Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

50 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 6 , 1940 (Reports continued from preceding page) MAN FROM DAKOTA: Wallace Beery, Dolores Del Rio, John Howard — This picture turned in a better than average business, taking advantage of the increased prices on "GWTW" at opposition house. Slightly slower and not as robust as most Beery vehicles, it has a few slightly incredulous sequences, but generally pleased and entertained our audiences. Running time, 75 minutes. Played March 9-12. — W. C. Lewellen. Uptown Theatre, Pueblo, Col. General patronage. NORTHWEST PASSAGE: Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Walter Brennan — Good show, as are all Metro pictures. How can a theatre run without Metro? They have everything. Business 'way off on account general conditions. Film rentals high for my town. Played February 25-27— H. Ford Taylor, Ritz Theatre, Ballinger, Texas. Small town patronage. ON BORROWED TIME: Lionel Barrymore, Bobs Watson, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Beulah Bondi, Una Merkel — A picture containing some of the best acting I have ever seen. A plot that is so refreshingly different that it deserves the special attention of every showman. Children should be made to see it or their parents should be made to bring them. Solves the riddle of what to tell children old enough to understand the meaning of "death." Running time, 99 minutes. Played March 13-15.— W. C. Lewellen, Uptown Theatre, Pueblo, Col. General patronage. ROSE MARIE (reissue): Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy — I have been in the picture business since 1912 and can honestly say this is a production without competition in its class. I showed this in sub-zero weather in a village of 240 and must say I was surprised at the number of people that turned out to see this. My, if this had been in color. This is the first MacDonald picture that I have shown and can certainly recommend it to any spot at any time. It seems that it is impossible to buy Metro product in Western Canada in a small community, but productions like this, when we can buy them, are a treat. Play it. Running time, 112 minutes. Played March 21. — A. L. Dove. Bengough Theatre, Bengough, Saskatchewan, Canada. Rural and small town patronage. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER: James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan — A very enjoyable picture which pleased everyone. From a production standpoint, it is, however, definitely a small picture. Business was poor chiefly probably because of the European setting which is so much emphasized by the MGM trailer. I regret that we did not think to alter the trailer or not run it at all. By all means play the picture but sell it without letting on that it has a European setting. Frank Morgan in a straight role was good. Other minor roles were overdrawn. Running time. 100 minutes. Played March 12-14. — Egon W. G. Wieselmann, Cactus Theatre, Limon, Col. Small town patronage. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER: James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan, Felix Bressart — A swell picture if there ever was one. O'ur audience just ate it up. Plenty of laughs, and Felix Bressart stole the show. Tops in any house, so give it your best days and step on it. Running time, 100 minutes. — A. J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small town patronage. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER: James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, William Tracy — I wouldn't have believed that such a trio as James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan and Frank Morgan could have made such a dull, tiresome show as this. If this had been Marshall Field's in Chicago, or Wanamaker's in Philadelphia, what a swell picture it would have been, but we are very definitely not interested in Matuschek's in Budapest. It is talk, talk, talk. William Tracy is especially good, and with American names it would have gone over, but people are fed up on foreign names and places. Running time, 100 minutes. Played March 15-17.— Gladys E. McArdle, Owl Theatre, Lebanon, Kansas. Small town patronage. SHOP AROUND THE CORNER: James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan — Swell picture enjoyed by just fair attendance. What a relief to show a picture like this after playing one crime picture after another.— N. E. Frank, Wayland Theatre, Wayland, Mich. Small town patronage. STRANGE CARGO: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Ian Hunter, Peter Lorre — A picture which gave general satisfaction but did a very poor business. Running time, 113 minutes. Played March 10-12.— R. L. Matson, Crystal Theatre, Flandreau, S. D. General patronage. STRANGE CARGO: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Ian Hunter, Peter Lorre — An unusual adventure picture with a strong preachment. It will entertain and make you think afterwards. It has so much depth that I did not catch the full meaning until the second day, seeing it in spots as I have to always. I don't think Crawford could carry a picture alone, I mean at the box office. Running time, 113 minutes. Played March 13-14.— C. W. Davis, Rockingham Theatre, Reidsville, N. C. Small town and rural patronage. TARZAN FINDS A SON!: Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan— Excellent thriller suitable for adults and children. Takes you out in the "wide open spaces" into jungleland. The picture is full of action from start to finish. The antics of the animals got plenty laughs. Running time, 81 minutes.