Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

OCTOBER 2 2, 1938 5 "THE SISTERS* Davis and Flynn Spell Good Boxoffice Rales • • •; less for aclion houses. Hollywood Preview Warners 98 Minutes Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, Anita Louise, [an Hunter, Donald Crisp, Beulah Bondi, Jane Bryan, Alan Hale, Dick Foran, Henry Travers, Patric Knowles, Lee Patrick,, Laura Hope Crewes, Janet Shaw, Harry Davenport, Ruth Garland, John Warburton, Mayo Methot, Irving Bacon, Arthur Hoyt. Directed by Anatole Litvak There is not a great deal of solid plot material to this episodical story of the lives and loves of three closely devoted sisters, but it is, nevertheless, an extremely interesting piece of filmfare. Its most distinguishing feature is the sincerity and plausibility of the tale, a quality further achieved by the splendid acting of the principals and the intelligent direction of Anatole Litvak. Bette Davis and Errol Flynn form a potent boxoffice team, which should get THE SISTERS good grosses in all except strictly action houses. Davis, Jane Bryan and Anita Louise are the daughters of Henry Travers and Beulah Bondi — the most beautiful girls in Silver Bow, Montana. For Bette and Anita, the admiration of their home town life falls short of satisfaction. Jane marries Dick Foran and life there becomes full and happy. Bette goes to San Francisco married to Errol Flynn, an irresponsible newspaperman. Anita accepts the matrimonial offer of Alan Hale and while she does not love him, he satisfies her desire for travel and the luxuries his money can buy. His death helps her win her desires more completely. In San Francisco, Flynn's weakness and inability to cope with life crashes his and Bette's world. She goes to work in Ian Hunter's department store and Errol ships himsefi to Singapore. The earthquake occurs and Bette is saved by two women of the outcast fringe, Laure Hope Crewes and Lee Patrick. In their establishment she is found some weeks later by Hunter and her father. Hunter is now in love with her, but Bette persists in the belief that Flynn will come back. When she is called to Silver Bowl to straighten out a difficulty between Bryan and Foran, Flynn returns to San Francisco. He follows her to Silver Bowl and meets her at a presidential ball in the town hall. Their reunion is dramatically reminiscent of their first meeting in the same spot. Quite different from Miss Davis' recent characterizations, this is a quiet, serene portrayal, unaffected and devoid of mannerisms. She plays it beautifully — another plume in her well feathered cap. By all odds this is Errol Flynn's best performance. In a role calling for a wide range of expression, in addition to creating sympathy for a weak character, the actor does superb work. Anita Louise and Jane Bryan score in their respetcive assignments. Ian Hunter, Donald Crisp, Beulah Bondi and Henry Travers contribute their usual reliable performances. Outstanding is Lee Patrick, who plays her difficult role with great finesse. Laura Hope Crewes has only one brief scene — a perfect one however — which the capable character actress makes the laugh howl of the show. Litval^'s splendid direction blends the diverse story threads into a compelling, dramatic film. It was a challenging job, to which the director magnificently responded. HANNA (Hollywood) 'LISTEN, DARLING* Delightful Comedy Rales • • • — in all bul aclion houses. Hollywood Preview MGM 70 Minutes Judy Garland, Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon, Alan Hale, Scotty Beckett, Barnett Parker, Gene Lockhart, Charley Grapewin. Directed by Edwin L. Marin This is a charming and zestful light comedy elegantly suited to first run and neighborhood trade. Yarn has an attractive new angle which has been expertly enlarged upon by a clever script and splendidly interpreted by a captivating cast under the direction of Edwin L. Marin. Its name value will assure this of above average boxoffice returns. Mary Astor is the widowed mother of Judy Garland and Scotty Beckett. Due to financial difficulties she plans to marry Gene Lockhart, although she does not love him. Freddie Bartholomew, Judy's boy friend and next door neigh bor, decides the best thing to do is to get her away from town. They plot a trailer trip, lure Miss Astor into it and start off. When it becomes apparent that Mary is still determined to marry Lockhart for the sakte of the youngsters, they decide to search for a husband. Walter Pidgeon is their first target, but later another prospect (with insurance) turns up in the person of Alan Hale. Last minute differences between Pidgeon and Astor are ironed out by the kindly Hale, and the triumphant family starts for home. Garland scores solidly with her deft portrayal of the young girl unwilling to let her mother risk unhappiness for her sake. Bartholomew is delightful in a choice role. Miss Astor, always charming, seems even more so. Pidgeon is excellent, as is Alan Hale. Scotty Beckett is a youngster who bears watching. His chance meeting with a striped beaver (skunk) is a very funny scene. AD TIPS: Feature Bartholomew and Garland. Sell angle of parents being a problem to children. HANNA (Hollywood) 'SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS* Fair Drama Rales • • as dualler. Warners 70 Minutes Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter, Gloria Dickson, Isabel Jeans, Dennie Moore, Selmer Jackson, Herbert Rawlinson, Emmet Vogan, James B. Carlson. Directed by William Kieghley This is a moderately entertaining drama and serves its purpose as a vehicle for Kay Francis. It is well acted and com petently directed but won't cause any great rush at the boxoffice. Where it won't attract a good feminine trade, it should be coupled with a strong exploitation feature for best results. Miss Francis is an actress whose career has been successful on the road, but not in New York. She determines to hold out for a Broadway show. After several disappointments, she meets Ian Hunter, an architect, who proposes that he back her venture. The show is a hit and she falls in love with Brent, Hunter's associate, who at first opposed the idea of Hunter's association with show business. Learning that he is married to a shrewish wife, Gloria Dickson, Francis calls off their romance. Hunter hears of this, succeeds in arranging a divorce for Brent and gallantly relinquishes Miss Francis to his partner. HANNA (Hollywood) MORE REVIEWS ON PAGE 6