Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1939)

September 16, 1939 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 75 WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME Columbia BLONDIE and BLONDIE MEETS THE BOSS: Penny Singleton, Artliur Lake, Larry Simms — We used these two pictures on bargain nights to get them introduced but are promoting tlie rest of the Blondie series to better and bigger nights. For real entertainment for all the family you can't beat them. And we were afraid of them. Running time, 71 minutes. Played August 28-29.— M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, CotuUa, Texas. Small town and country patronage. CLOUDS OVER EUROPE: Laurence Olivier, Valerie Hobson, Ralph Richardson — Entertaining programer. Pleased generally. The title will draw too. Running time, 70 minutes. — W. E. McPhee, Strand Theatre, Old Town, Maine. General patronage. FLIGHT TO FAME: Charles Farrell, Jacqueline Wells — A very good action picture for a dual bill. Saved our face as we double billed it with "Storm in a Teacup." — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury. Ontario, Canada. General patronage. GOOD GIRLS GO TO PARIS: Melvyn Douglas, Joan Blondell, Walter Connolly — A clever little comedy with Walter Connolly the whole show. Was well received but will not stand extended runs. Running time, 78 minutes. — A. J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small town patronage. ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS: Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Richard Barthel mess, Phomas Mitchell — Another top picture from Columbia. However, we had too much competition to rate it. Jean Arthur and Cary Grant turn in fine performances and I am sure everyone is glad to welcome Richard Barthelmess back. If your patrons like aviation epics out of the ordinary, they will go for this one. Running time, 127 minutes. Played September 1-2.— R. A. Moore, State Theatre, Clarence, Iowa. Rural patronage. SMASHING THE SPY RING: Fay Wray, Ralph Bellamy — Fine for any situation that likes action. Played it on weekend with western. Did average business. War tension reacted on box office. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. First National ANGELS WASH THEIR FACES: "Dead End Kids," Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan, Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas — This picture is a decided disappointment if one is to compare it with "Angels with rWrty Faces," and since the title would suggest a comparison, it should have been a much better picture. However, we did above average business on Sunday and Monday but our patrons were expecting it to measure up >o "Angels with Dirty Faces." There are some amusing situations but the payoff comes when they dig up laws as "spitting on the sidewalk" and' "bowling on Sunday" to catch the tough crooks who would shoot to kill at the bat of an eye. It looks like silly, childish stuff to me. Ronald Reagan is coming to the front and gives a smooth performance. Ann Sheridan is supposed to be the "oomph" girl but she has a hard time showing much "oomph" in this atmosphere. Warner Brothers have the edge on other producers on such shows as this and they make it believable in spite of weak story. It has its amusing situations and some exciting scenes, but you will hear your customers trying to compare it with "Angels with Dirty Faces" and the answer is "No. that fine picture is hard to beat!" Running time, 86 minutes. Flayed August 27-28.— Mrs. W. A. Wight, Rex Theatre, Konawa, Okla. Small town patronage. CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY: Edward G. Robinson, _ Francis Lederer, Paul Lukas— I was kind of disappointed in the picture and the majority of the patrons were, too. It was drawn out and while it was fairly interesting, there wasn't enough to it to round out the story. No one walked out but there were a lot that didn't care for it. I think a better job could have been done on the material they had to produce it with. Running time, 100 minutes. Played August 1113.— G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. General patronage. COWBOY QUARTERBACK, THE: Bert Wheeler, Marie Wilson, Gloria Dickson— A little early for the football season but the picture has its funny moments and the usual weekend crowd got a big kick out of the comedy.— Mayme P. Musselman, Princess 'Theatre, Lincoln, Kansas. Small town patronage. DARK VICTORY: Bette Davis, George Brent, N this, the exhibitors' own department, the theatremen of the nation serve one another with information on the box-office performance of product for their mutual benefit. It is a service of the exhibitor for the exhibitor. Address all communications to — What the 'Picture Did for Me MOTION PICTURE HERALD Rockefeller Center, New York Humphrey Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald— This picture was very well taken and drew extra business. The acting of Bette Davis is superb. Running time, 106 minutes. Played August 25-27.— O. W. Chapek, Annex Theatre, Anamoose, N. D. Rural and small town patronage. EACH DAWN I DIE: James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft — Here is a swell picture that will stand up in any spot. True, it is one of those gangster and penitentiary pictures that Warner Brothers have flooded our theatres with, but it is definitely a much higher type picture. It is sordid, brutal and cruel but it will hold interest from beginning to end. James Cagney gets better with every picture and he and George Raft turn out excellent performances. The jailhouse scenes, which constitute most of the picture, are the best I have ever seen on a screen and all the supporting players handle their parts to perfection. You can't go wrong on this one. It has box office appeal outside and customer appeal inside. I could not say many nice things about "Angels Wash Their Faces" but this powerful and frank melodrama certainly deserves all praises. Hats off to Warner Brothers for this one! Running time, 92 minutes. Played August 29-30.