Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1940)

Pinocchio ( Tcchiiici ill ir ) (Hollywood Preview) RKO Feature Cartoon 85 mins. (Prod. No. 91, Nat'l Release, Feb. 23) Credits: Produced by Walt Disney. From tlie story liy C'lUodi. Supervising Directors, Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Duske. Sequence Directors, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, T. Hee. Animation Direction, Fred Moore, Milton Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Franklin Thomas, Vladimir Tytla, Arthur Babbitt, Woolie Reitherman. Story Adaptation, Ted Sears, Webb Smith, Joseph Sabc, Otto Englander, William Cottrell, Erdman Penner, Aure'.iui Battaglia. Character Designs, Joe Grant, .Mbert Hurler, Campbell Grant, John P. Miller, Martin Prnvensen, John Walbridge. Music and Lyrics, Leigh Harline, Ned Washington, Paul J. Smith, Art Direction, Cliarles Philippi, Hugh Hennesy, Dick Keisey, Terrell Stapp, John Hubley, Kenneth Anderson, Kendall O'Connor, Thor Putnam, McLaren Stewart, Al Zinnen. Plot: Geppeto,, the woodcarver, lives alone with his pets, Figaro, the kitten, and Cleo, the goldfish. He puts all his longing for a son into the creation of Pinocchio, and l)ecause he has given so much happiness to others, the Blue Fairy endows Pinocchio with life. To help him, she appoints Jiminy Cricket as his conscience. Pinocchio gets into one scrape after another in spite of Jiminy Cricket, and winds up on Pleasure Island where "don't" is unknown and bad little boys can give vent to all their destructive talents. Jiminy arrives in time to save him, but on reaching home they discover that Geppeto and his pets were swallowed by Monstro, the vicious whale. Pinocchio and Jiminy go to the rescue and through Pinocchio's ingenuity, they soon manage to escape. Comment: Surpassing all of his previous efforts, Walt Disney's latest full length cartoon can truthfully be called a new milestone in film entertainment. Here's a picture tliat will please both the adults and the children and is a "natural" to equal the boxoffice success of "Snow White," as exeryone who saw that picture will certainly want to see this one. Technically, it is head and shoulders above its predecessor, and the new Disney characters, particularly Jiminy Cricket, Cleo and Figaro, are delightful and will provide a new source of joy for the millions who will see them. The Technicolor photography is the finest ever l)rought to the screen, at times so astonishing and gorgeous that it can be listed as perfection. The new multiplane camera technique is responsible for a far greater dimensional illusion in this film, an improvement that any audience will appreciate. There are five songs in the picture, in addition to the delightful musical background. Of the five, "Give A Little Whistle" and "When You Wish Upon A Star," are the most memorable. Put plenty of color in your lobby and out front, and arrange with your local merchants for window display and co-operative newspaper advertising on the many merchandise tieups. The picture is based on the internationally known story of the same name, so contact book stores, public and lending libraries and supplv them with book marks. (FAMILY) Catchline: "A new milestone in movie entertainment." AUDIENCE SLANT: WILL PROVIDE A NEW SOURCE OF |0Y FOR ANYONE SEEING IT. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A "NATURAL" TO EQUAL THE SUCCESS OF "SNOW WHITE." Legion of Decency Ratings: (For Week Ending February 3) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE British Intelligence Marines Fly High Northwest Passage Swiss Family Robinson Village Barn Dance SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Buried Alive Wolf of New York The Lone Wolf Strikes OBJECTIONABLE IN PARTS Torture Ship Sidewalks of London Para. Drama 86 mins. (Prod. No. 3922, Nat'l Release, Feb. 16) Cast: Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison, Larry Adler, Tyrone Guthrie, Gus McNaughton, Edward Lexy and others. Credits: Directed by Tim Whelan. Produced by Erich Pommer. Screenpjlay by Clemence Dane. Photography by Jules Kruger. Settings by Tom Morahan. Music, Arthur Johnston. Film Editors, Hu.gh Stewart and Robert Hamer. Plot: Laugliton is a "busker", a street entertainer in London. Vivien Leigh steals a sixpence from him and he finds her at a bar entertaining Harrison, a wealthy songwriter. She steals Harrison's cigarette case but Laughton instead of punishing her, takes her to his home and she becomes a "busker." Later she meets Harrison again and he takes her under his wing. She becomes a stage star. Laughton takes to drink and when she next meets him, he is posing as a blind man. Touched, she tries to make an actor out of him but everyone laughs at him but, her. He realizes that he is only a "busker" and goes back to the streets and "busking." Comment: STR reviewed this picture