Motion Picture Herald (Dec 1932 - Mar 1933)

March II, 1933 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 37 pictures, ^omeone in New York or Hollywood had better get wise or it will be hard to sell RKO product next year. Played Feb. 17. RunninR time, 74 minutes.— S. M. Farrar, Orpheum Theatre, Harrisbursr. 111. Small city patronage. WAY BACK HOME: Phillips "Seth Parker" Lord — An old picture but a good one. Seth Parker and his Jones Port friends sure give plenty of entertainment in this one. Everyone liked this. Audience applauded this one. Played Feb. 13-14-15. — V. W. Fisk, Blue Water Theatre, Kincardine, Ontario, Can. Small town patronage. Tiffany GET THAT GIRL: RicKard Talmadge— A good cast wasted in a poor picture. Dick's stunts are good as ever but they are photographed in the dark, and the story doesn't hold together. Played Feb. 18-19.— Roy W. Adams, Mason Theatre, Mason, Mich. Small town patronage. HELL FIRE AUSTIN: Ken Mayn,ard— Business a little off on this. Average western. Played Feb. 1112.— Roy W. Adams, Mason Theatre, Mason, Mich. Small town patronage. MAN CALLED BACK: Conrad Nagel— Nice story. Sound good and excellent photography but did not draw. Played Jan. 30-31 -Feb. 1.— V. W. Fisk, Blue W^ter Theatre, Kincardine, Ontario, Can. Small town patronage. STRANGERS OF THE EVENING: Zasu Pitts, Eugene Pallett — A little on the gruesome side and not suitable for children. Didn't draw. Pitts shines to advantage in this picture. Had plenty of laughs. Played Feb. 16-17-18.— V. W. Fisk, Blue Water Theatre, Kincardine, Ontario, Can. Small town patronage. TEXAS GUN FIGHTER: Ken Maynard— Good western and drew well. Played Jan. 5-6-7. — V. W. Fisk, Blue Water Theatre, Kincardine, Ontario, Can. Small town patronage. United Artists SCARFACE: Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak— A perfect picture in every respect. Pleased 100 per cent. Pretty strong stuff for the kiddies. My only criticism is that I paid about twice what it was worth to me. Played Feb. 25-26.— Roy W. Adams, Mason Theatre, Mason, Mich. Small town patronage. SKY DEVILS: Spencer Tracy, William Boyd— Excellent air story with plenty of comedy and stunt flying, no dull moments. Sound and photography excellent. Played Jan. 19-20-21.— V. W. Fisk, Blue Water Theatre, Kincardine, O'ntario, Can. Small town patronage. Universal THE ALL AMERICAN: All star— This production is not entirely a football picture. It has all kinds of entertainment, and will please all classes of patrons. Good for any town any place. Played Feb. 25. —George Lodge, Green Lantern Theatre, Claymount, Del. Small county patronage. BACK STREET: John Boles, Irene Dunne— "Back Street" is a far cry from "Rio Rita" and "Cimarron," the pictures that made these two fine stars. How the mighty have fallen. Second day drew nothing which shows that bad living has no place on the screen or elsewhere. Played Feb. 20-21. Running time, 88 minutes. — G. Carey, Strand Theatre, Paris, Ark. Family patronage. THE FOURTH HORSEMAN: Tom Mix— This oldtimer always gets them in. Have shown every Mix picture since he first went in the flickers and expect to show him just as long as he can saddle a horse. "This was a very pleasing well acted western. — Ned Pedigo, DeLuxe Theatre, Garber, Okla. General patronage. HIDDEN GOLD: Tom Mix— Not a bad western. Should do good any place. Tom is very good, he goes over very good with the kids. This picture should do good where they like westerns. It does not reach his last picture, but it should do business if it is sold as a gangster picture. Played Feb. 1011. Running time, 54 minutes.— Wm. Dabb, Lyric Theatre, Shenandoah, Pa. Small town patronage. MY PAL THE KING: Tom Mix— Absolutely no draw at receipts. Kids, yes, lots of them, but no adults. And great picture for children. Believe westerns are sure slipping now that folks are picking their shows so carefully. Running time, 65 rainutes.— R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre. Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. NAGANA: Tala Birell, Melvyn Douglas— This makes a good Saturday show for the small town. Plenty of action, wild animal fights galore and native dances. Trailer on this misleading. Love story not so hot. Good kid entertainment. Played Feb. 18.