Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

S 1 1 ( ) W M !•: \ ' S '1^ R A I ) !•: \< V. VIEW Page 9 ,1 native ,siiiL;cr for a radio account. He eiiijajies a fiery little Mexican entertainer, l.upe Velez, and starts hack for America after putting up a bond that he will be personally responsible for the latter morally and otherwise. The day before the audition for the sponsor Lupe loses her voice through yelling at a ball game, a wrestling ntatch and a six day bicycle race where she had been seeing the town with Woods' uncle Leon Erroi, but after getting a job in a cafe she gets a new sponsor and in the end also wins Woods as her husband. SUMMARY: For those who like their fun with plenty of hoke and slapstick, this one should prove popular with both the fans and the box office as a companion feature to one not so lively. The dynamic little Mexican star Lupe Velez in a made to order role never showed to better advantage and in several episodes with that stellar rubber legged comic Leon Errol, creates many a "belly laugh." Donald Woods and Donald McBride both give perfect support in straight roles as does the balance of the good cast. Les Goodwins finely paces his direction and snaps into every comedy situation lined up in the hilarious screenplay. The production of Robert Sisk looks like far more money than is generally put in this type. Dress the theatre staff in Mexican outfits and the lobby with palms, etc. OUTSTANDING: Lupe Velez and Leon Errol, story and direction. Catchline: "She was as easy to handle as a stick of dynamite." (FAMILY) Ex-Champ Univ. Drama 74 mins. When More Entertaining Pictures Are Made They'll Be Super Special Epics (National Release Date, May 19) Cast: Victor McLaglen, Tom Brown, Nan Grey, William Frawley, Constance Moore, Donald Briggs. Original story by Gordon Kahn. Screenplay by Alex Gottlieb and Edmund L. Hartman. Directed by Philip Rosen. Plot: McLaglen, a former prize fighter, who won a local championship in 1915, had saved his money and sent his son to college. The latter, now vice-president in a Wall Street house, marries a wealthy girl and refuses to acknowledge his father or his sister, Nan Grey. McLaglen picks up a promising young fighter, Brown, and trains him. When Briggs, the son, gets into trouble and needs money, he arranges to bet heavily on his fighter's opponent but Frawley who had been charged to place the bet put it the other way. Everything turns out all right when Brown wins the championship and Nan Grey too. SUMMARY: This is an unpretentious little picture but still one of the most entertaining we've seen in many a day. There's comedy, pathos and plenty of action in it and excellent performances by McLaglen and Frawley. Some of the scenes will kinda get you, especially that in which the exchamp hocks his championship belt only to find that it's only worth $16. For entertainment value it's hard to beat this picture. McLaglen is a good name to sell it with and the other members of the cast are by no means unknown. Hang some boxing gloves from the lobby ceiling appropriately placarded. Through the cooperation of your sports editor run some pictures of former champs in the newspaper with prizes for those guessing their identity. OUTSTANDING: Victor McLaglen in a role made to order for him. Catcliline: "Once the hero of frenzied cheer . . . now the butt of slurring jeers." (FAMILY) The Red Cross Subject This year's Red Cross subject Is titled "Footsteps." As usual, you can obtain it from your local chapter chairman of the Red Cross. It is especially interesting this year, showing each step in the training of a Red Cross Nurse and the work which these fine women do in various parts of the country. The subject is highly entertaining as well as helping a worthy cause and you can obtain considerable good will by showing it. Bookings are gratis. Code of the Secret Service (HoUyzvood Previeiv) WB Drama 58 mins. Second In Secret Service Series Okay Filler For Saturday Kids, Action Fans (National Release Date, May 27) Cast: Ronald Reagan, Rosella Towne, Eddie Foy, Jr., Moroni Olsen, Edgar Edwards, John (iallaudet. Jack Mower and others. Based upon material compiled bv W. H. Moran, Ex-Chief of the U. S. Secret Service. Screenplay by Lee Katz and Dean Franklin. Directed by Noel Smith. Associate Producer, Bryan Foy. Plot: Ronald Reagan, U. S. Secret Service operator is sent to Mexico to round up a gang of counterfeiters. He receives information from another operator, that the leader of the counterfeiters is a peg-legged man. He heads into the interior and finds the hideout of the gang, only to be recognized and captured. Meanwhile the Mexican Police, hot on his trail for a supposed killing, receive word from Washington, identifying him, and they arrive at the hideout in time to help Reagan escape