Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1944)

Ih'ccinhcr 3(1. l<^f/ SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 27 Swim Ballet (Fair) 8 mins. RKO-Pathe — Sportscope While this aquatic reel provides photographic material of graceful feminine charm, the subject matter is familiar to moviegoers who have been shown water ballets on a lavish scale. This is not meant to deprecate the present talent, for the routines in a natural setting at Wakulla Springs, Fla. are well executed and the underwater shots attractive. Underwater iishing as taught by Newton Perry concludes the subject. The sport of spearing fish while wearing an oxygen mask, trailing an air tube, wielding a spear and swimming after the fish makes an interesting though strenuous pastime. Produced by Frederic Ullman, Jr. Ski for Two (Tops) Univ. (9233) Lantz Cartune 7 mins. Walt Lantz can take his place among the top cartoon producers, for in this Cartune there is animation in the fullest meaning of the word. In his peculiar crackling voice Woody Woodpecker chortles Dark Eyes, while skiing to a mountain lodge owned by Wally Walrus. The ensuing action in which Woody gets hunk for Wally's lack of hospitality is gaited in a tempo punctuated by continuity of laughs. It will satisfy customers — young and adult. It's a honey and a buy. The Birds and the Beasts Were There (Beautiful) WB (1502) Sports Parade 10 mins. Beautiful in Technicolor photographic achievement and interesting in its subject matter, this Warner short delineates life on a rare bird farm ten miles from Miami ; proceeds to Dumond's famed monkey jungle, and concludes with a visit to Shur's parrot jungle where macaws, cockatoos and other brightly colored birds have been trained by their keepers. If it fails to please the clientele, the clientele is wrong, not the exhibitor. Produced by Blumenthal and Heilner, and directed by Andre de La Varre. The Stupid Cupid WB (9718) Looney Tunes (Amusing) 7 mins. The less sophisticated should find amusement in the action of a slap-happy cupid who starts a M ovies o n N ew Kyuinea While much has been written on overseas entertainment, very little information has been forthcoming on what an overseas theatre is actually like. Leon Webb, former manager cf Schine's State Theatre, Lexington, Ky., stationed on New Guinea, states in a letter to friends back ho^iie 90 per cent of them are 16-mm onemachine affairs. "You have a little wooden booth," he writes, "in the center of a bunch of ccconut logs laid for seats. You pick up most anything for a screen, paint it white and build a tent or some covering over it. There you are! And when it rains, and it usually does, you sit right on and watch the picture. You wculd think that with no other entertainment than movies, not even any civilization, and only three movies on the island a week, that the GIs would not dislike any movie. On the contrary, they are just as critical, if not more so, than patrons of any theatre I have ever had." batch of animal romances by the use of his rubber-tipped love arrows. Daffy Duck, having been a victim of the prankster, tries to avoid being hit again, but fails. From the last infection the continuity gags the life in a barnyard, until DafTy turns the tables on his adversary. This Technicolor cartoon was animated by George Cannata, supervised by Frank Teshlin. Stage Door Cartoon WB (9719) Merrie Melody (Amusing) 7 mins. Audiences should find themselves thoroughly amused at the antics of Bugs Bunny and Elmer who find themselves part of a vaudeville show. The gags are laugh-provoking and the finish has a surprise twist. Another good reason why these Technicolor cartoons have wide appeal. Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears ( Excellent) WB (9715) Merrie Melody 7 mins. The stories of Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood have been merged for a lot of fast and funny cartoon entertainment of the jumpin' jive variety. The three bears are a swing trio, Goldlilocks is a jitterbug, the wolf is a wolf, Red Riding Hood is repulsed rather than eaten . . NEWSREEL SYNOPSES . . (Released Saturday, December 30) MOVIETONE (Vol. 27, No. 34)— German attack in Latvia; Soviet capture of Vilna; RAF night bombing of Reich; State Department aides sworn in; Film men aid March of Dimes; British woman cheers GIs; Philippine children go back to school in liberated Leyte; USS Boxer christened at Newport News; RAF raid on Nazi ships in Norwegian fjord. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 16, No. 232)— RAF rockets sink Nazi ships in Norway; Shakeup in State Department as Stettinius gets new aides; Story of the courage of Australian girl; Red Army captures Vilna in drive to German border; Woman's Page; Filipinos back to school; United Nations fashions. PARAMOUNT (No. 35)— Year-end review of 1944 history-making highlights, including important war developments, happenings on the home front, the liberation of Paris, the war in Germany and Russia, and international politics. RKO PATHE (Vol. 16, No. 37)— New State Department aides sworn in; Liberation of Vilna; GIs hold party for Dutch children; Air route from Alaska to Russia; Schools reopened in Philippines; RAF planes sink Nazi ships. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 17, No. 358)— Russians in new drive; RAF planes raid Nazi ships; Leyte school reopens; Movie heads plan March of Dimes; One-woman lend lease; Fashions for the beach; Air route to Russia. (Released Wednesday, December 27) MOVIETONE (Vol. 27, No. 33) — Battle for Germany; Fight for Philippines; Personalities in war news; U. S. Army planes fire rockets in spectacular test; Maritime Service calls for more men ; Philadelphia sets record and wins Hollywood gold cup classic; Religion; Children of many countries send Season's Greetings. NEWS OF THE DAY (Vol. 16, No. 231)— War crisis on Western front ; Captured Nazi films show allout effort; How Rommel met death; Yanks tighten grip on Leyte; Maritime Service opens drive for new recruits; New rocket planes; Holiday greetings from Washington's diplomatic corps. PARAMOUNT (No. 34) — German drive shocks nation; Jingle bells for jungle belles; Philippines battle speeds up. RKO PATHE (Vol. 16, No. 36)— Battle against Germany; First films of new aircraft rockets; Merchant Marine asks volunteers. UNIVERSAL (Vol. 17, No. 357)— Nazi counteroffensive; U. S. Maritime Service needs officers and men ; First films of new rocket planes ; Children's greetings from foreign diplomats' families in Washington, D. C. ALL-AMERICAN (Vol. 3. No. 114)— Young musicians play at Carnegie Hall; Editor's cook conducts a column; "League of Nations" at Howard "U" ; New convalescent heme in Capitol; Episcopal elders meet in Louisville; Kids appear in Broadway revue; 92nd Division takes a breathing spell; First Negro troops in Germany. and Grandma is a rug-cutting hep cat. The whole cast have been drawn as Harlem "characters" for a most amusing result. This is the first time you will ever have felt sorry for the wolf. The story by Tedd Pierce, animated by Ken Champin and supervised by I. Freleng, is in Technicolor. Nautical But Nice (Satisfying) WB (1105) Featurette 20 mins. Against a background of a servicemen's recreation hall, the Michon Brothers, Brown, Rich and Ball, the La Barre Brothers, and the Honey Boys combined with the Runaway Four render as sweet a version of Cryin' for the Carolines as has ever been heard by professional ears. The film opens with a shot of Broadway before the war and concludes with a men's chorus of Don't Give Up the Ship. Specialties are up to standard. Produced by Gordon Hollingshead from a script by Jack Scholl. Very satisfying 20 minutes. Sonny Dunham and His Orchestra (Exceptional) WB (1604) Melody Master 10 mins. There is a deft variation in the presentation of this Warner short of Sonny Dunham and his orchestra, for instead of the conventional arrangement it shows the gradual steps in the evolution of the band beginning with Dunham's purchase of an instrument in a pawn shop up to the time when he has moulded a three-man ensemble to a full-fledged group in a top night club. Excellent continuity, with the Pied Pipers and Angela Greene in the specialty spots. Gordon Hollingshead produced, Jack Scholl directed. ■ Dedicates 'Devil Boats' Playdate To Son's PT Squadron 21 Taking advantage of the fact that his son, Warren, is a member of PT Squadron 21, which the President recently cited. Manager John J. Metzger of the Oriental Theatre, Beaver City, Neb., advertised Warners' "Devil Boats" with the same prominence given a feature, and dedicated the showing to Squadron 21, and all navy men and women. Business was the best for any weekend in years, Metzger reports, with not only the local crowd on hand to see the subject but also a number of strangers from surrounding towns. Exploits Return of Short Feature stories and other newspaper publicity material were promoted by Florine Maples of the Capitol Theatre, Brownsville, Texas, for the return engagement of Paramount's Speaking of Animals short, "Tales of the Border." And With Cigarets So Plentiful! Patrons were so impressed by the Warner short, "So You Want to Give Up Smoking?," reports Manager J. B. Turley of the Dal-Sec Theatre, Dallas, that nobody came out to smoke in the lobby. TOPS in QUALITY ♦ ErFECTIVEWESS SAME PAY SERVICE 1327 So. Wabash Avenue Chicago, s III.