Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

April 6, 1940 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 51 minutes. Played March 17-18. — Horn and Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. HERITAGE OF THE DESERT: D > Evelyn Venable — An extra good western with not too much hokum and a Zane Grey story behind it. It pleased our patrons generally. Running time, 73 minutes. Played March 1-2. — Horn and Morgan, Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town patronage. JAMAICA INN: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Emlyn Williams, Leslie Banks — Story and acting was good but this made in England picture was hard to understand, as usual. Business was fair; ! had a few complaints. Running time, 100 minutes. ' Played March 17-1S. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount I Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. MAN ABOUT TOWN: Jack Benny, Dorothy Lamour, Edward Arnold, Binnie Barnes, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson — Typical Benny radio program but it got over in a big way. "Rochester" steals the show i — almost. Lots of honeys in this one that will please the men, lots of comedy and gags that will please 'em all. Running time, 85 minutes. Played March 20-22. — W. C. Lewellen, Uptown Theatre, Pueblo, CoL General patronage. OUR NEIGHBORS— THE CARTERS : Fay Bain; ter, Edmund Lowe, Frank Craven — A dandy downto-earth family picture which pleased very much. But being new, it didn't have any draw. Running time. S3 minutes. Played March 13-14. — Horn and Morgan. Inc., Star Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb. Small town REMEMBER THE NIGHT: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson, , Sterling Holloway — No business but all that did see ' it seemed to enjoy every minute. Sterling Holloway got lots of laughs. Running time. 80 minutes. Plaved March 10-12.— Roy Heffner. Jr.. Key Theatre, Middleboro, Mass. General patronage. SEVENTEEN: Jackie Cooper, Betty Field— Good picture: good business. Pleased 100 per cent on family night. Running time, 77 minutes. Played March 19. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. STAR MAKER, THE: Bing Crosby. Louise Campbell. Linda Ware, Ned Sparks. Walter Damrosch — A really fine picture for young and old alike. The ever popular "Bing" Crosby acts and sings through his part in commendable fashion. Louise Campbell, as his endearing and understanding young wife, carries out her assignment as though she really was a '""Mrs. Larry Earl." "Sour-puss" Sparks brings forth his customary amount of laughter each time he opens his 1 "trap," and comes closer to smiling in this one than in any we have seen to date, but the one who really gained a prominent place in the hearts of the men here was 14 year old Linda Ware, a very talented ' young lady. She is a Deanna Durbin and a Judy Garland rolled into one. As many in our audience state, "she has looks, can act. has a very fine voice and can make it opera or 'swing"' with equal ability." Too, we must not forget Walter Damrosch. Though his part was small, his pleasant and encouraging attitude in his dealings with Miss Ware seemed to put her at ease and as a consequence made him stand out. Although the picture was slowed up considerably through the interference of a children's aid group, it gradually redeems itself and is clicking again 100 per j cent when we see "The End." Running time. 94 min I ates. Played March 16. — J. A. Reynolds, Director of ; Education and Recreation. Prison Theatre. New Jerf sey State Prison, Trenton, N. J. Prison patronage. WOMEN WITHOUT NAMES: Judith Barrett. EI II len Drew. Robert Paige — Average entertainment. Busii i | ness norma! to low. account of Holv Week. Running • i . time. 62 minutes. Played March 20-22.— W. C. Lewef ! len, Uptown Theatre. Pueblo, Col. General patronage. Republic COME ON, RANGERS: Roy Rogers. Mary Hart, Raymond Hatton — Played this one on double feature ' I program with "The Human Monster." Fair weather. Had best business we have had in long time. Running time. 57 minutes. Played March 22-23. — P. D. Pearce, \ , Joy Theatre. Belzoni, Miss. Rural patronage. HEART OF THE ROCKIES: Tnree Mesquiteers !■ Bob Livingston. Ray Corrigan, Mas Terhune), Lynn Roberts — Nice little western. Note to Ed Finney: How about giving us Max Terhune and "Elmer" with Tex =■ , Ritter in a series of westerns? — Sammie Jackson, 2 , Jackson Theatre, Flomaton, Ala. General patronage. j IN OLD MONTEREY: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette. George Hayes — Played Sunday and Monday . to good business and customers well pleased. Played , March 3-4. — H. E. Fulghman, Ideal Theatre, Fort ~ Worth, Texas. Family patronage. j, JEEPERS CREEPERS: Weaver Brothers and El~"iry. Roy Rogers, Lucien Littlefield— Fine program r.icture. Play it. Let's have more with same stars. j. i-ucien Littleneld was really good. — Sammie Jackson. .J Jackson Theatre. Flomaton, Ala. General patronage! 