Wild Bill Hickok Rides (Warner Bros.) (1942)

K ‘Wild Bill Hickok Rides’ —_{4-YEAR OLD MLL UTS Rousing Entertainment (Prepared Review ) For thrills, action and excitement, “Wild Bill Hickok Rides,” which opened yesterday at the Strand, would be hard to beat. A fine cast headed by Constance Bennett, Bruce Cabot, Warren William, Betty Brewer and Walter Catlett, fast-paced direction by Ray Enright and a clever Mat 101—15c BRUCE CABOT story by Charles Grayson, Paul Gerard Smith and Raymond Schrock, all contribute in making “Wild Bill Hickok Rides” rousing good entertainment. Cabot plays the title role of Hickok, the two-fisted marshal whose work in bringing law and order to the frontier towns has made his name one of the bestknown in the history of our west. Constance Bennett is extremely well-cast as the beautiful proprietress of a gambling hall, whose better instincts are constantly at war with her bad ones. And a suaver villain than Warren William never swindled a whole county full of ranchers out of their ranches. Betty Brewer, a miss who has just entered her teens, does a grand job as the little tomboy who is Hickok’s ward and most devoted admirer. Briefly, the story concerns itself with William’s efforts to get control of the rich ranching country around Powder River, Montana, with some side aid from Miss Bennett. Pitted against them is Cabot, as Hickok, determined that the ranchers shall not be cheated. Miss Bennett’s admiration for Hickok soon brings her over to his side, and it is with her help that he finally is able to rid the valley of its would-be despoilers. All three of the principals get a chance to demonstrate some tricky gun-play, and the final scenes in which a dam is blown up in an attempt to drown the cattle, is fast-action photography at its best. Besides the starring players, the cast includes Russell Simpson, Ward Bond, Howard da Silva, Faye Emerson, Julie Bishop, Lucia Carroll, Frank Wilcox and many more. Constance Bennett Stars As Western Glamor Girl When clothes horses turn to horse operas, Hollywood history is usually made. Marlene Dietrich rode back into the cinema spotlight on an open-air opus known as “Destry Rides Again.” Trene Dunne’s first smash hit was “Cimarron,” a tale of wide open spaces in the days when men were men and women were supposed to be glad of it. Jean Arthur, a smart looking modern gal with rings on her fingers and gay hats on her head, donned chaparajos, boots and sombrero for “Arizona.” This picture was in the nature of a comeback for Miss Arthur, too, for she had wilfully remained off the screen for more than a year waiting for the right role to come along. And now Constance Bennett, recognized the world over as the smartest of smart fashion plates, goes Western for Warner Bros.’ “Wild Bill Hickok Rides,” a blustering horse opera of 1871 cattle thievery, dastardly villains and _straight-shooting heroes. The picture opens today at the Strand. What is it that Westerns have that drawing room dramas seem to lack in the minds of our glamour gals? “Romance, maybe,” says Constance Bennett. “And then again,’ she continued, “maybe it is just because women more than men like to dress up — party like, that is. Remember it is always the women not the men who work like Trojans to organize a masquerade party. And what a time Mat 103—15c CONSTANCE BENNETT we women have getting the men to dress up! “As for myself, I’m having loads of fun dressing up like my great grandmother must have dressed. And you'll have to agree that the clothes worn by Westerners were as colorful as anything America has ever seen. A dressed-up dandy of today looks like a faded necktie in contrast to the colorful raiment of our cowboys. There was nothing modest or conservative about their apparel and I think its a style our men could enjoy, PROVES FINE DRAMATIC STAR The blocks long Western Street at Warner Bros.’ ranch is dead silent save for one thing — sobbing. At the far end of the street, huddled against a wall, is Betty Brewer, who plays the important role -of Janey in “Wild Bill Hiae7k ork Rides” which opens Friday ant t he Strand. It is Betty, all of 14, who is doing the sobbing. Ja bones Geet wood’s cowhands sit silently on hitching rails, steps and board walks as though “stopped” by the action of a fast camera shutter. Cigarette smoke from roll-your-owns drift lazily from their lips. That is the only motion. The sobs increase in intensity. Betty’s head is buried in her arms. She is crouched on the ground. “Ready, Betty?” softly asks Director Ray Enright. Betty nods her head. Bruce Cabot, playing Wild Bill Hickok, takes his place in the scene, drops on one knee beside her. Cameras are up to speed. “Action,” whispers Enright. “Janey . ” says Bruce. “Bill...” cries Betty. She throws her arms around his neck. The camera sees her face for the first time. Tears are streaming down dirt-smeared cheeks. They are real tears. It is real dirt. “T’ve been waiting for you, Bill, ever since. ... ” The line ends in a convulsion of sobs. “T made it as fast as I could, Janey. I guess it wasn’t fast enough.” Bruce lets his eyes drift up in the direction of a swinging figure, their friend who has been lynched. Enright cuts the scene. Though the scene is over, Betty is still crying. She can’t stop. It is time for lunch, but Betty’s eyes are filled with tears. The crew jokes with her. Bruce Cabot offers a funny story. Betty laughs with tears in her eyes. “Look at me,” she exclaims while executing an off-to-Buffalo. “I’m dancing with tears in my eyes.” Mat 102—15c Betty Brewer 10 Years In Films Back on the lot where he made his first picture — Warner Bros.’ “Expensive Women,” Warren William = recently celebrated his tenth year in motion pictures. His latest picture, ‘Wild Bill Hickok Rides’’ in ; which he stars with Constance Bennett and Bruce Cabot brings his score of pictures up to an even fifty. Warners’ plucked William from the Broadway hit, “The Vinegar Tree,” in 1931. Mat 106—15c Warren William Y ‘LOOK ALIKE’ CONTEST It's a "look alike’ contest with this still keying your contest. Still shows Betty Brewer (right), 14year old starlet of the picture, with her sister, Eileen (left) who acted as Betty's stand-in. Work this through your newsmai sen paper with paper running entry blanks, sublre ity stories and publishing best photos of "look alikes,"" male and female, young and old. Arrange to conduct contest during week before your opening so that prizes, promoted from town merchants, are awarded from stage on opening night. Order still WB Pub L — 10c — Campaign Editor, 321 W. 44 St., N. Y. C. TEASER CARDS If you want to do a teaser card campaign, you might be able to use these: HE TOOK THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS . . . AND IN EACH WAS A BLAZING SIXSHOOTER! Be there when “WILD BILL HICKOK RIDES” Strand Theatre (Playdate) LOOK OUT FOR HIM! There's a new kind of excitement for thrill-lovers while “WILD BILL HICKOK RIDES” Strand Theatre (Playdate) RELICS OF THE OLD WEST Relics of the picturesque Old West would make an effective exhibit for your lobby. Circularize your patrons to submit such items — like the old bathtub illustrated at right — and award prizes for best entries. The story behind each item will make an interesting story for your paper. RESTAURANTS PLUG SHOW This one went over big in New York City. Leading restaurants featured the "Wild Bill Hickok" Special on their menus and table cards. The Hotel New Yorker's is shown above. Among other famous hotels and restaurants co-operating were the Hotels Astor, Ritz Tower, Waldorf-Astoria and Madison, Stork Club, Hickory House, Toffenetti and Saw Dust Trail. TMUMT/_/_/_/_/_/e/eeeieieieee eis y/ Ds