Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

10 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS 'FILM BULLETIN REVIEWS ( Continued from Page 12 ) mildly amuse less discriminating audiences, but it is more likely that most people will yawn and ask, "What's the reason for this?" Booked as part of a dual bill, with a heavier feature in support, this will serve the purpose for which it was obviously made. Risked alone, it will do poor business anywhere. PLOT: Brisson is a ship stoker who fights whenever someone kids him about his dimples. He is fired off the boat after a scrap and is hired by Frawley as bouncer in his cafe. His singing talent soon gets him the job of crooner. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Arline Judge, who is a hoofer in the same place. Mady Christians, wealthy countess, who had spotted Brisson when he sang in the ship stokehole, takes him under her wing to break him into society. After a spell of going big time and quarreling with his jealous girl friend, the hero quits it all. Broke and out of work, he meets Arline's girl friend, who gets him his job at the cafe again. At the end, he gets his first mate's papers and goes aboard the ship in his new post, only to be followed by his faithful sweetheart. AD TIPS: Sell this as a "he-man romance with songs." Offer to admit men with large dimples free; it may not bring scuh creatures in, but the copy will attract. Get across the idea that this is not a musical, but an action romance with songs. R. B. RAINMAKERS, The BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY . . . Hits a new low for this comic duo . . . The kiddies may get a laugh out of it . . . Rates • +, getting the plus only because we hear some people find W. and W. funny in anything. RKO 77 Minutes Wheeler and Woolsey . Berton Churchill . . . Directed by Fred Guiol Dorothy Lee This is rank! Even my personal antipathy for these two very unfunny gentlemen, Wheeler and Woolsey, received a severe jolt when I exercised all my available will power to sit through this goshawful concoction of attempted comedy. I honestly did not think they could be that bad! "The Rainmakers" is a horrible effort at burlesquing the drought in the farm belt, with the solution to the farmers' problems resting with Mr. Woolsey's nondescript rainmaking machine. It is quite possible that escaped lunatics and backward children will find their antics funny, but it will be a most trying exexperience for anyone else. Something of a new low in low comedy is hit when the two comedians attempt to bridge a gap between two runaway locomotives, crossing from one to the other on a plank. I regard it as a perfectly safe wager that even the youngsters will be bored stiff while this bit of "howl" producing mirth is being enacted. Dorothy Lee is the one bright spot in this picture. It's almost a pity to drag down a double feature program with "The Rainmakers." It's a wash-out! PLOT: Woolsey has invented a machine which is supposed to produce rain and, together with his assistant, Wheeler, comes to the aid of a banker in the drought area who has the interest of the farmers at heart. They are opposed by Churchill, a wealthy landowner, who schemes to control all the farms in the vicinity. The rain does fall in time to bring the picture to a welcome end. AD TIPS: If you hare an audience for this team, let them know you are playing it. To sell it is to invite walk-outs and complaints. ELK. BORN FOR GLORY BOXOFFICE RATING WAR MELODRAMA . . . Exciting naval battles give this English import sole distinction . . . Strong on propaganda for heroism and British Navy . . . Good performance by John Mills helps, but lacks names known here . . . O. K. for dual bills, with comedy feature for balance . . . Rates • +. G-B 70 Minutes John Mills . . . Barry Mackay . . . Betty Balfour . . . Jimmy Hanley . . . Directed by Walter Forde While this rates as one of G-B's lesser imports, it is a satisfactory naval adventure melodrama which will please if dual billed with a lighter feature. Chief hindrance to its box-office results, is the utter lack of names in "Born for Glory" that mean anything to American audiences. Those who can be drawn in will witness some rather exciting naval battles, a display of true British heroism and quite a bit of propaganda for bigger and better fighting ships for the Empire's naval forces, plus a stirring performance by John Mills, a Britisher with much acting promise. Apparently something has been cut out of the American version and the story begins rather abruptly, the confusion not clearing up until after the first two reels. Once under way, however, it develops into an engrossing melodrama of battle on the high seas. There are two thrillingly staged naval encounters and the hero's one-man efforts to prevent the German enemy from repairing its damaged ship makes for an effective climax. Production is O. K. and the story interesting, if not always believable. As noted above, this balances neatly as half of a double feature with a lighter subject, but will go considerably below average if played alone. PLOT: John Mills is brought up in the tradition of the British Navy by his unwed mother. His father, a high ranking officer in the navy, has forgotten about his escapade and does not know he has a son. When the war breaks out, the boy's ship is sunk by the enemy and he is one of the survivors picked up by the German vessel. He escapes soon and is successful in holding up the sailing of the German boat until the English ship arrives to destroy it. In this brave effort, however, he loses his life and his father, who commands the British ship, discovers the hero to be his own son. AD TIPS: There is no "love interest" and this may be worth mentioning to action fans. Stress the naval battles, billing as a spectacular naval epic. The father-son angle is also appealing. ELK. "Finest Theatre Painting and Decorating" HARRY BRODSKY 2315 WALNUT STREET, PHILA., PA. RITtenhouse 7828 • TRInity 1189 Everything in Equipment NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY CO. 1315 Vine St., Phila. SPR. 6156 ERVING theatre needs with a knowledge ■ of theatre business. SS1STING theatre owners with a staff of trained clerks and office files. No | misiouts. gREEING theatre owners of the worry that they may have forgotten part of their show. ■ FFICIENTLY operating the largest film ■ delivery service in the world. IAKING CARE of every possible need in the delivery of film. YIELDING the epitome of safety, service and efficiency at a minimum cost. HORLACHED Delivery Service II INC. PHILADELPHIA BALTIMORE 1228 Vine St. 206 N. Bond St. WASHINGTON NEW YORK 1031 Third St., N. W. 518 W. 48th St. M. Lawrence Daily, Notary Public, Phila.