The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

112 The Educational Screen Qii THE FILM ESTIMATES Being the Combined Judgments of a National Committee on Current Theatrical Films X -D (The Film Estimates, in whole or in part, may be reprinted only by special arrangement -with The Educational Screen) Titles of Films (Actors) (Producers) Climax. The (Jean Hersholt) (Universal) Pleasing and wholesome romantic comedy in Italian setting, of simple people with artistic aspirations. Cohens and Kellys in Scotland (Sidney-Murray) (Universal) The annual installment of the HebrewIrish partners and their wives, same cast, same gags and some new ones, with a story somewhat more wholesome and less vulgar than usual. Very funny, for those who like that kind. Dark Streets (Jack Mulhall) (First Nat'l) Ordinary gangland thriller, with dual role for Mulhall as policeman -crook hero. Fighting Legion, The (Ken Maynard ) (Universal ) Usual western gunpowder-heroics, with the horse, Tarzan, featured. The mnrderer of an officer of the law is finally captured. Mostly free from objectionable elements. Framed (Evelyn Brent) (RKO) Racketeer-night-life-in-big-city melodrama above average, with some notable bits of acting. Furies, The (Lois Wilson and H. B. Warner) (First NafU Murder-mystery triangle, full of suspense and notably well-acted. Gripping plot is really out of the ordinary, but strains credulity in spots. Girl in the Glass Cage, The (Loretta Young) (First Nat'l) Sordid, unhealthy story of small town life and the city-underworld, with plenty of sex element. Girl Said No. The ( William Haines ) ( M-G-M ) Usual Haines story, largely silly and impossible, exploiting brazen conceit and roudy conduct as something clever and funny. Parents will hardly wish their children to follow his pattern of offensive modern youth — breaking every law of safety, convention, good manners and good citizenship. Golden Calf, The (Sue Carol ) (Fox) Cheap, preposterous farcecomedy, largely silly, contrived to make "legs" the centre of attraction. Stupid rather than harmful and poorly acted by Sue Carol. Green Goddess, The (George Arliss) (Warner) Grim situation of three British subjects in the power of a hostile merciless Rajah in the Himalayas. Made gripping and tense by the masterful acting of Arliss and an able cast. Happy Days (All Star) (Fox) Elaborate, picturesque, lively, noisy story of a showboat stranded on the Mississippi. Financial situation saved by former members of the troop who have now become famous. (See Review No. 283) For Intelligent Adults Entertaining Hardly Hardly Good of its kind Rather good Hardly Cheap Interesting Rather novel For YoDth (15 to 20) For Children (under 13) Wholesom« Little interest Amusingr Amusing Doubtful No Exciting Exciting Doubtful No Gripping; Hardly No No Not advised No Better not No Good unless too mature Too mature Entertaining Harmless and probably amusing Titles of Films (Actors) (Producers) Hello Sister (Olive Borden) (Sono Art) Improbable and convincing story of a jazz-mad girl who tried to reform for six months to win an inheritance. Unobiectionable but poorly acted and unimpressive. Her Unborn Child (English cast) (Windsor Pictures) A serious and dignified picturising of the problem of the unwed mother — propaganda against birth control and abortion. Uneven in quality but delicately done and notably acted especially by the mother and the doctor. High Treason (Benita Hume) (Tiffany) Unusual, elaborate fantasy of 1940, done with dignity and real power, strongly anti-war in intention and effect. Some overcomplexity of plot, but interesting for imaginary developments of the future such as television . Strong, convincing, wholesome and unobjectionable. Honey (Nancy Carroll ) ( Paramount) Much movie-ized version of the charming stage play "Come Out of the Kitchen." marred by some interpolations but made thoroughly entertaining by the actors, especially Nancy Carroll. Lord Byron of Broadway (Charles Kaley) (M-G-M) Another rather cheap backstage story, with a tinpan alley song writer as hero. Little to redeem it from mediocrity save a few tunes. Kaley shows little ability or personality. Lummox (Winifred Westover) (U. A.) Realistic story of the hard life and disappointments of a humble servant girl, notably played by Winifred Westover. A worthwhile study in character and self-sacrifice. Melody Man. The (William Collier. Jr. ) (Columbia I Very human r.nd appealing character-story of a Viennese musician, contrasting classical and jazz music. Men Without Women (Kenneth MacKenna) (Fox) Grim and gripping story of men facing death in sunken submarine. True heroism without mawkishness. Opening cabaret scenes somewhat objectionable but quite obliterated by effect of film as a whole. Montana Moon (Joan Crawford) (M-G-M) Thrilling out-of-doors story with beautiful western settings, of spoiled daughter of Eastern financier— but it is made chiefly a vehicle for exploitation of Joan Crawford's two specialties, sex-appeal and jazzy conduct. Shows parents as helpless in the hands ot their children. John Mack Brown is painfully ineffective as the western diamond in the rough. For Intelligent AdnlU Mediocre Rather good Interesting Amusing Mediocre Interesting Rather good Unusual and interesting Perhaps For Tonth (15 to 20) Passable Doubtful Interesting Very good Better not Doubtful Fair Strong and interesting Decidedly not For Children (under 15) No interest No Thrilling but beyond them Good No Beyond them Beyond them Good but very strong No