Motion Picture Herald (Jun-Sep 1934)

62 CAROLINA: Janet Gaynor, Lionel Barrymore — A sweet picture that was well liked by all who saw it. For some reason it didn't do any extra business here to my surprise, for I expected big things from it. Maybe because it lacks action, being a story of romance in old Carolina. Running time, 83 minutes. Played May 28-29.— William A. Crute, Victoria Theatre, Vancouver, B. C. Neighborhood patronage. CHANGE OF HEART: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell— Possibly these stars have made a better picture, but this one is hard to beat from an entertainment standpoint. Played on the hottest nights we have had this summer, but at that we fared above average at the box-oFFice. Running time, 82 minutes. Played June 21-22.— Frank A. Finger, Gem Theatre, Marissa, 111. Small town patronage. CHANGE OF HEART: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Gmger Rogers, James Dunn— Nice little picture. Will please most any one. It's clean and that's somethmg these days. Played June 17-18.— D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Ark. Small town patronage. COMING OUT PARTY: Frances Dee, Gene Raymond—A sweet little picture that every one liked. Not much draw in the names, but this is one you can plug safely for average business.— Robert Wile, Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. Small town and suburban patronage. COMING OUT PARTY: Frances Dee, Gene Raymond—They certainly came out on this slow motion picture. Just a lot of waste film and they came out and told me. Can it.— West Point Theatre, West Point, Iowa. General patronage. DAVID HARUM: Will Rogers-One of the best pictures for the past year. Drew almost capacity attendance. Greatly appreciated and often applauded. Good for any theatre any time. Played June 9.— George Lodge, Green Lantern Theatre, Claymont, Del. Small town patronage. DAVID HARUM: Will Rogers-The patrons raved over this and told their friends how good it was because they came in as many numbers the second night as they did the first. Rogers just fitted the part like a glove. Business good. Running time, 85 minutes Played June 6-7.— William A. Crute, Victoria Theatre, Vancouver, B. C. Neighborhood patronage. DAVID HARUM: Will Rogers, Evelyn Venable— Ihis picture is all that the other exhibitors have said of It. Harum was a natural character for Rogers. Rogers pulls for he has a following of people that we never see in the theatre at any other time. And if you ask me this star is the only one that has been successful this season for us. Gaynor, that used to be a bet, has slipped and never pulled normal business since -Paddy, the Next Best Thing."— A. E Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. DAVID HARUM: Will Rogers-One of the most satisfactory pictures for a long time. Clean, wholesome fun for all. Nothing but praise for this one Running time, nine reels. Played Apr 28-29 —C V Hunerberg, Princess Theatre, Parkersburg, Iowa' General patronage. DAVID HARUM: Will Rogers-The first packed house this town has had in three years. And how they came and how they raved. Too bad we can't have those every day in the week.— Robert Wile Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. Small town and suburban patronage. DAVID HARUM: Will Rogers— Played this three days with a midnight opening and was very disappointed m the business. Did not do much over average Rogers business. However, it is beyond a doubt Rogers' best picture to date. Running time, 90 minutes. Played May 20-21-22.— Walter Beymer Lido Theatre. Providence, Ky. Small town patronage. EVER SINCE EVE: George O'Brien-Very entertaining picture. A semi-action that has everything for entertainment. The supporting cast is excellent. Played Apr. 17-18.— C. V. Hunerberg, Princess Theatre, Parkersburg, Iowa. General patronage. GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS: Rudy Vallee, Alice Faye, Jimmy Durante^Beautiful both artistically and every other way. Probably the hot weather hit us but business was pretty close to what Fox eixpected judging by the guarantee.— Robert Wile, Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. Small town and suburban patronage. GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS: Rudy Vallee. George Wliite, Alice Faye, Jimmy Durante— A good musical that failed to get business. It was lavishly produced and the musical numbers were good. Durante came very near stealing the show and Alice Faye was excellent. Running time. 78 minutes. Played May 31 — une 1.Fred M. Elkin, Carolina Theatre, Lexington, N. C. General patronage. GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS: Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante, Alice Faye — Good musical with some splendid numbers. No big draw at the box-office, however. Running time, 80 minutes. Played June 9-10.