Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1938)

44 MOTION PICTURE H ERALD January I, 1938 GOOD EARTH, THE: Paul Muni, Luise Rainer, Charley Grapewin — Another grand picture from everything but the boxoffice standpoint. Even those who frankly admitted they did not like the show — and a lot of them did not — admitted that it was a good picture. The photography is wonderful, the lighting is almost too realistic. Am quite sure I recognized some of the grasshoppers as those who ate my flowers last summer. Paul Muni gives his best performance. He is simply great. Charley Grapewin is very good. I think the main trouble with this kind of picture is that it is depressing and after seven years of depression, repression, drought, dust storms and grasshoppers people want something more cheerful. Another one like this and Michael (he's my dog) and I will be in the bread line. A great picture but not for this town. Running time, 139 minutes. Played December 10-12. — Gladys E. McAdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. GOOD EARTH, THE: Paul Muni, Luise Rainer— This is quite a wonderful picture, but one can hardly call it entertaining. It is one of those features which will receive from the average person the report, "It was a great picture, but I did not like it." The publicity it had gave us a fine house the first night in spite of bad weather, whereas we had good weather the second night, and less than half a house. Running time, 139 minutes. Played November 26-27. — G. A. Van Fradenburg, Valley Theatre, Manassa, Col. Farming community patronage. LAST GANGSTER, THE: Edward G. Robinson, Rose Stradner — His best picture since "Little Caesar." Robinson is still tops with me. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY, THE: Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, William Powell — Another from Leo that did excellent business at the box office and pleased everyone. Bouquet for Joan Crawford for her excellent work. Should do well in any location. Running time, 98 minutes. Played November 1. — Kenneth B. Parker, Tudor Super Cinema, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England. General patronage. LIVE, LOVE AND LEARN: Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell — Very good picture to very poor business. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. NAVY BLUE AND GOLD: Robert Young, Florence Rice Best football picture this year. It simply can't be beat. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. NIGHT MUST FALL: Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell — Not a special but did above average business. Would have done better if more action. Customers well pleased with Montgomery's work but prefer him in his usual type of role. Running time, 116 minutes. Played Nov. 15. — Kenneth B. Parker, Tudor Super Cinema, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England. General patronage, NIGHT MUST FALL: Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell — Better pay for this one and let them keep it. We had quite a few walkouts. Metro as a rule has good pictures, but this a flop, pure and simple. Running time, 116 minutes. Played Dec. 12-13. — R. W. Crickmore, Rainbow Theatre, Newport, Wash. General patronage. NOBODY'S BABY: Patsy Kelly, Lyda Roberti, Robert Armstrong — Not up to the usual standard of Leo but nevertheless did above average and got out. Running time, 68 minutes. Played Dec. 2. — Kenneth B. Parker, Tudor Super Cinema, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England. General patronage. NOBODY'S BABY: Patsy Kelly, Robert Armstrong — This is a swell comedy picture. If your customers like comedy, play it up to them. It will please all. Running time, 67 minutes. Played Nov. 26-27. — R. W. Crickmore, Rainbow Theatre, Newport, Wash. THEY GAVE HIM A GUN: Spencer Tracy, Franchot Tone, Gladys George — Good action picture but that's all. Folks said that it was too rough in spots to be good. Running time, 94 minutes. Played Nov. 28-29-30. — R. W. Crickmore, Rainbow Theatre, Newport, Wash. THOROUGHBREDS DON'T CRY: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland — A swell picture. Magnificent for any date in the week. Judy and Mickey are great. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. TRADER HORN (Re-issue): Harry Carey, Edwina Booth — Very fine picture but no business. Lost money. Running time, six reels. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. Monogram BRIDE FOR HENRY, A: Warren Hull, Anne Nagel — Sorry to report that this picture is only a very fair program. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. STARS OVER ARIZONA: Jack Randall— As a western, very good. As a musical type western, it was a flop. Jack Randall is to some a good singer. This was the first we have shown of him. Can not see how Monogram can call him a sensational singing cowboy. When will the producer learn that the Western-loving movie fans do not want what approaches the classical singing type, injected in their western thrill fare. Like one patron said, "Why didn't they give him some poetry to read," another "Don't believe Randall can as much as play a guitar"; another, "There wasn't enough instrumental music to carry Randall over his rough spots, another Dick Foran type of a singer, N. G." And what a title to pin on this western, "Stars Over Arizona." Why wasn't it called "The Law of the Six Guns?" The producers should brush up on their knowledge of producing Westerns by previewing features of singing cowboys that are huge successes at the boxoffice in the small towns. Then they will know what the Western fans want. The good thing about "Stars Over Arizona" is that Randall played and sang so little that you couldn't really call it a musical western. As a western feature, Randall did very good acting and carried his parts very good. In all, you make no mistake in playing this western. The sound was wonderful, would call it perfect. Give us more prints like this one. We doubled this one with Universal's "Westbound Limited." The difference in recordings was very noticeable. Keep it up, Monogram, it is a pleasure to show pictures with recordings like this one. Running time, 6 reels. Played Dec. 9-10-11.— John S. Erickson, Rex Theatre, Iron Mountain, Mich. Paramount ANGEL: Marlene Dietrich, Herbert Marshall, Melvyn Douglas — An absolute flop. Most Faramounts are this year Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. BARRIER, THE: Leo Carrillo, Jean Parker— Nice north country story. Just misses being big. Good entertainment in any spot. No extended runs. — W. E. McPhee, Strand Theatre, Old Town, Maine. General patronage. BARRIER, THE: Jean Parker, Leo Carrillo— A good little program picture which I believe pleased most of the people who saw it. It did not draw any extra business, but it was about average. Running time, 93 minutes. Played Dec. 7-8. — Miss Alice Simmons, Strand and Lyric Theatres, Jefferson, Texas. General patronage. BLONDE TROUBLE: Johnny Downs, Eleanore Whitney — Much better than I expected from the various reports I have read in these columns. Used it on a double feature and it went over a lot better than several other Paramount programers I have played lately. — L. V. Bergtold, Westby Theatre, Westby, Wis. General patronage. BLOSSOMS ON BROADWAY: Edward Arnold, Shirley Ross — After 25 years, Adolph Zukor still makes 85 per cent of his product B-C and D pictures. Will he ever find out that exhibitors want good pictures and not stuff like this one. His 1937-38 product, outside of 2 pictures up to this time, has been terrible. They drive business away. Make good ones or none at all. Running time, 85 minutes. Played December 12-13.— M. W. Mattecheck, Lark Theatre, McMinnville, Ore. Local patronage. BLOSSOMS ON BROADWAY: Edward Arnold, Shirley Ross — Poorest Paramount we have taken from a can in three years. Shame to use such stars in so worthless and crude a thing as this. Running time, 85 minutes. Played Dec. 12-13. — P. G. Estee, Estee Theatre, Parker, S. D. Small town patronage. BLOSSOMS ON BROADWAY: Edward Arnold, Shirley Ross — A million dollars worth of talent wasted on this bit of disconnected and poorly constructed story. Don't play it. Running time, 85 minutes. Played Dec. 10-11.— A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. DOUBLE OR NOTHING: Bing Crosby, Martha Raye — Good picture that failed to draw at the boxoffice. Running time, 87 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. DOUBLE OR NOTHING: Bing Crosby, Martha Raye — A good picture, but have seen Bing in better ones. It seems that he just cannot make them as good as they used to be and they do not draw as well as they did in the past. Our business was very nice on this one. Running time, 95 minutes. Played Nov. 18-19. — Miss Alice Simmons, Strand and Lyric Theatres, Jefferson, Texas. General patronage. HIGH, WIDE AND HANDSOME: Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott — The only thing "High, Wide and Handsome" about this was the rental. The songs allotted Miss Dunne were poorly introduced. Our audience just won't accept a "burst into song" sequence. Played Dec. 5-6. — L. A. Irwin, Palace Theatre, Penacook, N. H. General patronage. HIGH, WIDE AND HANDSOME: Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott — We expected to die at the boxoffice, but we did not expect to die such a painful death. It is a noisy, brawling film with an appalling lack of story interest and the entire "mean" mob of horsewhippers plus skinny Randolph Scott and his oily heroes could have been put to flight by Hopalong Cassidy. Paramount films of late have something empty and unreal about them. I can't quite put my finger on it, and after seeing "High, Wide and Handsome," I am not sure that I want to. Running time, 110 minutes. Played Nov. 30.