The Exhibitor (Nov 1941-May 1942)

Comedy YOO HOO GENERAL. Columbia AllStar. 18m. This is more of a musical than a comedy but it is a neat hodge podge of entertainment. Billy Vine is featured while Peters Sisters, Condos Brothers, Gracie Barrie, Ben Yost Singers, and other vaudeville acts appear. Vine is forced to put on a show at an Army camp, rounds up the entertainers, and m.c.’s the job to good results. Peters Sisters do a boogiewoogie number; Condos Brothers per¬ form their taprobatics; Gracie Barrie sings “Hallelujah, Come On Get Happy,” and Vine does an impression of Charles Laugh¬ ton, etc. GOOD. (3430) . MAYBE DARWIN WAS RIGHT. Vitaphone — Broadway Brevities. 21m. This success (?) story is the life of “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom. It’s phony, of course, but Maxie can take it as well as hand it out. There are too many old gags. In a night club sequence, Maxie sings comic number “That’s Slapsie Maxie Rosen¬ bloom.” FAIR. (7108) . Dramatic BATTLE FOR OIL. UA— World In Action. 17m. Here are scenes of the oil fields of the world, their necessity for win¬ ning a war, and their vulnerability to the enemy. From Texas to Venezuela, through the great field of the Caucasas and on to the NEI, each center of oil pro¬ duction has become the scene of battle. With the machines of modem warfare de¬ pending more than ever on oil to operate, this short shows just where the greatest deposits are, and who controls them. Prob¬ able plans for attack and means of defense are discussed along with a running com¬ mentary of just what oil has done in the war so far, and what may be expected in the future. Because of recent happenings, some editing could be used, but when this is done it will prove more than satisfac¬ tory. GOOD. CHURCHILL’S ISLAND. UA— World In Action. 18m. Theme of the short is the magnificent defense made by the British people of their island homes. Hitler is showed using all his tricks to subdue the British Isles, and failing; the vicious air assault of England, the long range bomb¬ ing from the French coast, the attempt to cut the supply line from the new world, and finally the suggestion that there is one last hope, actual invasion. Through it all there are shown the defenses put up against the enemy, including the superb job done by the citizenry in repairing the damages wrought by the air bombings. Also shown are the preparations made to defeat invasion, the air patrol, mine layers, coastal defense, tank traps, guard against parachutists, and all the other things on which British hope of survival lies. Good taut editing is by Stuart Legg, and the thrilling commentary by Lome Greene. This well deserves the Oscar it recently won. EXCELLENT. ANSWER FROM RED SQUARE. Artkino. 15m. Highlight is Stalin’s speech from Red Square on the 24th anniversary of the revolution, urging the Soviet people to greater deeds in the obliteration of fascism. Included is the review of the Soviet armed troops in Red Square. GOOD. Drafted? Let The Exhibitor Fol¬ low You to Camp. It Has All the News Of the Industry — And the Neius Of Your Own Home Town As Well. THE EXHIBITOR Highlight Shorts TWO REEL Dramatic The Argentine Question — RKO — March of Time Don’t Talk — Metro This Is Blitz — UA ONE REEL Color Cartoon Symphony Hour — RKO — Disney NOVELTY Picture People No. 7 — “Hollywood War Efforts”— RKO Screen Snapshots No. 7 — Columbia What About Daddy? — Metro Serial SPY MASTER. Republic Serial. First episode, 28m.; balance of 11 episodes, two reels each. Kane Richmond, Sam Flint, Marguerite Chapman, Hans Schumm, Tris¬ tram Coffin, Frank Corsaro, Hans Von Morhart, Georges Renavent, Robert C. Davis, Henry Zynda, Paul Bryar, Tom London, Richard Bond, Crane Whitley, John James. Directed by William Whit¬ ney. This one’s fast. It has been given a feature production with a timely script. Kane Richmond, better as an athlete than actor, is in fine form as the hero who de¬ clares a one-man blitz on the Nazis. It opens with Richmond subjected to Nazi brutality (flogging) in occupied France. Since he won’t talk, he is ordered exe¬ cuted by a firing squad. The sympathetic French shoot wide; help him escape to the U. S. A. On a