Motion Picture Herald (July-Aug 1935)

MOTION PICTURE HERALD July 2 0, 19 3 5 REMODELING SERVICE Sincere expert counsel in your remodeling problems is always available without charge from Better Theatres. Quigley Publications resources. No ''trade tie-ups." Just write Better Theatres, detailing conditions that bear upon your questions, and your inquiry will be delivered at once to the proper service departments for prompt, impartial reply.* I 790 BROADWAY NEW YORK * Replies that have no possible general application are nriade by mail. Published replies are identified by only the initials of the person from whom the inquiry has been received. in our theatre. But we are using a tent while we are rebuilding our house. And talking' pictures have never made much success under canvas, though we have a raised floor and theatre chairs and splendid results as to delivering the show. But people don't know that. A tent, and they look for the elephant. Played 23-25. — Bert Silver. Silver Theatre, Greenville, Mich. City and country patronage. NITWITS, THE: Wheeler and Woolsey— Another fast-moving, uproaring slapstick and what have you from this comedy team; they just started making this and went off and left it to work itself out and you have marvelous entertainment and a box office draw. The new girl is good, but I miss Dorothy with this team. — W. H. Brenner. Cozy Theatre, Winchester, Ind. General patronage. ROBERTA: Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne — Another good musical from Astaire and Rogers, but not up to the standard of "Flying Down to Rio" and "The Gay Divorcee." In the first place there is too much singing from Irene Dunne and in the second place there is too much style show to interest small town patronage. Running, time. 105 minutes. Played May 5-7 — M. S. Porter, Orpheum Theatre, Nelsonville, Ohio. General patronage. ROBERTA: Irene Dunne. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers — Excellent. — S. H. Rich. Rich Theatre, ilontpelier. Idaho. Town and rural patronage. ROMANCE IN MANHATTAN: Francis Lederer. Ginger Rogers — Great audience appeal. Above the average, but not a special. Suitable for any class of people and full of interest, with action, comedy and romance. Played July 6. — George Lodge, Green Lantern Theatre. Claymont, Del. Small town patronage. STAR OF MIDNIGHT: William Powell. Ginger Rogers — I heard a lot about this picture before I ran it and was advised it was a wonderful picture, but my opinion is that Miss Rogers is badly miscast and Mr. Powell is not natural. Both players just di.d not fit in and the plot was so complicated it was hard to follow. — S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Town and rural patronage. WEST OF THE PECOS: Richard Dix, Martha Sleeper — A much better than average western picture. Had people in to see this picture that never go to see a western. I can't understand why they don't produce more of this type of picture in place of a number of society dramas that won't even draw film rental. Running time. 69 minutes. Played March 3-4. — M. S. Porter, Orpheum Theatre, Nelsonville, Ohio. General patronage. Spectrum FRONTIER DAYS: Bill Cody, Ada Ince, Bill Cody, Jr. — The children went crazy over this one. A very good picture. Can't be beat for weekends. — Sammie Jackson. Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Small town patronage. Tiffany LAND OF MISSING MEN, THE: Bob Steele— Old and not so very good. Better play something else on your Saturday night program. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. Small town patronage. United Artists CARDINAL RICHELIEU: George Arliss— I always lose money on George Arliss pictures and this was no exception. It brought in the lowest ThursdayFriday gross in si.x months. — Harold C. Allison, Baldwin. Baldwin Theatre, Baldwin. Mich. Small town patronage. CATHERINE THE GREAT: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. Elisabeth Bergner — I hardly think it necessary to state that this picture is not for the small towns, as the title alone gives it away. From every angle this film screams class with its lavish mountings, heavy story and battle of foreign accents: Miss Bergner's 'Teutonic brogue, the English actors' natural speech, and Doug Jr.'s assumed British accent. For the minority who can truly appreciate real artistry, this picture has great appeal, for it was produced with an eye for minute detail in every phase of the story. The acting is perfection itself. As a box office attraction', this film did surprisingly well, and we accounted for this by interest in Miss Bergner. who has received a tremendous amoimt of publicity in recent months. — J. W. Noah. New Liberty and Ideal Theatres. Ft. Worth. Texas. General patronage. CLIVE OF INDIA: Ronald Colman, Loretta Young — A good picture made in a big way, but a failure for me at the box office. Too much English talk that small town people do not want. It's four stars in Liberty, but we can't live on stars nor pay film rental.— S. H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier. Idaho. Town and rural patronage. KID MILLIONS: Eddie Cantor, Ann Sothern, Ethel Merman, Block and SuUy — Perfect entertainment of its type. It received grand audience response and did well at the box office. — J. W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. Gene*ral patronage.