Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

6 9*depe*uk*tt EXHIBITORS FILM BULLETIN 'INTERNATIONAL CRIME' Kates, • * + for nabes and action houses. EXCITING AND CLEVER MYSTERY Grand National (Alexander Bros.) 63 Minutes Rod La Roque. Astrid Allwyn, John St. Polis Directed by Charles La Mont This comes as a pleasant surprise from the Grand National Studios. Dealing in the further adventures of "the shadow," INTERNATIONAL CRIME emerges a swiftly-paced, cleverly dialoged study in crime solution. The script, the direction and the playing have been sc smartly handled as to warrant its consider ation as dual fare for the best deluxe houses. It can stand on its own in action and naborhood spots. It has been done in a flippant manner, with some dandy "inside" on the running of a large newspaper. Some of the lines are gems and sure laugh-getters. Rod La Roque is again "The Shadow" criminologist columnist on the newspaper, who has the police force burned up over his always being two steps ahead of them in his solution of crime and his crusading about "crime does not pay." In the present murder problem he is pestered and assisted by All wyn, niece of the publisher who is a pretty dumb cluck; but who sticks right on the job with La Roque so as to be in on the fireworks. Between broadcasts and columns La Roque, of course, solves the baffler, which involves International agents anxious to have their country fail in getting huge loan, just a fraction ahead of the flatfoots. La Roque and Astrid Allwyn turn in lively performances. Charles Lamont may take a bow for a very adroit directorial effort and Jack Nattaford rates orchids for the screen play. 'CALL OF THE YUKON' FAIR OUTDOOR MELODRAMA Rates • • as d nailer, slightly more in action spots. -Hollywood Preview Republic 70 Minutes Richard Arlen. Beverly Roberts, Lyle Talbot. Mala. Garry Owen, Ivan Miller, James Lono. Emory Parnell. Billy Dooley, Al St. John. Anthony Hughes, Nina Campana Directed by B. Reaves Eason Unfortunately, the ineffectual and unsatisfying development of its romantic conflict prevents this saga of the North from being first rate drama. Its setting is magnificent, the melodramatic conflict between man and nature is expertly drawn out and the performances of a group of trained animals are spellbinding. But these more or less atmos pheric qualities are not matched by the central motiviation. Hence CALL OF THE YUKON becomes a routine outdoor action piece, which will please in the lower bracket houses. Other spots will find it only adequate support. Beverly Roberts journeys to Alaska to gain atmosphere for a book. The cold winter comes and, since there is no food, the natives start South. She refuses to go, until tricked into leaving by Richard Arlen, a trapper. In the company of their animal friends, including two bear cubs, a wild dog, a bird and another dog, they begin their precarious trip. Each other's courage in the face of disaster brings them closer together emotionally. The ice breaks up and word reaches their point ol destination that they are lost. Talbot, who is fond of Miss Roberts, organizes a hunt and is instrumental in saving their lives. There is open conflict between the men for her affections, Arlen winning. Miss Roberts impresses most of the principals. The weakest point of her performance is that, like most movie heroines, she remains immaculately groomed through reels of harrowing disasters. Arlen and Talbot struggle manfully to surmount the inadequacies of their shallow parts. Audiences will enjoy the animals much more than the human actors. Eason's direction lacks punch and sincerity. AD TIPS: Feature this as an action story of the North. HANNA (Hollywood). 'BAR 20 JUSTICE' TOP Rates •• + /;/ action houses. Hollywood Preview ■ Paramount 70 Minutes William Boyd, George Hayes, Russell Hayden, Gwen Gaze, Pat O'Brien, Joseph de Stephani, William Duncan, Walter Long, H. Bruce Mitchell, John Beach Directed by Lesley Selander Producer Harry Sherman has succeeded admirably again, by switching the locale and atmosphere of this latest Hopalong Cassidy film, to make it just as interesting and enter NOTCH HORSE OPERA taining as the first. The plot is intelligent and well sustained throughout the punchy action sequences. As usual in this series, the romantic angle is played down. This will click solidly with the Hopalong fans in action houses and rural areas. Although it involves giving up a long promised trip to New York, Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) heeds the warnings of his pals, Hayden and Hayes when they tell him Gwen Gaze is in danger. Her husband, the owner of a valuable gold mine, has been killed and attempts are being made to halt Miss Gaze from operating it herself. Hopalong succeeds in tracking down those responsible. Miss Gaze goes East leaving him behind to operate the mine. Most pleasant phase of the film is the return of George Hayes to his familiar role of "Windy." The veteran comedian is given some choice lines and situations which he carries off brilliantly. Boyd is Hopalong. Paul Sutton is an admirable villian, ably abetted by Walter Long and Pat O'Brien. Selander's direction hits on oil points. HANNA (Hollywood). 'EXTORTION' FAIR CAMPUS MYSTERY Rates • • — as dualler. Columbia 60 Minutes Scott Colton, Mary Russell, Thurston Hall, Arthur Loft, Gene Morgan, Frank C. Wilson, Ann Doran, J. Farrell MacDonald. Nick Lukats, Albert Van Dekker Directed by Lambert Hillyer Entertaining, if at times a bit implausible, this college murder mystery will prove satisfactory for the crime mystery fans. In the quickie class, it has been nicely directed and production is adequate. Cast are adequate in their roles, but there isn't one name of any value to the box-office. It will satisfy in the nabes as a secondary dualler. Title will get fair grosses in action spots. Van Dekker, proctor, expels school's ace athlete, Lukats, for breaking a college rule, and engages in an argument with MacDonald over the matter. Van Dekker also attracts hatred of co-ed Doran, when he shifts his attention to Russell, daughter of physics prof Hall and sweetheart of Colton, editor of campus paper. Van Dekker presses his attention upon Russell and, at the same time, demands additional margin money from her father, Hall, whom he has persuaded to invest life savings in bad stock speculations. On the night of the Senior Prom, Van Dekker is found dead. Hall and others are suspected. Loft, police inspector, borrows a classroom, announces a class in advanced murder and has, for his pupils, all the suspects. Colton proves the most apt pupil of the class and assists Loft in apprehending the murderer. The angle of having all the suspects in a class-room for the murder course is novel. The pic moves along breezily and with a fair amount of suspense. Outstanding are the performances of Loft, as police commissionerHall, as the suspected professor; and Colton in the lead. AD TIPS: Sell along campus murder lines. Play up title and punch lines above cast for best results. PIX.