The Motion Picture Almanac 1929 (1929)

1929 The MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC 203 (Strand theatre, Valparaiso, Neb. — General patronage.) Pathe wasted a lot of time when they made this. Doesn't compare with some of the star's \ Leatrice Joy) other pictures. (Theatorium theatre, Columbia Fallt-:. Mont. — General iiatronaKe. ) MAN WHO LAUGHS. The. U. Conrad Veidt. Mary Philbin, Baclanova. Julius Molnar, Jr., Josephine Crowell. Torben Meyers, Georpe Siegmann. Brandon Hurst, Nick de Ruiz, Sam dc Grasse, Stuart Holmes, Cesare Gravina. Edgar Norton, Charles Puffy, Frank Puglino, Carmen Costello, 10. — December 25-26. This is not a email town jiicture and certainly did a big flop at my show house. I spent a lot of time advertising this picture and thought that it would go over, but after the first night I knew that the boat was sinking. I ran it two nights and took it off the third night. The direction was very good, and the settings and the work of the stars were exceptional, but it was too slow for the regulars and too gruesome for the ladies. I would say that the small town boys had better lay off. for this ain't your kind. (Princess theatre, Lincoln, Kan. — Small town patronage.) MAN WOMAN AND WIFE, U, Norman Kerry, Pauline Starke, Marian Nixon, 7. — December 26. Gave excellent satisfaction. Played to good business. We depend on Universal here for good consistent box office pictures. (New Virginia theatre, Harrisonburg, Va. — General patronage.) Rather well produced, but sad ending. Some spectacular work with prison machine gun. Did not please. (Glades Amusement Company. Moore Haven, Fla. — General patronage. ) MARRIAGE BY CONTRACT. T-S. Patsy Ruth Miller, Lawrence Gray, 8. — January 9-10, Great title. Satisfying picture with Miss Miller proving she's an actress. (Egyptian theatre, BalaCynwyd. Pa. — General patronage.) MASKS OF THE DEVIL. M G M. John Gilbert, Alma Rubens, Theodore Roberts, Frank Reicher, Eva Von Berne, Ralph Forbes, Ethel Wales, Polly Ann Young. 7. — December 17-19. Heavy sophisticated drama that is not suitable for small towns. There are some novelty shots showing what the principal is really thinking about while his actions are the reverse. Business poor. (Central theatre, Selkirk, Man.. Can. — General patronage.) November 19-20. Not so good. People don't want this type of pictui-e. Business fair. (Mazda Theatre Company, Aurora. Neb. — Small town patronage.) MATING CALL, The, Par, Thomas Meighan. Evelyn Brent. Renee Adoree, Alan Roscoe, Gardner James, Helen Foster, Luke Cosgrave, Cyril Chadwick, Will R. Walling, 7.— October 18-19. Thomas Meighan in a Rex Beach story under the direction of James Cruze puts over a very fine drama. Should please any audience. (Midway theatre, Martinsville. Va. — Small town patronage.) January 10. Just a good picture. Had several good comments. (LaCrosse theatre, LaCrosse, Kan. — ^General patronage.) December 12-13. Picture follows original story unusually well and handles the Ku KIux angle wonderfully ; both Kluck and Anti-Kluck can see this good picture. (Texas theatre. Grand Prairie. Tex. — Small town patronage.) December 23. Another small house due to the flu. but a good picture that received many favorable comments. (Legion theatre. Holyrood, Kan. — Small town patronage.) December 5-6. Very good feature, with interesting story and good photography. (Zorn theatre. Binkelman. Neb. — General patronage. ) December 1. Good picture. Everyone liked it. You can count on Rex Beach stories. (Liberty theatre. Kalispell. Mont. — General patronage.) ME. GANGSTER. F. June Collyer, Don Terry. Anders Randolf. Stella Randolf. Al Hill. Burr Mcintosh, Waller James. Gustav von Seyffertitz. Herbert Ash ton, Harry Cattle, Joe Brown. Arthur Stone. Nigel De Brulier, Carol Lombard. Bob Percy. 7.— January 1 1. Good story spoiler! by a weak cast, with the exception of Anders Randolph, who handles the part of a ward i>olitician in fine shai>e. Will get by as a program picture. ( LaCrosse theatre. LaCrosse. Kan. — General patronage.) November 5. Very good picture of the crook variety. Will give satisfaction and you do not have to be sick or away from the theatre when you show it. (H. & S. theatre. Chandler, Okla. — Small town patronage.) December 28. This picture seemed to satisfy, but people are getting tired of underworld plays. (Charkarohen Hall, Lincoln. N. H. — Small town patronage.) Just a fair offering. (Dixie theatre. Ra-^sellviile. Ky. — General patronage.) MICHIGAN KID. The, U. Renee Adoree. Conrad Nagel, 6. — Dandy little picture, but paid too much. It was sold to me as a special. (Sun theatre. Plain well, Mich.