Talking Screen (Jan-Aug 1930)

TO GIVE YOU A LINE OR SO ON CURRENT TALKIE OFFERINGS ALIAS FRENCH GERTIE (RKO) — Reviewed in this issue. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (Unirersal) — Reviewed in this issue. ANNA CHRISTIE (M-G-M) — Greta Garbo makes movie history in this, her first talkie. Breaking all records, this picture will undoubtedly be one of the most popular of the year. When you see it watch ior Marie Dressler's scintillating performance. APPLAUSE (Paramount) — This picture is both good and bad. Helen Morgan gives a good performance but the role is haraly suited to her brilliant talents. Neither is the wig she wears. THE AWFUL TRUTH (P^he) — If you care for sophisticated stuff doli't miss this one In which Mrj. John Gilbert sparkles delightfully. THE BAD ONE (United Artists) — Reviewed in this issue. BEAU BANDIT (RKO) — Rod U Rocque is with us again in a Robin Hood theme, the story laid in Mexico. BEHIND THE MAKEUP (Paramount) — Another backstage melodrama, but far better than most. Fay Wray, William Powell, Kay Francis and Hal Skelly all do good work. BE YOURSELF (United Artists) — Fannie Brice is here again. She's busy self-sacrificing herself all through the picture wnich unfortunately is a little too like My Man. THE BIG PARTY (Fox) — A tale of night life, girls, lingerie and New York. Also much whoopee and jazz. Good entertainment. THE BISHOP MURDEb CASE (M-G-M) — Basil Rathbone does a William Powell and a Philo Vance at one and the same time. His Powell, however, is not quite as good as the original. His Philo Vance is excellent. BROADWAY SCANDALS rCo/Hmfr/a^ —Still another backstage story, none too original. Jack Egan sings well and who should be vamping the hero but Carmel Myers. BURNING UP (Paramount)— Dick Arlen, inthis sw^U race track story, is a winner. CAMEO kiRBY (Fox) — The famous story of the dear old Mississippi in the days of crinolines and stem wjieelers. J. Harolde Murray gives an excellent performance in the title r&le. THE CASE OF SERGEANT GRISCHA (RKO) — A somewhat slow picture but splendid for those who have a craving for stark realism. Chester Morris in the title rdle is great. CHASING RAINBOWS (M-G-M)— Btaait Love and Charlie King do another "Broadway Melody" in intention, but, alas, not quite as good in reality. Marie Dressier is pretty good. CITY GIRL (Fox) — What happens when a wise city girl meets a dumb country boy? But that's what you must pay your money to find out. Charles Farrell is excellent in a new type of role. THE COHENS AND THE KELLYS IN SCOTLAND (Univers4il) — An amusing farcecomedy based on the famous Abie's Irish Rose theme. George Sidney as the New York Hebrew Is great. CONDEMNED (United Artists) — A story of the French penal colony which, however, has mighty little to do with the prison. Ronald CoTman gives' a splendid performance which will certainly arouse your s)'mpathies. THE CUCKOO C«XO;— Reviewed in this issue. THE CZAR OF BROADWAY (Universal)Reviewed in this issue. DAMES AHOY (Universal) — An amusing story pf a gob, his buddy, and a wicked woman who marries the buddy and gets half his pay. Glenn Tryon has some good moments. DANCE HALL CKKOJ— Arthur Lake and Olive Borden in an entertaining story of youngsters who just can't kc«|> their feet still when they hcai dance music. Good stuff for these young modems. DANGEROUS NAN McGREW (Paramount)— Reviewed in this issue. The Ten Best and Why THE ROGUE SONG for the glorious voice oi Tibbett. ANNA CHRISTIE for Greta Garbo's voice and Marie Dressler's characterization. THE VAGABOND KING for its spirit of romance. DISRAELI for its being without hokum and with George Arliss. STREET OF CHANCE for William Powell's superb acting. SON OF THE GODS for Richard Barthelmess' sincerity. THE MAN FROM BLANKLEY'S for John Barrymore's amusing interpretation of a farcical role. PUTTIl^ii' ON THE RIT2 for its entertainment value. UNDER A TEXAS MOON for its great color photography. CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD for its amazing mob scenes and for John Boles and his voice. DANGEROUS PARADISE (Paramount) — Nancy Carroll and Dick Arlen in a Hollywood version of Joseph Conrad's Victory. Nancy and Dick do excellent' work, but the story wobbles at times. DEVIL MAY CARE (M-G-M)— Kamon Novarro goes operatic in this one and scales the heights. This tale of the Napoleonic era is well worth seeing— and hearing. DISRAELI (Warner Brothers) — George Arliss is splendid in this story of an historical character, which manages to be very entertaining while sticking fairly close