Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1941)

'MELODY LANE' LIGHT MUSICAL HAS GOOD SINGING Rates • • — as supporting dualler. Universal 60 minutes. The Merry Macs (Judd, Ted and Joe McMichael and Mary Lou Cook), Sandy, Leon Errol, Butch and Buddy, Anne Gwynne, Robert Paige, Don Douglas, Ed Piel, Jr. Directed by Charles Lament. A light and inconsequential programmer, "Melody Lane" has enough warbling by The Merry Macs to put it over as a supporting dualler. The boys of this rhythm foursome again attempt to use the Ritz Bros, comedy style, with very little success, but, when they start harmonizing, they prove that they are leaders in this field. The nonsensical story is merely a frame for the musical talents of The Merry Macs, the familiar humorous efforts of Leon Errol, Butch and Buddy and little Sandy's precocious stunts. Errol can always be depended on for a few laughs, but the songs are all that really count. For the naborhood houses where the youthful fans will enjoy the swing numbers. The story concerns the difficulties in getting a name band to play on Kornies' Breakfast Food radio hour due to the president • Leon Errol) and his insistence on joining in the musical broadcasts. Robert Paige, leader of a hot band in the sticks, finally agrees to play for Kornies' if his orphaned niece, Sandy, becomes accustomed to city surroundings. The complications stem from Errol's making a nuisance of himself by cutting in on the rehearsals and from Sandy's disappearance and the resultant kidnapping scare. Errol is found innocently walking Sandy home and, after his arrest, he agrees not to meddle with the new band. Sandy is still a cute little girl who now indulges in a few almost-unintelligible remarks. We suspect she is pretty much of a "has-been" insofar as boxoffice value goes. The mischievous brats Butch and Buddy also need some new material. Robert Paige and Anne Gwynne are merely adequate as the romantic leads, but Mary Lou Cook shows promise as a trouble-making singer. FRANK BARRY WESTERN HAS GOOD CAST 'A MISSOURI OUTLAW RED Rates ♦ ♦ in action spots. Republic 58 minutes. Don "Red" Barry, Lynn Merrick, Noah Beery, Paul Fix, Al St. John, Frank La Rue, John Merton, Carleton Yoiung, Lee Shumway, Raphael Bennett, Frank Brownlee, Kermit Maynard, Ken Duncan, Snowflake. Directed by George Sherman. "A Missouri Outlaw" has a full quota of action to satisfy the western fans. Unfortunately, the story keeps the star, two-fisted Don "Red" Barry on the sidelines during the first half of the film, but he later makes up for this by riding, shooting and fighting his way to a rip-roaring climax. The supporting cast, which includes that dependable character actor, Noah Beery, is well above average for a western and the photography is deserving of special comment as well. It adds up to good fare for the cowboy addicts. Barry plays a hot-headed young westerner who returns to his home town despite the fact that his father, the sheriff (Noah Beery) is determined to put him on trial for a murder charge. Knowing that his son shot in self-defense. Beery believes that a fair trial will free him. Before this can be accomplished, two members of the town's racketeer element kill Beery while escaping from jail and the blame is placed on Barry. The protective association, which has the dairymen of the town at its mercy, gives testimony against Barry in court and he is forced to escape to try to prove his innocence. With the aid of a timid old dairyman, Barry finally rounds up all his suspects and makes the killer confess. Don "Red" Barry is thoroughly convincing as the vengeful hero. Noah Beery is excellent as his law-abiding father and Al St John is both amusing and pathetic as a weak-willed dairyman. This old-time actor is responsible for all the film's lighter moments and deserves a permanent spot in the Barry westerns. Lynn Merrick, the standard Barry heroine, has little to do but look attractive, which she does exceptionally well. P. L 'JESSE JAMES AT BAY' GOOD Rates • • in action spots. Republic 56 Minutes Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Sally Payne, Pierre Watkin, Ivas Miller, Hal TaUaferro, Gale Storm, Roy Barcroft, Rex Lease, Fern Emmett, William Benedict, Jack Kirk, Edward Piel, Sr. Directed by Joseph Kane. Another lively Roy Rogers outdoor vehicle with the usual high quota of riding action and shooting thrills. The attempt to give "Jesse James at Bay" some historical significance is only moderately successful, with the outlaw remaining a typical Roy Rogers ROY ROGERS WESTERN portrayal. The star has a dual role, that of the retired James and a down-and-out gambler who resembles him, and he plays them both capably and in a manner to please his numerous followers. The story has been held to a swift pace by Director Joseph Kane and the film should draw well in action spots. A foreword explains that a legend has persisted that Jesse James escaped hanging and lived to settle down in the West. A letter from his old friend, Sheriff "Gabby" Hayes, brings Jesse out of retirement to champion the cause of settlers who are in danger of losing their options on land alongside the railroad. The swindling president (Pierre Watkin) has permitted the settlers to improve the property and is now demanding huge sums which Jesse steals from the trains carrying gold shipments. In desperation Watkin hires a bandit who resembles James to steal and burn the settlers' farms and put them against their benefactor. The two outlaws, good and bad, interchange identities until Jesse exposes the swindling banker. G€orge "Gabby" Hayes supplies the bewhiskered comedy relief in more than adequate fashion and Pierre Watkin is a suave and effective villain. The two girls, impish Sally Payne and Gale Storm are attractive, although scarcely credible as newspaper reporters of the '90's. LEYSNDECKER Check Some FILM BULLETIN Reviews with your boxoffice grosses and you will find an amazing degree of ACCURACY BULLETIN THE niDEPEMDEMT TBADE JOURNAL 22 FILM BULLETIN