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

Directory of Pictures SHANGHAI EXPRESS (Paramount)— It all happens on a train running through war-torn China. Marlene Dietrich . is' the Shanghai Lily, an adventuress.. Clive Brook is an army officer. Warner Oland and Anna May Wong are in it, too. Hokum, but very thrilling hokum. ' Very gocd — there's enough excitement in it to amuse the kids. SKY BRIDE (Paramount) — Richard Arlen plays a stunt aviator who turns quitter after his pal is killed during one of his "stunts. Jack Uakie is the pal. Very good — and good talkie fare tor the youngsters. SKYSCRAPER SOULS (M-G-M) — Faith Baldwin's story, ".beautifully produced, of the man who simply must own a skyscraper and of the people who come within his power. Maureen O Sullivan, Norman Foster, Wallace Ford, Anita Page and Verree Teasdale are also in it Very good though not particularly amusing tor the kids. SMILIN' THRU (M-G-M)— Norma Shearer, Fredric March and Ralph Graves go sugary. Excellent but children may be bored. Reviewed in detail on page 49. SOCIETY GIRL (Fox)— A prize-fighter falls in love with a Park Avenue girl and she says. Oh, but I was just fooling." Whereupon the prizefighter loses all his fights until—. James Dunn and Peggy Shannon are attractive as the two young people. Good— okay for the youngsters. SPEAK EASILY (M-G-M) — Buster Keaton and Jimmie Durante are uproariously funny in this. Thelma Todd plays the hot mamma in the case. Very good — by all means let the children see it. THE STRANGE CASE OF CLARA DEANE (Paramount)—A bit like "Madelon Claudet without the appeal of that story. Nevertheless, Wynne Gibson will surprise you with her splendid acting, so you had better see it. Good— a bit too sad for children. THE STRANGE LOVE OF MOLLY LOUVAIN (First National) — The modern girl again. Ann Dvorak plays her this time — and very capably, too Richard Cromwell and Leslie Fenton are also in it. Good — children may like parts of it. STRANGER IN TOWN (Warners)— An overly sentimental story about a small town grocer and what happens when a big chain store man comes to town. Chic Sale is the grocer and David Manners represents the chain stores. Ann Dvorak is Chic's daughter and of course there s a love storv. Good, if you care for sentimental stuff — all right for children. A SUCCESSFUL CALAMITY (Warners) — A simply told but very attractive little story about a millionaire who plays "poor" when he sees his family drifting apart. George Arliss is splendid, as usual. Mary Astor plays his young wife and Evalyn Knapp and William Janney are the young people. Good — children will like it. SYMPHONY OF SIX MILLION (Radio)— This is a classic by now. It's Fannie Hurst's story ot the Ghetto and of a famous surgeon who works up from its depths. Ricardo Cortez is splendid as the surgeon. Irene Dunne is his sweetheart. Excellent — suitable for children. (Continued from page 11) THIRTEEN WOMEN (Radio)— Myrna Loy and Ricardo Cortez in mental suggestion story. Fair — not for children. Reviewed in detail on page 48. TARZAN THE APE MAN (M-G-M)— This is a classic, too. But if you haven't seen it, hunt it up at some neighborhood theatre. Johnnie Weissmuller is great. And the photography is very beautiful. Very good — just the thing for the kids. THIS IS THE NIGHT (Paramount) — Amusing farce of the sophisticated type. Charles Ruggles, Roland Young and Lily Damita are in it. A couple of the songs you're always bearing came from this one. Good — but children would be bored. THUNDER BELOW (Paramount) — The famous tri angle business again — with Tallulah Bankhead, Paul Lukas and Charles Bickford. . It all takes place in ' the tropics and we seem to have seen ,' something like it before. The acting is good, however. Good — but very dull for children. TIGER SHARK (First National) — Edward G. Robinson and Richard Arlen in thrilling story of the tuna fishing industry. Marvelous pictorial value. Okay for children. Reviewed in detail on page 50. " : TOM BROWN OF CULVER (Universal) — A different sort of story about a boys' school. Tom Brown, Richard Cromwell and II. B. Warner are in it. Excellent — fine for the kids, especially young boys. THE TRIAL OF VIVIENNE WARE (Fox)— Actionfull and thrilling courtroom drama. Joan Bennett is the girl who surfers at the hands of the law. Comedy is deftly provided by Zasu Pitts and Skeets Gallagher. Good — all right for the children. TWO AGAINST THE WORLD (Warners)— Connie Bennett is called upon to sacrifice her good name to save her brother. Neil Hamilton is Connie's sweetheart— and also the prosecuting attorney who is delving into the murder. Good — but not suitable for the children. TWO SECONDS (First National)— This story isn't pretty, but it's engrossing and splendidly acted by Edward G. Robinson, Vivienne Osborne and a good cast. Robinson is a simple sort of chap who's life is ruined by a despicable woman who traps him into a drunken marriage for his money. When he goes to the chair for killing her, his whole life passes before him and that's what the audience sees. Excellent — but too grim for the youngsters. UNASHAMED (M-G-M)— A murder trial story. Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Young and Monroe Owsley are in it. Good — not suitable for the kids. UNEXPECTED FATHER (Universal) — Slim Summerville and Zasu Pitts in a very amusing mix-up all about mistaken identity. Very good— fine for the young people. THE VANISHING FRONTIER (Paramount)— An historical romance with John Mack Brown doing very well. Exciting action talkie. Very good — fine for the kids, especially boys. WAR CORRESPONDENT (Columbia)— Jack Holt and Ralph Graves do a Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt and do it very well, too. The story centers around the late Chinese upset. Good — okay for the children. THE WASHINGTON MASQUERADE (M-G-M) — The famous old play, "The Claw," polished up with a lot of new dialogue and beautiful settings for the talkies. Lionel Barrymore does a fine, if somewhat florid, piece of acting as the brilliant, straight-forward senator who falls into " crooked hands. Karen Morley plays the adventuress who marries him to betray him. That I new ingenue, Diane Sinclair, is a darling. Good — but the children would find it dull. WEEK-END MARRIAGE (Warners)— The problems of modern married life, as set down by Faith Baldwin. Loretta Young plays the girl and Nor I man Foster the man. Good — children may like j parts of it. WESTWARD PASSAGE (Pathe) ) — A story of true love which is killed by poverty. Ann Harding is the wife, Lawrence Olivier the husband who tries so hard to make literature and domesticity mix. Good — but not interesting for children. THE WET PARADE (M-G-M) — Powerful fictional propaganda for— and against — prohibition. Upton Sinclair's novel is well produced and well acted by a large cast which includes Robert Young, Dorothy Jordan, Walter Huston, Lewis Stone and Jimmie Durante. Good — but leave the kids at home. WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD? (Pathe) — -A very entertaining story about Hollywood as it really is. Connie Bennett plays the little waitress who becomes a star. Lowell Sherman is marvelous as her director. Excellent — young folks will like some of it. WHEN A FELLER NEEDS A FRIEND (M-G-M) — Sentimental, but very touching. It's the story of a little cripple (Jackie Cooper) who has only one friend in the world — Chic Sale. Very good — just the thing for the children. WINNER TAKE ALL (Warners)— James Cagney socks his way to further popularity in this one. He treats his women rough and makes Park Avenue sit up and stare. Marian Nixon is his true love and Virginia Bruce the wicked city blonde. Good — splendid for children. 70 000 WITNESSES (Paramount)— Phillips Holmes and Dorothy Jordan in original murder-mystery yarn. Very good — kids will like some of it. Reviewed in detail on page 50. THE WORLD AND THE FLESH (Paramount) — The Russian Revolution crops up again in the talkies. This isn't a very convincing story, but George Bancroft and Miriam Hopkins are good. Good^children will like it. YOUNG AMERICA (Fox)— A story about boys— and why they don't always behave like little angels Spencer Tracy, Doris Kenyon and Ralph Bellamy play the grown-up parts. Good — fine for the kids, boys especially. YOUNG BRIDE (Pathe)— Eric Linden as the husband and Helen Twelvetrees as the wife in a slight, but entertaining little story about a young couide and their trials and tribulations. Fair— dull for children. Exposing Andy Clyde Andy. '"I'm disappointed in ye, my lad You don't talk like a Scot any more." After Andy read the part for him, he said, "I'm a bit dubious about ye, but for your father's sake I'll gie ye a chance." Following that engagement, which lasted fifteen weeks, Andy decided to try the movies. Before the talkies, it was no easy matter for an actor from the stage to get in, and Andy carried spears and played extra parts for three years before he got a real opportunity. Then one day he was called, with other extras, to work in a Sennett comedy. The company was working on the docks at the harbor. After Andy had worked in one scene, he slipped behind a pile of lumber and changed his makeup. When the director called him for 122 (Continued from page 107) another scene, he walked on completely disguised. "Andy !" called the director, with pardonable irritation. Extras are not supposed to keep directors waiting. "Where's Andy Clyde?" But he was amused when Andy said, "Here I am," and he recognized him. ALL afternoon this went on and six times Andy appeared on the scene in as many different characters. That night the director called the incident to the attention of Mr. Sennett. "Hmmm," hmmmmed Mr. Sennett, who never overlooks a good bet. "Let's sign up this one-man cast." So Andy got a contract. For two years he has portrayed the Printed in the U. character of Pop Martin. The huge walrus mustache that he wears is glued on, but his contract says he must grow his beard and that he may not shave. And that is how it happens that Andy is always seen hiding behind a so-called bush. Hiding behind his Pop Martin makeup and his reserve. A reserve acquired on his eighteenth birthday. In his heart Andy knows that his father acted for the best. The harsh Scotch method hurt, but the motive was right. Andy has never forgotten it. No matter how short a scene, how trifling a detail, it must be perfect. Well, that's Andy Clyde. The man who says, "What chance have I to get a girl?" What do you think? Would you like to have him as a boy friend ? S. A. by Art Color Printing Company, Dunellen, N. J.