Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1939)

I Page 6 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 25, 1939 The Secret of Dr. Kildare (Hollywood Preview) MGM DRAMA 85 mins. (Prod. No. 12— Nat'l Release, Nov. 24) Credits: Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Lionel Atwill, Helen Gilbert, Nat Pendleton, Larraine Day, Sara Haden, Samuel S. Hinds, Emma Dunn, Walter Kingsford, Grant Mitchell, others. Screenplay by Willis Goldbeck and Harry Ruskin. Based on the story by Max Brand. Directed by Harold S. Bucquet. Plot: Atwill seeks Barrymore's aid as to what ails his daughter, Helen Gilbert, who seems to be suffenng from a strange mental complex and has a fear of doctors. Barrymore assigns Ayres to the case, the young doctor posing as a family friend. Working on another case, Barrymore collapses and is forced to take a vacation. When Helen and her fiance quarrel, the girl, hysterical, goes blind. Ayres seeks Barrymore's aid, but the old doctor tells him to "find out by himself." Later, in a lecture to the internes, Barrymore supplies the clue that enables Ayres to clear Helen's mental malady and her resultant blindness. Comment: Continuing in the same pattern as the previous two, the third of the Doctor Kildare films is up to the same high standards as its predecessors. Amusing and human, it is swell entertainment and should find an ever-increasing audience wherever it is played. The Lionel Barrymore-Lew Ayres combination is perfect and they work together flawlessly, giving smooth and convincing performances. The other favorites in this series — Nat Pendleton, Samuel S. Hinds, Emma Dunn — all give splendid support. Harold S. Bucquet's direction makes the picture real, bringing out the human elements in the well-written screenplay. For exploitation see STR issue of Nov. 18, page 15. (FAMILY) Catchline; "Young Dr. Kildare solves a mysterious case." AUDIENCE SLANT: SWELL ENTERTAINMENT THAT WILL PLEASE AUDIENCES AS MUCH AS ITS PREDECESSORS. BOX OFFICE SLANT: CROWDS SHOULD INCREASE THROUGH WORD-OF-MOUTH COMMENTS. Tower of London (Hollywood Preview) Univ. DRAMA (Historical) 92 mins. (Nat'l Release, Nov. 17) Credits: Basil Rathbone, Boris Karlofif, Barbara O'Neil, Ian Hunter, Vincent Price, Miles Mander, Ralph Forbes, Ernest Cossart, John Sutton, G. P. Huntley, Nan Grey, and others. Original screenplay by Robert N. Lee. Directed and produced by Rowland V. Lee. Plot: Hunter (Edward IV), who has made himself king by imprisoning Mander (Henry VI) fails to realize the trickery and ambitions of Rathbone (Duke of Gloucester), sixth in succession and aiming for the throne. When Mander's exiled son, Huntley, leads an invasion from France, they release Henry; but Rathbone has him killed afterwards by Karloff, court execu Legion of Decency Ratings: (For Week Ending Nov. 25) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Beware of Spooks Cowboys From Texas Saga of Death Valley That's Right — You're Wrong Rovin' Tumbleweeds SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Tower of London tioner and his most loyal follower. This leaves four. Rathbone loses to Price (Duke of Clarence) in a drinking bout, but he and Karloff drown the winner in a wine barrel. Hunter dies, and Rathbone is named to act for his nephew. Against the better judgment of their mother, Barbara O'Neil, both boys are taken to the tower, and killed on their uncle's orders. Sutton, fiance of Nan Grey, lady in waiting to the queen, manages to steal the crown treasury, gets it to France to Forbes (Tudor) and the latter stages a successful invasion in which Rathbone is killed. Comment: This picture is so far under what it could have been that in most spots it cannot do better than a second feature, with Rathbone as its single drawing power. Production, particularly the battle scenes, falls short and most of the actors exhibit a tendency to "mug" entirely too much. Exceptions to this are Ratlibone's portrayal of the crook-backed King, Ian Hunter's Edward IV and Barbara O'Neil's too-brief appearances as Queen Elizabeth. In smaller roles Rose Hobart's Lady Ann and Leo Carroll's Lord Hastings stand out. Drives through the history classes of the schools, historical societies and study groups stressing this as the