Variety (Aug 1940)

FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, August 21; 1940 THE GREAT PROFILE : Hollywood; Aug; 15. 2O1I1 Cei>(nry>Fpx release lot Raymonil: '. Cilfiiih priuliH'ilon; Stars'johh Darrymore, , XMffctoil WRlifi' tang. Original Bcrcen- Iijiiy by: Mllloii ^ipei-llnR and .Hilary I^yptr. • .<."n(n*111, ■ Ki iiest.' Palmer}- illm ertltor, ■ Fran- , ci» 1). r.yiin; Previewed Ht .Westwdbd Yil- • IdK*; Autr. t i. 'JO. Kunnl'n? time, 1ft MINS, ■S.Vlv.fH'. . ; V. . , . . V . , Bdi-vis Mt'iOdfMli^V.;. :in<'1i(ii'0 l.iins'ih?.; Aliiry Mmnwi'.II.-,. ,■ l,>r. Ri-iii'p. ■ pylvesftM;.., ..'. ... ^'olifirchi's. ...... . . ' t:'n<|f iMllOy,';., i-. ' Dli-c('lui'. . i . .. . 'I^i-n>;.-. . .,. ..■.■..•.>, Wlss. l'(-i-kfii.«;'..-.. \Tli-ln>l SeUer. .:.., , EleOl rit'lan..-. ^... ■ >■ II ml I me Man.. ! I)c|fli..Hye., ,;. .. :. ■ Llehuvante...... ... John Harrymove .Miuy bcth HiiK»).«« ,', y. ...Gregictry .Riiioff .; ►;■.■.■„,..Jctin. Payne .^\hrie B.nxOr Lionel. Atwlll i;.. ;EtlWHTd'. Brtiphy .Willie..Kun^ . J.; .-.. Joan ."Valerie .., ■.. ■■.Charlcf)! '.Taw ,'j.', .Marc. I-ii\V.refic6 . .Oeoll .Cimnlri'Bhani ,,. Hai K. ])a\vsMn' .■,... .WlUlam Piiw.loy " ,.E(Uire Duiiii comedy, romance , snd' melody un- winding iat a nice pace in whith dull .passages are absent. . Each-factor is added insurance of top grosses and holdovers in all runs, . . Bing Crosby continues his policy oif splitting co-starring, credits and performance importance with others ill the cast. Meire .he shares with Mary Martin , and ■ :Bas;!l Rathbone.^ proV id i life the former wit h uhJim i ted Opportunity- to .score effectiveJy both in-: tiie singing- and. acting depar.t- ments. It .wHl pay her.;big dividends for futiire-b.o. rating, Rathbone's ptom rn^h.t ■. role ■ is hahdled in player s usually- competent style; . ; ■ ' . ■ • Altet- efirabiishing ' fact that. Rath-, bone/is I'ated :as .a prominent com-, poser 6r.hit -songs,- and in demand • .Jtimc.v VKiyi.n . .j-j. writing tunek, for . musical showsy .Dovvihy poarinff {-Q^^^y .is disclosed: as . his.■ ghost- writijig .employee whose .m«I<5dies' find " populiar favor. .: Rjithbdne . dis- covers Mary .Mairtin to ghost-write lyrics to Cf-oSby's numbers, and she. is ignorant that latter is also on Rath . The icrewbiill antics and adven- iures 6t .John fiaf rymore that/ ha.ve been, -widely . headlined during, 'the ;pat;t severtil years,.are displayed; with broad burlesque treatment in .'The ^-.Ta-o r^.j,;rr>lT cjUa «nW in » ntiipf Great -Profile!- The ; ui^r^dictable f.^one . PJJ^^ B«i;rymoi^.adds 2^ to a^h^eg ^<^rJTiel tP: fn'»»^e^.^^^^j^^j^. ^^^^ jlvauinenuc. . ,..: . \ , ;: j:their^ own.' Att^ir discouraging at- Barrymore loses ho. time irt getting. tempt;? to place their .tunei; KathbOne underway, - and . his; accentuated.! forced to sponsOr; their effotts and hainmy rendition, ..with added shots i .-tiirt the couple on the road to- Sue- Miniature Reviews of. sbme^ stiff - hard liquor, (in the yafh), provides, plenty of laUifhs for the onlookers. / Picture will click for iTioderafeiy good biz .gfenerally, With . best chance, jbf . larger, .taltes in .the cess, • Cirpsby tackles his /actihg/ assign-- thent with; the nonchalance that has. proven effective in past, .releases ahd nietropblitah centers ^where ,his ap-j P? ."