The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

S I X POINT FEATURE REVIEWS COLUMBIA Texas Stagecoach (1206) Family Western 59m. Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith, Boh Nolan, Dick Curtis, Ed he Saint, Kenneth McDonald, Harry Cording, Francis Walker. Directed by Joseph Lewis. Injecting a minor novel slant, but retaining most of the tested action formula, "Texas Stagecoach” was well received by a fair-sized audience in a metropolitan theatre. Being the fastest-moving Charles Starrett opus in a long time, the film should satisfy horse opera fans most anywhere. Crooked banker Kenneth McDonald sets Starrett to battling against Iris Meredith and Bob Nolan so that neither of them will be able to complete stagecoach roads they were building. Idea is that the “villun” will be able to take over the near-completed trails and monopolize the stage business. After Starrett’s dad is killed by Dick Curtis, the two squabbling factions get together and justice is done when McDonald is exposed. The Sons of the Pioneers take good care of the musical chores and introduce a catchy tune entitled “Hill Country.” Estimate: Much better than average Starrett. MONOGRAM Midnight Limited Family tac\rt Mystery Drama (.->"^1) 61m. John King, Marjorie Reynolds, Edward Keane, Pat Flaherty, George Cleveland, Monte Collins, Herb Ashley, Stanford Jolley, Lita Chevret, Buck Woods. Directed by Howard Bretherton. Here’s one of those minor whodunit entries which pack somewhat of a wallop and a decent amount of “B” entertainment from a spot on the bottom half of nabe duals. John King, a railway detective, is assigned to the task of unraveling the threads of series of train robberies. One of the victims of the crooks is Marjorie Reynolds, who promptly falls in love with King and starts aiding him in his travails. Needless to say, King and Reynolds solve everything and are happy ever after. The male lead does okay with one song, “The Touch of Your White Hand.” Estimate: Fair support on nabe duals. Murder On the Yukon (3942) Family Action Drama 56m. James Newill, Polly Ann Young, Dave O’Brien, Al Saint John, Jack Clifford, William Royle, Chief Thundercloud, Carl Hackett, Kenneth Duncan, Snub Pollard, Earl Douglas, Bud Buster. Directed by Louis Gasnier. Made in the traditional pattern of all the other Renfrews, “Murder On the Yukon” adds nothing phenomenal to the series based on Laurie York Erskine’s creation (the story this time is said to be “Renfrew Rides North”) . The title tells the story, with James Newill and pal Dave O’Brien solving the murders of Al Saint John and Jack Clifford, perpetrated by William Royle. Chief exploitation peg: Chief Thundercloud, of “The Lone Ranger” and “Geronimo!” fame. Songs: “Ah, Here’s Romance” and “Down the Yukon Trail.” Estimate: Routinely good Renfrew. PARAMOUNT French Without Tears (3930) (English-made) Family Comedy 66m. Ray Milland, Ellen Drew, Roland Culver, Guy Middleton, Janine Darcey, Jim Gerald, David Tree, Kenneth Morgan, May Agate, Raymonde Arambol, Cot D’Ordan, Mantovani and his Orchestra, Stella Roberts and the Peter Sisters. Directed by Anthony Asquith. This English-made picture version of a Broadway play success of several years ago turns out as pleasant comedy. Ray Milland, Roland Culver, and Guy Middleton furnish some very nice comedy with Ellen Drew as the flirtatious young woman who comes to a male diplomatic school and plays hob with the students’ discipline. The small part of the French school director is well played by Raymonde Arambol. Drew arrives at the diplomatic school self-invited, her brother being one of the students there. She proceeds to make a play for every available young man in the place; that is, everyone but Ray Milland who sees through her and attempts to expose her to his buddies. They are enchanted by her and one after another falls victim to her charms. Hardest to fall is the youngest, Roland Culver, with whom Janine Darcey, the daughter of the school director, is in love. A naval officer arrives at the school and an intense rivalry begins between him and Culver for the favor of Miss Drew. Milland repeatedly warns both of these ardent swains of the game Drew is playing, but they pay him no heed until later, by accident, they learn she is fooling both of them. They face her and demand to know the truth, whereupon she tells them all that she loves Milland. On hearing this, Milland seeks to protect himself from her wiles, surrounds himself with his buddies at all times so as not to be left alone with her. Naturally, he falls for her at the end and everyone seems satisfied, Culver going back to Janine, the naval officer back to his ship. Estimate: Okay English-made program comedy; build up title. RKO-RADIG Beyond Tomorrow Family t ^ Drama 1 ) 73m. Harry Carey, C. Aubrey Smith, Charles W inning er, Maria Ouspenskaya, Richard Carlson, Jean Parker, Alex Melesh, Helen Vinson, Rod La Rocque, J. Anthony Hughes, Robert Homans, Virginia McMullen, James Bush, William Bakewell. Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. The unusual, supernatural theme of this picture makes it rather difficult to judge its potential business-getting value. It is the sort of thing that audiences will either go big for, or not at all. The acting is well done, the story well-integrated, but the subject of the story, which deals with life after death and the immortal soul of man, is an unpredictable factor in gauging audience reaction to this film. Winninger, Smith and Carey are three prosperous business partners, but are exceedingly lonely. When Christmas Eve rolls around, Winninger, the cheeriest of the lot, decides to do something about it. Each of the three men throws a wallet into the street with a tendollar bill and a card enclosed. Two of the wallets are returned, one by down-and-out cowboy Richard Carlson, the other by nurse Jean Parker. The men are delighted, invite the boy and girl to have supper, make fast friends of them. Carlson and Parker fall in love, decide to get married as soon as possible. The three partners are called away on a business trip and go by plane though they are warned against doing so by their devoted housekeeper, Maria Ouspenskaya. The plane crashes and the three are killed. Their spirits continue on, following the living characters in the story, seeking to guide and help them. Carlson becomes a successful radio singer, neglects Parker and philanders with Helen Vinson, a flirtatious actress. He almost dies in a gunfight and his spirit meets Winninger’s as he is undergoing an operation for his gunshot wound. Winninger pleads for him and Carlson is permitted to return and live as Winninger rejoins his friends in the Great Beyond. Estimate: A hard one to predict, but give it every break; it may be a surprise at the box office. The Courageous Doctor Christian (030) Jean Hersholt, Dorothy Lovett, Robert Baldwin, Tom Neal, Maude Eburne, Vera Lewis, George Meader, Bobby Larson, Bobette Bentley, Reginald Barlow, Jacqueline de River, Edmund Glover. Directed by Bernard Vorhaus. For the provinces and smaller nabes, this might advantageously be top -spotted or single-billed. Otherwise it’s just a bottom dualler. Jean (Dr. Christian) Hersholt takes upon himself the task of Family Melodrama 67 m. April 3, 1940 499