Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1940)

Page 12 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW January 20, 1940 W JBt W ^ The Invisible Man Returns ( H o 1 1 y v\' o r) d P r e V i e w ) Univ. DRAMA 81^ mins. (Nat'l Release, Jan. 12) Credits: Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, John Sutton, Cecil Kellaway, Alan Napier, Forrester Harvey, Billy Bevan, Frank O'Connor and others. Screenplay by Lester Cole and Kurt Siodmak from a story by Joe May and Kurt Siodmak, a sequel to H. G. Wells' "The Invisible Man." Directed by Joe May. Associate Producer, Ken Goldsmith. Plot: Sutton, young scientist, rediscovers the formula used by his older brother to render a man invisible. He uses it — as a last resort — to save Price, his friend, and Nan Grey's fiance, convicted of his brother's murder. Feverishly, he seeks the antidote, knowing his friend will quickly go mad unless he finds it. Bevan. Price's guard, is imprisoned; Kellaway, Scotland Yarder, is assigned to retake Price. By prearrangement. Nan meets Price at Harvey's cottage. Almost trapped, he escapes to force a confession from Napier that he gave false testimony. He also foils the attempt of Hardwicke, heir presumptive and i Nan's suitor, to have her e.Kpose him. Again trapped when Kellaway fills the house with smoke, he pursues Hardwicke through the colliery, and is wounded in a ; battle which leads to Hardwicke's death, after confessing. Wounded and exhausted, he finally reaches Sutton's quarters. The hoped-to-be antidote fails. A blood transfusion is made, so as to try and operate; and they learn blood itself is the needed antidote. Comment: Vastly improved photography, a story to keep an audience On the seat's edge most of the time and good casting make this a picture which should outstrip its predecessor of 7 years ago, with a final camera illusion that will bring gasps. Vincent Price — only a voice for most scenes — scores a definite hit; and the work of Hardwicke, Naples, Sutton and Kellaway, rate high praise. Nan Grey gets the most out of the short leading woman's role. Credit equal to that accorded the players belongs to John P. Fulton, who handled special effects, and Cameraman Milton Krasner. Hit the public library and private lending establishments early with book marks calling attention to H. G. Wells' story, and this new picture based on it. See the promotion department of your newspaper about cooperative page or pages of advertising, the idea back of the copy used being that " 'The Invisible Man' on the Blank Theatre's screen is the only man who doesn't need, etc." A campaign which will start youngsters and older folk saving your own inexpensively printed herald can be set by ringing one letter on each give-away with a circle printed in a second color. Announce that anyone collecting enough of these to spell out "The Invisible Man" will be given two tickets to see the picture. (ADULT) Catchline: "You'll call vour eves liars." AUDIENCE SLANT: TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE SUSPENSE OF THE STORY WILL KEEP THEM ON THE EDGES OF THEIR SEATS. BOX OFFICE SLANT: WILL REWARD ANY EXTRA EFFORT EXPENDED IN SELLING ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY LIKE THRILLER STUFF. Legion of Decency Ratings: (For Week Ending )an. 20) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Heroes of the Saddle Hour of Destiny Opened by Mistake Young as You Feel SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Congo Maisie Framed French Without Tears OB)ECTIONABLE IN PARTS Slightly Honorable Green Hell Univ. DRAMA 83 mins. (Nat'l Release, Jan. 26) Credits: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Joan Bennett, John Howard, Alan Hale, George Bancroft, Vincent Price, George Sanders, Gene Garrick, Francis MacDonald. Original screenplay by Frances Marion. Directed by James Whale. Produced by Harry Edington. Plot: Fairbanks, Howard, Hale, Bancroft Price, Sanders and Garrick go on an expedition into the South American jungles to seek an ancient civilization and its supposedly lost treasures. Price is killed by an Indian and help is sent to get serum before he dies. The guides bring back his wife, Joan Bennett. Practically all of the men fall in love with her and are loath