Then melodramatics enter, with Greene refusing to be party to a frame-up which would send Russell Gleason to jail for a hit-and-runaccident of which wealthy Edward Norris was guilty. His mother, Gladys George, wants to take Greene back to England with her, but changes her mind when she realizes how much it meant to her son for him to leave Dix. Dix gives an ex¬ cellent portrayal of the self-sacrificing father and Gladys George finally receives a role worthy of her talents. Estimate: Strong program. UNIVERSAL All Quiet On the Western Front Family Drama 93m. (New Version) Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray, Raymond Griffith, Slim Summerville. Rus¬ sell Gleason, William Blakewell, Scott Kolk. Walter Browne Rogers, Ben Alexan¬ der, Owen Davis, Jr., Beryl Mercer, Edwin Maxwell, Harold Goodwin, Marion Clay¬ ton, Yola D’Avril, Arnold Lucy, Joan Marsh, Bill Irving, Edmund Breese, Heinie Conklin, Bertha Mann. Directed by Lewis Milestone. Calling this “the uncensored version,” Universal, to cash in on the current war excitement, now releases the picture that was a terrific success when first distrib¬ uted. The story, itself, is pretty much the same, with some editing, if the memory of this reviewer isn’t playing tricks, but Uni¬ versal has surrounded the yarn with a commentary which, in this opinion, changes the nature of the picture from a gripping indictment of war to a direct accusation against the type of government that most people believe responsible for the current goings-on in Europe. The picture opens with about 10 minutes of a newsreel-type review of what happened in Europe after the war, pulls no punches in its charges, and then takes the on¬ looker up to the book burning in Ger¬ many. with “All Quiet” as one of the burned volumes. It then leads into the picture, but from time to time the com¬ mentator inserts himself into the picture to preach further his message. The picture, it might be said, still retains its sock. Estimate: To be seen. Family Call a Messenger Comedy Drama 60m. Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Robert Arm¬ strong. Mary Carlisle, Anne Nagel, Victor Jory, Larry Crahbe, El Brendel, Jimmy Butler. George Offerman, Jr., Hally Ches¬ ter, William Benedict, David Gorcey, Har¬ ris Berger. Directed by Arthur Lubin. An entertaining second-spot offering, this deals with the regeneration of bad boys through honest work as telegram de¬ livery boys, provided by a telegraph offi¬ cial, a one-time street urchin in their own class. Billy Halop, leader of the street gang, is captured by police while trying to rob a warehouse owned by a telegraph company. Robert Armstrong, complaining witness, believes Halop will make good if given the opportunity and he hires him as a messenger. Making good on the job, Halop feels the responsibility of looking after his sister, Mary Carlisle, because his older brother, Victor Jory, is in prison for a stick-up. His other problem is to break up the match between his sister and Larry Crabbe, a cheap gangster. Released from prison, Jory pals up with Crabbe, and plans to rob various telegraph offices. The night that Halop is in charge of the office, Jory tips him off that a stick-up is plan¬ ned. Crabbe has some gangsters waylay Jory and holds up Halop, who puts up a fight. Jory escapes from the gang, comes to the aid of Halop and is killed. Boys in the back room hearing the shot come to the rescue, overpowering Crabbe and his gang, and are rewarded by the company with motorcycles. It is a good, fast-action offering. Estimate: Nabe dual filler. Legion of Lost Flyers Family Action Drama 63m. Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, Anne Nagel, William Lundigan, Guinn “Big Boy” Williams, Ona Munson, Jerry Mar¬ lowe, Leon Ames, Theodor von Eltz, Leon Belasco, David Willock, Jack Carson, Pat Flaherty, Eddie Waller. Directed by Christy Cabanne. Lacking the speed of the two previous Richard Arlen-Andy Devine outdoor flick¬ ers, “Legion of Lost Flyers” looks sus¬ piciously like “Only Angels Have Wings” —on a minor scale. However, the action 392