Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1946)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 12, ]946 43 BOX-OFFICE SLANTS iby gangsters. Billy is captured by the murderers, gets away, leads police to their capture and with the reward money loans Lowery enough to buy the farm, with the boys going to work there as his assistants. Comment: This a surprisingly interesting and entertaining film, considering that apparently there never was any intention of making it anything more than just another program picture. The team of producer Neufeld, director Newfield and photographer Greenhalgh have done a fine, convincing, light treatment of an unimportant but excellently done screenplay by Elsie and George B'ricker and Ray Schrock. Although this has many of the basic ideas associated in films about youngsters brought up on the lower East side of New York, it has a new slant: that the youngsters concerned are basically sound and honest and the victims of their environment in whatever deviltry they may become involved. That their deviltry is more mischievous than vicious is another important slant from a sociological aspect. Whatever hidden "message" may have been intended by the writers is not permitted to affect the story, however. The dialog of the supposedly tough youngsters is remarkable for the absence of "dese, dose and dem." Rather, the Yids speak in the careless manner natural with boys of their environment. There is a nice bit of entertainment contained in "Gas House Kids" that might be carefully nurtured into box-office value by enterprising showmen. Vacation in Reno RKO Radio Comedy 60 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) What should have been a comedy turns out to be just another program picture which less discriminating audiences may find entertaining. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Vi/here Jack Haley has a following, this should attract, but it needs the support of a stronger feature. Cast: Jack Haley, Anne Jeffreys, Wally Brown, Iris Adrian, Morgan Conway, Alan Carney, Myrna Dell, Matt McHugli, Claire Carleton, Jason Robards, Matt Willis. Credits : Produced and directed by Leslie Goodwins. Executive Producer, Sid Rogell. Screenplay by Charles E. Roberts and Arthur Ross. Based on a story by Charles Kerr. Photography, George E. Diskant. Plot: After Haley quarrels with his wife and she goes back to her mother, he goes to Reno on vacation. There he gets mixed up with a bank robbery, another woman, and a deputy sheriff who causes him no end of trouble. He not only catches the bandits and reaps a reward but also gets his wife back. Comment: What was meant to be a comedy, with Jack Haley in the leading role, in this instance misses the point and turns out to be just another picture. The fault lies with the story: a time-worn one with so many oft-repeated gags and situations that there is scarcely a laugh left in them. Such comedy cliches as the jealous husband, the man running around without his pants, and the mother-in-law complaint, have been hopefully combined to entertain the average audience, but to little avail. However, Haley is an experienced trouper and he does well with his share of the proceedings. It is no fault of his, and for that matter, no fault of any of the players that the comedy is lacking. They all do the best they can with their assignments. Less discriminating audiences will accept the film in their stride, and Jack Haley's name should attract where he has a following. However, in most spots, "Vacation in Reno" will need the support of a stionger feature. A Lady Surrenders Universal Drama 113 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Adult) An English picture that might have been considerably entertaining with less footage and dialog. But it does have a romance, good performances and familiar background music. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Best suited for the second half of a dual bill in most communities. May attract those moviegoers who are discriminating in their choice of good dramatic fare, regardless of box-office names. Cast: Margaret Lockwood, Stewart Granger, Patricia Roc, Tom Walls, Reginald Purdell, Moira Lister, Dorothy Bramhall, Vincent Holmau, Joan Rees, Walter Hudd, Bryan Herbert, A. E. Matthews, Josephine Middleton, Lawrence Hanray, Beatrice Varley. Credits: Directed by Leslie Arliss. Screenplay by Leslie Arliss and Doreen Montgomery. From a short story by J. W. Di'awball. Additional Dialog by Rodney Ackland. Photography, Bernard Knowles. Produced by Harold Huth. Plot: A young pianist learns that she hasn't long to live because of a bad heart, so she decides to take a holiday. At the Inn where she stops she meets a young man with whom she falls in love. He in turn is going blind but neither