The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

28 THE BIOSCOPE July 15, 1931 Production : This is lavish and artistic, action taking place at a big hotel, a luxurious mansion and on board a yacht. Sound : All voices are distinct. Miss Macdonald sings a little. “ Kick In” (Western Electric Sound on Film) Offered by : Paramount. Directed by : Richard Wallace. Length : 5,745 feet. Release Date: December 21, 1931. Certificate: A. Type: Crook drama, based on the play by 'Willard Mack. Cast : Clara Bow, Regis Toomey, Wynne Gibson, Juliette Compton, Leslie Fenton. IN BRIEF : The terrible trials of a young couple, who attempt to go straight, but are mistrusted and persecuted by the police. Most excellent cast. Emotional acting. Skilful direction, with good suspense values. Suitability : Excellent general booking. Selling Angles : Clara Bow, the story’s interest and the problem of police supervision. Plot : When Chick emerges from prison he is met at the gates by his young wife and rapturously embraced. The couple determine to go straight, but find it difficult to avoid old associates, especially those who have been kind in hours of adversity. Chick’s one-time chum steals a necklace and is mortally wounded. He takes shelter at the home of the young couple and dies there. The police rigorously cross-examine all those they suspect of knowing the whereabouts of the necklace. Ultimately it falls into Chick’s possession, and he returns it to a detective who has been friendly disposed, thereby checkmating one who has been his bitter enemy. The sorely tried pair look forward to happy days. Comment : Owing to able direction, this story is unfolded with much realism, and the many dramatic situations cause the spectator to follow the young couple’s tribulations with close attention and sympathy. Chief among these is the sheltering of the dying thief at their home while they are detained at police headquarters and undergoing a brutal examination. This is followed by the wounded man’s death and attempts to remove the body while the house is being watched. A finely acted scene ensues when the fact of his death is for a time concealed from his distracted mistress. For this Wynne Gibson as the latter and Clara Bow as the young wife deserve praise. Besides the appeal of the sensational, two points are well stressed, namely, the difficulty of the ex-convict obtaining a situation and gratitude towards his unscrupulous friends for aiding his wife during his prison absence, while at the same time he feels an intense desire to disassociate himself from them. Acting : Regis Toomey plays the reformed crook, torn with conflicting emotions, with much feeling. Clara Bow as the young wife makes a strong appeal and, as stated, Wynne Gibson is excellent in an emotional part. Juliette Compton, Leslie Fenton and others fill minor roles admirably. Production : Action takes place chiefly at the police station and the home of the young couple. The picture opens with some fine but depressing prison scenes. Sound : The recording is perfect. “Two Crowded Hours” (R.C.A. Sound on Film) Offered by: Fox. Directed by: Michael Powell. Length: 3,999 feet. Release Date: Not fixed. Certificate: A. Type: Comedy drama, based on a story by Jefferson Farjeon. Cast : John Longden, Jane Walsh, Jerry Verno, Michael Hogan, Edward Barber. IN BRIEF : Sensational story of a murderer’s escape from prison and attempts to destroy those who gave evidence against him. Good direction, production and acting, with considerable comedy. Suitability : A useful programme picture. Selling Angles : The chain of exciting incidents and delightful study of a Cockney chauffeur by Jerry Verno. Plot: Joyce is filled with alarm when she hears that Scammel, a murderer, has escaped from prison, for her evidence had led to his condemnation and the man had vowed vengeance. Her lover, Fielding, a detective, rushes to her. Their interview is interrupted by the arrival of a taxi in which the driver has found a murdered man. He asserts the corpse is not that of the passenger who had engaged him. Fielding recognises the body to be that of a Scotland Yard detective and the crime undoubtedly Scammel’s. After a series of exciting adventures at a lowclass cafe and Joyce’s narrow escape from strangulation, the fugitive is knocked down by the taxi and killed. Comment : This little picture is a skilful blend of tragedy and comedy. Of the former there is a libera! supply, the murderer engaging the taxi and arranging for the driver’s brief absence from the vehicle that the body of the stabbed detective might, after an exchange of clothes, be placed therein. Subsequently there are exciting events at the cafe where the criminal takes refuge temporarily. The climax is well worked up, Fielding saving his sweetheart from the murderer’s clutches and chasing him until he meets his doom. But to many the Cockney humour of the driver will make a stronger appeal ; his ready wit, droll comments and powers of repartee being certain to arouse laughter anywhere. Acting : John Longden as the young detective, Jane Walsh as the heroine and Michael Hogan as the hunted criminal are all satisfactory. Anybody seeing Jerry Verno’s driver will look forward for other impersonations. Production : The staging is appropriate and well photographed. Sound : The recording is excellent. “Reaching for the Moon” ( Western Electric Sound on Film) Offered by : United Artists. Directed by : Edmund Goulding. I Length : 6,238 feet. Release Date : Not fixed. Certificate: U. Typ Kv Comedy drama. Story with music by Irving Berlin. Cast : Douglas Fairbanks, Bebe Daniels, Edward Everett Horton, Claude Allister, Jack