Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

10 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITOR '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. Coming 'Round the Mountain BOXOFFICE RATING WESTERN with Songs . . . Hardestriding, fastest action seen in many moons . . . Horse race finish will yank 'em out of their seats . . . Rates • • • • for western spots. Republic Gene Autry . . . Ann Rutherford . . . Simley Burnette . . . Champion Directed by Mack Wright This one is just about tops for action and novelty in its class. It's the elemental western formula plus Autry's crooning, shot midst the loveliest natural mountain scenery that ever graced a horse opera. "Coming 'Round the Mountain" gets going with the first flicker and doesn't let down until the final fade-out. The average action fan will find himself sitting on the edge of his seat when the boys come tearing 'round that mountain in one of the greatest pinto pony races over filmed. Throughout, the film abounds with action highlights such as the really thrilling fight between two wild horses. It is seldom that the camera catches something as exciting as that! Autry's singing is pleasant and the romantic business only serves as an occasional breathing spell to allow the plot to catch up with the whirlwind pace of the action. For fans who yell "Whoopee" over ride-'em-cowboy thrillers (and for those others fortunate enough to see it, too) "Coming 'Round the Mountain" is a treat. We liked it lots! PLOT: Autry, pony-express rider, is robbed while bringing Ann Rutherford the money with which she plans to pay off the mortgage on her ranch. He is given leave of absence to capture the culprits. Ann's boyfriend, who proves to be the villain, tries to sell some horses to the pony-express company, but Autry insists that Ann's pinto ponies are better suited for the work. To settle the matter, a horse race across country is arranged. Despite the attempted trickery of the villain, Ann's ponies win. Autry also clears up the mystery of the robbery and he marries the girl. AD TIPS: Sell it as the fastest western in years, feature the u ild horse fight an J the thrilling race. Let them know that Autry sings. NONNIE. SINGING KID, The BOXOFFICE RATING MUSICAL . . . Rescued from being a flop by one brilliant musical sequence . . . Trite situations and dialogue don't help . . . However, strong cast should account for good returns generally . . . Rates • • • — Warner Bros. 8 3 Minutes Al Jolson . . . Sybil Jason . . . Edward Everett Horton . . . Lyle Talbot . . . Allen Jenkins . . . Claire Dodd . . . Beverly Roberts . . . Yacht Club Boys . . . Cab Calloway and Orchestra . . . Mitchell and Durant Directed by William Keighley If we except one brilliant sequence, this one is a most routine musical film, burdened with a trite plot treated without inspiration. Fortunately, that one sequence cannot be overlooked. It is probably the most original and superbly executed piece of business ever seen in a musical. Effected with rare skill by Jolson, the Yacht Club Boys and Director Keighley, it is an accomplishment to be applauded. But unfortunately, one sequence does not make a picture, and "The REVIEWS in a paper with the COURAGE to say what it thinks are the only REVIEWS worth reading! Singing Kid" has more than a fair quota of innocuous situations, dialogue that doesn't click and a typical, hackneyed musical comedy plot. En toto, it does not add up to grand entertainment by any means. The production is an elaborate one, in true Warner style, and the story is of the same old, musty backstage formula. Several O. K. song numbers help, especially "I Love to Sing-a." Sybil Jason is properly cute. Beverly Roberts, a newcomer, shows promise, but tries too hard. "The Singing Kid" is so-so entertainment, except for that one swell number. It goes without saying, nevertheless, that it will do well above average everywhere. The cast is strong, Jolson, the Yacht Club boys and Cab Calloway accounting for most of the draw. PLOT: Talbot, after gumming up Jolson's income tax declarations, follows that up by running away with his fiancee, Claire Dodd. The shock robs Jolson of his voice. He settles the affair with the government and leaves the country to rest, a poor man, his career shattered. He meets Beverly Roberts, a rustic playwright, and falls for her. Her ministrations help Jolson regain his voice, but there is a quarrel and he leaves for the city and a stage appearance. Roberts follows him to New York, asks his forgiveness and Al goes on the stage to knock 'em cold. AD TIPS: Sell the cast, giiing equal billing to Jolson, Calloway, Yacht Club Boys and Jason. Jolson is poison in many spots and will need the others for support. Little Sybil Jason's face should be shown in all illustrations. RUDY. DRAKE THE PIRATE BOXOFFICE RATING SEA ADVENTURE SPECTACLE . . . Fine production of buccaneering career of Sir Francis Drake . . . Lacks romance and verve of "Captain Blood," but can be sold as same type story . . . Heavy English touch will retard it generally . . . Rates • • + Alliance (1st Dir. Release) 76 Minutes Matheson Lang . . . Jane Baxter . . . Henry Mollison . . . Athene Seyler Directed by Arthur Woods The)' have judiciously edited this English importation so that it attains a fair degree of action on the high seas where pirate Drake