Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

July 1, 1939 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 19 PICTORIAL NO. 11 Prod. No. P8-11 Interesting Para. Paramount Pictorial 10 mins. Comment: Water is the topic of this interesting issue, and it is divided into three subjects— a camera trip down England's Thames River, then fish farming in the Philippines, and finally life saving at a typical resort beach. In the last subject, the camera catches a rescue to illustrate how modern lifeguards work. Exploitation: On the Thames subject, you should get tieups from travel agencies. _ If school is in session, students of English should be notified that the episode is in the short. In communities where there is swimming under the protection of lifeguards, ask the guards to come to the theatre and give a demonstration in life saving technique. TEMPO OF TOMORROW Prod. No. A8-11 Good Para. Headliner No. 11 10 mins. Comment: Richard Himber and his rhythmic pyramids, the baritone voice of Stuart Allen, and the torrid singing of lovely Patricia Gilmore, are featured in this Headliner. Allen sings "The Prom Waltz," while Miss Gilmore is featured in the vocal of "Listen To My Heart." Again Allen sings, this time a ballad, "Alone at the Station," and the reel concludes with a hot swing number, "Gettin' Off." Wherever band subjects are liked, this one should go over. Leslie Ronsh directed. Exploitation: Tie up with music dealers five and ten cent stores, and other stores selling music for displays on Himber and on the recordings of any numbers sung by Miss Gilmore and Allen. Offer a prize for the best 50-word explanation of the term, "Rhythmic Pyramids." THE SCARED CROWS Prod. No. T8-9 Average Para. Betty Boop No. 9 7 mins. Comment: Betty and Pudgy are doing their spring planting when behind come a flock of crows eating the seeds as fast as they plant them. The gardeners scare the black birds away, but one is injured and is taken in the house to recover. Healthy again, he calls his mates, and the whole flock pester Pudgy as they eat everything in sight. Betty dons a scarecrow suit and succeeds in driving them out. It's an average cartoon, with a few laughs sprinkled here and there. Dave Fleischer directed. Exploitation: Stores selling Betty Boop merchandise are excellent possibilities for cooperation. If you play the cartoon on a Saturday, invite kiddies to come as "scarecrows" and offer prizes for the best costumes. DEATH VALLEY THRILLS Prod. No. R8-12 Excellent Para. Sportlight No. 12 10 mins. Comment: This unusual and thrilling Sportlight concerns the Wilhelm Brothers, who, with a trained police dog and an original desert car, travel across country into fascinating Death Valley, Calif. The boys put on a snowless demonstration of winter sports, such as skiing and toboganning down sand dunes; they aquaplane on dry lakes with their auto serving as a tow boat. Eventually the old car gets out of hand and crashes over a high cliff, but the boys scurry to the base of the hill, get in the car and whiz away. Audiences will get a real kick out of this subject, which was produced by Jack Eaton with Ted Husing doing the narration. Exploitation: Sinse the reel was made in Death Valley National Park, along the route to the San Francisco World's Fair, it should be easy to arrange tieups with your travel agencies. Get them to feature the one-sheet in their windows. It might be wise to screen "Death Valley Thrills" for the newspaper sports columnist, who could make a special feature out of it as one of his daily contributions to the sports page. AVE MARIA 10 mins. Impressive ' Comment: Accompanied by the music of Bach, Casciolini, Gounod and Mozart, this subject takes the audience inside the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres to reveal the beautiful sculptures and stained glass windows of one of the most magnificent cathedrals of France, as well as one of ■_the most wonderful jewels of architecture. "Although the continuity is sometimes jumpy, this subject, as a whole, is beautiful and deeply impressive, and should be appreciated by intelligent audiences, fj Exploitation: Seek the cooperation of local ■ religious societies to aid you in putting over ' this film. Screen it for them. Try to get stories in the church page of the newspaper and in local religious publications. TRIP TO THE SKY 11 mins. Fascinating I Comment: Based on recent scientific research, this subject is an hypothetical and fascinating excursion into the celestial space. A look at many of