The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

28 THE BIOSCOPE September 30, 1931 he is assisted by Alexander, a youth whom he found, two years previously, suffering from loss of memory. His announcement over the wireless that he seeks to discover his assistant’s identity brings to the theatre the youth’s sister, against the wishes of her uncle, Carrington, who accompanies her. Under Chatrand’s hypnotism Alexander recognises his sister from a trinket he is asked to describe, and during a struggle, occasioned by Carrington’s resentment to the trick, the lights are switched out. When renewed, Carrington is discovered dead and the medium, with a revolver under him, has fainted. Conflicting stories convince the police of Alexander’s guilt and Chatrand’s complicity. The latter is convinced that by holding a seance he can so play upon the real culprit’s conscience as to make him confess. The one-time brutally frank police officer grants permission, and in a rather long drawn-out, though admittedly thrilling, sequence the desired result is obtained. A happy ending finds Chatrand delightfully human and setting his cap at his partner’s sister, a small part played with feeling by Lois Moran. Howard Phillips has the part of the medium and Earle Fox that of Carrington. El Brendel disseminates comedy as an irresponsible member of the audience and Warren Hymer is good as a foolhead cop. ANALYSIS Story 10% Direction .. . 15% Acting 15% Recording and Dialogue 15% Photography 18% out of 20% ,, 20% ,, 20% ,, 20% » 20% 73% ,, 100% Chatrand Beverly Lane Alexander Carrington Dr. Blackstone Inspector Riley Ole Schmidt Estelle Tommy THE CAST Edmund Lowe Lois Moran Howard Phillips Earle Fox George E. Stone Purnell Pratt El Brendel Warren Hymer Many a Roberti John Arledge Offered by : Fox. Produced by : Fox Films. Directed by : Wm . Cameron Menzies and Kenneth McKenna. Length. 5,377 feet. Release Date: Not fixed. Certificate: A. “The Last Flight” (First National Pathe) H. M. Barthelmess in Another Saunders Story In John Mark Saunders’ novel, “ Single Lady,” of which this is an adaptation, he deals with post-war psychology as it affects a group of young aviators after their terrifying experience in the world war. To the intelligent reader, the theme mav well be one of profound interest, though the difficulties to be overcome by a picture producer to gain the same effect may be imagined. The study of psychology, or, for that matter, the real significance of the word, is a closed book to the ordinary man in the street, and it must be confessed that this story’s development under the direction of Wilhelm Dieterle will prove equally mystifying. The essence of a powerful situation is undoubtedly there, but the telling of it places a misconstruction on the author’s ideas. Cary, Bill. Ship and Francis, young aviators now demobilised, find solace for their warwracked nerves in the cafes of Paris and any strong drink these establishments have to offer. Unable to reconcile their minds with pre-war normal existence, they indulge in the maddest of escapades, during which they share the company of Nikki, a Paris butterfly similarly affected in mind through her war experiences. Presented in the light of a half-wit rather than a neuropath, the girl forms a romance with Cary, which is temporarily 'broken by hurting his feelings when referring to his almost useless hands. Cary decides to go to Lisbon, but Nikki, hearing of his plans, rallies the others and they all go together. Arrived in Portugal, the real excitement’ starts. Here their gradual elimination begins, starting with Bill’s death in a wonderfully staged incident at a bull fight. 1 Francis is the next to go, after having the man who regards Nikki as his own and who has threatened Cary’s life. In hastening from the scene, it is A scene from “ Side Show,” a Warner Bros, and Vitaphone film for trade show at the Phoenix Theatre on Friday at 3 p.m. Winnie Lightner is starred discovered that Ship has sustained a fatal wound, and Nikki and Cary, the sole survivors, pick up the threads of their broken romance and decide to marry. Interest is heightened in the closing stages with wonderful shots of the bull ring, which are undoubtedly the real thing. Richard Barthelmess makes the most of a sympathetic role, and John Mack Brown, David Manners and Elliott Nugent, as the other youths, do all that is asked of them. Helen Chandler is unconvincing in the artificial role of Nikki. ANALYSIS Story 124% out of 20% Direction 8% 20% Acting .... 