Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1943)

February 27, 1943 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 41 McDonald's Son (Enjoyable) Col. (4656) Community Sing No. 6 9% mins. Don Baker at the organ presents a group of five catchy numbers, featuring a new parody of "MacDonald Had a Farm," changed to the more timely title, "MacDonald Had a Son." "Margie" and "Sleepy-Time Gal," the first a recent hit-tune and the latter an old-time favorite, have accompanying male and female choruses that will have the more romantic cinema patrons singing to each other. "Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie" is a sentimental cowboy song, and the finale is the rousing "Nothing'll Stop the Army Air Corps." The Screwball (Funny) Univ. (7244) Cartunes No. 4 7 mins. Woody Woodpecker carves himself a hole in the ball park fence and incurs the wrath of the attending cop. Later he maneuvers a grandstand seat and manages to make himself a general nuisance until the avenging cop makes his appearance and Woody is forced to take the mound for the local Drips against the visiting Droops. He is getting along swell when he again encounters the cop and finds himself pinned to the scoreboard with cop and players using his peaked mug for a target. Let Huey Do It (Interesting) Univ. (7376) Person-Oddities No. 6 9 mins. This reel about persons engaged in unusual hobbies and occupations features the one-man insurance company of Denton, Texas. Company is entirely run, from janitor duties to presidency, by F. B. Huey, who has written more than 2,000 policies in 1942 and enjoys the highest rating with the National Insurance Board. Frank Lantz's picturesque and historic winery on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie is also shown as are some interesting views of a Humming Bird Cafeteria, a haven for the fast fluttering feathered song birds in California where all meals are on the house ; some scenes taken on the farm of Walter Knott in California where miniature reproductions of mining towns and old time desperadoes stud the landscape ; and tiny Emily Bower, of Louisville, Ky., a two and a half year old youngster that takes to water like a fish. Since Pearl Harbor A sure way to make your screen pulse wil-h drama, heart-appeal and stirring human interest is to show "Since Pearl Harbor," which is the title of an 8-minute Red Cross trailer being distributed by the War Activities Committee through Paramount exchanges. March of Time produced the reel — as fine a job as that expert producing organization for the filming of documentary-type motion pictures has ever turned out. It gives a rapid-fire pictorial report of what the American Red Cross has done for the fighting men of the U. S. forces at home and abroad, for the victims of Jap cruelty in prison camps (the latter through a vivid story related by Correspondent Powell from his bed in a hospital where he is recovering from surgery necessary to amputate both of his feet as a result of his imprisonment in Hong Kong). There's a masterly balance of potent scenes — and when your patrons have seen the reel they'll want to step-up their contributions to the Red Cross — which will be all to the good. sledding, harness racing, skating, ice-boating, dog-sledding and skiing (civilian and military) provide thrills aplenty from start to finish. The scenes of Uncle Sam's armed ski corps and the snow paratroopers all maneuvering in precise military unison — and no spills — will make your spine tingle. Cow Cow Boogie (Amusing) Univ. (7233) Swing Symphonies No. 3 7 mins. The ranch foreman is having trouble with the cow hands spending most of their time singing Home on the Range when he happens to hear a colored boy swinging some snappy rhythm and ropes him into service at the ranch piano. When the darkie begins putting in hot licks on the ivories the hands take to their horses and in no time at all a whole trainload of contented cows is on the way to market. Reel is in color. Cholly Polly (Silly) Col. (4704) Phantasy Cartoon 9% mins. "Cholly Polly" is a new character in this Phantasy comedy of a cat, a dog and a parrot in a serene household. Eager for excitement, the parrot pulls a book from a library shelf with the idea of throwing it at the peacefully sleeping dog. A passage from the book ("Mein Kampf") catches his eye and he becomes the blackest symbol of Hitlerian mischief. He achieves his evil design by stirring up "civil war." However, the battling dog and cat realizes what he's up to and Cholly gets the "woiks." Mr. Smug (Good) Col. (4962) Victory Series 11 mins. Two characterizations of a mental dilemma are seen in Mr. Smug (Alan Dinehart) and Mr. Common Sense (Edgar Buchanan) in a battle of wits on America's families on