Variety (Jul 1939)

Wednesday, July 26, 1939^ PICTURES VARIETY 27 DEAD MAN'S SHOES (Continued from page IB) tn keep silence after the black- mailer. greedy to rob the safe on loD of his 'hush money" is ghot by the Eirt when she learns he is going to spill the beana anyway. ^ A splendid cast gives weight to thS highly colored tale, with the two chief players making the most of their respective roles. Judy Kelly bringi; the right degree of bitterness Snd oathos to the part of the de- aerted sweetheart, but Joan Marlon as the loyal wife Is not too kindly served with the recording which oc- casionally makes her voice too flat and unsympathetic. Skilled direction and realistic French background help to make this a worthwhile production. Cletn. RENEGADE TRAIL (wrrn songs) . paramount releane of l/orry Shcrmnn orwluclfon. FrHlurea WllllBm_ Hoyd. fieomo Hayes. RuiimU Hoyden Charlotte Wynlers. .Munny Hupp and King s Men. Dlrerteil by Jxjsley flelnnder. Screonplny by .lohii nnthinell, baaed on oharnctora ' crenli'cl by Clai-ence-E. Mulford; additional dialnit by Hiirrlnon Jacoba: camera, nuaaell llarlan. At Central.. N. Y., atarllnpt July 15. ■311, oh dunl bill. RunnlnR lime: 117 tlopMonit Camldy, William Boyd •H inily Hallldny Oeorue Hnyea ^ucky Jenkins ..HuBaell Hayden Mary Joyce Charlotte Wyntera •Smoky' Jojiln Hunacll Hopton- Joey Joyce • Ronny.Dupp 14)11)1 Jack Itockwell •stilt Hal' Unlley Hoy naroroft Traynor John Morton Haaklna Dob Kortman mdcrii..... 'The KInic'a Men' Harry Sherman's formula for his Hopalong Cassldy series continues to gallop along at breakneck pace. The Hopalong westerns with BlU Boyd In the Cassldy role likewise continue to Improve, and this one turns slightly musical as The King's Men, from radio, supply some background warbling, it's an okay addition be- cause not permitted to slow down the customary outdoor tempo. 'Renegade Trail' stacks up with the best In this group, with George Hayes and Russell Hayden In their standard roles. This pair has been aiding Boyd's Hopalong exploits for a year or so. In the latest adventure, Hopalong comes to the rescue, ostensibly of his pal. Windy, who's been made a town marshal Actually, It's the at- tractive widow Joyce who makes him pursue two ex-cons and cattle- rustlers and prevent them from stealing her lierd. . There's the familiar qulck-on-the' trigger scenes, the contrasting humor —supplied-by—Wlndv-Hind-I>ucky^and —tha.customary-.-las(-minute -dashes- to save the hard-pressed forces of the hero. This one, too, has Hopalong halting a runaway biiggy and sav- ing the widow and her young son. Boyd flts neatly Into the Hopalong character, and he's now accepted as a he-man who's won his-spurs on the western scene. Hayes as Windy end Hayden as the faithful Lucky Jenkins, /youthful assistant to Hopa- long, likewise O.K. Sonny Bupp makes a ts^plcal western boy. Charlotte Wynters, as widow Jovce^ Is comely and can act. Rus- sell Hopton, as one of the iescaped convicts, Hoy Barcroft, Jack Rock- well, John Merton and Bob Kortman make high-class support. 'Hi Thar Stranger' and 'Lazy Rolls the Rio Grande' are the top tunes deftly handled by The Kln"'s Men, Lesley Selander's direction Is up to standard, while Russell Harlan's photography takes full advantage of unusually picturesque backgrounds. wear. face the camera. It shows in one scene, obviously too good to cut out. Woollcott's running narrative is topnotch, his own choice of words fit- ting his familiar radio personality. The shrills of the quintuplets and their rapid-fire French are virtually the only other sounds captured. Wear. HONOR OF THE WEST (WITH 90N0S) Universal relcnHe ot Trem Carr produc- tion, features Hob Unker, Mnrjorle Bell, Carlton Touok. Jack Kirk. Directed by QeorKe Wacgner. .'itory and ndaplallon. Joseph Weal; camera, Harry Neumann. At Arena, N. Y., dual, July J4, '311. nunnin? time: «0 WI.NH. Uob Dob Bilker Ulitne .Marjorle Uell nuHS Curleton Younc Heck Jack Kirk I'Uke ......Dick Dickenson Hutch Knink O'i'nnnor Tom '....Reed Howes Dat Ulenn Slranxe Walker. , Forrest Taylor FIVE TIMES FIVE RKO release of Paths Film (Frederic Ull- man. Jr.) production. Stars the DIonne Quintuplets; features Alexander Woollcott. Directed by Frank Donovan. Script and narration by Woollcott: camera, Harry w. .Smith; editor. Jay nonalleld. Previewed In Projection Jloom, N. T., July 'M, '80, Running time; Kl MIKS. The Pathe News production outfit headed by Frederic Ullman, Jr., and aided by Alexander Woollcott, who wrote and performs hif own narra- tion, besides appearing In numerous scenes, has turned out a trim box- office