Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Jun 1934)

88 MOTION PICTURE HERALD MAY 19, 1934 business and will please almost every one. Played Apr. 24-25.— J. C. Darst. Dante Theatre. Dante. Va. General patronage. MR. SKITCH: Will Ri.gers. Zazu Pitts -We thought this one of Rogers' best but not enough Rogers in it. Pleased 100 per cent. Running time, 70 minutes. Played Apr. 29-30.— A. B. Jefferis, New Piedmont Theatre, Piedmont, Mo. Rural and small town patronage. MY UPS BETRAY: Lilian Harvey, John BolesCute, clever, musical, classy and built up on third day. Harvey okay in this town. Running time, 79 minutes. Played Apr. 22-23-24.— A. B. Jefferis, New Piedmont The_atre, Piedmont, Mo. Rural and small town patronage. MY WEAKNESS: Lilian Harvey, Lew Ayres— A good show that surprised us. Our patrons liked this and went out of their way to tell us so. The audience laughed nearly all the time, which is always a good sign. — Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre. Burns, Ore. Small town patronage. POWER AND THE GLORY, THE: Spencer Tracy. Colleen Moore — This was a Hop here. Did not draw and people did not like it. The story was too disjointed to be interesting. Introduces a new system of story telling which our patrons most thoroughly disliked.— Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre. Burns. Ore. Small town patronage. SLEEPERS EAST: Wynne Gibson, Preston Foster — This is the kind of entertainment that keeps me interested. I call it a swell show. Was as much interested the fourth time I saw it as the first. This is unusual. The public must not have thought so much of it, however, because the business was poor. It followed "The Cat and the Fiddle" and I can only expect one good night per week. Running time. 69 minutes. Played Apr. 25. — A. H. Edwards. Orpheum Thetare. Orwigsburg. Pa. Small town and rural l->atronage. SMOKY: X'ictor Jory. Irene Bentley — Did not see this one but reports and bo.x-otfice records say okay. Running time, 69 minutes. Played Apr. 27-28. — A. B. Jefferis, New Piedmont Theatre, Piedmont, Mo. Rural and small town patronage. SMOKY: Victor Jory, Irene Bentley— If they gave this horse the leading roles in some of our dramas it would improve them. Equine connoisseurs (how do you spell connoisseurs?) ate this up. Very lucrative and highly eulogized by patrons of local little theatre movement. — Herman J. Brown, Majestic and Adelaide Theatre, Nampa, Idaho. General patronage. WALLS OF GOLD: Sally Filers, Norman FosterDrew well and pleased. — Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Idyl Theatre, Burns, Ore. Small town patronage. MGM BEAUTY FOR SALE: Otto Kruger, Alice Br.ady— Otto Kruger and .Alice Brady did the principal acting. Picture was fair, while bo-x-office $10.80, so everyone is happy. Both picture and exhibitor deserved better patronage, but 1 don't want to start an argument. "The customer is always right," even when he stays "right" at home. Played Apr. 11. — Peter Bylsma, Victory Theatre, Napoleonville, La. Small town patronage. CAT AND THE FIDDLE, THE: Jeanette MacDonald, R-amon Novarro — Pjcture too slow and too long. Do not think that these two team up so well. Novarro's voice is low and MacDonald's is so high that in a few spots in the picture the sound is not so hot. Did better than average. Running time. 87 minutes. — E. M. Starkey, Rex Theatre, Berlin, Wis. General patronage. DINNER AT EIGHT: All Star— Too highbrow or something for a small town. People watched for this show for weeks and then were disappointed when they saw It. It failed to click with the average person. They like shows with an absorbing story, which this most certainly is not. The acting and cast are perfect, but the ending is too abrupt and leaves an unsatisfied feeling. Nevertheless we believe every theatre should run this. Your patrons will wonder if you don't since it is so highly advertised. They will surely get theii money's worth and they won't miss seeing it since they have heard so much ab^ait it. Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine. Ideal Theatre. Burns, Ore. Small town patronage. FUGITI-VE LOVERS: Robert Montgomery. Madge Evans — This is honey for the small town. An entirely new locale, a cross country bus. Packed with thrills, comedy and romance. Montgomery's best for a long time, and don't forget Nat Pendleton as the heavy villain. An all around good program picture. Pleased 100 per cent. Played Apr. 7-8.— Gladys E. McArdle. Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. GOING HOLLYWOOD: Marion Davies, Bing Crosby— Another from Leo. Good story, good music, good song hits and good photography. The dancing is especially good. Running time, '79 minutes. Played Apr. 21-22.