Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1939)

68 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 2 9 , 19 3 9' (Cuiitiiiiiril -from prcccdii\fi pane) will without question be thoroughly enjoyed by any audience fortunate enough to see it. It is filled with action from start to finish and has been neatly and understandingly directed. Congratulations to I'rank Lloyd, director par excellence ("Mutiny on the Bounty," "Wells Fargo," "Cavalcade"). Running time, 100 minutes. Played April 8.— J. A. Reynolds, Director of Education and Recreation, Prison Theatre, New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, N. J. Prison patronage. I'M FROM MISSOURI: Bob Burns, Gladys George —This was not up to the standard, although the average comments were good. Have had better Burns' pictures.— b. C. Brown, lempie and Vernon Theatres, viroqua. Wis. General patronage. MEN WITH WINGS: Fred MacMurray, Ray Millaud. Louise Campbell, Andy Devine, Virginia Weidler, Don.ild O'Connor. Billy Cook— The youngsters, Virginia Weidler, Donald O'Connor and "Billy" Cook, come very close to stealing this very fine, thrilling historical picture from such stars as Fred MacMurray, Louise Campbell, Ray Milland and the one and only Devine. Each give excellent performances, with "Andy" providing much of the comedy. "Men With Wings" traces aviation from the first flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903 to the present day. Natural color photography adds to the picture. With talk of impending war in Europe and the value of airplanes as weapons of war, the picture is indeed timely. Running time, 105 minutes. Played April 1.— J. A. Reynolds, Director of Education and Recreation, Prison Theatre, New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, N. J. Prison patronage. ONE-THIRD OF A NATION: Sylvia Sidney, Leif Erikson — Am very sorry I played this. It has an interesting story but it leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of the very few who will come out for a picture of this type. Not for small situations like this. Running time, 76 minutes.— A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. RENEGADE TRAIL: William Boyd, Russell Hayden, George Hayes — We can always depend on "Hopalong Cassidy" for a Saturday date, and this picture is one of his best. He ranks with Gene Autry here and no small town would be without either. Your Saturday patrons will like this one, I am sure. Running time, 60 minutes. Played April 8. — Mrs. W. A. Wight, Rex Theatre, Konawa, Okla. Small town and rural patronage. RIDE A CROOKED MILE: Akim Tamiroft, Frances Farmer, Leif Erikson — A drab picture that failed at the box office. — B. C. Brown, Temple and Vernon Theatres, Viroqua, Wis. General patronage. SILVER ON THE SAGE: William Boyd, George Hayes — Another good Hopalong Cassidy which pleased good business. No complaints on this one. Played April 14-15. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. SUDDEN MONEY: Charlie Ruggles, Marjorie Rambeau — No cast to draw and shoddy stories and productions. I don't understand an outfit like Paramount slipping as they have this year. I know of some fifteen pictures that have not played their houses in this vicinity and if they are not good enough for them, the} won't do for me in the future. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. SUDDEN MONEY: Charlie Ruggles, Marjorie Ram-' beau — Just another program picture from Paramount on which I failed to take in film rental. Played April 10-11. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. TOM SAWYER, DETECTIVE: Donald O'Connor, Robert Kent, June Travis — A good programmer for child fare. Lots of grownups liked it, too. Running time, 68 minutes. Played April 14-15.— R. A. Moore, State Theatre, Clarence Iowa. Rural patronage. ZAZA: Caudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, Bert Lahr — The only way you could possibly come out is to advertise the world's worst picture and you may get somebody. I didn't. — J. M. Nix, Castle 'Theatre, Brackettville, Te.xas. General patronage. Republic FIGHTING THOROUGHBREDS: Ralph Byrd, Mary Carlisle, Robert Allen— A good picture but lacked direction. Story OK: actors OK; photography OK.— C. L. Niles. Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa. General patronage. HOME ON THE RANGE: Gene Autry, Smiley Btirnette— Autry don't rate here like he has in past. Still a good bet but set your sights on Roy Rogers. Running time, 56 minutes. Played April 7-8.— R. A. Moore, State Theatre, Clarence, Iowa. Rural patronage. MEXICALI ROSE: Gene Autry. Smiley Burnette— Played this two days midweek to less gross than Saturday run. Patrons were divided in their opinions and personally did not think it as good as some of the other Autry pictures.