Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1945)

May 12. 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 39 The Seesaw and the Shoes (Exceptional) MGM (K-576) Passing Parade 10 mins. In 900 feet of film taking but 10 minutes running time, this short has more human interest in two unrelated subjects connected with the abstract in achievement through accident, than many dramas dealing with a single subject taking an hour or more of footage. The film delineates the manner in which two simple things inspired great events in the world's "Passing Parade" — a children's seesaw first gave Renee Laennec, a French doctor, the idea for the stethoscope and to a pair of old shoes, Charles Goodyear owed the discovery of the process of vulcanizing rubber. The episode dealing with Dr. Laennec shows him in his relationship with a patient stymied by ignorance through no fault of his own in the endeavor to accurately diagnose the heart-beat. Looking through a window he observes children on a seesaw striking the contraption with a stick and putting their ears alternately to the tilting board to catch the sound penetrating through the wood. From this observation and after long experimentation came the professional stethoscope. Goodyear's accidental discovery of vulcanizing rubber came after heat-break and a term in prison, and it is the dramatization of the accident that should key an audience to pitch in its suspense. The film has been more than competently directed by Douglas Foster with a cast that does everything required to make both episodes convincing. Unusual Occupations No. 4 (Interesting) Paramount (L4-4) 10 mins. Four sequences comprise the latest of this series in color ably produced by Jerry Fairbanks, the last of which is the most interesting and has, in addition, the quality of a travelog. It shows how the natives of Peru on the western slopes of the Andes derive their livelihood from the llama. The first sequences is devoted to Edward Kimball, an animater, of San Gabriel, Calif., who manipulates a life-sized locomotive of an 1881 model on his own narrow gauge track around his own two-acre lot. A thrill is furnished in a man who makes a living by diving for coins from a dizzy cliff near Acapulco, Mex., and the making of glittering ornaments from fish scales is the unusual occupation of a NewOrleans woman. Bikes and Skis (Beautiful) WB (1504) Sports Parade 10 mins. Although this is listed as a Sports Parade and shows a bevy of lovely Florida war workers on their day off bicycling, swimming and water skiing in the famous cypress gardens it is notable chiefly for the gorgeous Technicolor photography of glowing azaleas, cypresses and natural background beauty of the locale. Produced by A. Pam Blumenthal and Van Campen Heilner, supervised by Gordon Hollingshead and directed by Andre De La Varre, it will fit in nicely with almost any program. The Eyes Have It (Entertaining) RKO (54,109) Walt Disney 7 mins. It was only a question of time before Donald lJuck would take up hypnotism. With a set of newly acquired E-Z hypnotism glasses, Donald focuses a sodistic interest on Pluto and puts him th rough the paces of transforming him into a mouse while Donald enacts the role of a cat. The climax reaches pitch when Pluto is mesmerized into a lion. Pluto then chases Donald through the roof until a fall brings Pluto to his senses. Donald streaks off over the horizon calling for help while Pluto turns to the audience with a puzzled, raised eye-brow expression. There is lots of fun for the kiddies in this Technicolor cartoon. Author in Babyland (Interesting) Universal (9375) Person-Oddities 9 mins. This is a concoction of interesting facts about interesting people. It includes information about a business executive who writes mystery stories, a woman who makes beautiful hooked rugs out of worn-out material, a one-legged athlete who amazingly high-jumps 5 feet 7 inches, shows model railroad enthusiasts working at their hobby. There are a few scenes, too, of cute Kola bears. Swing Serenade (Very Good) Universal (9126) Musicals 15 mins. A light thread of story introduces Henry King and His Orchestra, the Leo Diamond (Juintet, Gloria Delson, the Costello Twins, Artie Wayne and Mary Gordon. Associate Producer Will Cowan presents the musical organizations nicely and the direction of Robert Wilmot is smooth. The musicians deliver several numbers, including two calypso tunes. Artie Wayne delivers a solo in exceptionally pleasing voice and does a vocal