Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1934 AS I SEE THEM... Reviews of New Films By ROLAND BARTON BRITISH AGENT With Leslie Howard, Kay Francis, William Gargan Warner Bros. — 75 Minutes This doesn't sum up to more than fair -plus entertainment. Having for material the Communist Revolution in Russia and the subsequent intervention of foreign powers to destroy the new regime, this peters down to an ordinary spy romance. Leslie Howard represents England in its efforts to forestall the withdrawal of Russia from the World War Kay Francis is a revolutionist. Their political ideals conflict, but their love is steadfast. She must obtain information that will send her lover to his death. This she does, then knowthe house in which he waits will soon be blown up, she goes to await death there with him. However, Comrade Lenin's recuperation from a bullet wound so pleases the Bolsheviks that they allow them both to go free. There are fleeting sequences of events during the revolution, but these zdd nothing to the film because they have little connection with the main story. All the characters fill their roles properly and without particular distinction. It has a moderate amount of action and suspense and should do moderate, but not exceptional business. BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET With Norma Shearer, Fredric March, Charles Loughton, Maureen O'Sullivan M.-G.-M.— 107 Minutes The play ran on Broadway for over a year. The picture has followed faithfully the action and dialogue, which makes it a rather odd combination of class romance and popular melodrama. Immediately after viewing this film I felt that it had too much class to be a money-getter, but more mature thought leads me to believe that the element of melodrama engendered by the cruel father may take with the masses. The story is that of the romance between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, poetess and poet. Elizabeth's father holds sway over his children with an almost hypnotic power. Under his influence Elizabeth has been an invalid for years until Browning bursts into her life, giving her the will to live. Their romance culminates in Elizabeth breaking her father's spell and running off with Browning. There is plenty of name strength. Norma Shearer is superb. Charles Laughton, as the father, is just adequate, but villanous enough. Fredric March surprised me with a restrained and good performance as Browning. Do not be concerned with the fact that this is a costume picture; the costumes are unobstrusive. Sidney Franklin's direction leaves much to be desired. He missed many opportunities to give the picture more movement. Should do better-than-average business generally and excellent in class houses. SCARLET EMPRESS, The With Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge Sam Jaffe, Louise Dresser Paramount — 100 Minutes A ponderous, undramatic three-ring circus of royal pageantry which stands an excellent chance of being a colossal box office flop! "Scarlet Empress" deals with the career of Catherine the Great in a manner different from that of the recent English version released by United Artists. This one thunders across the screen with a slow, monotonous thump! thump!, obscuring its people in a mass of elaborate sets. Not one of the characters has a semblance of life, all being mere pawns in the hands of director Von Sternberg (which is not to his credit). They seem no more vital than the massive carved figures and doors which receive more attention from the camera than the actors. Marlene Dietrich flits coyly thru the entire film with her mouth open, staring wide-eyed, never displaying the slightest emotion. John Lodge looks like a handsome new leading man. Sam Jaffe, wearing a priceless Harpo Marx make-up, is funnier than he should be in the role of mad Peter. Louise Dresser, Czarine of all the Russias!, speaks her lines like a typical gangster's moll! It's all very noisy and awfully empty. I don't think many people will be b!uffed by all the noise. CHARLIE CHAN IN LONDON With Warner Oland, Drue Leyton, Raymond Milland, Mona Barrie Fox — 73 Minutes The cunning, bland Chan is with us again . . . in one of his better films. Now, Chan is ready to leave London for Honolulu, to his "twelve children and one wife" when attractive Drue Leyton rushes into his