Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

November 1, 1941 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 27 his band but suffers a nervous breakdown. Months later, back at the same roadhouse, Betty comes along again, still looking for Nolan. But when he sends her away she shoots him. Betty is driven off a cliff by her faithful follower, Ford, and finally, the band finds happiness traveling again. Comment: Neither a lull bred musical nor a thoroughbred drama, this picture, aimed first at the swing music fans, then at the drama and gangster lovers, somehow fails quite to jell as a strong candidate for the favor of either. It may appeal to a large number of people who like pictures that are compromises — not too much of one thing nor too little of another. The offering is distinguished chiefly by the fact that it marks the screen debut of Richard Whorf, about whom much has been written and for whom great plans have been made. It is a pleasure to report that he will ring the bell. Whorf is good looking, has a good speaking voice, acts very well, has musical talent. Indeed, this picture's strongest asset is its cast, which boasts Priscilla Lane, who doesn't get much chance to act; Betty Field, who proves her versatility by her excellent interpretation of an unsympathetic role; Lloyd Nolan, as good a gangster as ever; Wallace Ford, a real trouper in another tough part and a lot of other well known players. In selling it, headline the names as a big drawing card. Try to appeal to all different types of people by advertising the picture in different places in a different manner. Catchlines: "From the wail of a frail in a jail — those New Orleans Blues"; "When a fellow loves a girl and just can't get her out of his mind, she'd better watch out." How Green Was My Valley 20th Century-Fox Drama 118mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Masterpiece of direction, acting and camerawork with potent appeal to class patronage while down-to-earth wholesomeness will make it interesting to all who see it. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Will rank as one of year's outstanding productions and be big grosser for class situations on own momentum; draw where light entertainment and action plays are prime favorites will depend upon effectiveness of exploitation. Cast: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall, John Loder, Sara Allgood, Barry Fitzgerald, Patric Knowles, Rhys Williams, Arthur Shields, Morton Lowry, Welsh Singers, and others. Credits: From novel by Richard Llewellyn. Screenplay by Philip Dunne. Directed by John Ford. Photography by Arthur Miller. Music by Alfred Newman. Art direction : Richard Day, Nathan Juran. Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Plot: The life of a family of miners in a Welsh coal mining village, as recounted by the youngest son as he recalls his boyhood; his memories of the strike that was the first conflict between miners and mine owner; his lovely sister-in-law and her sorrow when her husband was killed; the fights he had at school; his father's kindly but strict rule of the home; his mother's many sacrifices; the unhappy love between his pretty sister and the minister; the final tragedv to the family when his father was killed in a mine accident. Comment: This is a most faithful transcription to the screen of a fine novel, and a picture of such glowing beauty as to production, direction, camera work and acting as to live long in the memories of all who see it — even those who favor more "punch" and theatricalism than occurs in this wholesome and inspiring picturization of Godfearing and noble men and women struggling always to make a bare living. The picture will win universal applause and is certain to prove a great prestige-builder for the screen and every theatre that plays it. John Ford's direction must rank as one of the foremost examples of the art. His picture has the same verity, sustained illusion and realism as "The Informer," though the very nature of its story makes it far less dramatic than that memorable work. The acting is so superior in every instance, that blanket praise of all seems the only way to avoid injustice to some by mentioning the few permitted by space limitations. However, Walter Pidgeon as the minister; Maureen O'Hara as the lovely daughter in love with him; young Roddy McDowall as the boy; Donald Crisp as the father, all having particularly impressive roles, shine forth as actors giving as fine performances as the screen has ever revealed. Since it follows the novel so closely and the book was so widely read, the selling should concentrate on that angle, but in addition efforts must be made to bring out the greatness of the picture as a powerful transcription of life, and especially, "prestige" should be built by interesting leaders of social, civic and religious organizations. Catchline: "A story you will never forget — a picture you must not miss." Lone Rider Ambushed Producers Releasing Co. Western 67 mins. (Prod. No. 167— Nat'l Release, Aug. 29) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Average series Western entertainment. BOX OFFICE SLANT: On par with past numbers in this series. Cast: George Houston, Al St. John, Maxine Leslie, Frank Hagney, Jack Ingram, Hal Price, Ted Adams, George Chesebro, Ralph Peters, Steve Clark. Credits: Produced by Sigmund