Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1934)

82 MOTION PICTURE HERALD October 13, 1934 SADIE McKEE: Joan Crawford, Franchot ToneOne of the finest pieces of entertainment to come out of any studio this year. Only Metro could make this type of picture. It has splendid superb acting, direction, sound and quality. This picture will please any audience 100 per cent and you don't have to hide behind the door when they come out; you can stand up with a great big smile and they will all smile back because they all feel that they have had a delightful evening's entertainment. Maybe I am feeling too good about this one, but look, fellows, when they are on their way out and come up to you and say, "Wonderful — Dandy— Great— Fine— Very Good— Splendid — and all that sort of stuff, who wouldn't feel good? All the advertising and publicity you can give it won't be enough. Steo on it! Give it ail you've got. Played September 2-4.— Bob Ouellette, Dixie Theatre, Brooksville. Fla. SHOW-OFF, THE: Spencer Tracy— Nothing much to this one. Just so many reels of film. — A. L. Lighter, Orpheum Theatre, Mellen, Wis. Small town patronage. SHOW-OFF, THE: Spencer Tracy— Very good comedy but Spencer Tracy does not draw for us. Played Sept. 16-17.— Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Racine, Ideal Theatre, Burns, Ore. Small town patronage. STAMBOUL QUEST: George Brent, Myrna Loy— This is only fair entertainment that did not please my patrons. It is a wartime story, localed in Berlin in 1915, but there are no battle scenes in the entire picture. It is a story of the women spies and the part they played in the World War. Practically none of my patrons knew what the title meant and after seeing the show, they didn't care. Business only fair. Running time, 90 minutes. Played Sept. 22, midnight show.— J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. STAMBOUL QUEST: Myrna Loy, George Brent— "Yes, Madam," "Yes, Your Excellency" is all there is to it. Do you know who would rave over pictures like this? Running time, 90 minutes.— Walter Odom, Sr., Dixie Theatre, Durant, Miss. STAMBOUL QUEST: Myrna Loy, George BrentGood picture, but the title killed it for business. Where do they get these titles from? Just let me thank MGM for their splendid press books. These beautiful sheets are in a class by themselves, and I consider them the best on the market.— S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. General patronage. STRAIGHT IS THE WAY: Franchot Tone, May Robson, Karen Morley, Gladys George— Just a rehash of the old, old story of a crook who tries to go straight. Might be O. K. on a double bill and that's all you can say for this one. Business punk. Running time, 59 minutes. Played September 27.— B. Hollenbeck. Rose Theatre, Sumas, Wash. Small town patronage. THIN MAN, THE: William Powell, Myrna Loy— This is one grand picture that offers excellent entertainment for all classes of patrons. It is a mystery melodrama with plenty of comedy thrills and romance. However, the objection is that it is a gangster theme and three murders are committed. Both Powell and Miss Loy turn in a splendid performance together with the rest of the cast. Played two days to good business. Running time, 91 minutes. Played Sept. 2425.— J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. THIN MAN, THE: William Powell, Myrna Loy— Real entertainment. Many favorable comments on this one. Running time, 91 minutes. Played September 4-5_Mrs. Clyde Pace, Pace Theatre, Gordon, Neb. Small town patronage. THIN MAN, THE: William Powell, Myrna Loy— One of the best pictures of the kind we have played. Story interesting and stars great, also all of the cast. Gave good satisfaction to all. Played September 1617.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. TREASURE ISLAND: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper — This is a fair program picture that will please the average picture fan. Too much dialogue in parts. Business good for three days showing. Played Sept. 16-17-18— A. F. Affelt, Iosco Theatre, Oscoda, Mich. Small town patronage. TREASURE ISLAND: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger— If the players had not been so well known and liked, this picture would have been a worse flop than it was. My patrons did not like this type of story— crazy people, crippled people and really an infant committing murder. Put this one in on your rip-roaring western night and it will get by— but try to play it on any other but a Saturday night and the Lion will roar! Oh. yez, oh, yez, and some more yez. Played September 22-24.— A. H. Edwards, Orpheum Theatre, Orwigsburg. Pa. Small town and rural patronage. TREASURE ISLAND: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Lionel Barrymore — This drew well first night. Wallace Beery fine, but you won't get them second night as the supporting cast are in roles_ of hoodlums and playing drunk. Running time, 110 minutes. — Walter Odom, Sr., Dixie Theatre, Durant, Miss. General patronage. TREASURE ISLAND: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper— A great picture. Story known by every school boy and girl. Both the stars great, but I think Jackie Cooper stole the picture. He was certainly wonderful. Beery is always great in all his pictures, and Lionel Barrymore and Otto Kruger were very much there in their parts. The whole cast gTeat. I call it a 100 per cent picture. Played September 2324.— Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. VIVA VILLA!: Wallace Beery, Leo Carrillo, Fay Wray, Stuart Erwin, Donald Cook, Joseph Schildkraut, Katherine DeMille — A magnificent production. Wallace Beery gives a superb performance, ably assisted by Stuart Eiwin. Pleased the men and boys one hundred per cent plus, but it did not go over so well with the ladies. In fact, most of them stayed away because they thought they would not like it. Personally, I did not like it. It is too cruel and relentless, but it is a great picture and I would advise exhibitors to exhibit it for the benefit of those who like this kind of picture. Some came and liked it who do not care for the ordinary picture. Running time, 115 minutes. Played Sept. 15-16.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. Monogram CITY LIMITS: Ray Walker, Sally Blane, Frank Craven — Nothing big. nothing wonderful, but nevertheless good program entertainment, which goes to prove that Monogram can make pictures when they try. Played August 22-23.— Bob Ouellette. Dixie Theatre, Brooksville, Fla. Small town patronage. GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST: Marian Marsh, Louise Dresser, Ralph Morgan — A capable picture, and a box-office surprise. Originally booked for three days, it was increased to five, and held up over the whole period. I will also play a return engagement in the future. Gross compares favorably with "Little Women." Pleased every one better than expected, as it seemed to me only average in production, direction and acting. But every one told me it was swell, so it must have clicked on the outside. Shoot the works on this one and don't spare Gene Stratton Porter.— A. West Johnson, Heilig Theatre. Eugene. Oregon. University and general patronage. GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST: Marian Marsh, Ralph Morgan — Chalk up a real hit from Monogram. Here is the outstanding box-office hit of the present season. This picture broke a two-year box-office record on a Sunday, Monday. Not only is it boxoffice, but it gives entire satisfaction to the people who pav for an evening's entertainment. I do not believe this picture cost a million to make; it may not be produced as some of the maior companies would have done, maybe the cast are not the biggest in the business, the director may have made mistakes, but all I know is that people came from miles to see the picture on Sunday, and sent their friends and relations to see it on Monday. I do not know much about the production end of the picture business, but _T do know when my patrons are satisfied, and the "Girl of the Limberlost" made me a lot of money and pleased my natrons. Good stories are hard to find and the popularity of the book will he the success of this picture. Get a good story and you will have a good p;cture regardless of the cast. Here's hoping the "Keener of the Bees" will be another box-office honev. Thanks. Monogram, for this early date. I understand we are the first in the West to run this nicture. P'aved September 16-17.— S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Town and rural patronage. LOUDSPEAKER, THE: Rav Walker— This is only fair entertainment of the comedy drama type. It is a story of a small town bov who nnkes good in the big city and loses out by his boastfulness. There is plenty of comedy and romance, set behind the scenes of a radio program in the making. If you must play it, one day is enough. We played one day to only fair business. Running time, 67 minutes. Plaved Sept. 21. —J. J. Medford. Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. LOUDSPEAKER. THE: Ray Walker, Jacqueline Wells. Noel Francis — Not good — not bad — just so-so. Won't do you anv harm and won't do you any good. Use your own judgment about this one. Recording the worst thing about it. Running time. 65 minutes. Plaved Sentember 26-27.— H. J. Stallings, Moon Theatre, Henderson, N. C. General patronage. MONTE CARLO NIGHTS: Mary Brian, John Darrow — Neat little nicture that pleased. — Antonio C. Baldncci. Avon Theatre, Canastota, N. Y. General patronage. RANDY RIDES ALONE: John Wayne— This is a very good picture that will please all western fans. It is crammed full of action, fighting, riding and thrills. This is one of the best pictures Wayne has m^de this season and with a few more stories like this one. he will be as popular as any of the old western stars. Monogram alwavs gives us good western pictures and that is iust what we want. Running time. 54 minutes. Played Sept. 22. — J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. SHOCK: Ralph Forbes, Gwenllian Gill. Monroe Owsley— A very good picture. We played it on a double feature bill and it ga^e good satisfaction. Story interesting and acting good. — Bert Silver. Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP: Creighton Chaney— Mv third Monogram picture and it sure pleased my Friday. Saturday patrons. There's a sailor in this that resembles Popeve very much. Had I known this ahead of time it would have aided me in advertising it. — Sammie Jackson. Tackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Small town patronage. WEST OF THE DIVIDE: John Wayne— This little western did more business for me than anything I've run this year. Cotton season helped attendance. Picture pleased most every one. My folks like this fellow.— Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Small town patronage. Paramount BELLE OF THE NINETIES: Mae West, Roger Pryor, John Mack Brown, Katherine De Mille, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra — Poor old Mae is on the "spot," more so because of the type she portrays — because of the Decency campaign. Personally, thought it as good as any former picture, but many told me they were disappointed and I think it was more psychological than anything else. They imagined the "Laundry" washed out all the Mae Westicieries because of all the hullabaloo about Mae West, and in justice to our little Mae, she never did in her honest portrayal of the "gal" of the nineties hold a candlestick to the present-day type of her kind. She's decent in comparison. However, my box-office was short about 30 per cent of "I'm No Angel." Running time, 74 minutes. Played Sentember 23. — Joe Hewitt, Lincoln Theatre, Robinson, 111. General patronage. COME ON, MARINES: Richard Aden— Very good picture. Enjoyed by all. Running time, 65 minutes. — R. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY: Fredric March— Although this picture did not draw, it caused a lot of talk and some people came twice to see it. It is very unusual, but I wonder if any exhibitor in the country has made any money on it. Played Sept. 19-20. — A. N. Miles, Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small town patronage. DESIGN FOR LIVING: Fredric March, Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins, Edward Everett Horton — Exceptionally delightful entertainment — the kind that only Ernst Lubitsch can produce. It is light and some of the situations are unreasonably silly. It is my personal opinion that nothing in the picture will hurt any one's morals, although some exhibitors seem to think so. Nevertheless, it pleased to an average business. Running time, 88 minutes. Played August 29-30. — Bob Ouellette. Dixie Theatre, Brooksville, Fla. Small town patronage. ELMER AND ELSIE: George Bancroft, Frances Fuller — Usual run of play. George Bancroft and Roscoe Karns were the leading plavers to hold the interest. Running time, 64 minutes. Played September 11-12. — Wm. Day. Jr., Grand Theatre, Dunkirk, Ohio. General patronage. LAST ROUND-UP, THE: Randolph Scott, Monte Blue, Barbara Fritchie — This one has the Zane Grey label, but is just an average two-bit western. In my opinion, the poorest Zane Grey story to date. Did average business here. Running time, 63 minutes. Played September 22. — B. Hollenbeck, Rose Theatre. Sumas, Wash. Small town patronage. LITTLE MISS MARKER: Shirley Temple. Adolphe Meniou— One of the best drawing cards of the season. While the story was poor, little Miss Marker was wonderful. Why don't they give this little star better and cleaner stories? Running time, 80 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. LITTLE MISS MARKER: Shirley Temple— It was surprising how people came out to see this and how every one praises this little star. The picture is very good and the entire cast helns Shirley put it across. Running time, 80 minutes. Played Sept. 2-3. — A. N. Miles, Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small town patronage. LITTLE MISS MARKER: Shirley Temple, Adolnhe Menjou — They sure turn out to see Shirley and they liked this, but I th'nk it is too bad there had to be so many crooks in it as it draws so many youngsters. Running time. 60 minutes. — Mrs. Clyde Pace, Pace Theatre, Gordon, Neb. Small town patronage. LONE COWBOY: Jackie Cooper— Very good picture that drew slightly above average weekend business. — A. N. Miles. Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small town patronage. MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Guy Lombardo, Bums and Allen — Gracie Allen kills this picture with her continued chatter. Running time, 80 minutes. — Walter Odom, Sr., Dixie Theatre, Durant, Miss. General patronage. MURDER AT THE VANITIES: Carl Brisson. Kitty Carlisle — Much better than George White's Scandals due to the fact that it has some story running through it and it is not so disjointed as the former picture. My opinion is that Carroll allowed a director that knew more about keeping a revue moving to direct. That is anparent in the "Vanities." Verv e'-horate settings. A fan number that is beautiful with the fans rippling as waves with the girls under them, but Ihese revues do not do the business the production warrants, for some reason that I cannot solve. The revue is spectacular in a lot of numbers. Certainly, it brings to the small town screens something that many have never seen, but it did just a little above average business and should have done more. — A. E Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. MISS FANE'S BABY IS STOLEN: Dorothea