room and pleads with him to save her brother who is <o hang for murder in less than three days. Racing against death, it takes the imperturbable Chi nese detective and philosopher just t>5 hours to solve the mystery of the stable murder which had almost led the English courts to send an innocent youth to the gallows. Warner Oland, is delightful again as the Oriental. He has grown into that role so horoughly that one finds oneself wondering is Chan isn't really real. This should satisfy everywhere. Well directed by Eugene Forde. Fox is rushing these Chan films too fast. The first run of this one in New York came within two or three weeks after the first run of "Chan's Courage" ended. SHOWMAN'S TIPS REMEMBER: People must be brought into your theatre. GO OUT AND GET 'EM! A sort of tradition leads most exhibitors to list all their short subjects on programs, circulars, etc. It is really unnecessary. People take for granted that a feature will be supplemented by shorts. Anything that lacks drawing power should be eliminated from advertising copy. It only takes splice p.nd detracts from whatever might be of interest to the public. Of course, when you do have a short that means something to the boxoffice, do not hesitate to give it space . . . and plenty of it! The very fact that it is advertised will make it outstanding. * * * * Sameness is the great fault of most theatre advertising. Many exhibitors have used one form of program for countless years without ever varying even the size. People are attracted by something different; familiar things are taken for granted. For Pete's sake, change the size and layout of your regular program occasionally. Use a large herald instead once in a while. Make your patrons realize you are a wide-awake showman, interested in bringing them into your theatre. * * * * Ask your patrons' opinions on means of improving the operation of your theatre. Everyone is flattered to feel that their judgment is valued, and many worthwhile suggestions may be forthcoming. GENERAL RELEASE RECORD (Eastern Penna., S. New Jersey, Del.) COLUMBIA Title Star Release Date Minutes Blind Date Ann Sothern — Neil Hamilton Aug. 31 75 Lady is Willing Leslie Howard Aug. 29 76 One Night of Love Grace Moore — Tullio Carminati Sept. 21 82 Name the Woman Richard Cromwell — Arline Judge Sept. 26 63 FOX Cat's Paw, The Harold Lloyd — Una Merkel Aug. 16 100 Servants' Entrance Janet Gaynor — Lew Ayres Aug. 31 84 METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Hideout Robert Montgomery — Maureen O'Sullivan Aug. 28 82 Chained Joan Crawford — Clark Gable Aug. 30 74 Have a Heart Jean Parker — James Dunn — Stuart Erwin Sept. 12 82 Barretts of Wimpole Street Norma Shearer — Charles Laughton — Fredric March Sept. 15 107 Death on the Diamond Robert Young — Madge Evans Sept. 21 72 PARAMOUNT Cleopatra Claudette Colbert — Warren William Aug. 17 101 You Belong to Me Lee Tracy — Helen Mack Aug. 29 65 Now and Forever Gary Cooper — Carole Lombard — Shirley Temple Aug. 31 83 Crime Without Passion Claude Rains Sept. 8 70 Scarlet Empress Marlene Dietrich — John Lodge Sept. 8 100 RKO Hat, Coat and Glove Ricardo Cortex Aug. 14 64 Down to Their Lost Yacht Sydney Fox — Sidney Blackmer Aug. 25 64 Fountain, The Ann Harding — Brian Aherne — Paul Lukas Aug. 30 84 Richest Girl in the World Miriam Hopkins — Joel McCrea — Fay Wray Sept. 14 76 Bachelor Bait Stuart Erwin — Pert Kelton Sept. 12 74 Adventure Girl Joan Lowell Sept. 22 76 Age of Innocence Irene Dunne — John Boles Sept. 28 82 UNITED ARTISTS Lost Gentleman, The George Ar'iss — Edna May Oliver Aug. 9 72 UNIVERSAL One More River Diana Wynyard — Colin Clive Aug. 13 90 Romance in the Rain Roger Pryor — Heather Angel Aug. 21 72 Human Side, The Frank Morgan — Elizabeth Young Sept. 10 87 There's Always Tomorrow Adolphe Menjou — Doris Kenyon Sept. 7 60 Million Dollar Ransom Edward Arnold — Phillips Holmes — Mary Carlisle Sept. 15 67 WARNER BROS. FIRST NATIONAL Side Streets A'ine MacMahon — Ann Dvorak Aug. 15 63 Housewife lefte Davis — George Brent — Ann Dvorak Aug. 17 69 Dames Oi:k Powell — Ruby Keeler — Joon Blondell Aug. 25 90 Dragon Murder Case Warren William — Lyle Talbot Sept. 1 65 Desirable Jean Muir — George Brent Sept. 7 69 British Agent Leslie Howard — Kay Francis Sept. 12 75 Case of the Howling Dog, The Warren William — Mary Astor Sept. 21 74