Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1936 1 1 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW BY WIRE From HARRY BLAIR WARNERS WHITE ANGEL DISAPPOINTING WITH KAY FRANCIS WOEFULLY MISCAST AS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE STOP SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL BY ALL ODDS ONE OF HER BEST SHIRLEY SHARES HONORS WITH FAYE IN PUTTING OVER FIVE HIT TUNES STOP FULL REVIEWS FOLLOW eral of Wayne's more than miraculous escapes when pitifully outnumbered demand a certain degree of credulity on the part of the spectator, but those who regard Wayne as their Gable will probably cheer him on. PLOT: Reconstruction after the Civil War finds the South in the grip of racketeering Northern "carpet baggers," exemplified by Cy Kendall, adjutant-general of a large Texas military district. With military force he is grabbing votes and heavy taxes. Wayne, native Texan who fought with the North, returns with his pal, Toney, to find that his old neighbors and Ann, his former fiancee, arc his enemies. To get the goods on Kendall, Wayne and Toney join his troops. They are later trapped and imprisoned. Ann and her brothers, Meadows, organize a rescue party, which arrives just in time to save the heroes and wipe out Kendall and his murderous troops. AD TIPS: Sell this as a "different" action story based on fact. NONNIE. DRAG-NET, The BOXOFFICE RATING MELODRAMA . . . Crooked politicians in league with underworld . . . Handled lightly . . . Several murders; a lively fist fight, and frame-ups ... La Rocque good . . . Rates ••on its own, but can do better with selling in nabes and action spots. Bnrroughs-Tarzan 67 Minutes Rod La Rocque . . . Marion Nixon . . . Betty Compson . . . Jack Adair . . . Edward Keane Directed by Vin Moore There's plenty of exploitation sock in this Willard Mack yarn about a playboy D.A., who has a tough case of murder and politician-gangster expose tossed into his lap. The producers of "Drag-Net," in an effort to keep it out of the straight mcller class, leavened the action with some light dialogue. The result is a less dynamic, less exciting action film, but, perhaps, a more generally appealing one. Rod La Rocque is principally responsible for the lighter quality. He is not usual grim visaged young district attorney, but rather waltzes through the role good-naturedly. Marian Nixon, his newspaper reporter girl-friend, is quite colorless. Outstanding in the cast is Jack Adair, one of the underworld characters, whose massive, forceful face reminds one of Edward G. Robinson. Unless we're wrong again, this chap will be seen in some important roles in the near future. The direction is slipshod, a number of technical faults being apparent to the critical eye. They will get by the public, but shouldn't be there. "Drag-Net" rates average business in naborhood, rural and action houses. It can be sold for better grosses. Dualled best with heavy drama or light comedy. PLOT: La Rocque's father, prominent lawyer, hopes to cure his playboy son by getting him a job as assistant d. a. To celebrate his new appointment, La Rocque takes his sweetheart, Marian, a newspaper reporter, out to a notorious cabaret operated by Adair. When Marian opens a phone booth to make a call, Betty Compson's body falls at her feet. La Rocque is assigned to the case. He discovers that there is a "leak" from the d. a.'s office to the gangsters and traps Keane, the guilty man. The latter is ordered by his bosses to make an appointment with La Rocque in a hotel room, and when the attorney arrives there, he finds Keane's dead body and incriminating evidence planted against him. The police arrive and La Rocque, realizing he has been framed, makes a getaway. He forces a confession from Adair and the leader of the gang, just as the police arrive at the cabaret. La Rocque regains his partnership in his dad's law firm and marries Marian. AD TIPS: See Wolfe-Smith's "Sleeper" campagin in last week's issue of FILM BULLETIN. It mil get you plenty of extra dough on this show. NONNIE. UNBIASED BOX-OFFICE REVIEWS From HOLLYWOOD AND NEW YORK ARE FOUND EVERY WEEK IN FILM BULLETIN SONG OF THE TRAIL BOXOFFICE RATING WESTERN . . . Routine stuff that will please action fans . . . Above average cast . . . Rates • • where westerns go. Ambassador 6 5 Minutes Kermit Maynard . . . Evelyn Brent . . . Fuzzy Knight . . . Wheeler Oakman . . . George Hayes . . . Antoinette Lees Directed by Russell Hopton Based on James Oliver Curwood's story "Playing With Fire," this western emerges as average fare for action houses. The plot gets going rather slowly, due to the insertion of a lot of stock rodeo shots, but once under way there is plenty of action. Production values are better than the usual run. A cast including Kermit Maynard, Evelyn Brent and Fuzzy Knight is worthy of particular mention in a horse opera. Maynard rides and fights with proper abandon. Brent stands out in a comparatively small part as the villain's dance hall gal. Knight yodels a song in his inimitable manner. The rest is all ride 'em, shoot 'em, steal from 'em and double cross 'em. It's all done intelligently, as westerns go. PLOT: Maynard and side-kick Knight arrive for the rodeo and meet old friends, Hayes and his daughter Antoinette. During the rodeo, Hayes gets involved in crooked card game with Oakman and his henchmen and loses the claim to his mine. Later, he rifles Oakman's safe and retrieves it. Oakman kills two of his own men and diverts suspicion to Hayes. Brent, Oakman's gal, fruitlessly tries her wiles on Maynard when he comes looking for Oakman. From then on, it's a case of mob chase mob until the murders and the mystery are solved. AD TIPS: Sell Cuniood story and the cast. NONNIE. SHE-DEVIL ISLAND BOXOFFICE RATING LEGENDARY DRAMA with songs and dances . . . Mexican made, with English dialogue, this is a surprise . . . Has good story, plenty of sex, songs, rhumbas and beautiful photography ... If handled properly, should prove a cleanup on its art plus sex angle . . . Rating depends entirely on exploitation given it. Chas. Kimball-Grand National All Mexican Cast 64 Minutes Made in Mexico with an all native, but English-speaking cast, this shapes up as one of the season's most surprising novelties. It (Continued on page 12)