Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

8 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN 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 • • Means AVERAGE • • • Means GOOD • • • • Means EXCELLENT Plus ( + ) and minus ( — ) will be used occasionally to indicate slightly above or below the point rating. DANGEROUS BOXOFFICE RATING DRAMA . . . Well written, directed and acted romantic drama . . . Holds one's attention throughout . . . Smart casting of Davis and Tone will help it at the b. o. . . . Rates • • +. Warner Bros. 78 Minutes Bette Davis . . . Franchot Tone . . . Margaret Lindsay . . . Alison Skipworth . . . Dick Foran . . . John Eldredge . . . Directed by Alfred E. Green Bette Davis has a role similar to the ones she played so well in "Of Human Bondage" and "Bordertown," and once again she lends distinction to a film by the sincerity and dramatic appeal of her performance. "Dangerous" is not an outstanding picture, but it is thoroughly engrossing and, while leaning heavily on the tragic side, has a combination of a story and a cast which should appeal strongly to women. As a former stage star who has hit the bottom and is down to the cheap barrooms, Miss Davis does a job that is almost as fascinating as her neurotic, vicious waitress of "Bondage." She has another antipathetical character and makes the most of it. Opposite her Franchot Tone, an excellent choice from the boxoffice viewpoint, again displays the more mature talent that was evident in "Mutiny." The balance of the cast, as well, was apparently selected with intelligent care. "Dangerous" should get better than average grosses generally. It is not for children. PLOT: Tone, a prominent young architect, is soon to marry Margaret Lindsay, society girl. He finds Bette, formerly a promising stage actress, drunk in a cheap barroom. Pitying her, Tone takes her to his home and places her under the care of Alison Skipworth, his housekeeper. While he does not love her, Tone is strangely fascinated by Bette, who does love him, and he asks her to marry him. She does not reveal the fact that she is married and stalls him, hoping that she can induce her husband, from whom she is separated, to divorce her. Tone, meanwhile, invests all his money in a play for her. Before the opening, she goes to her husband and when he refuses her a divorce, she takes him for a ride in the country and smashes the car into a tree, hoping to kill either him or herself. Both are injured and Bette realizes that she may ruin Tone's life. When she recovers, she appears in the play and scores a success. She is reconciled with her husband and Tone is free to return to Margaret. AD TIPS: Plug this as Bette s biggest role since "Of Human Bondage." The title affords chances for teaser window cards and circulars. Sell it to the ladies. It is their picture! BARTON. ROSE OF THE RANCHO BOXOFFICE RATING MUSICAL ROMANCE . . . This will prove to be one of the season's outstanding flops . . . It's a western with music and pretty stupid throughout . . . Swarthout shows possibilities, but they are ruined in this one . . . Rates • • — only because of the curiosity to see the songstress. Paramount 80 Minutes Gladys Swarthout . . . John Boles . . . Charles Bickford . . . Willie Howard . . . Herb Williams . . . H. B. Warner . . . Grace Bradley . . . Directed by Marion Gering Gladys Swarthout, Metropolitan Opera singer, could hardly have been given a poorer start on her film career. "Rose of the Rancho" is an expensively produced horse opera in every sense of the word, being a western melodrama with singing by Swarthout, Boles and whole choruses of cowboys, but it all seems pretty ridiculous and a poor recording job does not help matters. Miss Swarthout has looks, personality and a grand voice, when it is not marred by harsh sound. Her next picture must be considerably better to her, if she is to survive and become the star whose potentialities are apparent, but submerged in this first effort. Although its story is placed in one of the most colorful periods of American history and vast opportunities for broad, sweeping action were available, "Rose" does not move swiftly, and a distracting air of artificiality pervades its scenes. It is hard to believe and yet is not acceptable as fantasy. Generally, it will impress the masses as being ridiculous. The comedy of energetic Willie Howard and Herb Williams will probably appeal to more people than any of the other features of the film. This will have a hard time of it at the boxoffice. Most of the business it gets will come from the curiosity of those who desire to see Miss Swarthout's film debut. And they will be disappointed. PLOT: Boles, a government agent, comes to California to smash the bands who are robbing the Spaniards of their land. Miss Swarthout, daughter of Warner, Spanish aristocrat, is the secret leader of a Vigilantes' band, who are trying to accomplish the same end by taking the law into their own hands. Boles prevents the hanging of Charles Bickford, head of one of the marauding gangs, by Swarthout's Vigilantes. He meets Swarthout and they fall in love. He explains that he stopped the hanging, because the law should take its course. To obtain the evidence against Bickford, he joins his gang. One day, he spots the disguised leader of the Vigilantes and follows. When he enters the cabin to nab him, Swarthout is there. Not knowing that she is the leader, he suspects her of being his lover. Eventually, Boles learns that she is the strange Vigilante leader and he steps into the breach to save her father's home, put a stop to Bickford's activities and marry Swarthout. AD TIPS: Go to the limit on Swarthout. She has the stuff and should be sold. For action houses, the western melodrama. Vigilantes, robber gangs, etc. Spaniard street bally. Put one on a horse and let him walk the streets with signs draped oxer animal's sides. L. J. REVIEWS, in a paper, with the COURAGE to say what it thinks are the only REVIEWS worth reading!