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22 The Billboard MOTION PICTURES February 13, 1937 Communications to 1564 Broadway, New York City Ritz Brothers and likely hits of Berlinslain and she returns to her lover after "You Only Live Once" will seeit thru for some time. "Mysterious Crossing" (WALTER WANGER) giving up all her possessions to repay APPEAL-General audience. for her husband's swindles. (UNIVERSAL) TIME -87 minutes. EXPLOITATION-Names and tunes. CAST-Kay Francis, Claude Rains, Ian RELEASE DATE-January 30. Hunter,AlisonSkipworth,Alexander TIME -64 minutes. PLOT-Joan Graham (Sylvia Sidney) D'Arcy, Betty Lawford, Walter Kings- RELEASE DATE-Not given. loves an ex -convict, Eddie Taylor (Henry "Kidnaped in Shanghai" ford,CharlesHalton,FrankReicher. PLOT-James Dunn, cast as a news- Fonda), and theyget married.Soon (REPUBLIC) Frank Conroy, EgonBrecher,Robertpaper man -detective, gets his man in this the natural antipathy and discrimina- Strange.Francis did well but seemedopus, a rather dull yarn with little com- TIME -71 minutes. miscast, Rains and Hunter deliverededy, some melodrama and a dose of tionagainstex -consbecomesover- RELEASE DATE-Not given. murder. Trouble occurs on a ferryboat bearing and Taylor is on the verge of PLOT-PiececoncernsPhilRegan,capably. committing a crimein ordertogeterstwhile singing policeman of Brooklyn, DIRECTOR-Michael Curtiz. Nothingcrossing the Mississippi, ..there the father money. At that time a bank robbery sensational, but treatmentokehandof Jean Rogersis dumped overboard. in the dual role of tenor in a musicalinterest moderately paced. Dunn runs hither and yon in his at- is staged and Taylor is brought to trialcomedy in Shanghai and aviator, who tempt to grab off the villian, then writes and found guilty, even tho heisnotleaves California in a plane to test an AUTHORS-Original by Warren Duffabout it for his paper. guilty.Injailwaiting forthe chair,airplane device. As Hap Cole, Shanghaiand Virginia Kellogg, and screen play It winds up in he makes a spectacular break, is joinedmusical comedy star, Regan meets upby Casey Robinson. Story, too, moderate.perfunctory fashion. by Joan, and the two begin a long des-with Evelyn Venable, who regards him COMMENT-Average film, with enter- CAST-JamesDunn,JeanRogers, perate trip to the border to escape. The tainment value fair enough for the gen-Andy Devine, JohnEldredge,Hobart as her boy friend, who is suffering fromeral run of audiences. Cavanaugh,Herbert Rawlinson, Jona- law finally catches up with them anda case of amnesia. In the part of Lyons, than Hale and Pat O'Malley. Actors run shoots them down as they are almosthowever. Regan takes a Pacificflight, APPEAL-Just another picture for asecond to the scenery. at their destination. his idea being to sell his aviation devicetwin program. CAST-Miss Sidney and Fonda offerto a foreign country. Regulation missing EXPLOITATION-Plenty to play with DIRECTOR - Arthur Lubin. Not grand performances.Goodplayingisidentitystufffollows,withVenableon the dress shop theme, affording op-enough pace, an element much needed turned inbyBartonMacLane, Jeanfinally ascertaining that Lyonsis notportunity for tieups with gown shopsinthese pattern yarns. Dixon, William Gargan and thelatereally Hap Cole. She becomes aware thatand using models in the lobby.Can also AUTHORS-Story by Fred Maclsaacs. Chic Sale. her one-time boy friend is strictly n. g.play tothe women on the hairdressScreenplay by JeffersonParker and DIRECTOR-Fritz Lang, who did such CAST-Phil Regan,EvelynVenable,angle, which is what Francis also ex-John Gray.Futile yarn. a swell job with Fury and with M, hasJedProuty, William Newell, Jonathanploits in the film. COMMENT-Just another variation of lifted this ordinary story into the ranksHale, Harlan Briggs,Stanley Andrews, the same old stuff, and a dull oneat of an exceptional picture.But try asClaudeKing,CarletonYoung,KarlREVIEWS that. Photography of the river country he may. the plot is so shopworn that heHackett.GuyKingsfordandWillie is interesting at times. just couldn't make it an extraordinaryFung. Acting mediocre, with Regan dis- (Continued from page 18) APPEAL-For the simple. film that he so obviously wanted. playing more ability as a singer thanticsl tendencies and a chorus of old EXPLOITATION-Murder on the Mis- AUTHORS-Gene Towne and Grahamas a player. faves, including Alabamy Bound, Always,sissippi, Baker. DIRECTOR-Aubrey Scotto.MaterialDown on the Farm, All of Me, Good COMMENT-A harrowing story thatis routine, and Scotto's work fits. Night,CallAgain,BlueSkies,After begins with a tragic note and mounts AUTHORS-Storyby EricTaylor.You've Gone (she said it was the firststersand youngunsjoininginthe steadilyinto one dramatic sockafterWellynTotmanandEndreBohem.swing ditty), Pennies From Heaven, sev-hussahs. another. However, it falls into the mis-Screen play by Raymond Schrock anderal well -placed gags and her vocaling Earle show this week is notable for take (from the box-office viewpoint) ofOlive Cooper. of Good Night, My Love in the