Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1937-1940)

May 29. 1937 HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE REVIEW Page 3 PREVIEWS OF CURRENT REEASES Pictures Are Reviewed Only From A Box-Office Angle. Key to Ratings BOX-OFFICE RATING AA Exceptionally big picture A Very good B Good average product C Weak D No recommendation PRODUCTION COST RATING E Lavish production F Average production G An economy picture ARTISTIC RATING H Excellent I Good J Indifferent CENSORSHIP RATING K Clean product — nothing offensive L Moderate amount of suggestive or objectionable material, unlikely to arouse opposition except in very conservative corr|fnunities M Contains considerable censorable material N Apt to arouse serious objection CLASS OF HOUSE O Suited to all theatres P Good product for smaller houses 0 May be good first-run product, but doubtful for smaller houses, neighborhoods and small towns. R Must be handled with care if shown to family trade TYPE OF PICTURE a Comedy drama d Mystery drama b Melodrama e Comedy c Musical f Western YOU CANT BEAT LOVE RKO-RADIO SWELL COMEDY PROGRAMMER. HAS A NICE ROMANCE. PLENTY OF LAUGHS. WELL WRIHEN AND DIRECTED. Producer Robert Sisk. Director Christy Cabanne. Original story by Olga Moore. Screenplay by David Silverstein and Maxwell Shane. Photography by Russell Metty, A. S. C. Release date, tentative June 5, 1937. Running time at preview 60 minutes. Jimmy Hughes Trudy Olson Jasper Clem Bruner Butch Mehaffey Chief Brennan Dwight Parsons Mayor Olson Pretty Boy Jones... Louie the Weasel May Smith THE CAST PRESTON FOSTER JOAN FONTAINE HERBERT MUNDIN WILLIAM BRISBANE PAUL HURST BERTON CHURCHILL BRADLEY PAGE FRANK M. THOMAS HAROLD HUBER PAUL GUILFOYLE BARBARA PEPPER AND OTHERS Rating: B. F. H. K. O a. The Story: Taking a dare, play boy-lawyer, Foster, is announced as candidate for mayor. He falls in love with Joan Fontaine, the daughter of Thomas, his opponent. Believing that the chief of police, Churchill, and Page are both crooked politicians, he sets out to prove it. Foster exposes the gambling racket and causes to be arrested, Churchill and Page, at the same time exonerating Thomas. Foster withdraws in favor of Mayor Thomas. He and Joan make up their political and love differences. COMMENT : This is better than average programmer. The romantic interest is excellent. The story is well written and splendidly produced. As the plot unfolds, it builds interest apd closes with a quite logical and satisfactory finish. Preston Foster and Joan Fontaine are more than pleasing and both score with excellent performances. Supporting players give a fine account of themselves with Paul Hurst, Herbert Mundin, Paul Guilfoyle, Bradley Page and Berton Churchill, standing out perceptibly with their acting. Richard Lane is extremely effective in a brief but highly important comedy role. Screen play by Maxwell Shane and David Silverstein makes the most of Olga Moore’s original story, while Christy Cabanne’s direction is highly commendable. Credit also goes to Robert Sisk for fine production supervision. Photography, sets and recording are top notch. Advertising: Play up reasonably strong cast names. Also title, which should prove attractive and worthwhile in street ballyfioo. Merchants for cooperative page, stressing fine wardrobe for both men and women. Window displays, styles and latest fashions. Tie up with bakery shops to display elaborate cakes. Hold political debate on stage, limiting speakers to brief period. Title in four large card signs, using four pretty girls for street stunt. — JOE BLAIR. Short Subjects Previews — Page Seven THE LADY ESCAPES (formerly "Escape from Love") 20th Century-Fox BADLY PRODUCED FILM. STORY IS WEAK, SILLY & POORLY DIRECTED. WILL DO MORE HARM THAN BUILD BIZ. Associate Producer Leslie L. Landau. Directed by Eugene Forde. Screen Play by Don Ettlinger. Based upon the novel and play "My Second Wife” by Eugene Heltai. Photography by Lucien Andriot, A.S.C. Release date June 18, 1937. Running time at preview 61 minutes. Linda Ryan Michael Hilton Irene Blanchard .... Fanny Worthington Reggie Farnworth Dolores Judge Drake Antonio Monsieur Cheval .. Pierre Uncle George THE CAST GLORIA STUART MICHAEL WHALEN GEORGE SANDERS CORA WITHERSPOON GERALD OLIVER-SMITH JUNE BREWSTER HOWARD HICKMAN JOSEPH TOZER