Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

36 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 4, 193 1 OP NEW PRODUCT This department does not attempt to predict the public's reactions to pictures. It does, instead, present detailed and accurate information on product, together with the frank and honest opinion of the reporter. Quick Millions (Fox) Different Gangster Story Quick millions" is an inside story on racketeering that ranks among the better class of gangster stories. Given very good direction by Rowland Brown and capably acted by Spencer Tracy, Marguerite Churchill, Sally Eilers, and Warner Richmond, the talker proves good entertainment for young and old. Fast movfng, the story by Courtney Terrett shows Tracy as a truck driver who aspires for more wealth and attains it through racketeering methods. He organizes the trucking associations and demands protection money. This racket and other hoodlum activities are exposed in the development of the story. When Tracy, who through his endeavors becomes a ruling power in the affairs of the city, decides to go in for society, he turns the wrong way. Because of his power Marguerite Churchill is forced to tolerate him and he plans to marry her. She is in love with another lad, however, and marries him, much to Tracy's chagrin. Tracy plans to kidnap the bride on the wedding day but his henchmen, instead of helping him in his plans, turn against him and take him "for a ride." Sally Eilers is the "girl who shares a flat with Tracy." She is forgotten when he gets the society idea and later turns against him. There is plenty of humor in the picture and it is well spotted making the rather heavy plot seem lighter. Mtisicals and comedies would go ivell ■mfh this. Produced and distributed by Fox. Directed by Rowland Brown. Story by Courtney Terrett and Rowland Brown. Additional dialogue by John Wray. Cameraman, Joseph Augusts. Sound by W. W. Lindsay, Jr. Art Director, Duncan Cramer. Costumes by Sophie Wachner. Release datCj May 3, 1931. Footage, 6,286. Running time, 70 mmutes. CAST Bugs Raymond Spencer Tracy Dorothy Stone Marguerite Churchill Daisy de Lisle Sally Eilers Arkansas Smith Robert Burns Kenneth Stone John Wray Nails Markey Warner Richmond Jimmy Kirk George Raft William Crouch Wi Ladies' Man (Paramount) Sophisticated Murder ILLIAM POWELL plays the gigolo in "Ladies' Man," his latest for Paramount. He accepts money on which to live from a married woman, accepts the attentions of her daugh ter, and otherwise disports himself as we've been taught he-men shouldn't. But he holds the sympathy of his audience because of his personality and because he reforms just before he pays for his sins. He pays for them by being shot in the shoulder by Gilbert Emery, irate husband, and tossed out of a skyscraper window. He leaves Kay Francis, the third woman in the case, and the only one he ever has really loved, weeping in the lobby of the hotel. She arrives just a few minutes too late to save him from Emery. Behind, he also leaves Olive Tell, the disillusioned wife, and Carole Lombard, her daughter. Emery gives himself up to the police after leading a grand march in the ballroom of the hotel. Powell was to have led it with Emery's wife at his side. Emery's quick recovery from the tragic encounter seems to have been intended as a sensational denouement. Great liberties have been taken by Paramount in adapting the story to the screen. It is turned completely around and the action of the Rupert Hughes novel has been reversed. Emery, in leading the grand march with his wife, is called upon by Lothar Mendes to act his way through a highly theatrical and obviously unreal situation. The drama has a society background, and this is well carried out both in tlie exquisite costuming of the women in the cast and in the elegance of the settings Powell is good in his role, that of a man who attracts women, not because he attempts to, but because of the sheer force of his personality. Emery gives a capable performance. Miss Tell does a smooth, workmanlike job, and Carole Lombard, as the daughter, also handles her part well. She has one drunken scene which is exceptionally well done. Kav Francis' work holds to its usually high standard throughout the production. The adaptation, and this goes for the direction as well, is tactfully handled. Faced with the difficulty of taking a popular leading man, throwing him into such a part and still retaining the syrnpathy of the audience gave both Mankiewicz and Mendes some difficult problems. Powell's lines are exceptionally well written and well read Comedy shorts and cartoon numbers will go best with this film. Produced and distributed by Paramount. Directed by Lothar Mendes. From the novel by Rupert Hughes. Adaptation and continuity by Herman J. Mankiewicz. Photographed by Victor Milner. Release date, April 26, 1931. CAST James Darrichot William Powell Norma Page Kay Francis Rachel Fendley Carole Lombard Horace Fendley Gilbert Emery Mrs. Fendley Olive Tell Anthony Fendley Martin Burton Peyton Weldon John Holland The Valet Frank Atkinson Therese Blanton Maude Turner Gordon Edward Churchill Meet the Wife ( Christie) Light and Airy There were plenty of laughs when this farcical comedy made by Christie was shown to a preview audience. The play, "Meet the Wife," is packed with amusing incidents, with laughable lines and with good light acting on the part of three accomplished players, Harry Myers, Lew Cody and Laura LaPlante. A. Leslie Pearce directed forced action into the vehicle whenever it had the slightest tendency to drag, and did an excellent job of injecting a spirit of fun into it. Myers is cast as a second husband who hears constantly about the first and who is henpecked by Laura LaPlante, the wife. The time comes when the wife decides to entertain a noted British novelist, who turns out to be her first husband, played by Lew Cody. Miss LaPlante had been under the impression he was lost in a fire and explosion, but he had decided on a change of air and went to England. Cody arrives just in time to save his daughter, Joan Marsh, from marrying the ailing and artificial Claude Allister. He sees that she marries William Janney, newspaper reporter. However^ his constant embracing of both his wife and daughter causes much comment before his true identity is revealed. Myers, very much perturbed by his return, takes the keys to his London apartment, his steamer ticket, and finds himself a fire and an explosion to get lost in. All ends well with Lew in the role of family man. Pearce and the entire cast have handled the situations delicately, and there is light humor instead of banality throughout. The play, it is more that than a motion picture, for there are few changes of scene, has good dialogue, written by Lynn Starling. Glenn Kershner has touched the direction ofif with some artistic photography. There are slight modifications from the stage success of the same name. Myers proved a surprise. After t\vo and a half years in the silent, he reveals a voice which adds to his personality. The youngsters, William Janney and Joan Marsh, acquitted themselves well. Dramatic shorts and musicals are best here for program balance. Produced by Christie. Distributed by Columbia. Play and story by Lynn Starling. Directed by A. Leslie Pearce, Photographed by Glenn Kershner. Release date, April 17, 1931. CAST Philip Lord Lew Cody Harvey Lennox Harry Myer? Gertrude Lennox , Laura LaPlante Victor Staunton Oaude Allister Gregory Brown William Janney Doris Bellamy Joan Marsh William Ed&ar Norton Edward Churchill