Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1937-1940)

June 5, 1937 HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE REVIEW Page 3 PREVIEWS OF CURRENT RELEASES Pictures Are Reviewed Only From A Box-Office Angle. Key to Ratings BOX-OFFICE RATIN© AA Exceptionally big picture A Very good B ©ood average product C Weak D No recommendation PRODUCTION COST RATIN© E Lavish production F Average production © An economy picture ARTISTIC RATIN© H Excellent I Good J Indifferent CENSORSHIP RATIN© K Clean product — nothing offensive L Moderafe amount of suggestive or objectionable material, unlikely to arouse opposition except in very conservative communities M Contains considerable censorable material N Apt to arouse serious objection CLASS OF HOUSE O Suited to all theatres P ©ood product for smaller houses 0 May be good firsf-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 PARNELL Mefro-GoldwynMayer STORY LONG AND SLOW UNFOLDING. TOO MUCH SPEECH MAKING. DOUBTFUL BOX OFFICE. SOME ACCENTS. Produced and Directed by John M. Stahl. Original story by Elsie T. SchaufFler. Screenplay by John Van Druten and S. N. Behrman. Photography by Karl Freund, A.S.C. Release Date June 2, 1937. Running time at preview 116 minutes. THE CAST Parnell Katie Aunt Ben Campbell Willie Davitt Clara The O'Gorman Mahon Murphy Gladstone Healy Redmond Nora Pigott Sir Charles Russell Young O'Brien CLARK GABLE MYRNA LOY ...EDNA MAY OLIVER EDMUND GWENN ALAN MARSHAL DONALD CRISP BILLIE BURKE BERTON CHURCHILL DONALD MEEK MONTAGU LOVE BYRON RUSSELL BRANDON TYNAN ...PHILLIS COGHLAN NEIL FITZGERALD GEORGE ZUCCO PAT MORIARTY Rating: B. E. H. L. O. b. The Story: Gable, working to relieve the suffer ings of the poor in Ireland, finds a large political party working against him. Through the efforts of unscrupulous Marshal, he meets Myrna Loy, the estranged wife of Marshal and they fall in love. After Gable is falsely accused of murder he becomes seriously ill and recuperates at the home of Myrna and her Aunt, Edna May Oliver. Myrna then helps Gable to clear the charges. When Gable refuses to aid Marshal in his crooked work. Marshal brings divorce proceedings against Myrna, naming Gable as co-respondent. The scandal ruins Gable, and stricken with another heart attack, he dies in Myrna's arms. COMMENT: The long awaited “Parnell” is not box-office. Whatever business it does, will be on the name value of Clark Gable and Myrna Loy. The story is not appealing to general patronage. There is altogether too much speech making, and a long story that has a slow tempo. The subject, as treated, is more or less revolting to some minds. It depicts a husband offering his wife to further his career, and the wife openly disregarding the sanctity of marriage. In addition, there is nothing heroic about Parnell, and the ending is in death. There is very little comedy relief, and juvenile interest is nil. The performances are all excellent with most of the action falling upon Gable and Loy, both of whom are outstanding in their portrayals. Alan Marshal is extremely effective in his role. Painstaking direction by John M. Stahl is apparent and Karl Freund’s splendid camera work is again a treat to the eye. Recording is spotty with some action below level and different accents difficult to understand. Advertising: Emphasize cast names. Play up fine acting of Clark Gable and Myrna Loy. Students for history of Parnell. Circularize Irish societies and groups. Give out shamrocks in novel announcement. Stress fact that story laid in year of 1880 and concerns history of Ireland. Stage pretentious opening with civic officials in attendance. Use Irish songs and music for displays and stage attraction. Offer prize to best natural or false beards worn to see picture. — JOE BLAIR. RIDING ON AIR (formerly "All Is Confusion") RKO-RadIo JOE E. BROWN AIRPLANE STORY IS FAST MOVING: HAS LAUGHS AND GOOD GAGS. GREAT FOR KIDS. Producer David L. Loew. Directed by Edward Sedgwick. Screen play by Richard Flournoy and Richard Macaulay. Original by Richard Macaulay. Photographed by Al Gllks, A.S.C. Release date not set. Running time at preview 65 minutes. THE CAST Elmer Lane JOE E. BROWN Doc GUY KIBBEE Betty Harrison FLORENCE RICE Harvey Schumann VINTON HAWORTH Mr. Harrison HARLAN