Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1942)

Page 20 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW January 24, 1942 The Fleet's In Paramount Musical 92 mins. (Block No. 4) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) A generous package of entertainment. Has practically everything folks seek in a musical. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: With Dorothy Lamour and Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra, it looks like big box-office. Cast : Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken, Betty Hutton, Leif Erickson, Betty Jane Rhodes, Barbara Britton, Cass Daley, Gil Lamb, Jack Norton, Roy Atwell, Robert Warwick, Lorraine and Rognan, Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra, with Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell. Credits: Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Screenplay by Walter DeLeon, Sid Silvers and Ralph Spence. Based on a story by Monte Brice and ■ J. Walter Ruben and a play by Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Robinson. Director • jf photography, William C. Mellor. Musical director, Victor Young. Associate producer, Paul Jones. Plot: William Holden, a Shakespearereading sailor suddenly finds himself the best lady-killer in the fleet. His buddies make a wager that he can't win Dorothy Lamour, a girl singer who has never been kissed, so he goes to town. A battle rages when she discovers the trick, but love wins out. Comment: A generous package of entertainment with lots of music, comedy, romance, screwball antics and Dorothy Lamour. For those looking for the latter in a sarong, this will be disappointing, but they'll gladly overlook this little detail when they see how well she does with the role of a "hard-to-get" entertainer. There are any number of good songs, and the addition of Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra, is another box-office attraction. It has practically everything folks seek in a musical, so give it all the selling effort you can. It's hard to pick anybody outstanding in the entire cast, as everyone from the top down, is excellent. Production and direction are tops. With the story about the boys in the navy, it is particularly timely, so give it the benefit of a thoroughgoing campaign, getting the cooperation of sailors, Sea Scouts and R.O.T.C. Tieup with Jimmy Dorsey's radio program, with spot announcements. Candy life-savers samples might be secured in quantity and inserted in small imprinted envelopes. These can be distributed by girls in sailor costumes. Catchline: "A Shakespeare-reading sailor tries to make a gal singer who has never been kissed." Fly By Night Paramount Comedy-Drama 68 mins. (Block No. 4) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Should appeal to all types. Has everything that goes into entertainment. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Looks like a perfect supporting feature. Cast: Nancy Kelly, Richard Carlson, Albert Basserman, Miles Mander, Walter Kingsford, Martin Kosleck, Marion Martin, Oscar O'Shea, Mary Gordon, Edward Gargan, Clem Bevans, Arthur Loft, Michael Morris. Credits: Directed by Robert Siodmak. Screenplay by Jay Dratler. Additional dialogue by F. Hugh Herbert. Director of photography, John Seitz. Based <sn a story by Ben Roberts and Sidney Sheldon. Associate producer, Colbert Clark. Plot: A young interne gets tangled up in a murder, accidentally, and finds himself hounded by the police. In escaping he forces a young lady artist to flee with him, and they use many novel methods to elude their pursuers, including marriage. Comment: The studio has gone to town on this one and has spared nothing to make Legion of Decency Ratings (For Week Ending Jan. 24) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Broadway Big Shot Remarkable Andrew Cowboy Serenade North to the Klondike Hay foot Right to the Heart West of Tombstone Thunder River Feud SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY I Killed That Man Joan of Pans Niagara Falls Woman of the Year Wake Up Screaming it entertaining. It's a combination of a fast whodunit and a clever comedy, with a few spies mixed in for good measure. The film moves swiftly from murder, to chases, to hidden secrets, to bedroom farce, and although it sounds confusing, it all ties into an interesting story. Amusing performances are given by the entire cast with outstanding work by Nancy Kelly and Richard Carlson. Having a nice screenplay to start with, Associate Producer Colbert Clark and Director Robert Siodmak have built the picture into one that should appeal to all types of audiences. While not destined for the top of the bill, it makes a perfect supporting feature. The usual type of whodunit exploitation would be good for this one. The title is a natural for airline tieups. Play up the romance between Carlson and Miss Kelly in all your advertising. Catchline: "He got tangled up with murder and cupid." Captains of the Clouds (Technicolor) Warner Brothers Drama 113 mins. (Prod. No. 122— Nat'l Release, Feb. 21) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) One of the season's timeliest and most notable offerings with every element to assure entertainment. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Should chalk up record grosses. Cast : James Cagney, Dennis Morgan, Brenda Marshall, Alan Hale, George Tobias, Reginald Gardiner, Reginald Denny, Russell Arms, Clem Bevans, Paul Cavanagh, J. M. Kerrigan, J. Farrell Macdonald, Patrick O'Moore, Morton Lowry, Frederic Worlock, Roland Drew, Charles Halton, Ray Walker, Hardie Albright, Byron Barr, Michael Ames, Willie Fung, Carl Harbord. Credits: Executive Producer, Hal B. Wallis. Associate Producer, William Cagney. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Screenplay by Arthur T. Horman, Richard Macaulay, Norman Reilly Raine. Directors of photography, Sol Polito and Winton C. Hoch. Aerial photography, Elmer Dyer and Charles Marshall. Technical Advisor, Capt. O. CathcartJones. Art direction, Ted Smith. Plot: Bush pilot Dennis Morgan plans to marry Brenda Marshall, spitfire French Canadian girl. Believing his friend too good for Brenda, Cagney hurriedly marries her, then leaves her. With his buddies, Alan Hale, Reginald Gardiner and George Tobias, Cagney enlists in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The foursome are chagrined to learn, however, that they are too old to serve as fighter pilots, that the RCAF wants them only as instructors. Already in the service, Morgan is a successful officer. Reluctant to obey instructions, Cagney is kicked out. He gets back in when bombers are warming up for a hop across the Atlantic. Near Ireland, a Messerschmitt attacks the bombers. Against orders, Cagney breaks formation to pursue the plane, crashes it in a head-on collision. Comment: Here is a picture with all the essential elements to guarantee success at the box-office: timeliness, thrills, action, romance all blended in an entertaining saga of the Royal Canadian Air Force. One of the chief assets is the Technicolor photography which is especially instrumental in pointing up the value of the aerial sequences to a breathtaking degree. The story itself, now that America is in the war, is certain to impart inspiration and courage to all fortunate enough to see it. At the same time, it never foregoes the prime requisite for general audience appeal: the ability to entertain. In this respect the skillful direction of Michael Curtiz, along with the splendid performances of James Cagney, Dennis Morgan, Brenda Marshall, Alan Hale, George Tobias and Reginald Gardiner, are effectively combined. The picture is a "natural" for exploitation embracing stunts of a civic and patriotic nature that bring into play several groups, cooperating to assure the film an enthusiastic reception. Exhibitors would do well to watch various phases of the national campaign scheduled to get under way shortly. Catchline: "You'll cheer this glorious saga of the Royal Canadian Air Force, filmed in breathtaking Technicolor and packed with thrills, romance and excitement." Born To Sing MGM Comedy-Drama With Music 98 mins. (National Release, March) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Will amuse and entertain for the most part. A little too long and could stand cutting. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Will need strong support. Cast: Virginia Weidler, Ray McDonald, Leo Gorcey, Rags Ragland, Douglas McPhail, Sheldon Leonard, Henry O'Neill, Larry Nunn, Margaret Dumont, Beverly Hudson, Richard Hall, Darla Hood, Joe Yule. Credits: Directed by Edward Ludwig. Produced by Frederick Stephani. Screenplay by Harry Clork and Franz G. Spencer. Based on a story by Spencer. Words and music by Earl Brent. Musical direction, David Snell and Lennie Hayton. Finale musical number, "Ballad for Americans," written by Earl Robinson and John Latouche. Finale directed by Busby Berkeley. Director of photography, Sidney Wagner. Art director, Cedric Gibbons. Plot: Three boys prevent the suicide of Virginia Weidler's father, Henry O'Neill. He has written some music and submitted it to a producer, who has apparently used it without crediting O'Neill. The boys decide to help O'Neill and Virginia, so they round up everyone who has talent and put on a show. With the aid of a gangster, whose cohorts prevent the producer from opening his show, an audience is brought to the kids' hall where the show is put on with O'Neill's music. Comment: This is a good little comedy drama with a few musical numbers up to the last 15 minutes when, somewhat reminiscent of "The Great Dictator," it suddenly takes a different turn, a spectacle number is put on which could never have been staged in any theatre and it leaves the audience puzzled. "Ballad for Americans" is not a hummable tune by any means and its insertion gives the impression that MGM had the rights to it and was just waiting until some picture came along on which it could be tacked. Up to that time, the picture is fair enough, though it could be speeded up a trifle here and there. The cast is refreshingly youthful with Virginia Weidler, now