Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Junr 17, 1939 SHOWMEN'S TRyVDI': ricview Page 19 Five Came Back ( / / ollywood I'review) RKO-Radio Melodrama 73 mins. Well Directed and Acted Melodrama Strong Enough for Top Bill in Many Houses (National Rclrasc Date, Jitiic 23) Cast: Cliester Morris, Lucille Ball, Joseph Calleia, Wendy Barrie, Allen Jenkins, C. Aubrey Smith and others. Screenplay by Jerry Cady, Dalton Trumbo, and Nathaniel West. Story by Richard Carroll. Directed by John Farrow. Associate Producer Robert Sisk. Plot: Chester Morris, pilot of passenger plane Silver Queen, starts for Panama accompanied by co-pilot Kent Taylor, a steward, eight adults and one little boy as passengers, but is forced down in the jungles of Central America. After 23 days the plane is repaired well enough to take off but can only lift with five, the little boy included. Three of the original starters are already dead, the steward, a detective and a gang leader's henchman. An anarchist who is due to be hanged on his arrival at Panama, elects to stay in the jungle and also decides that an aged couple and a weakling millionaire are to remain with him, allowing the two pilots to take off with the youngster and the two young ladies. As the plane gets of¥ the anarchist mercifully kills the aged couple and leaves himself and the weakling to die at the hands of Head Hunters of the Jungle. SUMMARY: Given plenty of advance exploitation this will fit easily in top spot of any double and in many spots will hold its own singly. It is hard to pick out the tops in individual performances as selection of the entire cast by Producer Sisk is well near perfection, but as the doomed anarchist Joseph Calleia is deserving of an extra vote closely followed by Chester Morris, C. Aubrey Smith and Allen Jenkins. John Farrow's expert direction of the very well written screenplay is worthy of "A" rating. This is made to order for tie up with Air Transportation companies and Travel Resort Bureaus. OUTSTANDING: Joseph Calleia and John Farrow's direction. Catchline: "Doomed to die for his badness, he showed he was the best in a pinch." (FAMILY) Three Texas Steers Republic Western 56 mins. Outdoor Fans Should Enjoy Fast-Riding Western With New and Refreshing Story (National Release Date, May 12) Cast: John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, Carole Landis, Ralph Graves, Rosco Ates, Collette Lyons, Billy Curtis, Ted Adams, Stanley Blystone, David Sharpe, Ethan Laidlaw, others. Original screenplay by Betty Burbridge and Stanley Roberts, based on the characters created by William Colt MacDonald. Directed by George Sherman. Associate Producer, William Berke. Plot: Carole Landis has a circus — but not for long, because her business manager, Ralph Graves, causes a series of disasters to compel her to sell a ranch he wants. In LEGION OF DECENCY RATINGS: (For Week Ending June 17) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Tarzan Finds a Son Inside Information Susannah of the Mounties Bulldog Drummond's Bride Adventures of the Masked Phantom SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY The Girl and the Gambler Should a Girl Marry OBJECTIONABLE IN PARTS Daughters Courageous stead of selling the ranch, however, Carole and her troupe go to live on it. By mistake, they get on the land owned by the Three Mesquiteers. There are many complications as Graves and his henchmen seek to get the ranch owned by Carole, but with the help of the Mesquiteers, she outwits the villains. SUMMARY: Well, there's the mortgage on the old ranch, but outside of this regulation formula, the plot of "Three Texas Steers" is new and refreshing. Imagine a western starting out under a circus tent and ending up with an exciting sulky race, with plenty of hard riding, shooting and fisticutfs sandwiched in between. You won't need to imagine it, nor will your fans, for here it is. The Three Mesquiteers are in tip-top form, while Carole Landis could lure us to take up circus life anytime. Ralph Graves is a suave villain — almost too suave — who leaves the skulduggery to his henchmen, Ted Adams and Stanley Blystone. Lending comedy to the proceedmgs is