The Film Daily (1935)

THE HZtl I DAILY Saturday, June 1, 193J REVIEWS OF THE NEW PICTURES. Nils Asther, Fritz Kortner. Adrienne Ames in "ABDUL THE DAMNED" Alliance Films 1 1 1 mins. SPECTACULAR MELODRAMA PRODUCED ON GRAND SCALE WITH EXCEPTIONAL ACTING, DIRECTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY. Though the first impression created by this B.I.F. production from Elstree is the magnificence of its investiture, which has seldom been matched by Hollywood, it also is impressive for the outstanding work of its cast, the astuteness of its direction which keeps the story moving at a good action pace despite its big proportions, and the ingenuity of its camera work. While a bit long, which can easily be remedied by cutting if deemed necessary, it never lags in interest. Intriguing suspense is well maintained. Then there is always the arresting performance of Fritz Kortner as the heartless Moslem ruler who employs a double, also played by Kortner, in order to escape attempts on his life. Motivating story elements deal with the last days of the Abdul rule, overthrown by the young Turks who seek peace instead of wholesale executions. On the side there is a romance between a Viennese singer, Adrienne Ames, and John Stuart, an army officer, with Nils Asther, chief of police, acting as emissary to induct the girl into Abdul's household. Cast: Fritz Kortner, Nils Asther, Esme Percy, John Stuart, Adrienne Ames, Walter Rilla, Charles Carson, Alfred Woods, Patric Kncwles, Eric Portman, Clifford Heatherly. Director, Karl Grune; Author, Robert Neumann; Adaptors, Ashley Dukes, Roger Burford, W. Chetham-Strode. Cameraman, Otto Kanturek; Editors, A. C. Hammond, W. Stokvis. Direction, Excellent Photography, Unusual. "AIR HAWKS" with Ralph Bellamy, Tala Birell, Wiley Post Columbia 66 mins. THRILLING ACTION AND WILEY POST AS EXPLOITATION NAME ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF FAIR AIR DRAMA. Inclusion of Wiley Post in the cast of this production permits of some excellent exploitation, and the picture itself is fairly entertaining adventure stuff for the thrill fans even though it stretches a point here and there. Plot revolves around a crosscountry speed flight in order to win an important airmail contract, with attempted dirty work by a rival who has a mecahanism for destroying planes by shooting rays at them. This results in the crashing of planes belonging to Ralph Bellamy, the romantic hero opposite Tala Birell, who is mixed up in an affair with the villain. Bellamy then makes a daring flight over the dangerous ray machine and blows it up with a bomb. And so to the winning of the mail contract and the incidental culmination of the romance between Bellamy and the actress. Cast: Ralph Bellamy, Wiley Post, Tala Birell, Douglas Dumbrille, Robert Allen, Billie Seward, Victor Kilian, Robert Middlemass, Geneva Mitchell, Wyrley Birch, C. Franklin Parker, Edward Van Sloan. Director, Albert Rogell; Authors and Screenplay, Griffin Jay, Grace Neville; Cameraman, Harry Freulich; Editor, Richard Cahoon. Direction, Gcod. Photography, Gccd. Warner Baxter and Ketti Gallian in "UNDER THE PAMPAS MOON" Fox 78 mins FAIRLY GOOD ENTERTAINMENT IN COLORFUL BACKGROUND WITH SUBSTANTIAL COMEDY AND MUSIC. A letdown in the last reels and the absence of a strong climax hamper the final satisfaction derived from this picture, but generally it is a lively and amusing affair that will please the general audence. Warner Baxter does a characterization that is different from his recent roles. He is an Argentine gaucho with a strong love for his horse and a way with the women. An airplane mishap lands Ketti Gallian, a noted singer, on his ranch. When Baxter starts getting thick with her, the singer's manager, John Miljan, retaliates by stealing his horse and entering it in nearby race under a different name. Baxter follows and eventually recovers the horse, as well as winning the girl. Much humor is provided by the ruralite Baxter and his mother, Soledad Jiminez, as they try to fit into the swank society life at the race track. J. Carroll Naish also helps in the comedy end, and there is a bit of nice work by Armida. Cast: Warner Baxter, Ketti Gallian, Veloz & Yolanda, John Miljan, J. Carroll Naish, Soledad Jiminez, Jack LaRue, George Irving, Blanca Vischer, Rita Cansino, Armida, Paul Porcasi, Lona Andre. Producer, B. G. DeSylva; Director, James Tinling; Author, Gordon Morris; Screenplay, Ernest Pascal, Bradley King; Cameraman, Chester Lyons. Direction, Gcod. Photography, Fine. "THE FLAME WITHIN" with Ann Harding, Herbert Marshall, Maureen 0 Sullivan M-G-M 71 mins. UNUSUAL ROMANCE CARRIES STRONG FEMME APPEAL WITH ANN HARDING AND HERBERT MARSHALL A FINE TEAM. The combined drawing power of Ann Harding and Herbert Marshall is something to exploit in this production, with the added punch of a very unusual romantic interest. The two principals make a grand team, both delivering impressive performances marked by fine restraint and a quality of sincerity that gets you. Ann Harding is a medical specialist who takes charge of a young man's case and becomes so absorbed and interested in him that she finds herself emotionally attracted to him. Meanwhile she owes her allegiance to Herbert Marshall, another