The Bioscope (Nov-Dec 1930)

November 12, 1930 THE BIOSCOPE 3$ Acting : Bebe Daniels gives a strong performance as the energetic wife, and in several scenes displays considerable emotional power. Next in importance is the delightful impersonation of the polished drawling cynic by Lowell Sherman. The husband is played by Kenneth Thomson ; excellent in the opening scene already mentioned. The schemer for the love and cash of men is splendidly presented by Olive Tell. Production : Action takes place in luxurious interiors. Sound : The voices are distinct in every case. <c Dassan ” (Fidelity Sound on Film.) Offered by : Cherry Kearton Productions, 151, W ardour Street. Pro duced by : Cherry Kearton. Length : 6,300 feet. Release Date : Not fixed. Certificate : U. Type : Travel film. IN BRIEF : A remarkably interesting study of Penguin life. Wonderful shots of hosts of these quaint birds. Plenty of comical touches and not a little pathos. Commentary by Kearton on facetious lines. Admirable glimpses of the wild denizens of the African jungle. Suitability : An excellent offering of its type. Selling Angles : Remarkable photography, humorous bearing of bird actors, shots of wild animals. The Film : Kearton takes us to the island of Dassan, situated south of South Africa, and there one of the most remarkable sights ever screened opens up before us. Five million Jackass Penguins are said to live in an area 2£ miles by 1 mile, and a sight of what appears to be fully that number swarming down to the sea is truly remarkable. We follow their habits and peculiar little ways from the nest onwards, and to the student of nature these very human-like specimens will prove of absorbing interest. It is said that at a particular period of the year these birds trek northwards to warmer climes and we are permitted to accompany them, and be introduced to the variety of animal life met with on the African continent. These shots are particularly fine. Kearton accompanies the film with a spasmodic and facetious commentary in which he indulges in some puns which are almost bound to get the laughs. c< Plunder ” (Western Electric on Film.) Offered by: W. and F. Directed by: Tom Walls. Length: 7,300 feet approx. Certificate : U. Release Date : Not fixed. Type : Comedy. Cast Ralph Lynn, Tom Walls, Winifred Shotter, Robertson Hare, Mary Brough. IN BRIEF Effective adaptation of the successful comedy from the Aldwych Theatre, brilliantly played by the original cast. A certain success with every class of audience. Suitability : For any house. Selling Angles : The names of Ralph Lynn and Tom Walls ; the great reputation of the Aldwych comedies ; the success of the film at the Gala Performance. Plot : Fred Malone schemes to relieve Mrs. Hewlett of some valuable jewels and to carry out his plans induces D’Arcy Tuck to assist him in a burglary, ostensibly for the benefit of D’Arcy’s fiancee, Joan Hewlett, Mrs. Hewlett’s step-daughter, who has been superseded in her inheritance. D’Arcy thoroughly bungles the burglary, a hint of murder calls Scotland Yard to the scene, which all leads up to the cross-examination of D’Arcy by officials of the Yard, for which scene the play was obviously written. Comment : A plot so slight as hardly to give opportunities to many of the brilliant company which interprets it, and rather unnecessarily introduces a suggestion of tragedy, has been so skilfully adapted and so adroitly directed with the object of leading up to one gloriously funny and most ingeniously contrived scene, that the result can be nothing but a popular success. Compared with previous films in which this company has appeared under the direction of Mr. Walls, “ Plunder ” must take a secondary place, but there is still enough in it to please greatly the average picture-goer. Acting : The acting honours go to Ralph Lynn, whose perfect comic art is shown in the cross-examination scene, which is practically a monologue with interlocutory obligato. Mary Brough, with great art, contrives to make herself almost disagreeable. Tom Walls, playing with polished restraint, is content with his effective work as producer, and the celebrated Aldwych Company, as usual, shows its pre-eminence in perfect team work. Production : The settings, including convincing interiors of Scotland Yard, are appropriate and effective in every way. Sound : The recording is entirely satisfactory. c< The Cat Creeps ” (Western Electric Sound on Film.) Offered by : Universal. Directed by : Rupert Julian. Length: 6,707 feet. Release Date : Not fixed. Certificate: A. Type : Mystery melodrama. Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Neil Hamilton, Lilyan Tashman, Montagu Love, Raymond Hackett, Jean Hersholt. IN BRIEF : Sound and dialogue version of “ Cat and the Canary.” Story deals with plot to become beneficiary under a will by driving a girl insane. Well-mounted interiors, grotesquely made up villain and mysterious murder ensure thoroughly eerie atmosphere. Good direction and excellent acting. Unexpected and highly dramatic climax. Good dialogue. Well recorded. Suitability : Good popular entertainment. Selling Angles : Story, mystery, cast. Plot : The wealth of Cyrus West is left to Annabelle West, but on condition that she is of sound mind. This fact is revealed by the lawyer at a midnight meeting of the relatives. The conditions are such that the whole assembly have to stay the night in the mysterious