Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

36 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 30, 1929 THE STUDIO Rio Rita" a Triumph in Many Ways For Many People, Says Hodges Representative Audience Attends Premiere of Bebe Daniels New Opus — House Sold Out Days Before Opening By DOUGLAS HODGES HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 26.— Radio Pictures' first step into the field of Musical Extravaganza reaped considerable favor in Los Angeles this week with the opening of "Rio Rita." It was a triumph in many ways for many people. Such people as William LeBaron, Bebe Daniels, Luther Reed, Joseph Schnitzer and others have good reason to be proud. The premiere at the Carthay Circle theatre was well handled and attracted a representative audience drawn from the motion picture colony. The house had been sold out many days before the opening. average of twice during each reel until a number is finished. Max Ree contributes more of his talent THE picture is, first of all, delightful for its musical numbers and its staging. These numbers, "Rio Rita," "You're Always in My Arms," and "The Rangers' Song," won the favor of the audience. There were four or five other numbers that are almost as well sung and staged. Western Locale for Music It is the first attempt of a motion picture company to carry its musical story into Western locale and it is a safe step. Captain of the Texas Rangers is John Boles. His voice first became recognized in Hollywood in the "Desert Song." He sings with the greatest ease and shows improvement over his work in the aforenamed Warner picture. Perhaps it is additional confidence or his experience with the microphone. There is no question but what Boles does better with the "Rangers' Song" and "You're in My Arms" than any actor of his type, in Hollywood, could have done. If there be criticism it is the stiffness of his acting rather than his musical scenes. Probably the most remarkable thing that has happened among motion picture players since the advent of talking pictures is the transition of Bebe Daniels from a pantomime comedienne to a musical comedy prima-donna. It is surprising how much progress she has made within a few months. There is no use to pretend that she is a finished concert contralto or that her work in this picture is without imperfections. Her rendition of her numbers is pleasing and adequate. More surprising than her voice, however, is the fact that she is a greater actress in dramatic roles than she is in comedy. Wheeler and Woolsey Comedy The comedy of the picture falls on Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. Their bacchanalian scene was one of the finest parts of the picture without which the picture would be only half as good. No better villain can be found than George Renavent. He is Ravenoff. Others in the picture who contribute to the success of the cast are Dorothy Lee, Don Alvarado, Mick De Ruiz, Tiny Sanford and Helen Kaiser. It is a triumph for Luther Reed for the simple reason that it is the best and biggest picture he has ever directed. Had there been some economy of musical numbers the story would probably have been more filled with action. Including song and dance numbers the action is stopped on the and his genius to the costumes and artistic sets of "Rio Rita" than anything previously in his career. He is certainly a dean of his school. * * * "Flight" COLUMBIA can do more with a half dozen airplanes and a half dozen actors than any other studio in the business. They proved this at a premiere of "Flight" at the Fox Palace theatre last week. It is unlikely that Columbia spent a half million dollars on the production but there are companies that might have made it and spent nearly that much more to do so. The best acting of the cast is that of Jack Holt, Lila Lee, and Alan Roscoe. Frank Capra directed the picture and at the same time made for himself a reputation that will probably bring him $2,500 a week for a couple of years at any studio. There are many shots of airplanes 3,000 feet from the ground, advances, retreats, loops, crashes and army formations unequaled since "Wings." Volumes have been learned about sound, dialog, and cinema in order to make such a picture as this. I suppose the credit goes chiefly to Harry Cohn himself. It is likely that it does because Capra never did such good work for anyone else, nor did Holt, nor Lila Lee. And so far as Alan Roscoe is concerned his trouping was second rate for years until he came under the tutelage of Cohn. Picture Full of Action If Cohn has a formula or a powder that he gives his employes when they enter Columbia gates perhaps he should do something for the industry and distribute the powder to a number of studios. He has aimed the production at the box office with the slogan of the years, that "they want action." And the picture is full of it. It has love interest. It has air battles. It has land battles, ants, swamps, dying men and comedy, and it even starts off with a football game. One of the best death scenes I have witnessed in pictures is that of Harold Goodwin in the role of Steve Roberts. "Officer O'Brien" 'T'AY GARNETT has taken the murder A premise for "Officer O'Brien," his latest picture for Pathe. It is a detective mystery No Shortage of Bills at RKO (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 26. — One might think an Elks convention was in progress at RKO. Starting with Bill Le Baron there is Bill Johnson, head of the electrical department. Bill Hamilton is a cutter. The prop department has three Bills. The publicity has Bill Gitibs, Bill Crouch and Bill Henry. In the recording room there are six more Bills. Of course the accounting department has thousands of them. Leaving the studio it is advisable to say goodbye to Bill Deal, the gateman. story. William Boyd is in it with Dorothy Sebastian. Heretofore Garnett has dealt with railroad men, circus performers, steel workers and now he deals with cops. And his story deservedly glorifies the man on the Metropolitan homicide squad. It is show business from start to finish whereas, in his other stories he has necessarily spent a thousand feet at the start to build up his situation and characters. In this action begins at the opening with compelling force. The great virtues of the picture are action and plot. Therefore, it probably follows that the greatest credit goes to Garnett, who is responsible for those two characteristics. First Rate Acting The acting is first rate. The cast is composed of William Boyd, Dorothy Sebastian, Paul Hurst, Clyde Cook, Ernest Torrence and Russell Gleason. Boyd's promotion to lieutenancy, on what is presumed to be a New York police force, finds him secretly promoting a parole for his father, Torrence, who is serving a 10 year sentence for theft. The father is paroled to the son with the specific understanding that the latter be responsible for his perfect behavior. The father falls into the clutches of a crime ring, thus compromising the son's position. One of the fine touches of the story is the situation near the finish where Boyd confronts the leader of the gangsters and his own father and finds that in order to arrest the gangster for murder he must also arrest his father for another murder and resign his position. The twist here is unusual because Boyd suddenly sets his father free, captures the gangster and decides to turn him over to the sheriff and at the same time give himself up for having been an accomplice to his father's deed. There is a great deal of humanness in the picture. There are no bad shots but many good ones. Film School Owner Fights (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 26.— W. E. Wagner, owner of a film school, was arrested here on charges of failing to obtain a license to operate. He pleaded not guilty. The school was raided by police who claim that they found a large number of pupils performing before a camera having no film in it.