Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

January 21, 1928 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD 75 more favorable comments from an audience as they passed out than on this occasion. Paramount in selecting it used commendable judgment and deserves praise for bringing it to this country. — A. J. Gibbons. Illinois theatre, Metropolis, 111. — General patronage. METROPOLIS: Special cast— November 21. Just like near beer in a small American town. I'll phone you when I play another imported super special, no matter how many they stick on the contract. Somewhat interesting to look at, but so is Futuristic Art if you've had enough drinks. Seven reel6. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard. Tex. — General patronage. MAN POWER: Richard Dix— January 1-2. A very good, entertaining Dix picture. The photography of the night scenes done in black and white are very effective. This is the first picture for many years which I can recall that the night scenes did not look as though they had been ducked in a barrel of green paint. As a matter of fact, this picture drew and pleased just twice as many as that alleged special, "Knockout Riley." Seven reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf. Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. BARBED WIRE: Pola Negri— 50%. January 2-3. "Barbed Wire" is a masterpiece of dramatic construction. It has all the elements of the drama. The tragic, the pathetic, the serious and the comic are so well timed that the play is at no time tiresome. As for Pola Negri, to those who were acquainted with her reputation, she satisfied their expectations, and the stranger needed only his own observation to be impressed that she is a distinguished actress. This picture, perhaps, brings her in nearer sympathy with her audience than any in which I have seen her 6o far, but again it did not pay. — A. J. Gibbons, Illinois theatre. Metropolis, 111. — General patronage. THE ACE OF CADS: Adolphe Menjou— 60%. Not much of a drawing card but 6eemed to please those who came. Although Adolphe is a little old he has lots of "It" and that is what goes now days. Play it if you have bought it. but don't expect much. Alice Joyce is a great help to the picture. The only criticism I would have is that Adolphe is too old for the part. Seven reels. — W. R. Bratton. Stella theatre, Council Grove, Kan. — General patronage. THE LAST LAUGH: Emil Jannings— November 23. The acting of Jannings and photographic effects were simply marvelous but without titles, it was a flat failure. Got many complaints and lost money. Eight reels. — M. Mullilha, Capitol theatre, Karachi, India.— General patronage. THE CAT'S PAJAMAS: Betty Bronson— 66%. January 4. This picture drew well and I can't see how it could. If Paramount is the best show in town they will have to put such trash as this in the ash can. It was perfectly silly all the way through, with Ricardo Cortez cast as an opera singer. That was sure a joke to my patrons. Betty Bronson is too much of a snob to make herself liked in pictures. I am glad that she is through at Paramount. Then the titles and the film were so bad that it wasn't even funny. Oh, well, why waste time. Seven reels. — W. R. Bratton, Stella theatre. Council Grove. Kan. — General patronage. SO'S YOUR OLD MAN: Buddy Rogers— 22%. December 20. Punk, punk, punk, is all I can say for this lemon. Oh, why, didn't Paramount shelve it before they let people waste their money. If this Fields is funny it's not in this picture. Just seven reeU of nothing. So rotten that it is disgusting. Boy, Paramount, has some good old 60ur lemons as well as good pictures. Six reels.— W. R. Bratton, Stella theatre. Council Grove. Kan. — General patronage. SO'S YOUR OLD MAN: W. C. Fields— Showed this on Family night and it went over with a bang. They all have a good time when you show a comedy like this. Let's keep them laughing. Just the right length, six reels. Most of them are too long. — J. B. Carter, Electric theatre. Browning. Mo. — General patronage. UNDERWORLD: George Bancroft— November 16-17. Splendid picture, story, cast, production. Not a wow as a draw. Hate to see Bancroft make comedies after showing what he can do in real productions. Seven reels. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — General patronage. HONEYMOON HATE: Florence Vidor— December 16. Very well liked. Paramount has been making some really clever entertaining program releases this year. This is one of them. Six reels. — Harry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — General patronage. ONE WOMAN TO ANOTHER: Florence Vidor— December 29. Very pleasing program release. Was greatly enjoyed here. Not big, of course, but well done, as was "Honeymoon Hate." Six reels. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. — Small town patronage. THE WORLD AT HER FEET: Florence Vidor January 7. Score another good one for Miss Vidor. They liked it immensely. Drew well also. Six reels. — E. M. Biddle. Strand theatre, Paoli, Ind.