Variety (Jun 1936)

Wednesday. June 17, 1936 FILM E V I C W § VARIETY 23 PRIVATE NUMBER 20th Century-Fox release of Darryl Kitnack-IUynioiKl arllTIth production. Stare Robert Taylor, Loretta Voungr, Directed by Boy Del Ruth. Trom play, 'Common Clay/ Clevee Klnkead; adaptation, Gene ' Marke/. "William Conselman; film editor,. Allen McNeil; camera, Pcverell Marley. At Radio City Music Hall, K. T., week June 11, '30. ■ Hunnlns time, 73 nilns. ■Rlcliard Wnlleld Robert Taylor Ellen Nettl Loretta Teung oJSjie Patay Kelly Wroston Basil Rathbone jIxB. Wlnfleld Marjorle Gnteeon Perry Wlnfleld Paul Harvey Smllev Watson ..Joe Lewie Mrs. Miecham ...Jane Darwell CooUley Monroe Owsley Judge ' George Irving Graham Prank Dawson Qrandma Gammon May Bentty Stapp • Jo^n Mlljan Gua Rllovltch Jack Pennlck Hamlet (dog) Prince • This effort to turn a literary lemon Into, a cinematic peach ap- , pears to have been more than slightly successful. For, despite its several shortcomings, a few of which are downright tefrlble, 'Pri- vate Number' has a couple of things In Its favor, and these are likely to carry It through alt the box office. For one thing, It has Robert Tay- lor and Lox*etta Young co-starred, and that combo being hot at the moment, autor.iatlcally sends it down to ilrst. Then it has the bene- fit of ah exceptional production job, and that also Is bound to count. It wasn't a matter of enhancing the script, but of overcoming it, and that has bee.i accomplished through the technical and casting depart- ments and the director. All in all, the picture is a good example of the art- of making something out of practically nothing. Story is bllle^d as having been adapted from a play by Clevea Kln- kead. No mention that the play was 'Common Clay.' No necessity foT mentioning It, nor even in cred- iting Klnkead, however, since this version inherits little from Its source except a bit of moralizing that qualified for an old/age pension years ago. The role of Ella Neal was originated In 191B or there- abouts by Jane Cowl In a hit show under the 'Common Clay' title, and later played on. the screen by Fan- nie Ward (silent) and Constance Bennett (talker). .Miss Bennett's whack at the downtrodden Ingenue assignment was as recently as 1930. Miss Young has had the part name of Ella Neal passed down to her, but little else. ' In fact the lat- test -whitewashing of this venerable museum piece has been so thor- oughly done, that this part and that of Coakley, a human rat, are. the only ones still bearing their original monickers. The hero liow is called Richard Wlnfleld, and he's a very decent sort of chap.. All other char- acters are likewise brand new. ' But despite the changes and a re- write job that makes It an almost entirely different and modern story, the adapters have failed to resist the temptation to moralize. Klnkead made no bones about pointing with scorn, but Gene Markey and Will- lam -Conselman, who batted this version out, ti'y in vain to be topi- cal and frivolous and write a 'les- son' at the same time. Their mar- riage of the rich young man to his mother's servant girl Is not nearly as shocking as the synthetic, situa- tions and overstressed plight of the boy and girl would have it appear. The point overlooked entirely by the authors is that if there were, more servant girls like Loretta Young, home would not only be sweet, but also hot The dialog bends Itself into knots In pointing out the fact that there is a profound difference between a millionaire and a maid, and then after making a serious problem of it, turns around and seeks to solve and salve with a courtroom twist and hammock finish that lack both reason and conviction, "the mar- riage is a rather simple affair be- tween two young people who lov^ each other, and not badly written or conceived, but the complications quickly get under way and Crab the vvorks. There's a despicable butler Who exacts kickbacks from the Help and who tries to put the grab .on the new household looker, and the lamlly opposition to the marriage, and the framing of the girl for an- nulment purposes—and a baby. .And this time the baby is legit. Taylor and Miss Young must be Booa to look good under these con- aitions, and their performances at- talent as well as their «5 V ^^'l^® Miss Young la not ?° °^^^y off, because she's permitted ,?."^'"«S3 more stylishly than the rich Ifof ® ,? works for, and because she hna ^ sympathy. Also, she ttol ^^"^y as competently as Jiennett or Harding ever did. Tay- ,«L. ! ^"^^ "loi'e difficult assign- ment of alternating as a valiant and aZ^^'^^J^^^. otl^er good perform- th^f; Rathbone is swell as thA """er-heavy. Patsy Kelly has fltvin and her sloppy In u» ^^'^'^^ bolsters a picture in Its weakest moments. For a run- ning mate this time the comedienne anrt ,1^,^ 1" bis first picture «na doing a corking goof. The nltery jori; ro"f 1" P*'^- Mar- iTon,.