— C. T. Cooney, Jr., Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro, Maine. HOPALONG RIDES AGAIN: William Boyd, George Hayes — Very good. All these Cassidy westerns are good. You can't go wrong playing them. Running time, 60 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. KING OF GAMBLERS: Lloyd Nolan, Claire Trevor— A very good picture that can be shown anywhere. A clever slot machine racketeer picture. Business average. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. LOVE ON TOAST: John Payne, Stella Ardler— Okay. This Payne is as good-looking and even better actor than Robert Taylor. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. NIGHT CLUB SCANDAL: John Barrymore, Lynne Overman — Okay for bank nights or on duals. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. PARTNERS IN CRIME: Lynne Overman, Roscoe Karns — On a par with quite a lot of pictures that this producing company has released this season, it has nothing that will even excite the least skeptical. In other words, it is a picture that is not worth the used date. Paramount does not seem to have what it takes on the program pictures. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. PARTNERS IN CRIME: Roscoe Karns, Lynne Overman — Just after our miserable flop on "High, Wide and Handsome" comes this. Paramount makes us "Partners in Crime" also when they deliver such a rank feature as this to inflict on our patronage. Cast is hopelessly minor. Played Dec. 7. — L. A. Irwin, Palace Theatre, Penacook, N. H. General patronage. SHE'S NO LADY: Ann Dvorak, John Trent— Swell little picture, better than anything Paramount has offered yet, and that isn't saying too much. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. SOULS AT SEA: Gary Cooper, George Raft, Frances Dee, Olympe Bradna — Fine picture but business off. Stars perfect. When you play this use Paramount's free trailer on Olympe Bradna. It's good. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. TEXAS TRAIL: William Boyd, George Hayes— These Cassidys are tops in my town. Let's have some more of them. — Mervin Owens, Kerr Theatre, Davis, Okla. THIS WAY, PLEASE: Charles Buddy Rogers, Betty Grable — Except that this entirely wasted the talented Buddy Rogers, it is okay. Why not cast him in more pretentious musicals ? Played Dec. 4. — L. A. Irwin, Palace Theatre, Penacook, N. H. General patronage. THUNDER TRAIL: Gilbert Roland, Marsha Hunt — An excellent western. More plot than usual. Played Dec. 4. — L. A. Irwin, Palace Theatre, Penacock, N. H. General patronage. THUNDER TRAIL: Gilbert Roland, Marsha Hunt — A nice Western that will please everyone. Gilbert Roland turns in a fine performance.— W. H. Brenner, Cozy Theatre, Winchester, Ind. TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE, THE: Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray — This is still a wonderful picture. Worth repeating. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. Regal LOST CITY, THE: William Boyd, Claudia Dell— A fantastic show if there ever was. A good filler on a double program, but put it on your poorest night. Running time, nine reels. Played December 15-16. — R. W. Crickmore, Rainbow Theatre, Newport, Wash. General patronage. Republic BOOTS AND SADDLES: Gene Autry, Judith Allen — This boy Autry has got something. Look out, Crosby, he's a natural for small towns, and we are pleased to have bought them. Most ladies have been coming to accompany their husbands to the average western, but not Autry. They bring their husbands or come without them. He's got that something that packs them in. If you haven't played any Autry, try one and then listen to the comments. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. LAWLESS LAND: Johnny Mack Brown, Louise Stanley — Pretty fair western. Why not put a hilly billy band in some of Brown's pictures or some kind of music. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. OLD CORRAL, THE: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette — We don't know all the answers, but our customers fall for Autry's features harder than for others which we think have more merit. Our greatest trouble with them is that the Republic exchange just will not keep the prints in anything like first-class condition. Running time, 60 minutes. Played December 3-4. — G. A. Van Fradenburg, Valley Theatre, Manassa, Col. Farming community patronage. RKO Radio FIGHT FOR YOUR LADY: John Boles, Ida Lupino — Very good program picture that pleased. Running time, 67 minutes. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. FIGHT FOR YOUR LADY: John Boles, Ida Lupino — Just a picture. Pleased no one and will please