Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 5, 1934 Looking 'Em Over "Marriage on Approval" (Monarch) There is enough general production value and interest in this story of today's younger generation to warrant attention for it from subsequent runs and double featuring houses. It has an added advantage in such cast names as Barbara Kent, William Farnum and Donald Dilloway. The plot is based on the unusual moral code for a minister's daughter, played by Miss Kent, which permits her to live, to all intents and purposes, with the man she loves without being married to him, in order to keep a promise made to her father that she would not marry before she was 22. The marriage, however, had actually been performed by a justice of the peace following a roadhouse party, although the girl did not remember it, and her husband, played by Dilloway, refrained from telling her for fear that an estrangement might result because of his part in thus making her break her promise to the father. The disclosure of the marriage eventually makes possible a reconciliation between the young couple and the girl's family. The background of the story involves misunderstandings which threaten the relationship between Miss Kent and Dilloway after they leave home together. William Farnum is cast as the girl's father. "Sensation Hunters" (Monogram) "Sensation Hunters" is a mild yarn of a pattern quite familiar. It is the tale of the cabaret gal "different" from her sisters in the profession who gets herself a job in a Panama honky-tonk. There she meets a chap who is representative of an American air transport company. She falls for him in an effort to forget about a chap with whom she became madly in love aboard the steamer that brought her south but who broke off over a misunderstanding. When the Panama lover dies in an air crash, the girl finds herself driven to singing in the lowest of dives. In the end she is saved from giving herself to a life of shame by the nick-of-time arrival of the lover whom she has been seeking to forget. The whole thing is a bit too implausible but the cabaret atmosphere and the down-to-earth dialogue will do much to get it over. Marion Burns is the girl and Preston Foster and Kenneth MacKenna, the lovers. The best performance, however, is that of Arline Judge as a cabaret performer. "The Trail Drive" ( Universal) "The Trail Drive" presents Ken Maynard in a fast and exciting tale with a plot that deviates from the routine enough to give it added interest. There is plenty of action to keep the kids on tenterhooks. The story tells of a group of settlers in the Texas cow country who sell their livestock to the big shot dealer of the country, who offers to pay them in script, which he will redeem when business improves. He plans to double-cross the sellers by having the cattle driven into New Mexico, where there is no redress. Maynard, as the dealer's foreman, gets himself unwittingly drawn into the mess. He squares himself when he brings his boss to justice. The romantic angle between Haynard and Cecelia Parker is handled in the usual western fashion. There is a fist fight between Maynard and the villains of the story that is a whopper and a tingling pursuit sequence. William Gould as the villain-in-chief is all right. Alan James directed acceptably. "Sweden — Land of the Vikings" (John W . Boyle) John W. Boyle, a former president of the American Society of Cinematographers, who produced this travelogue in Cinecolor, deserves credit for an exceptionally interesting piece of entertainment. The photography, even without the color, would have been splendid. With it, it is gorgeous. Off-screen narrative by Wilfred Lucas is done with a touch of humor and some emotion, and there is incidental music. Scenes show the departure of the Kungsholm from New York, shipboard scenes, and the arrival of the ship at Goteborg — Gothenburg. The trip is through a cross-country canal by boat, to Stockholm; to an interior town where native weaving is taught and customs and games are presented; to the island of Gotland, where Gothic architecture originated, and across country via railroad. The picture is feature length. "Rafter Romance" (Radio) With Ginger Rogers, Norman Foster, George Sidney and Laura Hope Crewes, a novel story and capable direction of William Seiter, "Rafter Romance" becomes an entertaining picture. The story concerns two youngsters, Miss Rogers and Foster, who, although unacquainted, are forced to occupy the same room in Sidney's boarding-house, Foster having the room by day and Miss Rogers by night. The conception that each has of the other and the pranks they play, afford many laughs. They finally meet, but on the outside, fall in love, and the picture winds up with the conventional happy ending. Miss Crewes is grand as an inebriated society woman in love with Foster, and Sidney gives another of his fine characterizations. Both Miss Rogers and Foster handle their parts in their usual competent manner. "// / Were Free," which opened at the Music Hall yesterday, was reviewed on Dec. 8. MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW (.Continued from page 6) and his gal, Helen Mack, manifest their deep love, tragic yet unafraid. The dramatic dilemma of a debby and her beau and that of a guy and his gal manifest two kinds of love by contrast and unfold an action gleaming with excitement. While March and Miss Hopkins give good accounts of themselves and are pulling names for the box-office, Helen Mack is the cast's standout, giving a sincere portrayal, quivering with restrained intensity. After this, she bears watching. George Raft contributes a fine job also. The direction by James Flood departs from the usual paths in sustaining interest. Adapted from the play "Chrysalis," the story and dialogue by Sidney Buchman and Thomas Mitchell, is nicely built. With the trend seemingly away from realism to romance, "All of Me" should give a good account of itself, neatly combining mass and class appeal in an emotional register. Schaefer to Atlanta George J. Schaefer leaves today for Atlanta and Dallas, where he will hold pep meetings of Paramount managers. Tucker Sponsors Fund Sophie Tucker is sponsoring a fund for an eye operation required by Eva Tanguay. Its "Madame Spy" Motion Picture Daily's coast review on "Madame Spy" (Universal) appeared as "Woman Spy." Para. Picks "Cinderella" Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Satisfied with the reception given "Alice in Wonderland," Paramount has decided on another Christmas picture with Charlotte Henry. It will be "Cinderella." Lanny Ross is being considered for the Prince Charming role. Change Dietrich Title Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Paramount has changed Marlene Dietrich's "Catherine, the Great" to "The Scarlet Empress." Spence, Rowland Coming Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Ralph Spence is on his way east to close a deal for a series of humorous articles for a news syndicate and for a radio tieup. Also eastbound is William Rowland, who will confer with Jack and Harry Cohn on a proposed releasing deal for Rowland-Brice product. McDonough Delayed J. R. McDonough, general manager of RKO, will not get away for the coast today as planned, but will momentarily. by last Woolsey in Town Robert Woolsey, accompanied Dorothy Lee, arrived by plane night to join Bert Wheeler, who has been here making arrangements for the comedy team's appearance on the stage and over the radio. Anocinema Gets Right Anocinema Export has secured distribution to United Newsreel shorts, "Broadway Gossips," and "The American Explorer." The films will be dubbed in Spanish.