The Film Daily (1935)

THE « REVIEWS OF THE NEW FILMS George O'Brien in "WHISPERING SMITH SPEAKS" with Irene Ware and Kenneth Thomson (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) 20th Century-Fox 65 mins. RAILROAD ACTION STORY WITH COMEDY PROVES GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR REGULAR PROGRAMS. This time George O'Brien is in an interesting and amusing railroad story. It has a lot of action and played on the comedy drama lines, should prove good entertainment on regular programs. George O'Brien's name should mean something to the trade that goes for this type of picture, and they will enjoy his work, which is kept in the playful mood. There is plenty of railroad footage and some nice outdoor scenery. The story has suspense and holds one's attention throughout. David Howard's direction moves quickly, maintaining that light vein at all times. He also gets some nice performances from the players. Irene Ware looks fine and does a good job of the girl in the case. Spencer Charters is on now and then, and when he is he grabs the spotlight. When O'Brien gets fed up as a Vice-president or chair-warmer on his father's Transcontinental railroad, he ups and gets himself a job as track-walker on a jerk-water railroad, whose general manager is Irene Ware. The Transcontinental is trying to buy the road and also some property that the girl owns. When George investigates he finds the land contains valuable minerals and manages to held up the deal. In short order he takes an option on the railroad, surprises his father when the latter learns he must buy from his son, and not only wins the girl but gets her a good deal on her property. Cast: George O'Brien, Irene Ware, Kenneth Thomson, Maude Allen, Spencer Charters, Vic Potel, Edward Keane, Frank Sheridan, William V. Mong, Maurice Cass Producer, Scl Lesser; Director, David Howard; Author, Frank H. Spearman, Screenplay, Dan Jarrett, Don Swift; Cameraman, Frank B Gccd; Editor, Robert Crandall. Direction, Excellent. Photography, Good "HITCH HIKE LADY" with Alison Skipworth, Mae Clarke, Arthur Treacher, Jimmy Ellison (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Republic 75 mins. HUMAN STORY WITH PLENTY OF LAUGHS WILL APPEAL TO ALL CLASSES OF AUDIENCES. This has plenty of laughs and will please all types of audiences. It has a human story and Director Aubrey Scotto handled the pathos and comedy well. Unknown to his mother, Douglas Walton, is serving time in San Quentin. His mother, Alison Skipworth, living in England, receives letters from "Rancho San Quentin," which she believes is a big orange orchard. She lands in New York with little money and joins Dell Henderson, who is driving to California. Mae Clarke also joins them. After collecting from his passengers, Henderson disappears. They start hitch-hiking and are given a lift by Jimmy Ellison, a trailer salesman. Through Miss Skipworth, Arthur Treacher and Warren Hymer, confidence men, get a ride. They raffle Ellison's trailer without his permission, but Miss Skipworth straightens everything out. Treacher raises funds in a tricky fruit contest, young Walton is released in time and when his mother finally reaches California, she finds an improvised "San Quentin," just bought by Treacher for Walton. Cast: Alison Skipworth, Mae Clarke, Arthur Treacher, Jimmy Ellison, Warren Hymer, Beryl Mercer, Dell Henderson, Lionel Belmcre, Harold Waldridge, Christian Rub, George Hayes, J. FarreU Macdonald, Clay Clement, Otis Harlan, Charles C. Wilson, Douglas Walton. Director, Aubrey Scottc, Author, Wallace MacDonald; Screenplay, Gordon Rigby, Lester Ccle; Cameramen, Ernest Miller, Jack Marta. Direction, Good. Photography, Okay Rin-Tin-Tin Junior in "SKULL AND CROWN" (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Reliable 58 mins WITH FINE WORK BY DOG, THIS ONE HAS PLENTY SUSPENSE AND THRILLS FOR KIDS AND ACTION FANS. With Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr., doing some of the finest dog work yet seen, this picture should be bang up entertainment for dog lovers and action fans. In its own class it ranks very high and could pick up a few better dates. There are spots where the kids will cheer to the top of their lungs, and the grown-ups who like the law and outlaw stuff are going to enjoy it, too. This James Oliver Curwood yarn carries a lot of suspense and is handled to give plenty of thrills. The events follow one another well and one's interest is held throughout. The fights between the men are well handled, but those between the dog and the outlaws are great. The outdoor settings show up very well. The cast all do good work, especially Regis Toomey, who gives a sincere realistic performance as the dog's master. While awaiting the arrival of his sister, Toomey, a mounty, is called away t track down the bandit, Zarro. He leaves Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr., to take care of her. Zorro comes on the scene, a scuffle follows and the dog is hurt. Zorro also battles with the girl and kills her. The dog tries to follow Zorro and when Toomey returns the dog is gone. Believing that Rinty had deserted him. when the dog gets back he kicks him out. Resigning from the service, Tocmey goes out to get Zorro in his own way. He attaches himself to a smuggling gang, whose chief turns out to be Zorro. The dog follows him. The outlaws learn of Toomey's identity and it is through the dog's efforts that he is able to get away. Cast: Rin-Tin-Tm, Jr, Regis Toomey, Jack Mulhall, Molly O'Day, Lois January, James Murray. Jack Mower, John Elliott, Tom London, Milburn Mcranti Producer, Bernard B Ray; Director, Elmer Clifton; Author, James Oliver Curwood; Screenplay, Carl Krusada, Ben Cohen; Cameraman, Pliny Goodfriend; Editor, Fred Bain. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. Ken Maynard in "HEIR TO TROUBLE" Columbia 60 mins. GOOD OUTDOOR ACTION DRAMA WITH MORE THAN USUAL AMOUNT OF PLOT MATERIAL. Fortified by ample story ingredients, albeit the basic plot is not radically new in any respect, this ought to prove satisfying fare for the outdoor action fans. The peck of trouble falls to Ken Maynard when he assumes to look after the orphaned son and heir of an old pal and to develop seme mining property that is sought by an adjoining property owner. When the dead pal's son arrives he turns out to be a baby, and in his efforts to have the child cared for by a dance hall girl, Ken falls into a scandal, which at the same time causes Ken's sweetheart to walk out on him. The villain pursues his advantage, making additional trouble for Ken, with a kidnaping and other melodramatics following fast on each other until the climactic finale where Ken comes out victor with the kid and wins back his girl. Cast: Ken Maynard, Joan Perry, Harry Woods, Martin Faust, Harry Bcwen, Wally Wales, Dorothy Wolbert, Fern Emmett, Pat OMalley. Director, Spencer Gordon Bennett; Author, Ken Maynard; Screenplay, Nate Gatzert; Cameraman, Herbert Kirkpatrick; Editor, uwight Caldwell. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. "EAST OF JAVA" with Charles Bickford Universal 72 mins. FAMILIAR MELODRAMATIC HOKUM IN FIGHT TO FINISH BETWEEN SHIPWRECKED PARTY AND FEROCIOUS ANIMALS. Fans who have a blood-thirsty streak, and like to see humans devoured one after another by a bunch of hungry lions, will probably get some kick out of this meller. Story basically is the old hoke about an assortment of people shipwrecked on an uninhabited island where they are at the mercy of a cargo of animals which swam ashore from the same boat. Among the party is Charles Bickford, tough fugitive from justice, who bosses the shebang and at first tries to take Elizabeth Young, the sweetheart of Frank Albertson, but later becomes kind-hearted and stages practically a one man fight against the menacing menagerie. After most of the folks have been gobbled up despite Bickford's heroic defensive work, the few survivors are rescued. Bickford and other members of the able cast do good work, but the story handling just about licks them. Cast: Charles Bickford, Elizabeth Young, Frank Albertson, Leslie Fentcn, Siegfried Rumann, Jay Gilbuena, Clarence Muse, Ivan Simpson, Charles McNaughton, Ray Turner, Torben Meyer, Fraser Accsta Producer, Paul Kchner; Director, George Melfcrd; Author, Gouverneur Morris; Screenplay, Paul Perez, James Creelman; Cameraman, Daniel Hall Direction, Okay Photography, Good. FOREIGN "DER HERR DER WELT" ("The Master of the World"), in German produced by Ariel-Film; directed by Harry Piel; with Walter Janssen, Sybile Schmitz, et al. At the 86th St. Casino Theater. Fairly engrossing drama about a scientist who designs a machine to do the work of men in dangerous jobs but which turns out to have disastrous effects. "EL CABALLO DEL PUEBLO" ("The Favorite"), in Spanish; produced by Lumiton (Argentina); directed by Manuel Romero; with Enrique Serrano, Irma Cordoba, et al. At the Teatro Campoamor. Entertaining Argentine production with a racetrack story amplified by romance and other helpful ingredients. SHORTS Shemp Howard and Rosco Ates in "On the Wagon" (Big V Comedy) Vitaphone 20 Mins. Good Domestic Hokum A generally amusing rehash of the old stuff about hubby sneaking back home late and drunk while mother-in-law waits with a rolling pin. Only in this case ma-in-law has two married daughters, so there are two hubbies, Shemp Howard and Rosco Ates, who arrive on a water wagon and go through the familiar preliminaries of making a lot of racket in trying to be quiet, then get Into the apartment of another woman who has a bone-crusher husband, and finally exit through a window and crawl along the side of the high building until they get to their own room. The sequence outride the window has some humorous thrills because of the apparent danger of falling. Claude Hopkins and Orchestra in "By Request" with Tip, Tap and Toe Vitaphone 10 Mins. (Melody Master) Pleasing Band Number Starting with the colored boys strumming away down on the levee, the scene of this subject then shifts to a California night club atmosphere, where Claude Hopkins plays the piano. Tip-Tap-Toe do a good dancing specialty, and the orchestra supplies an enjoyable repertoire of popular musical numbers, with a little singing thrown in. Makes satisfactory entertainment of its kind. "Gold Diggers of '49" (Looney Tune) Vitaphone 7 Mins. Okay Animated Wh.le it contains nothing out of the ordinary in the animated cartoon line, this Leon Schlessinger short is a fairly entertaining concoction about a young gold prospector who puts life into a little western community.