Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 121 changed plot in part and the addition of some very worthy song numbers." -f Film Daily p6 Ap 30 '36 "Magnificent in scope of production and unlimited in audience appeal, 'Show Boat' will have smooth sailing as a world's box office attraction. . . The picture's great musical triumph, 'Old Man River,' [is] superbly and stirringly rendered by Paul Robeson. The staging of this number is very effective photographically. Finally there is 'Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine,' sold by Helen Morgan as only she can sell it." + Hollywood Reporter p3 Ap 27 '36 "Its music, particularly Paul Robeson's singing of 'Ol' Man River,' was received by a preview audience with thunderous applause and actually is an artistic masterpiece. . . As the picture was shown here, and accepting a preview audience's reactions as a gauge, everyone associated with the production will share * in the credit of participating in what is probably the most important Universal production in years. . . A show that will grip the imagination and sate the appetite of any kind of audience, 'Showboat' is destined for grand grosses if showmen will only put half the effort into the selling that the producers, writers, directors and players did in the making." + Motion Pict Daily plO Ap 14 '36 "Anyone fortunate enough to have 'Showboat' on its program can start in shouting about it right now. Enthusiasm need not be stinted in heralding the picture's entertainment worth. The quality of merchandise delivered will not let anyone down. . . 'Showboat' is first a musical drama. Its music, no matter in what form, is an artistic treat, and because it is an integral part of the story and sung thereas by Irene Dunne, Allan Jones and Helen Morgan, it is beautiful in the way it accents the motivating spirit." + Motion Pict Herald p39 My 9 '36 " 'Showboat' will be money at anybody's box office. . . In lavishness, in appeal, in authenticity, it is a picture that shouldn't lack for word-of -mouth selling." + Phila Exhibitor p47 My 15 '36 " 'Showboat,' Universal's second talkerized version, is a smash film-musical. A cinch for big grosses, from the deluxers down. Coming at this time, when there seems to be a lull in choice-product releases, 'Showboat' should sail to even higher financial waters. . . The now classic songs, 'Make Believe,' 'Ol' Man River,' 'Can't Help Dovin' That Man,' 'Why Do I Dove You,' 'Bill' and 'You Are Dove,' as the duet thematic, have been retained and three new numbers, all in a novelty vein, have been added." + Variety pl2 My 20 '36 "As important today as entertainment as it was when Ziegfeld produced it a decade ago, 'Show Doat' is a money picture. Impressive in cast and production, theatres should have no trouble selling it. . . 'Old Man River,' sung by Paul Robeson is the best piece of musical reproduction yet done in pictures. The resonant baritone voice of Robeson brought cheers from the preview mob, should repeat this everywhere. Doubtful if the number has ever been sung so well as it is in this picture." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 Ap 27 '36 SILLY BILLIES. Mr 20 '36 65min RKO Players: Bert Wheeler. Robert Woolsey. Dorothy Dee. Harry Woods Director: Fred Guiol See issue of March 30, 1936 for other reviews of this film "Family." Jt Estimates Mr 1 '36 "The appeal will be mainly, if not entirely, to admirers of Wheeler and W^oolsey. Suitability: family." Mo Film Bui p68 Ap '36 "Fair-family." H Motion Pict Guide Je '36 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency Mr 8 '36 "Children will enjoy the fast riding of the Indians in all their war paint. Family." Se! Motion Pict Ap '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews " 'Silly Billies,' has nothing to do with hillbillies, it is a relief to learn, and while it is silly, it possesses the germ of an original idea. For it is a burlesque on the old 'Covered Wagon' type of Western, and had it been worked out with greater pains and less Wheeler and Woolsey, might have resulted in a fairly good comedy. . . [The director] seems to have a sense of comedy, but should restrict himself to one or two reels of film; at least 'Silly Billies' could have packed all its humor into a short with nothing lost." Marguerite Tazelaar h N Y Herald Tribune p8 Ap 6 '36 "If it was because they couldn't find a more descriptive label for the latest Wheeler and Woolsey opus that the title writers for RKO decided upon the name 'Silly Billies' they must have lacked either courage or succinctness. Otherwise they would certainly have called it 'Spinach.' " J. T. M. — NY Times pl8 Ap 6 '36 "It features Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, and, while I admit openly that I am violently prejudiced against their attempts to tickle the funny bone, I feel certain that even their most ardent admirers will have to confess that 'Silly Billies' is one of their least successful efforts. . . Parts of this are, as has already been mentioned, mildly funny. . . But these parts do not occur frequently enough, and when they do are not funny enough, to lift the film out of the mediocre class." William Boehnel -i NY World-Telegram p27 Ap 7 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Fair comedy for popular programs is burlesque on Indian fighting in covered wagon era." H Film Daily p4 Ap 4 '36 " 'Silly Billies' will have to depend on whatever draw Wheeler and Woolsey retain. As far as the picture goes, it is just another entrant in W-W series." N Y Exhibitor p31 Mr 25 '36 "Two authors and two scripters get credit for this Wheeler and Woolsey script, and there's not enough credit for one. Story may appeal to dyed in the wool W. & W. fans, but not even they are apt to regard it as one of the comedians' best. Draggy all the way and the gags are preposterous and stretched far too long. Negative results seem indicated for most spots." — Variety pl7 Ap 8 '36 SINGING COWBOY. My 11 '36 63min Republic Players: Gene Autry. Smiley Burnette. Dois Wilde. Lon Chaney, Jr. Director: Mack Wright A western melodrama. Audience Suitability Ratings "A: absurd; Y: poor; C: doubtful value." Christian Century p646 Ap 29 '36 Audience Suitability Ratings "Striking photography of beautiful scenery, fine riding and a thrilling rescue of a girl from + + Exceptionally Good; -fGood; -1 Fair; \ Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor