Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1934)

66 MOTION PICTURE HERALD December 22, 1934 Estee, S. T. Theatre, Parker, S. D. Small town patronage, LITTLE WOMEN: Katharine Hepburn— Brought this one back for one day, and it proved the biggest flop in months. Almost an empty house. Everybody must have seen it on the first run, — J. O. Smith, Paramount and Dixie Theatres, Ashland and Lineville, Ala. Small town patronage. LOST PATROL, THE: Victor McLaglen, Boris Karlofif— Eleven guys go out into the desert and get lost, one by one. The Arabs, supposedly hiding behind the sand dunes, knock them off. Bang and another is gone, bang and another, and so on for 10 times. Then there are five minutes at the ending, a little different because they don't get the last guy. Same thing over and over. Too gruesome for a small town and too slow for any town. Certainly not entertainment. Played November 15.— B. J. Vanderby, Palace Theatre, Doland, S. D. Small town and rural patronage. MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD: James Gleason, Edna May Oliver— Very ordinary picture. We tried it on Saturday night and the patrons stayed away. Running time, 71 minutes, — G, Carey, Strand Theatre, Paris, Ark, General patronage, MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD: Edna May Oliver, James Gleason— Satisfactory, although it was not as much of a comedy as heralded. Fair business. Played November 21-22.— C. W. Mills, Arcade Theatre, Sodus, N. Y. Family patronage. MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD: James Gleason, Edna May Oliver— A nice show. Plenty of comedy and plenty of suspense and mystery, all of which is all put together in nice sequence to make a fastmoving comedy-mystery. Played November 22. — B. J. Vanderby, Palace Theatre, Doland, S, D, Small town patronage. OF HUMAN BONDAGE: Leslie Howard, Bette Davis — Here is one that I stayed away from as long as I could, but be sure your sin will find you out, and if you put your name on a contract to run a bunch of heavy dramas you must force them down the throats of a laugh-hungry crowd whether you want to or not. It is a fine show if you want something heavy. — Qias. Lee Hyde. Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD, THE: Miriam Hopkins— Good picture. Everyone liked it. Did average business. Running time, 77 minutes. Played November 28.— B. Hollenbeck, Rose Theatre, Sumas, Wash. Small town patronage. RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD, THE: Miriam Hopkins— This is swell entertainment and you will find that the people universally enjoy it. It is a catchy title and a pleasing plot, so I shot it on a Sunday to very good business.— Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. RIGHT TO ROMANCE, THE: Ann Harding— This is a very poor picture. No drawing power. Just the type like most all of RKO's last season. Leave it in the can if you have it booked.— J. O. Smith, Paramount and Dixie Theatres, Ashland and Lineville, Ala. Small town patronage. SCARLET RIVER: Tom Keene— No good, A semiwestern with a lot of behind-the-scenes of shooting a western picture. The poorest Tom Keene picture we ever played. Print terrible. Better skip it. — J. O. Smith, Paramount and Dixie Theatres, Ashland and lineville, Ala. Small town patronage. SPITFIRE: Katharine Hepburn— Plenty of kicks on this and then a few said they liked it. Personally, thought it was very poor. Receipts above average. — J. O. Smith. Paramount and Dixie Theatres, Ashland and Lineville, Ala. Small town patronage. WEDNESDAY'S CHILD: Karen Morley, Edward Arnold — This was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting just another picture and found one that was so well directed that the audience got all hot and bothered about it and sent their friends back to see it the second night. It is not a child's picture, but an antidivorce picture with a real lesson very interestingly told. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. WE'RE RICH AGAIN: Edna May Oliver, Billie Burke, Reginald Denny, Joan Marsh, Marian Nixon, Buster Crabbe — This seemed to please our patrons; at least, we had no kicks. Business normal. Played December 1. — C. W. Mills, Arcade Theatre, Sodus, N. Y. Family patronage. WOMAN IN THE DARK: Fay Wray, Ralph Bellamy— A good mystery drama. Well liked. Running time, 70 minutes. Played December 4. — M. W. Mattecheck. Lark Theatre, McMinnville, Ore, Small town patronage. States Rights HALSINGAR: (Swedish)— If you play Swedish pictures don't pass this one up. — E. C. Arehart, Princess Theatre, Odebolt, Iowa. General patronage. BIG CHANCE, THE: (Eagle)— Merna Kennedy, Mickey Roonty, Natalie Moorhead, John Darrow— This is a very cheap and ordinary picture which