Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

42 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 8, 1930 not football season and he must make a living so he does it in the ring. His sweetheart is opposed to the ring because of an old prejudice but his first battle breaks down that barrier. There is a touch of comedy here and there in spots where the picture can do well with it. Richmond is a well built young man who is impressive as a fighter. His fiancee is likewise an effective player for the love interest role. She is Nora Lane, an old favorite in spite of her mere 21 years. A WITHIN THE LAW REVENGE! Produced and distributed by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer. Sam Woods, director. From stage play by Bayard Villier. Adapted by diaries MacArthur and Lucien Hubbard. Charles Rosher. photographer. Douglas Shearer, sound recording. Cast: Joan Crawford. Kent Douglas, Marie Prevost, John Miljan, Hale Hamilton, George Cooper, Purnell Pratt, Robert Armstrong, Robert Emmett O'Connor, Isabelle Withers, Polly Moran and Tyrell Davis. IN "Within the Law" Joan Crawford emerges from roles based to a great extent upon her physical attractiveness and reveals herself as a dramatic actress of the first rank. Sharing honors with her is Robert Armstrong, who plays the part of the crook who loves and sacrifices so that she, after years of enforced unhappiness, may have the life and love she craves. Too much cannot be said for Miss Crawford's work. She accepted a part which has been played by some of the greatest of America's dramatic actresses. It is the difficult role of the girl who was framed into a jail sentence and for revenge married the son of the man who permitted her to spend three years behind bars. The play is eighteen years old, but this proved no handicap to Charles MacArthur and Lucien Hubbard, who did an excellent job of modernizing what is called "crook lingo." The play is modern in every sense and loses nothing in its new dress. The movement is rapid and the suspense is excellent, holding attention from the first, when Miss Crawford is sent "up the river" for her term. The play derives its name from the fact that she learns so much about being a crook while behind the bars that she is enabled to do dishonest things and still remain within the law. The action gathers momentum as her partners turn to crime which is outside the law and inadvertently trap her when a murder is committed. The man who confesses to the crime, Robert Armstrong, plays his part well and shares the sympathy of the audience with Miss Crawford. Marie Prevost, as a young woman of questionable reputation and past who sides with Miss Crawford while she is in prison and subsequently becomes an expert in matters of breach of promise, gives the audience plenty to laugh at. Further comedy is contributed by George Cooper, the pseudo-butler, and Robert Emmett O'Connor, forever the detective who is wise to the ways of the folks he is after in the name of the law. Photography and sound come in for their share of applause. Some of the closeups of Miss Crawford are exceptionally clear, and reveal her emotions to the last degree. It is evident that Douglas Shearer has been making great strides in the M G M sound department. The cast is exceptionally well chosen, and is well handled by "Woods. John Miljan, as the suave, but at the same time hard police official, fits into his part like a glove. Kent Douglas, a newcomer to the screen, handled effectively a comparatively minor role. — Edward Churchill, Hollywood. A HOLLYWOOD THEME SONG Directed by William Beaudine. Story and dialog by Dick Weil, William Dugan, Jack Jevne, John A. Woldron, Earle Rodney, Walter Weems. Photography by Mack Stengler and George Unliolz. Words and Music by William Dugan and Dave Silverstein. Film editor, William Hornbeck. Cast: Harry Gribbon, Patsy O'Leary, Yola D'Avril. Released by Educational. Two reels. M, LACK SENNETT, they say, is proud of having turned out a product like this. He should be. It's one of the cleverest two-reel comedies ever made with dialog. I can't say it's the funniest because I have not seen all the two-reelers and I do not pretend to know how many laughs it will get from audiences who are removed from the shop-worn subject of theme songs of Hollywood. It strikes me that the more remote sectors were earlier to criticize theme songs than the men "inside" the studios. And for that reason it appears logical that those remote sectors would laugh the heartiest at a satirical burlesque excellently mounted for not-so-sophisticated audiences. It is a comedy built along sophisticated lines but Gribbon's comedy is at times broad so it is likely to meet the requirements of both kinds of audiences. Most of the credit goes to Mack Sennett for the actual conception of the subject. It could have come from no other brain, unless it might have been a man like Eddie Cline. It is a story of an enlisted man entering the war. It might be a brief account of the story of "The Big Parade." At proper intervals throughout the war the soldier finds nothing will suit his mood and the situation better than a song. The musical accompaniment is provided by a three-piece fife and drum corps