The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

Servisection 3 THE EXHIBITOR WARNERS-FN MISCELLANEOUS The Mad Empress (472) Family Historical Drama 72m. Medea Novara, Lionel Atwill, Conrad Nagel, Guy Bates Post, Jason Robards, Frank McGlynn, Sr., Evelyn Brent, Claudia Dell, Gustave von Seyffertitz, Martin Garralaga, Julian Rivero, Duncan Renaldo, Nigel de Brulier, Rene de Liguoro, Michael Vicaroff, Earl Gunn. Directed by Miguel Torres. Having cut about 25 minutes from the running time of this film as it stood when it was first released as “Juarez and Maxmilian,” Warners has managed to whip this into a fairly presentable attraction. When Miguel Torres originally set out to sell this film, it was a ponderous affair with little on the ball to warrant much business. Now, however, this can get by okay on the low end of twin bills. (This review is for the record. Picture was first reviewed on page 305 of the Blue Section.) Estimate: Dualler. Private Detective (471) Family Mystery Drama 55m. Jane Wyman, Dick Foran, Gloria Dickson, Maxie Rosenbloom, John Ridgely, Morgan Conway, John Eldredge, Joseph Crehan, Williams Davidson, Selmar Jackson, Vera Lewis, Julie Stevens, Jack Mower, Henry Blair, Earl Dwire, Willie Best. Directed by Noel Smith. In our humble opinion, any picture in which Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom appears is worthy of playing time, even if the film is of such minor importance as ’’Private Detective.” Intended to round out double features, this whodunit should prove more than satisfactory in that category. John Eldredge is murdered and circumstantial evidence points to Gloria Dickson, his estranged wife, as the killer. Jane Wyman signs Dickson as a client for her detective agency, while Wyman’s fiance (cop Dick Foran) flounders around with Rosenbloom to assist him in said floundering. Wyman pins the murder on unscrupulous attorney Morgan Conway. Estimate: Okay for dual support. The Return of Doctor X Family Melodrama 62m. Wayne Morris, Dennis Morgan, Humphrey Bogart, John Litel, Rosemary Lane, Lya Lys, Joseph Crehan, Charles Wilson, Jack Mower, Huntz Hall, Olin Howland. Directed by Victor Sherman. This action-packed drama has Wayne Morris as a wiseacre reporter in the starring role, and the picture continues the exploits of crazed Doctor X. John Litel, an experimenting physician, derives an artificial blood, which he uses to bring Humphrey Bogart, the executed Doctor X, back to life. But, due to unforseen difficulties, the revivified corpse must have fresh, human blood to continue his extended life. Rosemary Lane is one of his intended victims, and, as a climax, he kidnaps her to drain her blood. The villainy is stopped at the right moment by Morris and Denis Morgan, a protege of Litel, and Bogart is killed. There is plenty of action in the picture, and the theatre audience seemed to enjoy it. The story is a sequel to “Doctor X,” that First National brought, in Technicolor, to the screen in 1932, with Lionel Atwill in the title role. Estimate: Enjoyable action-packed melodrama. Hitler’s Reign of Family Documentary 56m. (Samuel Cummins) . Photographed by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. Narrated by Edwin C. Hill. Authentic motion pictures of Hitlerism in action are crossed with newsreel shots, several enacted scenes, and plenty of propaganda in this documentary indictment of everything Naziism stands for. Although the film means well, is isn’t what one would call a good picture. However, good or no good, this has an exploitable title and can be sold by utilizing sensational stunts. Cornelius Vauderbilt, Jr., who photographed most of the film, also does part of the commentary in somewthat of a grating fashion. Edwin C. Hill’s narrating carries a tone of sincerity and authority. Among the well-known personages making short screen commentaries are Fannie Hurst, Samuel Seabury, Rabbi Wise, the editor of the Catholic Commonwealth, and a high official of the American Legion. Estimate: Exploitation offering. FOREIGN The Continental _ Family w. Comedy Drama Way 82m. (L’Aria del Continente) (Esperia) Angelo Musco, Leda Gloria, Rosina Anselmi, Valentino Bruchi, Silvana Jachino, Luigi Cimara, Enzo Gianotti, Romolo Costa, Renato Pisu. Directed by G. Righelli. Chuckles and outright guffaws greeted this amusing importation as it unreeled before an enthusiastic