Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

4 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN' INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN Vol. 2 No. 40 June 3, 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: HALF ANGEL (20th Century-Fox) "Merry film of mystery . . . Snappy and lively. Peopled with highly amusing characters . . ." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. ". . . Unimportant film with a cheap, dull story. Despite excellent casting it is a depressing and unconvincing film about murderers and insane asylums . . ." N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. ". . . Familiar of scene, incident and type . . ." N. Y. TIMES. TROUBLE FOR TWO (M-G-M) ". . . Uninspired screen version of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous tale, 'Suicide Club' . . . Moves slowly and tediously and proves hard going for cast . . ." N. Y. DAILY NEWS. ". . . Thoroughly entertaining adventure film, romantic, suspenseful and capitally played . . ." N. Y. TIMES. ". . . Robert Louis Stevenson transferred to the screen with remarkable fidelity . . . An amiably exciting romantic melodrama . . . Players are fine . . ." N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. THE KING STEPS OUT (Columbia) "The lovely and golden-voiced Grace Moore in a frothy Viennese operetta . . . Story is of little significance; but its humor is pleasant and its score includes a charming group of Fritz Kreisler's melodious compositions . . ." N. Y. TIMES. ". . . Handsome but rather dull musical romance . . . Charming songs by Fritz Kreisler . . . Grace Moore definitely ill at ease as an actress . . ." N. Y. HERALD-TRIBUNE. "Gay and pretty little romance distinguished by Kreisler melodies . . . Grace Moore's followers will share her obvious delight in it . . ." N. Y. MIRROR. HOLLYWOOD FLICKERS By HARRY N. BLAIR Hollywood, June 1. With Paramount torn by internal bickerings and RKO trying hard to effect an organization out of chaos, added to the fact that it will be a few months before the new Universal really gets its gait, there is a better chance for the independent producer now than at any time in several years. True, the small fellows are badgered by distribution worries and lack of finances. Yet, despite all these handicaps, he can carry through with flying colors provided he has that all too rare gift of imagination an inventiveness. It is a sad but true fact that the ability of an independent producer is often gauged by his ability to beat down players on salary, successfully camouflage the same old sets and convince the exchanges that his promises will measure up his actual performance when he knows in his heart he is overstepping his mark. He depends on flashy titles and has-been names, almost forgetting that all important element . . . the story. The way in which stories are dished up by the average indie would make an amusing story in itself were the situation not so tragic. Instead of coming first, most often the yarn is given last consideration. Fine for the hack writers who in the final rush of getting under way in order to meet a deadline can usually slip over stuff which would never be passed had it received calm consideration. The major companies are almost as bad, only on a grander scale. They continue to grind out the same stories, over and over, with different titles, plus a lot of flap doodle, which, like pink icing, looks good but cannot hide the fact that the insides are as stale as yesterday's hash. The biggies have become too expert in the art of making things appear to be what they ain't. With the talent of the world to choose from, they, too, continue in the same rut. M-G-M makes a musical with ten big production numbers and right away Paramount announces a similar epic with 1 1 bigger and better numbers. It's a vicious circle and the public pays. Another evil is that these over pretentious films set up false entertainment values. Too much . . . much too much, is thrown in to make the picture surefire. The result is a public tired to death of big scenes, overlong production numbers, bizarre effects. In the end they emerge from the theatre tired out and secretly feeling that while they may not have been bored, at least it was so much time wasted. That is why anyone with half an eye can see a great spot for the indies. If only they will forget the old girl meets boy formulae and find new story paths to tread, they will find the public eager and willing to pass up the million dollar epics for a chance to sit through something which at least will not insult its intelligence. To do this requires courage and imagination. But these have always been the abiding qualities of the true pioneer. Gird your loins, guys, and put on the thinking cap. Get wise to yourselves and get your share of the gravy. The field is wide open!