Motion Picture Herald (Dec 1933–Mar 1934)

62 MOTION PICTURE HERALD February 10, 1934 but the feature satisfied. Played Jan. 1.— C. W. Mills, Arcade Theatre, Sodus, N. Y. Family patronage. WAY TO LOVE, THE: Maurice Chevalier— One of the worst drawing stars we have. His stuff never goes over here. Played Jan. 14-15.— Horn and Morgan, Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. WHITE WOMAN: Carole Lombard. Charles Laughton. A two-year-old baby could talk any language better than Laughton did. Business no good and didn't deserve any. Played Dec. 16.— R. W. Hickman, Lyric Theatre, Greenville, 111. General patronage. WHITE WOMAN: Carole Lombard— Just fair. A good double feature show. Charles Laughton very hard to understand.— Harold Smith, Dreamland Theatre. Carson, Iowa. Rural patronage. RKO ACE OF ACES: Richard Dix, Elizabeth Allan-^A man's picture. Good acting and some wonderful airplane scenes, but a little too brutal for some. A good sermon against war. Running time, 74 minutes. Plaved Jan. 17-18.— Gladys E. McArdle. Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. AGGIE APPLEBY, MAKER OF MEN: Wynne Gibson. Charles Farrell— Rather warm in spots where it certainly does not help to build up the picture business. Running time, 73 minutes. Played Jan. 14.— E. E. Warner, Opera House, Augusta. Wis. Small town and country patronage. AGGIE APPLEBY, <MAKER OF MEN: Charles Farrell, Wynne Gibson— This picture is absurd. Jokes are cracked about dead parents; such jokes are never funnv. Absolutely no moral to the whole sloppy story. A married woman living with man promiscuously is the highlight of the story. The box office proves that the big business done with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell was due to Janet Gaynor. Personally. I like Farrell. but he meant nothmg at the box office in this picture. Running time. 72 minutes. Played Jan. 24.— A. H. Edwards. Orpheum Theatre. Orwigsburg, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. ANN viCKERS: Irene Dunne— This was to be one of RKO's big specials. I will say they were white enough to withdraw it from this class and put it in the B class. To be regular fellows they should have ditched it entirely. I was expecting at least aver.ige business, but the reputation of this picture travelled before it. consequently I played to an empty house. Walter Huston making love to Irene Dunne is rightlv compared to a high school boy in a home talent show. Huston mav be all right m roles fitted^ for his type, hut as a lover he merely speaks his lines. Another flop. Running time, 71 minutes. Played Jan. 17.A. H. Edwards. Orpheum Theatre, Orwigsburg. Pa. Small town and rural patronage. BED OF ROSES: Constance Bennett— Just fair entertainment. Would please the Saturday nisrht crowd. Plaved Dec. 30-31.— E. H. Malone. Community Theatre, Hammond, Wis. Small town patronage. BLIND ADVENTURE: Robert Armstrong. Helen Mack— .^ very entertaining picture. They all said thev liked it and so we could not expect any "jore. It they don't like a picture nowadays, they will be sure to tell of it.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre. Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. CHANCE AT HEAVEN: Ginger Rogers. Joel McCrea— When some one referred to this picture as a sweet, clean little show I fell over backwards. I was considering this one for Christmas and how lucky I was that I was warned in time not to play it. In mv community mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, respectable girls and their gentlemen friends attend the theatre. Lucky indeed was the fact that I played this one two nights to an emptv house. The first part of the picture was sweet and clean without question; but the last several reels were positivelv raw and disgusting. Pampering a spoiled girl about her giving birth to a baby and then more baby-coming and still more baby-commg; iust the stuff that roughnecks and illiterates pass loud remarks about. To cap the climax the baby disappears before it is born legitimately. I think "Birth Control" would have at least been an honest title for this picture; patrons would then know at least what to expect. Sweet and clean? Anything but; and I am warning you to be careful on what nights vou play it; that is. if you cater to family trade". _ This one is poison for little towns. If you play this one keep your lights very low or else you are going to see some very red faces on the respectable class of patrons — and iustlv so. Running time. 71 minutes. Played Dec. 26-27.— A. H. Edwards, Orpheum Theatre. Orwigsburg, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. CHEYENNE KID: Tom Keene— Westerns seem to be the dessert of our audience. Played two Tom Keene pictures to best week of any during the year. "Sunsei Pass." a Paramount release, was the other played this week. Played Sept. 26-27.