article with 'Five Times Five, "ne appeal of the Ave DIonhe young- sters Is as great as ever. Which means a remarkably Interesting 21 minutes has been •wrapped up In covering their everyday childish pranks and tricks. Makes this short an unusual featurette. Essay-like story takes Woollcott to Callendar, Ont., for a visit with the Qlnts, ivith the omnipotent Dr. A. R- Dafoe accompanying. <»4t' -then sliows preparations for tnelr visit to Toronto as guests of the'Z^ritlsh king and queen. Sorta command perform- ance. But there are' no views of them with the royal pair or any shots of the British rulers, doubtlessly due to traditional rule that none should be photographed with the king and queen. Return to their home develops Into scenes with the youngsters playing store and celebrating their filth Dlrthdays with a giant open-air party, pe charm of all five makes the most mane scenes appear worth viewing. Since they were photographed In an- other RKO short about Iff, months ago. the Dlonnes have developed Into little actresses. They even assisted airector Frank Donovan (who also nandled them In the previous short) oy directing each other In how to Dead Men Tell No Tales . (BBI'nSH-.MADE) Alliance production and release. .<itnrs EmIyD WllllBms: featurca Sura SicRer. Hugh Williams, Mttrlut Uorlng. Directed by David MacDonnld. From novel by FnincU Uoeding; adaotidlun, Walter Sum- mers and tjtafford Dlcklns; added iIIuIok, 12mlyn Williams; editor, Jemcs CurbcU; photography,' Urynn LangU-y, At Qlobe, N, Y.. week July 'O, '30. nunnlni,- time: Dr. Headlam ...Emiyn Williams Marjorlo.... V :jara Seegar Detective Martin (lugh Williams Ureenlng Mnrlus Goring Hllxabeth Orme Lesley Brook .Mlos Haslett ..Chrlntlne Silver Frank Fielding Cllve Morton Ilrldgel ....Anne Wilton Crump. .Tack Vivian The Singer... Marjurle Dalo Good average western melodrama with a slngln' sheriff, slow to anger, but quick on the draw. Has enough story and production value to hold Its own where mustangers are favor- ites. Getting olT to fast-action at a rodeo and making good use of dupe library thrill shots of broncs throwing riders, director loses no time in getting to the meat of the story. Gang of cattle rustlers entice a kid rancher into their gang and his friend, the sheriff, does his best to show him the error of his ways. From there on, with orders to bring in the gang, Baker, when he Isn't singin' prairie songs and acourtin', pursues a dilatory round- up of the brand-switchers. When one of the deputies is shot down, his brother, a real tough hombre, seeks vengeance. Baker finally resigns as sheriff and goes after the kid headed for the border In an effort to protect him Three-cornered gun flght ensues in the hills, with the new sheriff, Glenn Strange, the rustlers. Baker and Young, now pals, all poppln' away from behind rocks. Battle ends when leader of rustlers and Young are killed, and the rest of the gang is captured, Marlorie Bell, ingenue, looks pert enough, but is too young and unso- phisticated in this part. Baker and Young stand out in pleasingcharac- terlzatlons. Baker sings The Old Chuck Wagon,' accompanied by in strumental cowhands and also accom- panies himself on the guitar with Trlde of the Prairie,' both good west- ern tunes. Music Is Interspersed be- tween killings just to inclicate that nobody grieves very much over dead -men-in-4hlE-Tpar-t-of-the-countcy. —£xtetiorsrand.photography-measure up favorably with the better brand of westerns. DEATH GOES NORTH Warwick production and release. Features Edgar Kdwurda, Sheila Dromley. Directed by Frank McDonald., fcreenplay by Ed- ward R. Austin: camera, Harry Forbes; editor, Wllllnm Austin, A> Central, N. Y.. dual: week July '30. Running time at MIN8. Ken Strang* Edgar Edwards nisle Oarlow Sheila Bromley Mrs. Barlow Dorothy Bmdshaw Mr. Barlow Jameson Tliomns Albert Norton Walter Byron Dart Norton Arthur Kerr Puffet..* James McGrath Maggie Vivian Combe Freddie Reginald HIncks RIn-Tln-TIn, Jr RIn-Tln-TIn, Jr. A blood-and-thunder contribution by England that has its drawbacks but can stand up alongside the av- erage. 'B-' of Its type in America. The title should mean something on mar- quees, although the names of the ^r- tlsU won't. In 1920 the old ViU- graph company made a picture bear-^ ing the same designation but that was a different story. The English 'Dead Men Tell No Tales' Is based on a novel by . Francis Beeding known as "The Norwich Victims,' lo- caled in London and environments. There is plenty of action In Alli- ance's murder mystery but also a lot ot dialog, some of it a bit windy. Emlyn Williams, who plays a dual role as distant as the two' poles, wrote some of the dialog. Not so much may be said for his dialog and that of the two adaptors, but of out- standing importance is his work as a character actor, Qn the latter count he handicaps as a. strong pros- pect for Hollywood. Williams plays his two parts so exceedingly well that audiences will never suspect that the French loan- shark and murderer Is also the school professor, until tho L-oiincc- tion is made obvious toward the last. A digest of the action leaves much to be explained as to how the pede- gogue could attend to his school and also to his money-lending business, latter a blind for Insidious loot- grabbing schemes, without being twins; and also how he could avoid detection, once under suspicion for murder. In this case, Scotland Yard does a very poor Job in checking up on the movements of the man Other inconsistencies include the failure of the secretary at the boys' school to remain behind when, the principal, knowing she has the dope on him, as-much as-tells her he-Is going to take her off for a quiet little murder somewhere. Equally as unsound is the way In which Les ley Brook, secretary to the murder- er at his loan shop, lets herself in Murder ■ mystery melodrama set in the Canadian northwoods, where the mountles always get their man. This one is no exception except for one bright spot In an otherwise me- diocre production. That is the out- standing work of the 'dog, Rln-Tin- Tln, Jr. Will do all right as sec- ondary filler on duals, but might get better results if Rln, Jr., got stronger marquee billing. Story is laid in the timber coun- try, but most of the action Is con- fined to interiors. Canadian North- west mounted police-—-both of them in this picture—are called in to solve a series of murders and attempted stranglings.- Edgar Edwards is head sleuth and carries the romantic lead, but compared to the Instinctive de- tective Work and bravery of the dog actor' IS' made to look like an ama- 'teur by script writer. Plot concerns the young heroine who has trouble making her timber land pay profits because of the depredations of rival •lumberman who want her to sell out. In desperation,. She cables an uncle in England to come over and lake charge. Plot twist has the uncle's secretary and his wife as- suming the identity of the English relative, in a campaign-to secure the land'for themselves, after murdering the uncle. Suspicion is tlirown on the girls lumber rivals, an evil and vicious pair of brothers who are blamed for everything that goes wrong. A harm- less old crackpot, who i:nagincs all the land belongs to him, is also woven into the story in an effort to divert suspicion from crimes com- mitted by the secretary. Mourities Anally get their man by fingerprint checkup on identities of who is wiio, and the a'uility of Rin-Tiii-TIii, Jr., to follow a scent unerringly. Reginald Hincks, as "the crackpot. Is fine, but work of the rest of the cast is only so-so. Sheila Bromley gets by as the lumber heiress. Picture Is handicapped in the first half by bad photography, lighting or laboratory print work. Sound re- cording could have been better also. noose^-ln altling Willituns. 7 Plot otherwise Is rather reasonably well worked out for the purpo'ses of the action. Premise of the story-is the win ning of a French lottery by a school matron. The professor, knowing this, waylays her In London when she is on her way to Paris to col- lect, and, as the suave French loan- shark, entices her to his rooms with such ease it is disturbing, there to murder her so that another can don her clothes and appropriate the lottery winnings. This cute little slaying leads to two others and near- ly a third, the payoff being a sui- cide by the Jekyll-Hyde for the fin- ish. No one touches Williams on per- formance, but some others in the cast are agreeable characters, well portrayed. Romantic leads are Sara Seegar, who's fairly good, and Hugh Williams, as a pretty youthful Scot- land Yard inspector. .Miss Brook, an interesting screen type, is cred- ited as 'by courtesy of Warner Bros.- Flrst National, Ltd.' A mildly im- pressive job Is turned in by Marius Goring, English accents are rather pro- nounced. Char. (Continued from page 2) In the complaint. Defendants, each filing separate motions, requested the following from the U. S. district court for the western district of Oklahoma at Oklahoma City: 1. The names and locations of the- atres which the Government claims the Griffith interests have been able to take over or keep closed because of their alleged control of the terri- tory. 2. The times when and the circum- stances under which each of the distributor defendants are alleged to have combined with the Griffith companies, 3. The manner in which It is claimed that the Griffith companies were enabled to compel the distrib- utor defendants to grant them ex- clusive privileges, as charged. 