Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

'IT STARTED WITH EVE' DURBIN AND LAUGH TON IN HIT Rates • • + generally •HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Universal. 90 Minutes. Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton, Robert Cummings, Guy Kibbee, Margaret Tallichet, Catharine Doucet, Walter Catlett, Charles Coleman, Leonard Elliott, Irving Bacon, Gus Schilling, Wade Boteler, Dorothea Kent, Clara Blandick. Directed by Henry Koster. What a grand show! We all remember how charming, appealing and captivating the early Eteanna Durbin pictures were. Here is one that compares favorably with the very best of them. The young actress-singer was never better and she is abetted immeasurably by her co-star, Charles Laughton. A delightful Cinderella story, tenderly directed by Henry Koster and beautifully produced by Joe Pasternack (his farewell to Universal), "It Started with Eve" is going to roll up high grosses everywhere except in action spots. The dialogue is continually amusing, some situations hysterically funny, others sentimentally lump raising. There's a lift to the entire show that will send people out as talking 24-sheet billboards. This definitely places Miss Durbin back on the top rung. This time Deanna is a hat check girl picked up in a frenzied moment by Robert Cummings, who wants her to pose as his fiancee to please his dying, millionaire, eccentric father, Charles Laughton. So delighted is he with his son's choice that Laughton re 'THREE SONS O' GUNS' SLAPSTICK PROGRAMMER Rates • • — as supporting dualler only Warner Bros. 65 Minutes. Wayne Morris, Marjorie Rambeau, Tom Brown, Irene Rich, William T. Orr, Fritz Feld, Susan Peters, Moroni Olsen, John Kelly, Barbara Pepper, Charles Halton, Florence Shirley, William Davidson, Charles D. Waldron. Directed by Ben Stoloff. Despite the fact that slapstick is frequently laid on with a heavy trowel "Three Sons o' Guns' is fast-moving at all times and funny enough to entertain naborhood audiences. The draft-dodging theme has great laugh possibilities, but, in this case, Director Ben Stoloff and his male players try too hard to achieve a comic effect. Into a wacky household of the "You Can't Take It with You" school, a punch-drunk boxer, a troupe of ham actors in costume and even a trained seal are introduced in an attempt to keep the fun rolling. It's hilarious at one moment, ridiculous the next, but it will make good support for a serious drama on naborhood or small town duals. The title refers to the three shiftless sons of a patient widow (Irene Rich). The boys not only refuse to knuckle down to work, but they keep their mother in debt and their home in an uproar while they try out their hare-brained schemes. Comes conscription and while one son feigns bad eye 'THE PITTSBURGH KID' SOLID EXPLOITATION FEATURE Rates or better where sold -HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Republic 76 Minutes Billy Conn, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell, Alan Baxter, Veda Ann Borg, Jonathan Hale, Emesrt Whitman, John Kelly, Etta McDaniel, Dick Elliott, John Harmon, Robert Barron and Arthur Donovan, Henry Armstrong, Freddie Steele, Jack Roper, Sam Baiter, Dan Tobey. Directed by Jack Townley "The Pittsburgh Kid" is an unpretentious picture and Republic makes no bones about its shortcomings or the fact that it was so hastily put together to capitalize on Billy Conn's recent bout with Joe Louis. The surprise of the whole thing is that it stacks up as eminently satisfactory filmfare — a solid. substantial exploitation picture that will have little trouble in getting by in its bracket. Much of the credit may be taken by director Jack Townley, who presents Conn as a charming and interesting personality and has interwoven the action elements into a story which sustains interest despite its triteness and obvious conclusions. Conn, himself, makes a most satisfactory impression — he photographs well and has none of the "pug" about him. Word-of-mouth reaction to his appearance and manner will aid the boxofRce returns. There will be interest on the part of sports fans in such personalities as Arthur Donovan, Jack Roper, Sam Baiter, Henry Armstrong. Conn is a promising young boxer who falls into the managerial hands of Jean Parker after her father's death. She tries to prevent him from becoming involved with unscrupu 'THE KID FROM KANSAS' TRITE ACTION YARN Rates • • — on nannes HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Universal. 61 Minutes. Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, Andy Devine, Ann Doran, Francis McDonald, James Seay, Marcia Ralston, Nestor Paiva, Antonio Moreno, Leyland Hodgson, Wade Boteler, Guy Usher. Directed by William Nigh. All about the difficulties of planters in shipping their produce to overseas markets, this is feeble action entertainment which has the disadvantage of too many plot threats, too little excitement and pretty corny comedy. Dick Foran is a mysterious stranger who wanders into the scene, straightens everything out and is disclosed to be a representative of the shipping company which has long suspected something rotten in its outlying posts. Leo Carrillo is a rancher, Andy Devine, his aide. Ann Doran is cast covers almost miraculously. There is conflict between the young couple when Cummings seeks to introduce his real fiancee and Durbin is anxious to continue the playacting in order to meet Laughton's musical friends who might be interested in her voice. Laughton becomes aware of the true facts and is instrumental in bringing Durbin and Cummings together in a real love match. In both the vocal and acting departments, Miss Durbin is her familiar vivacious, animated self. Her musical numbers are worked into the script as an integral part of the story and her voice is better than ever. Charles Laughton, devoid of his mannerisms, gives a superlative performance of the tycoon — it's mostly low comedy and Laughton plays it to the hilt. Robert Cummings, a trifle too exuberant, gives a good performance neverthe-less. Guy Kibbee has a pleasant bit as a bishop. Catharine Doucet, Clara Blandick and Margaret Tallichet do well in supporting roles. Henry Koster's direction extracts the utmost in comedy values from the tight, compact screen play and there is real warmth and tenderness in the serious moments. HANNA (Hollywood) sight and another attempts a rush marriage, the eldest (Wayne Morris) gets a job so he can claim that he is his mother's sole support. But when their irate Aunt Lottie (Marjorie Rambeau) tells the draft board the truth, the boys join the army which will "make men out of them." Marjorie Rambeau, who scores a laugh with each and every sarcastic retort, and Irene Rich, in a sincere dramatic portrayal of the worried mother, are outstanding in the cast. Wayne Morris, Tom Brown and William T. Orr are good types to play the scatter-brained sons and Pritz Feld and John Kelly are amusing in bit roles. LEYENDECKER lous promoters and in going the way of all fighters, flush with the first prospects of success. She succeeds in a measure until Conn becomes implicated in a murder. To secure the evidence necessary to vindicate him, Parker is compelled to sell his contract and agree to Veda Ann Borg's proposal that she drop out of the picture. During the final bout, Borg softens when she sees that Conn needs Parker's influence and advice to guide him to victory. Miss Parker is a pleasing heroine and Veda Ann Borg does well as the vamp. There is a quiet, persuasive performance by Dick Purcell as an interested and kindly sports writer. Ernest Whitman and Etta McDaniel supply the comedy. The sports notables add interest and color to the production. HANNA (Hollywood) as an agricultural research expert and is about as convincing as Minnie Mouse. Marcia Ralston is the other woman. James Seay, the chap responsible for all the mischief, has been working a deal with the banker to quote high rates in order for the moneybag to acquire the rancher's valuable properties at great discounts. William Nigh directed and Ben Pivar is responsible for the production. HANNA (Hollywood) 8 FILM BULLETIN