The Film Daily (1935)

THE Wednesday, Jan. 9, 1935 -awn DAILY 11 » » REVIEWS of the NEW FEATURES « « « 10GRAPHY OF A BACHELOR GIRL" with Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery M-G-M 82 mins. SPLENDID ADAPTATION OF PLAY WILL PLEASE CLASS AUDIENCES. HARDING-MONTGOMERY FINE TEAM. The adaptation of S. N. Behrman's play, "Biography," is essentially a conversation piece, but such brilliant and witty conversation that one forgets there is very little actual "motion picture" being presented. Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery do splendidly as a team, and both have caught the feel of the playwright's thought and translated it perfectly to the screen. It is essentially a class picture, and it is problematical just how far the mob will go for it, for much of the dialogue is subtle, and that goes also for the general trend of the theme. Ann Harding appears as a glamorous lady noted for her paintings of Continental celebrities and her amorous reputation, the latter very much exaggerated. Montgomery as a magazine editor seeking her biography to publish, falls in love with her in spite of his antagonistic attitude to her. It is all very clever, smart and "grown-up" entertainment— and very feminine in its appeal. Cast: Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery, Edward Everett Horton, Edward Arnold, Una Merkel, Charles Richman, Greta Meyer, Willard Robertson, Donald Meek. Director, Edward H. Griffith; Author, S. N. Behrman; Screenplay, Anita Locs; Editor, William S. Gray; Cameraman, James Wong Howe. Direction, Excellent. Photography, The best. HOLLYWOOD ig PLAZA MOST CONVENIENT Hotel in Hollywood $2.50 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 Stern, Pres. The "Doorway of Hospitality" Vine at Hollywood Blvd. HOLLYWOOD May Robson in "GRAND OLD GIRL" with Mary Carlisle, Alan Hale, Fred MacMurray RKO Radio 72 mins. NEAT LITTLE HUMAN INTEREST STORY FOR FAMILY TRADE WITH MAY ROBSON IN IDEAL ROLE AS A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. There Is special exploitation value in this production in that it is a natural for endorsement and support from schools and civic groups. Story itself is a generally pleasing comedy drama, with plenty of heart interest touches, about a faithful old school principal, played in fine style by May Robson, who takes the personal interests of her pupils to heart and fights to protect them from undesirable temptations. Though frustrated at first in her efforts, resulting in the loss of her job when a brawl breaks out in a social parlor, opened by her in opposition to a shady rendezvous, she finally rides to victory in a good old tear-jerking climax as the President of the U. S., her former pupil, revisits his old schoolroom just as she is bidding it a lone farewell. A bit of agreeable love interest is provided by Mary Carlisle, as the spoiled daughter of the town millionaire, and Fred MacMurray, a truck driver. Alan Hale registers as the proprietor of the shady joint. Cast: May Robson, Mary Carlisle, Alan Hale, Fred MacMurray, Etienne Girardot, William Burress, Hale Hamilton, Edward Van Sloan, Fred Kohler, Jr., Onest Conley, Ben Alexander, George Offerman Jr., Gavin Gordon. Director, John Robertson; Author, Wanda Tuchock; Screenplay, Milton Krims, John Twist, Arthur T. Horman; Cameraman, Lucien Androit; Recording Engineer, D. A Cutler; Editor, George Crone. Direction, First-rate Photography, A-l "MILLS OF THE GODS" with May Robson, Fay Wray, Victor Jory Columbia 67 mins. BUSINESS DRAMA GIVING MAY ROBSON A FAMILIAR ROLE AND RESULTING IN MILD ENTERTAINMENT. May Robson plays another of her big business parts in this production, but neither the story nor the character of her role have enough in them to provide more than so-so entertainment. This coupled with a deficiency in the romantic end give the picture something of a handicap as far as general appeal is concerned, although the May Robson fans will get a measure of enjoyment out of it. As the head of a large industrial plant, May gives over the reins to a group of directors when she sees that the various members of her family have no interest in