4. The manlier in which the ex- clusive privileges which it is claimed the Griffith theatres enjoy have pre- vented other exhibitors from obtain- ing enough first class pictures to op- erate their theatres. 5. The name and location of each theatre the Government claims was unable to obtain enough first class pictures to operate successfully. Additionally, the defendants ask that various phrases and wording in the U. S. complaint be given a clearer definition as applied to the picture industry. In the motion papers, the distrlbs hold that the Government has defined certain trade practices in an artificial way. Motions were filed by the Griffith Amusement Co., Consolidated The- atres, Inc., and R. E. of^ifniM "The- atres, Inc., all Gritflth^eompanies, as well as by L. C. GriffitHTH. J. Grif- fith and R. E, Griffith as Individuals. Distrlbs with separate motions ai-e Par, Metro, RKO, Warners, Univer- sal, 20th-Fox, United Artists and Co- lumbia. honest, hard-working laborer who commits a crime which is morally acceptable but which might have been avoided if the girl had made a simple explanation. There is no fault to find with him except that he is too much the Gabin of every picture to date. His diction Is not • without fault. Jacqueline Laurent Is miscast as Francolse. A girl with a-^ more, so- phisticated appearance would have fitted into the role better, as she has something of the coquette beneath the venper of sentimentality and sweet- f^ r~oui»T.y t hlnpr iip'^tn a Vi angman'a I Tiys'' nthprwl<a» t he StOrV Is plaUS- LE JOUR SE LEVE ('Daybreak') (FRENCn-MADE) Paris, July 14. Vog release of Sigma iiro*Iu(-il(»n. Di- rected by Marcel Came. Snir.-< Je.-xn (Inbin, Juloa Horry, Arletty and Jii(-i|uelljie I.nu- renl. .Scenario by Jnc<iuo.-i \'lot mJ:i|>l4-d from own'Klory: camora. Cui'i C.nur.n/ ;in(l llao; dialog, Jnciiuen I'reveri: miiimIi-. .M- JnubPrt. At Madeline.. rnrl:i. llunning time, 8S MINS. (in French) 'Le Jour Se Leve' ('Daybreak') is another of the series o£ psychological studies in which French diicctors specialize. An otherwise excellent theme is marred by some basic er- rors of psychology which a more careful study of the humon character would have avoided. Directed by Marcel Carne and bringing together several of the big names of the French cinema—Jean Gabin, Jules Berry and Arletty—it is due for a run in the Boulevard houses and likely to attract fairly good boxofri.ce in the foreign market. The tale is a cutback pictured in Cabin's mind of Berry. The police come to arrest him, but he locks himself in his apartment determined to resist. When they finally clo.-ie in on him at daybreak, Gabin uses the last remaining bullet on himself. While barricaded in his apartment, Gabin reviews the events leading to his rival's violent death. The story is excellently conceived and planned. For once Gabin is ah Jble. The action is slow and serves to emphasize Gabin's slow compre hension of the situation. The story is Intelligently broken up by return- ing to the besieged apartment on sev- eral occasions. . . . ^ Arletty and Berry are at their best, As a woman of the world, without illiisidns and thankful for the Inter- lude in which she was his mistress, Arletty does a realistic piece of act- ing. Berry gives one of his best per- formances.- ' ■ Photography is excellent with nu meroiis angle shots of more than passing interest. • The score is ap proprlate and serves to emphasize the long, tense siege against the police. Hovo. I^em Loptam en Eletemben ('I've Never Stolen in My Life') (HUNGARIAN-MADE) (With Songs) Budapest, July 15. Photophon Film production and ri-leaae. DIrni'tcd by Bela Italogh. Original by Mandor Liszt and Ocza Matolay; mui-lc, I.ttjoa Akom. .Made at Fllmlrodn Sludlo, liud.-ipet't. .\t .\trlunl Ihoalre, Iludapcsl. Running time: HO .'VIIN9. Evil Maria KKry Iter Mother Terus Kovaca Kdinund Kalman Latnbnr Anin.;.,-. Ania - Su\i I"aul Ungvarv ..I.aizlo .Szll.