The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

THE EXHIBITOR Servisection 6 THE SHORTS PARADE TWO-REEL Comedy OOH LA LA. Universal — Comedy Reissue. 19m. Old 1918 A.E.F. shenanigans evidently are considered worthy of reissuing today by Universal. This is one of an old series featuring lugubrious Slim Summerville and apoplectic Harry Gribbon as bugler and top sergeant, respectively, of a U. S. regiment in France. Many spots are still funny, but because censor requirements are stricter today than when this series first appeared, much of the gag material is lost. The story follows the familiar theme of the buglersergeant feud with Slim stealing Sargie’s girl. FAIR. (6567). D. O. THREE SAPPY PEOPLE. Columbia— Comedy. 18y2. In just about the wackiest of the Three Stooges efforts for Columbia, Moe, Larry, and Curly resort to the oldfashioned pie-tossing (cream puffs substitute for pies) slapstick technique and emerge with .their best laugh-provoking job to date. The Stooges masquerade as three psychiatrists an draise havoc when they visit the home of a wealthy man to attempt a cure on his light-witted wife. Comes the dinner and come the cream puffs. EXCELLENT. (1403) . L. S. M. WE WE MARIE. Universal — Comedy Re-issue. 20m. This is the other short taken from the Slim Summerville war comedy series which Universal has released for a war conscious public. With Slim Summerville and Harry Gribbon is Pauline Garon as the French lass who causes all the trouble between the two soldiers. Here again though, the necessity of meeting present-day censor resuirements has forced the deletion of some of the better gags, including the tag line. Many of the situations are still amusing however. FAIR. (6887). D. O. Color Dramatic OLD HICKORY. Vitaphone— Technicolor Production. 17m. After seeing several of Warners’ Technicolor historical two-reelers, one finds himself running mighty short of superlatives. It’s easy enough to wax eloquent over these subjects, but it gets downright repetitious. Suffice to say, then, that “Old Hickory” is as good as its predecessors, and that places it smack on the top of the shorts pile. It’s a hunk of celluloid that can be sold as big as the accompanying fulllength picture. Hugh Sothern portrays the homespun Andrew Jackson, and Victor Kilian does well as the president’s backwoods buddy. The story here deals with the problem facing Jackson when North Carolina, his home state, threatened secession from the Union, and how “Old Hickory” solved it. Lewis Seiler’s fine directional touch is felt throughout. Others in the cast include Nana Bryant, Frank Wilcox, and Irving Pichel. EXCELLENT. (5003). L. S. M. Dramatic CRISIS IN THE PACIFIC. RXO-Radio— The March of Time, No. 5. 17m. Falling short of the usual MOT peak standard, “Crisis in the Pacific” is, nevertheless, an interesting study of an important phase in international affairs which has been pushed to the background because of the European conflict. After showing the progress of Japan’s expensive conquest of China, the film moves on to the United States’ naval base in Guam. Victor Jurgens’ camera peeks into evei'y corner of the Navy-ruled American possession while the commentator points out the strategic value of the island. The first part of the subject is tops, but it slowly boils down to what amounts to a travelogue. Its timeliness is unquestioned. GOOD. (03105). L. S. M. Musical SNOW FOLLIES. Universal. 18m. The Franchonettes, Lillian Roth, Bruce Holden, and several specialty acts are featured in this pot pourri of vaudeville numbers. Roth sings “Sing You Sinners,” an old number, and does a creditable job of it, but the other acts fall into the medicore class. Morrell Sisters and Billy, a skating act; the King Sisters, rhythm singers; and Lola Jensen, dancer, are among the other specialties offered. FAIR. (4224). D. O. ONE-REEL Color Cartoon THE BLUE DANUBE. Metro — Cartoon. 7m. Again a superb number, this uses the famous “Blue Danube” as a musical background for some artistic shots of the river, showing how it gets its blue, amidst a general collection of cherubs, fairies, animals, etc. In the artistic vein throughout, it is a worthy addition to any program. EXCELLENT. (W-891). H. M. SCREWBALL FOOTBALL. VitaphoneMerrie Melody. 