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April 27, 1932
THE BIOSCOPE
11
of the two crooks. With the remaining two it is a case of “ when thieves fall out,” and Johnny reaps his reward when Dorothy asks him to take care of her for good.
A spot of rodeo, a brief display of rough riding by Gibson and a little gun play hold the production together. Doris Hill is a pretty heroine, and Hooper Atchley and A1 Bridge adequately fill the villain roles.
On the' whole, the development is more incredulous than usual with even this type of film. There is some compensation in picturesque backgrounds.
ANALYSIS
Story and Dialogtte
5%
out of 20%
Direction ....
12%
„ 20%
Acting
10%
„ 20%
Recording and Photography
14%
20%
General .Appeal ....
10%
20%
51%
,, 100%
H. .M.
“ Jungle Hell ”
Offered by : Wardour. Directed by ; J ■ Leo Meehan. Length : 7,041 feet. Release Date : August 8, 1932. Certificated. Recording; R.C.A. Sound on Film.
Suitability : For any hall where travel pictures are liked.
These finely photographed studies of natives and wild life encountered by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson in the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides and Equatorial Africa, if not absolute novelties to picture-goers, are intensely interesting.
The early portion makes the stronger appeal; in fact, the film might be advantageously shown in two parts. The method of presentation is somewhat unusual, the assumption being that Mr. Johnson is showing this picturisation of his travels to a party of friends in his drawing room. His wife, whom he affectionately alludes to as “ Osa,” is among them, and frequently supplements his useful commentary by explanations of her own.
.\mong the items especially noteworthy are the Devil Men, Head Hunters drying their gruesome spoils and the burial alive of old natives. In the -African portion are many amusing pygmies and remarkable shots of lions, zebras, elephants, rhinos., etc.
I. J.
“Sin’s Pay Day”
Offered by: Wardour. Produced by: Talking Picture Epics. Directed by : George B. Seitz. Photographed by : Jules Cronjager. Length : 5,455 feet. Release Date : Not fixed. Certificate : A. Recording : I nter national on Film.
THE CAST
Iris Markey Dorothy Revier
James Markey Forrest Stanley
Chubby Dennis Mickey McGuire
Lonie Joe Harry Semels
David Lee Alfred Cross
Jake Bernheim Hal Price
Robert Webb Lloyd Whitlock
Jane Webb Bess Flowers
Suitability : Fair second feature booking.
-A little more originality in story and less blatant appeal to the unsophisticated on the ■ part of the director would have made of this a more worth-while picture. One is able to anticipate every narrative twist and the climax is early a foregone conclusion.
Markey (Forrest Stanley) is a lawyer who is fast amassing a fortune by successfully defending murdering racketeers. His wife. Iris (Dorothy Revier), disapproves, and when, through her husband’s eloquence, Lonie Joe (Harry Semels) again evades the law, she leaves him.
He takes to drink and comes down to the gutter without ever approaching her, despite the fact that she is only a few blocks away with a friend. small boy helps him to regain some sort of respectability, and the two become greatly attached to each other. Later the boy is killed by Lonie Joe.
Markey offers to bring the culprits to justice provided he is allowed to prosecute. His offer is accepted, he brings off a big coup and is reunited with his wife.
In pointing his moral, the director has painted a deplorable picture of the man’s degradation and plays on the sympathies of the indulgent patron from the child angle.
Forrest Stanley acts with sincerity in the role of Markey and is worthy of a more dignified
character. Mickey McGuire, who takes the part of the youngster, has. some appropriate lines which will certainly get the laughs, and Dorothy Revier does her best as the conventional wife.
Settings are adequate.
ANALYSIS
Story and Dialogue
6%
out of 20%
Direction ....
12%
, , 20%
Acting
12%
,, 20%
Recording and Photography
14%
20%
General .Appeal ....
10%
,, 20%
55%
,, 100%
H. M.
“Scandal for Sale”
Offered by: Universal. Produced by: Carl
Laemmle. Junr., for Universal. Directed by ; Russell Mack. Photographed by : Karl Freund. Length : 6,841 feet. Release Date : Not fixed. Certificate ; A . Recording ; Western Electric OH Film.
THE CAST
Jerry Strong Charles Bickford
Claire Strong Rose Hobart
Waddell Pat O’Brien
The Blonde Claudia Dell
Treadway J. Farrell MacDonald
Mary Jane Graham Buster Phelps
Harry Beresford Berton Churchill Glenda Farrell
Suitability : Sound general booking.
This is another newspaper story, preaching the same moral as others, but exhibitors should not allow this fact to overshadow their better judgment. It must rank as one of the best of its kind and has sufficient thrill and heart interest to satisfy the most blase of patrons.
In followng the adventures of Jerry Strong (Charles Bickford), an editor with a flair for sensationalism, the spectator will at times be lifted from his seat. True, there is more than a passing interest in the man’s domestic affairs, which become more tragic as his scandal sheet undermines all his friendships and affections.