^ .pei>rances..m 'My Dear-Children' can] ^^f^^f^^^^j^^^^^. be exploited, widely:and;profitably.. l^^^^^ ^^^'^^^^"" '^^if^ Thi.V is A .one-min show,: aU^ ■1' i Barrj^more has some valiaable. com edy assistance/from Griegory Ratoff. ; Story opiens with a. bang and tempo maintains a steady gait to the: finish. / Scripters'Milton Sperlirig, and ftilairy / •Lynn: found &n .easy / assignment in ; .lining . up. the :yarn of Barrymore.'s , escapiades.. "After /brief, . prolog in ' which he/i.«! tosised off a picture and t Qui of - Hollywood fbi*. a- .three-day C bender, Barryrnpre picks up a back- i er;for: si play, written by a neophyte. ]. '.The sour\piece/Opens in'Chicago: (as in the casei of .'My Dear Chil- { .dren')/ airtd after fi^st.-act .Jays, an .1. egg, Barirymore-gets tanked to launch 1 his. ad• nibbing and aside^. to the /.au- I dience-^resulting in a hit . show.. From there on,/it's Barryiiibre's ham- .: ming oh and . off stage, and his . con- tinua.l bickerings With,a wife.holding, Etajge ambitions. For those who have, iread of . Barrymbre's inarital and. stage careers,;, picture, carries several smackb . remarks by the actor that will easily.be tied up with aictual re- ports. He tosses / the- hooks intoi his own. Adventures- With abandon—and for laugh ieffect-^but ialsp; gets some meaty cracks: iiii . the efifort against fictional] or/actual persbnages that he has cohie in icdntact with diiring his .zany years; Barrymbre appears to have as much: fun in romping throji^h his reminiscences, oh: the/sci'een as he did .when/perforrriing.. in 'My . Dear .Children', in front, of the footlights, Ratoff competently; plays in .major league style against the donvinating BarrymDre; 'the harassed and .al.* Ways confusied /manager of the ar- tist who gets: embroiled in- gambling payoffs to a tough gangster. Mary Bieth Hughes is okay as the thespian's wife, while Anne Baxter and John Payne are authoress ahd show back-, er. TC'^pectively.. E<Jward.Brophy has s few corhedy spots as pursuer, of Rat off., and Willie Fung is prbminent as Barrymore's siervant. : Walter' Lang directed- 'at a zippy pace, allowinig Barryinore full scope of his burlesquing antics. Picture has .been provided; with adequate production • adA^antages, with Ernest . Palmer's photography of high stand- ■^ard... ■ ■ ..-//. Walt. .Oscar. Levant .is prbminently. cast as thfe ,/pianb-piaying, desidpan as-; sistant ;tb ■Riath.bbhe. - He gives out with spontianeous . quips 'for rousing laughs, and makes frequent trips to thie pianb fbir some Slick playing. He gives /the .. initiated ; a .laugh .;bh himself/when ; he picks up a/ book» 'Smatteriiig; of; Ignorance,- and. com^ m.ehts that'it; stinks.' . - Script by Dwight. "raylor . is a workmanlike /-/job ; that/ displays, a smoothness .. in its .bverall setup, There's ho doubt that some /of the' sparkling dialog . originated : on the; siet during shooting. .Victor .iSchert^ zinger's direction ' / t-op n o t c.h; throughout, . providing.- for neat blending of the /Jnusical and. story passages. Ted Tetzlaff pirovides uhir fOrmly excellent camerii . ; Work 'thrbugjiput/ " .;; . ;-. Total of seven sohifs;are presiented by Crbsby and/Miss Martin, any/one; of which hiais pbtehtiialities for swing- ing into;. the .hit; class. Although 'Prily .Forever', gets strong plugging in the. picture; there's/ a ; good chiance that the title tune, -Rhythm on the- Rivier,' sung by Crosby, Will catch, strongest; pop favor.- Other Songs/.include /'Ain't It a Shame About/Mame,' -Moon Over Madison Square,?. /'That's:.^fbr-/ Me/* 'What Wbuld> Shakespearie Have . Said' and ;'I Don?t Want to; Cry. Any :TVIore,' lat.