The Film Daily (1935)

Saturday, Jan. 12, 1935 DAILY * « REVIEWS of the NEW FEATURE FILMS « « "LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER" t with Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Sir Guy Standing, Richard Cromwell, C. Aubrey Smith, Monte Blue, Kathleen Burke Paramount 109 mins. SUPERB ENTERTAINMENT COMBINING ARABIAN NIGHTS GLAMOR WITH SUSPENSE, THRILLS, COMEDY AND HEART INTEREST. Not since "Beau Geste" has there been |; a picture along similar lines that registers as high as this one in unusual entertainment values. It is an ace job in so many respects, from writing and acting to direction and technical details, that there isn't space here to bestow enough bouquets. Dealing with British soldier life in India, it is not only fascinating, but replete with natural comedy, while from a dramatic standpoint it holds a strong grip throughout. I Gary Cooper is at his best as an officer ; who likes action and has a protective interest in Richard Cromwell, younger officer and son of Sir Guy Standing, the strict commanding officer who suppresses all •. sentiment in the interests of the service. Franchot Tone, as Gary's companion offiI cer and friendly enemy, puts over the comedy lines with precision, and together they I save Richard from disgrace when he is capI tured by a bandit chieftain and made to | talk, with Gary losing his life in the heroic finale. Sir Guy Standing gives a grand peri formance as the commander, and there is ( fine work by C. Aubrey Smith, Monte Blue and others. Cast: Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Richard Cromwell, Sir Guy Standing, C. Aubrey Smith, Monte Blue, Kathleen Burke, Colin Tapley, Douglas Dumbrille, Akim Tamircff, Jameson Thomas, Noble Johnson, Lumsden Hare, J. Carrol Naish, Rollo Lloyd, Charles Stevens, Mischa Auer, Myra Kinch. Director, Henry Hathaway; Author, Francis Yeats-Brown; Screenplay, Waldemar Young, John L. Balderstcn, Achmed Abdullah, Grover Jones, William Slavens McNutt, Cameraman, Charles Lang; Editor, Ellsworth Hoagland. Direction, Aces Photography, Best. SHORTS "Old Faithful Speaks" (Thrilling Journeys Series) Audio 10 mins. Real Novelty The first of a series of novelty shorts. It is a journey through Yellowstone National Park, concerning itself particularly with the geyser and hot springs phenomena of this territory. A very interesting narration accompanies the jaunt of a small groups as they survey the natural wonders. It builds up to a really sensational kick at the finish, when the famous geyser, Old Faithful, that throws its torrent of boiling water aloft every 62 seconds by yo_ur watch, is caught in one of its I i^duled "shows." The full power \ JpRie sound amplifier is tuned on, and you get the tremendous roar of the geyser in all its naturalness as if you were standing right there with the spectators. This reel is presented with fine showmanship. Produced by Lorenzo Del Riccio. Photographed by Leo Lipp. THE UNFINISHED SYMPHONY" Gaumont British 84 mins. ROMANTIC DRAMA OF THE GREAT COMPOSER, FRANZ SCHUBERT, FINELY PRESENTED WITH HIS CLASSIC MELODIES. There is a quality of the old-world Vienna of Franz Schubert's time that has been skillfully caught up and transferred to the screen with all its stately courtesy, gentleness and sentiment. So the action moves along in this leisurely tempo, and is very soothing in contrast to the average hectic Hollywood film. The highlights of the great composer's career are presented, climaxing with his presentation of the "Unfinished Symphony" as a wedding gift to Caroline, daughter of his onetime patron, Count Esterhazy. As Caroline, Marta Eggerth, a German fraulein, is exquisite. She has a charming personality, photographs like a million, and the girl can sing. A grand lyric soprano. She gives the film its verve and color, with her vivacious personality lighting up the rather sombre characterization of Hans Jaray as Franz Schubert. The best of the Schubert compositions are presented by the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Chorus very admirably. Cast: Ronald Squire, Marta Eggerth, Beryl Laverick, Brember Wills, Hermine Sterler, Cecil Humphreys, Paul Wagner, Elliot Makeham, Helen Chandler, Hans Jaray, Esma Percy, Frieda Richard. Director, Willy Forst; Author, Walter Reisch; Screenplay, Benn Levy; Cameraman, Franz Planer. Direction, Good. Photography, The best. "THE WHITE COCKATOO" with Jean Muir and Ricardo Cortez Warner Bros. 73 mins. SUSPENSEFUL MELODRAMA ABOUT CROOKS AFTER GIRL'S FORTUNE SHOULD SATISFY THE MURDER AND MYSTERY FANS. Folks who go for the mystery melodrama involving menace, murder, harrowing suspense and a sprinkling of comedy and romance ought to be pretty well satisfied with the collection of ingredients served in this one. Action deals with an American girl, played by Jean Muir, who has been left a fortune in conjunction with her brother, each of them holding half of a document that is to be combined for identification. In an eerie French hotel things begin to happen to Jean, with a couple of crook gangs attempting to get the valuable paper she holds. Ricardo Cortez, an American engineer, sets out to protect her, and with the aid of a white cockatoo, which pecks into people's