Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

10 INDEPENDENT EXHIBITORS 'FILM BULLETIN5 AS I SEE THEM . . . REVIEWS Or 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. Hollywood Pn iu u POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY-DRAMA . . . Loaded with all the socko punches which the Temple fans love . . . Shirley on the screen almost throughout . . . Good supporting cast . . . Rates • * * * — in Temple houses; • • • in class and action spots. 20th Century-Fox 72 Minutes Shirley Temple . . . Alice Faye . . . Gloria Stuart . . . Jack Haley . . . Michael Whalen . . . Jane Darwell . . . Sarah Haden . . . Claude Gillingwater . . . Henry Armetta . . . Arthur Hoyt Directed by Irving Cummings Nothing has been spared to make this sure-fire, which it succeeds in being despite a rather outmoded story. Shirley is all the way through the piece. She sings and dances delightfully besides putting over her lines in grand fashion. Picture is crammed with good situations, all of which have been brought out by the clever direction of Irving Cummings. Alice Faye is more or less lost as a vaudeville actress teamed up with Jack Haley. Mild love interest is developed between Gloria Stuart and Michael Whalen and well played. Other parts are competently handled with several neat bits. The four songs by Gordon and Revel are all catchy and a dance routine with Alice, Shirley and Haley gives the picture a snap finish. Production oke and camera work tip top. This one can't miss. The Temple fans will adore it. PLOT: Shirley is the motherless and much-waited-on daughter of a millionaire soap manufacturer. When her father decides to send her off to school to avoid further pampering by the servants, Shirley escapes and teams up with a hurdy-gurdy player. Her dancing wins her many coins and she joins the organ grinder's ample Italian family. A pair of hoofers see the child and recognize her talent, which is the means of winning them a radio contract. Their sponsor is a rival soap manufacturer, and it is by hearing her voice over the air that Shirley is discovered, her father having believed her to be in the school all the time. Conclusion sees the two companies merged and the father taking a bride who can give his daughter a mother's care. AD TIPS: Plug the songs . . . fake advantage of the many commercial tieups offered . . . stage a Shirley Temple double contest . . . Rates big campaign. HAR BLAIR (Hollywood). Hollywood Preview WHITE ANGEL, The BOXOFFICE RATING HISTORICAL DRAMA . . . Good women's picture . . . Kay Francis is miscast, but does fairly well with the role . . . Handsome production, best suited for class houses . . . Rates • • + generally; better in class spots. Warner Bros. 7 5 Minutes Kay Francis . . . Donald Woods . . . Ian Hunter . . . Nigel Bruce . . . Henry O'Neill . . . Billy Mauch . . . Phoebe Foster . . . Montagu Love . . . Halliwell Hobbes Directed by William Dieterle This picturization of the career of Florence Nightingale is rather ponderous and slow moving, although compelling in spots. Director Dieterle sought to stress the human side of the character in order to make her more the woman and less the saint, but Kay Francis was not the wisest selection for the title role and the role is not as impressive as it might have been. Despite excellent dialogue, the action is without excitement. The production is handsome and the atmosphere sustained properly throughout. The misery of the hospitals and barracks which the nurse worked so hard to alleviate is treated very effectively. A good musical score is a distinct asset. The supporting cast is fine and pulls Miss Francis through her weaker moments. The picture might be regarded as "important" and will find its most responsive audiences in better class theatres. Generally, however, it will be considered too heavy in its movement to merit more than average-plus returns. PLOT: Florence Nightingale, high born English girl, renounces society to minister to the British soldiers wounded in the Crimea. To this point she goes organizing a band of nurses and bringing order out of chaos frequently by clashing with the big wigs in the war office bound around with red tape. Nothing can stop the girl in her inspired task and even romance is sacrificed in order to fulfill her mission. In the end she emerges victorious over those who scoffed at her ideas and becomes not only a national figure but one who will live in history forever. AD TIPS: Play up a "new" Kay Francis. Stress the historical aspects of the picture, which insures church, school and club cooperation. Drug store tieups possible. HAR BLAIR (Hollywood). TROUBLE FOR TWO BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY-ADVENTURE . . . Mildly entertaining combination of comedy, romance and adventure . . . From R. L. Stevenson's "Suicide Club" . . . Costume period . . . Supporting cast overshadows stars . . . Rates • except in action houses. M-G-M 90 Minutes Robert Montgomery . . . Rosalind Russell . . . Frank Morgan . . . Reginald Owen . . . E. E. Clive . . . Louis Hayward Directed by J. Walter Ruben This is a loosely adapted and loosely written version of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Suicide Club." The script was obviously not as cohesive as it might have been and