Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (Sep 1935 - Aug 1936)

8 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1936 AS I SEE THEM REVIEWS OF NEW FILMS By ROLAND BARTON BOXOFFICE RATING:— • Means POOR; © • Means AVERAGE; • % • Means GOOD; 0 ® ® © Means EXCELLENT Plus ( + ) and Minus ( — ) will be used occasionally to indicate slightly above or below the point rating. At best this "point" system 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 criticism. BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY WITH SONGS ... Has great exploitation bet in Sophie Tucker, who sings four hot Mae Westian songs . . . Entertaining romantic comedy that will satisfy generally . . . Rates • • +, where Tucker's name means something; less elsewhere. Pam Pictures 68 Minutes Florence Desmond . . . Sophie Tucker . . . Ivor McLaren Directed by Leslie Hiscott With the sure-fire boxoffice name of Sophie Tucker as the lure, this English-made comedy with songs looks like a better than average attraction for the cities if it is exploited. Rural spots, where the Tucker name means less, will have to plug hard to get fair grosses. "The Last of the Red-Hot Mamas," as the robust blues singer is known, puts over four hot numbers in typical Mae West style, although one is wont to believe that Mae got her technique from this veteran. Miss Tucker has no part in the plot, which is an amusing, well-written and directed farce. Both in tempo and dialogue, "Gay Love" is less British than most films coming from the other side. In its leading player, Florence Desmond, it reveals a charming, clever young actress who should net be overlooked by Hollywood much longer. Her impersonations of Garbo, Zasu Pitts and Mae West are adroit and delightful. In the romantic and dramatic interludes she is likewise very capable. The plot concerns the mixup between two sisters and their fiances. The pleasure-loving girl who is about to capture a nobleman in order to pay her gambling debts, and the actress who is constantly pursued by her faithful admirer. They get tangled and the flighty girl emerges married to her sister's admirer, while the actress gets her sister's nobleman. While not exactly original, it has been handled neatly and makes for pleasant entertainment. AD TIPS: Sell Sophie Tucker as the "Last of the Red-Hoi Mamas." She's a million dollar boxoffice name. Her four numbers are "My Extraordinary Man," "Louisville Lady," "Georgia Gigolo" and "Imagine My Embarrassment." Compare her to Mae West and plug the angle that Mae learned her stuff from Sophie. IS A R TON. Hollywood Preview Hollywood Prei tew WALKING ON AIR BOXOFFICE RATING COMEDY WITH SONGS ... A sparkling, smart bit of fun that rates with the year's better light comedies . . . Won't be any great shakes at the b.o., however . . . Rates © • + where they like fluffy comedies; much less elsewhere. RKO 68 Minutes Gene Raymond . . . Ann Sothern . . . Jessie Ralph . . . Henry Stephenson . . . Gordon Jones . . . George Meeker . . . Maxine Jennings Directed by Joseph Santley This smart, romantic comedy is one of the smoothest bits of entertainment to come out of the R.K.O. studio in a couple of months. Its light, unimportant stuff with several tuneful melodies sung by the principals, but it will delight those who are amused by flippant dialogue in a breezy, slightly screwy story. To the scriptists and their gags go chief honors, for the lines are often funny. Their story is another one of those headstrong daughter-stubborn father disputes about who will make a suitable husband for daughter. The father hires a pug to accompany her, while the girl employs a young man, who poses as a boorish French count for the purpose of disgusting her father. Of course, the young man is the hero and the girl falls for him just about the time he gets fed up with his job and quits. He happens to be something of a crooner and gets a radio job, at which the girl discovers him. In a hilarious finish, he gets his girl. Gene Raymond, in one of his most ingratiating performances as the phoney nobleman, should please his fans and make new ones. His is a breezy, colorful portrayal that will especially please the ladies. Ann Sothern, as the wilfull daughter, is captivating and displays better than average comedy talent. Henry Stephenson and Jesse Ralph deliver their usual reliable performances. It's a gay, fluffy bit of fun. AD TIPS: Sell this a\ madcap comedy with song hits. Street bally consisting of a number of young men and girls with signs on their backs: "I'm Walking on Air." IIANNA (I lolly wood). GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, The BOXOFFICE RATING HORSE RACING MELODRAMA . . . Built around the life of Tod Sloan, famed jockey . . . Human, natural quality will please rural fans particularly . . . Some exciting races . . . Rates ® ® for small towns; less in cities. Republic 70 Minutes Eddie Quillan . . . Chic Sale . . . Charlotte Henry . . . John Miljan . . . Marjorie Gateson . . . Charles Wilson Directed by Irving Pichel Clean, sympathetic entertainment that will please generally. It hasn't much to offer in the way of marquee names, but the simple sincerity of the story and the acting will bring favorable comment. Using life of Tod Sloan, famous jockey of the gay nineties who introduced the modern method of race riding, as a basis, an interesting, occasionally exciting yarn about horse racing and the people who mingle in it has been fashioned. The atmosphere of the period has been nicely captured and one meets such characters as Diamond Jim Brady, John L. Sullivan and Steve Brodie. But these only form the background for the eventful story of Sloan's rise to fame, his partnership in a famous riding stable, his disgrace and disbarment from riding and his ultimate comeback to win a great race and the heart of the girl he loved in silence. Eddie Quillan stages a signal comeback of his own in the main role. He is a fine young actor who deserves more good roles. Chic Sale, minus his old Civil War makeup, turns in a neat performance as the Deacon, the jockey's pal. Charlotte Henry is a winsome heroine, and John Miljan skips through his villain's role as the one who first steals Tod's sweetheart, then causes his disgrace. Irving Pichel has done an admirable directing job in his first effort. The earlier races are far better staged th:.n the final one, which fails to create the excitement that would have made the film a better one. AD TIPS: The horse racing angle affords a world of opportunities for lobby displays, street ballys. Dress the ushers in jockey costumes a week in advance. Hire a fit horse from a local stable and dress a rider in jockey outfit for street bally. HANNA (Hollywood). Additional Reviews on page 6