doctor and coworker. The youth falls desperately in love with her. Miss Harding's problem is to get her patient safely married to the young girl he is engaged to. But he comes back into her life, declaring that he cannot go on without her. This dilemma furnishes the crux of a very dramatic and emotional development before everything is satisfactorily straightened out. Finely acted and directed. Cast: Ann Harding, Herbert Marshall, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lcuis Hayward, Henry Stephenson, Margaret Seddon, George Hassell, I ley Malyon, Claudelle Kaye. Producer, Edmund Goulding; Director, same; Author, same; Editor, Blanche Sewell; Photographer, James Wong Howe. Direction, Excellent. Photography, Fine. A LITTLE from "LOTS" By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD "DOBERT HARRIS, who wrote V "The Werewolf of London," is also the author and producer of "Sing Me a Love Song," which was finished on the scheduled time at Universal, with Stuart Walker directing. ▼ T T Daniel B. Clark, ace cameraman, who handled the photography on "Ladies Love Danger," "Charlie Chan in Egypt" and "Angelino," is now doing the camera work on "The Lord's Referee," at Fox. T ▼ T Carl Laemmle, Jr., David 0. Selznick, Pandro Berman, Fredric March, King Vidor, Ralph Bellamy, Sam JafFee, Paul Lukas, Elliott Nugent, Warren Hymer, Solly Baiano, Gilbert Roland, Wells Root, Ainsworth Morgan, Mickey Rooney, Oliver H. P. Garrett, Gene Thackeray, Albert J. Cohen, Merritt Hurlburd, Edith Fitzgerald, Mrs. E. A. DuPont, Mrs. George Fitzmaurice, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Struss, Charles Farrell, Paul de Ricou, Larry Bachman, Ted von Eltz, Charles Butterworth, Mai'tin Cornica, Errol Flynn, John Krimsky are among the players in the tenth annual motion picture tennis tourna ment. Frank X. Shields, noted international player, is in the men's and mixed doubles, but not in singles. T t ▼ Our Passing Show: Constance Bennett, Harry Goetz, Craufurd Kent, Sidney Lanfield, E. A. DuPont, Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick Y. Smith, Geza Hereceg attending the motion picture tennis tournament at the Los Angeles club. T T T Jane Murfin, who has been writer and associate producer at RKO, is now under a long-term contract with Samuel Goldwyn. T T T Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell will be co-starred by Warners in "Gilt Edge Blondes," original by Hazel Dawn and Boyce Degaw. T T T Richard Wallace, back in Hollywood after a miraculous escape in a plane crash, is reading stories while convalescing. He hopes to resume work in a few days. Y ▼ Y Will Rogers' new Fox picture formerly called "Steamboat 'Round the Bend" is now titled "Steamboat Bill." "MURDER IN THE FLEET" with Robert Taylor, Jean Parker, Ted Healy Una Merkel, Nat Pendleton, Jean Hersholt Arthur Byron, Donald Cook M-G-M 70 mins NOVEL AND IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND FOR MURDER MYSTERY WITH CONSIDERABLE COMEDY TO HELP. There's plenty doing in this production and a big background in which to do it. Action and mystery are enjoyably balanced with comedy. Cast is strong, with Robert Taylor and Jean Parker making a neat love team as the young lieutenant and the gir who makes it difficult for him to choose between love and duty. Story is of the spy flavor and concerns mysterious tamperings with battleship machinery. There are the usual murders and suspects, with a cli max reached when the villain traps the hero and threatens to blow up the ship, but is licked in the fight. A comedy tri angle composed of Ted Healy, Una Merkel and Nat Pendleton results in quite a few laughs. All in all, picture has enough in it to please the pop audiences generally. Cast: Robert Taylor, Jean Parker, Ted Healy, Una Merkel, Nat Pendleton, Jean Hersholt, Arthur Byron, Frank Shields, Donald Cock, Mischa Auer, Mary Dcran, Tom Dugan, Tony Hughes, Raymond Hatton Ward Bend, Richard Leila Mclntyre, John Hyams Producer, Lucien Hubbard; Director, Edward Sedgwick; Author, same; Screenplay, Frank Wead, Joe Sherman; Cameraman, Milton Krasner; Editor, Conrad A. Nervig, Direction, Fine. Photography, A-l. SHORTS "Gypsy Night" M-G-M 18 mins. Good Musical in Color Photographed in Technicolor, this is a gay musical revue that will add a touch of distinction to any program, particularly in the top class houses. Cast includes good operatic talent, headed by Perry Askam, Joseph Mario, Ilia Khmara and Mary Jo Matthews, and the gypsy life background and various specialties give it both colorful atmosphere and entertainment value. Burton Lane and Harold Adamson did the pleasing musical interpolations, with Harold Secht and Joseph Bern directing. "Sunny Spain" Alliance Films 10 Symphonic Travelogue A combination of scenic sights and symphonic music, without the usual commentator's remarks, this is a well-photographed and always interesting travelogue of Spain. It runs from city views and fiesta demonsti'ations to the quiet and peaceful rural scenes. For those who like travel shorts but are averse to commentators, this is recommended. :1 New House for Tiffin, O Tiffin, 0. — Francis Reeth, circuit operator, has approved plans for a 800-seat house to be located opposite the Ritz.