Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1937-1940)

June 19, 1937 HbLLYWObD MOTION PICTURE REVIEW Page 7 PREVIEWS (Continued from page 5) THE SHADOW STRIKES (formerly "The Shadow") Grand National INDIE DUALER OFFERS POOR FILM ENTERTAINMENT. STRICTLY FOR NABES AND SMALL TOWNS. Produced by Max and Arthur Alexander. Directed by Lynn Shores. From the story "The Ghost of the Manor" by Maxwell Grant. Screenplay by Al Martin. Photographer Marcel Pickard, A.S.C. Release date July 9, 1937. Running time at preview 63 minutes. Lament Cranston Marcia Delthern Jasper Delthern Winstead Comstock Humphrey Comstock Brossett Captain Breen Mr. Delthe rn Hendricks Wellington Warren Kelly Gordon THE CAST ROD LA ROCOUE LYNN ANDERS JAMES BLAKELEY WALTER McGRAIL BILL KELLOG CY KENDALL KENNETH HARLAN JOHN ST. POLIS NORMAN AINSLEY WILSON BENGE JACK CARNAVALE JAMES MORTON JOHN DILSON Rating: C. G. I. K. P. d. The Story: A gangster facing trial, sends thugs to steal incriminating papers. They are stopped by a masked man who calls the police. La Rocque, posing as the attorney, is called to make a new will for the uncle of Lynn Anders, whom he is disinheriting if she marries Carnavale. The uncle Is murdered and Lynn, her brother, Blakely, Kendall and McGrail are held as suspects. Lynn is attracted to La Rocque who manages with the aid of a microphone to track down the guilty party, the butler, who wanted the money for his son, Carnavale. COMMENT : In small towns and in places where patrons are accustomed to this brand of entertainment, this production will probably get by, but it is doubtful box-office for larger bouses, and its appeal is of the Saturday afternoon kid matinee type. The screenplay adapted from the Street and Smith Shadow magazine story, “The Ghost of the Manor,” is slightly reminiscent of the old ten cent thrillers where the butler plays his customary role of the murderer. Rod La Rocque, as The Shadow, works hard and handles his role with ease and assurance. Lynn Anders, the feminine lead, is rather cold and unemotional. Norman Ainsley, La Rocque’s English stooge, registers nicely. James Blakely is well cast as a playboy. Walter McGrail, Kenneth Harlan, Cy Kendall and balance of the cast are adequate. Lynn Shores’ direction is capable and ekes out what suspense and entertainment the well worn plot offers. Photography by Marcel Pickard and the art direction by Charles Henkel are up to standard. Advertising: Cast are comparatively un known and have little box-office draw. Play up title and the fact that the story is from the widely read Street & Smith Shadow magazine. Contact local newsdealers for tie-ups with same. Appeal to kid trade and hold special Kid Matinees. Commercial tie-ups with furniture stores for modern furnishings, radio stores and Yellow Cab Taxi Co. For street stunt use a tall slender man wearing a black bat and shroud to impersonate The Shadow. — JOE PEARSON. WILD MONEY Paramount EXCELLENTLY DIRECTED BOX OFFICE PICTURE. GOOD FOR ANY TYPE HOUSE. GRAND COMEDY & LIVELY ACTION. General Manager's Office Production. Direction Louis King. Screen play by Edward T. Lowe, Marguerite Roberts and Eddie Welch. Based on a story by Paul Galileo. Photographed by Henry Sharp, A.S.C. Release date July 9, 193^ Running time at preview 67 minutes. THE CAST P. E. Dodd EDWARD EVERETT HORTON Judy McGowan LOUISE CAMPBELL Perry Brown LYNNE OVERMAN Bill Hawkins LUCIEN LITTLEFIELD Jenny Hawkins ESTHER DALE Bill Court PORTER HALL Al Vogel BENNY BAKER Mrs. West RUTH COLEMAN Malcolm West _ BILLY LEE Jackson NICK LUKATS Sheriff Jones HOWARD MITCHELL Spreckeft WILLIAM BURRESS Rating: B. F. H. K. O. a. The Story: When Horton, newspaper auditor, is on his vacation in the vicinity where a famous man has been kidnapped, he takes the situation in hand and manages Overman and Louise Campbell, reporters, and the photographer Baker. They resent the fact that Horton has sewed up the story exclusively, has bought up or rented every available conveyance and keeps them from seeing the man's wife. Horton, who formerly watched every penny, now recklessly spends a fortune, but he manages to rescue the kidnapped husband, and capture the kidnappers. Louise looks upon Horton with loving eyes. COMMENT : An excellent box office comedy that will give general satisfaction everywhere. The most adept direction by Louis King keeps the story going along swiftly and his deft touches of humor here and there in the situations, was most natural and pleasing. Edward Everett Horton puts over a grand comedy role, closely followed