pockets in search of things to eat, eventually unravels the various perplexing events which include the usual quota of unexplained murders, including that of Jean's brother, and so to the happy fadeout. Comedy is provided mainly by Ruth Donnelly, as a nosey schoolmarm who gets herself entangled in the doings. Cast: Jean Muir, Ricardo Cortez, Ruth Donnelly, Minna Gombell, Walter Kingsford, John Eldredge, Gordon Westcott, Addison Richard, Pauline Garon, Armand de Bordes, Bentley Hewlett, Andre Chercn, Georges Renavent, Noel Francis. Director, Alan Crosland; Author, Mignon G. Eberhart; Screenplay, Ben Markson, Lillie Hayward; Cameraman, Tony Gaudio; Editor, Clarence Kolsler. Direction, Effective. Photography, A-l. Conrad Veidt in "THE WANDERING JEW" Olympic Pictures 82 mins. IMPRESSIVE PRODUCTION OF CLASSIC WITH CONRAD VEIDT GIVING AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. This British production from the Twickenham studios has been very sumptuously produced, with painstaking care to historical incident, and the settings and costumes show the care and lavish expenditure of money to make this production impressive. It follows the four episodes of the stage play: Jerusalem on the day of the Crucifixion; Antioch in the time of the first Crusade; Palermo, Sicily, in 1920, and Seville in 1560 during the days of the Inquisition. Conrad Veidt is superb throughout his difficult role, and delivers one of the really outstanding performances of the screen. The producers deserve high praise for handling a difficult subject with reverence, artistry, and close adherence to the original work. The characters in the I four episodes are all different, so that four separate casts are presented, and ths players deliver unusual performances throughout. But Veidt easily dominates with his brilliant and powerful interpretation of the Wandering Jew. Cast: Conrad Veidt, Marie Ney, Cicely Oates, Basil Gill, Anne Grey, Bertram Wallis, Hector Abbas, Dennis Hoey, Jack Live sely, Takase, Jean Maude, John Stuart, Arnold Lucy, Peggy Ashcroft, Frances L. Sullivan, Felix Aylmer, Ivor Barnhard, Abraham Sofaer, Stafford Hilliard, Robert Gilbert, Conway Dixon. Director, Maurice Elvey; Author, E. Temple Thurston; Screenplay, E. Temple Thurston, H. Fowler Mear; Musical Setting, Hugo Riesenfeld. Direction, Excellent Photography, Fine "ENTER MADAME" with Elissa Landi and Cary Grant Paramount 83 mins. FAIRLY GOOD ADULT FARE WITH GOOD CAST AND PRODUCTION GIVING VALUES TO OLD DOMESTIC PLAY. This talker version of the old stage hit and former silent film rides along generously well with the advantages given it in the form of an able cast, intelligent direction and unstinting attention to production details. Taking these things together, the story is brought more or less up to date and should find a certain amount of appreciation among the grownups. Elissa Landi does very well in the role of the operatic star who marries a rich lad, nicely played by Cary Grant, only to lose him when he tires of trailing her around in the theater. Cary takes up with another girl, Sharon Lynne, but Elissa eventually returns and is reunited with him. The action calls for the injection of some opera bits. Cast: Elissa Landi, Cary Grant, Lynne Overman, Sharon Lynne, Frank Albertson, Cecilia Parker, Wilfred Hari, Michelette Burani, Paul Porcasi, Adrian Rosley, Torben Meyer, Harold Berquist, Wallis Clark, Fred Malatesta, Tony Merlo, Dick Kline, Gino Corrado, Diana Lewis, Frank G. Dunn, Matt McHugh, Mildred Boothe, Jack Byron, Richard Bonelli, Bud Galea. Director, Elliott Nugent; Authors, Gilda Varesi, Dorothea Donn-Byrne; Screenplay, Charles Brackett, Gladys Lehman; Cameraman, Theodor Sparkuhl. Editor, Hugh Bennett. Direction, Good. Photography, A-l. Ramon Novarro and Evelyn Laye in "THE NIGHT IS YOUNG" with Edward Everett Horton, Una Merkel, Charles Butterworth M-G-M 78 mins. GOOD CAST, TUNEFUL MUSIC AND RICH SETTINGS CAN'T OVERCOME SLIM STORY OF FAMILIAR PRINCE AND SHOWGIRL ROMANCE. Marquee value of Ramon Novarro and the several other popular members of the cast will have to be depended upon to a great extent to satisfy the customers who come to see this one. The production itself, from a story standpoint, is too lightweight and artificial, though it gets some help from the good music and royal backgrounds in addition to the work of the stars and a little comedy provided by the old reliables, Ed Horton, Una Merkel and Charles Butterworth. Plot is the wellknown business about a prince whose marriage to an unattractive girl has been: arranged for him, but who balks at the idea ! and stalls off the wedding. Direction, Smooth. Photography, Fine. around with a dancer, Evelyn Laye, who Cast: Ramon Novarro, Evelyn Laye, Charles Butterworth, Una Merkel, Edward Everett Horton, Donald Cook, Henry Stephenson, Rosalind Russell, Herman Bing, Charles Judels, Albert Conti. Director, Dudley Murphy; Author, Vicki Baum; Screenplay, Edgar Allan Wcolf, Franz Schulz; Libretto, Oscar Hammerstein, :l, Music, Sigmund Romberg; Cameraman, J^mes Wong Howe; Editor, Conrad A Nervig. 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 every' thing 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 Blva. HOLLYWOOD ,u