Variety (Mar 1941)

16 PIGTUIKES Wediiesdayv March 12, 1941 FILM BOOKING CHART (For iti/omtttion <it iheatre and filin. ^xcharigiJiookeTs. y presinis A coTiipletc chart of feature releases o) all the Atticricon distributirtp com- pdnies ior .the current <iuatterly' peridd. Ddtc of .reviews fisgipen in Vabiety , oTid the runninjf tirne oj prints, arf included,^ v , :.,. COrVRitiltt. I»40. illt/VAniRTY. INC. AIX RIGHTS BESEHyEP^ K«v to type . Abbrt^tqtloTw; ■M-r'MelodTO Oranid; W-r-Westei^; D--Dramd: R Drama; M.VrrMusical. Figures hetfvoiih indicates daite 6f Vaeiety's review/and tunning tithe: ;■ WEEK OF RELEASErrl/17/41 The Face Behind the Mask (Col) 2/12 / p. «!t ^ Philadelphia Story (M-Q) 11/27 D Hi You're Oiit of Luck (Mono) 3/12 .D; CZ Vktory (Par) 12/18 . D Jl Let's Make Music (RKO) . 12/12 ' Mu 82 ' Boblntaopd of the. Pecoi fRep)^ J/li:.- ■ - W .as Romance of the .Bio Grande (20th) 1/4 W 73 Lessorisfrom Madame XAZouea(U) 2/2C - c iB^ Honeymoon for Three (WB) . 2/12 C 7!».. P. Lorre-E. Keycs K. Hepbdrn-C. .Grant 'F..Darrb - .: F. March-B. Field B. crosby-E. Risdoti R. ROgers-M. Reynolda C. Romero-P. MOrlsctn L. VeletrH.Parrish . G. Brent-J. Wyman WEEK OF BELEASE^i/24/4L: Land of Liberty . (M-G) 1/15. . . . D 88: The WUd Man of Borneo' (M-gV CD . ' Life With Henry (Par) 1/22 ■ C KU The Saint in Palm Springs (RkO) 1/8 . D Road Show (UA) 2/12 ■ . . : C M. TaU, Dark and Handsbnie (20th) 1/22 M' Ridln' on a Ralnbotr (Rep) 1/29 W in High Sierra (WB) )/22 D 1«W All-SUir C^st • F;Mqrgaii-B. Burke . J. Cobper-L. Ernst g; Sainders-W. Barrle. C. Landf(-A; jMenjpu C. Romero-M< Berle; O. Autry-S. Buruett U. Bogart-I. Luplno WEEK OF RELEASE-^l/3i/4l Come Live with Me (M>-G) i/22 . Kid's Last Ride (Mono) \ Mr. and Mrs. Smith (BKO) : 1/22 Arkansas Judge (Rep) - Petticoat Politics (Rep) 2/12; Girl In the News (20tti) . 1/4 . Buck Privates (U) 2/5, Father's Son (WB). ^ ^/19 C 88 J. Stewart-H. Lamarr W R. Corrigaii^. King . . c . uv C.Lombaird-R. Montgomery V Ti Weaver Bros. & Elvlry. , c 67 R. Kams-R. Donnelly ;D 77 M.Lockwood-£. Winiains : V .. Kit Andrews'Sis-AbbbtC-Costellb D. S7. 7.Xltel-F. Inescort. WlEiEK OF RELEASE—2/7/41 The IDevlI Conmia&ds (Col) 2/19 Blonde Insplratibn (M-G) 2'1» . Ridin' the Cherokee Trail (Mono). Tfou^re the One (Par) 2/5 Albng the Rio Grande (RkO) A.' Ride, Kelly, Ride. (20th) 2/12 Back Street (U) 2/12 - Great. Dictator. (UA> 10/16 ^ FUght From DesUny (WB) .1/4 M K5 B.KarloS-A.Duff . D 71 J. Sheitbn-V. Grey . W 61 T,"Ritter-B, Miles ■ .0 7UO.Tucker-B; Baker 29 W «« T. Holt-B, Rhodes C : 59 : E. Paliette-ft. Qulgley D 89 C. Boyer^M; SuUavaa D . 127 C. Chaplin-J. Oakie D 73 T: MltcheU-jr. Lynn WEEK OF RELEASE—2/14/41 Across .the Sierras (Cbl) . Trial of Mary Dugon (M-G) The Mad Doctor (Par) 3/5 PUy GlrKRKO) 12/18 ' <iolden. Hoofs (20th) 2/19 Prairie Pioneers (Rep) 2/26 Meet the Chump (U). 2/12 So Ends Our Night (OA) . 1/29 6reat Mr.. Nobody (WB) W' . B. EUlott-L. Walters 2/12 D 82 R. Yoiwr-L: Day. • D 90 ' J. Uoward-E. Drew.. RD 76 K. Franc(s-J. Ellison D ■ 68 J. Wlthers-C; Rogers W. 58 B. Steele-B; Livingstbit C 59 H.Herbert-A.Nagel D 120 F. MarchoM. Sullavaa C E. Albert-J. LesUe . WEEK OF RELEASE-^2/21/41 Adam..Had Four Sons (Cbl) - - 2/19- Meet Boston Blackie (Col) 3/5 Hardy's Private Secretary (M-G) Virginia (Par) 1/15 Scattergood Baibes (RKO) 2/12 Western Unioii (20th) 2/5 ;Nice Gbl (U) 2/26 Cheers for Miss Bishop (UA 1/15 Strawberry Blonde (WB) 2/19 D 108 W.Baxter-L.Bergmaii , D . 