Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1939)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, May 16, 19391 Reviewing the Lai "est in S )hort Subjects "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp" (Fleischer-Paramount) Based on the fairy tale of the same name, this two-reel Popeye color cartoon will be the delight of children and adults alike. With the exception of a prologue which shows Olive Oyl working as a Hollywood script writer, the remainder of the cartoon is a faithful transcription of the story. Popeye is Aladdin who rescues the princess Olive Oyl. A sure fire hit with any audience. Running time, 22 mins. "G."* "Tiny Troubles" (M-G-M) "Our Gang" runs into trouble when it tries to exchange babies. Deciding that Alfalfa's little brother cries too much, they exchange the baby for one found in the park. The second baby, however, turns out to be a criminal midget who poses as a baby. The boys are very much relieved when the original is returned. The mixup develops some really funny spots. Running time, 10 min? "G"* "Muscle Maulers" (20th Century-Fox) Here is a hilarious short on wrestling which should provoke howls from the toughest audiences. Lew Lehr's commentary catches the spirit of this daffy sport and the sound effects help, too. Most of the reel presents straight shots taken at New York arenas and it ends with a female bout, several free-for-alls, and one fight in a mud pit. It should please. Running time, 11 mins. "G."* "Nellie of the Circus" ( Universal) This Walter Lantz Cartune is a gay satire of the old time "heavy mellerdrama." Big Dan and his childhood sweetheart, Nellie, are playing together. Suddenly, a circus talent scout, a villain with a black mustache, seizes Nellie and takes her off to the circus. It all ends happily, however, when our hero tracks them down and rescues Nell. Running time, 7 mins. "G."* "While America Sleeps" (M-G-M) Latest in. the series of "Crime Does Not Pay" series deals with the activities of foreign spies in this country. The action takes place in an airplane factory, where a mechanic is induced by small bribes to take pictures of blueprints for a spy ring. The Gmen move in and arrest the mechanic as well as the spies. Lots of action. Running time, 21 mins. "G."* skeleton assembler, a town crier and a sculptor who specializes in the hands of famous people. Jean Parker is shown at home designing and modeling her own clothes. In color, this reel should be easy to sell at the box-office and makes a worthwhile addition to the program. Running time, 1 1 mins. "G."* "Unusual Occupations, L8-5" (Paramount) Ben Bernie, Lanny Ross, Jessica Dragonette, Guy Lombardo and Jean Parker appear in this reel. Unusual occupations shown are girls psychoanalyzing-'-casual pencil scrawls, a "Moving Vanities" (RKO) Leon Errol, that ever popular comedian, takes the lead in this laugh provoker. Rather than pay an increased rent, Errol starts moving the family furniture from house to house. After being disappointed in one place, swindled in another and arrested in a third, he wakes up to find that his furniture is on a railroad track with a locomotive headed his way. Amusement for any type of audience. Running time, 17 mins. "G."* 'Three Kings and a Queen' (Paramount) A musical short, this presents Barry Wood, Dick Todd and Del Casino, all known to network audiences, and Betty Hutton, the jitterbug songstress, backed by musical support of the Vincent Lopez orchestra. It's a run-ofthe-mine subject, with the crooners mooing the usual love ballads, and Miss Hutton "sending" a typical jitterburg version of jitterburg tune. Running time, 11 mins. "G."* "Mystic Siam" (20th Century-Fox) Movietone's Magic Carpet takes a trip through Siam and gives the reel a timely slant by introducing the problem of Japan's efforts to dominate the Orient. In several shots of the temples, an interesting glimpse of . the training of dancing girls is given. Also shown are elephants at work, tropic waterways and market places during holidays. Lowell Thomas is commentator. Running time, 10 mins. "G."* "Pharmacy Frolics" ( Universal) Six variety acts make up this Mentone Brevity. Set near a drug store fountain, the continuity is weak although the acts are good. Seen are the Three Playboys, Frazee Sisters, Emerson's Mountaineers, Gilrone & Starr, Richard & Carson, and Dave Monahan. A pleasant musical interlude. Running time, 18 mins. "G."* "Leave Well Enough Alone" (Fleischer-Paramount) Popeye, in black and white, lets hiy emotions master his judgment. Ser ing a number of dogs caged in a pr' shop owned by Olive Oyl, he pvr chases all of them and sets them loos*. One wise old parrot refuses to leave the comfortable quarters. Soon all th. dogs are rounded up by the dop catcher and Popeye barely rescue'them from the pound. It should anroy* the youngsters. Running time, 7 mi«" "G."