Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1934)

42 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD November 10, 1934 of any interest-creating ballyhoo. Outstanding value, however, is the nonsensical comedy, to be accented even to the extent of going absurd, and convincing the patrons that laughs come thick and fast. — McCarthy, Hollywood. Produced and distributed by Paramount. Producer, Louis D. Lighten. Director, Norman Taurog. Original by George Marion, Jr. Screen play by Walter DeLeon, John McDermott, Francis Martin. Music by Harry Revel. Lyrics by Mack Gordon. Dances by LeRoy Prinz. Sound, Eugene Merritt. Art directors, Hans Dreier and Robert Usher. Photographers, L,eo Tover and Ted Tetzlaff. P.C.A. Certificate No. 311. Running time, 83 minutes. Release date, Nov. 23, 1934. CAST Joe Joe Penner Finnegan Jack Oakie Larry Stacey Lanny Ross Mimi Lyda Roberti June Cort Helen Mack J. F. Stacey George Barbier Gloria Van Dayham Mary Brian Peabody Franklin Pangborn Herman Whimple Robert McWade Witherspoon Harold Minjir Spud Miller Josep Sauers Jimmy Poole Julian Madison Peggy Small Mary Wallace Taylor (Capt. Whimple Team) Dutch Hendrian Sonny Whimple Bradley Metcalfe Coach Dean Jagger Stacey Quarterback Eric Alden Timekeeper Lee Phelps Whimple Quarterback Gilbert Wilson 1st Substitute Alfred Delcambre Colton End Howard Wilson Girl O' My Dreams (Monogram) Comedy-Drama Concerning itself with the manner in which a very self-inflated young college track star is deflated through the efforts of the college newspaper editor, this picture's appeal is to the younger patrons in particular, with little in name or title power to suggest unusual selling. For atmosphere there is the lively activity of the big track meet, which helps considerably in injecting entertaining material into a story which basically is not new, and assisting performances no more than adequate. The title, aside from the mere fact that the romance included in the yarn presupposes something of that nature, is not indicative of the theme. "'^ Heading the cast are Mary Carlisle, Eddie Nugent, Creighton Chaney and Sterling Holloway. The story itself presents the best exploitation medium, going after the younger generation. Holloway, as the college paper editor, supplies the comedy in his own peculiar style. Where he is known for his short subject appearances, billing of his name may have some value. Nugent is the star of the college track team, but in a role of such conceit that his actions are a continual source of wonder to his fellows. He is in love with Mary Carlisle, and though she returns the feeling, she would prefer to have the wind taken out of the young man's sails. Her feeling is shared by Holloway, his roommate, who is conducting the college election for selection of the most popular man. Holloway, seeing his opportunity, tampers with the vote, and causes Chaney, another track star, but a quiet one, to win the election. Halloway's maneuvering also twists things so that, in spite, Nugent makes love to Chaney's girl, GiGi Parrish, and Chaney to Miss Carlisle. At the crucial moment at the all-important meet, the two girls pen notes to the stars, and with the good news as inspiration, they score the necessary points to win. The film is apparently best played in a midweek position. — Aaronson, New York. Produced and distributed by Monogram. Produced by W. T. Lackey. Directed by Ray McCarey. Story by George Waggner. Photographed by Ira Morgan. Filrn editor, Jack Ogilvie. Recorder, John A. Stransky, Jr. P. C. A. Certificate No. 294. Running time, 65 minutes. Release date, Nov. 17, 1934. CAST Gwen Mary Carlisle Larry Eddie Nugent Doti Creighton Chaney Bobby Arthur Lake Spec Sterling Holloway Mary GiGi Parrish Kittens Jeanie Roberts Smiley Tommy Dugan Coach Lee Shumway Nip Deverley Crane Tuck . ." Bettymje Crane My Song For You ( Gaumont-British ) Musical Romance There is a salable combination here of comedy and musical values, with sentiment as light seasoning. It is an adaptation of a Cine-Alliance Joe May production, and the atmosphere of Continental gaiety and irresponsibility is not lost in Maurice Elvey's direction of the British version. Jan Kiepura, Polish tenor, has selling value and his voice is also an artistic asset, but the theatre campaign probably can most effectively be based on the originality of situation which marks the film. Perhaps the best is that in which Kiepura, locked in his hotel bedroom with the telephone cut off, brings the police to his rescue by throwing up the window and treating the passing crowds to a series of operatic solos. There is humor and camera originality in the picture of the gradually gathering masses, who eventually stop the traffic, but there is also a first-class opportunity for Kiepura to show how he can sing. There's another piece of originality when a girl, infatuated with the tenor, creeps out to a rendezvous with him after having been put to bed, with a sleeping draught, by her mother. She falls asleep during the love making. The story is that Kiepura, famous tenor, falls for a girl whom he takes to be one of the chorus rehearsing for "Aida," in which he is the star. Actually she is at the Opera House looking for a job for her fiance, a pianist. She makes a date with the singer to aid her fiance. Follow the episodes