— E. F. Ingram, Ashland Theatre, Ashland, Ala. Small town and rural patronage. PRIDE OF THE NAVY: James Dunn, Rochelle Hudson— This is a good little action picture which will please the men and boys. I played it on Sunday. Average business. Played April 9.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. SANTA FE STAMPEDE: Three Mesquiteers (John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune), June Martel — Another western. They pleased our western fans. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. SHINE ON HARVEST MOON: Roy Rogers, Mary Hart, Lulu Belle and Scotty— Playing up Lulu Belle, this was a natural. They came and stayed 'til midnight. Proved a better draw than Gene Autry. The WLS broadcast helped to put this over. Picture OK. — B. C. Brown, Temple and Vernon Theatres, Viroqua, Wis. General patronage. RKO Radio FISHERMAN'S WHARF: Bobby Breen, Henry Armetta, Leo Carrillo — Just fair. No box office delight for us. Will do business where Bobby means anything. Running time, 72 minutes. Played March 24-25. — Rudolf Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. GUNGA DIN: Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Victor McLaglen, Joan Fontaine — A big spectacular production. Great sets and plenty of action. As a box office draw, it is not up to standard. However, we did well on the opening with rain. — B. C. Brown, Temple and Vernon 'Theatres, Viroqua, Wis. General patronage. GUNGA DIN: Cary Grant, Douglas Fairbanks, " Jr., Victor McLaglen, Joan Fontaine — Did not gross the guarantee. An excellent picture but this class of picture all buttoned up in the small town. Will the producer never discover this fact? — C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa. General patronage. SKY GIANT: Richard Dix, Chester Morris, Joan Fontaine — A good show for my patrons but spoiled by a poor prmt, the sound being very poor indeed, which spoils a show at any time. Running time, nine reels. Played April 6. — A. L. Dove, Bengough Theatre, Bcngough, Saskatchewan, Canada. Rural and small town patronage. TwenHe+h CenturyFox ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND: Alice Faye, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley — We had a late engagement on this and naturally suffered at the bo-x office. However, it is grand entertainment throughout. Enough cannot be said about the story, the acting and the music. It is one of those fine pictures that come all too rarely. Running time, 126 minutes. Played April 4-5. — Mrs. W. A. Wight, Rex Theatre, Konawa, Okla. Small town patronage. DOWN ON THE FARM: Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Louise Fa'zenda — ^This picture, of course, pleased the very few fans who came to see it. No, we don't make any money on pictures like this. Played April 5. — Rudolf Covi, Covi Theatre Herminie, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. JUST AROUND THE CORNER: Shirley Temple, Joan Davis, Charles Farrell, Armanda Duff, Bill Robinson, Bert Lahr — I have to agree with numerous other exhibitors on this picture. It is certainly not Shirley Temple's best effort. We have not had one of her pictures in a long time and those who saw it felt satisfi«d but she has lost a great deal of her draw. Let's all hope her new picture, "The Little Princess," is a good tonic for failing appetites. Running time, 71 minutes. Played April 6-7.— Mrs. W. A. Wight, Rex Theatre, Konawa, Okla. Small town and rural patronage. KENTUCKY: Loretta Young, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan — Everyone tried to tell me this viras a great box office picture. My own analysis failed to see it in this light. We played it to average business. It takes more than horses to bring them in nowadays. Running time. 96 minutes. Played March 26-27. — Rudolf Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. KENTUCKY: Loretta Young, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan — The best picture I ever saw. A fine story that holds interest all the way from the prologue of the days of '61 and the beginning of the Goodwin Dillon feud down to the last thrilling race at Churchil! Downs and the lowering of the Elm Tree colors at the grave of Peter Goodwin. The entire cast is excellent but the outstanding stars are Walter Brennan as Peter Goodwin, proud, impoverished southern aristocrat, a horseman first, last and always, and little Bobs Watson, who portrays Peter Goodwin as a child. A very pleasing innovation is an off stage narrative describing Kentucky's famed thoroughbreds and showing such "kings of the turf" as Man O' War. Omaha. Gallant Fox and what appear to be all the colts in Kentucky in one blue grass pasture. The old plantation, its mansion, family portraits, stables and happy-go-lucky darkies are all authentic. One pleasing sequence is the stable boys singing "Goin' to the Races." The color is beautiful and natural. I saw this picture four times and would pay fifty cents to see it again. Twentieth Century-Fox may well be proud of this one. Running time, 96 minutes. Played April 5-6.