The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

Seruisection 5 A NIGHT IN A MUSIC HALL. Columbia— Picturegraph. 11m. A fast-moving vaudeville show, staged after the remembered manner of Fanchon & Marco (who produced it), this initial offering in a new series presents, under the hand of Pinky Tomlin, as m. c., the 20 Fanchonettes, precision dancers; Nell Kelly, comedienne. The coryphees offer for a finale a fine drum-major routine, which is preceded by Tomlin’s singing 'If It Wasn’t for the Moon.” The company, these 22 plus eight others, blend talents to make this an auspicious, though not extraordinary, beginning for Columbia’s Picturegraphs. GOOD. (9951). Novelty THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND. Atlantic Films. 3 m. Here is a diagrammed description of the maneuvers during the greatest sea battle of the World War. It is an interesting account of how the English literally overwhelmed the German navy, told in a manner understandable to the layman. GOOD. PILOT BOAT. RKO-Radio. 10m. This tells the story of the how, why of controlling the traffic, safety in New York Harbor. Seamen on the pilot boats patrol the bay carefully, seeing that all the buoys are in the correct positions. Pilot officers give orders aboard all large seagoing vessels leaving New York until the boat is safely out of the harbor. It is a new angle. GOOD. (84605). SCREEN SNAPSHOTS No. 5. Columbia. 10m. This entry combines shots of major, minor stars with a travelogue of Catalina Island. The stars arc seen fishing, sailing, horse-playing. GOOD. (985 5 ). Sport BOW STRING. RKO-Radio — Sportscope. 10m. This literally hits the bulls-eye in entertainment. RKO took the ancient, though still popular archery sport, produced a short unequalled in its * particular field. The uncanny markmanship of bow, arrow champions is displayed by their prowess of hitting practically dead center any target available, from bouncing balls, floating logs, teed golf balls, cigarettes, to knocking the spots off a five of spades. Another sequence, which had a projection room audience gasping with surprise, was a golf-archery match in which the national women’s champ archer shot below par with arrows while pro golfer Dick Metz could only do par with clubs, ball. It is done in sepia, but it would be tops in any color. EXCELLENT. (94306). DOUBLE DIVING. Metro — Pete Smith Specialty. 8m. With Olympic diving champion "Dutch” Smith going through his paces in mirrorlike cooperation with the Greek champion, this provides one of the most beautifully done shorts of the sports variety. Pete Smith’s always popular vocal description makes the graceful "double diving” go over with a big splash. There are also some swell photographic shots in sepia. EXCELLENT. (S-904) . SHOOTING FOR PAR. 20th Century-Fox— Sports Review. 11m. By far the best golf subject since Vitaphone made its series some years ago with Bobby Jones, this Ed Thorgersen Sport Review is a natural for golfers, highly diverting for the Iaiety, the whole made the better by the excellence of the running commentary, replete with a bit of drama, wit, humor. Seen in special clips are champions Sam Snead, Walter Hagen, Patty Berg, Harry Cooper, who demonstrate stance matters, shoot breath-taking shots. EXCELLENT. (9302). SKI GIRL. Vitaphone — Variety. 10m. Marked by exceptionally beautiful photography, here are 10 minutes of familiar skiing film. Following a few shots of jumping, slalom racing, an attractive girl is shown in a long downhill run along the slopes of what appeared to be a dangerous mountainside. It doesn’t come up to the standard of last year’s JEP Grand Shorts Award Winner, "Ski Flight.” GOOD. (4905). SKI THRILLS OF NORWAY. Central Films. 8m. Filmed in Norway, with the world’s best skiers seemingly flying down dangerous slopes, this proves to be one of the more exciting of a long list of this season’s skiing shorts. It follows the old formula: men, women on the long trek uphill, then the speedy descent. If the subject had not been done so many times before, this would get top notice. GOOD. Commercial RIDING THE FILM. Jam Handy. 9m. Opening with several thrilling winter sports shots of skiing, toboganning, ice-boating, ice-skating, the film then describes how water acts as a lubricant in making the blades of skates, etc., skim along the ice. Then, it goes on to explain how the same principle is applied to making the automobile (Chevrolet) motor function with the least possible friction. In this case, however, oil is the lubricant. At times, the going gets a bit too technical. FAIR. Trailer POWERS. Metro. 10m. A well-done trailer in sepia, which traces the carriage of electric power from Boulder Dam to the coast studios. This is made in the finest Metro shorts tradition. It shows the lighting effects necessary in the filming of a picture. Then are shown shots from several productions now before the camera. Practically every star on the Metro lot is seen in action. EXCELLENT. 251