Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

MAY 14th, 1938 5 THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD' SEASON'S GREATEST FILM Rates Hollywood Preview Warner Brothers 105 Minutes Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland. Basil Rathbone. Claude Rains. Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette. Alan Hale, Melville Cooper. Ian Hunter. Una O'Connor, Herbert Mundin, Montagu Love, Leonard Wiley. Robert Noble. Kenneth Hunter, Robert Warwick Directed by Michael Curtiz & Wm. Keighley ROBIN HOOD is the biggest picture of the season! A sweeping adventure film, it has, also, rare depth and beauty; a combination of entertainment elements such as exhibitors and producers only dream about. From the legends of England's gallant Robin Hood, writers Norman Reilly Raine and Seton I. Miller, have scripted a magnificent story, rich in action, romance and pageantry, all set off by a breathtaking production enhanced by excellent Technicolor. Thrilling, tense, exciting and colorful, ROBIN HOOD is a glorious cinematic adventure, a treat for audiences of every class. Critical applause will be plentiful, word-of-mouth favorable and profuse. It is assured a thunderous reception at the boxoffice. Dashing Errol Flynn is Robin Hood, a charming rogue blithely facing danger and death to free his people from the hardships imposed on them by King John, who gains control of Britain's throne during the absence of his brother, Richard the Lion Hearted. John, who is superbly realized by the talented Claude Rains, is abetted by sinister Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper and Montagu Love. Olivia de Havilland imparts a distinctive warmth and dignity to Maid Marion. Patric Knowles is Will Scarlett and Eugene Pallette capably interprets the jovial Friar Tuck. Alan Hale is the delightful Little John. Ian Hunter is Richard the Lion Hearted, upon whose return Robin Hood and his men finally succeed in outwitting the wily John. Disguised as Friars they attend the coronation ceremony, engage in a stirring battle with the soldiers, and return Richard to his throne. The men of Sherwood Forest are pardoned ar.d Robin wins the lovely Marion. Directorial credit is split between Michael Curtiz and William Keighley. There is no evidence of the switch in the finished product. The story is smoothly told, building perfectly to very dramatic climax. A word of credit is deservedly due the photography by Tony Gaudio and Sol Polito, whose efforts on several occasions brought spontaneous applause from the preview audience, this reviewer included. AD TIPS: Call it the greatest adventure film of all time. Sell the great cast. HANNA (Hollywood). 'VIVACIOUS LADY' COMEDY AMUSING IN SPOTS Kates • • + generally. Hollywood Preview RKO 90 Minutes Ginger Rogers. James Stewart, James Ellison. Beulah Bondi. Carles Coburn, Frances Mercer, Phyllis Kennedy, Franklin Pangborn, Grady Sutton, Jack Carson, Alec Craig. Willie Best Directed by George Stevens VIVACIOUS LADY has the advantages of an appealing couple in Ginger Rogers and James Stewart. The trouble with this comedy is that its central idea is not strong enough to hold water through the footage required for a top attraction. Sixty minutes would have been plenty. As it stands now there are several howlingly funny sequences, but their excellence is offset by as many lagging scenes, particularly noticable in the beginning. It will probably click to above average grosses on the strength of the Rogers and Stewart names. Jmaes Stewart meets and marries Ginger, a night club entertainer. She goes with him to his home town, where he teaches at the college of which his father, Charles Coburn, is president. Afraid to tell his father of their marriage, Ginger is passed off as the girl friend of Stewart's irresponsible cousin and family black sheep, James Ellison. After various complications the truth comes out, Coburn forces Ginger to leave. With her goes his own wife, Beulah Bondi. Stewart gets drunk and asserts himself. Then, aided by his father, who by this time has seen the light, stops the train for a grand reunion. Stewart's performance is keyed to an annoyingly slow pace, which while consistent with his character constantly holds up the comic development. James Ellison is good as the bibulous cousin. Beulah Bondi and Charles Coburn make acceptable parents. Willie Best has some outstanding moments as a colored porter. AD TIPS: Feature Rogers and Stewart as a new romantic team. HANNA (Hollywood). 'CRIME SCHOOL' PUNCHY EXPLOITATION MELODRAMA Rates • • • generally. -Hollywood Preview Warners 85 Minutes Humphrey Bogart, Gale Page, Billy Halop. Bobby Jordon, Huntz Hall. Leo Gorcey, Bernard Punsley, Gabriel Dell, George Offerman, Jr., Weldon Heyburn, Cy Kendall, Charles Trowbridge, Milburn Stone, Harry Cording, Spencer Chartiers, Donald Briggs Directed by Lewis Seiler Once again the Warner Studio has lifted a labeled B picture into A boxoffice classification by utilizing strong exploitation angles. That CRIME SCHOOL meets the requirements of a top attraction may be traced to the presence of the "Dead End" kids in its cast. These youngsters, peculiarly adept at portraying street toughs, give the picture sock interest by the force and naturalness of their per formances. The story is familiar, moving through a host of well known complications to an obvious conclusion, but it is always engrossing. This can be sold at good grosses wherever they relish this type of high-powered melodrama. Story opens in the New York slums where the youngsters under the guidance of their leader, Billy Halop, sell the results of their stealing to a pawn broker. When he welches on their payoff, Leo Gorcey slugs him. He is seriously injured and the kids are brought into juvenile court. Rather than squeal, they all go to reform school. The institution is presided over by Cy Kendall, whose system of regulation breeds rather than reforms crime. Humphrey Bogart is engaged by the State to investigate conditions. He throws Kendall and his cohorts out, but retains Weldon Heyburn, the chief guard. Heyburn, anxious to hide his and Kendall's graft, as well as to discredit Bogart, connives to effect the runaway of the kids. Bogart saves the day in the nick of time, beats up Heyburn and later wins a parole for the boys. His romance with Halop's sister, Gale Page, ends in marriage. Acting honors, of course, go to the kids as a group. Each is perfect in his respective role. Humphrey Bogart is forceful in a sympathetic role. Gale Page is a lovely newcomer. Weldon Heyburn and Cy Kendall are expert heavies. Seiler's direction evidences neat blending of heavy drama and comedy. AD TIPS: Sell that title and the expose of reform school evils. Feature the "Dead End" gang and Bogart. Go to town on this one; it will bring big returns! HANNA (Hollywood). MORI KM/MVS OX PACIi r, BOXOFFICE RATINGS: • Means POOR; • • AVERAGE; • • • GOOD; • • • • EXCELLENT