whose blasts are those of a symphony orchestra. The drum corps follows Gribbon all over Europe. It is there when he is sentenced to die. Gribbon's contribution to the musical world at that point is a new war song. It is so effective that all the firing squad drop their guns and reach for handkerchiefs that will catch their tears. The prisoner returns to his troops. The finale is his scene with 3,000 soldiers. Both Germans and Americans join in a gigantic ensemble. They slap their thighs and raise their voices in one of the most ludicrous scenes that has ever been brought to the screen. It is a clean piece of satirical fiction that sets a new record in the making of talking comedies. — Douglas Hodges, Hollywood. A THE BIG CHEESE AN AESOP SOUND FABLE— No. 22 Pathe Originality and amusing cartoons rate this one high among animated shorts. The tough and pugilistic looking dog lords it over the whole of dog town, turning pianos into accordions and tossing them out of windows. When the big battle with the cat champion comes along, the spectators lose their tempers after the fight develops into a dance to syncopated music in the ring. Enough good laughs and old twists are included to make this a neat spot on the bill anywhere. Running time, 8 minutes. A AUDIO REVIEW No. 43 Pathe — Sound This is an interesting review, opening with some exceptionally fine views of Gibraltar, on the southern coast of Spain. An indication is given of the mode of life of the inhabitants of the place, with the most effective scenic shots being those from the fortified galleries of the rock fortress. "Planetarium" pictures an odd shaped projector apparatus, in the interior of which is exhibited the entire solar system on a dome. The heavenly bodies are reflected through a photo-telescope of enormous power and clarity, and are said to occupy the same positions on the dome that they do in the heavens. It makes an unusual and interesting feature. Several of the homes of the extremely wealthy, which are located in New York City, conclude the review. The castle-like structure of Charles M. Schwab, and the old Wendell Mansion, which was bought in 1856 for $5,000 and is now worth $3,085,000, are featured in this portion of an excellent audio. Running time, 9 minutes. A ANOTHER NICE MESS HAL ROACH COMEDY M G M— Sound Laurel and Hardy take over a mansion. The pair, always funny, never pretending to convince, stage this with an almost impossible series of situations; and yet, what's the difference! It is partly slapstick, the remainder uncommonly good gags. Thelma Todd, a reliably good actress for comedy roles, adds to the humor of many of the sequences. She plays the part of a good looking woman who wishes to rent the house occupied (but not owned) by the comedy team. For no reason on earth Stan Laurel passes himself off as a butler when the callers ask to see a butler. For no greater reason he passes himself off as a maid when the callers request a maid. That is how foolish and unnecessary the plot is. But yet the thing is darn funny. The preview audience in the Ritz theatre whooped and shouted at the gags that were given the screen by the two comics under the eagle eye of Director James Parrot. A TRAFFIC TANGLE A FOLLY COMEDY Pathe — Talking Nat Carr buys himself a new car, and takes the family out camping, or attempts to, but a traffic officer and two motorcycle policemen prevent him from getting very far. A good part of the situation is hardly new, but Carr's dialog in the role of Max Ginsberg is quite amusing and his actions are equally so. Two youngsters, Spec O'Donnell and George Billings, contribute their share with an ease rather unusual in child actors. Dot Farley is the wife who says the right thing at the wrong time to complicate the plot, while Bud Jamieson plays the traffic officer who takes the falls and helps Nat Carr register most of his comedy. Running time, 20 minutes. A AUDIO REVIEW— No. 37 Pathe — Talking This number of the Review opens with a little propaganda for the wellknown exponent of physical culture, Bernarr Macfadden. He is pictured at his home near Englewood, N. J., and speaks for a few minutes on the value of good health, the theme being that a man is as old as he feels. Then, for some reason or other, he sings "When the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold," accompanied at the piano by his daughter. Excellent color tone in green is achieved in the bit called "Cleopatra's Flower," which pictures the sacred lilies of Egypt floating on the waters of the Nile. The scenic effect here is very fine. A THE GLORY OF SPAIN No. 15— VAGABOND ADVENTURE SERIES Pathe — Talking Tom Terris features a Spanish bull fight in the latest of the Vagabond series. Plenty of fast action in the bull ring, with a punch finish to the fight when the bull tosses the matador and he is carried out, should carry this number over with a good deal to spare. Panoramic and closeup shots of the enthusiastic crowd in the amphitheatre add to the effectiveness of the picture. From here, the Vagabond director takes his audience through the village and its beautiful gardens, where excellent photography ends the feature pleasantly. This has some real action. Running time, 10 minutes.