Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1940)

Page 12 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW April 27, mo The Doctor Takes a Wife Columbia Comedy 93 mins. (Nat'l Release, April 25) Cast: Loix'tta Young, Ray Milland, Reginald Gardiner, Gail Patrick, Edmund Gwenn, Frank Sully, Gordon Jones, Georges Metaxa, Charles Halton, Joseph Eggenton, Paul McAllister, Chester Clute, Hal K. Dawson, Edward Van Sloan. Credits: Produced by William Perlberg. Directed by Alexander Hall. Story by Aleen Leslie. Screenplay by George Seaton, Ken Englund. Director of photography, Sid Hickox. Film editor, Viola Lawrence. Art direction, Lionel Banks. Plot: Loretta Young, authoress and idol of America's spinsterhood, is summoned back to New York by her publisher, Gardiner. Missing the last train, she obtains a ride with Milland, young research doctor. Mixed with a wedding party due to arrive, the couple are mistaken for the newlyweds. Loretta s first book is doomed, but Gardiner recommends a second volume on marriage, making it necessary for the couple to pose as newlyweds until the book is on the stands. When Gail Patrick, Milland's fiancee, returns from Europe, he convinces her of the truth and she agrees to wait for him. But she precipitates a fight between the two, and Milland packs his bags and leaves. Hearing a newspaper is to reveal the truth, and fearing it will ruin him, Loretta follows Milland to a party, where she forestalls the announcement of his engagement to Gail by pretending she and he expect a baby. Milland is furious at first, but later he forgives her, and the two actually marry. Comment: Here's another of those hilarious farce comedies, exceedingly clever in its presentation, that should be a natural for the summer trade from the big towns to the smallest hamlet. Strictly for the adults it s the type of picture that will please any audience looking for a laugh and reap a nice profit from word-of -mouth advertising. For sheer entertainment qualities, it ranks with the better offerings of the year, and with proper exploitation in addition to the marquee strength, should do exceptionally well at the box office. Performances of marked excellence are turned in by Loretta Young and Ray Milland, by far the best of their careers, and Reginald Gardiner and Gail Patrick also contribute notabkportrayals. Alexander Hall deserves credit for his expert direction, particularly his handling of the snappy dialogue and spicy situations. Teaser ads could be run with the final ad calling "The Doctor to Take a Wife." Restaurants should feature a "spinster's spinach" dinner, tieing up with a scene in the picture. Have pretty girls distribute heralds made up to look like prescription blanks. (ADULT) Catchline: "Her reputation . , . his career . . . was a marriage of convenience worth it?" AUDIENCE SLANT: STRICTLY FOR THE ADULTS LOOKING FOR A GOOD LAUGH. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A NATURAL FOR THE SUMMER TRADE. RANKS WITH THE BETTER OFFERINGS OF THE YEAR. If I Had My Way Universal Musical Comedy 87 mins. (Prod. No. Not Set— Nat'l Release, May 3) Cast: Bing Crosby, Gloria Jean, Charles Winninger. El Brendel, Allyn Joslyn, Donald Woods, Claire Dodd, Nana Bryant, Moroni Olsen, Kathryn Adams, Blanche Ring, Eddie Leonard, Grace LaRue, Trixie Friganza, Julian Eltinge. Credits: Produced and directed by David Butler. Screenplay by Wil Legion of Decency Ratings (For Week Ending April 27) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Grandpa Goes To Town 1,000,000 B. C. Hi-Yo Silver Radio Ranch Tonnboy SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY. Forty Little Mothers Captain Moonlight Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise Bad Boy ham Conselman and James V. Kern. Story by David Butler, William Conselman and James V. Kern. Director of photography, George Robinson. Art director, Jack Otterson. Musical director, Charles Previn. Plot: When Woods, a bridge builder, is killed, his co-workers, Crosby and Brendel, take his daughter, Gloria Jean, to New York to live with her uncle, Joslyn. But Joslyn and his wife, Claire Dodd, not desiring the penniless child, leave Crosby with no alternative but to take the girl across town to a friend, VVinninger, who turns out to be Gloria's great uncle. He and his wife, Nana Bryant, are happy to take care of her. Brendel meets an old friend, and during a drinking bout, buys the friend's restaurant. Meanwhile, some stock left Gloria is found to be worthless. The restaurant is a losing proposition, so Bing turns it into a club, with V\'inninger's old vaudeville pals furnishing entertainment. When Joslyn gets a wire saying some stock held by Gloria is valuable, (a gag perpetrated by Bing to get some money out of him) he buys it from her, although Bing insists it's worthless. When Joslyn finds he