The Film Daily (1934)

THE ■gfr* DAILY Saturday, Jan. 13, 1934 Francis Lederer and Elissa Landi in "MAN OF TWO WORLDS" with Henry Stephenson, J. Farrell MacDonald, Walter Byron RKO 92 mins. DISAPPOINTING VEHICLE FOR INTRODUCTION OF LEDERER WHO DISPLAYS FINE SCREEN PERSONALITY. Francis Lederer, foreign stage star who scored last season on Broadway, doesn't get a favorable screen sendoff in this Eskimo story, but he proves nevertheless that he is a personality with substantial cinema possibilities. Given the right character and setting, he will go places. In the present case he is obliged to wade through a rather strange concoction. As the most famous hunter in his arctic region, Francis is taken in hand by a noted British explorer who grants the boy's request to take him to the white man's country. Francis has seen a photo of the explorer's daughter, Elissa Landi, and is all worked up about her being his kindred spirit. When he arrives in London and meets Elissa, the Eskimo is rebuffed and disillusioned by the white girl, and eventually he returns to his own people. There are some bits of simple humor in the action, but the yarn as a whole doesn't register very strongly. Cast: Francis Lederer, Elissa Landi, Henry Stephenson, J. Farrell MacDonald, Walter Byron, Forrester Harvey, Ivan Simpson, Lumsden Hare, Steffi Duna, Sarah Padden, Christian Rub, Emil Chautard, Gertrude Wise. Director, J. Walter Ruben; Author, Ainsworth Morgan; Adaptors, Howard J. Green, Ainsworth Morgan; Cameraman, Henry W. Gerrard; Recording Engineer, George Tribby; Editor, Jack Hively. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. "WEST OF THE DIVIDE" with John Wayne, Virginia Brown Faire Monogram 54 mins. GREAT STUFF FOR WESTERN FANS WITH THRILLS GALORE AND SPEED FROM START TO FINISH. You'll go a long way before seeing a better western than this exciting film which is about the best yet turned out by Monogram. It is spotted with some ace riding, a couple of very real fist fights and some surprise thrills that are breath-taking. The story concerns Wayne, who as a cowhand, returns to the scenes of his boyhood after an absence of 12 years. He is set on discovering the murderer of his father and also in locating his little brother whom he has not seen since the killing. Wayne gets in with the gang that is out to steal a ranch and kidnap the rancher's daughter. Before the final pay-off when he saves the ranch, wins the girl and finds his brother, he battles his way through many barriers and provides a wealth of good snappy entertainment. George Hayes again comes in for mention for his characterization of Wayne's pal in good times and bad, and little Billy O'Brien is fine as the kid of the ranch house. Cast: John Wayne, Virginia Brown Faire, Lloyd Whitlock, George Hayes, Yakima Canutt, Billy O'Brien, Lafe McKee, Blackie Whiteford, Earl Dwire, Dick Dickinson. Director, R. N. Bradbury; Author, same; Dialoguer, same; Editor, Carl Pierson; Cameraman, Archie Stout; Recording Engineer, John Stransky, Jr. Direction, Swell. Photography, Excellent. "EASY TO LOVE" with Genevieve Tobin, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, Edward Everett Horton Warner Bros. 65 mins. SOPHISTICATED MARITAL COMEDY HELD UP CHIEFLY BY THE EARNEST WORK OF FINE CAST. Lacking anything of an unfamiliar or substantial nature in the way of plot, this rather unconventional comedy has to rely largely on its cast and direction, both of which happen to be very good. The sto^y is just one of those creampuff affairs. Adolphe Menjou, married to Genevieve Tobin, neglects her to share a love nest with Mary Astor. At the same time, a mutual friend, Edward Everett Horton, is making a play for the wife, but she wants only her husband. So she hires a detective to trail him, then crashes the love nest, makes some sharp thrusts at Mary, and follows it up by inviting her to dinner, where an all-around showdown takes place. When Adolphe suspects his wife is likely to run off with Ed he realizes that he wants his wife more than the other woman. The actual denouement and reconciliation is forced, however, by their daughter, Patricia Ellis, who threatens to live with her sweetheart sans benefit of a wedding unless the parents make up. Cast: Genevieve Tobin, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, Guy Kibbee, Edward Everett Horton, Patricia Ellis, Hugh Herbert, Robert Greig, Paul Kaye, Hcbart Cavanaugh, Harold Waldridge. Director, William Keighley; Author, Thompson Buchanan; Adaptors, Carl Erickson, Manuel Seff; Cameraman, Ernest Mailer; Editor, William Clemens. Direction, Lively. Photography, Fine. "EIGHT GIRLS IN A BOAT" with Dorothy Wilson, Douglass Montgomery, Kay Johnson, Walter Connolly Paramount 85 mins. WELL HANDLED STORY OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS WILL APPEAL BEST TO THE FEMININE CLIENTELE. Essentially a woman's story, because the dominating theme is the problem that engulfs a girl. Dorothy Wilson, who becomes an unwed mother while attending a Swiss finishing school, this production has been worked out in a sympathetic manner that