Neufeld. Directed by Sam Xewfield. Original screenplay by Oliver Drake. Photography by Jack Greenhalgh. Plot: George Houston, the Lone Rider, resembles a man who is serving a jail sentence. He impersonates the man in jail in the hope that he can thereby find out who framed his pal, a bank cashier. He succeeds in arousing the gang's suspicions and when the criminal escapes from jail and locates the money he has hidden, everything ends well. Comment: George Houston, essaying Plot No. 11 in the Western series, of course, has the dual role to play. He plays the criminal by talking out of the side of his mouth and the Lone Rider by talking out of the center, so it is always easy to distinguish which is which. Al St. John, who plays the ever present comic in two Western series for this company, gets little chance to display his abilities. Neither does any one else in the cast. Maxine Leslie, the girl in the case, handles the role of a Western heroine in satisfactory style. Catchline: "The Lone Rider impersonates a criminal." Miss Polly United Artists Comedy 45 mins. (Nat'l Release, Nov. 14) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Good comedy with special appeal for the family trade. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Perfect for any program which has a long and heavy feature to which this would be the ideal offset. Cast: ZaSu Pitts, Slim Summerville, Kathleen Howard, Brenda Forbes. Elyse Knox. Dick Clayton, Dink Trout, William Newell, Ferris Taylor, Fern Emmett, • AVAILABLE AFTER OCT. 25 SHOWMAN of EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE and ABILITY. BUYING — BOOKING — PUBLICITY Specialist in Circuit or Operation. Single Theatre BOX M-35. SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 1501 BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY V era Lewis, Sara Edwards, Virginia Sale, Walter Baldwin, Mickey Daniels, George Pembroke, Syd Saylor. Credits: Produced by Hal Roach. Directed by Fred Guiol. Screenplay by Eugene Conrad and bdward E. Seabrook. Adaptation by Dorothy White. Director of photography, Robert Pittack. Photographic effects by Roy Seawright. Art direction, Charles D. Hall. Plot: A kindly, romantic-minded bachelor maid living in a sleepy town, finds a way to help the young girl next door to get the boy she loves. She arranges for her handy-man and amateur inventor to try out one of his gadgets on the girl's mother, and this brings her around. Comment: This comedy, another in the series of streamlined features which Hal Roach has been making with such success, will prove a laugh-getter in most situations. It looks like a good bet for the exhibitor as well as his patrons. The short running time is in its favor because "Miss Polly" can be played on a bill with a feature well over average length and still keep the show down to a reasonable length. ZaSu Pitts and Slim Summerville handle the leading roles in their usual style. The picture has loads of appeal for small town audiences. Offer free admission to anyone named Polly. Tie up with stores handling women's apparel. Catchline: "A merry romantic mixup." Billy the Kid Wanted Producers Releasing Corp. Drama 64 mins. (Prod. No. 257— Nat'l Release, Oct. 24) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Routine western fare with a good share of action and broad comedy to amuse the faithful. BOX OFFICE SLANT: Ranks as average for the releases in this series. Cast: Buster Crabbe, Al (Fuzzy) St. John, Dave O'Brien, Glen Strange, Charles King, Slim Whitaker, Howard Masters, others. Credits: Screenplay by Fred Myton. Directed by Sherman Scott. Photography by Jack Greenhalgh. Plot: Crabbe and O'Brien accidentally become involved with a band of crooked realtors, whose scheme is robbing farmers of their livelihood. A series of battles between rivals in the gang results in a mistaken idea that Crabbe and his pal are really deadly enemies and to suit their own ends the gangsters contrive to have them fight it out to the death. In a struggle the two pals put on most realistically, they create a situation which enables them to round up the gang and leave the ruffians in the hands of the law. Comment: Crabbe as "Billy the Kid" and his pal throughout the series, Dave O'Brien, turn loose with enough punches to make this a fighting exhibition of drama of the open spaces. The picture is standard as to type of story and the mounting which characterizes releases in the particular series. Comedy relief, as usual, is provided by Al St. John. It will satisfy the faithful followers of the more obvious type of western series film. Selling efforts should play up Buster Crabbe and the hard-ridin', twofisted melodramatics which gives adventurelovers a chance to indulge their liking for action. Catchline: "Thrill to daring adventure and raw courage in the wide open spaces." Unusual Ad on 'Underground' To advertise "Underground," Manager Bill Drace of the Grand Theatre, Greer, S. C, used an elongated two-column ad with this headline in bold capital letters at the top : "Lid of Off the 'Underground' ! Oh ! What a story ! It Tells the Sensational Revelations About Hitler's Secret Enemy." There followed an excerpt from a recent Walter Winchell column. Besides running the ad in the newspaper, Drace also made a special herald of it which he distributed throughout the community. The happy result : business was above average.