finaleone otherthing.For onceadance being so heart crushing that the audi- COMMENT-Light stuff for nabes. as the line (16) of Dancing Rhythmettesband doesn't get top billing to pass off ence will surely leave the theater vowing APPEAL-Non-class.Duals. closed the Baker sequence on The Blueas an entire show.Sharing lights with never to see another picture likeit. EXPLOITATION-Singing cop in dualShip Cafe.It's a pleasure to have a realthe sister team are Harry Reser and his EXPLOITATION-Build up Fritz Langrole. disciple of Palace Theater days come onCliquot Club Eskimos.It's not thesame as a master director, which he surely the boards with the stuff that makesReser brand of radio music, but Eskimos is. And, of course, there's Sylvia Sidney. true professionalism, and the audiencegetting 52d street under their skin and "Champagne Waltz" realized this and kept her on stage tillswing in their blood. (PARAMOUNT) she had to beg exit. Band sounds great forglidingbut "On the Avenue," TIME -85 minutes. Stepin Fetchit, personified slow mo-shows no element of stage worth, and (20TH -FOX) RELEASE DATE-January 29. tion, lived up to the letter of his name.following the Duncans is a tough assign- TIME -88 minutes. PLOT-In ViennaafamouswaltzSo much so that his dialog was cannedment for the Reser crew to fill.Hud- RELEASE DATE-February 12. palace flops with the advent next doorand fed the public-address system whiledling the band in one corner, leaving of a jazz palace. the attraction beingthesepiaflicker star went thru histhe greater part of the stage bare, doesn't PLOT-A youngactor -author pokesa swing band from America. Band leaderchores of laziness, a bit of hoofing andhelp their score any.Reser carries Olga fun in his musical at the world's richestisa breezy lad. who meets the grand-general exemplificationoflazy bones.Vernon for the usual canary stuff, and family, and especially the beautiful anddaughter of the waltz palace manager,An assist aided him in a bit of undress-a sepia stepper, Pee Wee Williams, to pit pampered daughter, and theyfallforeachother.Sheing business and even did the bowing has no trouble in "send- the object of threats and hate from thatdoesn't know who he is, and all the timefor Fetchit at the close of his act, ining the gates." quarter. A meeting with the daughter,she'srelating her burnup against thewhich suddenly his legs became light- Three standard acts fill the remaining however, softens him up to the extentband leader.Itfinally comes out asning in fixed running position. Pleasedbill.Honey Family, three males and a of promising to remodel the scathingto who he is and she gives him the go-the patrons. like number of femmes, raise the rag. scene: but he is double-crossed in hisby, with the result that he goes on the Opening had a drop with a collegeTroupe takes tothree-allslike ducks earnestness by the leading lady, who hasdowngrade, playing in a cheap joint indean grasping a book in Body Cultureto water.Paul Gerrit cuts figures on a crush on him, and he is thus made toAmerica. conveys an idea indirectly toand Fine Arts as the line of Professor-roller skates, and the Donatella Brothers appear doubly the blackguard he wasthe girl for a waltz palace in America,ettes, clad in academic gown and capandCarmen,ringinginmama and first taken for.The richgirl gets re-the idea prospers and the lovers finallyand standing on the steps of their uni-papa,unbilled,flashwithaccordion venge by buying the show and insertingmeet up with each other as do symphonyversity, peel their collegiate attire andpushes and sis's acro terns. humiliating incidents to ruin the showand swing music. click out some tap terp. Course in body Show runs overboard on time, almost and him. But itall ends peachy when CAST-Gladys Swarthout, Fred Mac -culture is offered by the Four Olympics,hitting80minutes. PixisBulldog the leading lady goes thru with a re-Murray, Jack Oakie. Veloz and Yolanda,with ordinary acro work hardly appeal-Drummond Escapes (Para.)Biz fair. morseful beau geste that clears the wayHerman Bing. Vivienne Osborne, Franking.Study in fine arts is presented by ORO. for everyone. Forest, Benny Baker, ErnestCossart,Powell and Nedra, who deftly, with the CAST-Dick Powell. Madeleine Carroll,Fritz Leiber and others.Excellent cast, Alice Faye. the Ritz Brothers, Georgewith Swarthout a beauty and a grandaid of multicolored powdered crayons,Ritz, New Kensington, Pa. Barbier,Alan Mowbary, Cora Wither- fashion out on framed easels beautiful spoon and others. singer. MacMunmy a choice hero, andscenes of the Nile, a burning volcano(Reviewed Tuesday Evening, February 2) With every pictureOakie,Bing.Osborne andBakerdo(Vesuvius), a gorgeous Western sunset Powellacquiresmoreand more themuch for comedy.Veloz and Yolanda JackG.VanisbravingWestern polish of a fine light comedian, gettingshow up well. and a galley afire in the waters. A de-Pennsylvania regions this winter with a away fromthegrinninggoofyroles. DIRECTOR-A. serving hand.Ward and Milford en-16 -people show called Femmes de Paris, Madeleine Carroll