the business bur prefer the life of the idle rich. The depression comes along and money is needed to keep the factory going, so May appeals to the family to lend her some of their trust funds, but they turn her down. Labor trouble breaks out in the plant, and a leader of the workmen, Victor Jory, has an affair with Fay Wray, May's granddaughter,, and a young brother is killed by cops in the iabor mixup. In the finale. May gets the needed money and Fay decides to stick with her. Cast: May Robson, Fay Wray, Victor Jory, Raymond Walburn, James Blakely, Josephine Whitell, Mayo Methot, Albert Conti, Samuel S. Hinds, Willard Robertson, Edward Van Sloan, Frank Reicher, Frederick Vogeding, Edward Keane. Director, Roy W Neill; Authors, Melville Baker, John S. Kirkland; Screenplay, Garrett Fort; Cameraman, Allen Siegler; Recording Engineer, Edward L. Bernds; Editor, Jack Rawlins. Direction, Handicapped Photography, Good. "NO RANSOM" with Leila Hyams, Phillips Holmes, Jack LaRue Liberty 78 mins. FAIR KIDNAPPING YARN WITH COMEDY TOUCHES AND SOME ROMANCE SUITABLE FOR THE POP HOUSES. This Damon Runyon comedy story idea, with a typical Runyon angle, comes out on the screen as a moderately entertaining affair. The plot revolves around a harrassed head of a family, fittingly played by Robert McWade, who is so fed up with the irritating behavior of his family, including his wife and two grown up children, that he offers to pay a wad of dough to have himself snuffed out. Jack LaRue, a gangster, comes along to take up the offer, but he happens to take a fancy to McWade's daughter, Leila Hyams. He has him hidden away and tells his family he has been kidnaped. McWade regains his health, relieves LaRue of the murder assignment and persuades him to give up Leila. Cast: Leila Hyams, Phillips Holmes, Jack LaRue, Robert McWade, Hedda Hopper, Vince Barnett, Eddie Nugent, Carl Miller, Irving Baker, Christian Rub, Garry Owen, Fritzi Ridgeway, Mary Fey and Arthur Hoyt. Director, Fred Newmeyer; Author, Damon Runyon; Screenplay, Albert DeMond. Cameraman, Harry Neuman; Recording Engineer, R. E. Tyler; Editor, Mildred Johnston. Direction, Fair. Photography, Good. "CALLING ALL CARS" with Jack La Rue, Lillian Miles Mayfair 60 mins. SPEEDY AND UPROARIOUS GANGSTER AND REPORTER STORY THAT WILL PLEASE FANS AT LARGE. Plenty of nerve tension and genuine amusement in this one. Has everything but the names, starting with the first frame, a breath-taking automobile chase, and winding up with a swell action finish. LaRue as a police reporter bets his colleagues he'll get further than first base with a girl who fascinates him. As the story unravels, the girl turns out to be the moll of Costello the big racketeer and LaRue thinks she's too nice for that. She gets arrested for a mix-up with a motor cop in a fast bit of auto driving and quite unwittingly LaRue is shoved into marrying her to satisfy the judge's passion for publicity during election. Turns out that the moll has been sacrificing her honor to get the goods on Costello for killing her father. Gang is captured in a battle aboard a dingey tramp steamer. Cast: Jack LaRue, Lillian Miles, Jack Morton, Harry Holman, Eddie Featherstone. Director, Spencer G. Bennet; Author, Homer K. Gordon; Cameraman, James Brown, Jr.; Editor, Fred Bain. Direction, Fast Photography, Good PICKS RCA VICTOR PHOTOPHONE High fidelity Sound * * * The sound installation at the Roxy-Mastbaum, Philadelphia's largest theatre (now under the personal supervision of Roxy) is one of the biggest in the world. * * * Roxy's choice shows that RCA Victor High Fidelity Motion Picture and sound reenforcing equipment meet the most exacting requirements. * * * Hundreds of other large and small installations all over the country are proof that RCA Victor Photophone High Fidelity means unfailing sound satisfaction and increased box office. RC0 VICTOR Camden, CN. J. RCA Victor, one unit of Radio Corporation of America... The World's Largest Radio Organization. Other units: National Broadcasting Co., Inc. . . . R. C. A. Communications, Inc. . . . RCA Radiotron . . . 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