Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD April 4, 19 3 1 Thorn the Unknown (RKO Pat he) Good Tom Terris, in this number of the Vagabond Adventure series, takes his fihn audience to the capital of Cambodia, in the Far East. A stop in the town and then to the ruins of the ancient king's palace. The photography is striking, the ruins picturesque and Terris' running fire of dramatic description interesting. As usual, a bit of drama is woven through the combination travelogue-adventure film. On a par with the others. Running time, 11 minutes. Dps 'n' Downs (Vitaphone) A Corker This Looney Tune number rates near superlatives, thanks paticularly to really new ideas in cartoon material. The shot in which the dog buys a frankfurter which leaps up and cries, "Mammy," just before being eaten, is laugh matter anywhere, any time, whether it's new or not. Looney Tunes are good. — Running time, 7 minutes. In the Good Old Summer Time (Ideal Pictures) Only Fair For the most part devoted to short sequences of Mother Nature blooming the time of sunshine and flowers. Here and there, a shot of animal life. Meant to tease people while the winter remains. Light, but somewhat entertaining. Allyn B. Carrick prepared the piece for the screen. — Running time, 8 minutes. Tennis Top-Notchers (RKO Pathe) Fine The nurnerous tennis players and fans in the country should get a real kick out of this explanation and demonstration of tennis strokes by Vincent Richards, world top-notcher. Various other famous players, including Suzanne Lenglen, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills, are shown in match play. Attractive girls as pupils help a bit. The interest is wide and Richard's voice excellent. Running time, 11 minutes. On the High C's (Vitaphone) Great The Brittons and their orchestra, who were spotted at the New York Palace, and went over with a tremendous success, do their act for the films in this number. Musical clowns, extremely funny, and they smash instruments in a very funny manner. — Running time, 9 minutes. Birds of a Feather (Ideal Pictures) Fine The youngsters especially should derive some real enjoyment from this highly interesting nature study devoted exclusively to myriad species of birds. Good for a bright spot on any program. — Running time, 8 minutes. The Cowcatcher's Daughter (Sennett) Barnyard Laughs There are a lot of good laughs in this wild story of the Wild West, with Marjorie Beebe and some good gags getting the best ones. Marjorie, as usual, is being wooed by the awkward Harry Gribbon. Good-looking Frank Eastman comes along and wins a place in her affections. Harry loses her and catches the very devil from Andy Clyde. The plot features Trixie, a pet horse, and a mule and both are good. The background is farmlife, including smoke houses, swimming holes and stables. Some of it is old slapstick. Young Babe Stafford directed. It's at the Sennett par, not over, not under. Winning Putts (RKO Pathe) Appeal Johnny Farrell, golf star, continues his series of golf instructions made palatable for film consumption. He demonstrates various grips and difficult shots with the accompanying verbal description. Opens with a young lad going around the course, but it's nearly impossible to understand what he is saying. Otherwise wide appeal and interesting. Running time, 10 minutes. Disappearing Enemies (RKO Pathe) Only Fair The story of two old sweethearts, who are accidentally brought together after years of separation by the marriage of their niece and nephew, respectively, who have invited the uncle when the aunt unexpectedly drops in. It might have been a pretty good straight short, but as a comedy it just about isn't. — Running time, 21 minutes. Monkey Business (Ideal Pictures) Good More different types of monkeys than anyone could believe existed, are here shown in a variety of closeups. They take their food and perform tricks before the camera. Good general appeal. — Running time, 8 minutes. Laemmie, Jr., Starts School For University Graduates Hollywood — Carl Laenimle, Jr., has established a training school for college inen at the Universal Coast plant. Arthur Unger, associate producer, has been combing the Western colleges for material, which will be tested during Easter vacation. Those signed will be given instruction on acting technique by directors between pictures. Hawkinson Appointed Chief Of RKO Pathe Foreign Firm R. K. Hawkinson, former RKO Pathe assistant secretary, has been appointed general manager of Pathe International Corporation, by Arthur B. Poole, treasurer. Hawkinson will handle foreign sales of product released prior to the RKO purchase of Pathe. Roxy, Home, Sees Broadway In Every Town He Visited S. L. Rothafel (Roxy), returned from his tour, claims there is a Broadway in every town he visited with the Roxy Gang. The coming director of the Rockefeller Radio Center had nothing to say about his plans. INTERLUDES {Continued from page .3.1') up those cowards out there." . . . Atta girl, Dora, down with the last of those gallery gods who would purvey the fruit of the razzberry bush. AAA Cecil Weston, former player, has joined the "dude ranch" industry. . . . And what an industry! . . . George O Brien cables from China. . . . Donald Crisp, Wade Boteler, Paul Hurst and Donald Mackenzie, former directors, support Clara Bow in "Kick In." . . . Barbara Weeks has heard of a girl, who, upon reading a news headline: TWO DIE IN COMPACT, exclaimed, "Gosh, they must have been midgets!" . . . Alan Hale and Sam Hardy would make a corking good vaude team, booked as Hale and Hardy. . . . AAA Ben Hecht, writer, mourns for the good old days. . . . "When I was working for a salary," Benneh reminisces, "I at least was solvent over week-ends. I'm broke all the time, now." . . . Has anything happened to that plan of major companies to spend a million on an industry good-will publicity campaign? . . . Doug Fairbanks is the only American star mentioned in England's "Who's Who." . . . Chaplin is included, but then he is English. . . . Jim Tully calls Wallace Beery "The magnificent masquerader," and describes him in this manner : "Under the mask of a buffoon. Beery hides a shrewd, compassionate and discerning mind." AAA Despite reports to the contrary, Marlene Dietrich is not temperamental. . . . Nor is she high hat. ... A magazine writer asked Doug Fairbanks, Junior, whether or not he is handicapped by being the son of a famous man. . . . "Well, yes and no," replied Doug . . . And that settled that! . . . "Stardom is the shortest road to a professional grave," Evelyn Brent believes. . . . Unless Noah Beery is soon given suitable story material, he will "or else." . . . AAA Karel Kozeluh, Czech tennis champ now on the Coast for cup matches, will accept a picture contract. ... If one is offered. . . . Chic Sale will spend six weeks each on the RKO series of funny shorts. ... At Georovesti, Roumania, a giant locomotive appeared on the screen, rushing toward the audience . . . the members of which never had seen a film before, and the choq-choo's action became so realistic, the house was completely wrecked as the patrons fought madly to escape from the path of the oncoming engine. AAA Harry Jolson, brother of the black-faced star, tells of the day when his father was walking on New York's east side. . . . And was pointed out as Al Jolson's father. . . . A wise-cracking salesman said, "That's not Al Jolson's father; I know Jolson, he's an Italian." . . . To which Al's father gently retorted, "Well, maybe he is by this time!" . . . AAA Walt Mason, who goes in for fan inagasine articles every now and then, starts his newest this K'ay : . . . "Reaching from the shadows of palm and pepper tree, . . . the clutching clazi's of Hollyivood . . . stretch in constant menace towards the stars. . . . And the meiiace is real, . . . as varied villainy can make it. . . For zvolves, scenting the blood of Hollywood's unprotected sheep . . . have made the toitni a rendezvous for racketeers." . . . Sorta "rendezvous until death." eh, Walt?