Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

3 1 THE MODERN SCREEN DIRECTORY (Pictures) j Why spend time and money on pictures that you won't enjoy? Read these brief reviews before picking a show— then you'll surely have a good time THE AGE OF CONSENT (Radio) — A true (well, pretty true) picture of modern college life. The young people in the cast are excellent — Richard Cromwell, Arline Judge and the newcomer-whowas-a-stenographer. Dorothy Wilson. Good — but we'll leave it for mothers to decide whether or not they want their children to see it. AIRMAIL (Universal) — A fast-moving, thrilling action film. Ralph Bellamy, Slim Summerville, Pat O'Brien. Gloria Stuart and Lilian Bond are in the cast. Good — couldn't be improved upon for the children. AMERICAN MADNESS (Columbia)— Walter Huston is, as usual, excellent in this story of a bank president who does the right thing for the depression. Pat O'Brien, Constance Cummings and your old favorite, Kay Johnson, are in it, too. Good — the children will like parts of it. AS YOU DESIRE ME (M-G-M)— Just in case there is any mortal left who hasn't seen this — it's Garbo's latest and it's very fine, too. A romantic story, as replete with glamor as Garbo herself. Excellent — but not particularly suitable for young folks. BACK STREET (Universal)— Fannie Hurst's story, which proves that the primrose path can be as dull and dreary as more respectable thoroughfares. An appealing and rather sad love affair is sympathetically enacted (by Irene Dunne and John Boles. Good — children may enjoy parts of it, particularly those which take place in the era of the horse-cars. BIG CITY BLUES (Warners)— Joan Blondell and Eric Linden team up very nicely in this story about an on-the-level chorine and an innocent country boy who gets involved in a murder. Good— children will like it. BIRD OF PARADISE (Radio)— All about the beautiful native princess and the American chap who falls in love with her and the taboos which prevent the happy ending. Dolores Del Rio is the princess and Joel McCrea is the American chap. Good — the story won't appeal to the children very much, but the native scenes will. BLESSED EVENT (Warners)— Lee Tracy is a columnist who'll do practically anything to "scoop" a bit of scandalous gossip for his paper and Mary Brian is the girl who heartily disapproves of his job and the way he runs it until — . Good — the children won't understand it all but Lee Tracy will amuse them. BLONDE VENUS (Paramount) — Marlene Dietrich's latest — in which she sacrifices practically everything for her child. She wears gorgeous clothes and the Dietrich legs are once more in evidence. Herbert Marshall is most attractive as her leading man and Dickie Moore is his usual adorable self. Excellent — but youngsters won't care for it much. BLONDIE OF THE FOLLIES (M-G-M)— Marion Davies, Robert Montgomery and Billie Dove in an amusing farce comedy which allows our Marion to be as funny as only she can be. Good — take the children because great parts of it will entertain them. BRING 'EM BACK ALIVE (Radio) — Be sure to see this most thrilling animal picture. It tells of Frank Buck's adventures in the jungles of Asia. Most realistic and exciting. Excellent — be sure to take the young folks. CABIN IN THE COTTON (First National)— Dick Barthelmess and Bette Davis in story of the South. Fair — okay for the kids. Reviewed in detail on page 48. CHANDU THE MAGICIAN (Fox)— Edmund Lowe and Bela Lugosi in a thrilling mystery story. Very good — the kids will be thrilled. Reviewed in detail on page 50. CONDEMNED TO DEATH (First Division)— English mystery drama, well directed and well acted by an English cast. Good — exciting enough to entertain the children. CONGCR1LLA ( Fox) —Another animal picture that you mustn't miss. It's the camera record of the Martin Johnsons' big game hunt in the African jungle. Excellent — splendid for the younger generation. CONGRESS DANCES (United Artists)— A delightful bit of fluff. It's a costume comedy, filmed abroad, and in the cast is a charming young person named Lilian Harvey. YouH like the music. Very good — not much in it for the youngsters, though. THE CRASH (Warner Bros.)— Ruth Chatterton and George Brent in far-fetched depression story. Poor — children will be bored. Reviewed in detail on page 50. THE DARK HORSE (First National)— Political comedy, amusingly acted by Warren William. Bette Davis and Guy Kibbee. Very good — but the children won't care for it. THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP (Paramount) — A half-mad naval commander (Charles Laughton) suspects his lovely young wife (Tallulah Bankhead) of being in love with every attractive young man ■ she sees. His insane suspicions finally focus on Gary Cooper and near-tragedy results. Good — but send the children to something else. DIVORCE IN THE FAMILY (M-G-M)— Jackie Cooper and Lewis Stone as two characters who depict the havoc that divorce can do to a father and son. Very good— children will like parts of it. Reviewed in detail on page 48. THE DOOMED BATTALION (Universal) )— A story centering around that part of the Great War which was fought in the Tyrolean Alps. Victor Varconi, Luis Trenker and Tala Birell are in it. Good — children will find the