should make it quite engrossing to men as well. It is basically a "study" of its kind, rather than being just entertainment, and audiences that can see it from this viewpoint will enjoy it most. Action shows how the school attempts to educate the young girls so as to fortify them against life, but when the girl gets into trouble her predicament overshadows all the studies, sports, gayeties, etc. The chap in the case, a student not in a position to marry unless he sacrifices his career, is admirably portrayed by Douglass Montgomery. Richard Wallace's direction has genuine feeling in it. Cast: Dorothy Wilson, Douglass Montgomery, Kay Johnson, Barbara Barondess, Ferike Boros, Walter Connolly, James Bush, Colin Campbell, Peggy Montgomery, Margaret Marquis, Marjorie Cavalier, Virginia Hall, Kay Hammond. Director, Richard Wallace; Author, Helmut Brandis; Adaptors, Lewis Foster, Casey Robinson; Cameraman, Gilbert Warren ton. Direction, Fine Photography, A-l. SHORT SUBJECT REVIEWS Tom Terriss in "Quest of the Perfect Woman" Hammer Pictures 10 mins. Unusual and Swell Tom Terriss, long identified as the vagabond adventurer and director, has hit upon a different and dandy idea in this new series. It is not a travelogue, but rather a "romantic quest" from place to place in search of "the perfect woman." The subjects have a sort of "short story" in them, acted in the actual foreign surroundings, and the usual offstage narrative is replaced by dialogue between Terriss and his aides. The first two in the series are "The Vampire of Marrakesh," showing Terriss in a spicy incident with a Moroccan beauty in a Sultan's palace, and "The Veiled Dancer of Eloued," in which Terriss trails another dusky charmer whom he first glimpsed dancing in the streets. The subjects havei story interest, natural scenic interest, a dash of piquant sex that is handled with good taste and yet has a kick in it, nice musical accompaniment and even an occasional comedy touch. They ought to go over fine. Roy Turk in "Song Hits" Vitaphone 11 mins. Pleasing A sort of song-o-logue bringing in various numbers written by Roy Turk. Scene is Turk's offices in his publishing house. A girl comes in and wishes to be shown the course followed by a song from the time it is submitted until it becomes a hit. So Turk shows her around, with a vocalist interpolating bits from various of his hits. "Buddy's Show Boat" (Merrie Melody) Vitaphone 7 mins. Good Buddy and his sweetie have a showboat and stop along the river to give a performance. Fii \st comes the street parade, then the show aboard the boat, where a rough deckhand villain does some dirt to the girl but is promptly squelched by a walrus. Action is lively and there is a tuneful accompaniment. Hal Le Roy in "Picture Palace" Vitaphone 17 mins. Okay Dancing occupied a good deal of the footage in this Broadway Brevity. Hal Le Roy, an usher, meets a girl, a member of the chorus in the same theater, each thinking the other is a somebody. When they come face to face in the theater, they forget their work and are fired. So they frame a dancing act together, become a big hit, and return to the theater to show the hardhearted manager. "I WAS A SPY" with Madeleine Carroll, Herbert Marshall Conrad Veidt, Gerald Du Maurier Fox-Gaumont-British 85 mins. SUSPENSEFUL SPY DRAMA ENHANCED BY FINE PERFORMANCES AND SMOOTHRUNNING ACTION. This one belongs to the better grade of English pictures as far as international appeal is concerned. Though it never works up to any great dramatic highlights, the story is consistently interesting and maintains a nice level of suspense. The fine work of an expert cast, plus intelligently restrained direction, are helpful factors to this end. Story revolves around Madeleine Carroll, a Belgian girl whom the invading Germans induct into service as a nurse and who turns spy against them. Herbert Marshall, a doctor, is one of her confederates. To gain certain information, Madeleine submits to the advances of Conrad Veidt, German commandant, who subsequently detects the girl's activities and demands the customary death sentence. Marshall comes forth and claims the blame in order to save Madeleine from the firing squad. Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Herbert Marshall, Conrad Veidt, Gerald Du Maurier, Edmund Gwenn, Donald Calthrop, Eva Moore, Nigel Bruce, May Agate, Martita Hunt, George Merritt, Anthony Bushell. Director, Victor Saville; Author, Martha McKenna; Adaptor, W. P. Lipscomb; Additional Dialogue, Ian Hay; Cameraman, C Van Enger; Recording Engineer, William Salter. Direction, Smooth Photography, Fine. gi HOLLYWOOD PLAZA MOST CONVENIENT Hotel in Hollywood $2. SO up, Single $3.00 up. Double Special weekly and monthly rates The Plaza is near everything to see and do in Hollywood. Ideal for business or pleasure. Every room has private dressing room, bath and shower. Beds "built for rest." Every modern convenience. Fine foods at reasonable prices. Convenient parking for your car. Chas. Danziger, Mgr. Eugene Stem, Pres. The "Doorway of Hospitality" Vine at Hollywood Blvd. HOLLYWOOD i_