« l*'^^'^ Harvey and •P, I ^^wsley do their jobs well. iUvate Kumber.' as a title for what goes on in the picture, offers exliibltors another chance to run a guessing contest. If the studios continue picking labels out of a hat as they've been doing lately, it's an idea that could take the place of bank nlte. Bipe. HEARTS DIVIDED (WITH SONGS) Warner Bros, release of Frank Borswge (Cosmopolitan) production. Stars 'Marlon Davles.* Features Dick Powell, Oiarles Ruggles. Claude Rains, E. Everett Horton. Arthur Treocher, Hall Johnson chorus. Di- rected by Bor.2age. Screen play, Laird Doyle. Casey Robinson; from play, 'Glori- ous ' Betsy.' by Rlda Johnson Toung; camera, George Folaey; songs, Harry War- ren, Al Dublci. At Strand, N. T., week June 13. '80. Running time, 70 min's, Betsy Patterson. Marlon Davles Capt. Jerome Bonaparte Dick VoifftW Henry Ruggles..' Charlea SuggU« Napoleon Bonaparte Claude Rates John Edward JSverett Hortoo Sir Harry, Arthur Treacher Charles Patterson Henry Stephenson Aunt Ellea Clara Blandlck Isham John Larkin Plchon , Walter Klngsford Du Fresne..' ....Etlenne Gfrardot Cam^bacerea Halllwell Hobbes Innkeeper , Hobart Cavanaugb President Thomas Jefferson..George Irving Mammy Hattle McDanlels Colored Servant Sam McDanlels Gabriel Freddie Archibald Madame Letlzla ; Beulah Bondl Pippin Phillip Hurllc It will take selling to get this one over for returns that count, but the potentialities . are there. Chances are it will hit and miss, doing well where theatres get seriously to work on it, and shying off otherwise. A constellation of fine support names to play with on the marquee will help a lot. Difficult to place the blame on the film's failing to come through to definite click proportions. Picture in toto impresses as being cold and lacking heart. It's a routine' love story. In costume wound around the romance between Betsy Patterson of Baltimore and Napoleon Bona- parte's younger brother, Jerome. And, with the single exception of Claude Rains as Napoleon, not one "of the actors seems to believe his or her role. Miss Davles is charming enough as the Baltimore belle and seems to be having a good time playing the role, but never, lets herself really go, except in the few emotional scenes. This Is the more unusual in that she's naturally a comedienne. Dick Powell as Jerome Bonaparte will probably help quite a bit at the b.o, and handles two good songs nicely, but is miscast in the serious part of an important international emissary. Those two songs, by the way, by Dubln and Warren, are lovely and should do quite well on their own. Story treatment is an obvious one, in 'the same key as the film's title. Every scene is telegraphed ahead and not one surprise or un- usual story sequence. Dialog is okay, but nothing to brag about. This is so true that three such vet- erans as Edward Everett Hor- ton, Charlie Ruggles and Arthur Treacher, cast as a trio of suitors enamored of Miss Davies and sup- posedly in the film for comedy, miss completely. Each gets a laugh or two here and there, but on his own as an actor and not because of the business or lines. The work of Rains, in a compara- tively small part, although spotted In half a dozen important scenes, is the real sock of the picture and can cause a lot of talk In Itself, It's an A-1 characterization which, if it does nothing else, will cause a lot of Interest In Rains for his next War- ner film, In which he will handle the same role for a full-length picture on a starring basis. Hall Johnson choir is featured, but used for only one short se- quence. This scene, however, is so stagey that it explains a lot, espe- cially so when coupled with the fact that the film has been clipped 18 minutes in, between its Hollywood preview and New York opening. Frank Borzage doubled on direc- tion and production, not doing justice to either. Camera work, by George Folsey .is fine. Henry Stephenson, Clara Blandlck and Walter Klngsford are good iiti sup- port assignments. Kauf. SECRET AGENT Gaumont-Brltlsh production and release. Stars Madeleine 'Carroll, Peter Lorre, John Glelgud, Robert Young, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. From play by Campbell Dixon, based on novel, 'Ashenden,' by W. Somer- set Maugham; adaptation, Charles Bennett; dialog, Ian Hay; additional dialog, Jesse Lasky, Jr.; camera, Bernard Knowles. At Roxy, N. T., -week June 12, '30. Running time, 73 mine. Elsa Madeleine Carroll The General Peter Lorre Ashenden .Tohn Glrlgud Marvin Robert Young Caypor Percy Marmont Mrs. Caypor Florence Kahn R Charles Carson Lllll Lllll Palmer Miniature Reviews 'Private Number' (20th). Weak in plot, but with flrst- rate production niceties and Robert Taylor-Loretta Young to bring the business. 