Mulhall. IN BRIEF : Diverting story of a genial and acrobatic’ N e wTY ork stockbroker’s first love affair, his pursuit of the girl to Europe,Tsudden discomfiture, but ultimate success. Brilliant acting, with funny situations, and delightful character studies. Lavish production. Suitability : First-class entertainment for every type of audience. Selling Angles : Douglas Fairbanks, the comedy and strongly acted final love scene. Plot : Larry Day’s devotion to finance leaves no time for love, and he is difficult of access. A society girl makes a wager she will interview the busy man. Not only is her pertinacity rewarded, but she makes an instantaneous conquest. An invitation to dinner is accepted, though she never intends to keep the appointment, and embarks on a liner. Soon she is amazed to find Larry is also on board and making advances. When the ship is in mid-ocean the ardent stockbroker discovers she is engaged to a titled Englishman, and he feels he is “ reaching for the moon.” An interview between the rivals leads to a scrimmage and much excitement. Worse, he hears by wireless of a Wall Street panic. Though he knows it not, the girl’s affection for her noodle fiance is lukewarm, and, after a series of misunderstandings, he wins her heart and hand. Comment : This is a picture to delight patrons of both sexes and all classes. Though the story is nothing but the old one of “ love striving, love triumphant,” it is told with such a wealth of amusing detail, beautiful staging, acrobatic nonsense, insight into character and, towards the close, absolute sincerity that the spectator has a feeling of intense satisfaction in watching the transformation of the dashing financier into an ardent Romeo, his tricks of unblushing impudence, optimism, rebuffs, uncertainties and final victory. The picture opens on delightful comedy lines, with Larry’s valet (Edward Everett Horton) proving his guide , philosopher and friend, and instructing his employer in the art of love-making. These scenes are brilliantly acted and must evoke at any house peals of laughter. After this, action takes place on board the liner, giving opportunities for much realism and spectacle, presented with beautiful camera work. Especially noteworthy are the final scenes when the vessel reaches the docks and it seems all is over. Larry, a ruined man, with lacerated feelings, can only return to New York and begin life afresh. But courtesy demands a formal parting. His despondency proves a blessing, for the girl stifles her pride, confesses her love and buoys him up with prophecies of a happy and prosperous future. Acting : Needless to say, in this picture Douglas Fairbanks has a part for which he is admirably suited. With an ever-ready smile, amusing egoism, the impudent young financier sweeps all before him, having only one thought in life — the money market. Equally energetic is the woman he is destined to woo (pleasingly impersonated by Bebe Daniels), especially when she, as an aviatrix, harangues her girl friends on the coming air race. But love disarranges everything and she apparently forgets the trophy and does not land in England. Edward Everett Horton’s performance as the valet places him in the front rank of comedians, a position his admirers probably think he has occupied for some time. Many of the subordinate parts are splendidly filled. Production : As stated, the beautiful staging is one of the picture’s assets. Sound : The recording must be pronounced perfect. “ Fascination ” (R.C.A. Sound on Film) Offered by : War dour. Directed by : Miles Mander for Regina Films. Length: 6,381 feet. Release Date : March 7, 1932. Certificate: A. Type: Marital drama. Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Dorothy Bartlam, Carl Harbord, Kay Hammond. IN BRIEF : Flimsiest of stories, in which young husband becomes infatuated with actress, but eventually returns to forgiving wife, who has learned of his illicit association. Episodic direction. Poor continuity and uninspired portrayals. Elementary dialogue variably recorded. Suitability : Fair average second feature booking. Selling Angles : Madeleine Carroll’s name ; romantic interest. Plot : Three years of married life still finds Vera and Larry happy and true to the code they themselves drew up before marriage. Larry’s business, however, brings him in contact with Gwenda Farrell, an actress, to whose charms he promptly surrenders. His guilty association with her is discovered by the wife, who decides to keep him in ignorance of the fact. Instead, she tricks Gwenda into visiting her, and after a friendly heart-to-heart talk offers to share her husband. Here Larry appears and tells his wife everything the while Gwenda is concealed behind a nearby curtain. This is enough for his seductress, who leaves, but not without a display of affection for her from the wife. Comment : Miles Mander has had here a particularly meagre and unconvincing story to direct, nor can it be said that he has made much use of such opportunities as were afforded him. The story as presented is difficult to follow owing to the disjointed treatment and the constant inclusion of episodes which have little or no bearing on the logical development of the plot. Views of a charming countryside are indiscriminately utilised with no justification beyond that of purely pictorial padding, with the inevitable result that story development is retarded. Some satisfaction could be felt had the story ended in anything like a moving interview between the two women. Instead we have to lose sympathy with the wife, the only worth-while character, in her feeble capitulation to the woman who has caused her such unhappiness.