under its original title and in its original version on July 9, 1938 and now presents another review because in the meantime, Vivien Leigh has leaped to fame as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind." It is now a great box office picture for added to the natural box office and selling angles it already possessed is the tremendous sales value in back of the name of Vivien Leigh. She is just as beautiful in this picture in black and white as she is in "Gone With the Wind." The men will just fall for her. Perhaps she shows up better in this picture only because of the fact that it is a modern story. In any event, every exhibitor should give this picture top playing time. Paramount got a wonderful break in having a picture already in the cans which it was able to hold. The company is now passing its good fortune around to the exhibitors of the entire world. To cash in on Vivien Leigh's popularity should be no problem. Bill her as Vivien (Scarlett) Leigh, plaster huge blowups of her all over the front and lobby. Take time on the radio and use plenty of newspaper advertising to get the idea over to the public that this is Vivien's first picture since "Gone With the Wind." (FAMILY) Catchline: "Vivien (Scarlett) Leigh swings it while Charles Laughton sings it." AUDIENCE SLANT: IT IS AN ENJOYABLE PICTURE IN ANY CASE BUT THE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO CHIEFLY ENJOY SEEING VIVIEN LEIGH AGAIN. BOX OFFICE SLANT: BECAUSE OF VIVIEN LEIGH'S TERRIFIC BUILD UP THE PICTURE SHOULD DO A SMASH BUSINESS. Village Barn Dance Republic Musical-Comedy 74 mins. (Prod. No. 919— Nat'l Release, Jan. 30) Cast: Richard Cromwell, Doris Day, George Barbier, Esther Dale, Robert Baldwin, Andrew Tombes, Lulubelle and Scotty, Barbara Jo A.llen (Vera Vague), Don Wilson, The Kidoddlers, Texas Wanderers, Helen Troy, Frank Cook. Credits: Original screenplay by Dorrell & Stuart McGowan. Photographed by Ernest Miller. Film Editor, Edward Mann. Musical Director, Cy Feuer. Directed by Frank McDonald. Associate Producer, Armand Schaefer. Plot: Cromwell drifts into Lyndale, a small town, and gets a job as radio technician with a local group putting on a radio program known as the "Village Barn Dance." When Tombes, milk products manufacturer, offers to bring his plant to Lyndale provided the power and water works are adequate enough to take care of the extra load, Esther Dale, town spinster, induces the merchants to raise the funds by mortgaging their establishments. But Tombes reneges on his offer, and declares he will move to Lyndale only if it is satisfactory to Baldwin, his son. It will be satisfactory to Baldwin, of course, if he can marry Doris Day, with whom Cromwell is in love. Doris plans to marry Baldwin, but the Barn Dance gang saves the day. Comment: In this film are the ingredients to provide an entertaining session for patrons in average-sized towns. No great shakes for metropolitan audiences, it will lure the folk from all over the countryside to county seat cinemas. And it's good enough to hold them once they're in, too, with just the right proportions of homespun humor, romance and rural rhythm. Names like Don Wilson (Jack Benny program), Barbara Jo Allen (known to radio listeners as Vera Vague), Lulubelle and Scotty, The Kidoodlers, Texas Wanderers, who appeared in person in many communities throughout the country, are well known to the public, and should be instrumental in luring large crowds to the box office. As an exploitation stunt, you could stage a charity barn dance in one of the largest barns in your district, with the picture's playdate prominently plugged. The front of your theatre might be arranged to resemble a village barn. Because many of the stars featured appear on commercial programs, you should arrange for spot announcements after their respective broadcasts. (FAMILY) Catchline: 'A hay-ride to hilarity . . .on the road to romance and rhythm." AUDIENCE SLANT: GREAT STUFF FOR THEATREGOERS IN AVERAGE-SIZED TOWNS. BOX OFFICE SLANT: WITH A CAST OF RADIO FAVORITES, IT SHOULD LURE PATRONS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE, PROVIDED YOU LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT. I Take This Woman MGM Drama 97 mins. (Prod. No. 26— Nat'l Release, Feb. 2) Cast: Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, Verree Teas(lale, Kent Taylor, Laraine Day, Mona Barrie, Jack Carson, Paul Cavana.gh. Louis Calhern, Frances Drake., Marjcrie Main, others. Credits: Screenplay by James Kevin McGuitmess. Original story by Charles MacArlhur. Photography by Harold Rosson. Film editor, George Boeniler. Director, W. S. Van Dyke H. Plot: Georgi Gragore (Hedy Lamarr) jilted by her wealthy fiance, attempts suicide, but as she is about to throw herself from the deck of the ocean liner. Dr. Decker For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See page 31