7m. Screwball football, or how not to play the game, demonstrated in a not-up-t o-the-standard Schlesinger entry. Some gags will get laughs, but generally this burlesque of some standard bits of any football classic doesn’t always ring the bell. FAIR. (5308). H. M. THE FIRST ROBIN. 20th CenturyFox — Terry Toon. 7m. Despite the efforts of the cat to trick the three little robins, Highlight Shorts TWO REEL Dramatic Newsfronts of War-1940 — March of Time, No. 4-RKO. Color Musical The Royal Rodeo— Vitaphone. Serial Zorro’s Fighting Legion— Republic. ONE REEL Color Cartoon Peace on Earth — Metro. Miscellaneous Home of Today — FPIA. With These Weapons — ASHA. Color Musical Moments of Charm of 1940 — Paramount. Musical Artie Shaw and Orchestra — Vitaphone. Stephen Foster Songs-Community Sing No. 4 — Columbia. William Tell — Paramount. Novelty Information Please, No. 4 — RKO Valley of 10,000 Smokes — 20th Century Fox. Sky Fighters — 20th Century-Fox. The West Wall— RKO. Sport American Saddle Horses — RKO. Ski Birds — Metro. Winter Playground — RKO. Color Travel Quaint Saint Augustine — Metro. they are too smart for him and, with the aid of their parents, manage to outwit him every time. The Technicolor is pretty to see, but the gags none too good. FAIR. (0555). H. M. Cartoon THE FILM FAN. Vitaphone-Looney Tune. 7m. Porky attends the screening of a new picture, and the burlesque of the newsreel, trailers, etc., provides some humorous moments. FAIR. (5606). H. M. THE ICE POND. 20th Century -FoxTerry Toon. 7m. The wolf almost gets the five little bunnies skating on the ice, but the fat pig, who wasn’t good at skating, comes to the rescue. This is all done in this series’ uninspired manner. FAIR. (0506) . H. M. MILLIONAIRE HOBO. Columbia— Phantasy 6%m. A lazy hobo imagines all the things he would do if he had a million dollars. Along comes a messenger with a telegram saying he has inherited a million cats. Hobo doesn’t notice word “cat,” proceeds to spend non-existent money. Execution is poor. BAD. (1702). D. O. Dramatic FORGOTTEN VICTORY. Metro— Passing Parade. 9m. This tells the story of Mark Carlton, a man who helped save the farmers of America by introducing banka wheat to the industry, how. when the manufacturers refused to put in new machinery to mill it, he became a failure, but when the banka wheat proved to be able to ward off a blight, his idea was proved a success. By that time, however, he had gone elsewhere and died an unknown. EXCELLENT. (K-121). H. M. SERUM TO WINDHAM. Public Health Education Division, New York State Department of Health, Albany. 9m. Working on the premise that every case of pneumonia is an emergency, the New York State Department of Health sponsored and produced this dramatic enactment of the various public agencies that combined to save the life of a youth stricken with a rare type pneumonia. Police teletype systems are used to request the proper serum from a Manhattan laboratory; New York City police rush the serum to the railroad; state police take it to the isolated mountain home of the ailing person; and the country doctor does the rest. Here is something worthwhile showing as a public service. It’s interesting throughout although the production isn’t up to the highest Hollywood short-subjects standards. GOOD. L. S. M. Musical “HERE’S HAL,” HAL KEMP AND HIS ORCHESTRA IN. Paramount — Headliner. 10m. Having topped the field last year, Hal Kemp puts in a serious bid for a repeat with this definitely superior 10 minutes of soothing rhythms. Bob Allen vocalizes “Vagabond Dreams,” the opening tune; the band follows with a catchy version of “In an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room”; the Smoothies give out a swingy jamboree on “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree”; and the orchestra writes finis to a corking short with “Swampfire.” Credit for making this a top-notcher must also go to the cameraman who played all the angles. EXCELLENT. (A9-4). L. S. M. Color Novelty MECHANIX ILLUSTRATED, No. 20. Vitaphone — Color Parade. 9m. Seen in darn good Technicolor are the following varied and interesting subjects, which when put together, make a good short: manufacturing chocolate covered i c e cream pops (Good Humors) ; the modern 444 iMIIiiiiii> III1’ « 'Mil i 'HMMl