Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1934)

November I 0, I 934 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 43 good comedy values in plot and situation, excellent air scenes, and a musical appeal typified by the really good theme song, "Who's Been Polishing the Sun?" which the star, Jack Hulbert, puts over very well. It is extravaganza against a background usually reserved for drama, and there is selling value in this fact and in the pictorial value of the Egyptian scenes, which are introduced by a sequence showing a squadron of British planes flying out on a campaign against Arab drug smugglers. The officer in charge. Jack Campbell (Jack Hulbert), after descending from the skies upon the caravan of Sheik Ali, first lieutenant of the smugglers, is easily kidded into letting him go. Follows a wild goose chase of a mysterious plane containing a beautiful and mysterious girl, who Jack forthwith decides must be the smuggler in chief. She plays up to the character by disabling his plane before sailing off in her own. Stranded, Jack manages to capture a camel and to make his way to the headquarters of Nicholas, the real chief of the dope gang. There he ingenuously explains all the Government's plans against the smugglers, and Nicholas, instead of poisoning him, realizes that he has a simpleton to deal with and easily persuades him to carry to Cairo some antique vases packed with drugs. Later Jack gets on the track of the mysterious girl, who is really working a publicity stunt for a new brand of cigarettes, and fools him into an attempt to seize her goods — which is verj^ bad publicity for him. She makes it up to him by sharing his next expedition when Ali is finally brought to book after a thrilling battle in the desert in which planes bomb the smugglers' fort and the Camel Corps conducts the operations on terra firma — a very spectacular last scene. Plot interests are well maintained and Jack's insistent sticking to the wrong trail maintains an amusing note of comedy in scenes which are otherwise on a scale appropriate to the most ambitious "sheik" melodramas. The main selling value has been indicated. There are opportunities for an original campaign also in the mystery of the girl smuggler of the air, and comedy values are obvious in the situation of a man acting as unwilling agent of the gang he is after. Stills of the picture, with their desert backgrounds, picturesque Arabs and camels and Eastern atmosphere suggest many good lobby displays.— Allan, London. Produced by Gainsborough Pictures at Islington and distributed by Gaumont-British. Directed by Tim Whelan. Story by Tim Whelan and Russell Medcraft. Script by Guy Bolton. Dialogue by Jack Hulbert. Camera, Glen MacWilliams and Bernard Knowles. Running time, 85 minutes. CAST Jack Campbell Jack Hulbert Anita Anna Lee Nicholas Hartley Power Dr. Zagha Harold Huth Sheik Allan Jeayes Col. Fairley Peter Gawthorne Tourists I Normal Whalley ( Peggy Simpson Arab Percy Parsons Nicholas' Servant Tony de Lungo The Olympic Winter Sports Capital (Mary Warner) Interesting There is a large measure of interest, as well as a sporting thrill or two, in this subject, which pictures the locale of the winter sports division of the Olympic Games of 1936, at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Germany. Exciting are the bob-sled races on the ice-coated course, the ski marathon and the ski jumps, as present and former Olympic champions are seen in action. The description by Lowell Thomas is an asset. With the tryouts for the American team scheduled for this winter, it should not be difficult to arouse interest in the subject. — Running time, 8 minutes. At the Mike (Universal) Entertaining With Ford Bond, radio announcer, rallying the performers for what is supposed to be a radio rehearsal, this Mentone subject gets under way, and develops into a tuneful and entertaining show, in the vaudeville style. With Bennie Ross, orchestra leader, acting as master of ceremonies, and singing a number himself, there are seen Tess Gardella (Aunt Jemima), the Giersdorff Sisters, Maxine Stone, Kathleen Howard, Baby Rose Marie, and Emerson's Hill-Billies, featuring Tex Fletcher.