Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

April 6 1940 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 49 WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME Columbia BLONDIE BRINGS UP BABY: Arthur Lake, Pennv Singleton, Larry Simmms — This series very good bnt is not building up. Doubled this with "Konga, the Wild Stallion," and drew average business. Played March 16.— Harry L. Bubb, Sylvanian Theatre, New Freedom, Pa. Rural patronage. BULLETS FOR RUSTLERS: Charles Starrett, Loma Gray — As good as the usual Starrett picture. Our audience likes this boy very much. The camera work is excellent in this entire series. Running time, 58 minutes. — A. J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. HIS GIRL FRIDAY: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy — Exceptional grosses for three weeks run. Fastest picture and dialogue in years. It was a pleasure to run this swell show. Running time, 92 minutes. Played January 19-February 2. — State Theatre, Oklahoma City, Okla. Downtown patronage. KONGA, THE WILD STALLION: Fred Stone, Rochelle Hudson — Doubled this with "Blondfe Brings Up Baby" and drew average business. Played March 16. — Harry L. Bubb, Sylvanian Theatre, New Freedom, Pa Rural patronage. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Eugene Palleite — One of the best pictures Tve played, but no draw. Just one of the mysteries of the game. Ran a matinee for high school and grade schools. Kids said there must be something wrong with the picture because the school board recommended that they see it. Running time, 130 minutes. Played February 22-24. — Harry L. Bubb, Sylvanian Theatre, New Freedom, Pa. Rural patron First National CASTLE ON THE HUDSON: Tohn Garfield, Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan, Burgess Meredith— Played Sunday-Monday. Good attendance Sunday but bottom dropped out Monday. Better midweek feature. Running time, 89 minutes. Played March 10-11. — C. O. Kintz. Kickapoo Theatre, Gays Mills, Wis. Farming community patronage. CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY: Edward G. Robinson, Francis Lederer, Paul Lukas — I was looking fer something just a bit better than what I presented. However, the materia! they did have was very interestingly presented. How Francis Lederer, a typical Frenchman, was cast for the part of a leading German spy is beyond me. The picture aroused very little ::--tr.:. Rvmr.tr. j time. 102 minutes. Played March 19-20. — Simon Galitzki. Coed Theatre, Topeka, Kansas. General patronage. FIGHTING 69TH: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, George Brent, Jeffrey Lynn. Dennis Morgan, Alan Hale — The Cagney fans weren't very enthused over the picture but had a very good turnout, doing better mar. usual midweek business. Played March 13-15. — W. O. Kemp, Victory Theatre, Poteau, Okla Small town patronage. FIGHTING 69TH: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, George Brent, Jeirrey Lynn, Dennis Morgan, Alan Hale — One of the best. Wish we had more like it. Played Sunday-Monday to capacity business. Should have given it extra playing time. Running time, 90 minutes. Played March 17-18. — C. A. Kintz, Kickapoo Theatre, Gay Mills, Wis. Farming community patronage. FIGHTING S9TH: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, George Brent. Jeffrey Lynn, Dennis Morgan, Alan Hale — Here's one that will really pep up your box office. The best from Warners since "Dodge City" and the best business we have enjoved since Christmas. — N. E. Frank. Wayland Theatre, Wayland, Mich. Small town patronage. FOUR WIVES: Lane~~Sisters, Gale Page, Claude Rains, John Garfield, Eddie Albert, Jeffrey Lynn, Dick Foran, Frank McHugh, May Robson — Though it was enjoyed by most of our patrons, it definitely is not the box office picture nor the production to deserve top allocation into which the distributor put it. Being a sequel to '"'Four Daughters" it has, as usually is the case with sequels, a somewhat weak story. Running time. 99 minutes. Played March 3-4. — Egon W. G. VTieselmann, Cactus Theatre, Limon, Col. Small town patronage. 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 What the Picture Did for Me MOTION PICTURE HERALD Rockefeller Center, New York OLD MAID, THE: Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, Jane Bryan — Played this late because ! was a little afraid of it and kept on setting it out in favor of others. Though not a knockout at the box office, it certainly surprised me and did rather well. It is a splendid picture, and Bette Davis did a good character portrayal. Yes, it did better than some other pictures we have recently given Sunday playing time. Running time, 95 minutes. Played February 25-26. — Egon W. G. Wieselmann, Cactus Theatre, limon. Col. Small town patronage. ON YOUR TOES: Zorina, Eddie Albert, Gloria Dickson, James Gleason, Alan Hale — Not a small town picture by a long shot. If it is entertainment, it must be for New York alone. Zorina can toe dance, but certainly can't act. No expression at all in her face. Running time, 93 minutes. Played November 1-2. — C. W. Davis, Rockingham Theatre, Reidsville, N. C. Small town and rural patronage. PRIVATE DETECTIVE: Jane Wyman, Dick Foran, Maxie Rosenbloom — Another "quickie." It may have been a good show if Maxie Rosenbloom had been out of it. Running time, 55 minutes. — A. J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small town patronage. PRIVATE DETECTIVE: Jane Wyman, Dick Foran — Jane Wyman is okay, but can't they find anything but crime stories to produce this year. — N. E. Frank, Wayland Theatre, Wayland, Mich. Small town patronage. _JTHREE CHEERS FOR THE IRISH: Priscilla Lane, Thomas Mitchell, Dennis Morgan, Alan Hale — Boys, here's one packed full of real entertainment. Thomas Mitchell does a real job in this picture. It's a good story and has a good cast. Played March 21-22. — Morris Littman, Sylvan Theatre, Rutherfordton, N. C. Small town patronage. Metro-Go Id wyn-M ay er ANOTHER THIN MAN: William Powell, Myrna L03— A swell picture and certainly no one can find anything to find fault with in this one. But it didn't draw, much to our surprise. When they won't come to see pictures like this, they just don't want to see any kind. We're sure hoping that something explodes to start the business back soon. Running time. 102 minutes. Played March 3-4. — Horn and Morgan, Inc.. Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. BABES IN ARMS: Mickey Rooney. Judy Garland, Charles Winninger, Guy Kibbee, Henry Hull — Swell show that had been shown all around here months ago. Mickey is his usual impudent, conceited self; Judy is at her best, and Henry Hull is very good. An excellent production that pleased. Mickey's impersonation of Lionel Barrymore and Judy's "My Da3T" are highlights. Running time. 97 minutes. Plaved March S10.— Gladys E McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. BALALAIKA: Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey, Frank Morgan, Charles Ruggles — Like all singing pictures of this type, it died at the box office. And 75 per cent of those who did come didn't like it. Too much classical singing. Certainly takes a nosedive here. Running time. 102 minutes. Played March 10-11. — Horn and Morgan. Inc.. Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. BRIDAL SUITE: Annabella. Robert Young— Well received. Had a tieup with a clothing manufacturer for Easter fashion show and enjoyed nice business. Feel it would have been better if we hadn't run into bad weather. Many think Robert Young should have bigger and better pictures. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre. Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940: Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire. George Murphy. Frank Morgan — The teaming of these two dancing stars looked like a smart move on Metro's part but we sensed what seemed apathy on the part of the audience to this new "Melody" and some expressed their views that it was not as good as some of the former ones. Thin story and lack of comedy, except for Frank Morgan's role. Certainly we did not get any raves over it and a few favorable comments. Not nearly as many as on "Balalaika." There is a lady soloist that has a remarkable voice in one song. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. CALLING DR. KILDARE: Lew Ayres, Lionel Barr3-more, Laraine Day, Lana Turner — The picture pleased 99 per cent. It has everything, cast, story and direction. Every member of the cast acts with teamwork precision. Lionel Barrymore, Lew Ayres, Laraine Da3_ and gorgeous Lana Turner are "the tops." The Kildare pictures are anxiousb awaited. Hope the series continue. Running time, S6 minutes. — State Prison Colony Theatre, State Prison Colony, Norfolk, Mass. Prison patronage. EARL OF CHICAGO: Robert Montgomery, Edward Arnold. Reginald Owen — Swell entertainment if you like this kind but only about 10 per cent of our regular patrons do. If we hadn't pla3Ted this on a Giveaway Night, there wouldn't have been a handful there to see Montgomery do his stuff. He is a swell actor but the people just don't like this kind. Running time, 87 minutes. Pla3-ed March 15-16. — Horn and Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. EARL OF CHICAGO: Robert Montgomery. Edward Arnold, Reginald Owen — This may be class but failed to please here. Small towns, screen it before playing. No romance. Business second day below average. Running time. S7 minutes. Played February 7-8. — C. W. Davis, Rockingham Theatre, Reidsville, N. C. Small town and rural patronage. EARL OF CHICAGO: Robert Montgomery, Edward Arnold, Reginald Owen — Some like this one and some didn't. They can't seem to see Montgomery in this sort of a role. Average business. Running time. 73 minutes. Played March 21-23. — Roy Heffner, Jr., Key Theatre, Middleboro, Mass. General patronage. FAST AND FURIOUS: Ann Sothern, Franchot Tone — Very good program picture. — Sammie Jackson, Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. GONE WITH THE WIND: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh. Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Hattie McDaniel — We expected the usual good performance from Gable. Vivien Leigh and Hattie McDaniel were swell. Of course, the rest of the cast gave splendid performances in their roles. It is already sold, if you can get. Being sandwiched between two cities. 24 miles each direction on main decent highway, milked this town of our SI. 10 patrons. Matinees were fair. Small towns within 25 or 40 miles of a city will feel their effect on pla3"ing time. Our share onethird below average week. Running time, 228 minutes. Plaved March 1S-23. — C. W. Davis, Rockingham Theatre, Reidsville, N. C. Small town and rural patronage. HENRY GOES ARIZONA: Frank Morgan, Virginia Weidler — A good comedy. Not strong but OK in the lower allocation. — C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa. Iowa. General patronage. LAMBETH WALK: Lupino Lane. Sally GrayHere is a picture that will run the critic's scale. It is strictly an audience picture, and expect no fun or laughs if you have a small crowd. Will not entice anybod3" in but will please them after you devise some way to get them in. Better double bill it. I thought the picture had a lot of verr good comedy and on _ a good house we had a lot of hilarious laughing _at it. Running time. 66 minutes. Played March 13-15. — W. C. Lewellen, Uptown Theatre, Pueblo, Col. General patronage. MAN FROM DAKOTA: Wallace Beery, Dolores Del Rio. John Howard — Good picture; fair business. Beery plays the lazy, no account man at which he excels. Running time. 74 minutes. Pla3-ed March 2021. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey. Okla. Small town patronage. (Reports continued on follczcing page}