— D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Ark. Small town patronage. THE, OLD DARK HOUSE: Boris KarlofJ— Universal can not forget that they made "Frankenstein" and every picture they cast this star in is a little more of a horrible makeup than the last. They are getting fed up on this horror stuff. We played this as a blind progriam. not telling them what the picture was and we feel that we cheated them as not 50 per cent of the audience liked it. Now they have "The Mummy" and in prospect "The Invisible Man." KarlofT is a good character actor and we have had him in support where the makeup was natural and MAYBE IT WAS A MAIL HOLIDAY We kneio "Jaysee" shouldn't have done it. As soon as Jenkins labeled himself the "HERALD'S Vagabond Colyumnist" it was bound to happen. His latest literary lilt has gone vagabond too, somewhere in the mails. The Colytim will be with us again next week. he was liked, but Universal with a few more like "The Dark House" will kill him off for any potential draw that he might have. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. THEY JUST HAD TO GET MARRIED: Zasu Pitts, Slim Sumraerville — One of the best country pictures we ever played. Pleased them all and that is something nowadays. Played Feb. 21-22. — Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. Warner Brothers HARD TO HANDLE: James Cagney— I still think I could pick better stories tlian this. Good show though.— Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh, Neb. General patronage. I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG: Paul Muni — A real treat in pictures. Play this and you are sure to be pleased. We have to give it to Warner Bros, and First Nation,al for making good pictures, although the ending spoils this picture to a great extent. Played Feb. 8-9. — Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville, Va. Small town patronage. I AM A FUGITIVE, FROM A CHAIN GANG: Paul Muni — Another good box office picture from Warner Brothers. It gave satisfaction and drew well above average business. Would advise playing this one and getting behind it with all you have. In fact, I would advise any exhibitor who has not bought Warner-First National this year to get busy and sign a contract, for they are making good box office pictures without spending a million doing it. Therefore, they can sell them to exhibitors where they can also make money with them. Played Feb. 17-18-19. Running time, 90 minutes. — S. M. Farrar, Orpheum Theatre, Harrisburg, 111. Small city patronage. I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG: Paul Muni — I was surprised that this picture did not do more business after the publicity it has received on the front pages of the papers. It's a great picture and tells a wonderful story. Give it your best days and play it up big. My personal opinion is tliat it would do 25 per cent more business if it had a happy ending. Exhibitors should be given a choice of having, a happy or unhappy ending. I heard fifty people say how much better it would be if the story had been changed just a little. Everyone knows that Bums has been pardoned, and outside of Georgia, is a free man. The ending left a bad taste and lessened the value for one evening's entertainment. But in spite of this it's a great picture, so go after the business. Played Feb. 12-13-14. — S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Family patronage. JEWEL ROBBERY: William Powell, Kay Francis — Here is highclass robbing brought down to date. I imagine film censors had a few puzzling moments deciding what to do about it seeing that the robber did not get his just desserts. But it is all done in a classy manner and not to be taken seriously and It made diverting amusement for most patrons. Business average. — J. E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patronage. LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT: Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster — An excellent show with comedy and good music. Magazines unjustly criticized this show. Stanwyck and Foster great. Lillian Roth gives required personality (dimples and all). Patrons well pleased. Play this one. Played Feb. 20-21. Running time, 64 minutes. — Wm. Dabb, Lyric Theatre, Shenandoah, Pa. Small town patronage. LAWYER MAN: William Powell— Poor draw for business. Guess a bad title but excellent program picture. Pleased those we could entice to come see it. Running time, 68 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. RIDE 'EM COWBOY: John Wayne— Played this at our little western theatre and drew usual business. Sure pleased the lovers of this type movie. Running time, 58 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg. Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patron,age. STRANGER IN TOWN: Chic Sale, Ann DvorakVery good picture. Pleased everyone. Played Feb. 14-15.— Roy W. Adams, Mason Theatre, Mason, Mich. Small town patronage. World Wide BREACH OF PROMISE: Chester Morris, Mae Clarke — Picture very good, nice story, but somehow it did not appeal to the people in this town but should do good any place where they like such a type of a picture. This is a hard town to please. Good sound in this picture. World Wide is coming up in the world with their pictures. If they keep it up they will be on top. Played Feb. 15-16. Running time, 60 minutes. — Wm. Dabb. Lyric Theatre, Shenandoah, Pa. Small town patronase. HYPNOTIZED: Moran and Mack— Not so hot. They came to see Moran and Mack and to hear some Two Black Crows stuff but it isn't here. Not much for drawing power and they sell it as a special. I'm going to ask for my money back. Played Feb. 20-21. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. TEXAS BUSSIES: Bob Steele— Better than other Steeles and a good western. There is more than just ordinary western fare worked in and the horse rac^. s'eemerl to give the chewers and spitters a thrill. An old Ford and two old timers injected considerable comedy. Played Feb. 24-25. Running time, 57 minutes. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. WHISTLIN' DAN: Ken Maynard— Will please the western fans and that's about all you can say for these boys. Now and then along comes a really good western but the majority are just fair. They don't make you any enemies and always draw a good crowd. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. Short Features Columbia LAUGHING WITH MEDBURY IN WILD WEST: Too silly to be any good. — Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville, Va. SEEING STARS; Krazy Kat— A good cartoon.— Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville, Pa. Educdtiona! ALWAYS KICKIN': The Gleason's— A good tworeel comedy. — ^Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. HOLLYWOOD LIGHTS: Good comedy.— Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ALUM AND EVE: Zasu Pitts, Thelma Todd— Not as good as usual. — Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh, Neb. General patronage. TOWEI> IN A HOLE: Laurel and Hardy— Just a Laurel and Hardy comedy. Too much of the same thing. Runnuig time, 2 reels. — Cecil Ward, Roxy Theatre, Martinsville, Va. Paramount BETTY BGOP'S BAMBOO ISLE: Cartoon— Very good cartoon with Hawaiian music and "hula" dancer what can dance. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln. Kan. Small town patronage. SCREEN SOUVENIR: Plenty of kick to these and more so if yvn can "remember when." — Mayme P. Musselman. Princess Theatre. Lincoln, Kan. Small town patronage. RKO FISH FEATHERS: Edgar Kennedy— A very funny comedy. Two reels. Better than the average. — Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. Universal OFFICER SAVE MY CHILD: Slim Summer ville— Usual standard laughs from Slim. Most folks like him but a few say they can't laugh at him. This hits his average. Running time, 17 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. Warner Vitaphone BOSKO'S BRAWBACK: Looneytune— Another good cartoon with burlesque football as theme. Running time, 6 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. HEY, HEY, WESTERNER: A pip. Made a great Sunday program. — Walt Bradley, Moon Theatre, Neligh. Neb. General patronage. THREE,'S A CROWD: Merry Melodies— Here's a very good and unusual cartoon. Causes plenty of wonderment as to how it's done. Running time. 6 minutes. — R. E. Falkenberg, Majestic Theatre, Lexington, Neb. Family patronage. Serials Universal AIR MAIL MYSTERY: James Flavin. Lucille Browne — Very poor serial. Repeats too much of former chapter. — J. O. Smith, Dixie Theatre, Lineville, Ala. HEROES OF THE WEST: Noah Beery, Jr.— Twelve chapters. Universal knows how to make good serials. All you have to do, to realize this, is run a few serials that are made by other companies. We have only shown the first chapter of this one and it got oflF to a great start and looks like an extra good serial for Saturday shows. Running time. 20 minutes each chapter. — S. M. Farrar, Orpheum Theatre, Harrisbure, 111. Small city patronage.