Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 26 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 1, 1941 Swing It, Soldier Universal Musical 66 mins. (Prod. No. Not Set— Natl Release, Nov. 7) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) A swell musical jammed full of entertainment. BOX OFFICE SLANT: A good picture with plenty of pull. Should draw well in any situation. Top radio names will help bring them in. Cast: Ken Murray, Frances Langford, Don Wilson, Blanche Stewart, Elvia Allman, Hanley Stafford, Susan Miller, Senor Lee, Iris Adrian, Lewis Howard, Thurston Hall, Kitty O'Neil, Lew Valentine, Peter Sullivan, Tom Dugan, Skinnay Ennis and his Orchestra and others. Credits: Directed by Harold Young. Original screenplay by Dorcas Cochran and Arthur V. Jones. Director of photography, Elwood Bredell. Associate producer, Joseph G. Sanford. Plot: A released draftee in the radio business becomes a nuisance and busybody when he tries to help the wife of a pal. It's the twin sister he gets mixed up with and plenty happens, including a bad singing audition, before the girl realizes what it's all about. Comment: Radio fans will get the chance to see their favorites in person in this swell musical, which is jammed full of entertainment. Although the story is lightweight, the performers make up for this in more ways than one, and the result should insure good boxomce returns. The ten song numbers are interwoven into the plot, a radio story, and they add to the enjoyment of the film as a whole. Outstanding work is turned in by Ken Murray, Frances Langford, Don Wilson, Hanley Stafford, Susan Miller and Skinnay Ennis and his orchestra. All in all it's a showmanship picture, a credit to the direction of Harold Young. Check the long list of radio "names" and arrange spot announcements before and after their broadcasts. Arrange windows with music shops. An amateur contest could be tied up with the picture for local radio talent. Catchline: "Meet your radio favorite." Public Enemies Republic Drama 66 mins. (Prod. No. 121— Nat'l Release, Oct. 30) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Fast moving action picture portrays reporters and gangsters in a way the public seems to enjoy 'em best. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Good supporting feature to the "talky" type of dramatic attraction. Cast: Philip Terry, Wendy Barrie, Edgar Kennedy, William Frawley, Marc Lawrence, Nana Bryant, Willie Fung, Paul Fix, Russell Hicks, Tim Ryan, Duke York. Credits: Associate producer, Robert North. Directed by Albert S. Rogell. Screenplay by Edward T. Lowe and Lawrence Kimble. Based on a story by Michael Burke. Photographed by Ernest Miller. Art director, John Victor Mackay. Plot: Terry, a reporter, tricks Wendy Barrie, wealthy heiress, into an interview. In retaliation she tips him off to a fake story with the result that he is fired. Remorse-stricken, she attempts to get him re-instated and that starts them working on a case together. Meanwhile she loses her money, so he doesn't feel so bad about marrying her after all. Comment: Although newspapermen of the type portrayed in this picture are more movie than real, this is the way the public wants them to be so it can safely be said that this offering caters to the popular taste. The story has a few novel twists and a few inconsistencies but the audiences generally will pass them right by and concentrate on the fast-moving action yarn which Legion of Decency Ratings (For Week Ending November 1st) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Arizona Cyclone Target for Tonight Gentleman From Dixie Three Cockeyed Sailors Stork Pays Off Top Sergeant Mulligan Tonto Basin Outlaws SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Jungle Man Shadow of the Thin Man The Miracle Kid South of Tahiti Moon Over Her Shoulder Sundown Public Enemies You Belong to Me OBJECTIONABLE IN PART Blues in the Night Unholy Partners Three Girls About Town involves a couple of good car chases, a hideout in an undertaker's refrigerator and a tieup between the newspaper and the police that would be a beaut if it worked. The acting is adequate and the direction develops all the speed possible for the story. Sell it as a cops, robbers and reporters' melodrama. Catchline: "Reporter and millionairess chase gangsters." Top Sergeant Mulligan Monogram Comedy 69 mins. (Nat'l Release, Oct. 17) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) A good Army comedy. Will be enjoyed by patrons looking for a laugh. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Swell for the light spot on any bill. Cast: Nat Pendleton, Carol Hughes, Sterling Holloway, Marjorie Reynolds, Tom Neal, Frank Faylen, Charles Hall, Betty Blythe, Dick Elliott, Maynard Holmes, Wonderful Smith. Credits: Directed by Jean Yarborough. Screenplay by Edmond Kelso. Based on an original idea by William West. Photography by Mack Stengler. Produced by Lindsley Parsons. Plot: Two business partners enlist in the army in order to escape a bill collector. There they find their top sergeant the man they were running away from. He makes life miserable for the rookies until a wild ride in an army "jeep'' wins them the praise of the commandant. Comment: Here's another Army camp comedy that should please any audience looking for a laugh. As usual in pictures of this kind, the routines are on the corny side, but they are so well done they add to the fun. Monogram has assembled a cast of good names, which includes Nat Pendleton, Sterling Holloway and Carol Hughes, who handle their assignments well, but the bulk of the work is turned in by Frank Faylen and Charles Hall. They steal just about every scene in which they appear. Another highlight of the film is a bit by Wonderful Smith, a colored comic with plenty on the ball. The picture also boasts a song number "$21 a Day — Once A Month," that may develop into a hit number. It's well produced and directed. Recordings of the song could be spotted on your local radio station. Aim your advertising at the boys in uniform and prospective draftees. Heralds, in the form of "induction notices" could be distributed around town prior to your opening. Catchline: "Clown in khaki." Zis Boom Bah Monogram Comedy-with-Music 62 mins. (Nat'l Release, Nov. 7) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) A neat little offering that will please wherever played. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Better-thanaverage program feature. Cast: Grace Hayes, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy, Huntz Hall, Jan Wiley, Frank Elliot, Lois Landon, Skeets Gallagher, Benny Rubin, Ed Kane, Leonard Sues, Roland Dupree. Credits: Directed by William Nigh. Original story by Connie Lee and Harvey Gates. Screenplay by Harvey Gates and Jack Henley. Photography by Marcel Le Picard. Produced by Sam Katzman. Plot: Grace Hayes, a successful vaudeville trouper, whose son has been brought up by others at her expense doesn't know his own mother. She decides to visit him at college and see what kind of a man he has developed into. She finds him spoiled by believing he is rich, so she sets out correcting the wrong. She moves in on the college town and shows them just how things should be run. Comment: A neat little betterthan-average program offering that will please wherever played. It hits its mark so nicely, thanks to the direction of William Nigh and the ability of Grace Hayes, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy and a boy tap dancer, Roland Dupree. They do so well, especially Peter Hayes with his impersonations of Charles Boyer, Lionel Barrymore and Charles Laughton, and Roland Dupree with his tap dancing, that less critical audiences will overlook an obvious plot that has been done time and again in some form or other. Benny Rubin clicks in a comedy role and Huntz Hall is funny in his typical characterization. There are some good musical numbers, so use these in your exploitation. Since the story is essentially a college musical, contact all schools and colleges in your vicinity in advance of opening day. Circularize amateur theatrical groups. Catchline: "College life with a musical background." Blues in the Night Warner Bros. Drama with Music 88 mins. (Prod. No. not set — Nat'l Release not set) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) Mixture of a musical and a gangster drama may draw devotees of both types. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Strong names in the cast should aid the box office take. Cast: Priscilla Lane, Richard Whorf, Betty Field, Lloyd Nolan, Jack Carson, Elia Kazan, Wallace Ford, Peter Whitney, Billy Halop, George Lloyd, Charles Wilson, Matt McHugh, Joyce Compton, Herbert Haywood, William Gillespie, Howard da Silva, Jimmy Lunceford and his band and Will Osborne and his band. Credits: Executive producer, Hal B. Wallis. Associate producer, Henry Blanke. Directed by Anatole Litvak. Dialogue director, Harold Winston. Art director, Max Parker. Director of photography, Ernie Haller. Plot: Whorf, a pianist, and his friends organize their own band to play blues music. Among the players is Jack Carson, trumpeter and his wife Priscilla Lane. While riding boxcars, they meet Lloyd Nolan, fleeing the police. He tells them to meet him at a roadhouse, where he has pushed out his former friends and taken charge. His old girl friend, Betty Field, tries to make him once more, but she goes after Whorf when that fails. Whorf leaves the band and goes with her but when she ignores him, he goes back to