— Mrs. W. A. Wight, Rex Theatre, Konawa, Okla. Small town patronage. EACH DAWN I DIE: James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft — One of the best of the Cagneys from Warner. — B. C. Brown, Vernon and Temple Theatres, Viroqua, Wis. General patronage. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford — We did a very nice business on this picture for two nights, then ran into one of those championship soft ball games and the third night was just a washout. The picture pleased about as good as any but Metro slapped percentage on this after allocating at flat rental. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kansas. Small town patronage. ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford — This may be heresy but on this series, although they do business, they are getting into a rut and liable to bog down, if they don't get away from the stereotyped scenarios that have been the last three pictures. Base story and here it is; check me, if I am wrong. Stone gets into financial difficulties, pulling out okay at the last moment. Mickey falls in love and does a lot of mugging and believe it or not, the man to man stuff is getting slightly raspberry. There is just the deadly sameness to them and the audience is beginning to realize it. However, they have not slipped yet. But, I don't see how Metro can continually use this same old routine and keep the Hardys on top. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford — Good picture; good business. Played August 30-31. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. BAD MAN OF BRIMSTONE: Wallace Beery, Virginia Bruce. Dennis Morgan — Played in place of "Broadway Serenade," and while we didn't break any house records, it saved us a loss on the other picture. It is still about as good as any of the big outdoor epics, and if you can get a print, 1 would say book it. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kansas. Small town patronage. BROADWAY SERENADE: Jeanette MacDonald. Lew Ayres, Frank Morgan, Ian Hunter — Feature had its points but very few. The songs were up to standard but nothing to go with them. This girl is not much of a draw without her old screen sweetheart, Eddy. Could have done better with another Tarzan picture. Running time, 112 minutes. Played July 2324.— G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. General patronage. CALLING DR. KILDARE: Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore— Not as good as the first but it took well. Seems to me that there could and should be more action in these. They sort of saunter along from one situation to another and never get any real action sequence as the general public visualize a hospital. Running time, 88 minutes. Played July 30-31.— G. R. Borden, Jr., AM-BC Theatre, Blaine, Wash. General patronage, GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS: Robert Donat, Greer Garson — Don't expect this to lift the mortgage but it's a swell show. The magazines give it a good boost but Metro's trailer will kill it for you. If I were playing it again, I wouldn't run the trailer. Everybody reads the movie magazines and they have been full of praise for this picture. Run it any time. Running time, 114 minutes. Played August 23-24.— M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, CotuUa, Texas. Small town and country patronage. GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS: Robert Donat, Greer Garson — A very artistic production that held interest from beginning to end. It pleased generally. Played August 27-28.— B. C. Brown, Vernon and Temple Theatres, Viroqua, Wis. General patronage. HARDYS RIDE HIGH, THE: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford—Not so good as "Out West with the Hardys" but still very good entertainment. Mickey, as usual, is a riot and all other members of the cast give an excellent performance. Running time, 81 minutes. Played August 11-13.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD: James Stewart, Claudette Colbert, Guy Kibbee, Nat Pendleton — James Stewart gets better in every role he plays and he was plenty good to start. Claudette Colbert is very good while Guy Kibbee and Nat Pendleton never fail to furnish _ the comedy. Goofy story but pleased. Running time, 96 minutes. Played August 25-27. — Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. KID FROM TEXAS, THE: Dennie O'Keefe, Florence Rice — We ran this bargain night and what a bargain. Good any time. Plenty of action and loaded with comedy. Running time, 70 minutes. Played August 22.— M. L. DuBose, Majestic Theatre, Cotulla, Texas. Small town and country patronage. LADY OF THE TROPICS: Robert Taylor, Hedy Lamarr — Classy. The lady has "oomph." Picture entertaining. Extended runs in any spot and it's clicking. Running time, 68 minutes. — W. E. McPhee, Strand Theatre, Old Town, Maine. General patronage. LADY OF THE TROPICS: Robert Taylor, Hedy Lamarr — We did only fair with a big bally on Hedy, and while the picture isn't so much a record breaker, we did have a lot of favorable comments on the most beautiful star in pictures. Metro have their sights set pretty high, seemingly thinking that there is just as much business as ever and they can't change. You can do all right with this one, if they'll allocate it right, but don't pay top prices. — Mayme P. Musselman, Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Kansas. Small town patronage. LET FREEDOM RING: Nelson Eddy, Virginia Bruce. Lionel Barrymore. Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee. Victor McLaglen — Very fine picture which did not draw the rural patronage we thought it should. You'd be surprised the number of people who do not come to see a Nelson Eddy picture because they think he is going to sing some of those operatic numbers. This picture had a wonderful ending which all Americans should see at this particular time. Running time, 87 minutes. Played September 1-2. — Horn and Morgan, Inc.. Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. LUCKY NIGHT: Myrna Loy, Robert Taylor— Excellent entertainment with plenty of comedy, which is what they want. Myrna Loy is one of the best (Continued on follozinn/j page)