Hollywood Spectator (1938)

Page Eight June 1 1, 1938 EXHIBITORS' MONTHLY BUYING GUIDE it Not many pictures reviewed in May Spectators will do a great deal towards lifting the prevailing box-office gloom. The outstanding money-maker is The Adventures of Robin Hood, an attraction which should appeal to all classes of audiences. There are some other productions on the list which have suffi¬ cient merit to please audiences, but are not start¬ ling enough to arouse the public out of its non-at¬ tendance spell. Many good pictures suffer at the box-office chiefly because exhibitors are not good salesmen. If they have no big names to toy with, they are stumped. The fault for this lies primarily with distributors, who offer names instead of pic¬ tures when selling to exhibitors. Some of the most entertaining pictures made in Hollywood during the past year proved poor box-office attractions because they were not trademarked with star names. Wiser selling methods by both distributors and exhibitors, if inaugurated now, eventually would establish boxoffice conditions on a more stable basis. It is a thought both groups should mull over. ( The figure after each title denotes date in May on which the review appeared in the Spectator) COLUMBIA it HOLIDAY (28) — A really notable talkie; an abstract theme given concrete expression and coming to the screen as engrossing entertainment for those who can enjoy a story with more intellectual than emotional appeal. Really outstanding performances by Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, stars, and Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres, Edward Everett Horton, among supporting players. Perhaps not for small houses, but certainly a first-class attraction for the big ones. Running time, 93 minutes. METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER it SWISS MISS (14) — Hal Roach production presenting Laurel and Hardy in too much of the comedy which made their two-reelers popular — that is, too much for those who can get too much of the two comedians. Those with cap¬ acity for absorbing all that is presented here, will find the picture a constant joy. Roach has given it a fine production and the supporting cast is all right. Running time, 72 minutes. it HOLD THAT KISS (14) — On the whole a pleasing lit¬ tle picture which tells its story smoothly but does not give any member of its cast an opportunity to turn in anything but a routine performance. It is a story of amusing complications and has to its credit the gracious presence of Maureen O’Sullivan who must have friends wherever pictures are shown. If you can get your custo¬ mers in, they will go out satisfied. Running time, 75 minutes. it THREE COMRADES (28) — A beautifully done pic¬ ture, a touching story of a great friendship and a great romance. It will not be appreciated by the masses but if you have customers who can enjoy the best in today’s pic¬ ture making, you, with a clear conscience, can offer this one to them. A fine cast, fine direction and the usual Metro fine production. Running time, 100 minutes. it YELLOW JACK (28) — A most interesting recital of the series of events and discoveries which resulted even¬ tually in ridding Cuba of the yellow fever scourge which caused the deaths of so many Americans during our occu¬ pation of the island following the war with Spain. More a scientific treatise than popular entertainment, but an honestly made picture which will please all those who wish to be informed on the matter it deals with. Running time, 85 minutes. PARAMOUNT ★ COCOANUT GROVE (21) — If your people still go for musicals, they probably will like this one as well as any other they have had lately. I enjoyed it even while won¬ dering how I could enjoy it after seeing so many others cut from the same pattern. It has the Yacht Club Boys, Ben Blue and other first-class specialists, as well as a capable cast headed by Fred MacMurray and Harriet Hilliard. Good music and complete production. Running time, 90 minutes. it HUNTED MEN (28) — One of the gangster cycle with a different twist. A “Jones Family” story with a racy, spicy background of coincidences and gang terror. Well done with names that you can sell — Lloyd Nolan, Lynne Overman, Mary Carlisle. A little extra exploitation will sell this one. Running time, 65 minutes. R-K-O it VIVACIOUS LADY (7) — A brilliant comedy with splendid performances by Ginger Rogers and James Stewart, both names with marquee value. One of the best directed pictures of the season. Exhibitors should put the name of George Stevens on their lists of directors whose pictures they want to show. He gives this one gen¬ eral appeal that will live up to all the boosting exhibitors put behind it. Running time, 90 minutes. it BLIND ALIBI (14) — A badly made picture that will hardly hold up the weak end of a dualer. Pass it by if you can, and if you can’t, plug Richard Dix and the dog angle in the picture. Running time, 65 minutes. it GUN LAW (14) — For the whistle-and-stomp trade. The story is an interesting bit of fiction as far as plotting is concerned, but the plot is the dominant element. There is nothing else to attract a discriminating spectator. George O’Brien makes the hero as convincing as the part could be. Running time, 60 minutes. TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX ★ KENTUCKY MOONSHINE (7)— The Ritz Brothers hit their stride in this one, their personalities registering more effectively than in any previous appearance. Many patrons who have not cared for them in the past will be immensely tickled by the brethren’s present antics. Their impersonations of Kentucky mountaineers throughout most of the picture are very clever, and some skits in the finale are bang-up buffoonery. Tony Martin scores with his singing, and the cast is generally capable. Has a slow spot or two, but, everything considered, is a good musical. Running time, 87 minutes. it ONE WILD NIGHT (14) — The policemen, so com¬ monly the butt of Hollywood humor, get the laugh again, being held up throughout the film as a lot of stupid and dishonest ignoramuses. Patrons who are not purturbed at seeing their public officials ridiculed, however, will find this a diverting little B picture. Action is rapid, there are