12J% ,, 20% Recording and Dialogue ■ 13% , . 20% Photography ... 18% , 20% 64% 100% THE CAST Carv Lockwood ... Richard Barthelmess Bill Talbot John Mack Brown Nikki Helen Chandler Ship Lambert David Manners Francis Elliott Nugent Frink Walter Bvron Offered by: F.N.P. Produced by: First National Pictures. Directed by : Wilhelm Dieterle. Length : 6,827 feet. Release Date : March 28, 1932. Certificate: A. Recording: Vitaphone Sound on Film and Disc. H. M. Just Another Sa/s : “ I must congratulate you on your monthly issue of “ Bioscope ” Rapid Reviews, which is second to none in any office for proprietor or manager. I have always looked forward to " The Bioscope ” and have been a subscriber since 1912.” Frank Foster Rialto Cinema Preston. * “The Happy Ending” (Gaumont) Good Story from Ian Hay While this very human story from the pen of Ian Hay holds much that will entertain, the majority of audiences will be at a loss to understand how the title is arrived at. That a man, torn from his dearest loves, finds consolation and even happiness in the thought that the daughter who has never known him thinks of him as a better man than he really is, passes one’s comprehension. The end will be less appreciated by popular audiences than by those of more intelligent calibre, who will be held by the amazing and beautifully acted climax. Opening in India in 1912 we are introduced to Denis Cradock, a man of apparent means who is having a good time with the ladies while his wife is away. Yvonne, his particular plaything, resents the return of Mildred his wife and makes it her business to “inform” the wife through the medium of a hidden slipper. In a rather impressive scene, Mildred forgives him. Soon the two are returning to England on holiday. Yvonne is also on board and Mildred, finding her husband with her again, leaves him “ for ever.” In a very unconvincing shipwreck upon a calm sea with the ship always on an even keel, Denis is parted from his wife, who believes him drowned. 1914 sees him in France as Captain Dale Conway, where he rescues the very officer who carries his wife’s portrait. Unable to reconcile her, the end of the war finds him a fugitive from Yvonne, first in Honolulu, then in Buenos Aires. In the latter place he learns of his daughter’s birthday and returns to England only to find that Mildred refuses to permit him to blight the life of her daughter as he has done hers. The role of Cradock, well played by George Barraud, is an unsympathetic one, for while he professes such a profound love for his wife, his time is spent almost wholly with other women. Benita Hume plays well as Yvonne, and Anne Grey makes the most of a most interesting character. Sudden changes of location are at times rather bewildering, the spectator being left for some time to guess just where the action is taking place. A little cockney humour supplies a bright touch. ANALYSIS Story .... 15% out of Direction 124% Acting 15% Dialogue and Recording. .. 124% Photography 17% 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 72% 0% THE CAST Mildred Cradock Anne Grey Denis Cradock George Barraud Yvonne Benita Hume Anthony Fenwick Cyril Raymond Alf Alf Goddard Mollie Cradock Daphne Courtenay Offered by : Gaumont. Produced by : Gaumont Co., Ltd. Directed by : Millard Webb. Photographed by : Percy Strong. Length : 6,480 feet. Release : Not fixed. Certificate : A. Recording : British Acoustic Sound on Film. Short Product “ THE SILVER LINING ” (Ideal). 1,871 feet. Release : Not fixed. Certificate : U. Eisenstein, the famous Russian director, has here provided a brilliantly photographed film symbolic of a dreary autumn and the coming of a brighter and happier spring. The shots of angry seas, storm-tossed trees and sombre sunsets are bewilderingly beautiful, though it is obvious that the average patron will not grasp the ideas behind the mind of Eisenstein. The more sophisticated audience may appreciate his imagination in his creation of the star which heralds the coming of another season, but it is to them only that 't. will really appeal. “ ONE GOOD TURN ” (M.-G.-M.). 1,831 feet. Certificate : U. Release date : Not fixed. Laurel and Hardy in irresistible mood again. This time they are reduced to begging for food, and while accepting hospitality in an old lady’s house, get the idea that she is financially distressed. An