Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1938)

5 1 NOVEMBER 5, 1 9 3 8 SUBMARINE PATROL.' Powerful John Ford Drama Rales • • • generally. Hollywood Preview 20th Century-Fox 95 Minutes Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly, Preston Foster, George Bancroft, Slim Summerville, John Carradine, Joan Valerie, Henry Armetta, Warren Hymer, Douglas Fowley, J. Farrell MacDonald, Maxie Rosenbloom, Dick Hogan, E. E. Clive, Ward Bond, Charles Tannen, Robert Lowery, George E. Stone, Elisha Cook, Jr., Jack Pennick, Charles Trowbridge, Moroni Olsen, Harry Strang, Victor Varconi. Directed by John Ford Busy counting up the grosses on ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND, exploiting SUEZ and reminding the press that JESSE JAMES was in production, 20th CenturyFox must have forgotten SUBMARINE PATROL until preview time. By all odds it is the best picture turned out by the studio in many months. Utilizing the little known story of the part played by the so-called "splinter fleet" in the World War, it is an intensely exciting drama set off by grand comedy and a compelling romance. Production is admirable, showing painstaking care and attention to detail by director John Ford. This will require extra exploitation, but word-of-mouth advertising and critical acclaim will help. SPLINTER FLEET, the original title, would have been more effective. Richard Greene, member of New York's wealthy society, enlists in the Navy during the early days of the War. He is assigned a post as engineer on one of the little wooden sub-chasers boasting a nondescript crew of enlisted men. Preston Foster is a deposed officer assigned to handle the vessel. Under his command things are made ship shape and eventually the vessel is ordered to sea. Meanwhile Greene has fallen in love with Nancy Kelly, the pretty young daughter of Charles Bickford, owner of a freighter. Bickford has forbidden the boy to see her, but they meet again in Europe. Greene plans a marriage. Bickford interferes. The ship is assigned to a special task and makes ready for departure. Learning that Greene actually was sincere in his intentions toward Nancy, Bickford goes aboard to apologize. Greene socks him and by the time he is revived the ship is out at sea. Bickford requests a post in the engine room. The exciting climax comes when the tiny vessel successfully ends the death dealings of a notorious German submarine. Richard Greene and Nancy Kelly make an attractive romantic team, although the screenplay is cleverly contrived so that while they appear to be the central figures the action is actually carried by the character players whose acting is more reliable. Foster and George Bancroft are powerful. To Summerville goes a salue for one of the best performances in his career. His seasick scene in an overcrowded kitchen is a bit of pantomine worthy of Chaplin. Warren Hymer, Douglas Fowley, J. Farrell MacDonald — in fact every member of the strong supporting cast — deserve mention. Back in the element of LOST PATROL with its flavor of rugged action and virile, manly drama, John Ford again displays his magnificent directorial abilities. It is a compelling, thoughtful job full of dramatic and human qualities. AD TIPS: Feature this as a story of the little known phase of World War history about the "Splinter Fleet." Mention Ford, director of great hits. List the huge cast, good names down the line. HANNA (Hollywood) 'ARTISTS AND MODELS ABROAD' Poor Musical Rales • • generally on names. Hollywood Preview Paramount 90 Minutes Jack Benny, Joan Bennett, Mary Boland, Charley Grapewin, The Yacht Club Boys, Fritz Feld, Phyllis Kennedy, Mony Woolley, George P. Huntley, Joyce Compton, Adrienne D'Ambricourt, Andre Cheron, Jules Raucourt. Directed by Mitchell Leisen This is a dull and generally unentertaining musical. It never rises above the commonplace, despite the efforts of several good performers. Story idea is neither new nor good. The same may be said for its inept development. Musical interludes, of which there are fewer than in most pictures of this type, are pretty frightful. The intended high spot of the film is a fashion show featuring gowns by such couturiers as Paquin, Lelong and Schiparelli. The sequence makes use of the weirdest camera angles and moves so slowly that one fairly itches to yell "nuts" and run to Klein's Bargain Basement! Even the feminine contingent word-ofmouth reaction will be unfavorable. The story has to do with a stranded theatrical troupe headed by Jack Benny. Into their problems marches Joan Bennett, the fourth wealthiest girl in the world. Complications ensue, but Jack finally gets the gal and decides that she need not sacrifice her position and money on his account. Benny's material is poor. Miss Bennett resembles an animated iceberg. Maiy Boland's few scenes help a little. If you like the Yacht Club Boys — they're around too — singing the same melodies in the very same style they've been using for years. Supporting cast is composed largely of French players, whose constant outbursts in their native language are more annoying than amusing. Mitchell Leisen's direction indicates that he is as weary of turning out this type of picture as we are of seeing them. He is an expert director but should strike for a decent assignment. AD TIPS: Sell Jack Benny and the title. HANNA (Hollywood) 'SUNSET TRAIL' Maintains High llopalonu Standard Rales • • in western houses. Hollywood Preview Paramount 68 Minutes William Boyd, George Hayes, Russell Hayden, Charlotte Wynleres, Jane Clayton, Robert Fiske, Kenneth Harlan, Anthony Nace, Kathryn Sheldon, Maurice Cass, Alphonses Ethier, Glenn Strange, Claudia Smith. Directed by Lesley Selander Harry Sherman's HOPALONG CASSIDY series continues to evoke this reviewer's admiration for its consistently high standard. If anything, SUNSET TRAIL is better than average — an action packed western full of the necessary hard riding and fast shooting. Lighter in theme than most Hopalongs, the angle of casting Bill Boyd as a western hero turned tenderfoot makes this acceptable dual fare in some naborhood houses which shun ordinary westerns. Charlotte Wynters' husband sells out his ranch to Robert Fiske, who, in turn, holds up the stage coach on which he and his family are traveling and makes off with the money. Miss Wynters opens up a dude ranch and Bill Boyd, disguised as one of the more nervous "dudes," comes along to help unearth the mystery of her husband's murder. He ultimately succeeds in doing this with the aid of his pals, George Hayes and Russell Hayden. The three vets of the group score as usual aided by Lesley Selander's top flight direction and a high calibre supporting cast. HANNA (Hollywood) MORE REVIEWS ON PAGE 6