DON ALVARADO MAURICE CASS FRANKLIN PANGBORN TOM RICKETTS Rating: C. F. I. L. Q. a. The Story: Weary of the extensive preparations for his marriage to Gloria Stuart, Whalen pulls a fast one by having the judge really marry them at the wedding rehearsal. ..Soon after the first anniversary, Whalen persuades Gloria to get a divorce, saying they are unsuited to each other. ..He even offers to help her find a husband to succeed him. After a long and fruitless search, Gloria is saved from scandal by her husband. ..Gloria begs him to take her back and they start over again. COMMENT: This is one of the worst pictures to come off the 20th Century-Fox lot in a long time. It puts to shame the fine production standard set by Darryl Zanuck. To Exhibitors who are compelled to play this, it will do more harm to their patronage than any semblance of good. Cancel it out if possible and avoid complaints and clientele disgust. The story is provokingly silly, ill-conceived and has many poorly directed scenes. There is no romantic appeal and many of the situations will irritate patrons beyond endurance. Tbe two leading players, Michael Whalen and Gloria Stuart perform capably enough, but their talents are totally sacrified to such an extent that one or two more films of this calibre and they are through as name values. Balance of cast are either unsuited for their roles or are terrible actors. June Brewster’s work, for instance, is “ham-y” and extremely unconvincing. Gerald Oliver-Smith’s English accent, which was not easily understood, and his mannerisms were neither entertaining or funny. Although the photography and sets are of exquisite taste, the recording and assembling of material represents a poor job of picture making. Advertising: Over-selling of a weak pic ture has its reactions but to those who wish to exploit this one, emphasis upon the marital wrangling and discontented wives might serve a purpose. Tie-ups luggage concerns, steamship lines, merchants for wedding outfits, florists for corsages. Arrange honeymoon itinerary for bridal couple. Admit free on opening day, couples celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary.— JOE BLAIR. THERE GOES MY GIRL RKO-RadIo ARTIFICIAL NEWSPAPER STORY WITH GENE RAYMOND -ANN SOTHERN TEAM BREEZING ALONG TO CLIMAX END. Produced by William Sisfrom. Directed by Ben Holmes. Screen Play by Harry Segall. Story by George Beck. Photographed by Joseph H. August, A.S.C. Release date May 21, 1937. Running time at preview 73 minutes. Jerry Connie Dunn Whaler Tate Rethburn Margot Whitney Mrs. Andrews ... Bum THE CAST GENE RAYMOND ANN SOTHERN .'. GORDON JONES RICHARD LANE FRANK JENKS BRADLEY PAGE JOAN WOODBURY MARLA SHELTON ALEC CRAIG AND OTHERS Rating: B. F. K. H. O. a. The Story: Ann Sothern and Raymond, reporters on rival papers, have their wedding ceremony disrupted by a murder. Raymond leaves Ann flat when she insists on chasing the culprits. When she finds out the murder was a hoax instigated by editor Lane, she tries to find Raymond. Both are sent to work in another city on murder case, and Raymond says thumbs down on Ann, but when she is wounded he writes her story for her. Again Lane almost spoils things, but Raymond "taps" him on the nose and this time the wedding "takes." COMMENT: This picture has some dull moments and also some lively ones. The newspaper story is quite artificial and some of the sequences greatly exaggerated, but for the younger generation. Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern romping through their work, will please and entertain. There is a fair romantic interest, some clever gags with interest maintained throughout. Performances by Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern are excellent while supporting players Richard Lane, Joan Woodbury, Alec Craig and Frank Jenks, stand out in order named. Photography, sets and recording above ordinary. Advertising: Play up team of Gene Ray mond and Ann Sothern. Opportunity for stage wedding — also use bride and groom characters. Title placarded for street stunt. Spanish Dancer for stage act. Displays of luggage, florists, portable typewriters, and fashion stills. Also opportunity for fashion show in running a cooperative page. Men’s furnishings display, using stills of Gene Raymond. Also merchants tie-up on title. — JOE BLAIR.