— W. J. Carter, Maxine Theatre. Croswell. Mich. Small town patronage. CROSSFIRE: Tom Keene — We seem to have extra good crowds on Keene pictures. We don't like to show them too often; it tends to overcrowd the appetites for westerns. Played Oct. 17-18.— W. J. Carter. Maxine Theatre. Croswell, Mich. Small town patronage. SEVEN "CUB'' REPORTERS JOIN THIS WEEK Seven new contributors, and each from a different state, have their first reports in "What the Picture Did for Me" this issue, attesting both the constant increase in exhibitor cooperation in the objectives of the department and the widespread extent of that cooperation geographically. Read the reports of the following, cub reporters yes, but also experienced exhibitors: J. W. Lauritson, Idan-ha theatre, Soda Springs, Idaho; G. Yaveris, Strand theatre, Johnstoiun, Pa.; Antonio C. Balducci, Avon theatre, Canastota, N. Y.; Sammie Jackson, Jackson theatre, Flomaton, Ala.; Spero D. Latchis, Latchis Auditorium, Brattleboro, Vt.; E. E. Holmqtiist, Broadway theatre, Center ville, S. Dak.; and E. E. Warner, Opera House, Augusta, Wis. CROSSFIRE: Tom Keene— The best Tom Keene yet. Plenty of action, pleased a good crowd on Sunday. Running time, 60 minutes. Played Jan, 14, — Albert S. Rains, Queen Theatre, Dallas, Texas. General patronage. DOUBLE HARNESS: Ann Harding— Was afraid of this one. Found it to be a fine picture. Many said it was best show they had seen in weeks. Played Jan. 14-15.— E. H. Malone, Community Theatre, Hammond, Wis. Small town patronage. DOUBLE HARNESS: Ann Harding, William Powell — Excellent dramatic performance of Ann Harding and William Powell. Just a little too much dialogue. Business fair. Running time, 74 minutes. Played Jan. 9-10.— Edw. L. Ornstein, Vernon Theatre. Mount Vernon, Ky. Small town patronage. FLAMING GOLD: Bill Boyd, Mae Clarke— A very fine Saturday picture and good enough for any day. Something really to it, and plenty thrilling. Running time, 63 minutes. Played Jan. 20. — E. E. Warner, Opera House, Augusta, Wis. Small town and country patronage. FLYING DOWN TO RIO: Dolores Del Rio, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Raymond — The best musical I have run since "Whoopee." Pleased 100 per cent. The dance numbers get a little "hot" at times, but that seems to be what my patrons like. This picture should go over big everywhere. A bi.g special if there ever was one. Good music, beautiful girls, .elaborate sets. Astaire is great. — D. B. Fiske, Fiske Theatre, Oak Grove', La. Small town patronage. FLYING DOWN TO RIO: Gene Raymond, Do lores Del Rio — What a honey this one is. Following the avalanche of musicals this is a wow. Draw big and comments from patrons more glowing than any in a long, long time, which only goes to prove that they will go over if they give them something good. Entire cast perfectly cast. Gene Raymond never before so good. Ginger Rogers and Del Rio excellent. Raul Roulien, this time cast in a characterization of his own native land, was perfect. Last, but not least, comes Fred Astaire, who just about steals the show. Watch him from now on. After many headaches. RKO has finally given us two pictures, thus far this season, but they are both pictures. — Joe Hewitt, Lincoln Theatre, Robinson, 111. General patronage. HEADLINE SHOOTER: WilHam Gargan, Frances Dee — Starts with bathing beauties, ends with gangsters. Plenty of action in this one. Running time, 60 minutes. Played Jan. 21. — Albert S. Rains, Queen Theatre, Dallas, Texas, General patronage. IF I WERE FREE!: Irene Dunn, Clive BrookGood program picture. I only wisli that these actors and actresses would speak the American language. The public is getting tired of hearing that English slant what no one can understand. Running time, 67 minutes. — P. G. Held, Strand Theatre. Griswold. Iowa. General patronage. LITTLE WOMEN: Katharine Hepburn— Undoubtedly one of the sweetest pictures of the season. Excellent cast and superb acting. Comments very favorable from the older people, but less so from the younger set. Business disappointing. However, this is a picture which should be shown in every theatre in the country for the prestige of the theatre and the industry as a whole will be greatly enhanced by such a picture. — D. B. Fiske, Fiske Theatre, Oak Grove, La. Small town patronage. LITTLE WOMEN: Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Frances Dee, Paul Lukas— The greatest picture for entertaining lOO per cent. Some people came two and three nights to see this one, the first time we ever had this happen. We did the biggest business we have done in this house in over a year and every one praising the picture as best they ever saw. As to the picture, all I can say is, it is great. Need more like it. Played Jan. 14-15-16.