— Running time, 20 minutes. Dartmouth Days (MGM) Good The younger generation in particular should find this pictorial rambling about the Dartmouth College campus of interest, and with appeal. The remarks of Pete Smith in accompaniment add to the effectiveness of the subject as a whole, while the scenic work is attractive. The winter sports which are a feature of the extra-curricula activities of the students, are pictured and add a punch and liveliness to the short. — Running time, 11 minutes. Well, by George (Universal) Fair There is no more than fair entertainment in this collection of vaudeville turns, with George Price acting as master of ceremonies. Having their turns before the camera are Ramona, radio singer; Dave Craft, star tap dancer; Mills, Gold and Ray, eccentric dancing comedians, and the 16 Mentonettes, girl chorus. Price himself sings two numbers. The subject is no better than average in entertainment value. — Running time, 20 minutes. Done in Oil (MGM) Fair Comedy The attractive Thelma Todd and the plump Patsy Kelly combine their efforts in this comedy to achieve a result which is for the most part fair comedy. Patsy is the unenthusiastic model for room-mate Thelma's efforts with brushes and pallette. A slightly inebriated publicity friend decides to put Thelma across, calls her by a French-sounding name, and the trouble begins when a group of Frenchmen arrive and Patsy has to appear as a French maid, Fifi. — Running time, 18 minutes. What a Business (Universal) Fair Entertainment With the occasionally amusing dialogue of Smith and Dale, comedians, as the basis, as Dale tries to sell theatre owner Smith a group of vaudeville acts, the subject offers a group of performers, who are competent, if not particularly inspiring. Included on the roster of entertainers are the four Ink Spots, colored singers ; Bill Telask, Bill Brown and Sally Blane, in a song and dance act, and the Russian Revels, led by Maybohm Smith, an orchestra and soloists of several sorts. Rates as fair entertainment. — Running time, 19 minutes. You Said A Hatful (MGM) Has Its Moments There are amusing moments in this comedy, featuring Charley Chase, the elongated, bespectacled comic for Hal Roach. Chase is the secretary to a railroad owner, and in love with the boss's daughter. The boss gets a tip which leads him to start for Kansas City on a big deal, and he forces Chase to don clothes like his, v.'hile he assumes the role o£ secretary. Chase gets the clothes at a costumer, buying a loaded magician's hat, which does tricks en route. For those who like Chase this will probably be enjoyable, for others a fair comedy effort. — Running time, 19 minutes. Zion, Canyon of Color (MGM) Excellent One of the FitzPatrick Traveltalk subjects, filmed in Technicolor, this pictures, with beautiful scenic effect, the natural majesty of the Zion national park in Utah, its name bestowed by the early Mormon settlers. With interesting accompanying dialogue, the film is a subject which seems almost certain to find a widely attentive audience. — Running time, 10 minutes. Skylarks (Universal) Amusing When Oswald and his pal Dopey see motion pictures of the stratospheric Piccards, they determine to do the same thing. The result is an amusing cartoon subject, recounting their adventures on Mars, their capture by the god of war. He begins to shake them into a state of unconsciousness, when they awaken in the theatre, under the impetus of the janitor, cleaning up for the night. — Running time, 8 minutes. A Toyland Broadcast (MGM) Entertaining In this lively Harmon-Ising musical cartoon in color the inhabitants of a toy shop on table and shelf, offer a broadcast featuring dancing, instrumental work and singing, with a lively and tuneful zest. Little figures represent various personages of the radio and stage, "doing their stuff" to an enthusiastic response from the fellow toys. An entertaining subject. — Running time, 9 minutes. Rugby (MGM) Active Active in its picturing of a fast and rough sport, and interesting in its clear indication of how the game which is the father of modern American football is played, this subject in addition features the chattering, and occasionally amusing comment, in explanation, of Pete Smith. The short is entertaining and interesting. — Running time, 10 minutes. Jolly Little Elves (Universal) Excellent An unusually good cartoon subject in the Cartune Classics series, in Technicolor, has been made of the old tale of the elderly, impoverished cobbler and his wife, who befriend the hungry and tired little elf. At night, when the couple are asleep, the elves rally round to make many pair of the finest shoes, the sale of which results in wealth for the old cobbler. It should prove especially enjoyable for the youngsters.— Running time, 9 minutes. Strikes and Spares (MGM) Filmed Skill The skill with which the best of bowlers handle the large ball in tlie alleys, which is an amazing skill, is the purpose and entertaining object of this subject in the Oddity series. Pete Smith renders the explanatory comment in his usual effective fashion and a bit of comedy is injected now and again, as one of tlie countrj-'s greatest trick bowlers makes the heavy baJl respond accurately to his every wish. — Running time, nine minutes.