Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

May 5, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 17 for detail and for the subject depicted, this picture never lifts itself out of the trough of despondency with which it opens. There are few moments of relief from the overpowering sense of futility in which the family finds itself in spite of the determination and fortitude evidenced by Zachary Scott as the farmer and Betty Field as his wife. Performances by all concerned are excellent, even though the material with which they have to work with gives them little opportunity to display histrionic skill. J. Carrol Naish as a sour, uncooperative neighboring farmer plays the taciturn agrarian in his usual workmanlike fashion and 'Beulah Bondi as Granny is convincing. There is little to recommend from the entertainment point of view. Will do fairly well coupled with a musical or comedy feature in the double bill situations. The Brighton Strangler RKO Radio Drama 67 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: Just an average program offering that will get by where patrons are not too discriminating. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Suitable for lower half of a dual bill. However, exploitation possibilities lurk in the theme and title, so that enterprising shovraien should be able to attract pretty good patronage, at least at the outset of the engagement. Cast: John Loder, June Duprez, Michael St. Angel, Miles Mander, Rose Hobart, Gilbert Emery, Rex Evans, iVtatthew Boulton, Olaf Hytten, Lydia Bilbrook, Ian Wolfe. Credits: Produced by Herman Schlom. Directed by Max Nosseck. Original screenplay by Arnold Phillips and Max Nosseck with additional dialogue by Hugh Gray. Photography by J. Roy Hunt. Plot: John Loder, having just completed a successful run in the play, "The ^Brighton Strangler," in which he portrays a homicidal maniac, receives a serious head injury in the London "blitz" and assumes in real life the part he had played so long on the stage. He murders the Lord Mayor of Brighton and the chief inspector of the district, both of whom were objects of his wrath in the play. He is about to strangle June Duprez when a series of circumstances lead the police to a London roof garden, similar to the last scene locale of the play. He falls off the roof and is killed. Comment: While the story in this drama had possibilities, little has been done to make it into anything other than an average program offering suitable as the second half of a double bill. John Loder and June Duprez perform in a fair manner, and others in the cast do as well as could be expected in the obvious "quickie" treatment given the production. There are, however, showmanship possibilities in the theme and title, so that enterprising showmen should be able to attract pretty good patronage, at least at the outset of the engagement. Swing Out, Sister Universal Comedy With Music 60 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) One of those inexpensively produced comedies with music that should get by with the adolescents. Not-too-discriminating adult audiences will be mildly entertained. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Where these musicals have proved popular, this new entry should do fairly well, but it will need the support of a stronger feature. Cast: Rod Cameron, Billie Burke, Arthur Treacher, Frances Raeburn, Jacqtieline De Wit, Samuel S. Hinds, Fuzzy Knight, Milburn Stone, Edgar Dearing, Sam Flint, Constance Purdy, Selika Pettiford, Leo Diamond Quintet. Credits: Screenplay by Henry Blankfort from an original story by Eugene Conrad and Edward Dein. Directed by Edward Lilley. Associate Producer, Bernard W. Burton. Photography by Paul Ivano. Plot: Milburn Stone, night club proprietor, is in love with Frances Raeburn, his star singer, but believes her memory of an early love with Rod Cameron, symphony conductor. will stand in the way of their contemplated marriage. She visits her aunt, Billie Burke, who is sponsoring the Symphony Orchestra, and discovers she loves Cameron, who really is a swing addict. Following complications during which she nearly marries Stone to spite Cameron, all ends well. Comment: This is another of those inexpensive comedies with music obviously made to appeal to swing-mad adolescents. In this instance, the story is weak, the acting fairly passable and the music just so-so. Harmonica band addicts will enjoy one of the numbers by the Leo Diamond Quintet. Rod Cameron fails to convince as a swing trumpeter, Frances Raeburn is fair as a songstress, and Jacqueline De Wit does well with the material assigned her. As one supposed to be hep to jive, Arthur Treacher is something from another world. Where these musicals have proved popular, this new entry should get by, but it will need the support of a stronger feature. Eve Knew Her Apples Columbia Comedy-Drama 63 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Another Ann Miller musical minus the customary dancing. Good program fare. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Satisfactory supporting fare. Cast: Ann Miller, William Wright, Robert Williams, Ray Walker, Charles D. Brown, John Eldredge, Eddie Bruce. Credits: Produced by Wallace MacDonald. Screenplay by E. Edwin Moran. Story by Rian James. Photography, Burnett Guffey. Directed by Will Jason. Plot: To escape her manager and thus get herself a much-needed vacation, a radio singer hides in a parked car. She's found there by the owner, who though he believes her an escaped murderess, offers to help her. They fall in love but many misunderstandings arise before they pledge their life together. Comment: These Columbia-Ann Miller musicals make good program fare, for they are light and frothy and have those famous Miller dance routines for the entertainment of all. Because of this, your patrons may be a little surprised to find that in this picture, which is also supporting fare. Miss Miller does nary a step; she just sings and emotes. The story gives her the type of role in which she presents several songs quite satisfactorily and handles her comedy lines well. William Wright is good as a newspaperman and Ray Walker, Robert Williams and John Eldredge are among others in the cast who perform well under Director Will Jason's guidance. Wallace MacDonald produced. WARM GREETING. Connie Mack, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, was warmly greeted by Fred MacMurray when the two met at the 20th Century-Fox studio recently. During his visit Mack watched MacMurray play a scene in "Captain Eddie," under the direction of Lloyd Bacon, seated at table at left. Art Shafer, formerly of the New York Giants, is seated at Bacon's left. Oath of Vengeance PRC Western 55 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Although this one is tabbed a western, it hasn't the usual amount of action and gunplay the fans seek for entertainment. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Western program offering. Cast: Buster Crabbe, Al (Fuzzy) St. John, Mady Laurence, Jack Ingram, Charles King, Marin Sais, Karl Hackett, Kermit Maynard, Hal Price, Frank Ellis. Credits: Directed by Sam Newfield. Original story and screenplay, Fred Myton. Photography, Robert Cline. Produced by Sigmund Neufeld. Plot: Crabbe joins Al St. John when he buys a general store in another town. Once there he discovers trouble among the ranchers and settlers, and he ends up by making life peaceful for the worthy ones. Comment: Unlike most westerns, this one doesn't go in for the usual amount of action and gunplay the fans seek when they come looking for this fare at the Saturday matinee show. It depends mostly for entertainment on the good-neighbor policy of helping straighten out a situation that interferes with everyone's well-being. The kids and others who follow this type of picture, will be satisfied with the performances turned in by B'uster Crabbe and Al (Fuzzy) St. John, but they'll be disappointed when nothing exciting happens to arouse their usual demonstrations. In other respects, the plot is standard stuff, for as usual, there's trouble between the ranchers and settlers. Quebec 6 Per Cent Luxury Tax Newest Headache for Distributors Newest headache for the film industry in the Province of Quebec, Canada, is the provincial government's new six per cent luxury tax which became effective April 27. Cinematographic instruments, apparatus, films of all kinds and the rental of such films come under the law. The distributor must pay the tax. At the same time he cannot re-collect it from the moviegoing public, for admission prices cannot be increased without the permission of the Wartime Prices and Trades Board which, being Federally constituted, has no interest in the matter until such time as the distributor makes application for price adjustments. It has been estimated that the new tax will cost the distributors approximately $50,000 annually. Official action by the distributors and other theatremen involved is now underway, and the Allied Exhibitors of Quebec are sending a delegation to Quebec City to discuss the matter with the provincial government. Rites for Mother of Geo. Bowser Funeral services were held Friday (April 27) at the Greek Orthodox church on San Julian St., Los Angeles, for Mrs. Spyroula Bowser, 73, mother of George Bowser, general manager of Fox West Coast Theatres, who passed away Thursday (April 26). Interment followed at Inglewood cemetery. Kay to WB Studio Post Ellingwood W. Kay, story editor under Jacob VVilk in the Warner home office for the past two years, leaves New York in about two weeks to assume a more important post in the story department at the Burbank studio. Form Screen Guild Productions A new distributing company formed by 20 independent exchange men has been chartered under the name of Screen Guild Productions, Inc. Tentatively known as Cardinal Pictures Corp., the organizers met in Chicago over the weekend to complete details for operation plans.