Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1940)

58 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD May 25, 1940 (Continued from preceding page) names in the cast, so we put this on as a suprise prevue. Fair story, photography in color is beautiful for the most part, but the sound is terrible. Just like the good old days when talkies first hit the screen. Spoiled the entire picture for most of the patrons. Go easy on this one. Running time, 70 minutes. Played April 26-27.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. MUTINY IN THE BIG HOUSE: Charles Bickford, Barton MacLane — Well liked, but seemed to be somewhat sordid for here. Contained a considerable amount of fine quality theme material that was entirely reasonable. Will please. Running time, 84 minutes. Played May 12-14.— Simon Galitzki, Coed Theatre, Topeka, Kansas. General patronage. SKY BANDITS: James Newill, Louise Stanley— I played this one with "Sidewalks of London" and, although it fares as just another Mountie yarn, it saved the day for my customers. Running time, 55 minutes. Played May 5. — Bob Elliano, Palace Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. TOMBOY: Marcia Mae Jones, Jackie Moran — This is a very surprisingly line picture. Monogram's best since "Gangster's Boy." Played it on a double feature with "Covered Wagon Trails." Business fair. Running time, 70 minutes. Played May 10-11.— Don C. Ware, Joy Theatre, Belzoni, Miss. General patronage. Paramount ALL WOMEN HAVE SECRETS: Joseph Allen, Jean Cagney, Virginia Dale — Fair programmer. OK on duel with a better one. Played April 30-May 1. — C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, 111. Rural patronage. EMERGENCY SQUAD: William Henry, Louise Campbell, Robert Paige — Didn't jell here as a single. Might be OK on a double. Played May 3-4.— C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, 111. Rural patronage. GERONIMO: Preston Foster, Andy Devine, Ellen Drew — Good picture which failed at the box office. Don't understand why. Gave it a Friday and Saturday date and advertised it. Played May 3-4. — Melville Danner, Ko2y Theatre, Granite, Okla. General patronage. HERITAGE OF THE DESERT: Evelyn Venable, Donald Woods — Zane Grey story. Good to good Saturday crowd. Running time, 72 minutes. Played May II. — M. D. Stewart, 'Texas Theatre, De Leon, Texas. Small town patronage. HONEYMOON IN BAH: Fred MacMurray, Madeleine Carroll, Allan Jones, Helen Broderick — Paramount is improving with every picture they make. This is one that will please any audience. Running time, % minutes. Played April 24-25. — Mike Kieryluk, Vimy Theatre, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. General patronage. KNIGHTS OF THE RANGE: Russell Hayden, Jean Parker — Good enough western coupled with Zane Grey's name made it do above average on these days. Played May 10-11.— C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, 111. Rural patronage. LIGHT THAT FAILED, THE: Ronald Colman, Walter Huston, Ida Lupino, Muriel Angelus — This classic story is well done but inclined to be too slow near the middle. Liven up the rest of your program in some way. Comments were generally good on it. I played it with "Blondie on a Budget" with average receipts. Running time, 99 minutes. Played May 4. — W. Varick Nevins, III, Alfred Co-Op Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. NIGHT OF NIGHTS: Pat O'Brien, Olympe Bradna, Roland Young — Terrible. This picture didn't have anything. Plenty of walkouts. These actors might be alright in the right picture. However, O'Brien isn't what he used to be. Running time, 86 minutes. Played April 20-21.— Mrs. John Lee Woods, Crossett Theatre, Crossett, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. REMEMBER THE NIGHT: Barbara Stanwyck, Pred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson — One of the best comedy dramas in a long time. We failed to do business with it but through no fault of the picture. Competition was too strong. Those who saw it had plenty of nice things to say about it. Running time, 94 minutes. Played April 26-27.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. REMEMBER THE NIGHT: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson — By spending a little extra for advertising, I did average Sunday business, satisfied the patrons, which is something nowadays. Fred MacMurray is very popular with my patrons. The exchange heralds helped tne on this one. Running time, 86 minutes. Played April 21-22.— Everett Clapp, American Tlieatre, Sidell, III. Rural and small town patronage. REMEMBER THE NIGHT: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson — Poorest Sunday business of the year. Worse than in Wizzard in January. Weather must have been too good as the picture was better than a programmer. Title, however, hurt it here. Played May 5-6.