Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1941)

Page 18 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW November 8, 1941 . : ■ ■ ■■" : Skyline Serenade (Excellent) Univ. (6223) Musical No. 3 16 mins. Rapidly ascending to nationwide popularity since it was featured in "The Great Lie" (STR, April 5, p. 21), Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto in B Flat Minor is again given screen treatment in "Skyline Serenade," only this time in the modern rhythmic idiom. Ted Fiorito's arrangement is suave and smooth and helps to convey at least a part of the composition's melodic beauty, but real lovers of music will deplore the addition of the Tonight for Two lyrics. While the Concerto is the subject's highlight, there are several others, not to mention specialties featuring the King's Men, quartette ; Igor and Poggi, dancers ; Ruth Daye, tap artist and Inestia, dance specialist, that make "Skyline Serenade" an excellent musical. Reginald LeBorg directed, with Will Cowan as associate producer. Because of the wide popularity of the Tchaikovsky composition in its modern version, exhibitors should be able to build strong local interest in the musical through smart exploitation. Universal's short subject's exploitation contest should be a strong incentive. Trail of the Buccaneers (Excellent) Univ. (6354) Variety View No. 4 9 mins. Photographed at St. Petersburg, along the Florida Gulf Coast, along the southern coasts of the Caribbean and in Havana, Cuba, this new Variety Views subject traces the routes once used by the pirates in their old windjammers, shows the present-day bathing beauties, winter tourists, sailing races, etc. Concluding in Havana, it shows famous shrines and buildings, Columbus Chapel and other historic spots. The sepia photography, always sharp and clear, is at times breathtakingly beautiful, especially in the yachting sequences. Narrated by Graham McNamee and produced by Joseph O'Brien and Thomas Mead, the subject should enhance the entertainment value of any program. (Released Saturday, November 8) MOVIETONE (Vol. 24, No. 17)— U. S. Navy on patrol; Knox speaks at Quantico, Va. ; Submarines for Britain and the Poles; Japanese steamer arrives on West Coast, another departs; Corn-husking contest in Illinois; Fur hat fashions; Pro football: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers; Surf bathing for horses off California coast; Roller skating derby at Chicago. PATHE (Vol. 13, No. 21) — U. S. Navy on patrol; British and Poles get U. S. submarines; German prisoners in Russia; General Hideki Tojo heads Japanese cabinet; Japanese quit U. S. as crisis looms; Mount Rushmore Memorial completed; Corn-husking contest in Illinois; Roller skating derby in Chicago. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 13, No. 216)— C. S. Navy on patrol; LaGuardia re-elected Mayor of New York; Soviet armies battle to stem tide of invading Germans; Duke of Gloucester inspects Gibraltar defenses; East Side Kids serenade Duke of Windsor; Corn-husking contest in Illinois; Steeplechase at Belmont Park. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 14, No. 30)— U. S. Navy on patrol; Japanese cargo arrives in Brazil; U. S. troops on review in Tacoma; Rainy day fashions; Buffalo chimpanzee gets the turkey; Roller skating derby in Chicago; Corn-husking contest in Illinois; Steeplechase at Belmont Park. PARAMOUNT (No. 21) — British and Poles get U. S. submarines; Harbor activity at Rio de Janeiro; Cornhusking contest in Illinois; Japanese quit U. S. as crisis looms; Mount Rushmore Memorial completed; LaGuardia re-elected Mayor of New York; Vanderbilt estate on Long Island auctioned; U. S. Navy on patrol. (Released Wednesday, November 5) PARAMOUNT (No. 20) — Army takes over Air Associates plant; Lindbergh speaks in New York; Roosevelt calls for National Defense Week; Windsors end tnur; Airplanes crash at Moorehead, Minn, and St. The Candy Kid (Good) Univ. (6373) Stranger Than Fiction No. 3 9 mins. Nearly every clip in this release is in the "top billing" class, with the result that in its entirety the subject is good entertainment for all types of audiences. However, those items concerning the juvenile taster for a large candy company, the man whose chair has 200 compartments, and the college professor who trains lions during his vacation periods, will probably be liked best. Joseph O'Brien and Thomas Mead produced, with Alois Havrilla as commentator. In exploitating the subject, showmen should study each of the clips carefully for possible local tieups and special stunts. Man's Best Friend (Good) Univ. (6242) Lantz Cartune No. 2 7 mins. After a day of rabbit hunting, Snoozer is ready for sleep when night comes. But a number of things happen to keep him awake, so that by the time morning comes and hunting has to be resumed, he is a sleepy-eyed wreck. He goes with this master, falls asleep during the hunt while rabbits play around him. It's a good Technicolor cartoon to be enjoyed by the entire family. Walter Lantz produced. What's Cookin'? ('Good; Univ. (6243) Lantz Cartune No. 3 7 mins. What happened to the bird when he ignored the weather man's warning to go south before winter is told in this amusing Technicolor cartoon produced by Walter Lantz. A new character, Woody Woodpecker, is introduced, and his efforts to cook a cat who has stopped at his home to escape the blizzard will bring chuckles from most patrons, especially since the cat is also hungry and visions Woody