- ter. - the lorie:. interpoiatibn by Schertzinger;'-otherwise,; all btherS competently fashioned by, Johnny Biarke . and Jimmy; M'bnaco, per -usual: ./.;;;/ -/'; '/ ■ \ . . In the/ Suppoirtirtg cast, OsCar ,Shaw, /■Cbarrey. Grape\yirt, Lillian GorheJli Jbhn Scott Trotter, Ken Carpenter, Hari-y Barris and Wingy Mahone are most prominent, Walt. , 'khytliin Oii the Elver' ^Pa^). ,: Bing Crp.''by and Mary Mairtin ; in .sock musical, for big b.O; and ;; holdover.bookings,/. •The Great Proflle' (26th). ; John Barrymore in: -broad, bur- ; l^squie bf- /Jo.hn ; Baiu'-ymore,-. Geared for- gobd .biz.- . vThe Golden Fieecln«' (M-G). V Weak •script.;,ahd, direction .rele- gates; this on^■ to;prbgraimAsupr : port in the duals. . 'Qrie Crowded /NIeht' :(RK6). Class iB. treatment; of; the nielb?;. -. .draiTiati.es -;^t ..a-.;tourist;-.camp.-- >Lucky Partners* (RKQ). Ron- ald i/Coimian ;>ndGinger;:.^^ ^ /in/ goiod ■ fiarcel;; 'Okay ' b,o. in;* \ -' 'dicated/.- - .-■ • -' -,. . y. -. .'WiWcat Bus* IRK0); Bush league actibh meller.; For dual support :;wher^i .'. chaser ; ' ■; quired. -■'/;-- '/ - /; .' - . 'Stage to Chino* /; (RKO)., • George O'Bi-ien actibner. - .-- ... -■ ;'Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride' (Rep), ,/ ; Okay;Gene Autry ^western, tiine- ful enough' to get "by.; / 'Boys of the City' (Moho). . Weak duailer featuring two of the /brig^inal Dead End .Kids, ; 'Dad Rudd. M. P.V (Aiistralian- made). Mediocre comedy slated / for home nabe . biz. ; ;. / / / /'LauBhing at Darieer.' (Mbno). Fairly febod lowier-bracketer, ./ / ^^IMtadre -A;' ta, Fuerza'; cMex;---; : madeV./;ror local Mexican con,-/; . sviniption^ only.; / . LUCKY PARTNERS «• HoUywpod, Aug 14. HK'O reJep6«i «f aeorga ;Miilirht -pryauc- Kon. HtUn- Bfohald Colmdn uml Glnser ^Hogers, Kentiirea Jack parson, .»*prln« By- Vngtoh. Cecilia I^oftUB, .Huiry Davenport and HiiKh OM'onnelT. .DIrpctert. Uy I.ewlH Mllip.sione. Scivenplay by, AIIhti Scott and John van. ;i>riiHen. F'rom stoly, 'llonne Chance;' by ^iicliu GiiUry. ; Camera.-Knberl rt«-Gi'nnKer 8p«;li»l effecta,-Vernon VVnl-- kex; niin editor, Hi-ni-y neiiilan.; (jsHlstrtht director, VVrRyle ..Velaon. ■ I'revK-wed at Pimtiifiee, Aug,. i;i; .'-JO; IlUnnlnK ijnre, .»8 ■MINS. .- , ,,. .'.:RoniiUV Colmim .-.; , . .^InBer ItoKera ;;,.-;., Juclc-;t-nr«oh -. -..; . l^prlnj;' - nylh(ft(>h :'. .X, T .v'ecilln; Mftus ;. V arry .l-iMvenporl ...;; HUb'h' O'Connell , , ■. -.-;-B.ran'don Tynan -.,; v..,.. i;et)n Belmico- .. ;F3d\VHnl Chnvfid. ...'. Wii.I.ter. K.lTiksford ,.'.. . i-iviclle .OU'ii.son' , . .-;. Helen liy.nd David; Jean .., ;-i.; < ITiedille...',. .-;,., Aunt. .Ntr.o.-' l^ylvOHler..-. JiidRe.,.,,..,.... .N'laKaiiC.Clei'k.-;.. -,Vlr. SylveMer.-;... .sicK..xo-..-r...'.. ..N'lok Nn. -2. . ... .. \Vep(1f-ll..v;... .\ ; Kthpl^a-.MoHier. •Etht'l..^.;..-;....;.,-: inight be better /if. prbvided ;With more suitable miatetial,; Lloyd No^ Ian is'' the slick racket^r,; Virginia Grey;his sweetheart, aind Nat Pendle- ton his bodyguard.-'" Leon Errol. catches a few laughs ^s Miss Jphn- sonls uncle. Walt. ; ONECROWDED^N fticO rei^ase of t,ee .Ma.ri'ua (Cliff; Ileld) pruduclloh. Featqies Uillle Keward. .AVIl- llam Haade. Oiarlea r-.ang. Adele. Vearie, ,1. M. Kerrlsran,. Paul Gullffiyle, Anne Kf- vere. Gale' S'torm, -Dick THogan. ■ Directed Ijy Irving: iVelH; jScreenplay,: ElolVard' ('<d- lins ' and , Arnaud d'T-ssjeau; story,- Ben. .l-tolitiej^; - camera, .Tv Roy JCunf. .. editor, Therrin "Warlh. Reviewed In ,ProJ<'<tion /RdOhiV X: Y.,-Aujf; JS.-'kMO. Hunninu-.tlme, 6A M1>"H,- Cladysv Joe.:;.. .M.ne . ..-0... Jim. : .Ma.;. .. Pa....;;.-.. VInce - AnniiEC...'. Ufty,.;.-.-.., Slat........ MatHOn.