has practically nothing to recommend it to any theatre patron. It tells the story of a crooked yoimg prize MIDDLEWEST LEADS WEEK'S ENROLLMENT The Middlewest ivins the honors this week in new regular contributors to "What the Picture Did for Me." Joining are these, from Illinois and Iowa: J. A. DusiNBERRE, Red Bud Theatre, Red Bud, Illinois. E. C. Arehart, Princess Theatre, Odebolt, Iowa. Read their reports. They start in this issue. fighter who falls in love with a good girl and decides to go straight, winning the big fight at the last moment. This might do on a double feature program with a very good western. — J. W. Noah. New Liberty Theatre, Ft. Worth, Tex. General patronage. United Artists CATHERINE THE GREAT: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. Elizabeth Bergner — No excuse for this picture. Another foreign importation that makes me feel like a chump. I run one of these pieces of intellectuals about every six months and then sw'ear not to do it again. Like buttermilk. It is fine for them what like it. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi — Received more pleasing comments on this one than any picture that has slipped through our old wrecks, — E. C. Arehart, Princess Theatre, Odebolt, Iowa. General patronage. COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE: Robert Donat, Elissa Landi — We were afraid of this one for a small town, but to our great amazement the picture was good — excellent. During the feature the theatre was absolutely noiseless. A picture has to be good to hold the crowds so intensely. If you can get them in to see it everyone will enjoy it. both young and old. Played November 18-19. — Ivan Ashcraft. Midway Theatre, Protection. Kan. General patronage. COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE: Robert Donat, Elissa Land: — This is my excuse for buying and running "Born to Be Bad" and "Catherine the Great" for one fine show. If you can buy this alone you can pay top for it and be very happy. It will please everyone. The story has an interest that will keep them all on the edge of their seats. Well produced and something that you can be proud of. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. KID FROM SPAIN, THE: Eddie Cantor, Lyda Roberti — We played a repeat engagement on this clever comedy and found that there were many patrons who had not seen it or who wanted to see it again, I consider it Eddie's best picture as it has a novel plot and wonderful production. And. as usual, there are lovely girls and catchy songs. — J. W. Noah. New Liberty Theatre, Ft, Worth, Tex. General patronage. LAST GENTLEMAN, THE: George Arliss— George Arliss always makes entertainment and this is above the average in general interest of story. Will come closer to pleasing the average run than some of his more pretentious productions. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. OUR DAILY BREAD: Tom Keene. Karen Morley— We did a little extra advertising and had good business. It is a good Friday and Saturday picture. It is down to earth entertainment with some thrilling scenes and is a good small town picture. It is not a western, but a story based on the drouth -stricken Northwest. Would suggest as good for week-ends if you use something besides westerns. Played November 23-24. — A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre, Monticello, Ky. Small town patronage. SORRELL AND SON: H. B. Warner— This is a good draggy show with a star who fits in nicely, but the fact that it was English-made should be enough to keep you from showing it. They just don't put that into a picture that the American audience wants. I guess it was too draggy. Anyway, the story was fine, but the picture disappointing. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. TRANSATLANTIC MERRY-GO-ROUND: Jack Benny, Nancy Carroll, Gene Raymond — Swell Sunday show. Pleased the great majority. — E, C. Arehart, Princess Theatre, Odebolt, Iowa. General patronage. Universal I'LL TELL THE WORLD: Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart— Pleased all my Sunday and Monday crowd and will please yours. Running time. 76 minutes. — G. Carey, Strand Theatre, Park, Ark. General patronage. LET'S BE RITZY: Lew Ay res, Patricia Ellis— Just another picture that will get by if you are not ex pecting too much. Played October 23-25. — Ivan Ashcraft. Midway Theatre, Protection, Kan. General patronage. ONE MORE RIVER: Diana Wynyard, Colin Clive— We were afraid of this one because it was rated as a high-class picture. Everyone who saw it here went for it in a big way. We feel that the picture is good enough for any man's town. The box-office was average. Played October 21-22.