mansion, and immediately there commences a series of weird happenings. All these directly affect the young beneficiary. The lawyer mysteriously disappearswhile in her presence, to be found dead later, and jewels are clutched from her neck. By the intervention of her fiance the plot is laid open to reveal that the man who is to benefit after her has endeavoured to create in her a state of mind which would not comply with the requirements of the will. Comment : This story of a diabolical plot is lurid enough melodrama,, and the director has managed to instil a sufficiency of weird and fantastic happenings to satisfy the masses. True, it is rather clap-trap stuff, with clutching, claw-like hands, dead persons falling from concealed panels and hand-to-hand encounters with mysteriously disguised individuals, but it nevertheless achieves its object. The ultimate end. is at least well hidden, and the unmasking of the real culprit comes as a distinct surprise. Acting : Helen Twelvetrees does well as the ill-used Annabelle, and good support comes from Raymond Hackett as her lover, and Neil Hamilton in the role of the guilty party. Lilyan Tashman is convincing as a very modern miss, but one who readily acknowledges she has nerves, and Blanche Frederici is excellent as the spiritualistic old servant who can’t refrain from telling of the gruesome happenings which have taken place in the old house. Production : The whole of the action takes place in various rooms of the house. All are well arranged and calculated to produce the maximum amount of mystery. Sound : The sound effects, thunderstorms, howling wind and a variety of noises are quite adequate. Dialogue is clear. “ Treason ” ( Klangfilm on Disc.) Offered by : W ardour Films. Directed by : Johannes Meyer. Length : 7,751 feet. Certificate: A. Release Date: Not fixed. Type: Russian melodrama. Cast : Gerda Maurus, Gustav Frohlich, Harry Hardt. IN BRIEF : Sombre picture of Russian oppression and anarchy. Elaborate and artistic production, very well acted. The story has considerable dramatic interest but is unduly drawn out, and the ending is unconvincing. Suitability : Effective item for good class halls where a silent pictureis acceptable. Selling Angles : The beauty and talent of Gerda Maurus ; the acting of Gustav Frohlich and strong company ; the elaborate settings. Plot The Countess Vera Starshenski becomes involved in an anarchist plot to assassinate a Russian Grand Duke on his state entry into Warsaw. At the last moment her courage fails, and after the ineffective explosion of a bomb Vera escapes by mingling with the flying crowd. She takes, refuge in the room of Vassili Gurmai, a poor young student, and though the house is searched by the police, Vassili manages to allay their suspicions. The two fall in love and Vera makes an appointment to meet at Zurich in a month’s time. In the meantime, Vassili is visited by thepolice and questioned about the woman to whom he gave shelter. For his refusal to give information he is sent to Siberia and Vera waits in vain at Zurich. Prince Stolin, a persistent suitor for Vera’s hand, learnsof this love affair, and tells Vera that if she will marry him he will secure Vassili’s pardon. She consents and he shows her a letter which he writes to the Governor of the prison, but he treacherously adds a postscript directing that Vassili should be shot in attempting to escape. This note falls into Vassili’s hands and he is persuaded that Vera is plotting his death. He manages to escape and returns to Warsaw determined, on revenge. The lovers meet in his old room and Vera has little difficulty in convincing Vassili that she loves him alone. Comment : This is fairly effective melodrama of a somewhat oldfashioned type, of the kind when calculated vice was personified by the Russian aristocracy and persecuted virtue suffered in the underground, meeting places of high-minded bomb throwers and inspired assassins. It is richly illustrated with the military pageantry of the despicable oppressors and remarkably well played, not only by a very beautiful heroine and noble-minded if rather indecisive hero, but particularly by the representatives of aristocratic villainy who realise that they have the best acting part, The story is unduly protracted by unnecessary episodes, an instance being a frustrated attempt at escape by the hero which has no dramatic significance and weakens the effect of his successful escape later on. There is also a scene where the hero makes a long statement to a fellow prisoner which could only be effective in a talking picture, as it is not till some time later that the spectator learns the matter of which he speaks. As a non-dialogue picture it lacks dramatic action but will satisfy many by its picturesque settings and the beauty and charm of the heroine. Acting : The great beauty and charm of Gerda Maurus as Vera is enough to condone some weakness in the story and ensure sympathetic appreciation from her audience. She is well supported by that sterling actor Gustav Frohlich, who makes an indefinite character human and convincing. Harry Hardt gives a most polished and effective performance of Count Stolin, and every minor part is admirably played. Production : The settings and uniforms convey an air of great distinction and the photography is excellent. Sound : Confused mob cries and incidental music might be better rendered by an effective orchestra.