BRIGGS Bill Hilton ANTHONY NACE Byrd ANDREW TOMBES Nick, the Greek BENNY BURT The Landlady LEILA MclNTYRE The Sheriff CLEM BEVANS The Crooner CLIFF NAZARRO, JR. Rating: B. F. H. K. O. a. The Story: Brown is in hopes of buying the Chron icle he works on and marrying Florence Rice. Papa Briggs, however, has Haworth picked as the groom. Both suitors become correspondents for rival Chicago papers and learn of perfume smuggling ring. When Brown wins $5000 in slogan contest, shyster Kibbee organizes fake company on the money and Brown's pal, Nace's invention. ..Altho Haworth proceeds to cramp his style on every turn. Brown emerges a hero, captures the smugglers, wins confidence of townspeople, and Florence says 'Yes'. COMMENT : An airplane story with fast tempo and plenty of exciting sequences with chase scenes in the clouds, should put this Joe E. Brown vehicle over with a bang with family audiences, fans of the star and should go great with youngsters. They will get a big kick out of the many funny antics of Brown who brings back his famous yell in this one. All in cast are fine with Brown dominating as the hero of the Saturday Evening Post Elmer Lane stories. Vinton Haworth, Florence Rice and Anthony Nace do nicely in supporting roles, while Guy Kibbee does , excellent as the scheming promoter. Fine photography, recording and sets. Most excellent direction by Edward Sedgwick ‘makes this a laugh riot from the start to finish. He also obtains natural, believable acting from entire cast. Advertising: Go strong on the name of the star, using the airplane idea; also make use of radio tie ups. Sell this as Brown’s funniest, which makes a ‘funniest experience contest’ a good angle. Put cuckoo clock in lobby, with sign showing Brown as a dizzy aviator. Basket filled with buttons, with sign “lost while laughing at Joe E. Brown — in (title) • — A. B. FLY-AWAY BABY Warner Bros. GOOD AVERAGE PROGRAMMER. SPLENDID AIRPLANE SEQUENCES AND SOME TOP COMEDY LAUGHS. WELL DIRECTED. Producer Bryan Foy. Director Frank McDonald. Original story by Dorothy Kilgallen. Screenplay by Don Ryan and Kenneth Garnet. Release date June 19, 1937. Running time at preview 60 minutes. THE CAST Torchy Blane GLENDA FARRELL Steve McBride BARTON MacLANE Gahagan TOM KENNEDY Lucien Croy GORDON OLIVER Allister JOSEPH KING Sprague HUGH O'CONNELL AND OTHERS Rating: B. G. I. K. P. d. The Story: Glenda Farrell, gal reporter, and Mac Lane, detective, are about to be married when a jewel robbery and murder starts them on a search for the murderer. Glenda suspects Oliver, son of rich publisher. When Oliver leaves on supposedly round-the-world publicity race, Glenda persuades her paper to also enter the race. A series of clever deductions by Glenda and MacLane pin the crime on Oliver. Again they attempt a ceremony. COMMENT: For average program enter tainment, this picture gives a good account of itself. There is a threadbare romance between Barton MacLane and Glenda Farrell but hearty laugh lines make up the difference. The airplane, zeppelin and transport sequences are well spotted in and should be capitalized upon in exploitation. Considerable action takes place throughout, though early portions of the story are somewhat talkative. Worthwhile performances by the entire cast, with a stand-out comedy portrayal by Tom Kennedy. Frank McDonald’s direction comes in for exceedingly favorable comment due to his fine handling of players, splendid spacing of laugh lines and all-around good direction. Photography, sets, recording are of average values. Advertising: Play up airplane, zeppelin and China Clipper transport flying. Use newspaper scenes and headlines of zeppelin crash as lobby attraction. Merchandising displays along with air transport tie-up in title build up. Luggage shops, jewelry stores, camera shops, and trophy award displays. Hold ‘Round the World’ airplane race contest with number of tickets sold regulating voting. Offer juveniles prize to work difficult puzzle. Use one or more pretty girls in flying to^s title placarded for street stunt. — JOE BLAIR. (Additional Reviews on page 5] READ HOLLYWOOD REVIEW SUBSCRIBE TO THE TRADE PAPER OTHER EXHIBITORS BELIEVE IN— IT IS FAST PROVING ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE INDUSTRY.