is duped, there is trouble ; but a banker settles it by making a loan on the cafe, which is a success. Comment: Universal has shown good judgment in teaming Bing Crosby, that sure-fire performer, with Gloria Jean, that youngster with the thrilling voice, as the result looks like a money attraction from all angles. A human story with just a dash of hokum, there are many lilting melodies cleverly woven into the plot and David Butler has directed it with skillful humorous touches. Most audiences seeking this type of entertainment will enjoy the songs sung in the irresistible Crosby manner and the duets he sings with Gloria Jean are very appealing. The supporting cast has been well chosen, particularly El Brendel, Charles Winninger and Nana Bryant. Many an old timer will recall bygone days seeing Eddie Leonard, the minstrel man, singing his always-to-be-remembered "Ida" and Blanche Ring singing her unforgettable song "Rings on My Fingers." All in all it's swell entertainment for the family trade. Arrange for special radio programs which will feature all the recorded songs from the picture. Arrange for tire covers for local taxicabs. Tieups can be had with stores featuring Gloria Jean merchandise. Get spot announcements before and after the Crosby radio show on Thursday nights. . , . (FAMILY) Catchline: "They're sing-sational." AUDIENCE SLANT: ENOUGH HOKUM AND LILTING MELODIES TO PLEASE THE FAMILY TRADE. BOX OFFICE SLANT: LOOKS LIKE A MONEY ATTRACTION FROM ALL ANGLES. Light of the Western Stars (Hollywood Preview) Para. Western 65 mins. (Prod. No. 3931, Nat'l Release, Apr. 19) Cast: Victor Jory, Jo Ann Sayers, Russell Hayden, Morris Ankrum, Noah Beery, Jr., J. Farrell MacDonald, Ruth Rogers, Tom Tyler, Rad Robinson, Eddie Dean, Esther Estrella, Alan Ladd, George Hawkins, Earl Askam, Lucio Villegas. Credits: Produced by Harry Sherman. Director, Lesley Selander. Screenplay by Norman Houston. Photography, Russell Harlan. Film editor, Sherman A. Rose. Art director, Lewis J. Rachmil. Associate producer, Joseph W. Engel. Plot: Victor Jory, a hard-drinking, hardfighting ranch foreman, is framed by a crooked band of gun-runners and forced to go over the border to Mexico, where he joins a rebel force. Jo Ann Sayers arrives from the East looking for her brother, Russell Hayden. She meets and falls in love with Jory and tries to persuade him to reform, which he refuses to do until he rounds up the gun-runners,i who have been aided in their work by the sheriff, Tom Tyler. Hayden is shot when he accidentally rides near the cache, and when Jory goes to investigate, he discovers the hideout. With the aid of Noah Beery, Jr., his Mexican henchman, he rounds up the gang, but not until Beery sacrifices his life saving Jory. Comment: The western enthusiasts will enjoy this picture, an actionful drama of the wide open spaces with plenty of hard-riding and fighting. Although a little slow at the start, it gains momentum as it goes along, winding up with a swell gun battle. The usual outstanding Harry Sherman production values, which include the artistic outdoor photography of Russell Harlan and the efficient direction of Lesley Selander, all add to the entertainment value of the film. On the acting side, Victor Jory and Noah Beery, Jr., carry off the honors, aided by Jo Ann Sayers, Russell Hayden and Morris Ankrum. One scene, the fist fight between Jory and Tom Tyler, will have most of the customers on the edge of their seats ; it's that good. All in all, the picture is above the average for this type of entertainment and should be a welcome addition to any program. Dress lobby in western style, including your house staff. Window displays of the Zane Grey novels, with stills of the picture, should be arranged. (FAMILY) Catchline: "She discovered she loved the man she married under duress." AUDIENCE SLANT: AN ACTIONFUL DRAMA THAT WESTERN ENTHUSIASTS WILL ENJOY. BOX OFFICE SLANT: ABOVE THE AVERAGE FOR THIS TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOULD BE A WELCOME ADDITION TO ANY PROGRAM. Two Girls on Broadway (Hollywood Preview) MGM Comedy-Drama with Music 73 mins. (Prod., No. 33, Nat'l Release, April 19) Cast: Lana Turner, Joan Blondell, George Murphy, Kent Taylor, Richard Lane, 'Wallace Ford, Otto Hahn, Lloyd Corrigan, Don 'Wilson, Charles Wagonheim. Credits: Producer, Jack Cummings. Director, S. Sylvan Simon. Screenplay by Joseph Field and Jerome Chodorov, based on a story by Edmund Goulding. Photography, George Folsey. Film editor, Blanche Sewell. Art director, Cedric Gibbons. Musical director, Georgie StoU. Plot:, 'When George Murphy clicks on a radio show, he sends for his dancing partner, Joan Blondell, to meet him in New York. Joan For Addit ional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures, Oonsult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See Page 1 1