to have her go. But she loves Fairbanks and he loves her. However, the others feel that he should devote himself to the expedition. The Indians attack them but just in time their guides return and drive ofif the attackers and everything ends well. Comment: This is a sad attempt at melodrama because of the presence in the cast of fine actors worthy of much better parts. The story is of the ten-twent'-thirt' variety with too much hokum to be plausible. Joan Bennett arrives in the jungle fastnesses with an array of gowns worthy of being listed in the credits (and they are). It's always full moon in South America apparently especialy when Joan Bennett stands on the porch. (It looks like an electric one). The marines in the shape of deserting porters arrive back on the scene just in time but we were unable to figure out what brought them back. Decorate the lobby in jungle effect with plenty of greens. (FAMILY) Catchline: "Daring trail blazers of untrod jungles forging a new page of human historv." AUDIENCE SLANT: THE LACK OF ACTION IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE PICTURE AND IMPLAUSIBILITIES OF THE PLOT AND SETTINGS IN THE REST OF IT MAY CAUSE IT TOUGH SLEDDING IN SOME SPOTS, BOX OFFICE SLANT: THE NAMES SHOULD BRING THEM IN. Ticket Service! Headquarters for machine and roll MOTION Picture tickets Highest Quality Right Prices KELLER-ANSELL TICKET CO. Suite 608. 723 7th Ave.. N.Y.C. Bryant 9-7532 Congo Maisie (Hcdlywood Preview) MGM COMEDY-DRAMA 70 mins. (Nat'l Release, Jan. 19) Credits: Ann Sothern, John Carroll, Rita Johnson, Shepperd Strudwick, J. M. Kerrigan, E. E. Clive, Everett Brown and others. Based on the book "Congo Landing" by Wilson Collison. Screenplay by Marv C. McCall, Jr. Directed by Henry" C. Potter. Produced by J. Walter Ruben. Plot: Ann Sothern, an American showgirl, stranded in Africa, flees a hotel bill and stows away on a river steamer. On board she meets John Carroll, an ex-doctor who has become a rubber planter. The boiler bursts, so the captain, J. M. Kerrigan, puts his two passengers ashore, and they are forced to seek shelter in a medical station run by Shepperd Strudwick and his bride, Rita Johnson, but formerly run by Carroll. Ann assists Carroll when Strudwick is stricken with an emergency appendectomy, and also helps him quell the natives when the witch doctors gain control. The operation makes Carroll realize that he belongs to medicine, so he decides to stay, but only if Ann will stay with him, which she does. Comment: This picture should establish the "Maisie" series at the box-office, as it not only maintains the high standard set by the first one, but it boasts of more hokum, crackling good humor, and diverting situations than its predecessor, and is a grand piece of entertainment. Ann Sothern again handles the portrayal of the wisecracking heroine with marked ability, and no small c/edit is due Mary McCall, Jr., the scenarist, for her excellent dialogue which will keep your ears peeled for every word. Henry C. Potter's direction is fast, capitalizing the entertainment elements capably, and the supporting cast, headed by John Carroll, Rita Johnson and Shepperd Strudwick, all turn in fine portrayals. For exploitation see Showmanalysis on opposite page. (FAMILY) Catchline: "Stranded in Africa . . . she found her dream man among the natives." AUDIENCE SLANT: PLENTY OF GOOD HUMOR AND DIVERTING SITUATIONS TO MAKE IT A GRAND PIECE OF ENTERTAINMENT. BOX OFFICE SLANT: SHOULD ESTABLISH THE "MAISIE" SERIES AND BRING A STEADY FOLLOWING. The Man Who Wouldn t Talk (Hollywood Preview) 20th-Fox DRAMA 61 mins. (Prod. No. 30— Nat'l Release, Feb. 2) Credits: Lloyd Nolan, Jean Rogers, Richard Clarke. Onslow Stevens, Mae Marsh, Elizabeth Risdon, Irving Bacon and others. Screenplay by Robert Ellis, Helen Logan, Lester Zilfren and Edward Ettinger, based on the play, "The Valiant" by Robert M. Middlemass and Holworthy Hall. Directed by David Burton. Executive producer, Sol M. Wurtzel. Plot: Nolan, a South American miner, confesses to killing Stevens, gives an obviously phoney name and offers no additional information, even to his attorney, Clarke. Ian Rogers, to satisfy her mother, ( Coiitiimcd on page 14) For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation I