Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW April 8, 1939 East Side of Heaven (Hollywood Preview) Univ. Comedy 88 mins. Bing Crosby with New Baby Star Plus Swell Music Should Bring In Good Money (National Release Date, April 7) Cast: Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, Mischa Auer, Irene Hervey, C. Aubrey Smith, Sandy Henville, Robert Kent, Jerome Cowan, others. Screenplay by William Conselman from an original screen story by David Butler and Herbert Polesie. Directed by David Butler. Associate producer, Herbert Polesie. Plot: When Bing gets fired from his job of singing messages for Postal Telegraph, he and Joan are forced to postpone their wedding. Getting another job as cruising troubadour for a taxi company, Bing takes Joan to dinner to celebrate. The next day, Irene Hervey, wife of Robert Kent, wealthy playboy son of C. Aubrey Smith, leaves her baby, "Sandy", in Bing's cab. Smith has started a suit for custody of his son's child, and the disappearance causes a sensation. Bing promises to return the baby if Smith will stop interfering with his son and daughter-in-law. When Bing returns to the flat with Smith, he finds the baby gone, with Smith threatening to jail him. However, after several hilarious circumstances, the child is found, and Bing and Joan have no more obstacles in the path of their wedding. SUMMARY: Bing, in a made to order singing role and the addition of some swell music, a good story and fine direction, should bring Universal fine returns and of course, the exhibitor as well. It's Crosby's best picture in a long time. He is perfectly at ease in his handling of the new baby star, Sandy, and will gain many new admirers for his performance. Ditto for Joan Blondell in her role. Word of mouth talk about Sandy after the opening will be a big factor in this picture's success. Mischa Auer in one of his funniest and meatiest roles and the balance of the cast as well, help director David Butler swing this one along at a merry clip. The production of the swell screenplay handed in by William Conselman is only matched by the lilting tunes of songsmiths Monaco and Burke. Plenty of tieups can be made on this from music and radio stores. Taxicab companies, restaurants and baby's wear shops are also good for tieups on the picture. OUTSTANDING: Bing Crosby, Baby Sandy, Mischa Auer and David Butler*s direction. Catchline: "Bing and Sandy, the newest star team scintillate in movie heaven." (FAMILY) The Kid From Texas (Hollyzvood Preview) MOM Comedy Drama 70 mins. O'Keefe Plus Smart Direction Makes This a Candidate for Good Returns (National Release Date, April 28) Cast: Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Anthony Allan, Jessie Ralph, Buddy Ebsen and others. Original story by Milton Legion of Decency Ratings: j (For Week Ending April 8) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Night Riders Streets of New York Story of Alexander Graham Bell Merlin and Byron Morgan. Screenplay by Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allan Woolf, and Albert Mannheimer. Directed by S. Sylvan Simon. Produced by Edgar Selwyn. Plot: Dennis O'Keefe, a Texas cowboy whose 'horse, Lonestar, obeys only his commands, is so far gone on the game of Polo, he herds his cattle while wielding a croquet mallet and smacking a tennis ball around. When Lonestar is sold by ranch owner Tully Marshall, to Long Island socialites, Florence Rice and Anthony Allan, O'Keefe goes back East with the former to take care of the horse. Overcoming man}' difficulties he finally gets to play on the Long Island Polo team but is ousted by Robert Wilcox, jealous fiance of Florence Rice. O'Keefe quits his job on the estate and joins his pal Buddy Ebsen and a pretty equestrienne, Virginia Dale, as manager of their rodeo show. He forms a polo team of cowboys and Indians, challenges and beats the social bunch much to the delight of Jessie Ralph, Florence's aunt, who sees in the cocky cowhand a man who can help control the estate and also the heart of her spoiled young niece. He does both for the finish. SUMMARY: There are enough good laughs and acting bits to bring this to top spots of many bills as action half, and more than hold its own on any double as second half with an "A" top feature. With a likable, ingratiating personality Dennis O'Keefe fits into this part of a free lance cowboy like a hand in a glove, both for acting and fine riding ability. He gets excellent support from Florence Rice, Jessie Ralph, Buddy Ebsen and others in the cast with lesser parts, especially Helen Lynd in a brief but good bit as a cockney housemaid on the estate. Edgar Selwyn for his first production shows a master's hand, while S. Sylvan Simon turns in a top notch directorial effort with his snappy pacing and deft handling of the not too strong screenplay. Dress theatre attaches in cowboy, Indian or polo outfits. Give lobby a rodeo or polo field atmosphere. Give tickets as prizes to kids for best letters on "Do YOU think cowboys would make good Polo players?" For street ballyhoo have mounted Indians or cowboys with polo mallets give throwaways telling of the exploits of "Wild Bill Malone, The Kid From Texas". OUTSTANDING: O'Keefe's acting and Simon's direction. Catc'hline: "His cowpony helped him take a girl off her high horse". (FAMILY) Tex Not From Texas Having had Tex Ritter as "The Man From Texas," Monogram has been doing some map-changing of its own and has now designated the cowboy star's latest release as "The Man From Wyoming." The western is scheduled for release on May 5. Dodge City (Teehnicolnr) (Hollywood Preview) WB Western 102 mins. Combination of Swell Acting, Direction and Technicolor Makes Box Office Smash (National Release Date, April 8) Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale, John Litel, Henry Travers, Henry O'Neill, Victor Jory, William Lundigan, "Big Boy" Williams, others. Original screenplay by Robert Buckner. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Plot: Flynn, a roving cattleman, brings a herd of steers into Dodge City and while there gets into trouble with Cabot, who rules the town. At the request of law abiding citizens, particularly Olivia De Havilland, Flynn takes on the job of sheriff and starts a clean up campaign. McHugh, a crusading editor is murdered while collecting damaging evidence against Cabot. This puts the spur to Flynn's determination to wipe out the terrorists, which he does in a series of brawling battles. His reward is Olivia. SUMMARY: In this magnificent production, Warners has again given the moviegoing public a picture that is tops in outdoor entertainment and should be a sure box office winner. Under Michael Curtiz's masterful direction, this film is so crammed full of thrills and action, that it will keep the audience in a state of sustained excitement from beginning to end, especially the free-for-all fight in the Gay Lady Saloon, the like of which has never before been seen. Errol Flynn is at his best as the fighting sheriff and will increase his already large following with his fine performance. Olivia De Havilland, Alan Hale, Victor Jory, "Big Boy" Williams and Bruce Cabot head a swell supporting cast and score heavily with their forceful portrayals. All in all it is an uproariously eye-filling spectacle geared to entertain patrons of all ages. Carry out the Western atmosphere in the lobby and theatre front decorations with ushers and doorman in Western regalia. Secure an old horse drawn vehicle for street ballyhoo. Offer free tickets through your local newspaper for the best essay on the history of Dodge City. OUTSTANDING: Technicolor and Michael Curtiz's direction. Catchline: "The roaring mile that made the whole world gasp." (FAMILY) Broadway Serenade (Hollyzvood Previexv) MCM Musical Drama 112 mins. Jeanette MacDonald Better Than Ever Should Assure Top Box Office Returns (National Release Date, April 7) Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Lew Ayres Ian Hunter, Frank Morgan, Wally Vernon, Rita Johnson, William Gargan, Al Sliean and others. Original story by Lew Lipton, John Taintor Foote and Hans Kraly. Screenplay by Charles Lederer. Directed For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See Page 18