Publix Opinion (Dec 26, 1930)

14 SHORT REVIEW PARAMOUNT ; i 6 min.) Story: “DISCOVERED” with Solly Ward (746 Ward and wife scrap. Interrupted by honeymoon couple who quarrel because bride has been kissed before. Groom leaves. Ward’s wife consoles girl, admitting she too has been guilty but has never confessed to her husband. Ward, who has been listening, exits to tune California, Here I ae : Criticism: Fairly amusing. Book-Routining: Opening act of front show. Follow with musical or cartoon. Exploitation: Usual. “MYSTERIOUS MOSE” Talkartoon (6 min.) Somewhat similar in treatment to “Swing You Sinners.” Song is ‘‘Mysterious Mose,,’ a ‘‘hot’”? number. ‘ Criticism: Rollicking cartoon. Best since ‘Barnacle Bill.” Book-Routining: Avoid with mystery feature. prominently, best ahead of feature. Exploitation: Usual. “LOVE IN THE SUBURBS” with Victor Moore, Myrtle Clark (20 min.) Story: Domestic complications with the husband caught sneaking in after an all night poker game, the policeman mistaking the wife for the Spot maid, etc. Ends with a grand reconciliation. Criticism: Moore good in spots. Rather dull on the whole. Book-Routining: Avoid with domestic features such as “Free Love,” “Divorce Among Friends,” etc. Although two-reeler, routine early. Follow with musical short that has comedy element such as ‘‘One Big Night.” Exploitation: Victor Moore is Broadway comedian. Will be remembered for shorts and part in ‘“Heads Up.” “RUN-AWAY BOYS” Robert Bruce Scenic (94% min.) Synopsis: Run-away lad and his brother meet a stranger. Stranger tells of his experiences as a runaway. Shots which follow are his adventures. In addition to usual beautiful shots there-are some items of interest. Finishes with speaker bewailing the lonely days he spent away from family and friends, and boys deciding to postpone their run-away act. Criticism: One of the best to date. Book-Routining: Avoid with ‘‘Tom Sawyer.” Otherwise good to add class. Separate two comedies or comedy and musical. Exploitation: Usual for series. “SKY SCRAPPERS” with Chester Conklin (18 min.) Synopsis: Chester finds himself embroiled with a steel worker on top of an uncompleted skyscraper. Business of walking perilous edges, throwing and catching steel rivets, etc. Criticism: Typical comedy of thrill type. Book-Routining: Avoid with talkartoon ‘“‘Skyscraping” or Paramount short “The Plasterers.’’ Use when slapstick comedy is needed. Balance of shorts should be musical and novelty and should have an element of class. Exploitation: Use Conklin’s name. “ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON” Screen Song (6 min.) Synopsis: Family out for an auto ride, and a golfing afternoon. Golf ball turns into bouncing ball and leads in the singing of the song. Oriticism: Maintains average. Song has nice swing. Book-Routining: As usual. Exploitation: Usual. “OL’ KING COTTON” with George Dewey Washington (1036 min.) Synopsis: Washington does title song against plantation setting. Up north later he recounts glories of plantation life and breaks into song, with flashback to original setting. Oriticism: Pleasing short. ; Book-Routining: Best with sophisticated features. Not a ‘‘jazz’’ subject so do not use as a musical act. Routine as one or two on front show and follow with dialogue comedy short. Exploitation: Washington has been on Publix unit show circuit for years and is a great favorite. Also known for other shorts. Give generous mention. “ROW-ROW-ROW” Screen Song (7 min.) Synopsis: Bowery is setting for opening of this screen song with dog getting next to cabaret girl and then running away to avoid her. He ends in a row boat and bouncing ball carries on from there. Criticism: Not quite up to standard but still good entertainment. Book-Routining: Usual. Exploitation: Mention trade mark. “STUDIO SAP” with Chester Conklin (18 min.) Synopsis: Pest in a movie studio. Pie throwing starts on a bakery set—and that’s that. Criticism: Old fashioned custard pie type of co Book-Routining: Avoid with “Sea Legs.” Use with exceptionally strong program having plenty of class — this one hasn’t! Exploitation: Don’t oversell. Conklin’ be mentioned. enenemie ment WARNER “OURSES” with Erwin O’Brien Moore (15 min.) Synopsis: Burlesque on old fashioned blood and thunder melodrama. The audience reacts to the lurid story with cheers for the hero and jeers for the Villain. Criticism: Excellent satire. Great for the better type audiences. _ Book-Routining: Use with light comedy feature. Routine immediately after newsreel and follow with musicals. Exploitation: Program mention. Miss Moore played in “Street Scene.” “ONE ON THE AISLE” with Lon Hascall (7 min,) Story: Movie patron anxious for a quiet evening makes the mistake of sitting next to a flapper and her beau. She does everything possible to annoy the patron, and PUBLIX OPINION, WEEK OF DECEMBER 26rx, 1930 By BURT KELLY between the three of them, even the hero on the screen is irritated enough to call an usher. Oriticism: Neat little sketch. 