61 . C. MorriSf-R. Hudson ' 2/26 C 97 M. Rooney-L. Stone ■ BD 107 M..carroU-F.MacMurray C 69 G. Klbbee-Eri Dunn . . D 93 R. Young-R. ScoU c 93 D. Dnrbln-F. Tone D. 94 M. Scoft>W; Gargan CD 98 -o. DeHavlUand-J. cagney WEEK OF RELEASE—2/28/41 Blondle Goes Latin (Cpl) 2/19 . C Outlaws of the Panhandle (Col) ■. W.. Free and Easy (M-G) C In Old Colorado (Par) W Citizen Kane (RKO) D A Man Betrayed (Rcd) 3/12 D Great Train Robbery (Rep) 3/5. W Murder. Amobg Friends (20th) 3/5 M Dark Streets of Cairo (U) .12/4 M. Shadows on the Stairs (WB) , M 70 67 82: 62 67 09 P. Singleton-A. Lake C. Starrett-F. Robinson R. Cummings-R. Husse; W. Boyd-R. Hayden - O. Wellies-J. Cotten - J. Wayne-F. Dee B. Steele-C. Carleton Hubbard-M. Weaver S> Gnrle-R. Byrd. F. Inestort-H. Angel WEEK OF RELEASE^-3/7/4i Lone Wolf Takes a Chance (Col) 3/12- M . 72 Rage in Heaveta (M-G). 3/5 D ' 83 Flying Wild'(Mono) ' D 63 The Hard-Boilcd Canary (Par) 2/26 D 80 Tobacco Road (20, h) \, 2/26 D 91 Mr. Dynnmitn (U). 3/12 • D 63 Footsteps In-the Dark (WB) 3/5 CD 9t> W.. William-J. Storey R. Montgomery-I. Bergman L. Gorc'ey-B. Jordian. A. Jones-S. Foster O. Tlerney-C. Grapewln L. Nblan-I. Hervey E. Flynn-rB. Marshall WEEK OF RELEASE—3/14/41 The penalty (M-G) 3/12 Sign of the Wolf (Mono) A Girl, a Guy and a Gob (RKO) Back in the Saddle' (Rep) Sleepers. West r20th) Double Date (U) 3/12 Here. Conies; Happiness (WB) / . .J/5 D :d c w D : C. D .77 90 59 57 L. Barrymore^E. Arnbid .G, Bradley-M, Wbalen G. Murphy-L. Ball G. Afitry-S. BurnetU : L. Nolan-M. Hu|;h^s P; Moran-U;.Merkel Ei Norris-M. Coles WEEK OF ItELEASE-l-3/21/41 E. Qkieen'sPenthonse Mystery (Cbl) 3/12 M The Lady Eve (Par)- 2/26 D FooUight Fever, (RKO) : . C The. Outlaw.(20th)' . > : ,M Bury Ml Not on the Lone Prairie (U) W Man Who Lbilit Him'self ( V) " .' D Topper Retiirns-tUA) ; : ' C The Sea Wolf (WB) D 69 R. Bellaihy-M. Llndsiiy 90 If. Fohda-B.,3tanwyck A. Moivbray-D. McBride W. Hiiston-Ji Russell . J. Browii-F. Knight B. Aherne-:K; Francis ; J. Blondell-R. Young . ' . E. Roblnson-I. Lupino ' Week of rieleAse-^/28/4i WEEK OF RELEASE—4/11/41 ThQ Great Swindle (Cbl). M' Men of Boys Tbwn (M-G). O Rbail to Zanzibar (Par) 3/12 D The Obvil and Mlss^Tones (RKO) CD Two Gun Sheriff (Ben) .: . W That^Night ^n Rio (2001) . 3/12 MU The Lady from Cheyenne (U) ' WD The Oreat Ll^ (WB) . n 89 90 1. Hblt-M. Reynolds S. Tracy-M. Ropney B. Crosby-D. Lamour. 3, AtUiur-C. Cbbnrn B. Barry-V. Carroll. A. Faye-D. Ameche L. Young-R. Preston B. Davls-G. Brent FRIEDL FINALLY BOYS 'GONE^ RETORT^ Minn^apolU, March li. • . iqhh Jv Triedl, president, otvthe Minneiibta Amiis. -.Co. (iPataiinount- Singer)/ Avhp liad been holding oiit against thie 50-56 tejrms demianded for 'Gone With - the ,. Wind': subise. qUent-nih ehsageriiients, finally made a de,al and film .opens, here at the Century. Friday. C14) .for ijts second- loop. 'erigagement--:this.tinie at piop ''pric«;s.r: Aithouigh neither Fried! nor Metro wb^Id revear t^ ternnis ;eveivtuaily agreed upon, reports have it that .the perlientage is '35% - to a '?Rlit -flgUre, Fried! isioilJly' stated ■ 'differences w«ra settlied oh a .50-50. basis of con- cessiohs froin the oiriginal stahd' and 'the .terms negotiated" are very rea- sbnablie.' Lota! M-G represehtativie's said 'GWTW;: WJIS. sold to: tifie; Minne- sota for the'; entire circuit faccording to. the compahjj's sales polky.' ;;TIiey refused to specify or give'detaiis; ,, Northwest Ailied is ' relcord' to buy. the picture at the 50-50 terms, but. M-G .claims to have made some deiais already with independent ex- hibitors f outside the -Twin Cities. Minnesota. Amus, deal for 'Dictator' still Is stymied, by, United Artists' 50;-50 split'demand.^ . . m ^Continued frona page 14^ Mid West's Suit Resumes Detroit, March 11.; ..After weeks' of ;delaisr, Mid-West Theatre^s suit, ajgaihst; the. Co-Operar tive- Thfeatres of Michigan was. ri?- sumed in Fe^al .court :' The-cs&e . is now in hijghly" tech- nical, stibgieirt which, the ■plaintiffs are . prfesehtirig theatre grosses, fe- Rorts pri film rentals, etc., to support; its. claims that Mid-West theatres along Woodward avenue have had diifficulties in. bpoking and gettiiig proper pictures because of the oppos- ition of the Co-Op's. Roadshow 'Outlaw?' / ■ Indication was .'given b^ 20th-Fox last week that The Outlaw,' origin- ally'slated to play the "Roxy, N.'Y';, will riot go into: that hdus^,. Lobby displays annonucing the. niew Ho-vs^- ard Hughes flirh vvere renioved; It's -itnderstpod that' Fbx and Hughes may roadshovr the heavy- budgeted pic or. attempt 'to get it into another house where it could hang on fbr a longer run. Woduc-. tion on it is about completed.. Unsung Heroes S Cbn'tinued from page 12^^ and is fully primed as to., what he thinks is the potential boxofflce va- lue of pictures. More than anything else . that makes a successful film salesman is his personal touch — the lasting friend-ships he establishes with the exhibitors he comes in contact with —his honesty and his forthfightness. When snags are encountered in mak- ing out cbhtracLs it is generally the Branch Manager who comes to the rescue of his salesmen to clinch the deal. In many instances, exhibitors dislike this interference and insist that his. friend, the salesmart. whb has been y/6rking on the deal, get full credit for, its consummatioii^ And may it be said for the Branein Man- ager he is . more than happy to give that credit, .. : ..;.. ■ ■ that. tl" I hard: school of ' film sell- ing is a requisite in the advancement of a filth Salesman is amply ..attested by. the f^ct thai the big men now heading the executive and sales de- pairtmehts ol all th^ great filtri disi tributing organizations served their apprenticeship on. the road: When- ever these executiyes meet they de- light in. recounting thfeir experiences as -a road Irian and tell of the hard nuts 6f exhibitors they had>to ?crack to put over deals,.. Their long, hard years on thp road made 'them: the outstanding persoriaUties they are to- day, and niore arid; more promotions are/being made from; thfe ranks., to the. men. who are loyal to their com- panies and have Shown their superior" ability; ■■ ■ The film salesman is a Very im- portant individual of a picture com- pany—the liaison officer between the studio and the general public, for his sale of the picture to the exhibitor is tha final phase of showing it to the public; Without this hOp, Hollywood would be in a bad iness. Pictures cannot be sold byiriaii-^they^can be publicized by advertising, but to clinch it, they must, be; sold'by petr-' serial contact Elldry Queen's Penthouse . Mystery ; original in series : excepting James Hbfari, the director. Hognn steps ..up the action with tew void spots , re- maining in the plot structure. Noted criminologist: is. depicted, trying to concentrate on ; his. latest detective novel whiler the solution Of a baffling Oriental gem robbery and slaying is undertaken by his dad, the police inspector. ■.■ Niklci arid Queeri, of cotirse, ar« the suggested romance. Basic plot concerns a fortune in . jewels entrusted to a. world-famed veritriloquisf by Chinese; groiip at- temptirig to ^obtain food for their starving "people in Ghiria.: Touring yaudevillian (anrOriental bimsblf) is robbed and, murdered shortly after reaching the .U*' S. on his irii.'isiori- to. peddle the valuables. Several other, slayings follow and at least four people apparently are trying to. snag the geni cbllectibn. Margaret Lindsay gives ia spright- ly performance with infectious com- edy, moments offsetting her pene- trating interest iri-.the mystery.. Bel- lamy makes a more plausible Ellery ■^een than in hiis previous produc- tion, it being a more typical detective characterizatioh. . Charley. Grapewin is the officious Inspector Queen, while Anna May .'Wong-handles a lijinor rol^. with ease. Eduardo Cianv helli is thoroughly villainous as the rriysterious count, while, the support is headed by Frank Albertsoh. Noel Madison, Hiissell Hicks. Tom Dugari, James Burke and Theodore Vbr? Eltz.. Aside from niceties of direction by Hogah, Dwight Caldwell "has exe- cuted a nice, editing asijignment while James . S. Browrii Jn, .did an extra special 'lens job;. - Eric Taylor, who did the scre^h'seripting,, had some diffict|ltv projecting the coni- pilicatioris of 'he niystery simply so as not to burden his audiences with heavy detail. However, he has isev- «ral comedy twists which ovprcome prolonged involvement. Weoti • Remedy For Riches KKO-TlndIo rplense nt Xvininm Stephens proijurtlon.. Feature;!, .Tenh llcrsholt: Dqr' Pthy Lovfett., EUgar -Kennerty,. .ted IVoilly AVtiltpr* Citletl. Dlrerted liy Erie C. Ken- ton. OrlRlnpl screenplay. Lee r^ieb; cu'mera,' John;-.Alton; editor; Pniit Wenthenvax; music, C. Onkiilelnlkofr. Itevlewed at Vn- rlety.. Lincoln, dual, llunnlny tlhiei 67 Dr. ;.. Judy;.. Brownlnjr -. yanderVeer.iv.,., Clem..........;.. Davis.-,......... Stewart. .Mr.o, >lR<!tlng!).. Oertrude. AI)by...,. Ml-!)'. Oat tie., i.. Ilorvoy......... Eddie.... Prudence. Penny. ... ......Te.nn Her^olt ... 4. i... Doifpl hy libvc.t t .ii'.....;.EdKiir fCenncdy .............. .'Jed J'routy ...i';.i...Wnltpr Cntlett .J'.DIck Baldwin ...........i'.Wnrrcn Hull ,.. .>lnude Khurne v..ret Me.Wade .KalUne Hill ..............rtenle'Tllnno •>•..!'. .Biirr.v M.icnllum .T.esler frhnrff ...Herself Strictly for the family trade, .with its best hope in the country tbwnis, ■Reriiedy for Riches' is ianother in the string of filmed 'Dr. Christian' ad- ventures which runs along the same, pattern as the radio .series. In hardly a. spot, however; will this pic be able to jtand without the support of a dualled progranfi. There's never any whopper story rtieat in these. Christian yarns. The problem is .usually fiome simple small-town dilemma, the guy never gets the girl, and the deviations from formula are slight, if any; Each ruris being very similar to the last 'Reptjedy for Riches' is richly stocked with feature players, all of them very capable, but their lineage Isn t very forte. Tendency of the writing department seems to be to keep the picture frorii ending, at all costs, until the proper amount of footage has been exhausted. In this departriient. there's ;a tirrie-consum- mg Incident of a rooster which some- how never gets on the dining table- another m which Jean Hersholt and Walter Catlett attempt; to bake a cake, and a few. more less obtrusive Warren Hull, a college boy who gave uD bond-selling to go into :hick- sUcking, pops up in Doc Hersholt's town, presumably to build a hotel and a resort Setting the stage ad- mirably,, the first spadeful of earth discovers oil on the property where the hotel was going up arid a boom is oni rHersholt suspects and sends for a respected ge'ologist friend, who is immediately framed into jail by Hull and his partner, pompous, four-flush- ing Jed Prouty.. They are all set to take the town to an oil-shiire clean- ing, : when the. Do.c correctly ' diag- noses, the village case, gets his-geolo- ,gist pal out of the jug. and exposes the whole deal before it's too late. ^ Incidental romance, which suffers along with neglect, by the script is between Dorothy Lovett the medi- co s nurse, and Dick Baldwin, the pharmacist Walter Catlettfs-versiori of the local gendarmery is fairly laughable, and so is Edgar Kennedy's grocerymari. There's a threesome of elderly wooien--Maude Eburrie. HaU line Hill and Margaret McWade— who do nicely, Miss Eburrie having the edge. • .. . There's a good tieup available In Hearst, paper towns, the newspapers' Prudence Penny, the cooking expert In for a few frames and- a couple of. lines during the cake-leaking contest This, is Very light fare all the way. ■ ..'■■ ;. - Aft.. . YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK ' Uunosram' teleafle of LIndaley .-. I>rii-i^orii production^. Stars Frankle Darro; .':fe,itures Kay .Sutton, Hhntan. Moretand. - Olrccteil' by .:Howrirrt - Bretherton. ..'$1rr<«npluy, Ed Kelso; ■.eiimera, Fred Jackman, Jr.; editor, - Jack.Ogllvlei At New York, N. "V;, Mjirch 10; '41. Running time,: 60 MIN8. Krankle;.....,..FrninUle : Rnrro' Jeff........;.....,.;.'.MantDn Morelubd-. .Malvle.'.'.,.;.;...'.; i:Kay ',Su>ton. Camcramun........;...., ;....Billy Snyder Whitney.i.Tristram Coitlri Torn.... i.•«•«... j:....'....iRIchnrd'- 'Bond Mulligan.....;...... i.<....Ralph' Petera. Pete. .V.^.'i.,r..w...'..^v.,. .v;.;Oene'.0'Donnp|l. 'Sonya',,.,..Vlokt Tester' Joyce...i.,,Jnnet Shnw■ Burke... iJ..., ; ;,>yuilnhi .Caslello If the. title, 'You're Out of Luck,* isn't., sufficient .tipofl, the. first; few mmutes. of- dialog in this, picture giye it away as a class C effort. A 'stOck> detectivie-.:is :qu6stib'riing the. '• partner of a; murdered garinbler. ?So you wont talk, eh?' he ,says in ap- proximately those words, 'I'll see you later.' It's all about like that—: just a filler for duals, if .nothing else is. available. , Yarn is about an .. elevator boy and his detective brother arid .their hackneyed scramble to solve a cou- ple of. gang murders.; There are the inevitable: assortmeht of grim-faced miObsters, chump comedy gumshoes/ an ill-mannered reporter, a blonde moll, the slain g£(tnbl'et's tremulous sister and a^pbpeyed Negro porter;: : As ihdicated, the scripting is car-, bon copy , stuff, the' direction .is lead- en and the acting is juit. routine.' There's nothing to plug oh tlie mar- quee or elsewhere, . :: . Hobc. Billy the Kid's Range War PKC reloiise^ of Slgrnund Neiiifcld prodijV- tlon.'. ,Stars Bob Steele. Directed liy .l'etcr' Stewnrli ■ Screoriplny.- Wllllarii Lively.: Viim- ora; Jnuk . CreenhaiKh; music, I.ew J'orler, At At-ena. X.' Y.f March 3, '41; nunnlng time. 60 M1NS. . . . Billy the Kld,..,.;..;.,',...,,.i.Bob Steele Rllen. ..v...Joan Bntclny • Fuzzy.......;.......;....,....Al Sti John •Jelt.. ...... .. ....'.Carleton . Touny : lluck............... i............. ,Rex T.eaxe I^onnrd......;.............. .Mllion Klbhee. Wllllnms., Curl llaiiliclt .;Sherlfr. .-..... .Ted Aitania . Bomcro.,; . .v . , Julian HIvero Ilastlqgs..John Ince Dave..........Atden ChAi<e Jenkins.'."..,. .'^'n....Howard Mnstera Spike.......... Buddy Rdosevelt Jailer..-.,... ..i.;; ^.....,......Ralph Fetera One of the I^iss. vigorous westerns. Meller is based on. story material that impresses as too flimsy, though fisit fights,- a bit of gunplay and con- .ventional horse-chase occasionally relieve tedious sequences. -Story hinges on atteriipts of out-, laws to pin a series of riiurders bri Billy the.Kid (Bob Steele). But with Billy shown in other parts of the country at .tiriie of the killings it scarcely, seems likely that suspicion would be taken as seriously as film, implies! : Action revolves about construction of a stage road which a-gang chief is deterriiiried to stop in order to get a government contract for his steam- bpat line. A crooked sheriff also fig- ures in the deal. .,■ Steele handles assignment Capably.' Mori. THIS ENGLAND (BRITISH-MADE) London, March 1. An^lo-Amcrlcnh Film Corp.. release. 6t nrlllsh N'ntlohal-Jolin Corfleld prbducllon. Features Erolyn AVllUamn, John Clenienfs, ..(Constance Cummlngs, Frank PetlinKell, l^smond .Knlerht, : Directed by David Mac— dohald.. Story and Boreenplay, A. R. Raw- llnson. Bridge Boland;'dialog, Emiyn 'Wllr' Hams; muslc^ Richard Addlnacll: camera,. Mutoz Oreenhaum. AV Phoenix theatre, London, Running-'time, S7 MINS. Episodic, dramalog Unwinds a tale around a centuries, old Ebglish vil- lage, tracing Its life and the lives of- its villagers from Norman times up to the present-day ; conflict; It s superbly acted and presented, with simplicity, but the absence of spec- tacle and the very obvious nature of' its propaganda ; telling militate! against its chances outside of the United Kingdonu Direction of David Macdonald aims always at the rather somber in guiding star players. Constance Cum? mingsv Johii Clements and Emlyn Williams through thielr roles as tnfe. three who play a part in the lore" of Claverly Village. Clements' is a fine performance as the farmer, who hbldis his land by no contriact but. by. right of age coming down from time of England's serfdom. Stbry stays ., with- him and Williams as a- villager, right, through varying periods of suc- cess and failure, as- respective in^ -Vasioiis threaten their country. Con- Staricci Curtimlngs enters as first- a - gypsy, from Spanish Armada times, then as the daughter of a newiy-ricb purchaser of the Claverly estate. Picture: opens With Miss Cum- mings as an Atherlcah reporter visit- ing, the village' to experience true country reaction to war with Clem- ents, extilairiing why their demeanor is. unruffled. - Production is creditable, along with some superb photography by Mutz Greenbaum,