Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 28 SHOWMEN'S TRADE October 25, 1941 Sailors With Wings (Excellent) RKO (23,103) March of Time No. 3 20 mins. Devoted to naval aviation in the U. S., its history and development, this subject takes rank with the tops in the list of those which are telling the story of our defense effort. Only in this case, what is actually done now, what is being planned, is the keynote. Planes are shown on patrol, the giant flying boats which the British call Catalinas. Others of four different types are shown taking off and landing from a carrier and still others are pictured as they are catapulted from ships of the line. The humble work of the lowly gob who gets none of the credit, though he deserves plenty for keeping the planes in the air, is depicted in detail, and groundlings will look with more respect on these sailors in the future as a result of this picture. Sell it through tieups with Naval Recruiting Stations. Honor the parents of all the boys in' town who are in the Naval Air Service. Get kid to make models of naval planes and enter them in a contest. Award prizes to the best. 1940-41 Program Sucker List ( Excellent) I'll Fix It (Funny) RKO (23,402) Edgar Kennedy No. 2 17 mins. Edgar Kennedy thinks it is foolish to pay $100 for a hot water heater, when he can install one cheaper himself. He buys an advertised heater for $39.99 but has to pay $21.50 for accessories and for extra help getting it home. He drenches several people including the tailor bringing his suit back from the cleaner, and after finally getting the heater installed at a cost of $184, he is confronted by a building inspector who fines him $50 for practicing plumbing without a license, $25 for having no permit for the installation and confiscates the heater as a fire hazard. The subject has lots of laughs without being too much on the slapstick side. Bert Gilroy produced and Charles Roberts directed and wrote the story. MGM (P-206) Crime Doesn't Pay No. 6 21 mins. A group of illegal race track tipsters is shown in action. They use a list of people who have taken loans from a commercial institution, feeling that they need the money more than anyone else. Dividing the group into thirds, they give three tips, one third of which are sure to be right. Some of the victims, thrilled by their success, come back again and this time are "taken" for more money. When they lose, they protest . to the gang and are beaten up. The police close in on the gang just as it is about to leave. The subject carries a strong plea to racing fans to patronize only licensed establishments and tip-sheets, in order that racing may be kept as America's most exciting sport. Reformers will say the picture doesn't go nearly far enough and that it should ban betting altogether, but those who wish to see it legally controlled will find this an excellent piece of propaganda for their cause. Roy Rowland rates a bow for his direction. Inside Passage (Good) MGM (T-312) Traveltalk No. 2 9 mins. James A. Fitz Patrick follows the camera (and precedes it in several scenes) through Alaska's inside passage, exploring some of the picturesque country which Uncle Sam acquired long ago from Russia. The subject shows how enticing a trip to Alaska would be. If anyone wants to take the trip, Mr. FitzPatrick obligingly advises that the steamships are very comfortable and roomy. Technicolor photography enhances the already beautiful Alaskan scenery and makes the subject interesting to watch. . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, October 25) PARAMOUNT (No. 17) — Train wreck at Rahway, N. J.; U. S. troops in Iceland; Cement plant at Los Gatos, Calif., aids defense; Windsors see New York highlights; Football: Tom Harmon, John Kimbrough make professional debut in New York; Hunting: Duck and geese season opens at Klamath Falls, Ore. MOVIETONE (Vol. 24, No. 13)— U. S. troops in Iceland; 60 degrees below zero in aerolab on West Coast; Navy dive bombers; Planes delivered to Army and Navy at Vultee factory; New Army B-19 bomber; Britain sends ships and planes to Russia ; British women work out with anti-aircraft guns; Duck and geese season opens at Klamath Falls, Ore. ; Football : Army vs. Yale; Glider meet; Skiing in Australia. PATHE (Vol. 13, No. 17) — Britain rushes tanks to Russia; Russia needs U. S. aid, says Harriman; Kearny sister-ship commissioned; Mayor LaGuardia and Al Smith greet Windsors; 60 degrees below zero in aerolab on West Coast; New cement plant speeds output; Niagara honeymoon bridge opened; Train wreck near Rahway, N. J.; Football: Fort Monmouth vs. Rutgers. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 14, No. 26)— More U. S. ships sunk; Destroyer commissioned in Brooklyn; Submarine lunched at Portsmouth, N. H.; U. S. troops in Iceland; Douglas plane plant dedicated at Long Beach, Calif.; Last delivery of Army planes in California; Britain rushes tanks to Russia; Windsors see New York highlights; Niagara honeymoon bridge opened; Football: Texas Aggies vs. T.C.U.; Pro football: N. Y. Americans vs. Columbus; Wrestling at North Bergen, N. J. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 13, No. 212)— U-boat attacks seen bringing war closer; New plane plant opens in California; New York cheers sightseeing Windsors; Russians shoot down Nazi air raiders; Harriman back with reports on Soviet; U. S. troops in Iceland (except Charlotte, Detroit, New Orleans and San Francisco); Football: Army vs. Yale — Santa Clara vs. Michigan State (Detroit and San Francisco only) — Tulane vs. North Carolina (Charlotte and New Orleans only). (Released IVednesday, October 22) PARAMOUNT (No. 16)— Navy stirred by Kearny torpedoing; Republican Senators urge repeal of Neutrality Act; American convoy enroute to Iceland, German U-boat in action; Official films of U. S. base at Iceland; Windsors at Annapolis, at Beltsville and Rock Creek Park and in New York; Football: Navy vs. Cornell — Michigan vs. Northwestern — Pennsylvania vs. Princeton. MOVIETONE (Vol. 24, No. 12)— U. S. troops guard Iceland; At sea with U. S. convoy; German U-boat in action ; Prisoner exchange halted ; New hurricane fighter plane; Skating fashions; Aircraft carrier Hornet ready for Navy; Football: Navy vs. Cornell — Pennsylvania vs. Princeton. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 13, No. 211)— Kearny torpedoing stirs Navy; Knox lauds hero victims; At sea with U. S. convoy; Prisoner exchange halted; R.A.F. blasts German warship; Football: Navy vs. Cornell — Georgia vs. Columbia (except Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis) — Michigan vs. Northwestern (Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis only). PATHE (Vol. 13, No. 16) — Carrier Hornet ready for Navy; U. S. forces guard Iceland base; Windsors visit New York; Shipyards rush new battleships; U. S. and Britain launch new planes; British-Nazi prisoner swap fails; Football: Michigan vs. Northwestern— Navy vs. Cornell (except San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle). UNIVERSAL (Vol. 14, No. 25)— Convoy to Iceland; U. S. turning Iceland into fortress; British hurricane planes in action; Nazi U-boat captured by British Coastal Command plane; British-Nazi prisoner swap fails; Windsors visit New York; Justices visit White House; Football: Navy vs. Cornell — Michigan vs. Northwestern — Georgia vs. Columbia. Helping Hands (Very Good) MGM (C-391) Our Gang No. 1 11 mins. Our Gang, inspired by the National Defense program, organizes a private Army. The Civilian Defense director puts their willingness to good use by having them collect aluminum, old rubber and scrap metal, eliminating fire hazards, and cleaning up cellars and attics. The kids' antics are much the same as usual, but their good works can be used as an example to children in any town. There can be plenty of tieups on this subject and, in cooperation with local groups, you can obtain a lot of extra business and goodw.ill by getting back of it. Edward Cahn directed. Lend a Paw" (Superb) RKO (14,111) Disney Cartoon No. 11 8 mins. Pluto rescues a kitten which gratefully follows him home. Mickey Mouse takes a shine to the kitten and keeps it. Then a battle ensues between Pluto's good self and his bad self over whether he should try to get rid of the kitten or not. When the kitten falls down the well the battle becomes heated, but the good self wins and Pluto dashes into the other bucket. Mickey rescues him and thaws him out. This is one of Disney's best cartoons and will get many a laugh wherever it plays. Tie up with Humane Societies, as the picture is dedicated to those groups which help friendless animals. Hollywood Sports (Good) RKO (24,402) Picture People No. 2 9 mins. Various athletic activities indulged in by Hollywood stars form the basis of this subject in which Helen Broderick is the narrator. Gail Patrick helps her baseball team warm up ; Guy Kibbee demonstrates angling to his son ; Gilbert Roland, Rudy Vallee and Nat Pendleton play tennis and Roy Rogers and James Craig go quail hunting. The subject is interesting and a good addition to the series. Clay Adams directed. Information Please No. 1 (Excellent) RKO (24,301) 9 mins. John Gunther, as guest expert, shines with his fellow encyclopedias as questions about many subjects are fired at them. Only one miss is recorded, and that might be excused because it is a trifle misleading. There are a number of good laughs in the subject. Gunther has to answer general questions because there is only one on his specialized field of international politics. Frederic Ullman, Jr., produced the subject and Dan Golenpaul supervised. Donald's Camera" (A Scream) RKO (14,112) Disney Cartoon No. 12 8 mins. Donald Duck obeys the dictates of a sign to "Shoot Nature with a camera instead of a gun." But he has small success because a chipmunk refuses to pose and drops a pine cone into Donald's mouth ; a rabbit dashes into a cave and Donald finds it full of skunks ; and finally a woodpecker gets the best of him in several respects before finally putting Donald's camera where a tree flattens it like a pancake. With that, Donald rushes to the store, gets a shotgun and goes after the woodpecker. Tie up with the camera supply stores on this one. As a gag, you might offer prizes for the best animal pictures.