— C. V. Hunerberg, Princess Theatre, Parkersburg, Iowa. General patronage. HOLD THAT GIRL: James Dunn, Claire Trevor — The kind of show that sends them out smiling and not sorry they spent their all-too-scarce dimes for a show. This one has comedy, romance, thrills and MOTION PICTURE HERALD EAST AND MIDWEST ADD CONTRIBUTORS Added to the ranks of the reporters to the "What the Picture Did for Me" department this week are four new contributors, hailing from the Midwest and the East. Their initial reports appear in this issue. We welcome: Earl J. McClurg, Grand Theatre, Preston, Idaho. L. S. Gilligan, Tall Corn Theatre, Kanawha, Iowa. C. H. Sartorius, Capitol Theatre, Hartley, Iowa. Robert Wile, Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. about everything to hold the interest of a small town audience. Not a highbrow play but it pleased. Running time, I'^S m-'outes. Flayed June 20-21.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. '^mall town pat.-^nagi. I BELIEVED IN YOU: Victor Jory, John BolesSomebody in the Fox lot must have believed in this one or we would have been spared the agony. Nameless casts don't help poor pictures. Someone asked me if I were testing unknowns here. — Robert Wile, Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. Small town and suburban patronage. I BELIEVED IN YOU: Victor Jory, John Boles— About one-quarter of my audience walked out on it and I don't blame them. Boys, be sure and shelve this lemon. — West Point Theatre, West Point, Iowa. General patronage. LOST PATROL. THE: Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff — This production is rated as a three star picture. I do not consider it worthy of this rating. It did not appeal to my patrons. Played June 16. — George Lodge, Green Lantern Theatre, Claymont, Del. Small town patronage. MURDER IN TRINIDAD: Heather Angel, Victor Jory — Another flop from Fox. Would not hold up on Saturday which always carries a certain amount of guaranteed business. Played June 2. — Walter Beymer, Lido Theatre, Providence, Ky. Small town patronage. MY WEAKNESS: Lilian Harvey, Lew Ayres— Excellent. This one has about everything the audience can ask for. good story, good cast, good music, and plenty of laughs. Went over big. Running time, 74 minutes. Played June 13-14. — Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. OLSEN'S BIG MOMENT: El Brendel, Walter Catlett — El is a favorite here, and there is always a demand for comedy features. This is just a farce, to me too wet, but many men spoke about it as the kind of picture they like to see, full of laughs, nothing to thing about. There is a definite demand for the good comedy. Production companies give us all too few of them. Played June 15-16. — Mrs. G. C. Moore, American Tlieatre, Harlowton, Mont. Small town patronage. PADDY, THE NEXT BEST THING: Janet Gaynor, Warner Baxter — We played it old but what is the difference when it is just what the whole town wants to see. It is a great picture, clean, good comedy, romance, pathos. Why can't the companies make more like this. It appeals to the whole family and the exhibitor knows he is right when he plays it. He can guarantee it. Warner Baxter has not had good roles lately. He is deserving of the best and Fox should give more time and money to the selection of better vehicles for his starring pictures. Of course, "Paddy" is okay. Running time, 75 minutes. — Mrs. G. C. Moore, American "rheatre, Harlowton, Mont. Small town patronage. SLEEPERS EAST: Wynne Gibson, Preston Foster— They all slept through this one. All four of 'em that came in. I'm glad I had a newsreel or else those four wouldn't have stayed. Still I can't forget that this outfit gave me "David Harum." — Robert Wile, Granada Theatre, Pearl River, N. Y. Small town and suburban patronage. SMOKY: Victor Jory, Irene Bentley. Smoky — A wonderful story of a horse, beautiful scenery, good acting and plenty of thrills. Pleased everybody. Brought out some who had never been in the theatre. Running time, 69 minutes. Flayed June 9. — Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. WILD GOLD: John Boles, Claire Trevor— Just a good program picture and a little snappy song that you will remember and possibly the patrons will be whistling the tune going out. Business above average on this one. Played June 11-12. — Frank A. Finger, Gem Theatre, Marissa, 111. Small town patronage. July 7 , 1934 WILD GOLD: John Boles, Claire Trevor— A different role for John Boles and is good for one day. Miss Trevor sings very well. Pleasing little picture and is clean. Played June 16. — D. E. Fitton, Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Ark. Small town patronage. WILD GOLD: John Boles, Claire Trevor, Harry Green — Nothing much to this one. Slow in starting. The old story of a man living off the woman, comes the hero, the profligate killed off, a mixture of comedy (socalled) and melodrama. The hero hurt, nursed back by the heroine and they lived happily ever after. The cast did their best with a trite story and it probably will get by if you don't promise them too much. Laid in a ghost town of the old mining days is the locale, brought up to the 1934 days of the gold rush. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. MGM BEAUTY FOR SALE: Otto Kruger, Madge Evans — This is only fair entertainment and will appeal to only certain classes. It is a modern drama, with a bit of comedy, action, romance and tragedy. Many of the scenes are taken in a large New York beauty shop and is strictly adult fare. This has an excellent supporting cast and they turn in some splendid acting to make a good program picture. Played one day to fair business. Running time, 87 minutes. Played June 21.— J. J. Medford, Otpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. ESKIMO: Native Cast — A wonderful picture in every way except box-office. The wild animal shots are wonderful, beautiful scenery, especially the breaking up of the ice floes, excellent acting by the native cast, but it is just not a small town picture. Those who came were enthusiastic about the picture but not many came. I consider I ran this picture for the prestige. Running time, 117 minutes. Played June 2-3-4.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. HOLLYWOOD PARTY: Lupe Velez, Jimmy Durante, Laurel and Hardy — Personally I enjoyed this picture very much. I really thought I had a comedy hit and I heard much laughter all over the house, but after talking with quite a number of patrons, I find the ladies did not care for it, while the men did. It did only an average business or a little less. Jack Fearl is no actor and should never appear in pictures. He may be okay on the radio but no good in the talkies. Laurel and Hardy and Lupe Velez, Mickey Mouse and Jimmy Durante all do swell comedy stuff. It's all in fun and if you want to laugh, see it. I call it a good comedy. Played June 17-18-19.— S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Small town and rural patronage. LAUGHING BOY: Ramon Novarro, Lupe Velez— I haven't laughed since I ran this one. The kids expected wild and wooly western and walked out. The music lovers expected singing and walked out. I expected to make film rental and did not, but unfortunately the exhibitor cannot walk out. I certainly hope this chant, war whoop or what have you, is Ramon's swan song. A good actor killed by poor plays. Played June 16-17.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. LAZY RIVER: Jean Parker, Robert Young— This is a very good little picture that will please the majority of your patrons. It is a melodrama with a touch of comedy, action, romance and drama. The locale is the Louisian Bayous in the early 20th century. Ted Healy and Nat Pendleton furnish the comedy and help make this a good program picture. An e.xcellent cast, but no outstanding star names to draw. Business good one day. Running time, 77 minutes. Played June 22. — J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N. C. General patronage. LAZY RIVER: Jean Parker, Robert Young— A very good program picture. Story interesting and well acted. — Bert Silver, Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. MANHATTAN MELODRAMA: Clark Gable, William Powell, Myrna Loy — A very good picture. One of the best crook type stories every filmed, but the drought has our business and they don't like Powell here. He made too many policeman stories. Running time, 84 minutes. Played June 10. — A. J. Simmons, Plaza Theatre, Lamar, Mo. General patronage. MANHATTAN MELODRAMA: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, William Powell — Very excellent entertainipent, although people were disappointed in the tragic ending. William Powell in the best role of his dramatic career — even outshadows the great Gable. Put this on your best nights. — Warren Weber, Deluxe Theatre, St. John, Kan. General patronage. MEN IN WHITE: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy— A splendid picture. Great acting by the stars but the picture did not draw the business it should. Seemed to satisfy those we got, but did not draw as a special in this town. Wrong kind of a story. People want to laugh and forget their troubles when they go to a show nowadays. Played June 17-18. — Bert Silver. Silver Family Theatre, Greenville, Mich. Town and country patronage. MEN IN WHITE: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy— Okay but not a big special. Should do a little extra business and will please generally. — Warren Weber, Deluxe Theatre, St. John, Kan. General patronage. MYSTERY OF MR. X: Robert Montgomery, Eliza beth Allan — Good murder mystery that went over