Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1937-1940)

June 26, 1937 HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE REVIEW Page 5 PREVIEWS (Continued from page 3) gan, Henry Stephenson, Bernadene Hayes, and Frank Conroy stand out in their portrayals. George Fitzmaurice’s direction is uninspired and confusing. Photography, sets and mounting is on a lavish scale. Advertising: Powell and Rainer as a team may prove attractive exploitation. Stress Russian background and spy angle. Play Russian music. Window or lobby attraction candlestick display. Maureen O’Sullivan and Robert Young provide a romantic interlude wearing masks over eyes — use this idea for star identification contest covering all eyes in photographs used with masks. Place lighted candle in lobby with prize going to person guessing time flame goes out. Use emperor’s carriage with huge candlesticks and title placarded for street ballyhoo. — JOE BLAIR. BETWEEN TWO WOMEN (formerly "General Hospital") M.G.M. PICTURE IS ENTERTAINING IN PARTS BUT HAS OVER SUPPLY OF HOSPITAL SCENES. GOOD ACTING BY ENTIRE CAST. Directed by George B. Seitz. Screen Play by Frederick Stephani and Marlon Parsonnet. Original story by Erich von Stroheim. Photographed by John Seitz, A.S.C. Release date July 9, 1937. Running time at preview 87 minutes. Allan Meighan Claire Donahue Patricia Sloan . Tony Woolcott Snoopy Miss Pringle .... Dr. Webster .... Sally Nurse Howley . Eleanor Dr. Barlli Tom Donahue ... Priest THE CAST FRANCHOT TONE MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN VIRGINIA BRUCE LEONARD PENN CLIFF EDWARDS JANET BEECHER CHARLEY GRAPEWIN HELEN TROY GRACE FORD JUNE CLAYWORTH EDWARD NORRIS ANTHONY NACE HUGH MARLOWE Rating: B. F. I. L. O. b. The Story: Maureen O'Sullivan, a nurse, loves Tone, but remains faithful to her drunken husband. Penn, also an interne, is a heavy drinker with a mania to operate on all his patients. Virginia Bruce, self-willed heiress, enters the hospital and Tone saves her life. She becomes infatuated with him and they are married. Virginia soon loses interest in Tone and welcomes visits from Penn, who Is ousted from the profession when he loses a patient because of his drinking. For revenge he has Virginia leave with him for Paris. That night, the train bearing Virginia and Penn is wrecked. Penn's legs are smashed and Virginia Is horribly burned. Tone saves Penn's legs from ampufafion and Virginia's beauty is restored. Tone gets a divorce and is now free to marry Maureen, whose husband dies from an accident. COMMENT : There is a large dose of hospital scenes for your patrons to consume in this one. Scenes that might well have been left out, since they bring back sad memories to many. Outside of the continual washing of hands, long operating sequences, the film contains some good qualities. There is some splendid work turned in by Maureen O’Sullivan, who does some brilliant acting; Virginia Bruce gives a most gratifying performance, and Franchot Tone is very natural and pleasing. Adequate in supporting roles are Leonard Penn, Edward Norris, Helen Troy and others. The story is thin and well worn but good performances and a suitable romantic finish, pull it out of a bad spot. Only very little comedy, and some suspense and thrills but of the kind that may be nerve racking to some. Excellent photography by John Seitz. Advertising: Let your customers know in advance that this is a hospital story with operating scenes — otherwise they might prove peevish. However, play up the cast, good acting and romantic triangle and the love battle between two women, which offers a ballyhoo of the title. Good for controversial contest; doctor and nurse street ballyhoo and novelty stunt. Dress usherettes in nurses’ uniforms. Circularize medical societies, doctors and nurses. Jewelers for engagement and wedding rings. — A. B. NEW FACES OF 1937 RKO-Radio PLOT HAS MANY HILARIOUSLY FUNNY SCENES BUT STORY FAULTS SOMEWHAT HANDICAP GOOD TALENT. Produced by Edward Small. Directed by Leigh Jason. Original story by Nat Perrin. Screenplay by Nat Perrin, Phillip G. Epstein and Irving F. Brecher. Based on a story by George Bradshaw. Photography by J. Roy Hunt. Release date June 30, 1937. Running time at preview 100 minutes. THE CAST Wellington Seymore Patricia Elaine Parky Judge Hugo Straight Jimmy Robert Hunt Broker Giant Medium Suzy Hunt's Sec'y MILTON BERLE JOE PENNER HARRIET HILLIARD THELMA LEEDS PARKYAKARKUS TOMMY MACK BILL BRADY ... JEROME COWAN RICHARD LANE HITE LOWE LORRAINE KRUEGER ... PATRICIA WILDER Rating: A. E. H. K. O. c. The Story: H arriet Hilliard backs Brady's show. Cowan, the producer, puts on a flop show so he can pocket more money for himself. Leaving town, he delegates