* "Their Last Bean" (20th Century-Fox) This Terrytoon is a gay burlesque on fox hunts. The foxes have nothing to feed their family and the last meal is destroyed in the rush to get away from the hunters. Little Willie Fox, however, sneaks down to the Hunt Club, and after leading the hounds and riders a merry chase, succeeds in capturing their banquet. Running time, 7 mins. "G."* "Somewhat Secret" (M-G-M) The secret in this one is why a lively little musical swing number was complicated with a cumbersome and involved plot. The music, however, is fast and pleasant. Set in a girls' finishing school, the story tells of a dean who refuses to permit the girls to listen to swing. When she falls in love with a disguised chemistry professor, who is really a swing pianist, she changes her mind about jitterbug music. Running time, 21 mins. "G."* "Stranger Than Fiction No. 62" ( Universal ) A well balanced reel containing six oddities. A radio engineer who makes a hobby of miniature working models, a trick horse, a sculptor who is producing rare examples of primitive art, a new breed of small mules, road making in Holland, and "androides," small figures which move and act like humans. Worthwhile. Running time, 10 mins. "G."* "The Story of Dr. Jenner" (M-G-M) This reel deals with the discovery of the method of preventing small pox. Starting with the plagues that swept Europe, the story continues with the discovery of vaccination and the early opposition to its use. Dr. Jenner finally demonstrates its feasibility by injecting the small pox germ into a boy. The story will command interest. Running time, 10 mins. "G."* "Paramount Pictorial, P8-9" (Paramount ) Here is an unusually well-balanced Pictorial. Covered are three subjects the New London Academy of the Coast Guard, an illustration of what lines an average woman should choose in dressing, and an underwater view of ducks swimming on the surface The ladies will enjoy the fashions and the men will like the Coast Guard Running time, 10 mins. "G."* "The Little Goldfish" (M-G-M) A goldfish decides to leave the se curity of the goldfish bowl for the more adventurous high seas. He escapes via drainpipe but encounters enough dangers to make him return home. The cartoon is done in color and some excellent effects are obtained with the contrasting hues of tropical fish. Running time, 8 mins. "G."* "Arcade Varieties" (Nii-Atlas-RKO) Five fairly good acts put together ! for a variety number. East & Dumke ' known on the radio as Sisters of the ! Skillet, Lillian Roth, Frazee Sis^B> Gilrone & Starr and the Six '■' harmonicas make up a well rounaec ; reel. Continuity is provided by the | proprietor of a penny arcade inspecting a new machine. A better than average musical. Running time, 11 mins i "G."* "Good Skates" (Paramount ) Skating on ice is the subject pi this Grantland Rice Sportlight. Ai forms of skating are shown, ict hockey, speed skating, dancing ant figure skating are included. This ree has no particular timeliness except p. cool off the patrons on a hot day There are some interesting explanations of how the more complicated fig ures are executed on skates. Runninj time, 10 mins. "G."* "Weather Wizards" (M-G-M) The workings of the weather bureai are graphically portrayed in this stor) of the California fruit groves. Tyinj the weather forecasts to the daily lift of the farmers, the reel shows how thi first signs of frost are detected, thi warnings sent and the smudge pot: i lighted. It captures the tense situatioi with telling effect. Worthwhile Running time, 9 mins. 'G."* "America Takes to Skis" (Universal) A ski subject which takes in al aspects of the sport. Included an' general views of the action, how ski:! are made, and instruction in the moril difficult phase of the art. An unusua treatment of a familiar subject. Run • ning time, 9 mins. "G."* "Television" (RKO) RKO Pathe provides a backstagi glimpse of the new art, television Production methods, technical difficul ties and a view of what television wil | be in the home, are shown. A timel; subject. Running time, 9 mins. "G."' "The Hunting Dog" (20th Century-Fox) Ed Thorgersen describes the raisin; and training of hunting dogs in th south. How these intelligent animal are taught to stalk quail and retriev> the game is shown, and should hol< audience interest. Running time, 1 mins. "G."* "Marine Circus" (M-G-M) Underwater shots of a submarine aquarium feature a number of dee] sea fish in a natural setting. High lights are feedings and a wrestliiif bout between a diver and some laigi fish. Running time, 9 mins. "G." *"G" denotes gen-eral classification