Italian premiere audience. The lack of superimposed English titles didn’t prevent this critic from getting plenty of laughs without understanding the language. Wealthy Angelo Musco wanders from his provincial home town to get himself an appendectomy in the big city. He returns with siren Leda Gloria who was doing her best to mulct him of as much money as possible. With Gloria as his aide, he tries to “reform” his village, but he finds out in time that Gloria is just a faithless country gal. This is tops in entertainment for Italian houses. Estimate: Excellent Italian comedy. Adult Katia (Mayer -Burstyn) Drama 80m. Danielle Darrieux, John Loder, Marcel Simon, Aime Calrioud, Marie Helene Daste, Marcel Carpentier, Therese Dorny, Marcelle Praince, Jacques Ervin, Georges Flateau, Jeanne Provost, Aimos. Directed by Mo.urice Tourneur. From the same tragically beautiful pattern as such a French masterpiece as “Mayerling” comes this superb drama, touchingly portraying a love affair, which came might near altering the course of history. Danielle Darrieux, as Princess Catherine Dolgoruki, and John Loder, as Czar Alexander, head an impressive cast of Gallic players. Both stars are familiar to American audiences. Although “Katia” (pronounced “Kot-cha”) is a natural boxoffice attraction for art houses, it cannot be neglected as an outstanding program for general run theatres. Tracing the romance of the czar and his rebellious subject, Catherine, from the latter’s youth, through her schools days, and right up to the time of Loder’s untimely assassination, the story leaves nothing to be desired. Darrieux does an outstanding job as the princess whose love for the czar and her experiences as his morganatic wife made her an unpopular member of the Russian court. Estimate: Superb Gallic production; exploitable. Shors (Amkino) Family Drama 92m. E. Samoilov, I. Skuratov, A. Khvilia, F. Ishenko, N. Nikitina, A. Borisoglebskaya. Directed by Alexander Dovzhenko. Long on the action, heroic, and sweep, this film tale of the Chapayev of the Ukraine is short on the story value. It is one of those lengthy pictures which brings out plenty of applause where Soviet sympathizers gather, but which will be just another wasted hour and a half in other spots. The Ukraine’s fight for freedom provides the plot. E. Smaoilov, in the title role, and I. Skuratov are the standards in a cast replete with fine players. Estimate: For left-wing audiences. Lo Squadrone Bianco Family Drama (The White Squadron) 9gM (Esperia) Fulvia Lanzi, Francesca Dalpe, Fosco Giachetti, Antonio Centa, Guido Celano, Olinto Cristina, Cesare Polacco, Mahamed Ben Mabruk. Directed by Eugenio Fontana. Another pellicola interamente parlata in Italiano — and without (to the date of review) the benefit of English subtitles, this Esperia release of the Instituto Nazionale Luce production should find ready acceptance in art and foreign -language cinemas in general and in theatres catering to an Italian clientele in particular. Laid in the Libian Desert, the story follows more or less the usual U. S. desert, foreign-legion formula — with an Arab ambush of the Italian troops a big moment — but varying from the standard in not only not ending in a clinch, but in definitely ending an affair, with a break in which the picture opens. Despite the length and the absence of English subtitles, “Lo Squadrone Bianco” is interesting entertainment. Estimate: Good drama for the art-foreign, Italian houses. Thunder Over Paris Adult _ , . Drama (Transatlantic Distributors) 82m. Erich von Stroheim, Mireille Balin, Roger Duchesne, Bernard Lancret, Lucien Dalsace, Aimos. Directed by Leon Mathot. Art houses will be able to exploit this Gallic plea for peace for profit, but it will take a lot of promotion to sell it to general run audiences. Erich von Stroheim’s name will have to front for the film in most places. A veteran of the first World War, Von Stroheim, an attache of the American embassy in Paris, is a militant pacifist. His diplomatic duties keep him away from his actress wife, Mireille Balin, who consorts with actor Roger Duchesne and friend Bernard Lancret, while her husband is attempting to pacify a seething Europe. Both young men are drafted, Von Stroheim loses his wife to Duchesne, and Balin is last seen tearfully seeing Duchesne off to the front. Estimate: Plug timeliness and von Stroheim. 425