duet with Gloria Delson that also registers well. Miss Delson also solos nicely. Good addition to any program where 15 minutes can be spotted. Woody Dines Out (Good) Ua.virsal (i,238) Technicolor Cartunes 7 mins. Woody Woodpecker, looking for a restaurant, mistakenly enters a taxidermist establishment and hnds himself involved in an attempt to stuff him as a rare specimen of King Sized woodpecker. Woody outwits the proprietor in a series of maneuvers in an elevator shaft. Good comedy in Technicolor. Ain't That Ducky? (Funny) WB (1705) Looney Tunes 7 mins. Daffy escapes from the inevitable hunter and finds a baby duck with a mysterious brief case which causes the duckling constant grief. The hunter and Daffy pool their resources to steal the brief case to satisfy their curiosity about its contents. Their efforts to steal the case and its surprising contents add up to a lively, funny short photographed in Technicolor. Circus Band (Very Good) WB (1608) Melody Masters 10 mins. This is a perfect substitute for actually seeing the circus under the big top. Built around the circus band as it accompanies the acts and leads the Main Street parade, the short shows acrobats, clowns, animals, equestrians, performing elephants and trapeze performers, all seen to the accompaniment of typical circus music. Well produced by Gordon Hollingshead and directed by Jack SchoU. Dress Parade (Very Good) RKO (53,107) This Is America 16 mins. If any of your patrons get the impression that this new This Is America release concerns West Pointers on dress parade, it will be up to you to dispel that impression. For, as a matter of fact, "Dress Parade" is a pictorial report on the origin of fashion design in America, and a darn good report at that. Naturally, its chief appeal will be to the feminine element, but that's an important asset, since any picture that draws the women will have women bringing their men with them. The subject takes the audience inside the fashion industry, shows the breakdown of fashion from Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue style to bargain basement, depicts how professional designers find inspiration in contemporary living as well as in the museums. New York's fabulous garment district, as well as those of Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and St. Louis, contribute sequences to the footage. "Dress Parade," which was produced by Frederic Ullman, Jr., and directed by Richard O. Fleischer, was prepared in collaboration with the editors of This Week magazine. It should be a natural for tieups with department st-ores. Hollywood Scout (Unique) MGM (S-560) Pete Smith Specialty 8 mins. It takes a specialist like Pete Smith to give dog acts the variation which takes them out of routine and places them in the category of the unique. Smith's articulation, delivery and editing of a subject while having all the attributes of a commodity in movies, never, at least within this observer's experience, falls into the rut of repetition. There is always a variation of a theme on a single string. The film is a day in the life of a lady animal talent scout who spends her time searching for cute canines who cut clever capers for the cameras. It accomplishes this with distinction and humor. There is not a dull moment in the eight minutes of running time. It is recommended to exhibitors without reservation. The Last Installment (Absorbing) MGM (A-503) Crime-Does-Not-Pay 19 mins. Elements of melodrama told in bold strokes and tense terms form the background for this Crime-Does-Not-Pay subject and adds up to an absorbing 19 minutes of thrilling entertainment. The story takes up the preceding chapters of one of gangland's lords as envisaged by a youthful prisoner in his cell on the eve of his release. Bidding good-bye to the warden the following day, the latter shows him the reality of the unconcluded chapter in the person of the ex-gangster, now a prisoner, broken, suffering from a stroke, ending his days behind prison bars. The direction by Walter Hart is meritorious. Popular Science No. 4 (Very Interesting) Paramount (J4-4) 10 mins. Of particular interest to housewives is the opening sequence devoted to the modern kitchen where the latest in scientific gadgets makes household work almost as attractive as the picture envisages. If the housewife never knew that dipping bacon in cold water prevents it from shriveling in the process of frying, she can learn it here. Also illustrated is the fact that space (Continued on Page 44)