Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

4 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN Vol. 2 No. 3 9 May 27, 1936 Issued weekly by Film Bulletin Co., at 13 23 Vine Street, Phila., Pa. Mo Wax, editor and publisher; Roland Barton, George F. Nonamaker, associate editors. Saul S. Leshner, business manager. Bell Phone, RITtenhouse 7424 Address all communications to Editor, Film Bulletin New York Office: 165 8 Broadway, New York City Room 486 — Circle 7-3 094 What The Newspaper Critics Say: "BULLETS OR BALLOTS" (Warners) ". . . Another crackling underworld melodrama. Some of last year's crime news reassembled into a crisp, cohesive and fast-moving script . . . capitally served by such Warner crime experts as Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Barton MacLane and Joan Blondell." — N. Y. TIMES. "... A taut and compelling melodrama . . . Robinson dominates the show . . ." — N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. "... Packs a good wallop . . . Robinson, Bogart and entire cast good . . ." — N. Y. DAILY NEWS. "THREE WISE GUYS" (M-G-M) ". . . An awkward melange of sentiment and melodrama ... A hodge-podge entertainment." — N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. ". . . Typical Runyon formula . . . Raymond Walburn steals the show . . ." — N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM. "The picture M-G-M has made of Damon Runyon's sentimental restatement of the magi legend in terms of contemporary con men, punks, molls, et al. is superficially successful, thanks to more than the usual dash of first-rate secondary players . . >" —N. Y. T/M£S. ONE RAINY AFTERNOON (United Artists) "... Gay Continental farce smartly turned out and done with a sense of humor . . . Lederer acquits himself ably in the romantic leading role." — N. Y. EVE. JOURNAL. ". . . Lederer gives a gay and competent performance. Director Lee has managed to keep the mood always buoyant . . ." — N. Y. SUN. "Performed enthusiastically by a crack company shrewdly directed by Rowland V. Lee. They do wonders in exploiting its funny possibilities." — N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. HOLLYWOOD fLIICIKEES By HARRY N. BLAIR Hollywood, May 26. Allied's plans to produce 52 a year have this town agog. Not since the original First National setup has there been so promising a move on the part of the independents. It's a bull year for the kid actors. 20th has Shirley and Jane, MGM its Freddie and Paramount its Virginia. Not to be outdone, RKO has just closed with Sol Lesser for three more Bobby Breen features. "Happy Go Lucky," the first, starts in luly. Universal, with the biggest lot in Hollywood, has plenty of money and top production men to run it. But "U" lacks names. Strong box office tags that spell dollars in the till. That is why, with the sales convention only two weeks off, the new heads of the outfit are here for a huddle. No expense will be spared in preparing a program which will start the trade with its magnitude. Carl Laemmle, Jr. has just closed for a third yarn before skipping off for a fling around Europe. No doubt about Junior's plans to get busy in a big way as soon as he returns here in July. A regular program of sponsored shorts and featurettes to be released through Republic offers an interesting study as to the possible boxoffice reaction. Commercial plugs are accepted over the air as a matter of course. But then, radio entertainment is free. Anybody's guess is good at this stage of the game. Another phase of competition, still small but growing, is the Federal Theatre Project. Stage shows are being put on in the larger cities by unemployed actors payed out of Government funds. Nominal admissions are charged in order to attract the class of patrons who go to pictures. Success story: Just ten years ago, a youngster called William Boyd leaped into prominence in Cecil DeMille's "Volga Boatman." Fame . . . then the skids and, more recently, a smash comeback in the "Hopalong Cassidy" series. Now Bill tardes his chaps to again wear Russian boots for the lead in "Dream of the Volga Boatman." Thus completing the circle. Republic is still hunting for a successor to John Wayne. It's a good chance for some kid. After all, Wayne was a mere prop boy when discovered by Eddie Grainger and given the top spot in "The Big Trail." "IT'S LOVE AGAIN" (G-B) "G-B has yet to do full justice to Jessie Matthews . . . Her last picture imposes the entire burden of a cumbersome and unevenly paced comedy upon her shoulders and, although, she rises to the task with her accustomed loveliness, gayety and talent, she is unable to convert the picture into anything more than "a personal triumph." — N. Y. TIMES. ". . . Dances its way through a tuneful plot aided by handsome sets, witty dialogue and skillful performance . . . Jesse Matthews shows grace and training in the lead . . ." — N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. ". . . Jessie Matthews has no equal of her type or style . . . Her pictures are welcome joys . . ." — N. Y. POST. Supreme Court Refuses St. Louis Dismissal Plea Washington. — The Supreme Court Monday rejected the appeal of the three film company defendants in the St. Louis case to reverse Federal Judge Molyneaux's decision dismissing the action without prejudice to the Government's case. Although the case had already been settled out of court, Warner Bros., RKO and Paramount sought the ruling from the highest tribunal in an effort to establish the invalidity of the District Court's verdict on the grounds that it would enable Government lawyers to dismiss any case which appeared to be going against them. The Government argued that there was plenty of precedent for their dismissal request and asked that Judge Molyneaux's decision be sustained. The nine justices agreed.