'Hearts Divided' (WB). Big roster of names will help this one get okay grosses. Marion Davies-Dick Powell tops. 'Secret Agent' (GB). Spy drama good box office lure. 'Trapped by Television' (Col). Routine melodrama lacking marquee draw; best as sec- ondary dualer. 'The Last Outlaw' (Radio). , Names for the marquee, but not much for the screen.. Mod- erate prospects. 'Murder by an Aristocrat' (FN). Clumsy and dull routine murder story. Not for dis- criminating patronage. 'Last Journey' (Twicken- ham). Runaway rattler yarn chokes itself on hypo plot for all but the adventure fans. what it takes to fare well at the box office. More critical element will find the part of Madeleine Carroll somewhat straining on the credulity. British Intelligence service couldn't have been as bright as It was cracked up to be if It picked 'em as dumb as she Is made to behave. The film has her philandering at the game of espion- age- and put - of sheer ineptitude pulling one of the major coups of the service. Likewise unconvincing is the overly sensitive conduct In which her co-spy, John Gielgud, In- dulges once he is bitten by love. Next to Lorre's is the performance by Robert' Young, as a flip young American in the pay of the Ger- mans. Production maintains an ea.sy-go- ing pace almost throughout, with most of the action cast against the background of the Swiss Alps. Giel- gud is taken out of the British in- fantry ranks and assigned to Switz- erland to prevent a German, spy from getting back into pro-(5erman territory. To do the actual killing, Lorre, a Mexican with a« juvenile sense bf fun but a boundless en- thusiasm for playing the knife upon humans, is sent along. Arriving on the scene, Gielgud finds that Miss Carroll had belen matched -with him for the Job, with the pair to pcse as man and wife. Narrative' from that joint deals with the threesome picking on the wi'orig man as their objective and his subsequent murder, the feeling of revulsion that this innocent kill- ing brings Gielgud and the girl, the pursuit of the real German agent and the aerial bombardment of 'a troop train which settles the score all around. The bombardment, and the train crash which It precipitates, makes a startling piece of thrill photography. Odec. Trapped by Television Columbia; Pictures production and re- lease. ■ Features Lyle Talbot, Mory Astor, Nat Pendleton. Directed by Del Lord. Screen play by Lee Loeb and Harold Buchman; story by Sherman Lowe and Al Martin; camera, Allen G. Selgler. At Globe, N. Y., week June 13, '80, Running time, 04 mine. Bobby ; Mary Astor Fred Dennis Lyle Talbot Rocky... Nat Pendleton Mae Joyce Compton Curtis ...Thurston Hall Thornton Henry MoUlson Turner Wyrley Birch Standlsh Robert Strange Griffin Marc Lawrence 'Secret Agent' dallle.i much on the way and does lots of looping to get over a dramatic point, but withal rates as good spy entertainment, suave story telling, and. In one par- ticular case, brilliant characteriza- tion. This is the role of the Mexi- can hired killer al played by Peter Lorre. Director Alfred Hitchcock has done well at blending the tale's grim theme -with deftly fashioned humor, appropriate romantic inter- play and some swell outdoor photog- raphy. Despite the defects, it has Ordinary meller lacking name draw and handicapped by tedious early,pacing. Appears to be destined strictly for dualers and then in secondary spot. .Even freshness of television angle is buried beneath pile of extraneous detail that means little or iiothlng. Ballyhooing of televistic slant won't be much of a help for - added patronage after opening day because there is much In this film that will disappoint. 