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. GOING HOLLYWOOD: Bing Crosby. Marion Davies— Very satisfactory all around. Misnamed, as they usually go very much further in Hollywood. However, it was hked and did a satisfactory business in the local swamp. — Herman J. Brown. Majestic and Adelaide Theatres, Nampa, Idaho. General patronage. ANOTHER QUARTET JOINS REPORTERS Four iiion c.xbihitors u'hu this -week join the army uj reporters on product they have shown, in "What the Picture Did for Me" are: Earle D, Massey, Texas Theatre, Ki!leen, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre, Burns, Oregon; L.D.Brown, Queen Theatre, Brown"wood, Texas ; Erma L. Raeburn, Arcade Theatre, Newell, South Dakota. Read their reports in this issue. GOING HOLLYWOOD: Marion Davies, Bing Crosbv— A go(jd picture. Not big but will give satisfaction, 'ihe best Davies picture in a long time. Running time, 78 minutes. — E. M. Starkey, Rex Theatre, Berlin. Wis. General patronage. HELL BELOW: Robert Montgomery— y\ marvelous picture. Our patrons praised it highly. Did not draw as we expected, due perhaps to the fact that it was so old when we ran it. — Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre. Burns, Ore. Small town patronage. HER SWEETHEART (CHRISTOPHER BEAN): Marie L'ressler— This is a good one. Marie's best work since "Tugboat Annie." A good story and well directed. Business poor on account of weather. Should be a good draw anywhere. Running time, 87 minutes. Played Apr. 30-May 1.— L. D. Brown, Queen Theatre. Brownwood. Texas. General patronage. HOLD YOUR MAN: Jean Harlow. Clark GableCrood picture. Old. but my patrons liked it fine and said so. — Samniie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton. Ala. .Small town patronage. LAUGHING BOY: Ramon Novarro, Lupe VelezVVhy was the picture ever allowed to be shown anywhere. Lupe is an educated Indian, a prostitute, from beginning to end. This picture killed her here and ) hope I'll never have her on the screen again. Why any woman would take such a part is beyond me. Played Mav 6-7. — D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre. Harristjii. Ark. .Small town patronage. PRIZEFIGHTER AND THE LADY. THE: Max Baer. Myrna Loy — Went over in a big way. Pleased all the men and most of the women. I don't like prizefights and I don't like Max Baer. but if it is what my patrons want, it is O. K. with me. No complaints about this one. Running time, 102 minutes. Played Apr. 14-15.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre. Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. QUEEN CHRISTINA: Greta Garbo— Our public has always been divided on the subject of Garbo but not in this picture. Magnificently produced. Garbo right at the peak of her ability all the way through the picture. Great in sets, great in drama, splendid picture, all in all. It's a great sweep through the historical time that it was based upon. Gilbert is the one weak spot in the picture. His voice is no better than it was and he is showing his age. With his failure at the box-office in previous pictures, I did not mention him as in support for that reason. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. QUEEN CHRISTINA: Greta Garbo-A class picture well acted and produced. Thought it the best talking picture Garbo has made. Failed to do the business expected. Running time. 98 minutes. — E. M. Starkey, Rex Theatre. Berlin, Wis. General patronage. RIPTIDE: Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Herbert Marshall — Good but not as good as some of her former pictures. Played Apr. 29-30. — D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre. Harrison. Ark. Small town patronage. SHOULD LADIES BEHAVE?: Lionel Barrymore --This may be O. K. for Broadway, but it is the bunk for Main Street in a country town. Alice Brady's Tennyson's Brook tongue was amusing the first eight minutes but decidedly tiresome the next 70. Barrymore is good, but the other characters are weak and the story did not click. Don't think this one pleased anyone. Running time, 78 minutes. Played Mar. 31Apr. 1.— Gladys E. McArdle. Owl Theatre. Lebanon. Kan. Small town patronage. SHOULD LADIES BEHAVE?: Lionel Barrymore, Alice Brady — Good entertainment with lots of laughs. A little drawn out in spots but pleased our patrons. Good enough for any theatre. — Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre, Burns. Ore. Small town patronage. STAGE MOTHER: Alice Brady, Maureen O'Sullivan — Great entertainment. Has what it takes to make a good picture. Everyone liked it here, all stars good. Has music and stage settings too that appeal tn the patrons. Running time, 84 minutes. Played Apr. 25-26.— Wm. A. Crute, Victoria Theatre, Vancouver, B. C. Neighborhood patronage. YOU CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING: May Robson — One of the best iirogram pictures I have ever played on a Sunday and sorry to say it did the poorest Sunday I have had in over a year. Running time, 83 minutes.