train, he meets up with the number one Nazi, who has just met Rich¬ mond’s twin brother, and mistaking him for “Spy Smasher,” is engaged in a fist fight with him. “Smasher” tosses the Nazi through the train window. Learning that his twin’s girl and her father are beleagured by spies who are after a map, Smasher goes to their rescue. Later, Smasher and his brother go after the Nazis in a high speed boat as the latter are trying to pick up buoys filled with coun¬ terfeit U. S. money left by a German sub¬ marine and with which the Schickelgruber fellers plan to flood the country. First chapter winds up in an underground rail¬ way the Nazis have built in the city’s sewer system as the Smasher is about to be enveloped by burning oil, and blown to pieces by a store of hand grenades. There is action every two feet of film, two-way television, and other things, and it is good fun. EXCELLENT. (18301-12). ONE-REEL Color Cartoon THE FIRST SWALLOW. Metro— Car¬ toon. 7m. Why swallows always return to Capistrano is shown in this engaging car¬ toon. The narrator tells how the swal¬ lows always flew past the place, but one day a kind Padre found a weakened bird, took care of it, and when the swallows came back, the bird stayed, with another. They were the daddy and mother of the swallows who multiplied, so now the birds always come back. GOOD. (W-345). DONALD’S SNOW FIGHT. RKO— Walt Disney. 7m. “Unca’ Donald” gets a big March 25, 1942 laugh when he wrecks his three nephews’ snow man, but they get the last laugh, with interest, by giving him a trimming in a snow battle. Reel gets in some sly digs at the implements of modem warfare. Well-made, this is generally quite funny for young and old. GOOD. (24102). Cartoon PORKY’S CAFE. Vitaphone — Looney Toons. 6y2m. An elusive griddle cake gets away from the cook, who wrecks Porky’s greasy spoon chasing after it. There is a demonstration of Porky’s ultra-modem kitchen saving devices and a customer who keeps on eating regardless. It winds up in a pile of smashed wedding cake sky¬ scraper high. FAIR. (7607). Comedy GOING TO PRESS. Metro— Our Gang. 10m. The gang publishes a kid newspaper. They expose the “gas house gang”; claim to know the identity of their leader. Plot¬ ting to capture the latter, they succeed, and get him to sign a confession proving that juvenile crime does not pay; but not before reporter frog voice is “taken for a ride” on the handlebars of a gang mem¬ ber’s bicycle, and dumped in a park lake This may give kids some none-too-good ideas. FAIR. (C-395). THE WITNESS. Paramount — Robert Benchley. 9m. Robert Benchley imagines himself a witness who won’t be badgered by an investigating committee, and winds up actually cringing before a survey taker, his wife coming to the rescue. At best, Benchley’s audience is limited, and this isn’t up to his usual standard. FAIR. (Sl-3) . Dance BAYADERKA. Arkino. 9m. A Soviet ballet is shown in several numbers. This is well performed but a trifle arty. FAIR. MONGOLIAN SPRING DANCE FESTI¬ VAL. Artkino. 10m. Shown are shots of the Spring Dance Festival of the Mongols, using native dancing and music, including excerpts from some modern Russian operas. FAIR. SOVIET ENSEMBLE. Artkino. 10m. A group of four boys and four girls cavort in Russian folk dances. This is okay for art houses and those playing to patrons of Russian descent. Musical score and photog¬ raphy are good. GOOD. Musical COMMUNITY SING No. 7. Columbia— Crooning Melodies. 9m. Songs are “There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” “Elmer’s Tune,” “In a Little Spanish Town,” “Jealous,” and “Why Can’t We Do This More Often?” Lew White is organist, and Song Spinners do the singing. FAIR. (3657). CARNIVAL IN BRAZIL. ParamountHeadliners. 10m. A mixture, with about half showing Rio in carnival, and the other half dancers, singers, etc., this doesn’t rate with the earlier numbers in this series this season. Idea is to show the gaiety in Rio at carnival time, and noted are Elsie Houston, Joe and Lolita Vega, and Fernando Alvarez. Technically, this is also under the series standard. FAIR. (Al-3). Your Country Needs Your Help. Co-operate With Your Local Defense Council. 978 Servisection 8