Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

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Bridal Suite (Hollyzvood Freviezv) MGM Comedy-Drama 67 mins. Grand Casting of Marquee Names Should Help Draw Better Than Average Returns (National Release Date, May 26) Cast: Annabella, Robert Young, Walter Connolly, Billie Burke, Gene Lockhart and others. Screenplay by Samuel Hoffenstein. Story by Gottfried Reinhardt and Virginia Faulkner. Directed by William Thiele. Associate Producer, Edgar Selwyn. Plot: American playboj^ Robert Young, having jilted his English fiancee, Virginia Field, twice on their wedding day, has had his allowance cut ofi' by his exasperated father, Gene Lockhart, but his doting mother, Billie Burke, feels he is a victim of amnesia so she hurries him off to Switzerland to allow Psychiatrist Walter Connolly to look him over. At the Swiss Inn he meets and falls in love with Annabella who practically runs the resort, and it isn't long before she falls in love with him. After a series of meetings in the inn kitchen, Annabella's boudoir and a lofty crag in the Alps, the couple is separated by the Doctor who denounces the playboy as a wastrel. The latter and his mother set sail for America with the boy about to marry the English girl aboard ship, but the Swiss miss boards the ship in the nick of time and she marries the boy instead. SUMMARY: The marquee names should help this one at the box ofihce to hold its own as a single draw in some spots and as top half of a twin bill in others, its main drawback to being a real good film being the weakness of the oft used plot. Not a flaw can be found in the acting, the leading roles being finely handled by Annabella and Robert Young, while the support given them by Billie Burke, Walter Connolly, Gene Lockhart and the others is excellent. William Thiele has directed with a Continental touch and gets all possible out of the weak story while Edgar Selwyn gives it a lavish production background. Arrange with travel and resort agencies for lobby displays. Dress house staff in Swiss mountaineer attire. OUTSTANDING: Annabella, BilHe Burke and Walter Connolly. Catchline: "He almost missed his Swiss miss, until she missed him — then she got him." (FAMILY) The Jones Family in Hollywood (Hollywood Preview) 20th-Fox Comedy 59 mins. Grand Acting of Jones Gang In Swell Story Should Equal Previous Grosses (National Release Date, June 2) Cast: Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Ken Howell, George Ernest, June Carlyson, William Tracy and others. Screenplay by Harold Tarshis. Original story by Joseph Hoffman and Buster Keaton. Directed by Malcolm St. Clair. Associate Producer, John Stone. Plot: Jed Prouty is invited by the Maryville Post of the American Legion to represent it at the National Convention in Holly Legion of Decency Ratings: For Week Ending May 27 SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Captain Fury Flaming Lead Mystery Plane Trigger Fingers Blue Montana Skies SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Blind Alley Bridal Suite The Gorilla OBIECTIONABLE IN PARTS The Kid From Kokomo wood. Of course, the whole family is anxious to go along especially daughter June Carlson who feels she has a place m the movies if she is only given a chance. Packing their all and bundling off with the family trailer, they arrive in Hollywood to have a cocky young screen star William Tracy smash into the trailer. When June gets the traffic cop to let Tracy go he offers to get her a test in the movies. All but Prouty go to Hollywood, he being too busy carrying a big tuba in the legion parades from morning till night. June gets her test but overhears herself called a country cluck by Tracy, who is finally beaten up by brother Ken Howell. Her ambitions stymied, June prevails on the family to make a quick exit back home to Maryville. SUMMARY: The best vehicle handed the Joneses to date, this one should easily do as well at the box office as its predecessors, and from the good word-of-mouth advertising sure to be given it, probably a lot better than some of the others. The entire group of the regular family cast turn in easy going performances, flawless and convincing, and of the newcomers added, a swell job is done by William Tracy as the precocious young star. Malcolm St. Clair directs the snappy screenplay in such breezy fashion the laughs come thick and fast and the picture is over before one realizes it. John Stone gives the production an authentic touch with scenes of many of the Hollywood landmarks and many fine glimpses of how the films are really made. Hire a trailer for street ballyhoo v/ith cards reading "The Jones Family crashed Hollywood in a trailer — Follow us to the . . . . Theatre and learn how". Hire all manner of costumes and dress and make up the house staff to resemble screen stars OUTSTANDING: Story and direction. Catchline: "They all went Hollywood, and all Hollywood went for them". (FAMILY) Jamaica Inn ( London Premiere) Para. Costume Drama 110 mins. Laughton Scores Again As Swashbuckling Nineteenth Century Cornish Bandit Head (National Release Date Not Set) Cast: Charles Laughton, Robert Newton, Leslie Banks, Emlyn Williams, Maureen O'Hara and others. Adapted from Daphne du Maurier's novel. Writing credits: Sidney Gilliat, Joan Harrison, J. B. Priestley. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Produced by Erich Pommer. Plot: Puzzled by the number of wreck's on the Cornish coast, Lloyd's Insurance sends Newton to investigate. He finds that a gang, operating from the sinister Jamaica Inn on the cliffs, has been luring boats on to the rocks, murdering the crews and stealing the cargoes, but cannot discover the leader. After a row, the men hang Newton as a traitor, but Maureen, the inn-keeper's niece, cuts him down and together they escape. Laughton, the squire, is the chief. Newton goes for help and, realizing that the game is up, Laughton kidnaps Maureen aboard a ship for France. The soldiers arrive before she sails and he coniimts ,-utcide. SUMMARY: This story of a nineteenth century Cornish squire whose side line was wrecking ships to steal the cargoes provides Charles Laughton with just the type of role in which fans like to see him best. As this swashbuckling, self-satisfied and often menacing character, he strides through the film with complete ease. Credit is also due to Maureen O'Hara whose first picture this is for a very natural and credible portrayal; she is talented and attractive and should go far. Robert Newton is another artist who turns in a neat performance. Alfred Hitchcock has directed it competently, but has introduced no outstanding touches; actually certain passages could be cut to advantage. Further, it is surprising that since so much money was obviously spent on its production, not more care was taken over certain settings. In exploitation, plug Laughton and stress the adventure angles. Tie up with bookshops and libraries, distributing special markers with suitable copy. For street stunt, parade some men in period costume. Dress the lobby with photos or models of old ships. OUTSTANDING: Charles Laughton. Catchline: "Daphne du Maurier's great book becomes a greater film". (FAMILY) Unmarried ( Hollywood Preview') Para. Drama 63 mins. Remake of "Mr. and Mrs." Inferior To Original; Okay for Second Half on Duals (National Release Date, May 26) Cast: Buck Jones, Helen Twelvetrees, Donald O'Connor, Robert Armstrong, Larry Crabbe and others. Screenplay by Lillie Hayward and Brian Marlow, based on a story by Grover Jones and William Slavens McNutt, Directed by Kurt Neumann. Plot: When Jones, a third rate fighter, loses a fight on which his manager, Armstrong, has bet their full share of the purse, the latter attempts to rob the arena safe and is killed by the watchman. Jones and Helen Twelvetrees find a deed to a small house in a little oil village, go there to investigate and meet Donald O'Connor, the dead man's son. They remain to be with the boy, first planning to leave the next day, then when the boy finishes grammar school. When in college, the boy asks them to adopt him, so they marrv to make this legally possible. SUMMARY: A remake of "Mister and Mrs.", with George Bancroft and Wynne Gibson, this will suffer badly through com For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See Page 14