-. , Hulh . Jofieph ..-,... Bobby .. ^ . -McDermVit.. .Lansing..; .... -. : Blllie Seward -;. ;;W.Iiriiitn Handc ..;. ;. Atltie -Keyere . t^ii>il .(jUllfoyle .\ ..... Bnima Dlinn ... .-iGoorKe AViUlH .... ;.. ;.bick itoiran .-, i...;...Gale SlOnri ,... .:. .-Don rpstollo ..Giiylord- Pendleton . r . .. .Charles ,-I-*n.hjc ;A d ele - pefl rce .; . .J. M-Z-Kerrifriin ,;.,. Casey. -.Tobnsoh ... .Jlnrry--.Sha-niion ,•.-..;, .' .Kei-i'la.- .Tiiytor- iin on the Riy^sr ' (WITH SONGS)'"-' ■ 'Hollywood, Aug. 17. : ■ Paramount ..release of .Wllllath LeDaiori protluction. . - Stars- BIriK ■Grosb.v, Mary Rlrtr^ -tin. Basil; Raibbone; fciitureB-Oscar Iifivant. . liMHaij Cornell, Oscar Shaw, Charley Grape- win, .rean - C.-igi)ey...'Wlliraiiv Fra;wley; jolin . S<'ol.^t. Ti'otter. Dlrecte<t by Victor .Selieci-' 2lnger. - .Screenplay :.by - DWlght ' Taylor;- based oh story by Billy Wilder and Jaoqlies Thery; cainera, Ted Tetzlaff; editor, Hugh . Bennett; as.tt director, Hai iWalkef; eonga, Johhiiy Burke and James V. Monaco; 'I Don't Want to Ci'y . Any More' by Ylclor Schertzinger. v Previewed at JJel' Mar ra:ce- track- Aug-. MINS, - ■ Bob SuTrimera.,.; '. : Cherry tj»ne;.., Oliver Crtiirtiney., Starbu(.k;. ..... Chorllp- Goodric^V Uncle CiiJeli,..... MlUle Starling, i. ■ -'Weiitlake'.;.-.;, Country .'Cotislii: ... ' AuYit:-Dpl!fl'-.., i ,.; Orrhe.?! rii J.*o.d>i:. ; A ri.nouncer..- .: .', .; Bernfird- .Schwa.i-tic Siase.playfV-. 16, '.40. Running time;: 92 ,....... BlhjB' Crosby; . . 4 .; ; Maib' Martin .. . .Basil Rathborio' .... .Oecar I>-va:rit . .'Oscar Shaw .Charley Grapewlh- ; .. .Lillian-Gorhell .. WlUliim Fia-wley^- .;.,... ..Jean Cattney' .-.;;Helen -Bifi'tram John Scott Trottci* ;.. .Ken - CBrpehttir . . .'Charies .r.inhe. Harr.v BarVia; The Ooldeh Fleeting Hollywood, Aug: 16. - Melro-Goldwyh-Mayer release of Kdgar Selwyn production. Features tew Ayres and Rita JiDhnsoh, Directed by T.*slie Fen- ton. .Screenplay - by S; J. and. J,aura.^Perel- man and Marlon Parsonhet.- Based on atory by Lynn Root, Fiarik Fenton and John Fatiie. Camera; T^bnard Smith; nim edU tor. Conrad ,.A. Nerv.Ig. ; Previewed at Up- 15, '40.. Running time, -'68 ... . , cL6W -Aj'res ..;... ., . '. ..Rita Johnson . ;..-... .tilpyd Nolan ......Virginia Grey .;.... .;;N.atrP^ndlet6n ;.-.....r.eon ;Ji;n-ol i;..'.'.,... Geoi'i^e . I-esse'y- . .Richard ..Carle ..,;;,; . Ralph: Byrd ..,. ;..'.Marc Lawrence . > . .Thurstoh Hall ..... .,.. . . .tames -Burke .;.,. . . .Spencer i^h'nrters ... .-.WUllanri - DeriiareKi town.-. All .\US8, Heiiry. Twi.hkle:.. .Mary Blake..;... Gus Fender...;., Llla -Hantey-.'.,;. -^FatfiO'-Werner, l-'iicle Waldo...-. 3u''kley Slop p.. .];'attlngt6n.., i Lnrry Kelly...... 'Happy' DiigHn;, Charles Krigel.,, >!lbley.:,.;.;.;;.;-. Ju.stu;e ,of Peace. i?walloWi.,;..,,, , ;wi'ngy: Manon~e;-an.d;His Band /Story heire had an idea for a sbmer vv'hat; different tyirist to an/ old for^ mula; l)ut it -got .tangled up- sonfie- where. along, the way and -emerges as- a- ;B :progra.rnmer that wU .provide dual-; suppbii; ;.