just mentioned and the desired introduction. The girl discovers that the pianist is quite willing that she should go any lengths with the tenor; the tenor thinks she has just been exploiting him. The girl hides. To find her, the tenor has the idea of advertising that he will sing at a big swimming gala and give the money to any charity nominated by the girl who had the private party with him. She reveals herself, but punishes his tactlessness by explaining that the whole stunt was for publicity, and then arranges to marry the pianist. At the altar she backs out and finally is married to the tenor. There's the "no" to the marriage vows as well as the comedy angles, and Kiepura is a good comedy actor as well as a fine singer. In fact, "My Song for You" has plenty of selling values as well as real entertainment angles.— Allan, London. Produced and distributed by Gaumont-British. Directed by Maurice Elvey. Photography, C. Van Enger. Art direction, Alfred Junge. Recordist, Philip Dorte. CAST Gatti Jan Kiepura Charlie Sonnie Hale Mary Newberg Aileen Marson Theodore Emlyn Williams Fifi Gina Malo Mrs. Newberg Muriel George Mr. Newberg George Merritt Kleeberg Reginald Smith Mister Cinders (British International British) Comedy, Music A London Hippodrome stage success, offering song and comedy and a simple but amusing story, the picture cast is headed by Zelma O'Neal and Clifford MoUison and includes such wellknown London stage turns as the Western Brothers, Renee Houston and W. H. Berry. Jim Lancaster, nephew of Sir George and Lady Lancaster, has been adopted on a poor relation basis and the fact that he is left all the work of the establishment, like Cinderella, earns him the nickname of "Mr. Cinders." When he saves a millionaire, Henry Kemp, from drowning, his cousins, Lumley and Guy, try to steal the credit and the rescued man's pretty daughter Jill, but Jill takes a hand at the game and arranges that Jim in disguise shall attend her coming of age party, to which he has not been invited. There is a robbery and Jim is suspected, but, with Jill's help, discovers the real culprit and marries the heiress. Use can be made of the original story angle that has the hero instead of the heroine in the Cinderella role. The other strong selling angles are the comedy of the Western Brothers in the "wicked brothers" roles and the attractiveness of the four song features : "Where's Jim?", "Just a Blue Sky," "I Could Get Used to You" and "Spread a Little Happiness." — Allan, London. Produced by British International Pictures at Elstree and distributed by Wardour Films, Ltd. Directed by Frederick Zelnik. Script by Cliflord Grey and Frank Miller. Camera, Otto Kanturek. Sound, A. Ross. CAST Jim Lancaster CHfford Mollison Jill Kemp Zelma O'Neal Lady Lancaster Esme Church Sir George Lancaster Edmond Breon Lumley and Guy The Western Brothers Mr. Kemp Finlay Currie Minerva Kemp Lorna Storm Gaunt Edward Chapman Mrs. Gaunt Sybil Grove Mrs. Phipps Renee Houston P. C. Merks W. H. Berry Cross Henry Mollison Smith Julian Royce Sarah Mabelle George The Broken Rosary ( Butcher-British ) Romance, Music The main appeal is the first screen appearance of Derek Oldham, ihe famous British tenor. Apart from his excellent singing, he acts well. The story is extremely unsophisticated but exploits the renunciation theme in a somewhat unusual setting. There is dramatic value in a scene in which, intending to take his friend's life, the tenor is stopped as he raises his pistol by the booming of cannon announcing the beginning of the "two minutes silence" on Armistice Day. The background of a gramophone recording studio, used in many imj)ortant scenes, is not only new in itself but permits some original situations to be developed ; one of the best is that in which a girl listening over the loudspeaker in the office overhears a love passage between her fiance and another girl in the studio. Various exploitation angles are suggested by this situation. Giovanni and Maria are betrothed as children by their Italian parents. Years later they are studying singing in Milan. An English friend and war companion of Giovanni, whose life he saved in the trenches, is also a student. He falls in love with Maria, but returns to England rather than betray his friend. The Englishman, Jack, becomes a partner in his uncle's gramophone factory. Maria refuses to be wed to Giovanni until she has had a year's career as a singer. She comes to London to make records for Jack's firm. Oldham, who very successfully puts over the personality of the Italian, can be advertised with confidence that his voice will please. The finale, in which he sings Gounod's "Ave Maria" over the microphone, is a good sob-scene for the mass public to whilch the picture is frankly addressed. — Allan, London. Produced and distributed by Butchers Film Service, Ltd. Directed by Harry Hughes. Supervised by Wilfred Noy. CAST Derek Oldham Giovanni Jean Adrienne Maria Ronald Ward Jack Vesta Victoria Herself Marjorie Corbett Leila Nanny Margaret Yarde Uncle Jack Evelyn Roberts Carlo Dino Galvini Secretary Dorothy BuUer Professor Fred Raines Hodges Ian Wilson The Camels Are Coming ( Gaumont-British) Comedy Spectacle There is a rather original blend here of elements of popular appeal not usually found in one picture : authentic e-xteriors filmed in Egypt,