Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1940)

Page 16 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 4, 1940 My Favorite Wife RKO Radio Comedy 88 mins. (Prod. No. 25— Nat'l Release, May 17) Cast: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, Gail JPatriclv, Ann Shoemaker, Scotty Beckett, Mary Lou \Harrington, Donald MacBride, Hugh O'Connell, Granville Bates, Pedro de Cordoba. Credits: Produced by Leo McCarey. Directed by Garson Kanin. Screenplay by Bella and Samuel Spewack. Story by Bella and Samuel Spewack and Leo McCarey. Director of photography, Rudolph Mate. Art director, Van Nest Polglase. Musical score, Roy Webb. Film editor, Robert Wise. Plot: Declared legally dead seven years after her ship has been wrecked, Irene Dunne returns just in time to find her husband, Grant, wed to Gail Patrick. His difficulties begin when he tries to keep Gail from knowing who Irene really is, and complications set in when Irene reveals that another man, Scott, had also been marooned with her on an island. Eventually, in court, Grant's second wedding is annulled, with Gail finding consolation in Scott and Grant and Irene beginning again where they left off. Comment: If there's an audience in the house, and there surely will be a large one they'll be laughing throughout most of this delightful comedy, for it is indeed an audience picture. Because of this, word-of -mouth comment will make sailing smooth for "My Favorite Wife" in most communities. At times, the situations and dialogue border perilously near the risque, but never go over the line ; therefore. Aunt Emma will have no cause for complaint. Garson Kanin's expert direction succeeds in keeping things moving merrily along, and the performances of the four principals are flawless. In a supporting role as the judge, Granville Bates vies strongly with the others for comedy honors. For exploitation see Showmanalysis on page 18 of this issue. (ADULT) Catchline: "It's slightly scandalous, daringly delightful and deliriously funnj^" AUDIENCE SLANT: THEY'LL LAUGH AND THOROUGHLY ENJOY IT. BOX OFFICE SLANT: FOUR NAMES THAT MEAN SOMETHING, PLUS EXPLOITATION TO APPRISE THE PUBLIC OF THE FILM'S ENTERTAINMENT QUALITIES, SHOULD RESULT IN GOOD GROSSES. Typhoon (Hollywood Preview) (Technicolor) Para. Drama 71 mins. (Prod. No. 3934, Nat'l release May 17) Cast: Dorothy Lamour, Robert Preston, Lynne Overman, J. Carroll Naish, Chief Thunder Cloud. Frank Reicher, John Rogers, Paul Harvey, Norma Nelson, Jack Carson and others. Credits: Screenplay, Allen Rivkin, based on story by Steve Gisher. Photography, William Mellor. Special effects, Gordon Jennings. Film editor. Alma Macrorie. Song, Frederick Hollander and Frank Loesser. Directed by Louis King. Associate producer, Anthony Veiller. Plot: Vvhen the ship captained by Dorothy Lamour's father is breaking up in a storm, she is lashed to a life raft and cast afloat. She grows up with no companions save a chimpanzee, until years later Lynne Overman, a pearl fisher, and Robert Preston, land there from his submarine. Preston has been trying to drown his sorrows in continual drunkenness but Dorothy cures him of this and wins his Legion of Decency Ratings (For V^eek Ending May 4) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE An Angel From Texas Pals of the Silver Sage If I Had My Way Suicide Legion Saps at Sea SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Saturday's Children In Old Missouri I Was an Adventuress 20 Mule Team OBJECTIONABLE IN PART My Favorite Wife Man With Nine Lives love. A typhoon and fire wrecks their island but they escape in a sailboat to seek happiness elsewhere. Summary: This feature is likely to prove a greater first run success than a consistent winner for all locations. The cameramen earn all of its honors and the dramatic beauty of the storm at sea which breaks up a ship, the typhoon and fire sweeping an island will match anything yet shown. The picture is a real triumph for Technicolor, and makes one regret that the same cannot be said for the story and actors. Here Lynne Overman, who creates some fine comedy in trying to save the situation, and a clever chimpanzee get the honors. Dorothy Lamour and Bob Preston do their best with unconvincing lines and story situations. In fact, the story will prove a field day for those audience members who like to pick flaws in picture plots. The sales drive will have to be directed at whatever following Dorothy Lamour has built in your city with her previous pictures, and in playing up the thrills and majestic spectacle which color brings to the storm and