The Film Daily (1940)

Monday, November 25, 1940 :< REVIEWS OF TH€ IKUJ HLfllS v :< 'Tin Pan Alley" Kith Alice Faye, Betty Grable, Jack Oakie, John Payne Jth-Fox 94 Mins. SMASH ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL UDIENCES; PICTURE TOPS IN EVERY lEPARTMENT, AND SHOULD BE ONE OF (YEARS BIGGEST B. 0. HITS. Containing everything in the way of entertainment that any audience could ask for, this new 20th-Fox musical should be one of the year's smash hits, gladdening the hearts of exhibitors as well as 20th-Fox's. Here is a picture that will sell itself by word of mouth as entertainment; here is a picture that will be sold by critics as entertainment through glowing reviews, and certainly no exhibitor could ask for anything more in the way of selling material for his own use — great song numbers, big stars for the marquee, a story with romance, drama and heartbreak, and all in one package. Associate producer Kenneth MacGowan and production head Darryl F. Zanuck "shot the works" as far as the general excellence of the picture goes. Director Walter Lang turns in a job that leaves nothing to be desired, skilfully maneuvering his players, making the most of his drama and getting the most from his comedy sequences. The smoothly paced screenplay, flowing continuity and unstilted dialogue, was contributed by scripters Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, who deserve the warmest sort of praise. Leon Shamroy does a beautiful job with the cameras. Credit for swell musical direction goes to Alfred Newman, and Seymour Felix gets a hand for the dance numbers. Alice Faye registers effectively both dramatically and musically. Betty Grable brings to the picture that certain something known as "oomph," and she is a sure bet to wow audiences. Her dancing is expert, she delivers her lines adequately and is an attractive decoration for the picture. Jack Oakie is right at home in a wise-cracking comedy role; audiences will eat it up. John Payne registers nicely in a straight role as Miss Raye's vis-a-vis in the picture's romantic interest; he is cer tain to grab himself more important roles as a leading man as a result of this picture. As for the remainder of the cast it is very heavily on the plus side. Allen Jenkins is amusing, Billy Gilbeit will get heavy laughs in a dance number. Esther Ralston is good in a brief part and John Loder Elisha Cook, Jr., Fred Keating and all the other players are both able and effective One corking dance number is put over with a bang by the Nicholas Brothers. Picture has a nostalgic setting, the Tin Pan Alley of pre-war days providing the background. Introduction of some old numbers popular before and' during the last war and right now will also give audiences a spine-tingling thrill. "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France?" and "America I Love You" sure to get a big hand from the customers. One new number written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren is catchy and tuneful. "K-K-K-Katy," set to marching troops, will also draw a big hand. Memories, both pleasant and sad, are stirred by the picture. "Meet The Missus" with Roscoe Karns, Ruth Donnelly, Spencer Charters Republic 68 Mins. NEW CAST CLICKS IN HIGGINS FAMILY STORY BUT SCRIPT HAS WEAKNESSES. Spruced up with a new cast, the latest release in Republic's Higgins series, is aimed at the family trade and fills the bill. The Higginses get in their usual amount of troubles, although in this instance, some are far-fetched. The writers strain for humor at the end of the picture, another defect. However, the laughs are there. Roscoe Karns, Ruth Donnelly, Spencer Charters as grandpa, Goerge Ernest and Lois Ransom comprise the Higgins family, with the Gleasons missing from the scene for the first time since the series was started. The new cast acquits itself favorably, and Polly Moran, Astrid Allwyn, Alan Ladd, Harry Woods and Dorothy Ann Seese are helpful additions. Mai St. Clair directed. Young Ernest loses some bonds which are negotiable that he was supposed to have delivered for the firm he and his father work for. From there on trouble brews at increasing speeds; money must be raised to pay for the bonds; grandpa gets involved with Polly Moran; and Karns gets mixed up with Miss Allwyn; but it was all a mistake and all's well that ends well. CAST: Roscoe Karns, Ruth Donnelly, Spencer Charters, George Ernest, Lois Ransom, Polly Moran, Astrid Allwyn, Alan Ladd, Harry Woods, Dorothy Ann Seese, Harry Tyler. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Robert North; Director, Mai St. Clair; Original Screenplay, Val Burton, Ewart Anderson and Taylor Cavan; Cameraman, Ernest Miller; Editor, Ernest Nims. DIRECTION, 0. K. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Benny to be Toasimaster Philadelphia — Jack Benny will be toastmaster at the local Variety Club's annual banquet Dec. 12 at the Bellevue-Stratford. "Youth Will Be Served" with Jane Withers, Jane Darwell, Robert Conway 20th-Fox 66 Mins. COMEDY MELODRAMA IS ONE-GIRL SHOW FOR JANE WITHERS; JUVES WILL LIKE IT. Young Miss Withers in this comedy melodrama puts on pretty much of a onegirl show in this release, with generally good results, especially for the juve trade. The story has quite a lot of action, the plot is okay and the climax is a logical ending. Miss Withers is able and effective, and is supported by a capable cast that includes Jane Darwell, Robert Conway, Elyse Knox, John Qualen, Charles Holland, Tully Marshall and Cy Kendall. Holland, young Negro singer, puts over one number with a smash. Otto Brower directed from a screenplay by Wanda Tuchock. Qualen, Jane's father, is arrested for moonshining. Joe Brown, Jr., a friend, and Jane follow him when he leaves their little southern town in the hands of the law. When two bank bandits wreck their :ar the two kids flee into the woods to avoid getting mixed up in the affair. They bump into an NYA camp and Jane stays there, while Brown goes to a CCC camp. Jane finally captivates the heart of Marshall, who is plotting to take the camp property over, and in a good climax she and Qualen, who has escaped from jail, help the police to capture the other bandits, with everything working out for the best. CAST: Jane Withers, Jane Darwell, Elyse Knox, Robert Conway, Joe Brown, Jr., John Qualen, Charles Holland, Clara Blandick, Tully Marshall, Cy Kendall. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Lucien Hubbard; Director, Otto Brower; Screenplay, Wanda Tuchock; Story, Ruth Fasken and Hilda Vincent; Cameraman, Edward Cronjager; Editor, Nick De Maggio. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. War Dept. Sets Films Reserve Officers Policy It puts over some flag waving in its own way. With entertainment as the target, "Tin Pan Alley" hits the bull's-eye for everybody. CAST: Alice Faye, Betty Grable, Jack Oakie, John Payne, Esther Ralston, Allen Jenkins, Nicholas Brothers, John Loder, Elisha Cook, Jr., Fred Keating, Billy Gilbert, Lillian Porter, Tyler Brooke, Hal K. Dawson, William B. Davidson, Lionel Pape, Billy Bevan, Dewey Robinson, Robert Emmett Keane, John Sheehan, George Watts, Princess Vanessa Ammon, Brian Sisters, Roberts Brothers. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Kenneth MacGowan; Director, Walter Lang; Screenplay, Robert Ellis and Helen Logan; Based on a story by Pamela Harris; Cameraman, Leon Shamroy; Editor, Walter Thompson; Musical Direction, Alfred Newman; Dance Director, Seymour Felix. DIRECTION, Excellent. PHOTOGRAPHY, Excellent. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Major Nathan Levinson, vice-chairman of the M. P. Academy's Research Council, has been advised by the War Department that the Army has established a policy with reference to calling of "affiliated" reserve officers to active duty which indicates that all officers appointed directly from civil life to reserve units organized under the "affiliated plan" will not be called to extended active duty without their consent. Signal Corps photographic laboratory, being organized under the sponsorship of the Council, is being formed under the affiliated plan. FPC to Pay 25c Dividend Montreal — Directors of FPC have declared a dividend of 25 cents a share, payable Dec. 27 to shareholders of record Nov. 30. "Remedy for Riches" with Jean Hersholt, Dorothy Lovett, Edgar Kennedy RKO-Stephens-Lang 60 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) "DR. CHRISTIAN" STORY STEMMING FROM RADIO SCRIPTS CERTAIN TO CLICK WITH SMALL TOWN AUDIENCE. With Hersholt's "Dr. Christian," for the fourth year, rating a top Crossley in the Mississippi valley and well received elsewhere, this slow-paced, village story of the small town doctor who outwits a pair of city slickers is sure to please. As a matter of fact, this includes in one subject several of the broadcast stories of the kindly old doctor. The cast has been well selected, production matches the standard of this series and story seldom steps above the low and easy pace of the folk whose lives it portrays. Hersholt's enactment of the doctor never fails to convince, and his supporting cast, especially for the character players, remain equally believable, under Erie C. Kenton's direction. These include Edgar Kennedy and his stock slow burn as the village grocer, Walter Catlett as the policeman with commercial sidelines, Maude Eburne as the doctor's housekeeper and Margaret McWade and Halline Hill as the stock pair of old maid sisters. Romance, as usual, falls to Dorothy Lovett (who gets a few more chances to change costumes in this one) and Robert Baldwin, with Warren Hull serving as both the romantic and financial serpent in the Eden of River's End. Jed Prouty is good in the short role of an ex-carnival barker who poses as a scientist. For comedy, there's an untitled rooster who earns a bow. The plot is comparatively simple. Hull olays a slicker. Finding he and Baldwin had played college football together, he selects River's End for his resort hotel. He salts the dump tract purchased from Kennedy with oil. When Dr. Christian suggests a geologist's report, Hull rings in Prouty to help his game. Dr. Christian gets his own geologist, whom Prouty manages to get jailed as a pickpocket until he and Hull can clean up on their shares. The doctor effects his release just in time to capture both of the confidence men. CAST: Jean Hersholt, Dorothy Lovett, Edgar Kennedy, Jed Prouty, Walter Catlett, Robert Baldwin, Warren Hull, Maude Eburne, Margaret McWade, Halline Hill, Renie Riano, Barry Macollum, Lester Scharff, Prudence Penny, Stanley Blystone, Grace Hayle, Ed Hearn. CREDITS: Producer, William Stephens; Director, Erie C. Kenton; Author, Lee Loeb; Screenplay, same; Cameraman. John Alton; Editor, Paul Weatherwax; Art Director, Bernard Herzbrun. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Sunday Pix Win in Recount Philadelphia — Recount on Tamaqua Sunday movie vote shows movies were approved 2,178 to 2,094. In the unofficial tally the movies had been defeated by more than 200 votes. 3 V