Berle to take charge. Berle learns of the predicament and the only way he can save himself from prison Is to follow Cowan's tactics and produce a flop. Harriet hears of the trouble and pleads with Berle to save the show. On opening night, Penner bursts thru the curtain and goes into his act. Harriet, Brady and Berle tremble while Penner is on, but to their amazement, he is a tremendous hit. The stockholders discover that Cowan has bilked them and start a row. When Brady proposes a four-way split they accept. Berle continues as producer of the show and the oath to the altar is finally cleared for Harriet and Brady. COMMENT: This is an important picture on any Exhibitor’s program and one that lends itself to exceptional exploitation possibilities. To bring in top money the show must be sold with a terriffic campaign. With the right efforts there will be few complaints. There is an abundance of talent and the picture’s only fault is the story which does not seem to settle down. It is forever getting out of line and then returning to something which picks up interest. There is some outstanding comedy by Joe Penner and Parkyakarkus. Milton Berle is a definite personality but needs a story more suited to his particular personality. Harriet Hilliard and William Brady carry the romantic interest which is the picture’s weakest unit. Supporting performances by Jerome Cowan, Thelma Leeds, Richard Lane and Lorraine Krueger stand out as exceptionally fine. Direction of Leigh Jason is excellent, and to his credit goes laurels for brilliant direction of many sequences. Joe Penner sings the best hit song number, though other songs are well chosen. Photography by J. Roy Hunt is outstanding. Sets are lavish. Costumes, wardrobe and mounting is of high order. Advertising: Play up title, also strong cast names. Plug Penner, Parkyakarkus, and Milton Berle for radio following. Contact radio editors. Hold talent quest show. Stage amateur novelty acts. Use child musicians for matinee show. Arrange ballot voting for new faces. Tallest man contest. Ideal for hoofer elimination contest. Merchants for new styles, fashions for 1937, also beauty shops for same idea. Contact local brokerage firm to place ticker in lobby. Seek public opinion need for new faces. Stir up interest from this title angle.— JOE BLAIR. MEET THE BOY FRIEND Republic NICELY PRODUCED COMEDY DRAMA. GOOD PROGRAMMER FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES. DIRECTION FINE. NO CAST NAMES. Associate Producer Colbert Clark. Directed by Ralph Staub. Screenplay by Bradford Ropes. Based on story by Jack Raymond and Robert Arthur. Photography by Ernest Miller. Release date August 2, 1937. Running time at preview 65 minutes. Tony Page June Delaney "Bugs" Corrigan Beulah Potts J. Fillmore Potts Vilma Via re Oscar and Elmer Orchestra Leader Dr. Sokolotf Buddy Madison THE CAST DAVID CARLYLE CAROL HUGHES WARREN HYMER PERT KELTON ANDREW TOMBES GWILI ANDRE OSCAR AND ELMER SMILEY BURNETTE LEONID KINSKEY SYD SAYLOR SELMER JACKSON Rating: B. F. H. K. O. a. The Story: Fearing that Carlyle, radio star, will lose his attraction for the women if he marries, his sponsors take out Insurance against his marriage. Carol Hughes, niece of Jackson, head of the insura.nce company, is assigned to make him fall in love with her to keep him from marrying anyone else. They actually fall In love with each other and Carlyle, learning of the plan, decides to marry Gwili Andre, a movie star, for spite. To prevent this marriage the Insurance company arranges a fake kidnapping of Carol but it develops into a real one with both Carol and Carlyle, who went to rescue her, at the mercy of the kidnappers. The police save them at the precise moment and everyone, including the Insurance company, is happy. COMMENT : Colbert Clark’s production with a radio atmosphere, is nicely handled, with good background, musical arrangements and sets. The direction by Ralph Staub is okay, bringing out good acting from a cast of though unknown players, all will do credit to the company and please generally. David Carlyle enacts a natural role but to some he may not possess a singing personality. Carol Hughes sings well and does some dancing, while Pert Kelton carries the picture for the comedy relief. Warren Hymer, Andrew Tombes and Smiley Burnette do well in supporting roles. Excellent photography hy Ernest Miller. Advertising: Play up the title in a radio tie up. plugging the team of David Carlyle and Carol Hughes. Play up as better than average product, with good sets, singing and fairly fast action story. Tie up local merchants to plug title in advertising. Man in sign painter’s overalls, carrying billing and title, to sing on street corners. — A. B.