tells the other of their doom. Numerous complications arise before they decide to marry regardless of their time. Comment: By noting the running time of this picture, one can immediately see that unless a film has exceptional merit, the time element can be a hindrance to its reception. And this is only too true with this English production, for it is much too long and too talky to be readily accepted by the average moviegoer. A little editing, though, to quicken the tempo and shorten the running time, might aid it for it does have the romance that usually appeals to the feminine contingent and excellent performances for those who enjoy good dramatic fare. British players that are beginning to become more familiar to most patrons have the leading roles: Margaret Lockwood, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. Miss Roc, especially, is gaining recogntion, for she made her American debut in the Universal picture "Canyon Passage." In one of the top supporting roles Tom Walls attracts enough attention to have the public look for him in future English productions. Fool's Gold United Artists Western 65 mins. AUDIENCE SLANT: (Family) Extremely well produced western that should please Hopalong Cassidy's legion of fans. BOX-OFFICE SLANT: Should rake in extra dollars for the average exhibitor who uses action product. Cast: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Rand Brooks, Robert Emmett Keanc, Jane Knndolpli, Stephen Barclay, Harry Cording, Earle Hodgins, Bob Bentley, William "Wee Willie" Davis, Fred "Snowflakc" Toones. Credits: Producer, Lewis J. Rachmil. Director, George Archainbaud. Original story and screenplay by Doris Schroeder. Based on characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. Photography, Mack Stengler. Plot: Hopalong Cassidy and his two pals help regenerate the son of an army officer. The son has unfortunately been lured into a circle of bad men and is hiding out with them, evading a courtmartial. Posing as a cattleman, Hoppie heads for the forbidden territory and his cohorts join him later, in different guises. Before Hoppie and the boys uncover the gangleader and his men, Hoppie and his sidekicks are almost killed. However, all ends well with the officer's son saved from the gang's clutches, the desperadoes' leader slain by his own machinations and the gang incarcerated for its attempts to defraud the government. Comment: From a production standpoint, it is quite evident that the Hopalong Cassidys are well made. In this new release, producer Lewis J. Rachmil doesn't spare the horses, literally and figuratively, thus providing action fans with a smooth?5-siIk outdoor film. George Archainbaud's direction keeps the story moving at a fast clip and the cast is better than average for such offerings. Andy Clyde registers strongly as the comic, and of course Bill Boyd himself is letter-perfect as the renowned Cassidy. Like Old Man River the Hopalongs keep rolling along — and, as this offering shows, with good reason. Park Avenue to Show Films of £1! Nations A policy of the best in foreign films as well as domestic releases, and some of the innovations that will mark the house as a distinctive showplace were announced for the new Park Avenue Theatre this week by Walter Reade, owner. The Park Avenue is the first theatre to sell seats on a yearly subscription basis, thus eliminating the necessity of patrons waiting in line to be seated. Elaborating on the policy of the best in both foreign and domestic films, Reade said the Park Avenue would be referred to as "The Theatre of All Nations" and emphasized that "all pictures shown will be of acclaimed merit, being previously tested by critics and other audiences." Pie added that in order to preserve the "Theatre of all Nations" setting, flags of all countries whose pictures will be shown will be suspended from the Park Avenue side of the four-story building and will be visible for many blocks in the vicinity. The flags will be those of England, France, Russia, Mexico, Holland, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and Italy. One of the innovations of tlie new showplace will be the presence of a beautician in the ladies' lounge at all times. Now being trained in the art of makeup by Charles of the Ritz, the beautician will be able to offer make-up suggestions to patrons and supply them with Charles of the Ritz cosmetics in individually wrapped packages at no cost to women who request them. Motif of the beauty lounge will be pink with dusty rose carpeting and pink leatherette walls. There will be two Charles of the Ritz recessed display cases, as well as glass shelf dressing tables. A series of bi-weekly art exhibitions, including rare art treasures, paintings, water colors, etc., is also planned for the Park Avenue.