The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

Serviatction 4 THE EXHIBITOR Florjan (Elektra Film) Family Drama 95m. Kazimierz Junosza-Stepowski, Stanislawa Engelowna, Tadewsz Fijewoki, Wanda Jarszewska, Klemens Mielczarek, Helena Grossowna , Jozef Kudla, Jagna Janecka, Wieslaw Mens, Jerzy Pichelski, Edmund Biernacki, Jozef Orwid, Stevan Hnydzinski, Tadensz Bialosczynski, Franciszek Domiak , Czeslaw Skonieczny, Stanislaw Grolicki, Jozef Wegrzyn, Bronislaw Dardzinski. Directed by Leonard Buczkonski. If your patrons are of Polish extraction they may be interested in “Florjan” (not to be confused with Metro’s picture of similar name). For other audiences, however it is a case of thumbs down. The lack of English subtitles for the Polish dialogue, bad editing, not too commendable photography, directing, and acting make the picture strictly for those who comprehend the intricacies of Polish and thereby overlook the other faults. We do not know the story, but it seems that it had something to do with the declaration of war, the hiding of the village bell (yclept Florjan) in the pond, the trials and tribulations of a family of three sons, a daughter and the papa, the coming of peace, and the rehanging of Florjan in the belfry. Estimate: Strictly for the Poles. The Great Light (Montevergine) (Esperia) Family Drama 88m. Amedeo Nazzari, Leda Gloria , Carlo Duse, Elsa DeGiorgi, Vandine Gugliemi, Enzo Biliotti, Umberto Sacripanti. Directed by Carlo Campogalliani. Awarded top prize as the best Italian film of 1939 at the International Motion Picture Exposition in Venice, “The Great Light” loses none of its forcefulness and beauty by transposition to these shores. Not only is it a box-office honey for Italian houses, but its adherence to Catholicism and the good English titles make it okay cinema for theatres located in thickly populated Catholic nabes. Blacksmith Amadeo Nazzari is falsely accused of murder and flees from his small village to the Argentine. While in South America, he is framed into spending a prison sentence. He returns home and a miracle at the Shrine of Montevergine saves him from himself and prevents him from gaining revenge on the person who originally caused him to leave Italy in disgrace. Carlo Campogalliani directed with a touch of reverence and loads of movie sense. Estimate: Great fare for Italians and Catholics. THE SHORTS TWO-REEL Color Dramatic THE FLAG SPEAKS. Metro — Special — Technicolor. 20m. Metro’s contribution to the industry’s plea for tolerance, this shows the fight freedom has had to make in this country since the birth of the Constitution. Culled from many sources, but still with an apparent expensive budget, this, as if it were the flag speaking, depicts the birth of the flag, various historical incidents, and the growth of the country, state by state. It winds up with some clips showing how to display the flag and how not to. Obviously, this is a humdinger for tieups with schools, organizations, etc., and it should get plenty of word-of-mouth publicity. It belongs in the front rank of short subjects. John Nesbitt narrates. EXCELLENT. H. M. Dramatic JACK POT. Metro — Crime Doesn’t Pay. 19m. Another excellent subject in an excellent series, this pays attention to the slot machine racket, how it spreads to become a cancer in the heart of a progressive city. How the police eventually get the goods and eliminate the cancer is depicted by a capable cast, including Tom Neal and Ann Morriss, with the pace fast throughout. EXCELLENT. (P-3). H. M. Musical MOLLY CURES A COWBOY. RKO — Ray Whitley Muscals. 19m. Ma Lacy is sick, only because a phony doctor has been treating her, but thanks to Ray Whitley and the boys, the tables are turned and the doc brought to bay by the law. The Whitleys sing several tunes, but this does not shape up as well as the others in the series. FAIR. (03503). H. M. NAPOLI E CANZONE. Roma Film Company. 22m. Well-sung, but not too admirably treated in other respects, this stand up and-be-photographed while singing subject offers a variety of Neopolitan airs, with, among other, Rosa Calvano, Gilda Picone, Mario Trovato, Paolo Dones (best received), Rosina de Stephano. While poor according to American standards of shorts production, “Napoli e Canzone” does have a place on allItalian programs, where it should be well received. GOOD. W. W. PARADE ONE-REEL Color Cartoon ANTS IN THE PLANTS. ParamountColor Classic. 