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. WIFE, HUSBAND AND FRIEND: Loretta Young, Warner Baxter. Binnie Barnes, Cesar Romero — It runs around in a circle over the question o£ voice and Loretta singing. A bad case of much ado about nothing. Walkouts too many.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. United Artists COWBOY AND THE LADY, THE: Gary Cooper, Merle Oberon, Patsy Kelly, David Niven, Walter Brennan, Thomas Mitchell— Very good for small towns. Running time, 90 minutes. Played April 14-15.— O. W. Chapek, Annex Theatre, Anamoose, i\. D. Rural and small town patronage. PRISON WITHOUT BARS: Corinne Luchaire, Edna Best, Barry Barnes — I presume this is not supposed to be more than a program picture and I guess it is just that. But it is good enough and interesting enough that I feel no inclination to find fault with it in any way. And that is just about a record as far as our experience goes with the product of foreign companies. Running time, 79 minutes. Played April 8-9. —Dr. G. A. Van Fradenburg, Valley Theatre, Manassa, Col. Farming community patronage. THERE GOES MY HEART: Fredric March, Virginia Bruce, Patsy Kelly, Alan Mowbray, Nancy (Carroll, Eugene Pallette— Fine comedy that is well balanced. Good for midweek.— J. M. Nix, Castle Theatre, Brackettville, Texas. General patronage. TRADE WINDS: Fredric March, Joan Bennett, Ralph Bellamy, Ann Sothern— A picture that is "different" and we do not get a chance to use this adjective very often. It was quite satisfying at the box office and appeared to be satisfactory to the patrons. Running time, 95 minutes. Played March 25-26. — Dr. G. A. Van Fradenburg, Valley Theatre, Manassa, Col. Farming community patronage. Universal IMITATION OF LIFE (reissue): Claudette Colbert, Warren William— This still rates among the good ones. We did only average business but felt satisfied that we gave our public entertainment. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. LITTLE TOUGH GUY: Robert Wilcox, Helen Parrish, "Dead End Kids"— Played this one late. However, it is good and pleased all. These Little Tough Guys do business for me. If you haven't tried them, do so and be surprised as I was and make some money. Running time, 83 minutes. — W. E. McPhee, Strand Theatre, Old Town, Maine. General patronage. PIRATES OF THE SKY: Kent Taylor, Rochelle Hudson— Pleased. Had enough action and suspense to satisfy the majority. Running time, 61 minutes. — A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. STORM, THE: Charles Bickford, Preston Foster, Barton MacLane, Tom Brown, Nan Grey — Not only did the nurse perform the appendix operation in midocean with radio instruction from the surgeon on land but she did it during a terrible storm. Picture fair. — C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa. General patronage. YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN: W. C. Fields, Edgar Bergen. "Charlie McCarthy," Frank Jenks — Sure fire at the box office. Plot weak but certainly drew laughs. Fields No. 1 on the hit parade to me. Running time, 79 minutes. Played April 9-10. — R. A. Moore, State Theatre, Qarence, Iowa. Rural patronage. YOUTH TAKES A FLING: Joel McCrea, Andrea Leeds — Youth didn't come to see itself take a fiing. Yours truly felt like taking a fling after seeing the box office. Didn't do film rental. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. Warner Brothers DAWN PATROL: Errol Flynn, David Niven, Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisr>--This picture holds them on the edge of the seat throughout and, boy, she will hit the ceiling in receipts. — J. M. Nix, Castle Theatre, Brackettville, Texas. General patronage. DEVIL'S ISLAND: Boris Karloff, Nedda Harrigan —A little picture that I believe might do better than average business. Our audience enjoyed it. Running time, 62 minutes. Played March 22. — Rudolf Covi, Covi Theatre, Herminie, Pa. Small town and rural patronage. OKLAHOMA KID, THE: James Cagney, Rosemary Lane, Humphrey Bogart — Swell outdoor picture that drew well and pleased. Some said they enjoyed it as much as "Jesse James." Played Monday and Tuesday date to more than double usual gross those days. — E. F. Ingram, Ashland Theatre, Ashland, Ala. Small town and rural patronage. OKLAHOMA KID, THE: James Cagney, Rosemary Lane. Humphrey Bogart — Good in any snot, an overgrown western to be sure, but if they like Cagney it will click. Plenty action and good story. Running time. 80 minutes.— W. E. McPhee, Strand Theatre, Old Town, Maine. General patronage. VALLEY OF THE GIANTS: Wayne Morris, Claire