The Film Daily (1934)

THE -Z&*» DAILY Wednesday, May 9, 1934 » » » » REVIEWS of NEW FEATURES and SHORTS « « « « "TWIN HUSBANDS" with Shirley Grey and John Miljan Invincible • 68 mins. WELL-HANDLED MYSTERY MELODRAMA MAKES SATISFACTORY PROGRAM FARE. Capable acting and direction maintain pace, suspense and interest for this rather tenuous story. John Miljan awakes in strange surroundings to find himself addressed by a butler as the owner of all he surveys and with a wife upstairs to boot. Miljan forces the butler to confess he is an actor hired for a part and enlists his aid. When Shirley Grey, the wife, appears and Miljan makes love to her, she repulses him, and a secretary is called in to explain everything. Monroe Owsley, the secretary, tells Miljan he is the image of Miss Grey's absent spouse and that his role is to accept $200,000 in bonds which his banker is bringing from the city. Miljan takes the bonds but puts them in the safe instead of giving them to Owsley as directed. The bonds disappear and the police arrive. Actually they are confederates of Miljan, who is revealed as a notorious cracksman. Miljan forces the banker and the secretary to disclose that they have been pillaging the estate of Miss Grey's husband, whose death has be«"n concealed, and wins her in the end. Cast: John Miljan, Shirley Grey, Mcnrce Owsiey, Hale Hamilton, Robert Elliott, Maurice Black, William Franklin, Wilson Benge. Director, Frank Strayer; Authors, Robert Ellis. Anthony Coldeway; Adaptor, Robert Ellis; Film Editor, Roland Reed; Cameraman, M A. Andersen; Recording Engineer, L. E. Clarke. Direction, Good Photography, Good. Clyde Beatty in "THE LOST JUNGLE" Mascot 70 mins. WILD ANIMAL THRILLER WITH CLYDE BEATTY DOING HIS ANIMAL STUNTS IN JUNGLE SETTING. This feature version of the serial has been very well handled throughout. Of course the big kick is in the work of Clyde Beatty as he goes through his dangerous stunts with the big cats. Beatty's work is shown at the beginning of the story as he performs with the animals in the cages of the circus, then later in the jungle scenes with the animals roving loose on the island in the South Seas. There is plenty of excitement with the way this animal trainer handles the various animals, and they certainly look like tough specimens and not the tame Hollywood variety. Plenty cf thrills for the kids in these animal sequences, and also the grown-ups will get a kick out of it. Cast: Clyde Beatty, Cecilia Parker, Syd Saylor, Warner Richmond, Wheeler Oakman, Mastcn Williams, J Crauford Kent, Lloyd Whitlock, Lloyd Ingraham, Edward Le Saint, Leu Meehan, Max Wagner, Wes Warner, Jack Carlyle, Jim Corey, Wally Wales, Ernie Adams, Harry Holman, Mickey Rooney. Directors, Armand Schaefer, Dave Howard; Authors, Sherman Lowe, Al Martin; Adaptors, Barney Sarecky, David Howard, Armand Schaefer, Wyndham Gittens; Editor, Earl Turner Cameramen, Alvin Wyckeff. William Nobles. Direction, Good. Photography, Okay. SHORTS "The Big Idea" with Ted Healy M-G-M 20 mins. Nutty Laughs Ted Healy is featured in a goofy picturization of a dizzy author at work on his "masterpiece." As he works at his typewriter, the charwoman comes in. Finding she has good ideas too, he gets her to collaborate. The Three Radio Rogues form a big part of the act, for they are his main characters and come to life and do their stuff before him with exciting results. At the end he is rehearsing a clinch with the beautiful scrublady when his wife walks in and puts him out for the count with a hammer. Has plenty of goofy laughs. Dh-eeted by William Crowley. Produced by Jack Cummings. "Love's Memorial" (Port O'Call Series) Monogram 10 mins. Very Good Produced and narrated by Deane H. Dickason, this is a very well handled subject dealing with the Taj Mahal. The romantic story of this world-famous architectural achievement is effectively built up by Dickason in fine scenic shots and very interesting running comment. "Goofy Movies" No. 4 M-G-M 9 mins. Good Spoofing Carrying out the comedy idea of "a whole show in one reel," this Goofy Reel starts off with some Goofy newsreel shots, then goes into an oldtime silent meller, with humorous remarks by Pete Smith. The old library shots of the dramatic events become very funny with the comedy talk. Produced by Jack Cummings. Has plenty of kidding humor to please voung and old. M-G-M Chic Sale in "Little Feller" Fine Sentiment 8 mins. This is a picturization of the poem of the same name, with Chic Sale as the old grandpa lamenting the death of his grandson as he proceeds to