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. LITTLE WOMEN: Katharine Hepburn— A box office wow and one mighty fine picture. One of the biggest women box office draws in the history of pictures. The men will like' it after they come, and they do come on this because the fair sex will make them come. Story just made to order for Hepburn and they'll have a hard time making another like it. The success of this picture will undoubtedly start a cycle of this type of picture, but the successes will be few and far between. Running time, 115 minutes. Played Jan. 17.— Joe Hewitt, Lincoln Theatre, Robinson, 111. General patronage. MELODY CRUISE: Phil Harris, Charles RugglesPlayed rather late, but my patrons liked it better than any picture shown recently. One objection — Phil Harris. Running time, nine reels. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Small town patronage. MELODY CRUISE: Charles Ruggles— A fairly good musical comedy that pleased our audience. Nothing big; just a program picture. Played Oct. 21-22. — W. J. Carter, Maxine Theatre, Croswell, Mich. Small town patronage. MIDSHIPMAN JACK: Bruce Cabot, Betty Furness — Here is a honey from RKO which not only pleased but brought capacity crowds, and better still, the people talked about it and brought many more the next day. Bruce Cabot does some very good work here and was favorably received. The story, with Annapolis background, moves well and should "hit" anywhere. — Tony Balducci, Avon Theatre, Canastota, N. Y. General patronage. MIDSHIPMAN JACK: Bruce Cabot, Betty Furness — Itan this one on Christmas and again showed "Three Little Pigs." Needless to say, "Three Little Pigs" was the drawing card, although "Midshipman Jack" gave satisfaction. It is clean, wholesome entertainment with a strong moral. Running time, 71 minutes. Played Dec. 25.— A. H. Edwards, Orpheum Theatre, Orwigsburg, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. MORNING GLORY: Katharine Hepburn— Don't let me say anything about this if I can help it. The RKO exchange in Albany might hear me and raise ray rentals. But I plugged this picture, played it late, and it broke every house record in the year. I personally didn't care for the picture, although Hepburn was something cooling and refreshing, if you know what I mean. But what I thought and what it did at the box office were two different things. Play this picture and plug "Hepburn." — Tony Balducci. Avon Theatre, Canastota, N. Y. General patronage. MORNING GLORY: Katharine Hepburn, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. — One of the worst pictures that ever played in my theatre. The picture means nothing, business was nothing and nothing from nothing leaves nothing. Running time, 74 minutes. Played Jan. 2. — A. H. Edwards, Orpheum Theatre, Orwigsburg, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. PROFESSIONAL SWEETHEART: Ginger Rogers, Norman Foster — Rated as a wow, but just ordinary entertainment. Will please your customers, however. Played Oct. 28-29.— W. J. Carter, Maxine Theatre, Croswell, Mich. Small town patronage. RENEGADES OF THE WEST: Tom Keene— This is a good western picture, full of interest and plenty of action and thrills. Our audience as a whole did not like this picture, but personally I think it just as good as any western can be. It is a little old, but then the age of westerns does not matter. Tom Keene is a good drawing name in our town and business good for one day. Played Jan. 13. Running time, 55 minutes.—J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. SON OF KONG: Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack— An awful letdown from "King Kong." The public expects more than they get in this one. Running time, 70 minutes. Played Jan. 12-13.— E. E. Holmquist, Broadway Theatre, Centerville, S. D. Small town patronage. TOMORROW AT SEVEN: Chester MorrisBoys and girls, here's a real mystery drama that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the last minute. If your customers like mystery, step on this one. You can face your customers when they go out. Played Oct. 24-25.— W. J. Carter, Maxine Theatre, Croswell, Mich. Small town patronage. United Artists BOWERY, THE: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, George Raft— What a honey. Pleased every one, young and old. Lots of action and quite a bit of music. Splendid acting. Running time. 90 minutes.— Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. Small town patronage. BROADWAY THRU A KEYHOLE: Russ Columbo. Constance Cummings — Wish I had stepped on this more as people ate it up. Some came all three