to history. THE DIVORCEE (M-G-M) — Reviewed in this issue. DYNAMITE (M-G-M) — Kay Johnson and Charles Bickford in a drama which ran only be called stark. Cecil B. de Mille directed it — enough saidi EMBARRASSING MOMENTS (Universal) — Reginald Denny in another one of those comedies he does so well. He finds himself, through farce of circumstances, the trial husband of a girl he had never seen. You can imagine some of the side-splitting situation this predicament brings about. FRAMED (RKO) — Evelyn Brent does a Clara Bow and gets her man — ^with a gun. Everybody is very busy framing everybody e)se in this picture — no pun , intended. If you can follow the plot, it's good entertainment. THE FURIES (First National) — Lois Wilson as the wife who is accused of murdering her hubby. All the evidence in the world is stacked against the poor girl until — we're going to keep the secret. THE GAY .NINETIES (M-C-M)—RtyKwtd in this issue. GENERAL CRACK (Warner Brothers) — /ohn Barrymore, Lowell Sherman, Marion Nixon, and Armida all contribute great work to this splendid costume epic based on tk story out of Austrian history. Mr. Barrymore's first talkie assures his success in the .oew medium. THE GIRL SAID NO (M-G-M)— Tiit wisecracking Bill Haines is with us again, this time in a background of college life. A story of triangles and quadrangles that' will amuse you, particularly if you are one of the multitude of Haines' fans. THE GOLDEN CALF (Fox) — This is one of those stories where the giil thinks she is ugly till some good-hearted friend shows her how to look beautiful. Sue Carol is the girl and what a job she has to look plaint THE GRAND PARADE (Pathe)—A minstrel show of a score of years ago b the setting for this human and gripping story. See it by all means. THE GREAT GABBO (James Cruze)—\oD Stroheim and Betty Compson in an excellent story, unusual and stimulating. THE GREEN GODDESS (Warner Brothers) — The famous play in talkie form. It's hokum, of course, but grand hokum that has stood the test of years. George Arliss as the suave rajah is simply splendid. GREEN STOCKINGS (First National) — Reviewed in this issue. HELL HARBOR (United Artists) — Lupe Velex is fine in this story. It's melodrama, but it's good. HELL'S HEROES (Universal) — ^A gripping story of three bank robbers — real tough eggs— who risk their lives to save the life of a little child. It sounds like hokum but it is done in fine realistic style. HER PRIVATE AFFAIR (Pathe)—Atm Harding in her second Path£ picture is simply superb. The story, however, is not so wonderful. HIT THE DECK (RKO)—1\xe swell musical comtdy comes out still sweller in the talkies with new songs and new stars. The high lights are the Hallelujah number and Mr. JacK Oakic whose performance simply wows em. HONEY (Paramount)— S-weit little Nancy Carroll and boyish Stanley Smith in an amusing farce of a Southern belle who rings true. Nancy Carroll is delightful and Zasu Pitu as a droll maid is great. Skcct Gallagher as Nancy's brother and Harry Green furnish plenty of comedy. HOT FOR PARIS Jfox,*Victor McLaglen, Fifi Dorsay ana bl Brendel hand out some rich jcarthy comedy in this farcical story, IN GAY MADRID (M-G-M)— ft^mon Novarro plays a Spanish youngster with natural ability and verve. His entanglements with fiery Spanish scnoritas furnish much comedy. He also sings a couple of songs in his usual splendid style. IS EVERYBODY HAPPY? (Warner Brothers) — We should say not! Ted Lewis certainly knows his saxophone, but as for his acting 1 IT'S A GREAT LIFE ( M-G-M)— Tht Duncan sisters, Rosctta and Vivian, as a couple of vaudeville sisters, team with fascination in tills backstage story. KETTLE CREEK (Universal) — Reviewed in^this issue. THE KIBITZER (Paramount) — This is a comedy of the first water, aided and abetted by the amusing Harry Green's Hebraic artistry. LADIES OF LEISURE (Columbia)— ^evivntA in this issue. A LADY TO LOVE (M-C-M)—\ilm» Banky replies With an eminently satisfactory answer to the question: "What will she be like in the talkies?" Good as she is, Edward G. Robinson almost steals the picture. THE LOCKED DOOR (United Artists) — Rod La Rocque and Barbara Stanwyck in a melodraina full of the well known thrills, chills and excitement. LORD BYRON OF BROADWAY (M-G-M) — Here's a story about a song writer who gets sv.ell-headed. Well, Weill We seem to have heard it before I Neverthelss, it's a good yam and worth seeing. LOOSE ANKLES (First National)— A story of two girls, two aunts, four gigolos and an inheritance. Highly amusing. [Continued on page 96} 6