as a savory roast. Clever titles add to the humor. Thomas. Ont. ; International Doll Show at Philadelphia; Peanut Festival at Suffolk, Va. ; Chimps launch zoo rowboat at Philadelphia ; Football : Army vs. Notre Dame — Stanford vs. Santa Clara. MOVIETONE (Vol. 24. No. 17)— Roosevelt proclaims Civilian Defense Week ; Army takes over Air Associates plant; Airplanes crash at Moorehead, Minn, and St. Thomas, Ont. ; Army bomber crashes near Findlay, O.; Turkeys of Sonoma, Calif., "reject" Thanksgiving Day; England's King and Queen visit R.A.F. boys; R.A.F. pilots try out American Airacobra planes; Football: Army vs. Notre Dame — Navy vs. Penn — Texas vs. Southern Methodist (except Pittsburgh)— Pitt vs. Ohio State (Pittsburgh only). PATHE (Vol. 13, No. 20) — Roosevelt proclaims Civilian Defense Week ; Army takes over Air Associates plant; R.A.F. pilots try out American Airacobra planes; U. S. graduates first R.A.F. pilots at Lancaster, Calif. ; Airplanes crash at Moorehead, Minn, and St. Thomas, Ont. ; Duke of Gloucester sees fortifications at Gibraltar; Navy launches cruiser Cleveland (Cleveland only); Football: Army vs. Notre Dame — Navy vs. Penn — Minnesota vs. Northwestern (except Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle). NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 13, No. 215)— England's King and Queen visit R.A.F. boys; DeGauIle okays fast tanks; Russo-Japanese border fixed; Turkeys of Sonoma, Calif., "reject" Thanksgiving Day; Peanut Festival at Suffolk, Va. ; Roosevelt proclaims Civilian Defense Week; Army takes over Air Associates plant; U. S. graduates first R.A.F. pilots at Lancaster, Calif.; Football: Army vs. Notre Dame — Navy vs. Penn. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 14, No. 29) — Football: Army vs. Notre Dame — Minnesota vs. Northwestern — Harvard vs. Princeton; Army takes over Air Associates plant; Airplanes crash at Moorehead, Minn, and St. Thomas, Ont. ; Cruiser Cleveland launched at Camden, N. J.; Army Week at Tacoma, Wash.; R.A.F. cadets get their wings at Lancaster, Calif. At the Stroke of Twelve (Grab It) Vita. (7103) Broadway Brevity No. 3 20 mins. No short stories have been more original, unique or exciting than those by Damon Runyon. Some of them have been brought to the screen as features, but not until now, to our knowledge, has the ever-growing short subject field been utilized to make more of them available to moviegoers. Originally written as "Midnight Alibi," this two-reel mystery drama tells the story of Lance McGowan who, on the night he decides to go straight, is caught in a fusillade of gunfire between two rival mobsters. He escapes certain death by hiding in an alley, then gains entrance through an unlocked side door into the home of a fabulously wealthy but mysterious recluse, Abigail Ardsley. When one of his would-be assassins is later found riddled with bullets, McGowan is arrested, tried for murder on circumstantial evidence. As he is being convicted, the little old lady enters the courtroom, establishes an alibi, saves him. That's the story, but it has that Runyon flavor, such Runyon types as Angle the Ox, Abigail Ardsley, etc., and a last-minute climax to make it absorbing entertainment. Craig Stevens, Elizabeth Risdon, Knox Manning, Howard da Silva, Ben Welden and Frank Ferguson are the principal players, and all perform well. Jean Negulesco's direction, the photography — in fact, every technical detail is of feature-production calibre. Gordon Hollingshead was associate producer. Besides being an outstanding short subject in its own right, this two-reeler should help to fill the needs of exhibitors who, ordinarily playing double features, find themselves with an exceptionally long comedy or musical and the necessity of keeping the program within a reasonable time limit. But whether the feature is long or short, if it is on the lighter side, this subject will balance it perfectly. Play "At the Stroke of Twelve" and give it the showmanship it deserves. Perils of the Jungle (Exciting) Vita. (7102) Broadway Brevity No. 2 20 mins. Since the untimely death of explorer Martin Johnson, actual wild animal jungle films have become almost extinct, with perhaps one or two exceptions. For this reason, audiences will undoubtedly and enthusiastically accept "Perils of the Jungle," which contains the last footage to be shot in the Belgian Congo before the outbreak of the war. Commander Attilio Gatti and his party photographed their safari through the treacherous jungle in search of the okapi, a fabulous animal worth over $30,000 when captured alive. The most amazing scenes in the film are those showing the pygmies constructing a bridge over an alligator-infested river and the eventual bagging of the animal. Gripping and exciting, this subject should score a hit with moviegoers wherever it plays. Commander Gatti produced it, and Knox Manning delivered the commentary. A special campaign employing an animal-coloring contest, an atmospheric front, the distribution of "circus" heralds, etc., should be staged. The Bug Parade (Clever) Vita. (7703) Merrie Melody No. 3 7 mins. In a manner that has marked this series as one of the most entertaining on the cartoon market, "The Bug Parade" delves into the various habits and peculiarities of many well-known insects. The Technicolor subject is replete with subtle gags which should make it popular with adult audiences. Leon Schlesinger nrorl-c°d. NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . .