The Film Daily (1935)

.1935 ri ^ereeno w five 10. In. ena. D, «r the it, op "rS'-'i Eonrille n over toJ.F, na exirmerly THE Wednesday, June 26, 1935 1EVIEWS of the NEW FILMS sales Dave Dinty t W. retail y the irhich tents tomade effec .' ' to :ture, *SANDERS OF THE RIVER" with Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks, Nina Mae McKinney United Artists-London Film 95 mins. GOOD MELODRAMA OF AFRICAN TRIBAL WARFARE ALONG SPECTACU LAR LINES. As a bit of something different in the way of screen entertainment, this fills the bill. Filmed largely in Africa with colorful native tribes and local background action, it depicts the efforts of the British commissioner Sanders, played by Leslie Banks, to keep peace in the face of hostilities by an old native ruler who resents the law of the white man. Paul Robeson, as one of the faithful chiefs under Sanders, goes alone into the hostile ruler's camp after the latter has kidnapped Robeson's wife, Nina Mae McKinney. Just as the couple is about to be put to death, Sanders arrives with men and ammunition, the trouble-making king is killed and Robeson is made the big shot over the natives. An impressive performance, including some vocal work, is given by Robeson. Banks also does a fine job, and the production in general shows able showmanship. Cast: Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks, Nina Mae McKinney, Robert Cochrane, Martin Walker, Richard Grey, Tony Wane, Marquis de Portago, Eric Maturin, Allan Jeayes, Charles Carson. Producer, Alexander Korda; Director, Zoltan Korda; Author, Edgar Wallace; Screenplay, Lajos Biro, Jeffrey Dell; Cameramen, Georges Perinal, Osmond Borradaile, Louis Page, Bernard Browne; Editor, Charles Crichton. Direction, Excellent. Photography, Fine. "HER SONG OF LOVE" with Derek Oldham and Vesta Victoria Dr. Riesenfeld 85 mins. PLEASANT ROMANCE WITH MUSIC IS SLOW IN TEMPO BUT AGREEABLY WORKED OUT. This picture boasts some unusually fine singing by Derek Oldham and Jean Adrienne, it is very well-acted for the most part and suffers only from being somewhat familiar in theme and a bit slow, and heavy-handed in development. Story concerns Derek Oldham betrothed since childhood to Jean Adrienne, who falls in love with Ronald Ward, Oldham's best friend. Ward, who had saved Oldham's life during the war, flees from Italy where they all were studying music, when Jean shows her love for him. Jean puts off her marriage to Oldham for a year, saying she wants to try a career as a singer, and that she will give him an answer at that time. Ward becomes engaged to another girl. At the end of the year, Jean, Oldham and Ward meet in London. Jean and Ward decide they must wed come what may. Oldham almost shoots Ward, thinking he has fooled him. A number of songs are appropriately interwoven and there is one number featuring Vesta Victoria. Cast: Derek Oldham, Vesta Victoria, Jean Adrienne, Ronald Ward, Marjorie Ccrbett, Margaret Yarde, Evelyn Roberts, Dino Galvani, Dorothy Buller and Ian Wilson. Director, Harry Hughes; Authors, Harry and Edith Hughes; Cameraman, Walter Harvey; Film Editor, Sam Simmonds. Direction, Good Photography, Okay. A LITTLE from "LOTS" By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD WTLLIAM A. SETTER, who recently finished directing "Orchids to You" for Fox, has been signed by the company to direct four films during the coming year. T T T W. C. Fields, who has been advised by doctors to take a year's rest, has informed the Paramount studios that he will be back on the job in about three months. His illness started when he contracted influenza while playing golf in the rain recently. r T T Jack McGowan, playwright, has joined the Fox scenario staff. His first assignment for the company will be an original story which B G. DeSylva will produce. r ▼ ▼ Karl Freund, M-G-M director, has received a cabled offer to direct Maurice Chevalier in a picture for Toeplitz Productions in England. Because of further contractual relations at the Culver City studio, where he has just finished the Peter /^^rre picture, Freund has tempo «ly deferred a decision on the vinevalier offer. T T T Fox has assigned Fay Wray and Louise Henry to the cast of "Hard to Get," with Warner Baxter; Ben Lyon to "Beauty's Daughter"; Clem Bevans to "Way Down East"; Adele St. Maur to "The Gay Deception"; Thomas Beck to "Ball of Frie"; Charles Locher to "Charlie Chan in Shanghai" and Ralf Harolde to "Meal Ticket." T T T RKO Radio Pictures has purchased "The Green Shadow", mystery tale. The author, James Edward Grant, has been signed to a writing contract. Pandro S. Berman will produce the film. r T T John Mercer and Matt Malneck, authors of "Pardon My Southern Accent" and other song hits, are writing the lyrics and melodies, respectively, for "To Beat The Band," new RKO Radio musical picture soon to go into production. ▼ ▼ ▼ Frieda Inescourt has been signed by Samuel Goldwyn for a leading role in "The Dark Angel." Miss Inescourt, a Broadway stage star, makes her screen debut in this U. A. release. t v T Hermes Pan, RKO Radio dance director, leaves Hollywood this week for a vacation that will take him first to Memphis, Tennessee, and then on a tour of rural Dixie, in search of dance ideas. DAILV It's Big It's Timely It's Important It's Used By All Executives 1935 FILM DAILY Production Guide Now In Work ^ ^> ^ <&> Out In July