Rosco Ates as a stuttering sheriff and Naba (is he man or beast?) as a playful gorilla. As the action half of a double feature, or alone on a weekend booking, this western should do well. Novelty hats and buttons for fan clubs are available, as are several national tieups on popular products. OUTSTANDING: The plot, which doesn't creak. Catchline: "A fast-riding action thriller that ends in a blaze of glory on the race track." (FAMILY) It Could Happen To You (Hollyi'jood Freviciv) 20th-Fox Comedy Drama 71 mins. Amusing Suspense and Excitement Well Done Should Bring Satisfying Returns (National Release Date, June 30) Cast: Stuart Erwin, Gloria Stuart, Raymond Walburn, Douglas Fowley, Clarence Kolb and others. Screenplay by Allen Rivkin and Lou Breslow from original story by Charles HofYman. Directed by Alfred Werker. Associate Producer, David Hempstead. Plot: Idea Man Stuart Erwin allows his pal, Douglas Fowley, to take credit and promotions in advertising firm until his wife, Gloria Stuart, puts her foot down and in tears insists that Erwin must assert himself and put his ideas directly before his boss, Raymond Walburn. At a Fraternity dinner Erwin gets to the boss with the lieli) of one of the showgirls invited to brighten the affair. On the way home Erwin and Fowley proceed to end the night with liquid refreshment. The corpse of a young girl is found in Erwin's car by his wife. The District Attorney tries to pin murder on Erwin, but the latter's wife knowing he is innocent saves him from the chair and helps capture the Ruiltv man. Erwin gets promoted. SUMMARY: As the top half of a double this should bring satisfactory box office returns from word of mouth after the opening, being a really fine audience picture with that ace well liked although not of marquee strength. Erwin in one of his Milquetoast roles is fine but top acting honors go to Douglas Fowley who steals the former's thunder but at the end in a swell drunk scene makes good in a big way. Gloria Stuart is convincing as the patient wife and the balance of the cast turn in fine supporting bits. The effective screenplay is deftly handled by Director Alfred Werker who gets 100 per cent value for producer, David Hempstead. Get an artist to make cartoons captioned "It Could Happen To You" and blow up for lobby display, taking happenings of the day from news headlines. For street ballyhoo hire truck with a cell holding a man in prison garb and signs reading "Go to Theatre and see what might HAPPEN TO YOU." OUTSTANDING: Douglas Fowley and Stuart Erwin. Catchline: "He cashed in on his own ideas, with the help of his wife — of course." (FAMILY) House of Fear (Hoi lyiu ood Frcii ic w ) Univ. Mystery-Drama 66 mins. Thriller-Chiller with Good Comedy Twist Well Above Average Program Offering (National Release Date, June 30) Cast: William Gargan, Irene Hervey, Dorothy Arnold, Alan Dinehart, Harvey Stephens, Walter Woolf King, Robert Coote, El Brendel, Tom Dugan and others. Based on a play by Thomas F. Fallon and novel by Wadsworth Camp. Screenplay by Peter Milne. Directed by Joe May. Associate Producer, Edmund Grainger. Plot: William Gargan, detective, opens a theatre that has been closed for two years, in order to solve the murder and find out about the "ghost" alleged to haunt the house. He induces Irene Hervey, leading lady; Harvey Stephens, stage director and all the others of the original company to help him restage the show. Alan Dinehart and his brother, Robert Coote, owners of the theatre are happy to see the place open again, but are skeptical about Gargan's plans. During rehearsal, Walter Woolf King, who was to take the murdered man's place, is killed in the same mysterious manner. Stephens is then given the leading role and the night the show opens Gargan notices a cable running from a "prop" microphone and traces it to the basement. Gargan finds the murderer at work and also finds that a spring in the microphone releases a glass needle containing a deadly fluid. After a chase the murderer is caught and turns out to be Tom Dugan, the property man, who (Continued on Next Page) For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation — (See page 39)