1 ' MAN OF CONQUEST: Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, t" i^dward Ellis, Joan Fontaine — As far as I know, this 5 i > the first Republic picture to be screened here and. ' i: Republic scores with any more equally as good, it will not be the last. The picture is based on the story of the up-and-at-them individual named "Sam Houston," a man who helped to win the battle of New Orleans, was twice the governor of Tennessee, was scandalized when his first wife divorced him, joined the Cherokee Indians and fought with them in defiance of his old friend, Andrew Jackson (then President of the U. S.) that they might retain their lands, who had his heart set on making the Mexican province of Texas an independent republic, who barely missed the Alamo massacre, but a man who finally found his revenge in the wiping out of Santa Ana's army and happiness in his union with one Margaret Lea. Richard Dix of "Cimarron" fame (1931) is deserving of much praise for his creditable performance of Sam Houston. Too, it is impossible to leave this without giving due credit to Edward Ellis as Andrew Jackson, Gail Patrick as Margaret Lea, Joan Fontaine as Eliza Allen, and the others who rounded out the cast. And last, but not least, a "bouquet" to Victor Young for his excellent music score, which was a forceful and important part of the production. Running time, 98 minutes. Played March 23. — J. A. Reynolds, Director of Education and Recreation. Prison Theatre, New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, N. J. Prison patronage. MAN OF CONQUEST: Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, Joan Fontaine, Edward Ellis — Never having played it before we picked this up and drew a winner. Though a blizzard ruined our box office possibilities, it drew well enough in spite of the weather to indicate it has the stuir to make them come. Though from a production standpoint it does not come up to a ""Union Pacific" or "Dodge City," it certainly is an independent production of major qualities. And we ask why do the independents not do it more often. If you have not vet plaved it. plav it. It still is good. Running time, 97 minutes. Played March 8-9.— Egon W. G. Wieselmann. Cactus Theatre, Limon, CoL Small town patronage. ROVIN' TUMBLEWEEDS: Gene Autry, Smiley Bumette. Mary Carlisle — Today it's Gene Autry, Mickey Rooney and William Boyd here with us for results, although Gene doesn't line them up outside, but he is alwavs a consistent box office draw. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. SMUGGLED CARGO: Rochelle Hudson, Barry Mackay — We played this one on a double bill with "Bridal Suite" and enjoyed favorable business. Mediocre public reaction, no raves, no kicks. Good action picture for week end. — Harland Rankin. Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. SOUTH OF THE BORDER: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette — All my customers liked the show verv much. Did twice the business of average Autry show. Running time, 69 minutes. Played March 15-16. — C. O. Kintz, Kickapoo Theatre, Gay Mills, Wis. Farming community patronage. RKO Radio FIFTH AVENUE GIRL: Ginger Rogers, Walter Connolly, James Ellison, Tim Holt — Smart comedy drama. You'll like Ginger Rogers and Walter Connolly in this one. There are plenty of laughs and enough drama to make the picture interesting and entertaining. Very well liked. Running time, SO minutes.— State Prison Colony Theatre, State Prison Colony, Norfolk, Mass. Prison patronage. ISLE OF DESTINY: William Gargan. Wallace Ford, Jung Lang— Pleasing surprise. Booked in without advance notice in place of "Mexican Spitfire" and customers went in with doubts but came out well pleased. Good lively story and action; performances of Gargan, et al. tops. New color is definitely the thing, especially beautiful in the island scenes. Running time, SO minutes. Played March 23.— Grady Cook. Joy Theatre, Pontotoc, Miss. Small town and rural patronage. Twentieth Century-Fox ELSA MAXWELL'S HOTEL FOR WOMEN: Elsa Maxwell, Ann Sothern, James Ellison. Lynn Bar:We wonder how much Maxwell paid them to let her be m the picture. She was good but not that good. Sothern was the only name that means box office in We tk II see lots more of her. Runnin ed March 22-23. — Simon Galitz= Kansas. General patronage. FRONTIER MARSHAL: Randolph Scott, Nancy Kelly, Cesar Romero, Binnie Barnes — Okay as a heman quick-on-the-draw western. Good plot, action with outstanding performance by Randolph Scott. And Binnie Barnes plays the dance-hall queen to perfection. Running time, 71 minutes.— State Prison Colonv Theatre, State Prison Colony, Norfolk, Mass. Prison patronage. HIGH SCHOOL: Jane Withers, Joe Brown, Jr.— As usual with Jane Withers pictures of late, no box oriice. I should like to know where this distributor ever got the notion that Jane Withers is box office as they seem to believe as indicated by the way they (.Reports continued on foIlozL-ing page)