Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

OCTOBER 22, 1 93 8 15 What the Newspaper Critics Say SUEZ (201h Cenlury-Fox) ". . . Fails to dramatize its theme. . . . Trying romance, ballroom scenes and random spectacle. . . . Striking sequences. . . ." Howard Barnes, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE ". . . Ponderously implausible. . . . Historical excursion. Everything but credibility. . . ." Frank S. Nugenl, N. Y. TIMES ". . . Fair. . . . Slow and ponderous. . . . Several hairraising incidents. . . . Good acting. . . . Lumbers along. . . ." Wm. Boehnel, N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM KING OF ALCATRAZ (Paramount) ". . . Singularly exciting. . . . Remarkable suspense and vigor. ... A tall tale. . . . Several notches above most productions of its class. . . ." Howard Barnes, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE ". . . Poor. . . . Lurid and fantastic yarn. . . ." Wm. Boehnel, N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM ". . . Strong stuff. . . . Overrun with murder, mobsters. . . . Many novel devices for thrills. . . . Gripping climax. . . . Performances, dialog and direction are splendid throughout. . . ." Rob Reel, CHICAGO AMERICAN STABLEMATES (M-G-M) ". . . Everything that could be desired in the line of straight-from-the-shoulder, popular-type entertainment. . . . Laughs and lots of them. . . . Good sentimental moments. . . . Moves fast without undue embroidery. . . ." H. T. M., PHILA. EVENING LEDGER ". . . Best-selling variety. . . . Comedy and drama. . . . Frankly sentimental. . . . Sprinkled with comedy. . . . Performances good. . . ." Elsie Finn, PHILA. RECORD ". . . Sure-fire hokum. . . . Swell entertainment. . . ." W. Ward Marsh, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER STUDIO SIZE-LPS (Continued from page 8) UNIVERSAL Three pictures are shooting here, holdovers from our last comment. Two more programmers get the starting gun this week, after which W. C. Fields will start the group of top pictures rolling with You Can't Cheat An Honest Man. This will be followed by Three Smart Girls Grow Up (Durbin), Rio (Darrieux) and Three's Company (Crosby). . . . Because James Stewart is unavailable at this time, it is believed U will have to postpone production of Destry Rides Again. It is not unlikely, however, that Stewart will be used in another feature and a different star selected for Destry. . . . Reports that Pennsylvania Railroad vice-president George Le Boutillier was buying into this company gave U's stock the jitters, but a quick denial of the rumor soon set things normal. . . . Val Paul resigned as studio manager of this lot and was succeeded by Martin Murphy, a veteran of the old Laemmle regime. . . . Universal is planning to cash in on the current vogue for horror pictures. Among those planned is a triple dose of chills to be incorporated into one feature titled Son Of Frankenstein. It will feature Peter Lorre as Frank Jr., aided and abetted by Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Basil Rathbone will handle a sympathetic role in the same picture. YOUTH TAKES A FLING (Universal) ". . . Refreshing simplicity. . . . Plot is thin and a bit preposterous. . . . Charming, honest. . . . Definitely satisfying entertainment. . . . Human, amusing and credible. . . ." Howard Barnes, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE ". . . Poor. . . . Very little entertainment. . . . Stereotyped to the core. . . ." Wm. Boehnel, N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM ". . . Great many virtues. . . . Andrea miscast. . . . Laughs. . . ." Rob Reel, CHICAGO AMERICAN ". . . Engaging little comedy-romance. . . . Whimsical, bright dashes of humor. . . . Amusing. . . ." Glenn C. Pullen, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER AFFAIRS OF ANNABEL (RKO) ". . . Light farce. . . . Flip players in it. . . . All to the good. ..." Frank S. Nugent, N. Y. TIMES ". . . Fair. . . . Intentions are, for the most part, better than the results achieved. . . ." Wm. Boehnel, N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM ". . . Makes for laughs. . . . Not a big picture. . . :" Irene Thirer, N. Y. POST THERE GOES MY HEART (United Artists) ". . . Familiar and feeble. . . . Intermittently and mildly entertaining. . . . Fragmentary merriment. . . ." Howard Barnes, N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE ". . . Good. ... A minor triumph. . . . Great deal of sparkle and naturalness. . . . First-rate entertainment. . . ." Wm. Boehnel, N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM ". . . Slightly remininscent of "It Happened One Night." . . . Many lines and situations creating merriment. . . . Pretty good entertainment. . . ." Archer Winsten, N. Y. POST Quite a cast! . . . Apparently in answer to the speculation on U's financial situation, came a statement from the front office advising that the company's world operations are bringing in a weekly gross of $40,000 more trian last year and that black ink is going on the ledger for the first time in several years. It is also announced that "a new line of credit has been negotiated which is calculated to be sufficient to meet the company's financial requirements for two years." The new credit arrangements involve no changes in the operating personnel. Improvement in U's condition is credited to Nate Blumberg, who assumed the presidency ten months ago, when the company was at its very lowest ebb. WARNERS Production is slow for this lot — only three pictures currently before the cameras. It is a slight lull before WB begins its extensive winter schedule. At least 10 films will start within the next 30 days. . . . Tentative cast of Juarez as follows: Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Edward G. Robinson and John Garfield. To which we add the comment: Wow! . . . Dodge City is off the WB schedule again as a result of Errol Flynn's illness. Studio is dickering for Ronald Colman. Next Flynn assignment will be The Sea Hawk. . . . Screenplay of The Miracle has been completed and will start production following Bette Davis' appearance in Juarez. She is currently emoting in Dark Victory.