the heavenly bodies, such as Saturn, Mars, the Moon, etc., give one the feeling that he is actually being transported to these places. The technique and photography are unique, probably accounting for the fact that the subject was awarded the Grand Prix for scientific films at the International Exposition in France, 1937. Those who see it will be spellbound by its unusual treatment of an unusual subject. Jean Painleve directed. Exploitation: Advertise this as "one of the most fascinating trips you'll ever take inside a movie theatre." Invite local teachers and students of science to a special I screening. Give the subject extra space in ! all your advertising.. REMBRANDT 10 mins. Interesting ! Comment: First delving into the origin of art itself, this subject, made with the cooperation of the Holland Government, takes up the life of Rembrandt and traces it by means of his paintings. Such important Rembrandts as "The Money Changer," "The Turkish Prince," "Presentation in the Temple," "Women Taken in Adultery," "The Lesson in Anatomy of Professor Tulp," and other great paintings of the Old Master are photographed and described. Intelligent audiences will find the subject very interesting. Exploitation: Art groups should cooperate with you in exploiting this film. Give it mention in your lobby, on your marquee and in your newspaper advertisements. Note: For booking information on "Ave Maria," "Trip to the Sky" and "Rembrandt," write Leo Malchin, French Film Exchange, 545 Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C. SPORTS IMMORTALS Prod. No. 9305 Very Good 20th-Fox Sports Reviews No. 5 11 mins. Comment: Sports commentator Ed Thorgersen has chosen those he considers "sports immortals" and then explains why, with the assistance of the camera. Back through the years we go to the days when such stars as "Red" Grange, the Galloping Ghost of Illinois; Helen Wills and Suzanne Lenglen, ladies of the tennis court; Barney Oldfield, auto speed king; Grover (Old Pete) Cleveland Alexander, twirler sans peer; George Herman (Babe) Ruth, King of Swat; Knute Rockne, Norse genius of Notre Dame's football squads; Man O' War, king of the turf; Gertrude Ederle, first woman to swim the English channel; Paavo Nurmi, the Flying Finn; Jack Dempsey, the Manassa Mauler; Bobby Jones, the Emperor of the golf links, and Sonja Henie were either at the height of their career or were just starting on the road to fame, as in the case of Miss Henie. Vivid and pleasant memories will be recalled by every man and woman who sees this subject, which will promote much provocative discussion among sports enthusiasts. It is excellent entertainment. Truman Talley produced. Exploitation: Here's something yow sports editors will want to see, and after seeing it at a private screening they'll probably pick their own list of "sports immortals." In advance of your showing, you might conduct a contest in which readers are to submit their selections of "sports immortals," specifying that if their selections talley closely with those of Ed Thorgersen they will receive prizes of cash or theatre tickets. NICK'S COFFEE POT Prod. No. 9513 Satisfactory 20th-Fox Terry Toon No. 23 7 mins. Comment: Nick's Coffee Pot opens with impressive fanfare in Bugville. It's the town's favorite eatery until the hero and heroine are annoyed by a villainous spider, who, despite the warning to keep out, weaves a web of skulduggery around the place. He captures the heroine, takes her away on his speedboat. Immediately emergency squads of bugs go into action, and it isn't long before the spider's boat sinks while the heroine is saved by the hero. Your patrons, especially the youngsters, will be satisfied with this. Paul Terry produced. Exploitation: If there are any restaurant owners in your town named "Nick," invite them to be your guests at one of the performances. Mention the subject in your newspaper ads and in your programs. Good LUCKY PICS Prod. No. 9510 (Tech.) Col. Color Rhapsody No. 10 7 mins. Comment: Mama and Papa Pig win the sweepstakes, and immediately become wealthy. They buy everything in sight and move into a palatial home. But the tax collectors hear of them, and when the government men sweep down on them so much is taken in taxes that the family has nothing left. Even the winning horse drops in to take his share of the winnings. It's a pretty good cartoon. Ben Harrison directed under producer Charles Mintz. Exploitation: Bill this as a satire on sweepstake winners. Give it regular mention in all your advertising.