3 k-Routining: Can be used on any program. Openine oe of front Show and follow with musical. Might be novelty to.run after “silence” trailer if theatre uses on exploitation: Program mention. Hascall is vaude and musical comedy star. “MODERN FAIRY TALES" Novelty Comedy (7 min.) Synopsis: Ten preposterous episodes are depicted. They are in the nature of a Scotchman throwing a party, a barber refusing a tip, etc. , Criticism; Good novelty subject containing plenty of chuckles. Book-Routining: Use as novelty on any program. Routine early and follow with musical. Exploitation: Program mention. “pH THIRTEENTH PRISONER” with Willie Howard (8 min.) Story: Partly played in J ewish dialect by Howard and his lawyer. Comic scenes in jail. Criticism: Fairly amusing sketch. Book-Routining: O. K. with anything except features with many prison or court scenes. Follow newsreel in spotting, and succeed with fast musical. Exploitation: Howard’s name and title only: EDUCATIONAL “HOLLYWOOD THEME SONG,” with Eddie Gribbon (20 min.). Subject is a grand burlesque of musical opera type of film and should prove little short of a sensation. It deserves special treatment. Story: Gribbon, as a soldier overseas, breaks into song at the least provocation, whether it be as a German prisoner, at mess, etc. During battle, Gribbon is splashed with mud by rifle shots, which prompts him ta do a song “a la Jolson.” Entire subject is done in burlesque of theme song craze. Criticism: Magnificent idea excellently worked out. Should panic the more intelligent audiences. A hilarious two-reel comedy! Routining: Would avoid using on program that even contains trailers of coming musical films. Would routine immediately after short dialogue comedy act, following with feature. Close in quickly at end to help closing laughs. Exploitation: Starting time, together with suitable line, should appear in ads for complete audience understanding appreciation. (Opening titles explain burlesque treatment). Originality of film should be good for feature stories. Sennett and Gribbon should be given heavy plug in all ads. Care should be taken in exploitation to avoid boomerang effect on coming musical features. ——eeeooaoaeSaaa——S_ss>>>qg8. NN R.K.O. “TRADER GINSBURG” with Nat Carr (17 min.) Story: Ginsburg tries to sell a pocket radio outfit to Simmonds. Simmonds goes to wilds of Africa with inventor following him. Ostrich swallows radio, cannibals capture the white men, etc. Criticism: Ostrich talking via radio is good for laughs. Book-Routining: Use with dressy semi-comedy feature, Second or third act of front show and follow with cartoon. Precede with musical. a eevlel on: Title is good and Carr might be menioned. “TOO HOT TO HANDLE” with Louise Fazenda (21 min.) Story: Social hokum with Louise Fazenda taking charge of a Blue Book Social Agency. Later she gets into a fox-hunt as one of the hard riding Fairfaxes of Virginia and is given the wildest ponies. From here on it is fox-hunt comedy of the usual kind. Criticism: Fairly amusing comedy of this type. Book Routining: Avoid with feature “Are You peres Precede with musical act and follow with car oon. Exploitation: Heavy on Fazenda name but don’t oversell subject. ‘METRO “LOVE BUSINESS” Our Gang Comed 20 min. Story: Gang falls in love with the Neaation aa ae actually g0es so far as to propose. Does it by reading Mother’s old love letters. Plenty of inter-gang action. Criticism: Best of the last few gang shorts. Book-Routining: Can be used with anything. Just ahead of feature. Other short musical or novelty. Exploitation: Usual mention for Gang Series.