— State Pris Fourteen More Exhibitors Join Contributors on Product Shown Eleven exhibitors report on product for the first time in the current issue of "What the Picture Did for Me", and three others joined the reporters in the issue of March iOth. In the fortnight four additional showmen returned to contributing after long absences, for the most part two to four years. Following are the names of those making their initial reports to the department : Harry L. Bubb, Sylvanian Theatre, New Freedom, Pa. C. W. Davis, Rockingham Theatre, Reidsville, N. C. H. E. Fulgham, Ideal Theatre, Fort Worth, Tex. W. O. Kemp, Victory Theatre, Poteau, Okla. C. O. Kintz, Kickapoo Theatre, Gays Mills, Wis. Morris Littman, Sylvan Theatre, Rutherfordton, N. C. P. D. Pearce, Joy Theatre, Belzoni, Miss. State Prison Colony Theatre, State Prison Colony, Norfolk, Mass. State Theatre, Oklahoma City, Okla. H. Ford Taylor, Ritz Theatre, Ballinger, Tex. Egon W. G. Wieselmann, Cactus Theatre, Limon, Colo. Fred Bailey, Virginia Theatre, Hazard, Ky. H. L. Capers, New Deal Theatre, Gorman, Tex. F. X. Faust, Roxy Theatre, Forsyth, Mont. The four showmen returning to active participation in the reporting are as follows: Grady Cook, Joy Theatre, Pontotoc, Miss., last report: January 2, 1937. R. L. Matson, Crystal Theatre, Flandreau, S. D., last report: February 15, 1936. Charles F. Dearman, Fox Theatre, Smithville, Tenn., last report: May 27, 1939. Alvin Hables, Reel Joy Theatre, King City, Cal., last report: March 19, 1938. These exhibitors join the constantly growing list of exhibitors who are cooperating through the columns of this department in commenting on product they have played. on Colony Theatre, State Prison Colony, Norfolk, Mass. Prison patronage. WOMEN, THE: Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Virginia Weidler, Joan Fontaine — A picture that held their interest here. Contained many reasonable situations and a practical way out of them. Something rare in current films. The picture was very well liked here. Any house should do business because of the star value. Running time, 134 minutes. Played March 17-19. — Simon Galitzki, Coed Theatre, Topeka, Kansas. General patronage. YOUNG TOM EDISON: Mickey Rooney, Fay Bainter, Virginia Weidler, George Bancroft — Pleased almost 100 per cent but did not do only an average business. Would advise all exhibitors playing this picture to get out and boost it, as it will not only please but will also help to increase the attendance when it comes to showing of the companion picture, "Edison, the Man." Running time, 85 minutes. Played March 1719.— R. L. Matson, Crystal Theatre, Flandreau, S. D. General patronage. Monogram GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA: Craig Reynolds, John King — Here is a real high class western, all in color. Good enough for best houses. Good business. Played March 10-11.— H. E. Fulgham, Ideal Theatre, Fort Worth, Texas. Family patronage. HUMAN MONSTER, THE: Bela Lugosi— One of the most creepy pictures since "Frankenstein." Played this one on double feature program with "Come On, Rangers." Seemed to satisfy very well. Good business. Running time, 76 minutes. Played March 2223. — P. D. Pearce, Joy Theatre, Belzoni, Miss. Rural patronage. PARADISE ISLE: Movita, Warren Hull— A very pleasing picture. Business good. Played February 2728. — H. E. Fulgham, Ideal Theatre, Fort Worth, Texas. Family patronage. Paramount BEAU GESTE: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, Susan Hayward — The picture in brief is spectacular, thrilling ' and really dramatic. This one should play to capacity houses. It has a well balanced cast but Brian Donlevy steals the picture as the sergeant who abuses his command with mad brutality, ruthlessness and courage. Play this one. Running time, 114 minutes.— State Prison Colony Theatre, State Prison Colony, Norfolk, Mass. Prison patronage. BOY TROUBLE: Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland— A light picture that pleased. Ruggles would be better off if he would stick to the role the public is used to seeing him in. The picture seemed to move so slowly. It needed life and action. Running time, 74 minutes. Played March 22-23.— Simon 'Galitzki, Coed Theatre, Topeka, Kansas. General patronage. CAT AND THE CANARY: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard— Good picture and good business. Should please all. Running time, 71 minutes. Played March 23-23. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. DR. CYCLOPS: Albert Dekker, Janice Logan— Saw this at the Paramount Exchange. Was very different and everyone seemed well pleased. Held the interest throughout, and if you can get them in, this one should draw. Running time, 85 minutes. — Roy Heffner, Jr., Key Theatre, Middleboro, Mass. General patronage. GERONIMO: William Henry, Ralph Morgan, Preston Foster, Ellen Drew, Andy Devine — Did above av , erage business. Running time, 85 minutes. Played March 17-19.— Roy Heffner, Jr., Key Theatre, Middleboro, Mass. General patronage. GREAT VICTOR HERBERT, THE: Allan Jones, Mary Martin, Walter Connolly, Susanna Foster — The sins of some shoddy program pictures can be forgiven when they give you a picture such as this one. Bad weather hurt business but it will rank with the top musicals of the season, both for the splendid music of Victor Herbert and the child star that is a sensation, Susanna Foster. It has the music that the older patrons can appreciate and they understand. This may be heresy, but Allan Jones has just as much on the ball as Nelson Eddy. — A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. GREAT VICTOR HERBERT, THE: Walter Connolly, Mary Martin, Allan Jones, Susanna Foster — A beautiful picture with grand music and everything it takes to please music lovers. But the first job is to get them in. And that's almost impossible. _ Say, don]t overlook Susanna Foster, because that little gal is going places in the singing world. Running time, 90