only picture ever made of Richard III should help create additional attendance. Advertising should mention Karlof? as the tower executioner, and the recreation of 15th century instruments of torture. (FAMILY) Catchline: "The rise and fall of a great ambition. AUDIENCE SLANT: ITS HEAVY COSTUME DRAMA WITHOUT MUCH OF THE MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE USUALLY EXPECTED IN THIS SORT OF FILM; ITS ENJOYMENT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON A LOVE OF HISTORY. BOX OFFICE SLANT: LACK OF DRAWING NAMES, SOMBRE THEME AND PRODUCTION FAULTS LIMIT IT TO SECOND HALF OF DUAL BILLS. The Amazing Mr. Williams (Hollywood Preview) Col. COMEDY-DRAMA 86 mins. (Nat'l Release, Nov. 23) Credits: Melvyn Douglas, Joan Blondell, Clarence Kolb, Ruth Donnelly, Edward S. Brophy, Donald MacBride, Don Beddoe, Jonathan Hale, John Wray. Screenplay by Dwight Taylor, Sy Bartlett and Richard Maibaum. Story by Sy Bartlett. Directed by Alexander Hall. Associate Producer, Everett Riskin. Plot: Douglas, a detective, is persuaded by Joan, his fiancee, to return to his law practice. But he refuses. She induces Kolb, his superior, to humiliate him. Douglas is to capture a phantom who slugs women. He succeeds and resigns from the force. Helping to convict Wray, a murderer, Douglas finds evidence which points to the man's innocence. He takes him to Joan's apartment. Joan goes after a liquor bottle that figured in the case, and Douglas follows her. At the racetrack', the killer attempts to flee, but is cut down by the racing horses. With Wray cleared, Douglas marries Joan. Comment: With a stellar cast headed by Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell, expert direction and a fine screenplay, Columbia again comes through with another swell comedy that should please in any situation. This one is on a par with the other DouglasBlondell features and is perfect screen fare for the laughter-loving audiences of today. The work of the two principals is tops in the comedy field and the entire supporting cast, without exception, delivers standout performances, especially Donald MacBride, Clarence Kolb, Ruth Donnelly and Edward S. Brophy. Director Alexander Hall, who is responsible for this amusing picture, rates plaudits for a "belly-laugh" production that will send them home howling. For exploitation see STR issue of Nov. 18, page 18. (FAMILY) Catchline: "Every time he met his bride he had to solve a homicide." AUDIENCE SLANT: PERFECT SCREEN FARE FOR LAUGHTER-LOVING AUDIENCES. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A FOLLOW-UP TO THOSE OTHER HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DOUGLASBLONDELL COMEDIES THAT SHOULD DO WELL IN ANY SITUATION. Ceronimo (Hollywood Preview) Para. DRAMA 88 mins. (Nat'l Release, Jan. 12, '40) Credits: Preston Foster, Ellen Drew, Andy Devine, Gene Lockhart, William Henry, Ralph Alorgan, Marjorie Gateson and others. Original screenplay by Paul H. Sloane. Directed by Paul H. Sloane. Plot: Ralph Morgan is sent, right after the civil war, to Arizona to try and make peace with Chief Thunder Cloud, who has been slaughtering all the whites. One of Morgan's lieutenants is William Henry, his own son, whom he hasn't seen since babyhood, because of his divorce from Marjorie Gateson. Morgan loses half his men trying to bloodlessly suppress Thunder Cloud, which causes a quarrel between father and son, so Henry decides to resign from the army, send for Ellen Drew and leave for California. Their stagecoach is attacked by Thunder Cloud and Ellen is badly wounded. When Preston Foster and his troops, whom Morgan has sent to protect the stagecoach, arrive, Henry joins them in following and capturing Thunder Cloud. Comment: Here's a thrilling outdoor drama that should be listed as a super-western, loaded with action and thrills that is sure to please. It's vigorous screen fare aimed at the lovers of action pictures, and as such, fills the bill to perfection, especially the climax, one of the most stirring Indian fights ever photographed. The entire cast turns in good performances with Preston Foster, Andy Devine and Ralph Morgan For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures Consult Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See Back Cover