Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

8 WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1936 AS I SEE THEM . . • REVIEWS OF NEW FILMS By ROLAND BARTON BOXOFFICE RATING We have been requested by many exhibitors to use tome 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 Preview WHITE FANG BOXOFFICE RATING OUTDOOR MELODRAMA . . . Good program stuff designed to please all classes plus several good names and the popular dog star, Lightning . . . Rates: • • + for rurals and nabes; less in class spots. 20th Century-Fox 70 Minutes Jean Muir . . . Michael Whalen . . . Slim Summerville . . . Jane Darwell . . . Chas. Winninger . . . Lightning Directed by David Butler Worthy successor to "Ca 11 of the Wild" and built on same formula as the other Jack London film. Most of the action takes place in the frozen north. The human drama has been stressed with Lightning given just enough footage to satisfy the legion of dog lovers. This canine star, in the name role, that of a dog with a wolf strain, has been well directed and trained and his stuff is at all times convincing and highly effective. As befits its setting, everything in the picture is done with bold strokes. It has acts of heroism, lusty romance, robust humor and almost continuous action. Whalen, is the young adventurer who finds his true self amid the elements, gives a sincere performance which will win him many new fans while Jean Muir is at all times in character as the girl who redeems him. Slim Summerville has seldom been funnier, with Jane Darwell and Charles Winninger also in fine form. Butler's direction imparts the force and action required and the snowcovered landscape has been beautifully photographed. PLOT: Whalen a young prospector, narrowly escapes hanging for murder of sweetheart's brother, actually a suicide. Most of the action is taken up with proving his innocence. There is also conflict over possession of a mine, owned by the brother and coveted by a ruthless saloon keeper. Lightning figures in one long sequence where he follows Whalen out into a blizzard enroute to the mine bent on attack and remains to protect him from the elements. Lightning adopts Whalen as his master and it is through the animal that the latter is proven innocent. AD TIPS: Have beautiful police Jog on display m lobby. Make deal with local pet shop to offer police puppy as prize. Bill film as sequel to "Call of the Wild." HARRY BLAIR (Hollywood). HEARTS IN BONDAGE BOXOFFICE RATING HISTORICAL DRAMA . . . Handsome and engrossing production featuring historic Civil War battle between America's first iron-clad vessels — Monitor and Merrimac . . . Rest is an appealing story of lovers torn apart by war hatred . . . Cast good . . . Rates: • • •+■ except in action spots, where the costume angle will hold it down. Republic 70 Minutes James Dunn . . . Mae Clarke . . . David Manners . . . Charlotte Henry . . . Fritz Leiber . . . Henry B. Walthall . . . Frank McGlynn, Sr. . . . Oscar Apfel Directed by Lew Ayres With the gruelling historic battle between America's first 2 iron-clad ships as the focal Honest • • • Impartial REVIEWS You Can Trust point of the story, Lew Ayres, in his first directorial effort, has fashioned a handsome, sentimental and occasionally exciting film of Civil War strife, heroism and sacrifice, and of the lives and loves shattered by the struggle between North and South. In overcoming the disadvantages of a routine script that emits lines about the stupidity of war while depicting its glory, and a bit of bad casting in spotting James Dunn in the male lead, Ayres has subordinated all other elements to the development of events leading to the battle climax. The combat is well done and supplies a punch finish to a story, which, while it holds nothing unusual, always contrives to be interesting. Clarke is a charming heroine, never having been photographed to better advantage. Fritz Leiber delivers an adroit characterization of Erikson, builder of the Monitor. David Manners, Henry B. Walthall and Frank McGlynn, Sr., in his usual Lincoln role, are worthy of praise. Dunn tries hard, but fails to impress. The romance and conflict between lovers and friends is done with creditable restraint. Where there is no prejudice against costume pictures, "Hearts In Bondage" should get slightly better than average returns. PLOT: At tl)e outbreak of the Civil War, Dunn, in command pf the Union ship Merrimac, stationed in Southern port, sinks the vessel rather than let it fall info Confederate hands. For this he is dishonorably discharged from the service. The South, in need of ships to break the blockade by the North, raises the Merrimac and clads it in iron, the only ship of its kind. Leiber, Dunn's uncle and a designer of ships, draws plans for an iron-clad vessel with revolving gun-turret, the Monitor. With its acceptance by the Government, Leiber insists that his nephew be reinstated and given a place on the rliip. The Monitor arrives in Southern waters when the Merrimac i« destroying the blockading Northern vessels. In the battle, Dunn is compelled to order the firing of a cannon shot that kills Manners, his sweetheart's brother. With the Monitor victorious and the war over, Dunn returns to Mae, who has renounced their love because of his decision to enter the war. Believing their views unreconcilable, they encounter President Lincoln on a path beside the Potomac and learn from him that love must find a way now that the conflict is over. AD TIPS: A model ship contest or display will attract attention. Sell the historical angle to schools, children. Hang out the flags. Tie up with veteran groups. BARTON. {Additional Reviews on page 6)