Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Looking Over Shorts Tuesday, January 9, 1934 "Death Drums of New Guinea" (.Continued from page 14) peared in many previous pictures, one or two incidents stand out as new. The Devil dancers, whose supreme diety is the Ghost Owl, kill four of their members when the bird starts moaning. This is an outstanding feature of the film. The photography is not clear at times. "Sherman Said If (Roach-M-G-M) Featuring Charley Chase, this is an amusing short. The action is laid in France, during the war, and the picture opens with Chase still fighting after the Armistice. The scene then shifts to various establishments, such as a laundry, where the comedian is forced to work off his debts before he can leave for home. Chase sings and dances his way through most of the picture. Running time, 16 mins. "Kennel Kings" (.Paramount) Grantland Rice exhibits some of the 70 different species of canines in this subject which holds considerable interest for the layman and a treat for dog lovers. Some of the hounds are seen in action while others are spotlighted at play. This Sportlight will fit on any program and will satisfy. Running time, 10 mins. "Waltz in A Flat Major'' (Audio Prod.) A fine musical rendition, aided by striking black-and-white photography, makes this work of Brahms always ' interesting and carries it far from the ■ routine in shorts. Will appeal par\ ticularly to better class audiences. In houses that cater to such patronage. [ this will be welcomed. Running time, 4 mins. , "Supper at Six*' (Universal) This is a Mentone sketch, set in a theatrical boarding house, and featuring Jack Arthur, of radio fame; Jack ,and Kay Spangler, Maude Odell and Hilda Spong. A party is to be given by one_ of 3the boarders to celebrate the arrival .of her alimony check, and all the roomers pitch in and give their bit .to help entertain. An entertaining ] short, with the offerings of the cast not overdone. Running time, 18 mins. "Ave Maria" (Audio Prod.) Church music, solemnly and richly played on the organ. "Ave Maria" is another in the new series of Audio :Prod. designed to stress sound rather i"than film advances but very well done •on both counts. Photographically, the subject confines itself to impressive church Interiors with opening and closing cathedral shots. Impressive and commendable. Running time, 8 mins. "Poppin' the CorK' (Educational) This is intended as a timely tieup with repeal. The scenes shift from a j. co-ed college where a debate is held on prohibtion to a night club where Milton Berle has a chance to introduce a number of gags. There are two snappy songs, "Poppin' the Cork" and "Here's Looking at You," by James Hanley and Benny Davis. Also, some good looking girls. It is nicely staged. Running time, 23 mins. "London Medley" (Fox) Another of the Fox Magic Carpet series showing views of London, its parks, churches, shops, theatres, restaurants and monuments. Interesting off-screen dialogue, explanatory and humorous, accompanies. Running time, 10 mins. "/ Eats My Spinach" (Paramount) One of Max Fleischer's "Popeye the Sailor" animated cartoons. Hilarious to the extreme, with many clever turns, this is something that can be booked without fear of going wrong. Popeye is set down at a rodeo, where in the excitement he challenges the steer wrestlers and the other western experts to match their work stride for stride. Popeye proves himself one better than the boys from the western plains. Running time, 7 mins. "Parking Space" (Universal) An Oswald cartoon, built around the idea of a parking space for babies, with Oswald in charge. Complications set in when a colored babe sets fire to the building with his hot dancing. Oswald is the hero, rescuing the children and winning the praise of his girl friend. Fair entertainment. Running time, 7 mins. "A Homing Romeo" (Paramount) An amusing short featuring Harry Langdon. Langdon is up to his old tricks, and he plays a golf game with his rival, the winner to marry the girl. There is a trick house on wheels in this one that is responsible for most of the laughs. Running time, 21 mins. "Medbury in Morocco" (Columbia) Here's a travelogue which differs from the usual variety by the uncanny wit of John P. Medbury. He describes the customs and natives of the African city and garners any number of laughs. An audience at the MayfaTr liked this Walter Futter subject and burst into giggles several times. Running time, 9 mins. "The Freeze Out' (Educational) Moran and Mack are shown as a couple of colored prospectors in an Alaskan frontier town. Mack comes in with a lot of nuggets and a card sharper tries to take their roll. Moran slips bills off the sharper's pile every time an argument starts, and it finally winds up in a free-for-all in which the saloon is wrecked. It ought to appeal to the Moran and Mack fans. Running time, 17 mins. "Chicken Reel" ( Universal) Another of the Oswald series, with the scene laid in a barnyard. A hen hatches a duck in one of her broods, much to the dismay of the rooster, and to the delight of the other hens. I But during a cloudburst, that floods the barnyard, and nearly drowns the fowl, Oswald, the duck, saves their lives, and becomes king of the yard. Fairly amusing. Running time, 8y2 mins. "Hula Moon" (Audio Prod.) Average Hawaiian number which follows a path well-worn by predecessors for this type of subject. The photography is in Technicolor. Not up to the standard of other early releases in the Audio series. Running time, 7 mins. "The Last Dogie" (Educational) An entertaining musical featurette, starring James Melton, the radio tenor. Scene is laid in a bunk house on a ranch, with the hands singing as Melton enters. He joins in, and gives his version of several of the old western songs. Views of cattle on the range, and horses in corrals are spaced between shots of the bunk house. Running time, 11 mins. "Air Maniacs" (Educational) Three aviators, John T. Murray, Frank "Spooks" Clark and Roy "Baldy" Wilson, do some thrilling stunts in planes, with Vince Barnett supplying the comedy relief. He is whirled through a series of gyrations sitting on the tail of a plane. It's a swell number. Running time, 10j^ mins. 15 "Three Knaves and a Queen" (Radio) A most amusing and interesting short with a particular appeal to bridge players of all types. Instructive in all angles of bridge, with Ely Culbertson lecturing on bidding, counting and playing. Story is set in a charity bazaar, with Culbertson as a bridge lecturer. After his talk, he plays a series of hands in an amusing setting, and finally, after being set on a no-trump bid, explains why he lost, and closes the picture with some amusing comments on bridge players. Running time, 20 mins. "Jumping Giants" (Paramount) A very interesting Grantland Rice "Sportlight" of fishing in the Gulf Stream for tarpon, and off the coast of California for marlin swordfish. Running time, 10 mins. "Jack Denny and Band" (Vitaphone) Another of the Melody Master series featuring Jack Denny and his band. Paul Small does the vocals. Minor and Root, ballroom dancers, present three entertaining dances. Running time, 10 mins. "Wild Elephinks" (Paramount) Popeye, the Sailor, off again on another of his adventures, this time on an island infested with all sorts of wild beasts. His prodigious strength again comes to his rescue. Entertaining. Running time, 8 mins. "Roman Scandals" is without doubt — *^ one of the outstanding pictures of the year. Should do SRO business everywhere. Michael Daly, Rialto Theatre, New Briton, Connecticut