7m. The Queen Ant gathers her forces to protect antville from the anteater. Well trained, they finally rout him, but not until he has captured the queen and her party and almost made them part of an ant sandwich. Fast, with some good gags, this is one of the beter members of this series. GOOD. (C9-3). H. M. CROSS COUNTRY DETOURS. Vitaphone — Merrie Melody. 7m. In addition to being a hilarious cartoon, in the best Schlesinger style, this offers something new, a strip-tease by a lizard shedding its skin, in such fashion as to cause howls in metropolitan audiences, at least. To the tune of “It Had to Be You,” the lizard, which has taken on a definite female form, goes through the strip, with a strip marked “censored” being used at the blowoff. Outside of this it is filled with gags, an ace cartoon depicting natural wonders of this country’s parks, etc. EXCELLENT. (5314). H. M. DONALD’S DOG LAUNDRY. RKO— Walt Disney. 8m. Donald tries to get Pluto to become the first victim of his dog laundry, but after much ado he, himself, goes through the hilarious routine, and finds it works. Very funny, this is up to the best Disney standard. EXCELLENT. (04103) . H. M. HOME ON THE RANGE. Metro— Rudolf Ising. 9m. In colorful Technicolor and pretty okay animation, the story is told of the calf who strays away from his mother to play with a scared rabbit. It becomes the calf’s turn to be scared when a coyote ' corners him. The rabbit summons help and the prairie animals harass the “villun” before mama cow chases off the would be assassin. It’s familiar but well-done. GOOD. (W-85). L. S. M. Cartoon PILGRIM PORKY. Vitaphone— Looney Tunes. 7m. Porky comes over to the Plymouth Rock, accompanied by the Pilgrims and a host of clever gags in the best Schlesinger manner. The S-boys have turned out a series with high and low spots, but this belongs in the top group. EXCELLENT. (5610). H. M. STEALIN’ AIN’T HONEST. Paramount — Popeye. 7m. Popeye is hampered by Bluto, who arrives at Olive’s Secret Mine ahead of them. The usual tussle takes place with Popeye again aided by his trusty can of spinach. The result is amusing, but generally only fair. FAIR. (E9-4) . H. M. Comedy THE BIG PREMIERE. Metro — Our Gang. 10m. After seeing a Hollywood premiere, the gang decides to go it one better, with the usual result. Providing their own kind of talkies, they get a packed house, which remains quiet until Alfalfa contributes his usual rendition. FAIR. (C-135). H. M. THE DOMINEERING MALE. MetroPete Smith Specialty. 10m. Pete goes off the usual track with a subject devoted to how a gal with angles gets a man who is looking for the sweet simple type of wife. Step by step, Pete tries to disillusion prospective husbands, and almost succeeds until the very end, when love conquers all. It should prove a howl in any audience, and will prove a revelation to the man who thinks he wasn’t roped into the wedded state. EXCELLENT. (S-107). H. M. LABOR SAVERS. 20th Century-Fox — Lew Lehr’s Dribble-Puss Parade. 9m. A natural for the Lew Lehr type of comedy, this visit with inventors and their whacky inventions provides a field day for Lehr who, incidentally, contributes a few of his own labor-saving devices. For those who like the Lehr style of butchering the language, this is great. For those who can take it or leave it, well, it’s up to the individual. GOOD. (0403). L. S. M. Dramatic XXX MEDICO. Metro — Passing Parade. 10m. How Science developed a new type of SOS, which brings a doctor, through the air, to anyone at sea, is told in this engrossing John Nesbitt subject. Highlight is the delivery of a premature baby, with the doctor 700 miles away. Dramatic, well-told, it’s tops all the way. EXCELLENT. (K-122). H. M. Musical GEORGE OLSEN AND HIS MUSIC. Paramount — Headliner. 10m. Songs heard are “Horses,” “With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair,” “She Broke His Heart of Oak ’Neath the Old Oak Tree,” and “Ciribiri.” Jean Blair sings, the Bachelors, Ronnie Mansfield and others contribute solos. All in all, this is a musical entrant better than the usual run. GOOD. (A9-7). H. M. 502