The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

SPECIAL FEATURES 18a ADVANCE SHOTS New Pictures Tersely Cited Received too late to be included in last week’s Blue Section were reviews of the following subjects. These Advance Shots are given pending complete Six-Point Reviews next week. Features BIZARRE BIZARRE (Lenauer) — Louis Jouvet, Francoise Rosay. 84m. A French farce, a la the U. S.’s W. C. Fields, this should go in houses playing French pictures, even perhaps where the audiences go for screwy comedy of any brand. CONCENTRATION CAMP (Amkino)— O. Jakov, S. Shirokova. 66m. Too pro-Communistic, this anti-Nazi opus is best for the deep hued reds. It is the story of Nazi persecution, concentration camps. HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, THE. (20th Cent. -Fox) — 80m. Richard Greene, "Wendy Barrie, Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel Atwill. A picturization of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famed story, this is a mystery drama which can be exploited for nice money. THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP (Universal)— Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey, Helen Parrish, Charles Winninger, Robert Cummings, William Lundigan. 87m. Fifth hit out of five for Deanna Durbin, this continues the adventures of "Three Smart Girls.” CLIMBING HIGH (Gaumont British )— Jessie Matthews, Michael Redgrave, Noel Madison, Alistair Sim. 72m. Weak, British comedy, this offers Jessie Matthews in a non-singing role. ON TRIAL (Warners) — Margaret Lindsay, John Litel, Janet Chapman, Nedda Harrigan. 61m. A remake of the Elmer Rice drama picturization of 1928, this has John Litel on trial for murder, with chief witnesses for him, his wife (Margaret Lindsay), daughter (Janet Chapman). The story is told through flashbacks. ROUGH RIDERS ROUND-UP (Republic) — Roy Rogers, Mary Hart, Raymond Hatton. 5 8m. Roy Rogers continues his assault on the Gene Autry position as the U. S. Cowboy No. 1, with this one loaded with action. It should be received with open arms where westerns are the rule. SERGEANT MADDEN (Metro)— Wallace Beery, Tom Brown, David Gorcey, Dickie Jones. 78m. A tailor-made work for Wallace Beery, this has the lovable bruiser a policeman trying to bring his son and adopted son up in the way they should go. It is a good show for Beery fans, should build by word-of-mouth for the others. THEY MADE HER A SPY (RKO-Radio) — Sally Eilers, Allan Lane, Fritz Leiber, Frank M. Thomas, Theodore von Eltz, Addison Richards. 69m. A minor entrant in the spy-ring cicyle, this has Sally Eilers solving the murder of her brother by spies. TRIGGER SMITH (Monogram) — Jack Randall, Joyce Bryant, Warner Richmond. 51m. In a good western, Jack Randall resigns from the service to avenge his brother’s murder, with Joyce Bryan adding the usual romantic touches. Shorts Complete reviews of the following short subjects will appear in the next issue of the Blue Section: BIRTH OF A TOOTHPICK (Universal) — 7 /2m. A fair entry in the Walter Lantz series, this tells of the "origin” of toothpicks. LITTLE TOUGH MICE (Universal)— 7m. A burlesque of the Little Tough Guys, et al., by the sissy twins in this low bracket Lantz Cartune. STRANGER THAN FICTION, No. 61— 9m. Alois Havrilla comments on the usual miscellany. HELLO MAMA (RKO-Radio)— 10m. A NuAtlas musical, George Jessel is the single point of merit. He used his famed telephone call to his mother. ROAMING CAMERA, THE, No. 1 (Vitaphone) — 10m. First of a new sub-series in The Color Parade, this has an interesting three clips of miscellany on the order of the erstwhile Pictorial Revue. APOLLON, DAVE, AND ORCHESTRA (Vitaphone) — 10m. Just that, but Dave Apollon is without his usual Filipino boys. SHAW, ARTIE, AND ORCHESTRA (Vitaphone). 10m. A natural for the jitterbugs, this presents the latest swing craze. CHICKEN JITTERS (Vitaphone) — 7m. Porky has trouble with a fox on his chicken farm. CHAINED (Vitaphone) — 12m. A boy is saved from drowning to take Floyd Gibbon’s $2 50. DAFFY DUCK AND THE DINOSAUR (Vitaphone) — 7m. Another Leon Schlesinger wow, this has Daffy Duck chased by a caveman, a dinosaur. THE MOTHER (Astor) — 10m. A tribute to mothers, this centers on Whistler’s picture. GEMS OF THE ORIENT (Modern)— 10m. An excellent color travelogue of Oriental sights, scenes. SCHOOL OF TALENT (Amkino)— 1 0m. Musical training of children in the Moscow State Conservatory. HONORING A PEOPLE’S POET (No credits) — 5m. Poet Kozakh is awarded the Order of Lenin. THE FLYING FROGS (Amkino) — 10m. A puppet novelty, done on the order of a U. S. animated cartoon. THE FOUNTAIN OF BAKHCHISARAI (Amkino) — 15m. Photographed ballet performance of the Persianesque poem of the same name. WINNERS OF INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN CONTEST (No credits) — 8m. Just that, made in Russia. DAGESTAN (Amkino) — 10m. A travelogue of the autonomous Soviet republic on the Caspian Sea. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR On the Anthem Dear Sir: Philadelphia. Knowing of your great interest in the many little angles of showmanship that would be of interest to the managers and especially to the patrons of our theatres, I am taking the liberty of sending you the following, which is working out splendidly here at the State Theatre. In the past, we had made it our policy to play recordings of our non-sync before the show, namely popular jazz, swing, or other such records, which after a while became noisy to the average patron, and then when The Star-Spangled Banner went on the screen, the change was actually startling. Because of this, I decided to try a new method at this theatre, and instead of swing we bought a complete album of the most beautiful organ recordings, which we play before our show starts and have received innumerable comments on this innovation. At the end of the show we still continue our popular recordings. Hoping you will pass this on, so that patrons of other theatres will enjoy these great musical compositions as played on these organ recordings, I am, Very truly yours, Martin Goldenberg, Manager, State Theatre. AMERICA -FIRST, LASTALWAYS! "My orders for tomorrow, like my , orders for the past two weeks are v continue to retreat. Remember, there are two military diseases ( for which hanging is the only cure— spying and mutiny.* ★ MAN OF CONQUEST * RICHARD DIX as Sam Houston • Gail Patrick as Margaret Lea * Edward Ellis as Andrew Jackson Joan Fontaine as Eliza Allen • A Republic Picture March 29, 19)9