Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

Page 6 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW July 1, 1939 Stronger Than Desire (Hollyzvood Preview) MGM Drama 77 mins. Good Word-of-Mouth Comment Should Build Grosses of Splendidly Acted Film (National Release Date, June 30) Cast: Virginia Bruce, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Bowman, Ann Dvorak, Ilka Chase, Rita Johnson and others. Screenplay by David Hertz and' William Ludwig, from a novel by W. E. Woodward. Directed by Leslie Fenton. Produced by John W. Considine, Jr. . Plot: Rita Johnson, wealthy playgirl, has been acquitted on a manslaughter charge mainly through the efforts of her attorney, Walter Pidgeon. Virginia Bruce, wife of the latter, gets mixed up with a blackmailer, Lee Bowman, when she thinks she is being neglected by hubby's attentions to his client, Rita. Bowman tries to get money from Virginia for a few innocent notes (She has written him, and when, in his wife's apartment, he strikes her, she shoots him and dashes for home with the letters. When Ann Dvorak, wife of the blackmailer, is accused of the murder, Miss Bruce gets Pidgeon to take up the defense of the girl. Through a series of clever twists in the story the jury finds the blackmailer deserved to be shot. Pidgeon, Miss Bruce and their daughter, Ann Todd, take a trip to Europe. SUMMARY: Word of mouth after opening day should put this definitely in the hit class as the upper half of a dual bill anywhere, and singly in plenty of secondary playdates. Producer John W. Considine, Jr., has given this modernized re-make of "Evelyn Prentice" a splendid cast and beautiful production, from which Leslie Fenton turns in a directorial effort that should put him much in demand for bigger things. The stars, Virginia Bruce and Walter Pidgeon, together for the second time, handle then: roles flawlessly, and are handed "Grade A" support by the balance of the cast, especially Ann Dvorak and Lee Bowman. With several beautiful gowns worn by the Misses Bruce, Chase and Johnson, this should be a cinch for tieups with leading modiste shops and department stores. Offer a prize for the best candid camera enlargement of a photo of a person with the image of the taker in the pupil of the photographed one's eye. OUTSTANDING: Acting of the entire cast. Catchline: "His love of Justice, equalled his love for his Family." (FAMILY) The Saint In London (Hollyzvood Preview) RKO-Radio Melodrama 70 mins. British-Made Meller Easily Sets A New Top for Popular Mystery Series (National 'Release Date, June 30) Cast: George Sanders, Sally Gray, David Burns, Gordon McLeod, Henry Oscar and others. Screenplay by Lynn Root and Frank Fenton from Leslie Charteris' "The Million Pound Day." Director, John Paddy Carstairs. Producer, William Sistrom. Legion of Decency Ratings: ( For Week Ending July 1 ) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Hero for a Day Stunt Pilot The Saint in London Timber Stampede What a Life SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY The Forgotten Woman Stronger Than Desire Plot: Sanders (The Saint), landing in London on a surprise mission finds he has acquired a nervy valet (an ex-San Quentin convict), a persistent shadow in McLeod, a Scotland Yard inspector and a gang of resourceful enemies who have kidnapped and killed the emissary of a small government and plan to print several million extra pounds of its money. His efforts are both aided and hampered by Gray, a society girl with a weakness for the Saint, but ending is satisfactory with Saint found working with the British secret service. SUMMARY: Despite its lack of known names for an American audience, this newest Saint picture sets a new high in the popular mystery series, and one which will require high future standards to maintain. Sanders definitely hits the stride of this debonair hero, Root and Fenton have turned out some very smart lines and John Paddy Carstairs provides a directorial job which has all of the speed American audiences want and the same careful performances demanded abroad. Also not to be overlooked is Sally Gray, very easy on the eyes and a capable actress. David Burns is also effective as a comedian. Sanders' second Saint picture and the fact that production was made in London will have to be the main pre-showing exploitation — after that word-of-mouth will do it. OUTSTANDING: Sanders' acting. Catchline: "The Saint Goes to London for his most thrilling experience." (FAMILY) Naughty But Nice WB Comedy 90 mins. Masses Should Laugh Heartily At This Pleasant Comedy With Fun-Making Cast (National Release Date, July 1) Cast: Dick Powell, Ann Sheridan, Gale Page, Helen Broderick, Ronald Reagan, Allen Jenkins, ZaSu Pitts, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jerry Colonna, Luis Alberni, others Screenplay by Richard Macaulay and Jerry Wald. Directed by Ray Enright. Plot: Dick Powell, a staid young professor of music, comes to New York to sell his symphonic composition. He lives with his aunt, Helen Broderick, who has been disowned by the family because she disgraced them by ' marrying a ragtime saxophone player. At Helen's home he meets Gale Page, who arranges to have his music played over the radio. The composition is a hit as a swing number, and Gale and Dick find themselves in love. SUMMARY: Although this may seem just a little below the usual Warner standard to the more critical, we're willing to wager the masses are going to laugh heartily at, and thoroughly enjoy "Naughty But Nice." Making no attempt at being pretentious, it is a simple, hilarious little comedy whose only fault is that it might have stood just a little more trimming in the cutting room. Outside of this, the folks will get a kick out of Dick Powell as the young musical professor who hates swing, attains success when his symphonic composition is broadcast in swing style, and then while under the influence of "lemonade" gets involved in musical piracy. Hailed as the "oomph" girl, Ann Sheridan doesn't let one forget it, while Gale Page, as a feminine composer, is charming and attractive at all times. Helping to carry the comedy are Helen Broderick, Allen Jenkins, Maxie Rosenbloom, ZaSu Pitts, Jerry Colonna, Luis Alberni and others. Nothing is so contagious as laughter, so if you get a good opening, the ripple of merriment throughout the audience will be an ideal "ad" for you. Powell is easily outstanding, and he gets along very well without singing, raising his voice only once, and then, incidentally. Through the newspaper start a controversial contest in which two sides are to debate whether or not swing is here to stay. You might also offer prizes to those who can prove that certain modern numbers, though never understood to have been, might have been adapted from the music of immortal composers such as Bach, Beethoven, etc. Tieups with music shops on the song hits are recommended. OUTSTANDING: Dick Powell. Catchline: "As a hater of swing music, the professor certainly knew how to swing it." (FAMILY) On Borrowed Time MGM Drama 99 mins. Grand Acting in Finely Filmed Stage Play; Will Score Hit with Class Audiences (National Release Date, July 7) Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Beulah Bondi, Una Merkel, Bobs Watson, Nat Pendleton, Henry Travers, Eily Malyon, Grant Mitchell and others. Screenplay by Alice D. G. Miller, Frank O'Neill, and Claudine West. Based on the play by Paul Osborn from a dramatization of the novel by Lawrence Edward Watkin. Directed by Harold S. Bucquet. Produced by Sidney Franklin. Plot: Gramps is considered by his daughter-in-law to be unfit company for Pud, the grandson whose father and mother were killed in an automobile accident — particularly when the aunt finds that Pud has been left quite a sum of money. Pud insists Gramps has a strange power over the apple tree in the back of the yard, being able to keep up there anybody who climbs it just by so wishing. When Death, in the form of a man who calls himself "Mr. Brink" beckons to Gramp, he contrives to get Brink up into the tree, commands him to remain there. This incident convinces Pud's aunt that Gramps is crazy. But the local doctor (Continued on page 8) For Additions! Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult Encyclopedia of Exploitation — (See Back Cover)