-:bf mild prbportibns. Picture will not enh^ance the/buildup Lew Ayres has been getting through the -KildariB series,; and will be acr cepted as ;a filler tinie-consu ' Ayres is- dumb ybuth - in /lbvie With the bdssV secretaryi; He sells a big insurance pblicy to a racketeer who takes it on the lam. In order to save .his job, Ayres. finally- lo- cates • the ■ fugitivje - to .get hini bick ;l^ I u t safely in jail, before he is killed and Here is a light and ttiheful"^^ i insurairce ;' - payable. / He ruiis die bf excellent entertaiinment, com-j through ;a series bi-experiences, that biriihg; the capable and versatile eniables. him- to collect the rewai-d talents: bf Bing Crosby,'Mairy Martin,!.money, which is turned back, to the - Basil; Rathbfirie, Oscar, Levant and. racketeer- for bail cQin .aiid;.,a' get- others, plus .a group, of exceptionally away. ;Worthless stock, handed him good sbhgs; showcased;, with iniaxi- for;, coop to be /murri showrhanship. / Some may tab |/yaluable and gang start; all over get- this as/the best picture Crosby has . ting it back.: After;tedious, excite- .appeari>d in fbr-several years. It's rrient; bby gets git-1; an^ part of tfie certainly.-one of his toppers.' ; j.coin anyway. ; . ■// -.,; 'Rhythnl on the River' carries all I Picture; is handicappbd by inept of the essentials, reqiiired fbr wide- direction of a. weak script. Ayres is fipi'e.ad boxbffice ooniph. .. M;oi4nted required to oyetrmug^ for- his char-, on a light, but sufficient;stoi^y strubr acterization of the dunib cluck, ture, it's: a/.wellfmixed concoction/of , which is; unnecessary. Rita Johnson Pas.sable little Class B m€fller about '-One Crowded flight' at;a California auto 'court (they call 'em tourist camps in the east) -should fill the modest requirements .of filler ;fpr multiple bills- at ; subsequent-run. houses:. It's cbmpetently jnade, but the. story is ebninrionp^ace/ and; there isn't a trace of; boxofficevdraw in the cast.-;-.., -•..'•.;; ' Yiarn iS ■ indicated by the list of characters,, wbich include the old couplb who run ,the; auto court; an escaped.cortvict/who. was;frarned on- a murder charge, and his wife and young son; a gal with, an underworld past and th6 ,honest truck driver to Whoni she's engaged.;>a pretty, youhg waitress at the lynch .counter and. the gas pUmp attendant who's , in love with her; a -young wife/who ..gets, off .a ; bus to h^ve her baby ■there, and her husband who went A.W-O.Ij. from the navy :to be with her, with the two detectives who are taking; him back; for court-martial; a couple of gunmen otit to kill^the escaped cOnyict so he can't squeal - on. them; and a rum?soaked former dbctor/who 'pieddres a ciire-all elixir. .They;all land at the autb; cour't the sanae night and thb;ensuing entangle- nieht of their personal liyes.provides.- ac kind of carbon cbpy 'CJirand Hotel*' -plot.;;;/./;' .; /^-/-i^ RKO has obviously; ecbnbrnized on the budget, as there are no elaborate; sets ;br effects, no large-salary play- ers br bthef .evidences pi sizable in? Vestment. . Story . has no ^ glaring holes, - biit: despite, the fact that /it's pialpably. a fehash of countless other B pictUre -scripts it's heyer. coniplete- ly • beiieyable,: eitheiri;; ^Direction is cOirhpetent and ; the acting/: is- gen- erally well controlled, ■ ; Capable, perforniances are ;^ive;n by Billie Seward. as the • forrner ■■. mOll, Williain Haade as thie truck; driver^ Anne/Revere as. the convict's wife, Emma Dlinn as; the niotherly coun owner, Dick Hbigan as the ■ gaisolihe attendant,. Don Costeilo as a/gangstlBr. J. M. 'Kerrigan as - the ;qUack and' Harry Shanhon as a detective.. Pauir Guilfoyle /seems i .sincere as/the ek-' ;<iaped prisoner^ althbugh-the parf/has ;beCofrie; rather stereotyped ..for him. George Watts, a ,re,cerit'-recruit from Broadway/ character actbi^ tanks,; is a trifle. IcO; restrained. a.s the easy-- gOing; co-owner of ti e court and Casey, Johnson is ;stilted as•^the con- vict's - urchin.:' Gale ffloi i'.' / Adele Pedpce and the others haveri't much to dq. Miss Revere, Costellb and /Sharirioh are' other recent transfers ,'from legit. ;jTobe. •; 'i,ucky^Partners' is a light, gay .farce—Smart; enough" to catch attenr iion ; from 'the ^ sophisticated audlr ences ot'the;rnetropblitan runs while carrying plenty of laufeh; entertain-; iTterit' for : general . audiericc.