— C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, III. Rural patronage. ROAD TO SINGAPORE: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Laraour— Scenario is no great shakes but has the laughs and plenty of them and it has a couple of brawls that helped it out. When the patrons leave the theatre with a smile on their faces, there is no apology needed. You know that they have enjoyed themselves and relaxed as they should every once in a while.— A. E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General patronage. ROAD TO SINGAPORE: Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour. Bob Hope — Good picture to good business. Running time, 87 minutes. Played May 2-3.— M. D. Stewart, Texas Theatre, De Leon, Texas. Small town patronage. RULERS OF THE SEA: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Margaret Lockwood, Will Fyflfe— This is a well done film on the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. It just tnisses being great. We'll be glad to see more of Will FyfJe, as he was well liked. Box office was above average. Running time, 97 minutes. Played April 18-19.— W. Varick Nevins, HI, Alfred Co-Op Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. SEVENTEEN: Jackie Cooper, Betty Field— I ran this as a Boy Scout Benefit and they far surpassed their goal. 'This story is so well known that everyone wanted to see the movie version of it. It is modernized a little but hasn't been changed too much. The audience reacted favorably after the show. The combination of Benefit and a good picture really did a good job for me. Running time, 78 minutes. Played May 7.— W Varick Nevins, III, Alfred Co-Op Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. SIDEWALKS OF LONDON: Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh — Give your patrons a break and don't play this one. Vivien Leigh and Charles Laughton will not help it and if the truth were known the stars would thank you for shelving it. Running time, 85 minutes. Played May 5. — Bob Elliano, Palace "Theatre, Torrington, Conn. General patronage. UNION PACIFIC: Joel McCrea, Barbara Stanwyck, Akim Tamiroff, Robert Preston — Real good picture we picked up with no regrets, although old. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. WHAT A LIFE: Jackie Cooper, Betty Field— A good little picture. Especially appealed to high school crowd. However, adults enjoyed it, too. Running time, 75 minutes. — Mrs. John Lee Woods, Crossett Theatre, Crossett, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. Republic ARIZONA KID, THE: Roy Rogers, George HayesPlayed it single bill weekend. Did only fair. Would advise double billing. — Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada. General patronage. COVERED TRAILER, THE: James, Lucile and Russell Gleason — The best of this family series by far. Our patrons got lots of laughs and, coupled with "Barricade," this one more than made up for what was so sadly lacking in the other feature. Running time, 66 minutes. Played April 3-4. — M. R. Harrington, Avalon Tlieatre, Clatskanie. Ore. Small town and rural patronage. COVERED WAGON DAYS: Three Mesquiteers (Robert Livingston, Raymond Hatton, Duncan Rinaldo) — The Three Mesquiteers are always welcomed by my patrons, and this one pleased them in the usual manner. Running time, 55 minutes. Played May 3-4. — Bob Ellia'no, Palace Theatre, Toi'rington, Conn. General patronage. DARK COMMAND: Walter Pidgeon, Claire Trevor, John Wayne — Probably the best picture Republic ever made. Good cast, good plot and plenty of action. However, it failed to draw as good as I expected but those who came were well pleased. Running time, 95 minutes. Played May 8-9. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. HI-YO SILVER: Lew Powell, Silver Chief, Chief Thunder Cloud, Lynn Roberts — The kids went for this in a big way but the adults passed it up. It is a condensation of "The Lone Ranger" serial. Running time, 70 minutes. Played May 10-11. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. IN OLD MISSOURI: Weaver Brothers and Elviry— Good picture; good business. Very good offering for small town. Running time, 67 minutes. Played May 5-6. — E. M. Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage. RKO Radio ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS: Raymond Massey, Ruth Gordon, Mary Howard — A superb production with all due credit to Massey for his portrayal of Lincoln. No draw at box office for unknown reasons. Lowest Sunday and Monday business in many a moon. Historicals don't go here any too well, so that must have been reason. Running time, 109 minutes. Played May 12-13.— Alex Slendak, St. Clair Theatre, St. Clair, Mich. General patronage. ' FIXER DUGAN: Lee Tracy, Virginia Weidler— An entertaining film with the story of life under the big top told in an interesting manner. We used this as a co-feature with "Drums Along the Mohawk." It is in the double bill class. Running time, 68 minutes. Played April 28-30.