Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1942)

July 25, 1942 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 11 Priorities On Parade Musical 79 mins. Paramount AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) They'll be saying nice things about you and your theatre when they go out after witnessing this swell array of entertainment. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Get an opening on this and you can relax to the soothing chatter of a busy ticket machine. Cast: Ann Miller, Johnnie Johnston, Jerry Colonna, Bettj' Rhodes, Vera Vague, Harry Harris, Eddie Quilian, Dave Willock, Nick Cochrane, Rod Cameron, Arthur Loft, The Debonaires, William Forrest, Warren Ashe, Charles Halton and Lee Shumway. Credits: Produced by Sol C. Siegel. Associate Producer, Burt Kelly. Directed by Albert Rogell. Original screenplay by Art Arthur and Frank Loesser. Assistant Director, John Coonan. Photography by Daniel Fapp. Songs by Jules Styne and Herb Magidson and Frank Loesser and Jules Styne. Plot: A busted swing band combination tries to crash its way onto the payroll of an airplane manufacturing company as "pepperuppers" for the working personnel only to find themselves employed as workers and contributing their talents, during lunch hour and in other spare moments, gratis. The girl dancer of the group refuses to join the labor battalion and goes to work at a local nitery. Working with many women, the band members encounter humorous and unusual experiences including the discovery of singing talent in a hard-boiled girl welder. The success of the band as morale builders bring national recognition and complications for the leader who finds his heart split between the dancer, who wants to rejoin the band, and the singing , welder. At a company show New York bookers offer handsome salaries but the girl welder shows them how important they are to Uncle Sam's war effort and the awakened love of flag and country proves stronger than the lure of fame and greenbacks. Comment: This is a swell concoction of song, dance, comedy, romance and novelty, set to tempos of popular public thought and conception, and spiced liberally with the essence of patriotism to make as tasty a dish of amusement as has beeji served to theatregoers in many moons. Humor is the keynote of the production with fun permeating almost every situation and the ear-tingling tunes — all brand new and catchy — mingled admirably to highlight the few dramatic incidents and emphasize the romantic interest that makes itself engagingly apparent at all times. Ann Miller is her usual par-excellent self in a dancing role. Johnnie Johnston, in addition to giving out with some easy-to-listen-to lyrics ala Bing Crosby, is quite sufficient in the hero's spot. Betty Rhodes is everything to be asked for as a heroine and contributes in major fashion to all departments of the picture. Jerry Colonna has some fine gag lines and situations that are good for solar-plexus laughs and Vera Vague comes through with a plentiful array of the same. Eddie Quilian and other members of the cast deserve mention as do the cleverly conceived and executed novelty dance routines and the exceptionally fine manner in which the hodge-podge of action is tied into an amusing and enjoyable film story. This picture will make a couple of new film favorites with your fans so go after business. You'll have to depend on the comedy and musical angles as the star value is trifling. Industrial plant cooperation should be easy to get and ballyhoos of the "giggle-a-minute" variety should help get them in for the first show. The picture should build. Catchline: Here's that silver lining you've been looking for. It'll tickle your ribs — tingle your ears and touch your heart. Legion of Decency Ratings (For Week Ending July 25) SUITABLE FOR GENERAL PATRONAGE Joan of Ozark Give Out, Sisters Sons of the Pioneers Pied Piper Timber SUITABLE FOR ADULTS ONLY Ivlajor and the Minor Smart Alecks Tish Baby Face Morgan Panama Hattie OBJECTIONABLE IN PART Jungle Siren A Desperate Gliance for Eilery Queen Columbia Mystery 70 mins. (Nat'l Release, May 7) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Will amuse the armchair detectives and Eilery Queen fans. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Will fit in nicely on program with light feature. Cast: William Gargan, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, John Litel, Lillian Bond, James Burke, Jack LaRue, Morgan Conway, Noel Madison, Frank Thomas, Charlotte Wynters. Credits: Directed by James Hogan. Screenplay by Eric Taylor, from story by Eilery Queen. Photography by James S. Brown, Jr. Associate Producer, Rudolph Flothow. Produced by Larry Darmour. Plot: The widow of a prominent banker asks William Gargan to determine whether her husband was really drowned when his yacht capsized. Gargan sets out to find the banker via a trail of "hot" money that was embezzled from his bank at the time of his disappearance. He finds the man; helps