— ^General patronage.) January 11-12. A good program picture, about 100 i>er cent oversold to us. We have had several $7.r>0 program pictures that were better and did much bigger business. Aside from the spectacular forest fire sequence, could see nothing in this to justify its sale as a special. Neither direction nor acting much above ordinary, to our way of thinking. Universal is our heaviest load this year, as we aie paying them exorbitant rentals for pictures that do not get results for lis. General business conditions here are only about 50 per cent of normal, and it takes darned good pictures to cause people to part with a few nickels. (Screenland theatre, Nevada, O. — Small town patronage.) An extra good picture that made the B. O. take on new life. (Aristo theatre, Lemmon, S. D. — General patronage.) December 19-20. A very good program picture. Sold as a special, but did not click at the box office. (Orpheum theatre. Rock Valley. la. — (Jeneral patronage.) November 2324. Drew fair. Was favorably received but was oversold as special. Would rank it as an extra-good Jewel. (Wilson Opera House. Wilson, Kan.— Small town patronage.) MIDNIGHT TAXI, The, WB, Antonio Moreno. Dolores Costello, 6. — December 15. Another progiam that was just fair. (Royal theatre. Republic. Kan. — General patronage.) Good program picture. Drew well. (Russell theatre, Somerset, O. — General patronage.) MORAN OF THE MARINES. Par. Richard Dix, Ruth Elder. Roscoe Karns, Brooks Benedict, Capt. E. H. Calvert. Duke Martin. Tetsu Komai, 6. — October 17-18. Paramoimt's worst thus far this season. Ruth Elder doesn't pretend to be an actress, so why exploit her ? (Princess theatre. West Union, la. — Genera] patronage.) Made a tieup with the high school football sQuad on this one and they sold enough tickets to put it over fine, making us both a little of the "long green." Dix is popular here, or has been previously. Never can tell, though, might be in today and out tomorrow, popular preference being largely a matter of uncertainty. ( Isis theatre. Ashland. Neb. — General patronage.) December 24-25. Very weak for Dix. Drew on account of being played on holidays. Ruth Elder does not photograph so well. (Midway theatre, Martinsville, Va. — General patronage.) MOTHER KNOWS BEST. F. Louise Dresser, Madge Bellamy. Barry Norton, Albert Gran. Joy Auburn. Stuart Erwin. Lucien Littlefield, Dawn O'Day. Annette De Kirby, Aaron De Kirby, 10. — December 2-3. A very good picture, the best we have had from Fox. Patrons said the best for some time. Must have the theme song, "Sally of My Dreams," to put it over properly. We used the record on the victrola. Very human story and clean. (Royal theatre. Hopkins. Mo. — General patronage.) December 25-26-27. I call it extra good, as all the rest of Fox's specials have been. I did not do a good business on it because of the flu and the time of year, but that has nothing to do with the kind of picture, and I sure have no kick coming. I will buy all this kind I can get. Madge is a real actress, and Barry Norton has as yet to show me a had i>erformance. There's a boy that is a "natural." (Palace theatre. Golden City, Mo. — Small town patronage. ) MOTHER MACHREE. F, Belle Bennett. Victor McLaglen, 10. — December 24-26. Just a nice, sweet, clean picture wltTi some comedy and many glycerine tears. There is a note of sincerity lacking in this that just makes it fail to get over. My patrons laughetl at some scenes when they were supposed to cry. Not a special by any means, Mr. Fox. Only fair business on Christmas day. (Central theatre. Selkirk, Man., Can. ^General patronage.) December 27-28-29. Another good Fox picture that went hay-wire. Paid entirely too much for it and lost money. Fox pictures don't bring them in for me. (Auditorium theatre Laurel, Neb. — General jiatronage.) January 17. Very good. The type of picture that brings your once-in-awhile customers. ( Walker theatre, Mayfield, Pa. ^Small town patronage.) A darn good picture that pleased all. Good business three days. (Gay theatre, Wayne, Neb. — Small town patronage.) MYSTERIOUS LADY, The, M G M. Greta Garbo. Conrad Nagel. Gustav Von Seffertitz, Edward Connelly. Albert Pollet. Richard Alexander. 9.^A very well produced and well acted picture that was apparently liked by those who came, but did a nose-dive for me on Sunday and Monday. (Sun theatre, Kansas City, Mo. — General patronage.) Januarj 9. Didn't see this myself, but comment was favorable. Some said it was pretty hot stuff. (Playhouse theatre. Fairhope, Ala.— Small town patronage.) Well produced picture. Our patrons do not care for this star. (Selma theatre. Selma, Cal.— General patronage.) December 2-3. Mighty fine picture. I have paid two and three times as much for pictures that were not half .so good. Everybody did fine acting. All comments were good. (Cozy theatre. Duchesne, Utah. — General patronage.) October 8-9. My people do not like Garbo but this picture is first class. I sat through it four times myself. (Texas theatre. Grand Prairie. Texas. — Small town patronage.) NAPOLEON, M G M, Waldimir Roudenko, Albert Dieudonne, Alexandre Koubitzky, Harry Krimer. Edmond Van Daele. Antonin Artaad. Gina Manes, Nicholas Koline. 8.— Brother exhibitors, for heaven's sake stay away from this one, it's terrible. The worst bunch of junk I have run in four years. It's a British film, released by M G M. No stars, no actors, no directing. Amateur cameramen, and some kid must have done the cutting. Four and five blocks of some scenes. I screened it in two towns and the children couldn't even stand it. Take my advice and don't even use this. (Murphy's theatres. Newark. O. — Small town patronage.) December 27. No good. My patrons do not care much for costume plays. (Theatorium theatre. Emlenton. Pa. — General patronage.) December 16. A Gaumont production to stay away from. A life history of Naiwleon with a lot of battle scenes, riots, insurrections, and whatnot, done in the usual "old-country" style. Doubtless a great subject and is probably considered a great production somewhere, but we can't see it. Much of it rather confusing, and little of it to sustain the interest of a general audience. (Screenland theatre, Nevada. O. — Small town patronage.) December 14. Eight reels of the nearest to nothing we have ever had on our screen. Plenty of walk-outs and who could blame them. We didn't even sit through it. Plenty of scenic stuff in it, but no entertainment in it at ail. If you ".how this one. don't stand near the door when your cash customers come out. (Grand theatre, Princeton. Mo. — Small town patronage.) NAUGHTY BABY', FN. Alice White. Jack Mulhall. Doris Dawson. Thelma Todd. James Ford. Natalie Joyce. Frances Hamilton. Fred Kelsey. Rose Dione, Fanny Midgely. Benny Rubin, Andy Devine. Georgie Stone, Raymond Turner. Larry Banthim, 7. — December 24-25. Not as good as her previous picture. (Vine theatre. Mt. Vernon, O.— General patronage.) NIGHT BIRD, The. U, Reginald Denny, 7.— September 26. Very good, but patrons ask. •■Where's the racing car?" (Kerr theatre. Little Sioux. la. — Small town patronage.) October 26. Went over very good. Denny is a prize fighter in this and has quite a time in the ring. I find there are a lot of people who like to see this prize fight stuff. (Cozy theatre. Duchesne. Utah. — General patronage.) A fairly good Denny that pleased but was not at all startling. Denny's wife is acceptable as an actress and beautiful as far as I can tell. (Kenwood theatre. Chicago. 111. — General patpatronage.) Januar>" 5. A comedy whicn pleased everyone. Sam Hardy gives Denny valuable support. (Lake theatre. Upper Lake, Cal.— General patronage.) Just a dandy little picture, one that will please the whole family. Action galore. (Plainview theatre, Plainview. Neb.^XJeneral patronage.) December 25. A picture that pleased them all. Fine story. Star and cast are extra good. (Silver family theatre, Greenville, Mich.^General patronage.) Januar> 6. Just a fair Denny. Have had several Dennys before this one that were a lot better. (Sun theatre. Farwell, Neb.— General patronage. ) January 6. Good program number, which pleased a very light attendance, although the picture is not well adapted to Sunday showing. Not very much "he-man" stuff until the last reel or so. Denny's vehicles