Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1934 - Aug 1935)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8th, 1935 AS I SEE THEM . . . Reviews of New Films By ROLAND BARTON BOXOFFICE RATING We have been requested by many exhibitors to use some simple system of indicating our rating of the boxoffice value of the films reviewed below. The "point" system of evaluation, at best, can give you only an arbitrary estimate of a picture's drawing power, so we urge you to read the entire reviews. Some pictures are particularly suitable for certain types of audiences and this must be covered in the detailed criticisms. • Means POOR • 9 Means AVERAGE • • • Means GOOD © © © © Means EXCELLENT Plus ( + ) and minus ( — ) will be used occasionally to indicate slightly above or below the point rating. Boxoffice Rating HERE IS MY HEART With Bing Crosby, Kitty Carlisle, Roland Young, Reginald Owen, Alison Skipworth Paramount — 75 Minutes This will satisfy those who like Crosby. He is more handsome and in better voice than ever before, and under the skillful directing hand of Frank Tuttle, he is freer and more natural in his movements. The story is another variation of the well-known "Grand Duchess and the Waiter," and this time it is aided materially by the inclusion of Bing's singing. When he croons "It's June in January" you can practically hear the fluttering female hearts in the theatre. The yarn opens with Crosby, a millionaire crooner, by the name of J. Paul Jones, cruising to Europe where he hopes to fulfill several goals he set for himself as a penniless youngster. One of these goals is to obtain a pistol which belonged to his illustrious naval namesake and another is to marry a princess. When it happens that a lovely, but impoverished, Russian princess owns that very pistol, the familiar story begins. Bing poses as a waiter to get into the princess' apartment and, then, when she seeks to have him fired for kissing her, he buys the hotel and carries on his courtship as a tray slinger. Eventually he wins the heart of the stately royal lady, only to lose it as soon as she discovers that he is really the wealthy Mr. Jones, not the poor waiter, Paul. It all turns out as you expect it, however, so the feminine hearts are left content. Kitty Carlisle is suitably dignified as the princess, Roland Young and Reginald Owen create some fun as a pair of defunct dukes. Alison Skipworth has little opportunity to display her talents. All in all, "Here Is My Heart" will greatly please the Crosbyites, and, possibly, even some new converts to crooning. It is far superior to "She Loves Me Not" and will easily outdraw that previous Crosby film. Boxoffice Rating ANNE OF GREEN GABLES With Anne Shirley, Tom Brown, Helen Westley, O. P. Heggie RKO — 77 Minutes 'I his is a thoroughly delightful sentimental film story, pursuing faithfully the widely read novel by L. M. Montgomery, from which it was adapted. The picture owes much to the grand portrayal of young Anne Shirley, who makes the title role irresistible with warm sympathy and wide-eyed charm. She is an amusing, lovable 14-year-old Anne (spelled with an 'E'"), with flowery speeches like a romantic novel. Helen Westley and O. P. Heggie come in for a liberal share of praise with excellent characterizations as the aging brother and sister who arrange to adopt a boy who may grow up to be an aid to them, only to have a heart-stealing girl thrown on their hands. The simple story tells how Anne wins their affection as soon as she arrives at the home she names "Green Gables." She falls in love with young Tom Brown, only to learn that his family and her two guardians are bitter enemies and that she dare not see him. However, the two young lovers carry on clandestine meetings for several years, until they are finally discovered. Anne is packed off to normal school in another city, while Tom goes away to study medicine. Only when Tom uses his influence with a famous doctor to save the life of Heggie, does Anne's stubborn "aunt" relent and bring them together again. This is perfect family entertainment, but despite the wholesomeness of the story and excellence of the production, it does not seem to be doing particularly good business anywhere. Boxoffice Rating • • — MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD With Claude Rains, Joan Bennett, Lionel Atwill Universal — 81 Minutes An unusually serious drama, made gripping by Claude Rains' stellar performance. It is primarily suited for intelligent audiences and will attract little mass trade unless you utilize the exploitation possibilities in tying it up with the current scandal about and investigation of the munitions manufacturers. Once they are inside, they will not be disappointed.. There is practically no comedy and little romance, but an engrossing dramatic story that is enhanced by the star's sincere and sensitive acting, and distinctive direction by Edward Ludwig. The tale is told as a flash-back. The opening scenes, seen only by occasional flashes of light in the darkness, are positively spine-tingling in their intensity and mystery. There is an air raid on Paris during the World War. We see a window in a house smash and a soldier emerges, carrying a child on one arm and a satchel in the other hand. He goes to the home of Paris' foremost attorney and shows him the severed head of a man in the valise. Then he tell his story. He (Rains) is a brilliant journalist of meager means, but content with his wife (Joan Bennett) and their child. Lionel Atwill, a wealthy newspaper owner, asks Rains to become "his brains," to write the editorials over the publisher's signature. Having been betrayed once before by Atwill, Rains at first refuses the offer, but is induced by his ambitious wife to accept. An ardent pacifist, he wages an editorial campaign against the ammunition manufacturers, and within a short time Atwill becomes a great power in French politics. Then, at the moment when Europe is aflame with talk of war and Rains is writing stirring articles opposing it, Atwill sells out to the munitions ring and turns his paper from pacifism to beating the war drums. The war breaks and the poor writer is dragged off to the front. While being transferred to another station, he overhears some scandal about his wife and the publisher. Jumping on a train, he returns to his home and finds Atwill forcing his attentions on his wife. Going mad, Rains kills him and cuts off his head. He tells the lawyer that he merely wanted to take back what he had given to the publisher — his brains. It all ends on a happy note wth a reconciliation, while the attorney tells him that he will defend him and that no jury would convict him when they hear his story. Joan Bennett plays her role like a high school dramatics student. This is strictly for adults, since children will hardly understand it. Boxoffice Rating * + MURDER IN THE CLOUDS With Lyle Talbot, Ann Dvorak First National — 60 Minutes Just one of those cheap action films, suitable only for houses where they like airplane chases and a bit of phoney mystery. The story revolves around a secret formula for a dangerous explosive. It is to be delivered by plane to Washington and Lyle Talbot is to be the pilot. A culprit in the office of the airline gets the information about the shipment and notifies his gang. Talbot is attacked and knocked out, one of the gangsters taking his place as pilot of the plane. In midair, the gangster jumps out after setting a time bomb in the plane, killing all the passengers, including Ann Dvorak's brother. The balance of the film is devoted to Talbot's efforts, and his final success, in solving the mystery and recovering the valuable formula. Of course, he is in love with Ann and it ends with them in a clinch. If your patrons are of the type who do not question the vagueness of many important details in their mysteries and swallow the bald facts hook, line and rod, they will probably accept "Murder in the Clouds." But, in other spots, it'll be tough selling. FILM BULLETIN The Only film publication COVERING EVERY Independent Exhibitor in Eastern Penna. S. New Jersey, Del. • CLEM'S • Motion Picture Supply House Expert Supply Service for the Independent Theatre 255 N. 13th ST., PHILA. SPRUCE 1884 "Not a dark house in more than 20 years of film delivery service!" NEW JERSEY MESSENGER SERVICE 250 N. JUNIPER ST. PHILA. 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