before the mission is blown up by the leader of the counterfeiters. Reagan then captures the leader and secures the evidence he was sent after. SUMMARY: The best that can be said for this picture is that it will be an okay filler for the Saturday juvenile action fans, in spite of the satisfactory trouping and good direction. The main trouble lies in the story treatment, which lacks suspense, and the fact that most of the situations have been done over and over again in at least a dozen similar pictures. Ronald Reagan heads a competent cast, that strives hard to do something with the story material, but with little success. Print stage money and distribute it around town in advance of showing. Secret Service magazines could be used to attract attention in your lobby with any newspaper headings you can get of actual counterfeiter activities. Catchline: "Smashing a counterfeiting ring." (FAMILY) Kid From Kokomo WB Comedy 92 mins. FastMoving Comedy of the Prize Ring Has Ingredients to Assure Mass Appeal (National Release Date, June 24) Cast: Pat O'Brien, Joan Blondell, Wayne Morris, May Robson, Jane Wyman, Stanley Fields, Maxie Roserbloom, Sidney Toler, Ed Brophy, Winifred Harris, Morgan Conway, others. Screenplay by Michael Fessier, Richard MacCaulay and Jerry Wald from a novel by Dalton Trumbo. Directed by Lewis Seller. Associate Producer, Sam BischofT. Plot: Wlien Rosenbloom surprises his manager, O'Brien, and O'Brien's girl, Joan Blondell, who had bet everything against hiin, the two iiastily leave town. At a sleepy village where they were seeking a local blacksmith, reputedly a good fighter, they find Morris, a farm boy, is even better. They bring him to New York. Motherless, Morris is seeking the one who abandoned him as a child. To hold him, O'Brien induces May Robson, a liquor-loving old kleptomaniac, to assume the role. She takes advantage of the situation and assumes charge of the fighter's money. Then O'Brien tries to expose her, but Morris will not believe him. On the night of a big fight with Rosenbloom, Morris plans to lose the fight because May had gambled all her inoney on crooked horses, with Conway, Rosenbloom's manager, holding the check. He wins the fight, however, when Rosenbloom ridicules May. There are further complications, but all is cleared up. SUMMARY: With plenty of action and hilarious situations this is a first-rate comedy of the prize ring. It is geared straight for mass appeal, and should win enthusiastic approval from audiences in average-sized towns. Not that key city patronage won't like it, because they will, but because it's made up of the ingredients that keep the majority of theatregoers in the hinterlands howling with merriment one minute and on the edge of their seats with excitement and suspense the next. Pat O'Brien as the glibtalking fight manager is good, and Joan Blondell was never lovelier. But it's Wayne Morris, as the simple farm boy, and May Robson, as the old kleptomaniac posing as his mother who steal the show. Other performances are satisfactory. Since this is principally a rapid-fire comedy, your campaign should be gagged. Play up the entire cast. Place posters at recreation centers around town. OUTSTANDING: Wayne Morris and May Robson. Catchline: "Hilarious comedy, rapid-fire excitement, as a fast-talking prize fight manager takes a farm bov under his wing." (FAMILY) Racketeers of the Range RKO-Radio Western 64 mins. Fast Moving Western With George O'Brien As Draw Should Do Well For Saturdays (National Release Date, May 19) Cast: George O'Brien, Chill Wills, Marjorie Reynolds, Gay Seabrook', Robert Fiske and others. Story by Bernard McConville. Screenplay by Oliver Drake. Directed by D. Ross Lederman. Produced by Bert Gilroy. Plot: O'Brien and his fellow cattlemen have been shipping cattle for a lone time to the packing company owned by Marjorie Reynolds. She is determined to follow the advice of Fiske, her attorney and sell out to a large company. O'Brien seeking to keep the company alive has it thrown into receivership with himself as largest creditor appointed receiver. Marjorie follows him out to his ranch and tries to reason with him but he shows her she is being cheated b}' Fiske. He buys all the cattle from the surrounding ranches but they are stolen by rustlers. O'Brien and his men recover them and take them to the train but the rustlers make off with the train. O'Brien and his men head ofT the train and after a violent battle recapture their cattle and O'Brien gets Marjorie. SUMMARY: Here's a fast-moving Western with plenty of action and it's done in the modern style. There are automobiles and horses in it 'n' everything. But don't (Continued on page 18) For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures "'t Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See Back Cover