Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1939)

74 MOTION PICTURE HERALD February 4, 1939 (Continued from preceding page) ARTISTS AND MODELS ABROAD: Jack Benny. Joan Bennett, Mary Boland, Yacht Club Boys — This picture without a shadow of doubt at once qualifies for a position in the ever increasing ranks of deathly, deadly, inexcusable productions. It was so bad the type of audience who thought they'd like it were disgusted. Benny is no actor. His amazing lack of screen personality causes one to suspect that the success of his radio program is due to the script writers and his supporting cast. When Joan Bennett attempted to sing we all turned up our coat collars shuddering. Some drew on their mittens.. — C. T. Cooney, Jr., Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro, Maine. General patronage. BOOLOO: Colin Tapley, Suratna Asmaka— Very good picture of its kind. The trouble with this type of picture is that they always flop at the box office. — P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. CAMPUS CONFESSIONS: Betty Grable, Eleanore Whitney, Hank Luisetti — Fair college picture with a little basketball. Seemed to please but had no business on this, although no fault of picture. Running time, 66 minutes. — A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. CAMPUS CONFESSIONS: Betty Grable, Eleanore Whitney, Hank Luisetti — Fair Entertainment. — R. V. Fletcher, Lyric Theatre, Hartington, Neb. General patronage. RIDE A CROOKED MILE: Akim Tamiroff, Frances Farmer, Leif Erikson — Fair entertainment for Saturday.— R. V. Fletcher, Lyric Theatre, Hartington, Neb. General patronage. SING, YOU SINNERS: Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, Ellen Drew, Donald O'Connor, Elizabeth Patterson— One of the best pictures that Paramount has put out in quite some time. Crosby excellent and MacMurray at his best. A swell family picture with a corker of a plot and splendid acting by everyone. If we could only have more pictures like this our worries would be over, but then every picture can't be another "Sing, You Singers." Running time, 90 minutes. Played January 14. Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. SONS OF THE LEGION: Donald O'Connor, Billy Lee, Lynne Overman, Elizabeth Patterson, William Frawley — Very poor entertainment. Set it out or show it to your Legion post free. — R. V. Fletcher, Lyric Theatre, Hartington, Neb. General patronage. SONS OF THE LEGION: Donald O'Connor, Billy Lee, Lynne Overman, Elizabeth Patterson, William Frawley — This kid Donald O'Connor is about the whole works in this fine picture. When I saw him in "Sing. You Sinners," I said that he would make the grade. Give him the parts, Paramount, and you have something in this laddie. Lynne Overman and the rest of the cast were excellent, except the foreign boy who seemed to be over-rehearsed. He didn't belong in this picture. Play it up to the Veterans. They'll like it. Running time, 62 minutes. Played January 20-21.— Jim Haney, Milan Theatre, Milan, Ind. General patronage. TOUCHDOWN ARMY: Mary Carlisle, John Howard— Fair midweek entertainment. — R. V. Fletcher, Lyric Theatre, Hartington, Neb. General patronage. RKO Radio FUGITIVES FOR A NIGHT: Frank Albertson, Eleanor Lynn, Adrienne Ames — It might get by on a double feature as the co-hit. Not anything to Brag about and there are plenty better than this one. Running time, 63 minutes. Played January 10-11. — Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. KING KONG (reissue): Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Robert Armstrong — There's still plenty of life and drawing power in the old gigantic giant and in my opinion there never has been produced a bigger thriller. Seeing it after a lapse of years, it still remains the wonder picture to me and I still marvel at the technical skill that it took to produce this picture. I believe there is money in it for many exhibitors to show this to the new crop of theatre goers. I did not advertise it as a horror picture but as one of the biggest thrill dramas every shown. Threw in some gigantic', colossal words in ads for good measure. Business decidedly above average.— J. E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patronage. KING KONG (reissue): Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Robert Armstrong — This picture, built up right, will do a terrific repeat business. We brought it back in this theatre and it did terrific receipts. Even better than "Boys Town" and "Stablemates." It's a jungle, horror show with pre-historic beasts and then, of course, the giant gorilla King Kong who gets on top of the Empire State Building and starts knocking airplanes down out of the sky. Fantastic but a real business getter. Running time, 95 minutes. Played January 8-9. — Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. LAWLESS VALLEY: George O'Brien, Kay Sutton — It will get by all right, I guess. Running time, 60 minutes. Played January 14. — Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. PECK'S BAD BOY AT THE CIRCUS: Tommy Kelly, Ann Gillis, Edgar Kennedy, Spanky McFarland — Good program picture that was more suitable for children than adults, but it went over quite well, so I guess the adults must have liked it, too. Running time, 68 minutes.— P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. PECK'S BAD BOY AT THE CIRCUS: Tommy Kelly, Ann Gillis, Edgar Kennedy, Spanky MacFarland — A distinct surprise is in store for the exhibitor who plays this one. It is another picture of the "Little Red Schoolhouse" type. Gets you a lot of customers who rarely attend a theatre. And that little picture stealer, Spanky MacFarland, is right in his heighth of glory in this production. Played January 15-17.— Harry M. Palmer, Temple Court Theatre, Washington, Ind. General patronage. ROOM SERVICE: Marx Brothers, Lucille Ball, Ann Miller, Frank Albertson— The Marx Bros, might have made some good pictures but this one is as funny as a crutch. It established a new low in my theatre and I don't want no more of them. Poor Ann Miller was simply lost. Everybody expected her to dance but she didn't even shake a leg. It was a percentage picture and a headache to me. Running time, 78 minutes. Played January 22-23. — Jim Haney, Mila Theatre, Milan, Ind. General patronage. Republic PRAIRIE MOON: Gene Autry, Shirley Deane, Smiley Burnette — Just lately we have noticed the last Autry pictures not doing so good as six months ago. This may be due to weather condition for they still have plenty of B.O. left.— Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. RHYTHM OF THE SADDLE: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette — These Autry pictures have always been crowd pullers for us, but a few more like this one and we'll have to look for another western star to satisfy the lovers of horse operas. For the first time patrons walked out and their comments clearly indicated their feelings, the gist of which seemed to be that Autry was getting too swellheaded for his actual talents. Even the dialogue had everyone in the cast heaping praises on his head. It was just too much to swallow. Running time, 58 minutes. Played January 6-7.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. UNDER WESTERN STARS: Roy Rogers, Smiley Burnette, Carol Hughes — This is a sensational start for a new western star. This is a topnotch western from every angle, story as well as the musical part of it. Rogers has a splendid voice for westerns and a most pleasing personality. If they give him good stories and production values, it should not be long before he begins crowding other western favorites for top honors. As yet this had no special drawing powers, but western fans first have to get to know him. — J. E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patronage. WESTERN JAMBOREE: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Jean Rouverol — Average western drama which pleased good business. Played January 20-21.— E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. Twentieth CenturyFox DOWN ON THE FARM: Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Louise Fazenda — Played this as a midnight prevue showing and patrons laughed themselves weak. Plenty of good old fashioned slapstick in this one, reminding you of the Mack Sennett comedies of yore. Running time, 61 minutes. Played January 13-14.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Rural and small town patronage. DOWN ON THE FARM: Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Louise Fazenda— Very funny. Best Jones family picture in a long time. Pleased average business. Ptlayed January 16-17. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. JUST AROUND THE CORNER: Shirley Temple, Joan Davis, Charles Farrell, Armanda Duff, Bert Lahr, Bill Robinson— We had a bad break on this one. First night it snowed and the entire next day we had a blizzard. Business was very much off even for an ordinary picture. Think the picture pleased the Temple fans who saw it. Running time, 70 minutes. Played January 15-16. — Horn and Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. KENTUCKY: Richard Greene, Loretta Young. Walter Brennan — Any theatre, anywhere, can be proud indeed to present a picture of this caliber to its patrons. Here is one of the most satisfactory films we have ever screened and patrons were positively effusive in their praises. Business OK in spite of adverse conditions generally present at this time. Running time. 95 minutes. Played January 15-17. — M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. SECOND HONEYMOON: Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Claire Trevor, Lyle Talbot — It's a good picture without a doubt, but it is so old that I doubt if many of you men could make a go of it unless you ran a dish night, a money night or something like that to go on with it. I personally ran my dish night with it. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with the picture but it's just the fact that it is rather old. Power and Young both do splendid acting in this one. Running time, 79 minutes. Played January 12-13.— Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. SUBMARINE PATROL: Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly, Preston Foster, George Bancroft — Right up the alley for a ten strike as far as our patrons were concerned. They left the theatre completely satisfied and you can't ask any more of a picture than that, especially when it does better than average in the face of unusual competition and adverse business conditions generally. Running time, 95 minutes. Played January > 13-14.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Rural and small town patronage. SUEZ: Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Annabella — A spectacular production done on a lavish scale, but it failed to pull to the degree expected of it. Pleased quite generally but failed to impress our patrons to the extent of rave praises. Business not up to average for some reason. Running time, 104 minutes. Played December 30-31. — M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING: Jack Haley, Jack Oakie, Adolphe Menjou, Arleen Whalen, Tony Martin —Generally quite well liked but failed to pull the business. A cever plot that got somewhat out of hand along about halfway mark, with nearly disastrous results. But, for all that, it remains above average film fare, which may or may not pull in your situation, depending upon the pull of the stars among your patrons. Running time, 73 minutes. Played January 8-10.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Rural and small town patronage. UP THE RIVER: Slim Summerville, Tony Martin, Preston Foster, Phyllis Brooks, Arthur Treacher, Bill Robinson — Very amusing comedy of jail life. Tony Martin sings and Bill Robinson tap dances. Pleased all. Played January 15. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. United Artists COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE (Reissue): Robert Donat, Elissa Landi — Still a movie classic. I believe that I have played every "Monte Cristo" that has been filmed, even that one-reeler that was made in Hollywood years ago and which was the cause of the second gold rush to California. Perhaps Elissa Landi's emoting does belong to the old school, but that grand trouper, Robert Donat, makes you forget the crudities. Played January 18. — Harry M. Palmer, Temple Court Theatre, Washington, Ind. General patronage. COWBOY AND THE LADY, THE: Gary Cooper, Merle Oberon, Patsy Kelly, David Niven, Walter Brennan, Thomas Mitchell — Here's one that should do a world of business in the small towns. This is tops for good clean entertainment and comedy. Play it by all means and yell to the world that you have it. Pleased everyone and they told me so. Business poor due to icy roads, snow, cold weather, mumps, measles, colds and about everything else that could befall one section of the state at one time, but play it and reap your reward. Running time, 92 minutes.— A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. TRADE WINDS: Frederic March, Joan Bennett, Ralph Bellamy, Ann Southern — Slow, but stars will put it over. — L. D. Jones, Star Theatre, Malad City, Idaho. General patronage. YOUNG IN HEART, THE: Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Paulette Goddard, Roland Young, Billie Burke — Very, very nice. Heard many fine comments on this excellent feature. It pleased all, 1 believe, and should have. Held interest from start to finish and even jerked a tear or so. Shove this hard and they'll like it. Running time, 90 minutes. — A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage. YOUNG IN HEART, THE: Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Paulette Goddard, Roland Young, Billie Burke — Good program picture that did not do very good at the box office. It seems as if Janet Gaynor don't mean a thing anymore. Running time, 90 minutes.— P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage. Universal DRACULA (reissue): Bela Lugosi; FRANKENSTEIN (reissue): Boris Karloff — While we had shown these pictures singly when first produced, the reissues as the twin horror show drew very nicely. We wouldn't in the least mind a drawing card like this once a week. We advertised it as the twin horror show of the century. "Can you take it?. Those with weak hearts had better watch out." — J. E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood patronage. FORBIDDEN VALLEY: Noah Beery, Jr., Frances Robinson — It's a cowboy picture and you probably know the story on them better than I. Use your own judgment. Running time, 67 minutes. Played January 21. — Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington. Conn. General patronage. IDOL OF THE CROWDS: John Wayne, Sheila Bromley — A fair little picture with hockey playing as the background. This is a very appropriate picture for time of year, and tied up right and run as cofeature on a double feature program it should do all right for itself. Running time, 62 minutes. Played January 17-18— Pearce Parkhurst, State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. (Continued on page 77)