The Film Daily (1937)

THE 24 ■2za DAILY Thursday, May 13, 1937 ik * Reviews o$ the View Fitms 1k £ Johnny Mack Brown in "Guns in the Dark" Republic 56 Mins. QUANTITY OF LIVELY ACTION COMMENDS THIS OTHERWISE ROUTINE WESTERN TO STAR'S FANS. Johnny Mack Brown rides again in another saga of the west, this time a drama of the lands bordering both banks of the Rio Grande. Over on the Mexican side, the star is convinced that he has killed his pard as the result of a general brawl growing out of a card game in which the villain, played by Ted Adams, has been caught cheating. Since the gun play all took place in the dark, Johnny feels guilty of unintentional murder, — but murder nevertheless. He vows he will not tote a | six-shooter again as long as he lives. It is a dangerous decision, for back across the | U S line he is called upon to break up i the operations of a band of cattle rustlers, lers and killers who are making lite Irish Republic of 1937, presenting graphically the many activities of President de Valera and his government to make the nation absolutely free of England and to foster in every way self-sufficiency through industrialization. Meanwhile the northern counties of Ulster are starting to protest vehemently that they want no part of it, and vowing their allegiance is still to England. Trouble brews, and it is all very exciting and timely. This release is one of the best of the March of Time series. pretty uncomfortable for Claire Rochelle, policy> by this one Billy an energetic, brave and «mely ranch op ^^ Frances Williams erator and her cowpunchers. Without t.r ghoe stQre ing a shot, Johnny, of course, in love with her completely wrecks the abusing lawless element. At the finale, he is found innocent of having murdered his pal in Mexico, for the law finds Ted Adams did it— with a knife. The yarn, while routine, has some peppy riding and rousing fist.cuffs. Direction is crisp and photography Wjfl as ^ ^ ^^ "Shoes With Rhythm" (A Mentone Production) Universal 10 Mins. Novel That every short reel should have its story, however, slight, is borne out, in accordance with Mentone's Reed and are partenterprise. When customers become scarcer than proverbial hens' teeth, they decide to draw the public by musicalizing their shop. The Rhythm Boys play some peppy numbers accompanying Frances Williams, as The Canadians, Elaine and glades, not far from Miami. Many interesting varieties are shot with the lens. Finally, Reginald Denny, film actor, is shown in his model airplane factory on the Pacific Coast fashioning flawless and intriguing , replicas of aircraft, with tiny, pow; erful motors. Youngsters, and those of larger growth, will find the film tour of Denny's factory interesting. : adequate. . , Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Claire Rochelle Syd Saylor, Ted Adams, Dick Curtis, Steve Clark, Jim Corey, Julian Madison, Roger Williams. Producer, A. W. Hackel; Director, Sam Newfield; Author, E. B. Mann; Screenplay, Charles F. Royal; Cameraman, Bert Longenecker; Editor, S. Roy Luby. Direction, Crisp. Photography, Adequate. SHORTS The March of Time (No. 10, Vol. 3) RKO Radio 18 Mins. Very Good The various phases of the unem respective "turns." Business picks up briskly, providing that, under almost any circumstance, people like music. They will like it specifically in their novel vaude film. Going Places No. 37 Universal 9'/2 Mins. Wide Appeal A trio of diversified topics give this subject wide audience appeal. The theater chair traveler is first taken to Vermont. There it is treetapping time, that season when the maple sugar sap begins to flow. This industry, of combined import to the Green Mountain State and those N. y. Critics Praise Captains Courageous ployment situation in the nation are i folk at iarge wh0 reVel in pure presented very graphically, showing I mapje syrup as a food delicacy, is the jobless army headed by David ; g^own briefly but fascinatingly. Lasser. This "army" is organized : Next> one is whisked to the governefficiently as the Workers' Alliance ment bird sanctuary in the Everof America. Lasser is shown mak I ing his stump speech for his organization, claiming there are ten million idle to be taken care of. Others interested in the unemployment problem such as General Hugh S. Johnson, Senator Pat McCarren, Senator Vanderberg and Senator James Byrnes voice their opinions, and they all are different. Meanwhile Lasser is threatening another hunger march on Washington. Then follows the subject of Puzzle Prizes, showing the Old Gold cigarette contest and how it works. A veteran puzzle man, F. Gregory Hartswick, was hired to put it over, and the mail from all over the nation was so heavy that it took 800 postal clerks to handle it. This has started a slew of fake contests, and now the postal authorities are busy trying to put the clamp down on these. The final sequences concern the Going Places No. 36 Universal 9 2-3 Mins. Delightful Studded with a number of magnificent camera shots, particularly those in the sea and waterfront sequences, this generally well-made reel is delightful diversion as it packs into a relatively small amount of footage an unusual amount of the charm and beauty that is Nassau and the Bahamas. Introductory scenes are of the transportation facilities to and from the islands. Ap: proach by air is stressed. There are views of Government House, the making of straw hats by natives, i pipe-smoking women, sports which J are pursued by visitors, and excel j lent exposition of the sponge fishing ; industry. Anyone interested in I travel (and who isn't?) will like j this short immensely. "Stranger Than Fiction" (No. 38) Universal 8 2-3 Mins. Well-Compiled Variety is the spice of this wellcompiled issue which opens with Ruby Wood, a Venice, California lass, disporting her pet lion who goes with her in her car round and about the city. The bonanza struck by storekeeper George Austin in the Nevada hills then swings into the giant rookie recently signed up by Uncle Sam's Army recruiting officer at San Francisco; a hard-to-lose penny which has been sticking around the desk of San Antonio's city clerk for many years, with no takers; Ray Beckett's pet deer, a swell household companion; and the strange mausoleum erected by John M. Davis at Hiawatha, Kansas, in memory of his faithful wife. A literally nutty shot concludes the subjects, — a native of Orienta Cuba, cracking cocoanuts open, using his head as the weapon. "Steel Workers" (A Meany, Miny, Moe Cartoon) Universal 7 1-3 Mins. Good Fun Performing their antics in the guise of steel workers on the altitudinous girders of an under construction skyscraper, the trio of monkeys are amusing enough, but the really clever angle incorporated in this reel is the use by its makers of a panorama background of New York. It is this vista which supplies a touch of authenticity to the sets, and gives the audience the feeling of being high above Manhattan's sea of rooftops. Naturally the monks go through some hair-raising acrobatics and run wild with riveting machines and sundry contractors' apparatus. It's good fun for cartoon lovers. // TIMES: "With its rich production, magnificent marine photography, admirable direction and performances, the film brings vividly to life every page of Kipling's novel and even adds an exciting chapter or two of its own." HERALD TRIBUNE: "Belongs with the screen's few masterpieces. In a season of spectacular and notable film offerings, it stands pre-eminent. . . . Has an epic sweep and power that is irresistible." AMERICAN: "Here, supplanting 'ThA Good Earth' at the Astor, is what must certainly turn out to be the prize picture of 1937. . . . Here is provided a dramatization of the spirit as well as the letter of the book." MIRROR: "Approaches the perfect movie. It has might and sweetness, mirth and horror, brutality and tenderness. With Freddie Bartholomew and Spencer Tracy in its leading roles, it ruthlessly attacks the emotions, making you weep and laugh and glow." NEWS: "The simplicity with which this classic story is presented on the screen is one of the picture's chief claims to greatness. . . . The acting is in the best traditions of the screen." SUN: "The characters are vigorous and alive, the direction vital and the melodrama pretty close to magnificent." WORLD-TELEGRAM: "Call it a great picture and you have the only possible description of 'Captains Courageous'. For sheer brilliance in every department of production it is a truly notable achievement." POST: "Magnificent, stirring, tender. Of course you will have to see it some time." JOURNAL: "A saga of the sea, a richly human and profoundly stirring narrative that ranks with "The Good Earth' as screen literature. Produced with distinction, unfolded with a thrilling sweep and highlighted with enormously impressive seascapes." "The Cocktail Party" (A Mentone Production) Universal 10 1-3 Mins. Lively As is customary with subjects in this series, there is a tabloid story employed to make the musical and dancing numbers appear as logical continuity and just plain logical. In this instance, Lew Parker is cast in the role of a bartender who persuades his boss that there is enough talent on hand to put on a show despite the defection of the regular scheduled performers. Lew acts as M.C., Lucille Page does a tumbling dance, Ginger Snap contributes a swing number, Mary Iris Dooley vo calizes, and the Six Balabanows cap the climax with their accordiondance act. A lively short. FOREIGN "DER KASER VON KALIFORNIEN" ("The Emperor of California"), dialogue film in German, with flash-in titles in English; a Luis Trenker production; directed by Luis Trenker, with himself, Victoria von Belasko, Karli Zwingman, et al, in the cast. Presented at the 86th St. Casino Theater. Running time: 101 Mins. Voted the best 1936 film by Germany's cinema circles, this feature is an exceptionally well-made story, and deserves the high rating accorded it. A considerable increment of the narrative was previously utilized in Universal's "Sutter's Gold," but the genius of Luis Trenker has added a freshness and a tone, typically European and emphatically interesting. Screenplay traces the dramatic episodes in the life of Johann Sutter, the Swiss who was born in Germany and came to California onJ-;^to eventually see his "empire" ruined r/v 5 influx of the gold rushers. TechrnV. /, the film is finely executed, and with its English titles should go far in U. S. the aters . Many of the sequences were made in California — the balance in German stu dios. It is rugged entertainment, bound to please advocates of foreign-wrought pictures. mm I::