typhoon scenes. Most cities have camera clubs. Get the assistance of your dealers in photographic supplies to use their windows and your lobby for showing of photos by camera club members and other amateurs of storm scenes and others showing the violence of nature. Get a general showing in department stores and women's specialty shops of the sarong type of bathing suits and lounging wear. If timely, this can be backed up by a contest to find the local girl most nearly matching the physical measurements of Dorothy Lamour, with merchandise and other promoted prizes for the winners. Music store displays of Lamour recording and quarter hour programs devoted to waxed songs by your star will further arouse interest in the picture. If your Sunday paper has a roto section, get enough pictures of local beauties in sarongs to go with one of Dorothy Lamour to make a page, published the Sunday before your opening. (FAMILY) Catchline: "Nature's most terrifying cataclysm in matchless color." AUDIENCE SLANT: THE STORM SCENES WILL IMPRESS EVERYONE; THE STORY WILL HAVE MORE DISCRIMINATING PATRONS COMPLAINING. BOX OFFICE SLANT: WILL NEED STRONG HELP TO BETTER AVERAGE RETURNS. 20 Mule Team MGM Drama 84 mins. (Prod. No. 35, Nat'l Release, May 3) Cast: Wallace Beery, Leo Carrillo, Marjorie Rambeau, Anne Baxter, Douglas Fowley, Noah Beery, Jr., Berton Churchill, Arthur Hohl, Clem Bevans, Charles Halton, Minor Watson, Oscar O'Shea, Lloyd Ingraham. Credits: Directed by Richard Thorpe. Produced by J. Walter Ruben. Screenplay by Cyril Hume, E. E. Paremore and Richard Maibaum. Based on a story by Robert C. DuSoe and Owen Atkinson. Art director, Cedric Gibbons. Director of photography, Clyde de Vinna. Film Editor, Frank Sullivan. Plot: Beery is a mule skinner for the borax company which operated in Death Valley, Calif, in 1870. Noah Beery, Jr., is the paymaster, who is forced to inform Beery and all the other employes that the company may be forced to suspend and that it cannot pay them. Fowley, who knew Beery under another name and who knew he was wanted for killing a man, discovers that Beery has found evidence on a dead man leading to a big borax deposit. He arranges with Beery to lead him to it and meanwhile sets his cap for Marjorie's daughter. But Marjorie, the saloon keeper, wants her to marry Noah, Jr. Fowley double-crosses Beery and stakes the claim himself after wounding Beery, Jr., who had been guarding it. He had also shot Marjorie. In a running battle, Beery kills him. Noah, Jr. gets his girl and Beery marries Marjorie. Comment: This is a meaty part for Wallace Beery and one of the type in which he excels. The picture is laid in the desert entirely and there's little glamour and precious little romance in it. But it's a good rousing he-man picture with all it takes to pull the men in and just enough of the feminine element to keep the women amused. Beery and Marjorie Rambeau give standout performances, and Leo Carrillo is excellent as the Indian "swamper." Rubens' production has taken advantage of all the beauty of the hills and mountains in Death Valley and Director Thorpe has kept the story moving at a swift pace. Tie up with the 20Mule Team ballyhoo which MGM is sending from coast to coast. Get a ballyhoo of a team of mules yourself. Put up traffic signs reading, "Drive Slow — 20-Mule Team Ahead." (FAMKLY) Catchline: "Action with the kick *of' 20 mules." AUDIENCE SLANT: ENOUGH ROMANCE FOR THE WOMEN AND PLENTY OF ACTION FOR THE MEN. BOX OFFICE SLANT: SHOULD DO BEHER THAN BEERY'S LAST FEW PICTURES. I Was An Adventuress 20th-Fox Drama 81 mins. , (Prod. No. 38, Nat'l Release, May 10) Cast: Zorina, Richard Greene, Erich von Stroheim, Peter Lorre, Sig Rumann, Fritz Feld, Cora Witherspoon, Anthony Kemble-Cooper, Paul Porcasi, Inez Palange, Egon Brecher, Roger Imhof, Rolfe Sedan, Eddie Conrad, Fortunio Bonanova. Credits: Associate producer, Nunnally Johnson. Directed by Gregory Ratoff. Screenplay by Karl Tunberg, Don Ettlinger and John O'Hare. Based on an original production by Gregor Rabinovitsch, written by Jacques Companeez, Herbert Juttke, Hans Jacoby and Michel Duran. Directors of photography, Leon Shamroy and Edward Cronjager. Art direction by Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright. Film editor, Francis D. Lyon. Musical direction, David Buttolph. Plot: Zorina, Von Stroheim and Lorre are a team of crooks who fleece people of jewels and money. When they arrive at Nice, the victim selected is Richard Greene. But Zorina For Additional Exploitation Ideas on These Pictures, Consult the Encyclopedia of Exploitation — See Page 27