^. - Its: sbveral racy: .^^tretbhes wilt appeal to the aidiilt' trade. ; With: istarring com- bb - Of ;Rbrtald 'Colmairi , and Ginger Rogers hefty attfactbrs, ^picture will hit .a:pi^ofitable/ stride^ ;all alphg the line. / , ■ Using t:he;/.stbry,. 'Bonne Chance,'. by; :Sacha Guitry, as its foundation,/ picture iinwinds/as; a whimsical adr Ventiire in V romahce . that | carries along with thes; smart; corned lines! and situations./ Develbped at a fast, and steady.-.clip, asidie fvorri a iew hiinor:dull, moments;-that will likely; be eliminated loir, final release prints,; 'Lucky/Patthers' carries th.e iadyanr .t'ages of deft ;^ diirectibn." by ; Lewis Milestbhe, .expert production guidT- ance by George Haight, :jind^-s jper^bfmartces. by Colmahj/Miss Rbg- /ers -and seyeral members of the, syp?. porting cast. 'Lewis Milestone's di- rection .. gets./the. utniost , but of .the smart dialogue by ^ Allah Scbtt and •John van-Drulen.;/^ "i The iight/and fancifui: story, is en-; /hanced ,by development bf incidents along-the. way.; (Colmap is' a Green- wich Village painter, 'Who introduces himself to / Miss - Rogers in a street flirtation; .Pair share a; sweepstakes ticket' for good luck,; with Cblmah, proposing- taking , her ; ;a; pre-, honeynriboii trip in platonie style if they win, Naturaliy the- ticket draws a .prize, - and- Cplman ha.'> tb overcome objections of. Jack Car.^ son; a dumbbell/ who . is/ to marry Miss Rogers, before the; couple em- bark for Niagara Falls. ..Intefnriin- gled . with .development'OjE tiie ro- mance- are some rather 'racy epi- sodes in .and but of the two bed- rooms; the appearance of Gatsbn to misunderstand things, and the event- ual clinch siftet funmaking adven- tures of the':/trio in a rural court; : Colmah displays ah excenent flare for farce' in a role that showcases this ability to good; advantage. Miss Rogers ' is capable the ; strOng- wjlled girl who finally weakens un- der the romantic pressure to change, her mind on prospective, huisbands. - Carson prby ides- a fine characteriza- tlbn of the bbob suitor, .while Harry Davenport. scores as the small-town judge at the/finish. Others in good /support, include' Spting /Byingtoh; Hugh O'ConheH, Leon Belesco and Edward ;Conrad.. ; Prbductibn mounting; has been given advantages of 'A' calibre, with photography by Robert de Grasse of .unifbrrn/quality throughout.. ■ WILDCAT BUS . Hollywood, Aug. 13. ; :RKO release ot Gllft Reld productinn; FeaturcM. Fay Wray, Charlea l^ngr. Paul Gullfoyle*. • Dhiected by Frank WoodrulT. •Story and screenplay by Ijoii IjhkIv. -<'am- . cm, Jack . MackenalC; .Hpcclal effects by Vernon Jj. Walker; filin editor, George Crone. Pfevlfewcd. at Hlllsireet, L. A;', Auff. 12, '4(1. Running:, time, 9.4 MINS. ; okayed by the producer while look- ing; Out the window.- • •'Wildcat/ Biis' has onl^ one ; irecqmniend&ticin for exhibs-^it's a pass^up under the cah- cellailor).clause. / Wait./ StAOE TO CHIN0 (WITH SONGS) ;-Rk6 product Ion, and rclense.'.'itnrH Gtoi-|{© O'BUeh;' /eu,lurest-. Virginia - ValiB, .,i,Dli.ecied. by- Htlward- Kllly/ .. .Story ; by;'Norloh H.- Parl<er;-.:iHlapi;aHoht- Morton -.Grant,: Arthur V".-. Jories;; ;camef«, ; -J; ;-.Roy .-H.uiit.