turn over the child's pony to a neighbor who has children who can take care of it. Chic Sale is on his ranch, and the atmosphere is well done and Chic never did anything more sentimental or touching than this little skit. It will get the femmes and the mothers especially. Andy Clyde in "Hello, Prosperity" Educational 19 mins. Good Comedy With the California wine industry as a background, this comedy has Anly Clyde making successful conquest of a former sweetheart who has become a radio singing personality to plug her vineyard, and is about to be married by a unworthy suitor. Andy comes on the scene and, in a series of comic developments, sidetracks the bridegroom and takes his place at the bride's side. Principal supporting players are Ethel Sykes, Jack Shutta and Joseph Swickard. "Honky-Donkey" (Hal Roach "Our Gang") M-G-M 20 mins. Kid Fun Some very hectic adventures as Wally, the rich little boy, takes Our Gang to play in his luxurious playground adjoining his mother's mansion. Things get out of control when the chauffeur keeps sneezing and upsetting the donkey the kids have brought along. He follows the Short Shots from Eastern Studios By CHARLES ALICOATE CASTING for ."Crime Without for "A Noble Prize," musical short featuring Ruth Etting, to be directed by Joe Henabery. With the starting of this short activities will igain be in full swing at the Vitaphone Studio under Sam Sax. Eddie Moran, Cy Wood and A. D. Otvos are credited with the story for the picture, which is scheduled to go into work Monday. Passion," first of the four features to be made by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, for Paramount release, has been started at the Eastern Service Studio in Astoria. Production is scheduled to get under way May 21. Production on a Paramount "Headliner" short featuring Milt and Frank Britten has started under the direction of Fred Waller al the West Coaxt Service studio. Leslie Roush is assisting Waller on the onereeler, urith William Steiner in eh i irge <<i the camera. Lee Stewart has started casting The Spanish dialogue picture tentatively titled "The Downfall," in which Carlos Gardel, popular radio, ittage and screen favorite of Argentine, will be directed by Louis Gasnier for Paramount, is scheduled to go into work about Man 15 at the Astoria plant. chauffeur in the house and almost wrecks the place before they gel him out. "Spanky" always saves; the situation by ringing an alarnclock and making the donkey sit on his haunches as he is trained U do. Up to the Our Gang standard "Attention, Suckers" M-G-M 9 mins Card Tricks A very fine expose of the trick; of the card sharp. It is done witfci the help of Luis Zingone who ex-' poses the card tricks as he plays vith three partners. After the care exposures he shows how the shel game is manipulated. It is verj well photographed, so that ever> play can be readily seen by use oi mirrors and a glass topped tabk showing the plays. Pete Smith gives a good explanatory narration. FOREIGN DIALOGUE "MARIONETTES", in Russian with Eng lish titles; produced by Mezhrbpomfilm directed by I. Protosanov; with A. Ktorov S. Martinson, M. Radin, et al. At th< Acme Theater. Musical satire, with political propaganda injected, makes generally enjoyable en tertainment, with particular interest at tached to it as the first Soviet musica picture. THE INDUSTRY'S DATE BOOK lead May 12-13: Allied States Association I ers' meeting, Congress Hotel, Chicago. May 14: Golf Tournament for benefit of Carolina film needy, Carolina Golf Course. Charlotte. May 18: Allied States Ass'n regional conference, in conjunction with meeting of Allied Theater Owners of New York, Syracuse. May 19: Cincinnati Variety Club Dinner and Charity Ball, Netherland-Plaza Hotel. Cincinnati. May 26: Monogram regional sales meeting. Salt Lake City. May 26-28: Fourth Annual Convention of Independent Theater Supply Dealers Ass'n. Edgcwater Beach Hotel, Chicago. May 31 -June 2: fox Film annual sales convention, New York. June 1: Actors Equity Ass'n annual meeting and election, Hotel Astor, New York June 2: Monogram regional sales meeting. Cincinnati. June 4-9: I.A.T.S.E. and M.P.O. convention. Louisville, Ky. lune 16-July 2: International Motion Picture Week. Vienna. lune 18-20: RKO annual sales convention, Drake Hotel, Chicago. lune 18-20: Paramount annual s=iles convention. Hotel Ambassador, Los Angeles June 29: Monogram regional sales meeting. New York. Aug. 1-20: Second Exhibition of Cinematography. Venice, Italy. Oct. 29: S.M.P.E. Fall Meeting, Hotel Pennsylvania, New York.