never looked lovelier, EdwardSutherland.deavor to tarry along with an Al TrahanA six -piece Handled the pix beautifully, giving it atype of act. ork opens on stage with and Alice Fayeisthe usual doll andlot of color and the like, providing amus- A few bits of originality,the Tea for Two tune, which serves for handles her vocal chores with feeling.ing comedy and moves the pix fast. Some' with the lad specializing in animal calls,the mild dance version contributed by The Ritz Brothers are half the picture.of the ideas are too far-fetched. and oneinparticular where thegalatriooflankyblondes. Billyand Cora Witherspoonisgreat as the ec- stamps one of his hoofs and he goes offBetty Starr, youthful dance team, fol- centric aunt, and George Barbier gives AUTHORS-Screen play by Don Hart-squealing like a hurt pup. The audiencelow with a neat strut and close with man and Frank Butler. based on Billylaughed at this, which might be termed some authenticity to his role of pom-Wilder and H.S.Kraft story.Music some sock competitive taps. pous "Commodore." and lyrics by Burton Lane, Ralph Fried,the highlight. An unbilled hand -balancing duo comes DIRECTOR.-Rov Del Ruth.He hasSam Coslow, Frederick Hollander, Len Line does a Stepology routine alaon for some routine gymnastics in which been able successfully to sequence andRobin. WilliamDaly,AnnRonnell.Busby Berkeley and features Dick anda chest -expansion bit by the male gets lend a thread of plot to the type ofUsual theme of boy meets girl, boy losesEdith Barstow with their okeh toe -tapa good hand.Same act returns later vehicle from which we hardly expectgirl, boy gets girl.Not much in storyterp on stage and stairs.Several en-in the show for more athletic work. The one. cores for them, topped off by a Spirithigh spot here is statue formations by substance, but strictly a musical. of '76 bit. AUTHORS-From the screen play by COMMENT-May notbeaworld- two girls on the man's muscular arms. Gene Markey and William Conselman.beater, but has plenty to lift it to the A 70 -minute show.Picture is Lloyds Bobby and King, father and son com- Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Twobetter biz class. of London(20thCentury -Fox).Bizedy combination, are still getting laughs or three of Berlin's numbers will prob- APPEAL-Wide. "Name"castforgood. SID PAINE. with their funny acrobatics and chat- ably catch on. draw. ter. Actclosesthebillwith some COMMENT-Story is fast, tuneful and marvelous gymnastic work in which the entertaining. Name of Powell, antics of EXPLOITATION-Work on controver- Earle, Philadelphia fatherstilldisplays unusual strength. sial topic of waltz music versus swing Exited to a good hand. music. That's your biggest play, tying(Reviewed Friday Afternoon, February 5) The Starr kids return for an East Side, THEATRE EQUIPMENT NEW & USEDup with dance halls, music schools, etc. Time staggersinreversefor most vaudevillians, but for the Duncan Sis-West Side strut that netted plenty of ap- "Stolen Holiday" tersit marches on with new genera-plause. The team, while apparently new- to comers to the professional ranks, dis- (FIRST NATIONAL) tions please. It'sthe same littleplays welcome freshness and training. Evaand Topsycuttingcapersthat Two blondes bring a letdown to the TIME -14 minutes. augurs a spirit of being able to carryaffair with a poor song delivery of Play, WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG "8" RELEASE DATE-February 6. on and on and on.Sisters showed onGypsy.A female tapper then follows MOVIE SUPPLY COMPANY PLOT-ArecentFrench nationalthe Earle stage last summer, followedwith a fast swing routine before the 844 S. WABASH AVE. CHICAGO, ILL. scandal probably gave rise to this plot.up withabriefappearance hereinappearance of a fair rope act performed which deals with an American modelNew Faces and are back again with theby an unbilled man and woman. A few unknowingly in the clutches of a cleversame shinnagins that more than satisfy.familiar gags are spinned in the proces- swindler.Latter prospers, isa man of Gals appear as in days of old, Rosettasion. THE FILM WEEKLYimportance, and all the time uses herinblackface. Carrythruapop,a Billy and Betty Starr come on once without her knowing it. He gives her aparody and their "Duncan doughnuts"more for a Top Hat number, which in- AUSTRALIA dress shop: the police are beginning tobit which promises to go down in the-stills renewed life into the revue.All Cevarias the MotionFlettreeand Entertainment catch up to him: she falls for a chapatricalhistorywith Remember,their Field Generally. with the British Embassy: the swindler return for the usual finale. Conducted by MARTIN C. BRENNAN. closing song which revives ,the pleasant On the screen Prison Shadows, of lit- !SO City Tattersall, Building, Pitt street. Sydney asks her to marry him, which she doesmemories of yesteryear.It's three cheerstle help to the b. o. Business fair at clos- Australian Offlee et THE BILLBOARD. simply out of gratitude, and finally he'sfor the Duncan Sisters, with both old -ing show. SAM HONIGBERG.