° Use Teen in copy to convey idea that Gang has fallen in with Dorothy Sebastian, J; Benny, George K. Arthur, Polly Morane (20 min.) ‘stone enny acts part of paid husband at bequest of girl anxHe does it so well, he convinces L er money. the air and invites Benny to come ee oO BUten eats Will be well received b 1 Se Depends on lines for its Tavenen eeu ee BUS dremineino ae ke and Bil Reature needing feature preceding cartoon. Use musical beet 2 Exploitation: Plug the four names in cast, known! They’re S OF SHORT FEATURES | ‘yes when he overcomes the stuttering habit. PATHE “KID THE KIDDER” (cast not listed), (21 min.) Story: College stuff with the boys trying to have a Zood time with egotistical football hero. He turns the tables on them and has a laugh at their expense. Criticism: Well done. Book-Routining: just ahead of feature. Other shorts musical and novelty, Exploitation: Program mention. Play up in college towns. “DANCE WITH ME” with Arthur Wenzer, Mabe} Palmer (16 min.) Story: Rich society matron at the Teamster’s Ball in search of a husband. Chairman of ine ball acts as her escort. Comedy business between em. Criticism: Good characterization by couple. Mildly amusing. Book-Routining: Use on farce comedy program, routining ahead of feature and following with a cartoon. Exploitation: Program mention. UNIVERSAL ‘WEE. WEE MARIE,” with Slim Summerville, Eddie Gribbon (20 min.) Story: This is practically a sequel] to ‘‘Parlez Vous” with the same cast playing the same parts. They are still billeted in the small French village and the two boys are still arguing over the same French girl. Everytime a shell hits and leaves a hole in the street Slim runs and lays down in it and groans “They got me Pal.” By this ruse he gets the boys to send hig mother twenty dollars that he owes her. It works fine till he tries it twice on Gribbon. The company is ordered up to the front and Gribbon gives the girl a parting gift, a brassiere. Up at the front the two boys go on an exploration party to capture an enemy prisoner. Slim gets lost and dons a German suit. The other boys return with a prisoner only to find it Slim. Later when they go over the top Slim falls and cries ‘“‘They got me Pal,” Gribbons goes to investigate and upon opening Summerville’s shirt he finds him wearing the brassiere. Criticism: Not as good as the first one but an excellent comedy and should prove sure-fire. Production above average. Booking-Routining: Ayoid playing with war features. Suggest it be used with society drama type of feature. Should be given prominent position on program, preferably immediately prior to feature. Close in quickly at finish to help closing laugh. Exploitation: If played after ‘‘Parlez Vous’ suggest it be given generous mention and that copy recall the earlier subject. Any American Legion or Army tie-ups that could be made would prove effective as the boys will enjoy the subject. “SINGING SAPS” Oswald Cartoon (7 min.) Synopsis: At the beach, Oswald amuses himself playing a fiddle while various snails, etcetera do the usual dances. Highlight of subject is Oswald’s attempts to rescue a hippopotamus who is drowning and put him through a wringer to get the water out of him. Criticism: Up to standard of this series. Booking-Routing: Usual cartoon treatment. Exploitation: Usual cartoon mention. TIFFANY “STRAIGHT AND NARROW” with Ed Robbins, Allen Jenkins (7434 min.) Story: One of the members of the Ex-Convict Club relates the story of the perfect crime to the club members in_session. How it was done and how the criminal was caught makes up the story. Criticism: Interesting playlet. Book-Routining: Should be used with a light comedy feature. Avoid with mystery, detective, or gangster feature. Routine as opening act of front show and follow with musical or as number two act preceding with musical and following with fast comedy. Exploitation: Subject lends itself to exploitation and angles along this line might be put to work—“the perfect crime,” “when a perfect crime is not so perfect,” and ‘‘the regular meeting of the ex-convicts’ club.” Allan Jenkins proved a high spot in the prison play ‘The Last Mile.” . “A STULITERING ROMANCE” with Joe Penner, Dorothea Chard (834 min.) Synopsis: The stuttering boy proposes and is informed that the answer will be Penner gives a good characterization and as an inventor of gadgets manages to “hoke” up the subject. Criticism: Amusing with several laughs but falls flat at finish. _ Book-Routining: Use as opening act and follow with a musical or novelty. = Mxploitation: Principals not known to movie audices. “THE LITTLE BIG HOUSE” Chimp Series (15 min.) Synopsis: A travesty of gangster and jail break fea tures. Monkeys speak in dialect in this short. Hero, unjustly jailed, manages to escape during a jail break and beats up the real crook in the apartment of his Sweetheart. The fight is excellent. Criticism: Most amusing of series. Exceptionally 00d novelty short. Book-Routining: Avoid with cartoons or other nov elty shorts. lowing with musical subject. Exploitation: is a monkey picture burles uing ‘“ ” titles should be tied in. quing ‘The Big House. Use for youthful touch. Routine — Number two on three act front show fol Good to get the idea across that this — Tyo J >