Each flashing headline is illustrated by shots of the events outlined, disasters at sea, airplane and motor smashes, and the crazy suicide of a drunken motorist. Jerry’s cup of sorrow is filled when he loses his best friend, who acts as radio expert in an ocean flight financed by Jerry’s paper. The last moments of the two aviators and the ’plane’s crash into the sea are put over with vivid realism.
The dialogue is forceful and witty, though at times the wisecracks are badly mistimed. There is strong child appeal and the characterisation is excellent.
Charles Bickford has few rivals in the portrayal of the forceful and even brutal character , but here he manages to gain much sympathy as an excellent family man who permits his ambition to run away with him. Rose Hobart pleases as the wife and Pat O’Brien as Jerry’s pal, who hides his affections for Jerry’s wife until after his departure on the flight, does some fine work.
From the opening sequence, which deals with a rather sordid murder, to the final fade-out this story is full of action and cannot fail to make a lasting impression.
ANALYSIS
Story and Dialogue
12%
out of 20%
Direction .... .... '•
13%
,, 20%
.Acting
16%
20%
Recording and Photography
18%
,, 20%
General .Appeal ....
15%
.. 20%
74%
,, 100%
H. M.
“The Airmail Mystery”
Offered by : Unidersal. Directed by : Ray
Taylor. Length: 12 fwoReel Episodes. Release Date; July 11, 1932. Certificate: U. Photography by ; John Hickson.
THE CAST
James Flavin Wheeler Oakman
Lucille Brown Nelson McDowell
Suitability : Serial melodrama packed with
aerial stunts for the masses.
The owners of a Western gold mine find it easier to extract the precious metal than to get it safely conveyed to themint, a mysterious
8%
out of 20%
12%
20%
14%
20%
14%
20%
8%
,, 20%
56%
,, 100%
marauder in a ’plane known as “ The Black Hawk ” suddenly appearing and attacking cars or ’planes. •
Bob, one of the partners, determines to overcome the robber. This leads to a series of aerial conflicts, while a car conveying the remainder of the gold is wTecked by a bomb dropped by the “ Hawk.”
It is difficult to appreciate these thrilling happenings as they probably deserve, for while viewing three episodes without a break (containing 5,239 feet) it is impossible to avoid a feeling of weariness. However, as one chapter only will be shown in programmes, audiences at popular halls will certainly find the adventures and stunts of absorbing interest, and watch for the next instalment.
The acting is excellent, the production good and the photography noteworthy.
ANALYSIS Story and Dialogue Direction ....
Acting
Recording and Photography 14%
General Appeal ....
I J.
“ Destry Rides Again ”
Offered and Produced by : Universal. Directed by ; Ben Stoloff. Photographed by : Daniel B. Clark. Length ; 5,279 feet. Release Date ; September 12, 1932. Certificate : U. Recording ; Western Electric on Film.
THE C.AST
Tom Destry Tom Mix
Sally Claudia Dell
Brent Earle Foxe
Wendell Stanley Fields
Suitability : Western of below average standard, with possible pull on star’s past reputation.
.•\fter an absence of some years, Tom Mix returns to the screen in his first talking picture. By no means the first celebrity to attempt a “ come-back,” he is no more fortunate than most and reveals but a shadow of the personality that once elevated him to his high position in silent stardom.
He appears here in a story containing all the usual ingredients — bandits holding up stage coach, a crooked sheriff and an unscrupulous partner, a shadow on the hero and his ultimate vindication at the expense of the bad element.
.\11 this hokum is worked out slowly and with too little action, with a bit of love interest thrown in as make-weight. What thrills one sees are largely obvious fakes, while the several fistfights would be more acceptable in a music hall knockabout turn. Acting generally is also too much of this nature, the fright of the bad men when Tom is released from gaol being especially exaggerated.
In fact, the better way to put the picture up to the public will be as broad farce rather than Western drama.
AN.LLYSIS Story and Dialogue Direction ....
Acting
Recording and Photography General .Appeal ....
7%
out of 20%
8%
20%
8%
,, 20%
10%
„ 20%
7%
20%
40%
,, 100%
B. C.
Girl Crazy ”
Offered and Produced by : Radio. Directed by : Wm. .A. Setter. Photographed by : J. Roy Hunt. Length : 6,646 feet. Certificate ; U. Recording : R.C..A. on Film.
THE CAST
Jimmy Deegan Bert Wheeler
Slick Foster Robert Woolsey
Patsy Dorothy Lee
Tessie Deegan Mitzi Green
Danny Churchill Eddie Quillan
Kate Foster Kitty Kelly
Lank Sanders Stanley Fieldg
Suitability : Average musical comedy type
offering with pull on stars’ names.
Up to that last picture, Wheeler and Woolsey showed a marked improvement. In this musical comedy offering they have slipped back a step
{Continued on page 1 .