- A.t Cenlrai;. N.-. y.,;.dgal'. week rommr-nclnic Aug;, in, '40. Runhltitr lime: 60 . . . .; ■. . . .George ;0'Hi:li>ri .,..-...;;;;.,.VITKlntji V»J«; ;.Mflbart CavanaiiKh ..., .-.Uiy- Uirrcroft ;.;.;;,v;^wiiii»(m Hiitide ,..;,.,.,;. ,.(!ur.l .Sto< kdale ,. ;..Gle-niV.,Striuij,'e ..HnI'ry t.'orOInK - . . .;.MartlM OnrraliiKai ..-;.;.;,.-;;T5llviin JjalOlnw ,.......-.. ...Tom -Londo' -; r)iin---('liirk-,,.,. 't.'rlnnle.... noBKHi,.; Dude Elliott.; Slim.....;....,-, Cliailes I,ult.; Bill lloaKlitnd. retfi' RrnnB(fiin Pedro .. . .'.. ;.; whetvier;.,;:;;,.. Dulan-^.,...... 0. U'ed Diiwson... ..Jei'-fy Waters;. ; .DOnovAn.,..,,; Gilsey..-;.... Stanley Regan.. 'Burke.. ,.;.-,... i>dy Is.'..;,.;.-;, W,a;Tn.lbpt...'. , - ChHtleH Da w.so.n i sWeeney...,;. Joe Miller.. . Fay W.ray- .. .Charles- i;,anK . .Paul Gullfoyie . . . Don Oostello .. .PaulvMcGralb ; Joseph; Sawyer- ,. -. Rblahd Drew . .T-,eOnu . Roberta : i . QscH'r- O'SHea'' .Frank .Shannon .-, . Warren ,\Bhe Here is a mediocre actibner, turned out oh;i6w budget; that will get min- inaum. total bf . bookings/in the grind houses as/ a dual filler ' to consiiine running time on the; bill. Nothing/to recomntiehd 'it anywhere along ; the Une:->.; ■■.; - /:■-"'', -■ ■•;■; / '--.'. . Story; : which has been kicking around the studio for . a couple ., of iyearS, and which, finally finds its vvay ;tb the 'Screen tb/recbup the script charges sta.iiding against thie. title, is devbid of any factors tb catch audi- ence interest.- Picture can better be described as; a trip tb slUmbe'rlahd. .; Charles Lang Is'; ;; rich - playboy who. loses his -coin, and . fihally catches on .with his liniovisirie as bp- ieratoi- of a wildcat bus fbv a rack- ejteering, outfit. Fay 'Wray's father heads the big bus line that finds the outlaw cbmpetitibri killing his biz, and.- there's . cbhtinuail 'and strange accidents-and crackups Of the high- 'way pullmans to complicate matters, /Apparently out bf .the air. Lang is the romantic victim of Miss V/ray, who /finally convinces- hirn /of the r;acketeers';guilt;fbr a final Wild and Wooly baltle ior .the windUp, ; Neither cast nor director caii/over- cbme. the insipid material provided in the sciript> which. apparently was George O'Brien, smiling, .debonalr- ahd sol^t-spokert as /ever, rides the U.S. mail tO' Safety, and, in taking him over the rbiite., - 'Stage tb Chin<? spreads plenty of. ehtertainment ;iind - excitement; Little;-junibr/-and his elders, who still enjoy the ;spectacle of hard-riding,; /punchrtrading and gun-blasting, wbn't- find themselves ; let down by this; O'Brien special^ It's ali carried" but in the old/tradition pf the Hollyw.bod; horse/'opera, plus slick production and direction, "The-. pacing is especially gObd. . ; v ■ ; /NiarratiVe isn't; spinning v^rjj long before, it develops that O'Brien js the old /west's counterpart of ;th« modern G-Mari.- .Undernieath theiiiiV cowboy duds is the .Dadfiie and. heart of a U.S. postal inspector;; That job of driving ' the stagecoach ; is ju.st Undeircover stuff.; . And , to" .sort of; help complicate things and ring ih the rbmantio angle; at the sahie time, the story ha^ the stagecoach belonj^ to a :goOd-lobking blonde, who has a dbuble.-cr.bssihg. uncle . t6t ' a maij-; ager, .' ;.'-.^ ;■•/' .:'.';" • The/uncle is .in . /.hoots With' • ^competitive ../stage'cbaGh owner drive the blortde out of the sta^eji cbach - business,-;;but O'Brien ■ come* in apiinchin- and ashqotin' - "at thd right moment and saves the blbndd from the chicanery.: of. the. villaih and from being cheated but of i Gbverhment con tract.; ./In-between there's Such dramatic . conceits as holdups,/ safe rrobbery; ■ barn fire; stagecoach/racing. .with -the ..Contend- inig crews taking potshots - at each; other, barrobm /brawls and . divers- turnitng of the tables bn the wicketl; and' semi-wicked. It all .sumis; up; to unadulteratefi action. / ; ; Stolid tradition also, prevail.*; in the casting. Virginia Vale is. femN nine Without being; of the clingihg- vine type, and kno.Ws how io show anxiety and.shed a tear.at the;righl mbment. Roy - Barcroft makes . i natty,; biit : convincing ; menace, ang Hobart Cavanaugh, in the role of 4 tinriid peddler, of general merchan- dise', figures .strongly whenever/.thft right cbmedy opportuhity presents -jtself.;-.'' ;-■.-■":■/■/;'■..-■ -.---;■■/ /.'.•/;-:'/ Included is a hillbilly trOUpe that is billed as Pals of the. Golden We.<f. The piece de resistance in their rep- ertoire is an; original by;' Flemihif Allen, 'Riding on the Stage to. Chipb?^ Radio hillbilly, addicts may ;iike th#. vocal interludes; others won't mind Od«c. Ritd^y Tenderfoof; ]<icl^ (WITH SONGS) - Republic releas;e ol William ■ Berkf . 'troj ductlon. '; -.Stars Gene Aiilry-;; 'feiituf«H| Smiley ;Burnetle, . Directed by Frank Donald, .ficrneniilay, Winston Wlller':''< rig* Inal islor.v:; Betty Burbridge and CinnT* I.ee: . <<i»inern. . Jack- Marta: editor. J/epfef -.OrlPb<*c-k'; -musical .'supervisor, Ra'oiil -Kr.T>i« -•ihaar; soiigs, Johnny Meirer, .- RK hiira Whitinff . E, Dl. Ijazzaro, Harold Adanininhi Nick'Kenny, Ghurles Kenny, Johnny Mar>' vin,- Gene Autry,. Smiley .Burni-tte, Aithiif Field.*!, Fred Hall. Reviewed in ProJectU.R Room. N. T.,;Aug. 15, '40, RunnlnB lim^, 6« >f1NS. - --. - - - * Gfine....:. ,\ , ,,, Frog...;.-.'.',. Ann Randolph;..-.. Patsy' Randolph.: "Donald (ir'sftory .-.' Heniy Walker.... iiartln. > . . .;... .•, -.' The . Haberdushei-. MIhs Spencer ;;.,, The Butler.;. .Stewardess..';'. . ;;; The Sheriff....... Singer., i....;-;... The .-...',:., vGene Aulry . .; ,.. .i?mlley, BurnH.ti- ...... .-.hine -filoreir I... i..; >.,,... . Mb ry- Le* ,;... j.. ....:. .Warvenr HnlJ .....Forbep . Wuri'HSr .... Vi.;..;.. Joe WcGiiInE : . .Joe FrMft :,;.Tsobel Rahd<.l[(n ....,.;.. . Herbert CllftcH .;..,;....:. .Mildred fiphu'j .;v.'.'.:;;..-...■;;.Vsi jen<f|» ;...;;.... ;..C.Indy ^alkef Pacernakers - . Since the tune's the thing and iYi9 plot's merely incidental in the Geni : Autry starrers, 'Ride, TehderfooK Ride, affords some measure of en- tertainment. It's, /a western that'll; dt'aw 'hack- its productibn costs; ana more; though' its obviously contrived -stiltings in weaving the yarn primar-. ily about Autry are inclined to b4 somewhat in the /tehderfbct. groov*^ For. the dual^, however,; and; espc-' ciaUy fbr the .youngsters, it's cllcktf. Autry"lxas ;the advantage of sing- ing several pbp tunes;to enhance th* standing' of the pic, ;which^ otherwise, cbnceirns itself with the .\is\ial: preinls*. for a: cactus Qperia; boy. meets girl, girl rebulTs. Wy,; boy •winS- girl. ■■ ; Story deals with a cbwhahd TAu- try) becoming heif to; a meat-pack- ing coijipany ' and -the . attempt, by a tival outfit to, fake it over, through the usually .uhderhahded methods, ih brder ;to ..avoid 'competition. .The fact , that June .Storey, Autry's' fre- quent visra-vis in thi? .Republic west?- eyns, IB the owner of the cbmpetitive .group,, hut ah unvwitting- party to her Company manager's dirty? Vifeiiling,. adds interest to what, of course, the (Coniinued pn- page 20) ; /