— Small town patronage. DRUMS OF THE DESERT: Special cast— Another picture that pleased. It was very interesting. Seven reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE LAST OUTLAW : Gary Cooper— January 3. An excellent Western to empty seats because of severe cold. Five reels. — E. M. Biddle, Strand theatre, Paoli. Ind. — Small town patronage. TELL IT TO SWEENEY: Special cast -December 19-20. Meant nothing at all here. Should not have run it two days. Just nothing at all to it. Six reels. — Henry Reeve. Mission theatre, Menard. Tex. — General patronage. A GENTLEMAN OF PARIS: Adolphe Menjou— December 27. Corking good clever sophisticated comedy. Extremely well done. This one and "Service for Ladies" have been excellent offerings for Menjou. Seven reels. — Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard. Tex. — Small town patronage. Pathe-P D C A HARP IN HOCK: Rudolph Schildkraut— 70%. December 19-20. Could be worse, but not just what my patrons like. The whole picture is saved by the presence of Joseph Striker as the juvenile lead. There are some good love scenes and it is shameful they were so 6hort. Seven reels. — Helen Ulman. Opera House, Salisbury, Md. — General patronage. STEEL PREFERRED: William Boyd— An excellent picture even though some scenes are unreal. Plenty of comedy. Good acting. An all around good picture. — George Lodge. Green Lantern theatre, Claymont, Del. — General p tronng?. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR: Rudolph Schildkraut — 80%. January 1-2. Very good drama of a small town character that is fast disappearing. Junior Coghlan does very good as the kid. Eight reels. — George Benson. Community theatre, Minneota, Minn. — Small town patronage. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR: Rudolph Schildkraut— 73%. December 3. An excellent picture. — H. S. Boyd, Community theatre, Woodbury, Conn. — General patronage. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR: Rudolph Schildkraut— 70% November 23-24. Good picture, until the last reel and climax, where the hokum distorted ones conception of the picture as a whole. However, there have been so many that were worse this deserves bouquets for the acting and direction. The photography and titles are good. Eight reels. — Helen Ulman, Opera House, Salisbury, Md. — General patronage. THE HEART THIEF: Joseph Schildkraut— 65%. December 14-15. This is next to last of the old P. D. C. picture and am glad of it. While the story was fair, the direction and photography was good, we did not do any business on this. Producers does not advertise its pictures like they should be and they have no prestige whatever. I am not going to run them next year. 1928. Seven reels. — Helen Ulman, Opera House. Salisbury. Md. — General patronage. FLYING LUCK: Monty Banks— 70%. December 16-17. Very good Banks comedy. Monty Banks enlists in the aviation corps and has adventures a plenty. Six reels. — George Benson. Community theatre. Minneota, Minn. — Small town patronage. GIRL IN THE PULLMAN: Marie Trevost— Fast moving comedy of the slap stick variety that certainly kept the audience in an uproar from start to finish. The whole family will like this one. Six reels. — W. E. Dickson, Aristo theatre, Lemmon, S. D. — General patronage. GIRL IN THE PULLMAN: Special cast— Gave satisfaction and proved to be very good entertainment.— R. V. Fletcher, Lyric theatre. Hartington. Neb. — General patronage. DRESS PARADE: Special cast— Very fine picture with actual scenes of West Point. — R. V. Fletcher. Lyric theatre, Hartington, Neb. — General patronage. DRESS PARADE: William Boyd— This is a very good picture and perfectly clean morally. You can step on this one and raise your admission price, and your patrons will say good. I ran it December 18-19. — W. H. Goodroad. Strand theatre. Warren, Minn. — General patronage. ANGEL OF BROADWAY: Leatrice Joy— December 31. Leatrice Joy plays the part of a Salvation lassie in disguise and does her part very well. Somehow, it lacks heart appeal. Did not go over with us very well on account of the star's deceiving part. Seven reels. — -Wm. Wiske, Community theatre. Redgranite, Wis. — Small town patronage. JIM THE CONQUEROR: William Boyd— It seemed to please our people. No kicks. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers. Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE WISE WIFE: Phyllis Havei -January 8. This one pleased our audience very much. A good clean picture and drew better than the average. It is not a special but will stand a little extra boostin. Six reels. — Wm. Wiske, Community theatre, Redgranite, Wis. — Small town patronage. THE FIGHTING EAGLE: Rod LaRocque— This was a costume picture of Napoleon's time and I was afraid of it, but it seemed to please. It has action and held the interest both young and old to very end. Nine reels. — W. E. Dickson. Aristo theatre, Lemmon, S. D. — General patronage. PALS IN PARADISE: Vera Reynolds— Excellent picture, pleasing all classes. — J. C. Keller, Liberty theatre, Eunice, La.— General patronage. BACHELOR'S BABY: Special cast— This went over satisfactory. Six reels. — Giacoma Brothers, Crystal theatre, Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE FRESHMAN: Harold Lloyd— Just like good liquor, even though it was better. — J. C. Keller. Liberty theatre. Eunice, La. — General patronage. VOCAFILM is nere; READ ABOUT IT IN EducationaVs ANNOUNCEMENT IN THIS ISSUE