'Trapped by Television' attempts to set forth the difficulties' con- fronting an inventor of an up-to- date television outfit. Aside from the usual inventlve-genius-.conquer- Ing-desplte-all formula, the picture lapses into the familiar gangster story with the crooks attempting to foist television layouts on a radio broadcasting firm at an excessive figure. There is some real dynamic action at the climax but confined to the final reel. Before the film hits hair-raising finish, the plot builds at a snalllsh tempo. Attempt to develop ro- mance between business girl promo- ter and the television expert is en- Jtlrejy unconvincing. Dialog is al- 'moal all of the one-syllable variety. And cast seldom rises above its mediocrity. Lyle Talbot Is passable as the inventor. Nat Pendleton gives his usual tough mug characteriza- tion, bringing widely spaced laughs. He's the Inventlve-mlnded lad who becomes the television maestro's pal. Mary Astor falls to measure up to recent screen efforts, and is further handicapped by weak photography and implausible lines. Joyce Compton is even weaker as her roommate. Thurston Hall turns in a standard biz executive In- terpretaTlon, Robert Strange is a Bua-ve villain. Entire proceedings seem far- fetched on the basis of actual facts since it is difficult to envision a radio broadcasting company strug- gling for television equipment when the current factual battle Is to get enough coin to make the Invention commercially feasible. Wear, LAST OUTLAW (WITH SONG) RKO-Radlo release of Robert SIsk pro- duction. Stars Harry Carey, Hoot Gibson. Features Tom Tyler, Henry B. Walthall, Margaret Callahan, Directed by Christy Cabanne. Story, John Ford, B. nturray Campbell; screen play, John Twist; cam- era. Jack Mackenzie; music and lyrics, Nathaniel Shilkret, Frank Luther. At RU alto, N. Y., week June 12, 30. Ruunlng time, 72 mins. Dean Payton Harry Carey Chuck Wilson ;.Hoot iilbscn Calvin Yates Henry B. Walthall Sally Mason..... Margaret CuUahan Dr. Mason.. Frank M. 'fhOiois, Sr. Bluings Russsll Huptcn Al Goes '. Tom Tyler Joe .....Harrj' Juns Jess » Ray Mayer Tom Frank Junks Chance herp for a good story, but uninspired script job, lack of love in- terest and delayed suspen.se prove pretty much of a clog. Three heroes of the mustang melodramas in a single cast, which gives Hoot Gib- son the romantic lead with a com- edy slant. Gibson's age makes him more of a cradle robber than a ro- meo, and he fails to hold the in- terest up from that angle. Sto.ry was gagged, rather than written In the apparent belief that the sure- fires would walk on their own feet Result is that the attenuated story and. labored dialog cramp the pro- duction, while there' is too much stalling in the forepart of the story, The result is that a competent cast is thrown away oh a forlorn hope. Story does ma.ke an effort to get away from the U3ual riding ro- mance in the early scenes, but this serves merely to bring in a number of laughs and some excellent char- acter work from Harry Carey, most of which Is spoiled through overstresslng the script. He's sup- posed to' be the la^ of tlie bad men, -just out of prison and on his. way to the* little town where he left his diiughter. It's a big, place now, with traffic cops and everything,, and' he finds it hard tp get used to nbw ways. Even Calvin I'ates, the' sheriff who captured falin, has been superannuated Into &n under-sher-' Iff with a smart politician In hi?; place. This, when It It is flnai,ly;- reached, keynotes the story, which resolves itself into a co.nflJct be-, tween the old and the new, with the old-timers .finally . winning whfen the modern gunmen rob the local bank and carry the outlaw's daughter off as a shield against gun pursuit. From then on it's the stable and reliable fight at the shack. Ifappens to be the same one where the old timer was taken, a quarter century before, and one of the Uest bits comes when the former desperado consults .with the deputy on the tactics which were successful in putting him Into clink. Harry Carey Is the outlaw, and with Henry Walthall .as , the old lawman he produces some fine mo- ments, but they are mostly all too late to score as they shoul.J. With better writing, this duo might have made this into a gem. As is, they -are hurt by the earlier comedy, most of which is milked to the dregs. Gibson carries a broader brand of comeijy,* which mlpht have gotten over had It not not been he was also supposed to carry the love Interest. Russell Upton turns in an excellent performance as the new sheriff when the script does not make him too ridiculous, and Frank Jenks supplements as his yes-man. Margaret Callahan is what the girl in a western al- ways is—she's V just there. Tom Tyler as a gangster is so-so. One song is used, only paswaMe, and very reminiscent. Chic, TOPAZE ■ (FRENCH MADE) Paris, June 0th. Marcel Pagnol production, released by Les Films Marcel Pagnol. Stars Amaudy, Della-Col, Leon Belleres. Adapted from play by MarccT Pagnol. Camera, Assouad; music, Vincent Scotto. Running time, 110 mins. 1930. Topaze , Amaudy Castel-Bernac -.Leon Belleres His Mistress Della-Col Muclie Arbuleau Shorts 'LOW-PRICED HOMES' Federal Propaganda 9 Mins. Rialto, N. Y. Pathe It is a courtesy; to call