him escape from some blackmailers and then sees that the guilty people are thrown in jail. Comment: Here's a typical whodunit with the usual amount of thrills and suspense of most mysteries, making it satisfactory entertainment for the armchair detectives and the Eilery Queen fans. It will fit in nicely on a program with a light feature that carries enough name strength and story values to bring the patrons in. The cast is the same as the others in the series, and they all do good, workmanlike jobs. Employ your most successful means of selling the releases in this series. "Hot" money, imprinted, could be distributed around town and at cashier's window, with change. Catchline: "Eilery Queen is out to find the Corpus Delicti." Sons Of Tlie Pioneers Republic Western 61 mins. (Nat'l Release, July 2) AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Good picture for the western fans. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Stacks up as one of the best in the series. Cast: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Maris Wrixon, Bradley Page, Bob Nolan, Pat Brady, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr, Tim Spencer, Lloyd Ferryman, Hal Taliaferro, Forrest Taylor. Credits: Directed by Joseph Kane. Photography by Bud Thackery. Original story by Mauri Grashin and Robert Shannon. Screenplay by M. Coates Webster and Frashin and Shannon. Produced by Joseph Kane. Plot: One of the most law-abiding, respectable citizens of a small western town is actually the secret leader of a gang of des peradoes. He knows of the rich deposits of chromite in the region and it is his plan to bankrupt the ranchers and grab their land. The grandson of the founder of the town is called in to take over. He appears a weakling as a bHnd, but he turns the trick by exposing the leader. Comment: Distinguished by a somewhat refreshing plot and enough rootin', tootin' and shootin' to satisfy the western addicts, this one stacks up as one of the best of this series. It is fast moving right from the start until the final fadeout, for which due credit must be given Joseph Kane, the producerdirector. It slows up a little when Roy Rogers does some vocalizing. George "Gabby" Hayes and his pal, Pat Brady, provide the film's humorous moments, while Bradley Page makes a good villain and Roy Rogers is fine in the leading role. Photography, for this type of picture, is first-rate. The usual type of exploitation used for westerns, will be okay for this one. Catchline: "A 'weakling' outwits the badmen." Panama Hattie MGM Musical-Comedy 78 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Should please in most spots for it has every element of entertainment. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Its array of comedy talent and the popularity of the song numbers should make it a substantial attraction in all situations. Cast: Red Skelton, Ann Sothern, "Rags" Ragland, Marsha Hunt, Alan Mowbray, Ben Blue, Virginia O'Brien, Dan Dailey, Jr., Jackie Horner, Carl Esmond, Lena Horne, The Berry Brothers. Credits: Directed by Norman Z. McLeod, Screenplay by Jack McGowan and Wilkie Mahoney. Based on the play by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva. Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter. Director of Photography, George Folsey. Musical Direction, Georgie Stoll. Vocals and Orchestrations by Leo Arnaud. George Bassman and Conrad Salinger. Additional Songs by Roger Edens, Burton Lane and E. V. Harburg. Produced by Arthur Freed. Plot: Ann Sothern, a night club entertainer in Panama, without background and whose pals are three rough and ready sailors, finds herself razzed by the little daughter of the man she loves; a sergeant in the army and a member of an old Philadelphia family. However, she wins out and the child ends up by teaching her how to dress and act. Comment: A musical comedy that should please in most spots, "Panama Hattie" has everything that one would expect in the screen adaptation of the Broadway musical success. It's bound to attract plenty of patronage for it has every element of entertainment, plus top names. There's comedy and dancing by Red Skelton, Ben Blue and Rags Ragland; singing by Virginia O'Brien in her own inimitable style and a few novelty dance numbers by the Berry Brothers. Its thin plot might have been a hindrance if it weren't for the fact that the amount of talent it carries keeps the picture moving constantly and the story becomes a minor detail. Ann Sothern, as Panama Hattie, proves that she can sing as well as act and rounding out the cast are such able players as Alan Mowbray, Masha Hunt, Dan Dailey, Jr., and the youngster, Jackie Horner. They all do exceptionally well. There are ten musical numbers, of which four "At The Savoy," "Good Neighbors," "Hattie From Panama," and "The Sping" are outstanding. The last named is sung by Lena Horne, while the Berry Brothers dance and this will be a treat for the youngsters. Production, direction and other {Continued on Page 16")