Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

12 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1935 AS I SEE THEM . . . Reviews of New Films By ROLAND BARTON THANKS A MILLION BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY MUSICAL ... Far above average story and topnotch cast carry this into the big money class . . . Keeps moving from the opening scene on . . . More a comedy than musical . . . Rates • • • +. 20th Century-Fox 88 Minutes Dick Powell . . . Ann Dvorak . . . Fred Allen . . . Patsy Kelly . . . Rubinoff . . . Raymond Walburn . . . Alan Dinehart . . . Paul Whiteman and Orchestra with Ramona Yacht Club Boys . . . Directed by Roy Del Ruth A grand show! I cannot recall another film in recent years that struck such a happy balance between plot and music. A clever, satirical take-off on a small town election campaign forms the basis for as amusing a yarn as we've seen this year. Interspersed through the story are a number of songs and a bit of dancing, but never is one of the musical interludes dragged in by its tail merely for the purpose of having someone perform; every one is shrewdly worked into the story and made a part of it. With a galaxy of names like Dick Powell, Whiteman and His Orchestra, the droll Fred Allen of radio fame, and Rubinoff, "Thanks a Million" could hardly miss, but, in addition, the film is bright, cheerful and amusing all the way through and it should click everywhere to far above average grosses. PLOT: During a bus change-over in a small town, Allen, with a languishing theatrical troupe on his hands, sells a politician the idea that entertainment will help him get over his rpsechss in his campaign for governor. The troupe is hired, but the idea doesn't work out so well, since the people leave as soon as tha show is over and the speeches begin. The candidate's backers get die idea to run Powell in place of the rum sot who has the nomination, believing he will win with his singing. Just bafore tha election, Powell exposes the crooked gang who have backed him and the troupe get set to leave town in a hurry. But he wins the election and is brought back with an escort of a thousand motorcycle police, singing one of the songs that brought him victory. There is an incidental romance between Powell and Ann Dvorak. AD TIPS: Give this the works. Don't give the impression that this is another musical. It is more comedy than musical and should be billed thus. Fred Allen and Rubinoff are two top radio names; give them top spots in billing. NONNIE. THREE MUSKETEERS, The BOXOFFICE RATING ADVENTURE ROMANCE . . . Nice production, but lacking the dash and action one expects from this story . . . Actually slow in many spots . . . Lack of names will hamper it . . . Will get between • • and • • +. RKO 90 Minutes Walter Abel . . . Paul Lukas . . . Onslow Stevens Ian Keith . . . Heather Angel . . . Margot Grahame . . . Ralph Forbes . . . Rosamond Pinchot . . . Directed by Rowland V. Lee Only fair. Can you possibly imagine a mild, almost languid, film version of this glorious adventure tale? Yet that is what the RKO studio has contrived to turn out. This new "Three Musketeers" was put off on the wrong foot promptly in the casting, when Walter Abel, a capable enough actor, but a wholly unsuitable D'Artagnan, was given the leading role. He is far removed from the reckless, adventuresome hero of Dumas' novel, or the thrilling film figure Doug Fairbanks made him out to be many years ago. Instead, we are given a tepid, pleasant fellow, who pleases, but fails to thrill, us. The production has class and enough of the dashing spirit of the novel's pages has been captured to make a moderately entertaining film. The romantic story of the four inseparable friends, who perform many heroic and hazardous feats to protect their queen and save France from war with England, could hardly fail to provide some exciting moments. When we see at the opening corps of swordsmen practicing their dueling to the tune of a lively musical number we knew immediately that RKO had tampered with one of the finest movie adventure stories available and it saddened this reviewer. I fear it shall sadden many movie fans. Slightly above average is the best I can see for this. PLOT: Abel, as D'Artagnan, a cadet in Paris, is adopted by the Three Musketeers, after he challenges all three of them to duels at hourly intervals on the day of his arrival in the city. He leads the band in their mission to expose Ian Keith, who seeks to undermine the royal house of France for his personal aggrandizement. They must secure a jeweled broach from the Duke of Buckingham, which the Queen has secretly given him as a pledge of good faith, but which Keith plans to use as proof of her infidelity to the King, if it is not worn by her at the King's birthday celebration. The four cohorts achieve their object after much swordplay and hard riding, arriving at the palace just in time to save the day. AD TIPS: Sell the thrilling duelling scenes and the daring courage of the four friends; their triumphant campaign to prevent war between England and France. It's fiction's outstanding adventure story. (Rosamond Pinchot is a niece of former Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania.) ELK. SHIP CAFE BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY with songs . . . Flimsy, but mildly amusing "quickie," obviously made for dual bills . . . Will please, but will not draw . . . Brisson pleasant hero and sings well . . . Rates • +. Paramount 65 Minutes Carl Brisson . . . Arline Judge . . . William Frawley . . . Mady Christians . . . Eddie Davis . . . Grant Withers . . . Inez Courtney . . . Directed by Robert Florey This could never have been intended by Paramount to be anything more than a double feature picture. A flimsy, inconsequential story, done pleasantly enough, is stretched very close to the breaking point. "Ship Cafe" has absolutely no claim to distinction, unless it be true that the ladies really adore Carl Brisson's cute dimples. And that is what the story concerns itself with — dimples! The musical comedy hero turns in a neat and almost charming performance as the ship stoker gone cafe singer, and he renders a couple of fair song numbers. The balance of the cast deport themselves adequately enough. It is quite possible that "Ship Cafe" will (Continued on Page 10) BOXOFFICE RATING We have been requested by many exhibitors to use some simple system of indicating our rating of the boxofhee 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 picture* are particularly suitable for certain types of audiences and this must be covered in the detailed criticisms. • Means POOR • • Means AVERAGE • • • Means GOOD • • • • Means EXCELLENT Plus ( + ) and minus ( — ) will be used occasionally to indicate slightly above or below the point rating.