Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

October 4, 1941 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 15 the first picture with a Burma Road setting, and as such deserves added praise for its news value. The picture is an interesting one, with loads of suspense and is highlighted with swell performances by the entire cast, which includes Charles Bickford, Evelyn Ankers and Frank Albertson. The combination of a well-written screenplay, intelligent production and smart direction was never shown to better advantage. The result is a film that will please in am situation. It's worthy of a little special effort on your part. Dress house staff in Oriental costumes, using the same motif for your lobb}' and front. Cut headlines from newspapers dealing with the activities along the Burma Road. Secure Chinese coins from your local novelt3T dealer, insert in envelopes, and have pretty girl in Oriental costume, pass them out. Catchline: "Heroes of the havoc-ridden highwav . . . the Burma Road." Mr. Celebrity Producers Releasing Co. Drama 66 mins. (Prod. No. 114— Nat'l Release, Oct. 31) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) One you can recommend for its sheer entertainment value. Will delight theatregoers of any age. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A natural for the neighborhood houses. A good program offering. Cast: Buzzy Henry. James Seay, Doris Day, William Halligan, Gavin Gordon, Johnny Berkes. Jack Baxley. Larry Gre3\ John E. Ince, Frank Hagney, Jack Richardson. Alfred Hall. Smokey Saunders, Francis X. Bushman. Clara Kimball Young, Jim Jeffries and others. Credits: Directed by William Beaudine. Original story by Martin Mooney and Charles Samuels. Screenplay by JIartin Mooney. Director of photography, Arthur Martinelli. Produced by Martin Moonejr. Plot: In his wanderings, a young race track veterinarian comes across a place called "Celebrity Farm," where former famous people make their home. Lack of funds threatens the security of the place, so he arranges to condition one of their horses for a race. With the winnings, he saves the farm and victory brings him the girl he loves and a job, which guarantees the custody of his young nephew, for whom he had been fighting in the courts. Comment: Here's one made for "peanuts" that equals the product turned out by some of the majors, for sheer entertainment value. It introduces a new writer-producer to the field, Martin Mooney, and his work points to bigger and better things. It also shows that a smart director. William Beaudine, has what it takes, when given the proper material. And it also proves that entertainment can be made for much less than a million dollars. Highly commendable performances are turned in by the cast, with the" most outstanding work being done by a newcomer, Buzzy Henry, a youngster of nine who performs like a veteran. Featured in the cast are Clara Kimball Young, Francis X. Bushman and Jim Jeffries. Their appearance will delight the oldtimers. It's a natural for the neighborhood houses; a better-than-average program offering. Plaster your lobby with pictures of Miss Young, Bushman and other "oldtimers." There's a good tieup with sports editors. A dog is featured in several sequences, which calls for a contest of some kind, with local youngsters and their pooches. Catchline: "A problem that was solved by a winning horse." Desperate Cargo Producers Releasing Co. Drama 69 mins. (Prod. Xo. 113, Nat'l Release, July 4) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Fair action picture. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Good for those spots which demand action. Cast: Ralph Byrd. Carol Hughes, Julie Duncan, Jack Mulhall, I. Stanford Jolley, Kenneth Harlan, Richard Clarke. Johnstone White, Paul Bryar, Thornton Edwards. Don Forrest, Loretta Russell. Credits: Produced by John T. Coyle. Directed by William Beaudine. Screenplay by Morgan Cox and John T. Coyle. Photography by Jack Greenhalgh. Plot: Carol Hughes and Julie Duncan, stranded show girls, meet Byrd, purser of a Clipper plane in a West Indian port. They promote him for their passage by showing a fake telegram. On board the plane, crooks take the plane over and Carol manages to distract one of the gang long enough for Byrd to overcome him and free the other members of the crew. Because of this, he forgives her and all ends well. Comment: If action is the sole requirement of a picture, here is a dish for any such audience. There's plenty of it crammed into 69 minutes, though the end is telegraphed far in advance and it's just a matter of how many vicissitudes the hero will have to crawl through to win out. Byrd makes an acceptable hero and Jack Mulhall, an old favorite, is back on the screen with one of the leading parts. Production is up to the standard of this company's previous releases. Catchline: "Thrills and excitement aboard a Trans-Caribbean plane." bang outdoor entertainment. Give it a campaign befitting this type of picture. The fact that the vigilantes are hooded provides an opportunity for special street ballyhoo. Catchline: "Fearless cowboy smashes a band of terrorists." Death Valley Outlaws Republic Western 56 mins. (Prod. Xo. 172— Xat'l Release, Sept. 29) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) The plot has a familiar ring, but there's ample action to please the western addicts. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Should do good business. Cast: Don "Red" Barry, Lynn Merrick, Milburn Stone, Bob McKenzie, Karl Hackett, Rex Lease, Jack Kirk, Michael Owen, Fred S. Toones. Credits: Associate Producer-Director, George Sherman. Screenplay by Don Ryan and Jack Lait, Jr. Based on an original story by Don Ryan. Director of photography, Edgar Lyons. Musical direction, Cy Feuer. Plot: A band of outlaws, posing as vigilantes, terrorize Hopetown. Barry, in search of his brother, but at the same time seeking law and order, poses as a notorious bandit to beat the outlaws at their own game. When he discovers that his brother, a member of the ring, has been fatally wounded by the leader, Barry goes after the gang with a vengeance, rounds them up. Comment: The outdoor fans want action, and they get it here in abundant measure. The story itself has been done time and again, but a few new twists, plus good performances by Don Barry, Milburn Stone, Karl Hackett, Rex Lease and Michael Owen, not to forget the action, make it palatable once more for western followers. In a brief role, Owen reveals possibilities of becoming a future cowboy hero; he is handsome, personable, and does what he has to do well. No western could ask for a lovelier heroine than Miss Merrick. In all departments, "Death Yalley Outlaws" is rousing, slam Mob Town Universal Gangster 62 mins. (Prod. No. Not Set— Nat'l Release, ??) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Best for juvenile audiences and less critical action fans. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Should match previous results from the "Little Tough Guy" series. Cast: Billy Halop. Huntz Hall. Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punsley, Dick Foran. Ann Gwynne, Samuel S. Hinds. Darryl Hickman. Victor Killian, Truman Bradley, John Butler. Paul Fix. John Sheehan, Jimmy Fawcett, Cliff Clark. Credits: Directed by William Xigh. Produced by Ken Goldsmith. Original screenplay by Brenda Weisberg and Walter Doniger. Director of photography, Elwood Bredell. Plot: Billy Halop, head of a juvenile slum gang, who worships his older brother — a killer now in prison, is saved from reformatory by Dick Foran, the officer who captured his brother. Foran inaugurates a policesponsored big brother movement. The others respond, but Halop still resents his brother's capture and becomes involved with criminal friends of the latter. This climaxes with an attempt to rob a store in which Foran is wounded rather than shoot Halop, and the. latter atones by driving the getaway car into a pole so the robber is captured. Halop shows promise of becoming a useful citizen, with a romance indicated between Foran and Ann Gwynne, Halop's sister. Comment: Success of this picture, even with juvenile audiences, can be expected to equal any of the "Little Tough Guys" series which have preceded it. It compares favorably with these, including a maximum of action. There is the briefest of indicated romance, with Ann Gwynne bringing charm to a role too scant to allow either any drain on her dramatic ability or featuring her presence in the only feminine role of any importance. Best exploitation possibilities lie in the stress laid on the police "big brother" movement, and this will be confined to communities where work aimed at the prevention of crime has been inaugurated. Presence of Darryl Hickman in a tearful juvenile role may help if brought to the attention of those houses where "The Biscuit Eater" proved profitable. Demonstrations of how police officers are trained in the use of "judo" might be made into a lobby feature, presented by professional conditioners of your city. Catchline: "A new slant on cops from a boy's eye-view." (Continued on Page 17) A UNIVERSITY FILM PRODUCTION NO GREATER SIN' A Showman's Picture for Showmen Starting 3rd Week — Little Theatre, Newark, N. J. Opening October 4, Cinema Theatre, Pittsburgh; October 8, Normandie Theatre, Boston