— E. M. Starkey, Rex Theatre, Berlin, Wis. General patronage. YOU CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING: May Robson. Jean Parker— This makes four Metro pictures in a row to lose money for me. May Robson means nothing in this town's life. No business.— A. L.. Lighter, Orpheum Theatre. Mellen. Wis. Small town patronage. YOU CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING: May Robson, Lfwis Stone^ lean Farkei— Here is one of the sweetest pictures of all time, but will not draw any business. If you are successful in getting them in. vou can rest assured that they will be pleased. This is the type of slory for Marie Dressier and if she starred it probably would have been another box-ofiice natural. Acting wonderful and pleased all that saw it. Played one day to poor business. Running time. 85 minutes. Played Apr. 19.— J. T. Medford. Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. Monogram DEVIL'S MATE: Preston Foster, Peggy Shannon —A very good murder mystery picture, which pleased almost every one. Some thought it too good to run on Serial Night. Miss Shannon and Foster very good. Played Apr, 2b.J. C. Darst, Uante Theatre. Dante. Va. General patronage, SAGEBRUSH TRAIL: John Wayne— A western with plenty of thrills, and John Wayne ,is capable ol this nicture and lots better ones, too. Box-office took a jump on this and did better than average last three days of week. — W. H. Brenner, Cozy Theatre, Winchester, Ind. General patronage. SKYWAY: Ray Walker, Kathryn Crawford— A very giiod picture which seemed to please the majority. It has plenty of action and wisecracks and is very entertaining. Played May 3.— J. C. Darst, Dante Theatre, Dante, Va. General patronage. Paramount BOLERO: George Raft, Carole Lombard — A pretty gtxjd and well made picture, with Raft as a dance team man in Paris. Later in the trenches and then back to Paris dance halls for a rather sad ending. Some beautiful music. Sally Rand's fan dance quite innocent on the screen, at least. Running time. 80 minutes. Played Apr. 29-30.— P. G. Estee, S. T. Theatre, Parker, S. D. Small town patronage. CRADLE SONG: Dorothea Wieck— Pleased women and Catholics especially. Men as a rule didn't like it. Your campaign should emphasize the mother love angle as this will appeal to women who will naturally make up the majority of your crowd. — Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre, Burns, Ore. Small town patronage. COME ON, MARINES: Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino This is a very good comedy drama with plenty of thrills and action. Tlie story of love and adventure with plenty of romance and good comedy. An ideal type of Saturday show for the small town where westerns usually run. The excellent supporting cast practically puts the show over and adds much to the entertainment value. Played on Saturday (one day) to good business and pleased all. Running time, 68 minutes. Played Apr. 28. — J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre. Oxford, N. C. General patronage. DESIGN FOR LIVING: Miriam Hopkins, Fredric March, Gary Cooper— Finding a couple of old brackets lying around loose, I utilized them to insert a very appropriate word in the title, "Design for (Immoral) Living," the author, Mr. Coward, must have overlooked. Now this particular author, according to reports, is quite an intellectual person, but I strongly suspect he used his second run intellect when he authored this one. If 1 were the grand jury, I would return a wholesale indictment against the following: The author, the Paramount Corporation, the director and the leading characters, who, incidentally, seemed to forget there was any such thing as a "character." Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins and Gary Cooper formed a triangle (let us hope not eternal), gaily and brazenly violated every moral law in their dealings with each other, while Edward Everett Horton, who tried to be decent, only succeeded in being silly. Each transgression being regarded as a huge joke, but lotta wisecracks lose much of their humor on the way from the author to the ultimate consumer. Oh. well, let's call it a class picture. No, brothers, it does not belong in the bible class. If some unknown author had written this story, he would still be an unknown quantity. And that's that. Played. Apr. 22. — Pete Bylsma. Victory Theatre, Napoleonville. La. Small town patronage. DUCK SOUP: Four Marx Brothers— Pleased the Marx Brothers' fans but the rest of the people thought it was silly. We thought it their best picture to date. Had more walkouts on this picture than any other we have run for months. It seems they have played themselves out. especially with the small town audience. — Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre, Burns. Ore. Small town patronage. DUCK SOUP: Four Marx Brothers— Did a little