— Simon Galitzki, Coed Theatre, Topeka, Kansas. General patronage. HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Basil Rathbone, Thomas Mitchell, Walter Hampden —An excellent piece of work that didn't draw as well as it should have but still there are no kicks on my part. Plenty of money has been spent on this one and Laughton does as good a job of the Hunchback as Lon Chaney did. It is a different characterization but just as good in its own way. It is quite hard on the nerves in places and that is what kept some of my patrons away. Running time, 117 minutes. Played April 26-27. — W. Varick Nevins, III, Alfred Co-Op Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. MARINES FLY HIGH: Richard Dix, Lucille Ball, Chester Morris— A good little picture that pleased. Played on a Friday night on a double feature program. Our Friday night patrons like double features. Running time, 68 minutes. — Mrs. John Lee Woods, Crossett Theatre, Crossett, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. MARINES FLY HIGH: Richard Dix, Lucille Ball, Chester Morris— The "low" half of a double. Played April 30-May 1.— C. W. Ritenour, Milford Theatre, Milford, 111. Rural patronage. PINOCCHIO: Disney Feature Cartoon— A very beautiful piece of art presented only as Walt Disney can bring such stories to the screen. However, regardless of all the work Disney spent on this feature, it was almost a flop. It will never equal half of "Snow White." Running time, 84 minutes. Played May 2-4. —Floyd J. Jacobs, New Theatre, Sardinia, Ohio. Small town and rural patronage. PINOCCHIO: Disney Feature Cartoon— I did my best business ever with "Snow White." This one gave me my second best by a very small margin. Keep it up, Disney. I can use all of them. There must be something wrong with people who do not like Disney's work. If it doesn't entertain you, you can sit and marvel at it. It isn't quite as lilting and humorous as "Snow White" but technically it is far superior. It certainly is not lacking in action. I had a grand crowd the first night, exactly the same number the second night and just a few less on the third night. That means something, doesn't it? In other words, it was a big success here. Running time, 85 minutes. Played May 1-3.— W. Varick Nevins III, Alfred CoOp Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. PRIMROSE PATH: Ginger Rogers, Joel McCrea— Just what the doctor ordered for ailing box ofTice. Darned good entertainment for adults only and they come out complimenting you on a swell show. Grand performances by all the cast. Business for midweek away above average. Running time, 93 minutes. Played April 23-25.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. PRIMROSE PATH: Ginger Rogers, Joel McCrea, Queenie Vassar — I was a little afraid of what might be said about this film. I was also afraid that the students would act up too much at certain parts. I was completely wrong. While it was showing you could have heard a pin drop and no one in town complained about it. The box office was very, very good. It certainly is different and excellently done. However, it must have taken courage to make it. The grandmother a big hit. Running time, 93 minutes. Played May 9.— W. Varick Nevins, III, Alfred Co-Op Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON: Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew, Terry Kilburn, Tim Holt — This is a good picture with excellent wreck scenes and one of the most realistic thunder storms I have ever run. It drew a very large crowd which seemed pleased. It both surprised and pleased me. I could use classics like this more often. Running time, 93 minutes. Played April 23.— W. Varick Nevins, III, Alfred Co-Op Theatre, Alfred, N. Y. Small college town and rural patronage. VIGIL IN THE NIGHT: Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne, Anne Shirley — Another grand picture not for small town patronage. We had a stage attraction to help the gross but without that it is doubtful if this would have made film rental on a Sunday run. Sound on this was poor, some dialogue being almost impossible to understand. Entire lack of comedy relief is felt by patrons, who these days want to laugh at least occasionally. Running time, 94 minutes. Played April 21-22.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage. VIGIL IN THE NIGHT: Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne, Anne Shirley — A fine picture that drew the more serious -minded patrons. Better business the second night. Lombard is good in this tyne of role. Running time, 96 minutes. Played April 28-29. — Mrs. John Lee Woods, Crossett Theatre, Crossett, Ark. Small town and rural patronage. Twentieth CenturyFox BARRICADE: Alice Faye, Warner Baxter, Charles Winninger — A weak sister it there ever was one. Faye miscast and Baxter acted as though he wondered what it was all about. Winninger came through with a swell performance, with little to work with. This certainly does not warrant 20th Century-Fox trademark. Forget it if you can and do your patrons a favor. Business? Don't be funny. Running time, 71 minutes. Played April 3-4.— M. R. Harrington, Avalon Theatre, Clatskanie, Ore. Small town and rural patronage.