-i.iHv i Mr. noMogh -.Tlvadnr Blllcsl' rickpocket .Snnilor I'cihos Expect Quick Trial Oklahohia Ciity, July 25. Early actloft In the department of Justice suits against the Giflith com- panies and eight major distributors is forecast following filing of mo- tions in Federal district court here for a bill of particulars and a more definite statement of chairges. i^^e motions were filed .about a Week ahead of the time allotted by Judge Edgar S. Vaught in whose court the case will probably be heard. District Attorney Charles Dlerker has expressed his intent of striving tor an early fall trial of the case. It is expected that the case may go to trial In late September or early October. Momand Answers Due Filing' of answers Is - expected within the next 10 days In the A. B. Momand suit with defendants grant of time expiring Sept, 1. Though several weeks still stand before the deadline it Is understood that de- fense attorneys are . nearing com- pletion ot their papers and are ex- pected to file them early. The $4,500,000 anti-trust damage suits filed by the Shawnee theatre operator against two Griffith com- panies and major distributors have been in local Federal courts for over k year on motion hearings. . These are now all completed and trial of the case awaits only Joining of the issues, by filing of the defendants answers to the Momand petitions. . Previous rumors that Momand would seek to have hearings on his case in Judge A. P. Murrah's court in order that the Department of Justice, suit against practically the same defendants may first get under way have been vigorously denied by Momand. He has gone on record as expressing every desire for as quick a trial as possib le. The Department ot Justice cases are In Judge Edgar S. Vaught's court. Mayor and Citizens Join In Anti-WB Trust Suit Philadelphia, July 25. Hearing was held : today (25) on the plea for a permanent injunction against Warner Bros.' Circuit and the eight majors and their affiliated companies by the Landis - theatre, Vineland, N. J., and officials and citizens of the borough. Testimony was heard by Judge William H. Kirkpatrick In U. S. district court State Senator Harry Shapiro repre- sented the plaintiffs. He wants a restrainer to prohibit the defendants from discriminating against the Lan- dis-in favor of Warner- houses in Vineland. He'll later se«!k..to collect damages for loss ot buslnes's. Trick angle to the suit is the fact that the mayor of the borough and a flock of business men and citizens are included as plaintiffs at their own request, charging that Warner's monopoly has hurt general business conditions In .the town. About 100 of the townspeople own the Landis. First Hungarian picture to be re- leased in a couple of months didn't make It worthwhile' to wait all the time. It's well below even the pretty low average of locally-made ^ screen comedy. i Complications arise when Evn, en- gaged to Edmund, for whom she' doesn't care, exits through the wrong door from a hotel bathroom,' and calmly goes to bed in a double bedroom where a strange young man' is asleep in the other bed instead of; her mother, whom she didn't wanti to disturb by switching on lights.' He is the soul of chivalry and re- tires to the hall when he finds a. strange young lady in the bed next to his, so that she can retire to her own bed undi.slurbed. No one would be any the wiser had she not been careless enough to leave her en- gagement ring lying about in the stranger's room, whereupon he car- ries chivalry to further extremes.by' pretending he stole it, being an in- curable kleptomaniac. This quintessence of chivalry of course gets its reward in the shape of . the girl's love. Her ex-fiance is happy to be rid of her so he can; marry the night club singer who helps him to realize his ambitions as a composer. Not only silly, but indifferently made and undistinguished as to the acting, Jacobi. Buchanan's $100,000 Trust Suit in B'ham Birmingham, July 25; Buchanan Amus. Co, and M. M. Buchanan, president, have -brought suit in U. S. district court here for $100,000 damages against 11 defend- •nnts accused of conspiring to mon- opolize the motion picture business in Athens, A'a., and trying to destroy hi.s business. Defendants are Muscle Shoals Theatres. Inc., and Louis Rosenbaum, its president; Crescent Amus. Co., Inc.; Paramount; RKO Radio; Warner Bros.; Vitagraph; 20th-Fox; Loew'S; Metro, and {jnited Artists. ^ Suit charges that Crescent and Muscle Shoals entered info a scheme to prevent the opening of a hoiise which he was remodeling with de- liberate, and avowed . purpose ot putting the plaintiff out'of business. These two defendants are alleged to have con.spircd with the other de- fendants not to sell him pictures, at least pictures which would justify operation. The plaintiff further al- leges XTA refused to carry-'onfa con- tract to supply him'with pictures ex- cept to offer him old film which had been rejected by Crescent.