action scenes thrilling. DOWN TO EARTH (Fox)— Will Rogers as Pike Peters again. And Irene Rich as his wife. Pike loses his money in this one. And utters many homely philosophies. Rogers' dry humor will amuse you. Very good— couldn't be better suited to the youngsters' tastes. DOWNSTAIRS (M-G-M) — John Gilbert, his reallife wife. Virginia Bruce, and Paul Lukas in a story Jack wrote himself. John — you'll be surprised— plays the villain and does it well, too. Good — but not for children. DR. X (First National) — These pseudo-scientific stories aren't quite as blood-chilling as they were back in the old "Frankenstein" days. But this one has some good acting by Lionel Atwill and Lee Tracy. Good — not for children, however. FIREMAN, SAVE MY CHILD (Warners)— Joe E. Brown, torn between his love for baseball and blondes, is very funny. Good — splendid for the kids. THE FIRST YEAR (Fox)— Janet Gaynor and Charlie Farrell are married in this one. And, oh dear, what minor tragedies they do suffer! But everything works out all right finally. A most appealing little story. And do watch for Leila Bennett, the colored maid who "washes best. Excellent — take the children with you. FORGOTTEN COMMANDMENTS (Paramount)— The only thing notable about this is some good acting bv Marguerite Churchill and several scenes from the silent "Ten Commandments" which you may enjoy seeing for sentimental reasons. Gene Raymond and Sari Maritza are in it, too. but they have little opportunity to prove their ability. Poor. FREAKS (M-G-M)— This department can't quite see why anyone should want to see the poor, deformed scraps of humanity who make up the circus side-show. But you can if you want to and we must grant that the picture is authentic and well done. Good of its kind — but don't dream of taking the children. FREIGHTERS OF DESTINY (Pathe) — A corking Western with Tom Keene. Very good — especially for the children. GRAND HOTEL (M-G-M) — This is practically a classic by now. If you haven't seen it, by all means do so. Its cast includes Garbo, Craw 1 ford, Lionel and John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, j Jean Hersholt and Lewis Stone. Excellent — but the young folks would probably be bored. HELL'S HIGHWAY (Radio)— Richard Dix and Tom j Brown, in chain gang picture. Excellent — but a j little gruesome for the kids. Reviewed in detail on page 48. HIS ROYAL SHYNESS (Educational)— One of the entertaining Andy Clyde comedies. In this one, Andy dreams that he's king. Good — fine for children. HOLD 'EM JAIL (Radio)— Wheeler and Woolsey are framed into jail because the prison football team needs new material. With this beautifully crazy idea to start with. Wheeler and Woolsey work tip some hilarious comedy. Edna May Oliver is in it, too. Good — fine for the youngsters. HORSE FEATHERS (Paramount)— The Four Marx ! Brothers inherit a college. And if the possi j bilities opened up by that statement don't inspire you to go and see the picture, then you're no true Marx-fancier. Excellent — and, we beg you take the children. IGLOO (Universal) — An Eskimo picture, very ar j tistically done. The native cast is splendid. Excellent — entertaining and educational for the children. IS MY FACE RED? (Radio)— Ricardo Cortez plays \ a philandering columnist. Helen Twelvetrees j and Jill Esmond are in it, too. Good — not for i children, however. LADY AND GENT (Paramount)— George Bancroft ' plays a strong-willed prize-fighter and Wynne | Gibson a night club singer with a heart of , gold. Good — but the children wouldn't like it. I LETTY LYNTON (M-G-M)— Joan Crawford, Bob | Montgomery and Nils Asther in a story — but you've probably seen it already. If you haven't, we advise you to do so, because all three of these players are excellent and the story is unusual. Very good — too sophisticated for the kids, however. LIFE BEGINS (First National) — Loretta Young and j Eric Linden against a background of a maternity hospital. Very good — children will be bored. Reviewed in detail on page 49. LOVE ME TONIGHT (Paramount)— Maurice Che j valier and Jeanette MacDonald in another musical romance. Very good — but not the sort of thing that will amuse the tots. Reviewed in detail on page 48. MAKE ME A STAR (Paramount) — "Merton of the . Movies" in talkie form. Stuart Erwin is excellent as Merton. Joan Blondell is the girl. Very good — children will love it. MERRILY WE GO TO HELL (Paramount) — Don't let the name keep you away, because it's just a gag that Fredric March keeps pulling throughout the picture. You'll enjoy March's acting, and Sylvia Sidney's and Adrienne Ames', even though the story is none too original. Good — | but take the children some other day. MILLION DOLLAR LEGS (Paramount)— An amusing lot of nonsense with Jack Oakie, W. C. Fields, Andy Clyde and Lyda Roberti. Good — fine for the kids. THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (Radio)— Fay Wrav and Joel McCrea in gruesome, man-hunt story. Very good — but you'd better consider before taking the children. Reviewed in detail on page 50. THE MOUTHPIECE (Warners) — Warren William as j a crooked lawyer. Sidney Fox as his innocent little typist and Aline McMahon as his wise secretary are all very good. Very good — but not for the children. 1(1