— Ivan Ashcraft, Midway Theatre. Protection, Kan. General patronage. ROMANCE IN THE RAIN: Roger Pryor, Heather Angel — This picture pleased about 50 per cent of our patrons. Some were fully bored with it and some even went so far as a walkout. This much to our surprise, for we had expected an A Number One show that would please. Played November 11-12. — Ivan Ashcraft. Midway Theatre. Protection, Kan. General patronage. THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW: Binnie Barnes, Frank Morgan— Perfect entertainment for a small town. Good business, better than a lot of supposed to be super pictures, Binnie Barnes is okay. Played October 28-29. — Ivan Ashcraft, Midney Theatre, Protection, Kan. General patronage. WAKE UP AND DREAM: June Knight, Roger Pryor. Russ Columbo — Not a big picture, but plenty of good entertainment. Pryor gets better with each picture. Good tunes with Columbo singing, but song sequences not handled very well. Armetta and Devine good for plenty of laughs. June Knight just fair. Played on Sunday with plenty of advance advertising and did above average business. (Believe Columbo would have meant box-office). Running time, 75 minutes. Played December 2-3-4. — Martin S. Lane, manager, Logan Theatre, Noblesville, Inc. Small town patronage. Warner DAMES: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell— This is another musical splurge and good entertainment, though not as good a plot as some and must be sold. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D, General patronage. DESIRABLE: Jean Muir, George Brent— Good. Jean Muir is fine, and the balance of the cast give a mighty good performance. Recording good. Worth twice the rental of such specials as "British Agent" and "Madame Du Barry." The kind of picture the public wants. Running time, 68 minutes. Played November 21-22.— Gladys E. , McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. DR. MONICA: Kay Francis, Warren WilliamThis is a fine picture of its type. Woman doctor and her troubles and it pleased an adult crowd on a Wednesday and Thursday night showing. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre, S. D. General patronage. FIREBIRD, THE: Ricardo Cortez, Verree Teasdale — This is a very good picture of the murder mystery type and pleased my patrons. This is a story of a mother sacrificing her honor to shield her child. This is a typical woman's show and if you can get them out — they will bring the men. It is strictly adult entertainment. The direction and acting are perfect. Played on late Saturday night show to very good business. Running time, 74 minutes. Played December 1. — J. J. Medford. Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N, C. General patronage. HERE COMES THE NAVY: James Cagney— Picked this one up and did more business than on "What Every Woman Knows" and "Merry Widow" put together. Pleased all. No, "Red" Slocum of the Oklahoma City office didn't buy me a cigar to write this.— C. M. Hartman. Liberty Theatre, Carnegie, Okla. Small town patronage. HERE COMES THE NAVY: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Gloria Stuart— This was swell entertainment. Title gives the right slant on the kind of picture and the production is put on so well that you enjoy every minute of its fun and action. Pat O'Brien is a boxoffice star in my community. — Chas. Lee Hyde, Grand Theatre, Pierre. S. D. General patronage, HERE COMES THE NAVY: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien — Perfect, gentlemen. Just perfect. R'Cal comedy, down-to-earth situations, careful production, and expert casting make this a picture you should be proud to show. Our patronage enjoyed every minute of it and in many instances the comedy caused laughter that drowned out the following dialogue. You can't find better family entertainment.— J. W. Noah, New Liberty Theatre. Ft. Worth, Texas. General patronage. KANSAS CITY PRINCESS: Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell — Not as good or funny as we expected, but it did a very nice business and we were satisfied. Just a program picture and not much comment, good or bad. A good trailer from Warners helped to get them in. Played November 19-20.— A. E. Christian, Wayne Theatre. Monticello. Small town patronage. KANSAS CITY PRINCESS: Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell— Not a special, but it pleased most everyone. I did not like it, but most of my patrons did, and that is all that counts. These two blondes are mighty popular with mv patrons. Running time, 64 minutes. Played December 8-9.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kan. Small town patronage. MADAME DU BARRY: Dolores Del Rio, Victor Jory— Good laugh on somebody. They checked this picture on me and found out that it was just as poor