Showmen's Trade Review (1939)

Page 6 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW July 22, 1939 Beau Geste (Hollyzvood Preview) Para. Drama 114 mins. Magnificent Production Backed With Entertainment Will Be Top Grosser (National Release date, August 1) Cast: Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, Susan Hayward, J. Carroll Naish, Donald O'Connor, James Stevenson, Harry Woods, others. Screenplay by Robert Carson. Based on the novel by Percival Christopher Wren. Produced and directed by William A. Wellman. Plot: This is the famous story of the three English brothers who ran away from home in order to protect their aunt's good name. All three join the foreign legion, two of them are killed, and the third comes back to clear his brothers' names. SUMMARY: This magnificent production is packed with entertainment values. Besides the marquee strength it carries, it has action, drama and suspense all mixed together in perfect proportions. Theatergoers will find it such a noteworthy production that word of mouth added to the tremendous drawing power of the cast and the title should make it a top grosser at the box office. The acting of the principals is superb with the honors equally divided between Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston. An outstanding performance in the splendid supporting cast is that of Brian Donlevy, that half-crazed officer whose vindictiveness and bravery will bring a response from any audience. William Wellman has produced and directed the picture with consummate skill. Get the fullest cooperation from local book dealers and from the public library supplying the latter with bookmarks. Have a man dressed as a Foreign Legionnaire ride through the streets on horseback. A treasure hunt offering a prize to the finder of "The Blue Diamond" could be arranged with newspaper cooperation. OUTSTANDING: Brian Donlevy and William Wellman's direction. Catchline : "Greatest story of brotherly love ever told." (FAMILY) Each Dawn I Die WB Drama 92 mins. Powerful Drama With Cagney at His Best Should Pack Terrific Box Office Wallop (National Release Date, August 19) Cast: James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft, Maxie Rosenbloom, Stanley Ridges, Alan Baxter, Victor Jory, John Wray, Edward Pawley, Willard Robertson, Emma Dunn and others. Screenplay by Norman Reilly Raine, Warren Duff and Charles Perry from the book by Jerome Odium. Directed by William Keighley. Plot: Cagney, reporter on a paper opposed to a gubernatorial candidate, is framed on a manslaughter charge and goes to jail. There he meets Raft, doing a life sentence. Raft becomes friendly with him through Cagney's keeping silent when a man is killed, apparently by Raft. The latter asks Legion of Decency Ratings: (For Week Ending July 22) SUITABLE FOR CENERAL PATRONAGE Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever Cowboy Quarterback Range War SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Indianapolis Speedway Way Down South Spellbinder A Woman Is the Judge CONDEMNED Human Wreckage NOTE: Bachelor Mother rating has been changed to "Adults only." Cagney to tell the warden that he (Raft) killed the other inmate pointing out that Cagney could thus win favor with the parole board and Raft would have a chance to get away. Raft escapes and Jane Bryan, Cagney's girl appeals to him to find the man who framed Cagney. Raft, convinced of Cagney's loyalty returns to prison and during a jail break forces the guilty man to confess. Raft is killed but Cagney is set free. SUMMARY: Distinguished chiefly by James Cagney's performance this powerful drama of prison and underworld life is a real he-man's picture. The women won't care much about it but the men will probably rave. Cagney has never been better and he shows his consummate skill as an actor in a number of scenes in this picture. Odium's book has been faithfully transscribed even including much of the dialogue. Among others in the cast who perform well are Raft, Jane Bryan and Maxie Rosenbloom. Certain scenes may well stand out in the picturegoer's memory as outstanding, particularly that in which Cagney appeals to the parole board for release but in vain and the scene in which the warden releases Caeney from "the hole" in response to Jane Bryan's pleas. Sell this picture to the men with plenty of punchy catchlines. Some of those suggested are "Killer vs. killer — Cagney vs. Raft" and "Will Cagney take it when Raft dishes it out?" Banner a truck similar to the one Raft jumps into from the courtroom (see stills). If you can hire a daredevil who will make this leap, it is a sure fire attention eretter. This is a good picture on which to use "Wanted" posters bearing pictures of Cagnev and Raft. OUTSTANDING: Cagney's fine performance. Catchline: "Cagney meets a Raft of trouble." (ADULT) Magnificent Fraud (Hollywood Preview) Para. Drama 75 mins. Fantastic Story, Lacking Conviction Handicaps Film's Entertainment Values (National Release Date, July 21) Cast: Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan, Mary Boland, Patricia Morison, Ralph Forbes, Steffi Duna, George Zucco and others. Screenplay by Gilbert Gabriel and Walter Ferris based on the story "Caviar For His Excellency" by Charles G. Booth. Directed by Robert Florey. Produced by Harlan Thompson. Plot: Akim Tamiroff, a French impersonator, has been asked by Lloyd Nolan, the power behind the executive chair, to masquerade as the president of a mythical republic, after the president has been assassinated. An American, Ralph Forbes, is due by plane to loan ten million dollars to the republic on the president's personal guaranty and Nolan conceives this plan in order to keep the nation together. An operative of the French police, who has been hunting for Tamiroff to answer a murder charge, is suspicious and awakens the suspicions of the opposing political factions. Tamiroff signs for the loan, and when he names his successor, according to the request of the dead president he is shot to death by opposing plotters. Meanwhile Nolan falls in love with Patricia Morison, Forbes' fiancee, and decides to become an honest citizen. SUMMARY: Despite the fact that a fantastic story, lacking conviction, handicaps the entertainment value of this picture, the expert trouping of Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan and a well selected supporting cast should help it toward popular acceptance. In addition to the cast, the film has several commendable points; the chief ones being the keen direction of Robert Florey and the colorful native background shots. Tamiroff, playing a dual role, turns in one of his finest portrayals to date and Nolan, as the smooth Chicago crook, runs him a close second. Steffi Duna gets an opportunity to display her dancing skill and is unusually effective. Play up Tamiroff "The Man With A Thousand Faces" in all your advertising, and decorate the lobby with stills showing his numerous impersonations. South American atmosphere could prevail through the theatre. Two or three men dressed as South American soldiers, looking for "Magnificent Fraud" should be used as street ballyhoo. OUTSTANDING: Akim Tamiroff and Lloyd Nolan. Catchline: "President . . . just another role in his long career." (ADULT) E Stole a Mi 18 ion (Hollywood Preview) Univ. Drama 78 mins. George Raft Returns in Typical Punchy Drama Involving Gangsters and Crime (National Release Date, July 21) Cast: George Raft, Claire Trevor, Dick Foran, Victor Jory, Henry Armetta and others. Screenplay by Nathanael West from an original story by Lester Cole. Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Bnrt Kelly. Plot: Raft, a taxi driver, angered over the actions of a finance company manager, recovers his initial payment by force, and is arrested for "robbery." He break's away from the arresting officers and in return for Jory's taking off his handcuffs, drives a car to become involved in a bank robbery charge. He enters a flower shop, planning robbery, but Claire Trevor's charm causes him to desist. Later, they marry and he is succeeding as a small town garage owner, when officers arrive seeking him for past crimes, including holding up a crap game to (Continued on page 14) For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation — (See page 49)