by Lynne Overman — in fact. Overman’s delivery of dialogue brought tbe greatest amount of laughs. Louise Campbell is nicely cast and performs adequately. Benny Baker is sacrificed in a small role and is not given much to do. Esther Dale and Lucien Littlefield both give fine performances. The exciting chase after the kidnappers and their capture, is both realistic and convincing. Nice photography is contributed by Henry Sharp. Advertising: Plug this one as a very en tertaining comedy with plenty of action and downright natural dialogue and acting. Play up Horton and Overman for grand comedy roles. Also the Paul Gallico magazine stories with newspaper background, which is good for tie up with local news editor. The title offers ideas for co-operative page with merchants. Tie ups with men’s furnishings; radio stores; sporting goods stores for fishing equipment. — A. B. EVER SINCE EVE Warners-Cosmopolifan MARION DAVIES PICTURE IS HECTIC COMEDY. NOT FOR ALL CLASSES. STRONG CAST NAMES TO SELL. Executive Producer Hal B. Wallis. Associate Producer Earl Baldwin. Directed by Lloyd Bacon. Screen Play by Lawrence Riley, Earl Baldwin and Lillie Hayward. From a story by Margaret Lee and Gene Baker. Photography by George Barnes, A.S.C. Release date July 17, 1937, Running time at preview 75 minutes. THE CAST Marge Winton MARION DAVIES Freddy Matthews ,. ROBERT MONTGOMERY Sadie Day PATSY KELLY Jake Edgall ALLEN JENKINS Mabel DeCraven FRANK McHUGH Abble Belldon LOUISE FAZENDA Al McCoy BARTON MacLANE Camille Lansing MARCIA RALSTON Alonzo FREDERIC CLARK Rating: B. E. H. L. O. a. The Story: Marion Davies, in homely disguise, gets a job as secretary to Montgomery, whose book is due for publication on a certain date. She quits after a scene with Marcia, who is In love with Montgomery. Unable to read her notes, he goes to her apartment; meets the real Marion and falls in love with her. The next day she returns to her job, but he is only interested in her "room mate", and when he learns she has left for Monterey, he departs for the beach city with Marion following. Marion as the secretary, gets a promise from him to finish the book, if she will get her room mate to see him. At the Fiesta that night, all is explained and Montgomery discovers his secretary and the girl he loves are one and the same person. COMMENT : Strictly a Marion Davies comedy with supporting players giving excellent, if subdued, performances. The production has been given extremely nice sets and mounting, but the story which is flighty, unconvincing, and containing considerable suggestiveness, shouting and exaggerated situations, seems to be at fault. This sort of nonsense does not always please, especially the elders and folks who take their filmfare seriously. Due to the good comedy portrayal by Patsy Kelly, and the capable acting by Marion Davies and Robert Montgomery, the picture will please where this type of comedy draws. Excellent direction by Lloyd Bacon. Advertising: Attract followers of Davies, Montgomery and Patsy Kelly. Play up tbe title, which is good for tie ups with local merchants. Circularize stenographers and office workers. Fine for a tie up with beauty salons and operators. Tie up with editors in a short story writing contest. Window attraction, cooperating with merchants in a “Before and After” display, using pretty girl to demonstrate. — A. B. IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU Republic GOOD IDEA POORLY HANDLED RESULTS IN MODERATE ENTERTAINMENT. GOOD DIRECTION AND PRODUCTION. Associate Producer Leonard Fields. Director Phil Rosen. Screenplay by Samuel Orniti and Nathanael West from a story by Nathanael West. Photographed by Jack Marta. Release date July 19. Running time at preview 65 minutes. Bob Ames La u ra Fred Barrett Angela Professor Schwab Pa Barrett Clavish Mrs. Clavish Pogano Detective Italian Woman Greek THE CAST ALAN BAXTER ANDREA LEEDS OWEN DAVIS, JR. ASTRID ALLWYN WALTER KINGSFORD AL SHEAN CHRISTIAN RUB ELSA JANSSEN EDWARD COLEBROOK STANLEY KING NINA CAMPANA FRANK YACONELLI Rating: C. F. I. K. O. b. The Story: Baxter, Davis and Andrea Leeds have been raised together. Both boys are in love with Andrea but Astrid Allwyn is jealous of Baxter's Interest because of their romance of long standing. When Baxter attempts to steal money from Shean, father of Davis, in order to get money to buy from Kingsford, a school which purports to teach immigrants how to become American citizens, he accidentally kills the old man although latter forgives him before he dies. Kingsford (Continued on page 8)