behalf of the war effort. It's a patriotic short to inspire the audience to use common sense at all times, particularly when it concerns the welfare of the Government. Puppefroon Releases Set Paramount has scheduled the release date of March 15 for "Bravo, Mr. Strauss," latest in the series of George Pal's Puppetoons. Pal has just completed recording on "The Truck That Flew," and actual shooting will get under way this week. "The SOO Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins" is now being edited and will be released late in May. Pal has just made a deal with Famous Music Publishing Company to publish all the songs from the Pal films. Jean Negulesco Stays On Warner Bros, has exercised its option on the directorial contract of Jean Negulesco, whose story of the merchant marine, "A Ship Is Born," is now being shown throughout the country. . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . Mothers of Presidents (Very Good) Univ. (7357) Variety Views No. 7 10 mins. An interesting and educational film treatise on Virginia as the state in which most of the nation's presidents were born, educated or reared with accompanying narration devoted to intimate and historic facts about Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Wilson — all of whome figured so prominently in the making and preservation of the four freedoms for which we are now battling Japs and Huns. The footage is spiced up a bit with some thrilling shots of the annual fox hunt that is still handled on the same course and in the same manner as in Colonial days. Winter Sports Jamboree (Exciting) Univ. (7356) Variety Views No. 6 9 mins. Some interesting shots of the rugged and hardy folk who delight in disporting themselves in the snow and on the ice that will make you appreciate that warm fireside — or has the oil shortage made you join the "bundlers"? — Bob (Relcascd Saturday, February 27) MOVIETONE (Vol. 25, No. SO)— Tank battle in Tunisia; Russian offensive rolls on; New point rationing; Oil for East by pipeline; New York air raid drill; Filipino troops in U. S. army; Girls swamp Marine offices to enlist in Women's Reserve; Graduate pilots display strafing tactics. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 14, No. 248) — American soldiers meet Nazi fire in Tunisia; American pilots tell of raids on Germany; County wrested from Nazis rebuilt by Russia's women; Fighter planes in action; Oath of American citizenship administered to 1,200 Filipino soldiers; Helpful hints on point rationing. PARAMOUNT (No. 53)— Oil for East by pipeline; New hairdress reveals Veronica Lake's other eye; Loyalty of Japanese-Americans; For the army: a guy named Joe (Di Maggio) ; Battle scenes in Tunisia; New point rationing. PATHE (Vol. 14, No. 53)— Americans battle Nazi tanks in Tunisia; New point rationing; Dakar joins Alhed fight; Oil for East by pipeline; Flyers demonstrate strafing tactics. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 16, No. 166) — American tanks batter enemy; British Eighth Army rolls on; Allies all set in Dakar; New point rationing; Oil for East by pipeline; New pilots stage air maneuvers. (Released Wednesday, February 25) MOVIETONE (Vol. 25, No. 49) — Mme. Chiang Kai shek guest of President, speaks to Congress; Air fighting in battle of Tunisia; British entry into Tripoli; French warship Richelieu in U. S. to be refitted; Most Rev. John J. Boylan elevated to rank of Bishop (Des Moines only) ; Major Ruth Cheney Streeter head of Women's Reserve of U. S. Marine Corps; First fullarmored division parades might in California desert. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 14, No. 247)— British entry into Tripoli; Nazi dive bombers blast Allied bases in Tunisia ; French warships from Dakar here to join United Nations; Mme. Chiang Kai-shek in stirring talk to Congress; Iowa priest elevated to Bishop of Rockford (Omaha and Des Moines only) ; 2,000 U. S. tanks in action; Famed minesweeping plane (except Omaha and Des Moines). PARAMOUNT (No. 52) — French warships come to U. S. harbors; Nazis give Allies setback in Tunisia; British entry into Tripoli; U. S. Marine Corps celebrate 167th anniversary; Women join Marine Corps Women's Reserve; Mme. Chiang Kai-shek speaks to Congress. PATHE (Vol. 14, No. 52) — British entry into Tripoli; Axis bombs Tunisian airports; British planes fight mines; Mme. Chiang Kai-shek speaks to Congress; French warships in U. S. harbors; Armored precision in mass review. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 16, No. 165)— Mme. Chiang Kaishek warns of Japanese strength; Advance guard of French Navy here; Nazi attack on Allied base; British 8th Army in Tripoli; Armored division in desert review; Women rush to join Marine Corps Women's Reserve.