this bno propaganda for the Federal Hous- ing Administration, though that is what is being aimed at. It is mere- ly some poorly made shots of homes with the monthly Installment stated, mostly a price range between ?20 and $25, but given In odd figures, as $22,36 oc $21.14. Real homes are used as well as real names, and in most the family is dragged in to give human interest, though poor photography amUndlfferent drama- tization merely serve to make it more of an Infliction. An effort is made to lighten the affair with some shots of a toy vil- lage, built of candy. That doesn't Interest, either. It all sums, up as nine minutes of misguided effort foisted upon a helpless audience In the guise of entertainment^ GMc. OLGA BACLANOVA With Wilbur Hall 16 Mins. Palace, N. Y. Vitaphont 1954-5 Loose and wandering story serves as excuse for Olga Baclanova to re- veal that she can sing. She sings rather nicely with a flutey soprano that suggests coaching. But under these circumstances the short is hardly more than a casual audition in case anybody is interested. Former Hollywood blonde gets the star billing and close-ups, but the general pointlessness of the yarn dooms the effort to inferior rating. Plot is a jumbled affair about booking agents competing for th© services of a singer just over from Russia. One bidfl^dr^O a week just' for a starter Another ups it to $3,000. And she's not even a countess, or a radio amateur win- ner. Wilbur Hall does his well-known trombone-and fiddle routine. There are some glever special lyrics by Cliff Hess. But,- in toto, a not so mucho. Land. 'NEW SHOES' With Jean Chatburn and Arthur Lake Novel Musical Miniaturti 10 Mins. Metro . " Droll humor, pretty girls-aind ex- cellent music, plus a few novel touches, lift this one far aboye the ordinary one-reel short class. :Sam- my Lee, dance expert, created much of 'it and directed it. Indicatetf real ability as a megger. ' ; , . Limited time in which to tellistory makes for simplicity in- plot, but every scene has been given big pro- duction values. Story, of bqy jmeets,- girl In a shoe storei their -visit to a night spot and the troubles they have with their new footwear. Sev- eral shots. Including close-ups in which shoes talk, are different, but could be cut. Arthur Lake Is an interesting youth, while the beauteous Jean Chatburn Is an eye-satlsfier. Short boasts two original songs, 'Bless My Sole' and 'I Stumbled Ovet Love,' both cleverly woven into the story and both worthwhile. Wear. 'HALF-SHOT SHOOTERS' Three Stoogds Comedy, S Mins. Roxy, N. Y. Columbia Only difference between this reel and any others the Three Stooges have turned out is the background. The assortment of slaps, shoves and pokes with the fingers Is the same, but the threesome this time are In the artillery. Apex of the clowning is reached when the Stooges cut loose with a cannon and spread havoc among the surrounding country and. waters. Library clips plus miniature photo- graphic devices prove helpful In the destructive episodes. Repl packs ample fare for laughs. Time element swings from 1918. to 1935. The top sergeant whom ^Ihe three had mauled Up in 1918 upon their discharge from the service turns up In the same outfit .they Join in 1935 when hunger and a bit ol framing leaves them no other re- sort. Odec. (In French) Marcel Pagnol directed the whole works and made a hard, bitter social study out of it. Plot is well known and was made as a talker in the U. S. This one Is not as enjoyable aa the first French version. Practically all the Bcenefl that furnished the comic element have been left out. On top of that. Imperfect recording, photography- which has very bad spots and Is uniformly grey, give an impression of infinite drabness. Amaudy docs some convincing acting, along with Leon BcUcrcs and Jean (bastan. MUrder by an Aristocrat' Warner Bros, release ot Bryan Foy pro* ductlon. Features Lyle Talbot, Marguerite <;hurchlll. Directed by Frank McDonald. .Story, LucI Ward, Ray Chanslo, Mlipion Ebejiiart. Camera, Arthur Todd, At Pal- ace, N. Y., on dual bill, week June 12, '38. Running time, 50 mine. Dr. Allen Carlck Lyle Talbot Sally Keating .....Morguerlte Churchill Janice Thatcher Claire Dodd Adela Thatcher Virginia Brlesac Bayard Thatcher ....WlUlam Davidson John Tweed John EUredge Dave Thatcher. Gordrw Elliott Hilary Thatcher,,..,., Joseph Crehan Evelyn Thatcher Florence Fair Hlgby ..Stuart Holmea Emellne Lottie WlUlaraa Florrle ...Mary Tree.a Cab Driver, Milton Klbbee WjerlfT Henry Oth» A routine mediocrity obvlouBly destined for duals and fill-inS. Skimpy name values and the stor/ 1 (Continued on page 62)_