Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 14 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW October 4, 1941 KB?' . Dumbo RKO-Radio Technicolor Cartoon 64 mins. (National Release, Oct. 31) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Delightful entertainment for the entire family and most especially for children. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Should do a very good business, judging by the record of its predecessors. Credits: Produced by Walt Disney. Based on the book by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. Supervising director, Ben Sharpsteen. Screen story by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer. Story direction by Otto Englander. Sequence directors, Norman Ferguson. Wilfred Jackson, Bill Roberts, Jack Kinney, Sam Armstrong. Plot: A baby elephant is born to Jumbo, the circus pachyderm, but the infant turns out to be a freak with tremendous ears. Insulted by all the other elephants and the circus visitors, his mother goes on a rampage and is chained up. Dumbo is befriended by a mouse who gets him one part after another in a show, but Dumbo muffs all his chances. Accidentally, however, Dumbo learns he can fly, using his ears as wings. Thus he suddenly becomes famous and successful. Comment: An especial delight for the children, this picture will please any type of family audience as well. It's whimsical at times and can best be described by using that favorite feminine adjective "cute." The animation, direction and colors are typically Disney, excellent in every detail. A couple of sequences are outstanding, particularly one in which the mother elephant sings her baby a lullaby and all the other circus animals go to sleep. Another outstanding sequence is Dumbo's dream of pink elephants resulting from his imbibing of champagne instead of water. The colors in this scene are spectacular to say the least. Those who saw "The Reluctant Dragon" will recognize some of the things that Robert Benchley saw on his trip around the studio, particularly the Sonovox which makes special sound effects, putting words into sounds such as locomotive whistles. Sell the picture strongly to the adults — they'll bring the kids with them. Catchline: "Walt Disney does it again." The Maltese Falcon Warner Brothers Mystery (Prod. No. not set — Release not set) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Fast-moving, logical, suspenseful mystery that will thrill and entertain your patrons. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Strongly exploited, as it should be, this should realize better-than-average grosses. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond, Jeiome Cowan, Elisha Cook, Jr., James Burke, Murray Alper, John Hamilton. Credits: Executive Producer, Hal B. Wallis. Associate Producer, Henry Blanke. Directed by John Huston. Screenplay by John Huston. Based upon the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Director of photography, Arthur Edeson. Art direction, Robert Haas. Musical direction, Leo F. Forbstein. Plot: Mary Astor retains a private detective firm, Bogart and Cowan, to trail a man named Thursby. Cowan is killed, and when Thursby is also murdered, Bogart becomes suspicious of his lady client. He soon finds she is competing against other fortunehunters for possession of a valuable statuette, the Maltese Falcon. However, he keeps one step ahead of her and outwits the other crooks. Despite his love for her, he turns Legion of Decency Ratings (Week Ending Oct. 4) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Death Valley Outlaw Dude Cowboy Dynamite Canyon Great Guns It Started with Eve Look Who's Laughing The Remarkable Mr. Kipps Riders of the Purple Sage SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Gay Falcon Mexican Spitfire's Baby Hard Guy Married Bachelor Law of the Tropics Unexpected Uncle You'll Never Get Rich Mary over to the police for the murder of Cowan. Comment: Make no mistake about it, this is excellent entertainment. The majority of fans like mystery, and here it is on a Grade-A scale with the benefit of deft direction, nearly flawless performances and good production treatment. Although the picture is somewhat long, things start happening as soon as the credits fade out, and the suspense, mystery and excitement are maintained to the very end. Responsible for both the screenplay and direction, John Huston has proved that the combination of these two assignments under one talented individual can have surprisingly good results. Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor are splendid in the leading roles, the latter again demonstrating she is still one of the screen's loveliest and most accomplished actresses. In supporting roles, Sydney Greenstreet and Elisha Cook, Jr., stand out. Your audiences will get right into the mood of this credible, fast-moving mystery once you get them in, so it's up to you to attract them with exploitation stunts that capitalize the teasing title, mystery magazine tieups, book promotions, fashion tieups for the women and other activities to prepare them for the film's entertainment elements — mystery, romance, suspense, thrills and action. Catchline: "Murder stalks those who seek the secret of the world's most fabulous treasure." One Foot in Heaven 100 mins. Warner Bros. Biographical 108 mins. (Nat'l Release Not Set) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Promises to be one of the most universally liked pictures of the year, and especially popular among audiences of smaller towns. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A strong selling campaign can make this one of the top grossing pictures of the year. Cast: Fredric March, Martha Scott, Beulah Bondi. Gene Lockhart, Elisabeth Fraser, Harry Davenport, SCREEN GAMES DEVICE (ELECTRIC) NO WEEKLY LICENSE FEE BINGOCARDS Laura Hope Crews, Grant Mitchell, Moroni Olsen, Ernest Cossart, Jerome Cowan, Hobart Bosworth, Frankie Thomas, Nana Bryant, Carlotta Jelm, Peter Caldwell, Casey Johnson, Virginia Brissac, Olin Howland. Roscoe Ates, Clara Blandick, Paula Trueman. Harlan Briggs, Ruth Robinson, Cathy Lipps. Credits: Executive producer, Hal B. Wallis. Associate producer, Robert Lord. Directed by Irving Rapper. Screenplay by Casey Robinson. From the novel by Hartzell Spence. Art director, Carl Jules Weyl. Director of photography, Charles Rosher. Plot: Fredric March, on the eve of his marriage to Martha Scott, gives up his medical studies to become a minister. The picture then follows the trials and tribulations of a minister for the next 20 years of his life. Comment: True to life, as attested by eminent churchmen, who acted as technical advisers and Hartzell Spence, son of the leading character, whose book formed its basis, this picture is one of the best portrayals of small town life the screen has offered in a long time. Warner Bros, has turned out a picture, which, should those given to finding "propaganda" in films seek to discover it here, would find perhaps that this dramatic, true-to-life portrayal is "propaganda" for a decent home for the minister; for consideration of his wife and family, for fair play, and, above all, for the maintenance of the democratic way of life in this country. Fredric March and Martha Scott, who play the leading roles, dominate practically every scene with their sterling performances. But the huge cast — most of whom necessarily have but small parts, since the minister moves from parish to parish and town to town, has been carefully selected. Each one represents a type. Yet no one can possibly construe any character as portraying himself, unless he has a very guilty conscience. To get the most out of this picture, persuade every minister in your town to see it in advance. Then put to them frankly your plan to have them ask their congregations to see it as an example of the finest type of motion picture. Point out that in the picture itself, the minister sees his first film (an old William S. Hart silent) and he, too, finds the movies good. Then put on a strongcampaign, being careful to keep it dignified. No ballyhoos ... no circus stunts — but good showmanship will put it over. Catchline: "The biography of a minister and his family." ^***^F0R LIMITED TIME ONLY^ KEITH MFG. CO. "5 n. Michigan ave„ Chicago Dept. D Burma Convoy Universal Action 59 mins. (Prod. No. Not Set— Nat'l Release, Jan. 9) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) An interesting, timely subject that should please. As action fare, it can't be topped. BOX OFFICE SLANT: The title is a big asset if exploited properly. Should bring in better-than-average returns for this type of entertainment. Cast: Charles Bickford, Evelyn Ankers, Frank Albertson, Cecil Kellaway. Willy Fung, Keye Luke. Turhan Bey, Truman Bradley, Ken Christy, C. Montague Shaw. Harry Stubbs, Chester Can, Vyola Vonn. Credits: Directed by Noel M. Smith. Original screenplay by Stanley Rubin and Roy Chanslor. Director of photography, John W. Boyle. Associate producer, Marshall Grant. Plot: "Helldrivers" is the name by which the men who drive the supply trucks along the Burma Road to China, are known. By accident, this one found himself involved in some espionage work, but it doesn't take him long to find the guilty party. Comment: As action fare, this one can't be topped, and with the excellent exploitation possibilities of the title, it should be put over by smart showmanship for good returns. It's