Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

56 Motion Picture News October 4, 1930 Opinions on Pictures Hot Heiress (First National > Fine Little Picture {Reviewed by Bill Crouch) BASED upon a musical comedy, "Hot Heiress" is both amusing and entertaining, and with the careful direction of Clarence Badger proves to be most delightful screen fare. True enough, the musical comedy rash breaks out at times, but doesn't spoil the story. Should prove okay for the popular price theatres and following bookings. Should not be classed as a filmusical. A romance between a steel riveter and an heiress forms the nucleus of this story, and although there's nothing new or outstanding about its development, it serves to provide a lot of laughs and many comedy situations. When a red hot rivet flies through the bedroom of Ona Munson and sets the carpet afire. Ben Lyon stages a rescue that results in a love at first sight angle. From then on the heiress is after her man. Lyon, while all in favor of returning the affection, realizes the difference in social status. Miss Munson, however, doesn't feel it should bar their happiness, and invites Lyon out to meet her folks. He takes Tom Dugan, his pal, and Inez Courtney, Dugan's girl friend, along. Lyon is discovered to be a steel worker and Miss Munson's parents are shocked as Ona had told them he was an architect. When Lyon realizes he has been misrepresented he leaves, and not until Ona Munson follows him and tells him that wealth doesn't count with her, are things settled. The song numbers fit well into the talker and speed the picture rather than slow it down. They are few in number but excellent in quality. Dugan and Courtney prove excellent in comedy roles and give plenty of competition to Munson and Lyon for top honors. Others in the cast are most acceptable. Director Badger has not allowed his comedy scenes to be too over-drawn — a thing which could easily have happened. Instead, he lets them build up and go over with a punch. Scmi-scrious shorts will fit here. Produced and distributed by First National. Directed by Clarence Badger. Stury by Herbert Fields. Music and Lyrics by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. Photographed by Sol Polito. Edited by Thomas Pratt. Length and release date not set. THE CAST Juliette Ona Munson "Hap" Harrigan Ben Lyon Bill Dugan Tom Dugan Irene Elise Bartlett Lola Thelma Todd Mr. Hunter Holmes Herbert Mrs. Hunter Nella Walker Margie Inez Courtney Doctor George Irving Butler Joe Bernard The Gorilla (First National) Not So Hot I Reviewed by Bill Crouch) THE talker version of "The Gorilla" is not nearly as funny as the silent picture of that name. When caught in preview form the picture was in rough cut and, while further editing will help, the talker will not be any laugh riot. Will perhaps do okay in the smaller cities and neighborhood houses, but won't hold up for the week-end spots. Joe Frisco in his feature picture debut proves to be rather flat and colorless as Garrity, the detective. His stage personality fails to "click" on the screen. Harry Gribbon, as Mulligan, carries the greater portion of the comedy and does the best work of the cast. The story revolves about the search by the two detectives for the Gorilla, a killer who has terrorized the city. Told that he will appear in a certain home at midnight, the boys stand guard and try to cat"h the huge ape. Many comedy and thrill situations arise, some of which are extremely well handled and others are muffed. The story is finally worked out with the discovery of whom the Gorilla is and the two detectives are rewarded. A final scene showing them selling courses on how to be a detective is rather unnecessary and fails to add any particular value to the piece. The story is not always clearly told, and one often wonders what it is all about. Roscoe Karns, Lila Lee and Walter Pidgeon have supporting roles, and manage somehow to make them interesting. E-dwin Maxwell and Purnell Pratt do well. Bryan Foy, the director, has tried hard to get the most out of the many comedy situations, but lack of material has hampered him considerably. William H. Philbrick supplies some clever comedy antics as the butler. Use strong name shorts here. Produced and distributed by First National. Directed by Bryan Foy, Story and screen version ]by Ralph Spence. Photographed by Sid Hickox. Dialogue by B. Harrison Orkow. Edited by George Amy. Length, 5,911 feet. Running time, 65 minutes. Release date, Nov. 2. THE CAST Garrity Joe Frisco Mulligan Harry Gribbon Arthur Marsden Walter Pidgeon Alice Denby Lila Lee The Stranger Purnell Pratt Cyrus Stevens Edwin Maxwell Simmons Roscoe Karns Terf Wm. H. Philbrick The Inspector Landers Stevens The Soul Kiss (M-G-M ) For Music Lovers (Reviewed by Dick Crenshaw) THIS is the life story of Jenny Lind. With a title signifying the fact, it would be a first class attraction that would have an appeal to the better type of audience. The somewhat sexy title may prove a drawback. Grace Moore, lately recruited from the operatic stage, is the outstanding feature of the film, which is practically all music. Fur the musically inclined public the picture might easily be acclaimed as one of the outstanding shows of the year and should be advertised as such. Reginald Denny makes a great comeback in this production as the tragedian. The heretofore comedian proves most versatile in his characterization of the ardent lover and the blind sweetheart of the Swedish nightingale. A number of scenes from grand opera are shown, which will prove a delight to the music lover, while chorus numbers in beautiful and artistic settings often make the picture approximate a work of art. The settings are large in scope and many mob scenes of theatre audiences are portrayed. The story begins with Jenny Lind's first triumph, and ends showing her under the management of the great P. T. Barnum, who is played by Wallace Beery very effectively. A beautiful story of tragic love is woven into the story through many musical numbers. Karl Dane has a small part that is carried well. The love and courtship of Denny, his blindness, his self exile from his sweetheart and their reunion form the story, along with the stage triumphs of Jenny Lind. The picture is fine from a musical standpoint, and will appeal to class audiences. Some of the dialogue lines are confusing, due to a number of Italian phrases inserted. Some light subjects of a modern trend and a comedy would go well. Produced and distributed by M-G-M. Directed by Sidney Franklin. Scenario by Hans Kraly and Oaudine West. Dialogue by John Meehan. Music by Oscar Strauss. Photographed by George Barns. Length and release date not set. THE CAST Jenny Lind Grace Moore Paul Brandt Reginald Denny Barnum Wallace Beery Olaf Gus Shy Josephine Jobyna Howland Broughin Gilbert Emery Innkeeper George Marion, Sr. Maretti Paul Porcasi Zergo Giovanni Martino Innkeeper's Wife Bodil Rosing Louise Joan Standing Selma Mavis Villiers Lizett e Judith Vosselli The Virtuous Sin (Paramount) Just Another Picture (Reviewed by Bill Crouch) <<np HE VIRTUOUS SIN" puts Kay Fran-1 cis, Walter Huston, Kenneth McKenna and Jobyna Howland in Russia in January, 1914, for no reason at all. The story is that of the love of a young scientist for a girl who does not return his love, but agrees to marry him so that he can go on with his great work for humanity. McKenna gives a good performance as the sensitive, dreaming, young chap interested only in hi- research work in bacteriology. All goes well and just after he has succeeded in discovering an unknown germ and is about to give his genius to the world, along comes the war. Walter Huston comes into the story as the hard-bitten army general, who refuses to let any man off army service. Kay Francis pleads in vain for a hearing of her husband's case. In the trenches things become so unendurable for McKenna that he breaks down and tclN Huston just what he thinks of the order of jhings that takes a man like himself and his usefulness to Russia out of a laboratory and puts him into a trench where he is a total loss. I ! uston has him arrested and sentenced to death for sedition. Kay rushes to the garrison tn >ire what can be done. She learns of a cabaret near the garrison, that the general never looks at a woman, but sometimes goes there for an evening's entertainment. She plans to attract him and get her husband released. By a dazzling array of moods and tempers, as a member of Jobyna Howland's cabaret girls, she wins his love, but finds herself in love with him. She is forced to tell him that she i McKenna's wife. He orders her away, unconvinced of her love. She returns to her homtr, not knowing that he has released her husband after all. At the garrison McKenna learns what has happened and tries to take the life of Huston. In the middle of this mix-up a bombardment begins and Huston saves McKenna's life as he tries to throw himself over the parapet. McKenna returns home and releases Kay from her loveless marriage with him. Kay goes to Huston, convinces him of her love and presumably they live happily ever after. It is odd that such a dull picture should be interesting. The cast was far too good for such mediocre fare. Will do for regular runs and with the Walter Huston name should hold up. Use strong comedy shorts and musicals here. Produced and distributed by Paramount. Directed by_ Louis Gasnier and George Cukor. Story by I.ajos Zilahy. Screen play by Martin Brown. Scenario by Louise Long. Photographed by David Abel. Edited by Otho Lovering. Length, not set. Release date. Nov. I. THE CAST General Gregori Platoff Walter Huston Marya Ivanovna Kay Francis Lt. Victor Sablin Kenneth McKenna Alexandra Stroganov Jobyna Howland Captain Orloff Paul Cavanaugh Lt. Glinka Eric Kalkhurst Major Ivanoff Oscar Apfel Colonel Nikitin >.. Gordon McCIeod Captain Sobakin Youcca Troubetzkoy Sentry Victor Pote'l