The Film Daily (1939)

10 'dtes Thursday, July 6, 193 \ v R6VI6UIS Of TH€ nCUJ FILfllS -V A 'Stronger Than Desire" M-G-M 80 Mins. REMAKE OF OLD PLAY "EVELYN PRENTICE" JUST FAIR ENTERTAINMENT. This is a remake of "Evelyn Prentice" produced five years ago. It has not improved with age, for even five years ago this plot was old and worn. It is the drama of the wife who started to stray because she was lonesome, and when the cad held her up in a blackmailing way for her foolish but innocent letters, she kills him. That is, she thinks she has killed him but it turns out as a last minute surprise in the court trail scene that another woman came along right after she left the blackmailer, and fired the shot that took the scoundrel out of the world where he couldn't blackmail any more foolish wives whose husbands had money. Virginia Bruce is charming as the wife, and she wears beautiful gowns and makes her hackneyed role sound almost believable. Walter Pidgeon as her husband who is also the great trial lawyer who is defending the other woman as the murderer learns that it is his wife who fired the first shot, and has to readjust his tactics quickly to the surprising development. But the wife insists on admitting her guilt, and then her husband cleverly shows through the testimony of the dead man's wife that she fired a second shot that did the trick. It is all pretty stilted murder plot of the old days that will be hard to register with modern audiences. Pidgeon gives a sincere and natural performance, and Lee Bowman as the woman-chaser is excellent. CAST: Virginia Bruce, Walter Pidgeon, Lee Bowman, Ann Dvorak, Ilka Chase, Rita Johnson, Richard Lane, Ann Todd, Paul Stanton, Ferike Boros. CREDITS: Producer, John W. Considine, Jr.; Director, Leslie Fenton; Author, W. E. Woodward; Screenplay, David Hertz, William Ludwig; Cameraman, William Daniels; Editor, W. Don Hayes. DIRECTION, Fair. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Life to Build Another Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A new 1,000-seat film house to be constructed by the Life Amusement Co. at Naylor Road, Good Hope Road and 25th St. S.E., it is announced by C. H. Olive, who recently disclosed plans for a new theater for Massachusetts Ave. Company operates the Atlas. Kaplan Sells Two Cleveland — Meyer Kaplan has sold his Savoy and Superior Theaters, this city, to Ben Cohen of Pittsburgh. Kaplan will continue to buy and book for the houses and he retains ownership of the Crown. Commercial Pix In Spurt Detroit — Production in local commercial studios has taken a decided spurt. All three studios — Jam Handy, Industrial Pictures, and Wilding Picture Productions, are busy shooting. "Bulldog Drummond's Bride" with John Howard, Heather Angel, H. B. Warner Paramount 55 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) PLEASING ADDITION TO THE BULLDOG DRUMMOND SERIES SHOULD DO OKAY AT B.O. Another of the "Bulldog Drummond" series with Drummond getting the menace in the end. The production by Stuart Walker and direction by James Hogan were handled with good judgment. John Howard (Capt. Hugh C. Drummond) gives his usual smooth performance, as do Heather Angel as Phyllis Clavering, H. B. Warner as Colonel Nielson, Reginald Denny as Algy Longworth, E. E. Clive as Tenny, Eduardo Ciannelli, a new member in the series, does a fine acting job as the menace. Others in the cast who do nice work are Elizabeth Patterson, Gerald Hamer, John Sutton, Neil Fitzgerald, Louis Mercier, Adia Kuznetzoff and Adrienne D'Ambricourt. The screenplay by Stuart Palmer and Garnett Weston, based on "Bulldog Drummond and the Oriental Mind," by H. C. (Sapper) McNeile, was handled in a good manner. Edwards blows up a bank in broad daylight and gets away with £10,000. He, with his aide, Gerald Hamer, hide the money in a radio and as it would happen, the radio is in the new apartment of Heather and Howard, who are to be married. A number of events take place, some with slapstick comedy that lead up to the capture of Eduardo, and in the end, the marriage of Heather and Howard. CAST: John Howard, Heather Angel, H. B. Warner, Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive, Elizabeth Patterson, Eduardo Ciannelli, Gerald Hamer, John Sutton, Neil Fitzgerald, Louis Mercier, Adia Kuznetzoff, Adrienne D'Ambricourt. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Stuart Walker; Director, James Hogan; Based on "Bulldog Drummond and the Oriental Mind," by H. C. (Sapper) McNeile; Screenplay, Stuart Palmer, Garnett Weston; Cameraman, Harry Fischbeck, ASC; Art Directors, Hans Dreier, Franz Bachelin; Editor, Chandler House. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Tex Fletcher In P. A.'s New Haven — Loew's, Inc., have booked Tex Fletcher in personal appearances at the Poli, Waterbury; Plaza, Worcester; Palace, Meriden; Bijou, New Haven, and Globe, Bridgeport, beginning Tuesday in conjunction with the playing of Grand National's "Six-Gun Rhythm." Great States Closes Two Chicago — The Belasco Theater at Quincy, the Rialto at Waukegan and the Fox Theater at Aurora have been closed for the Summer season, by the Great States circuit. Warner Shutters One Mansfield, O. — The Majestic, one of three theaters operated here by Warners has been shuttered for the "The Forgotten Woman" with Sigrid Gurie, William Lundigan, Eve Arden Universal 63 Mins. (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) TEAR-JERKER WITH SIGRID GURIE IN HEAVY DRAMATIC ROLE SHOULD PLEASE FEMMES. A tear-jerker which gives Sigrid Gurie a chance to do some heavy dramatic work. This picture produced by Edmund Grainger and directed by Harold Young should please the feminine audience. Young has handled the offering in a very convincing manner. The screenplay, by Lionel Houser and Harold Buchman, was based on an original story by John Kobler. A young couple, Sigrid Gurie, and her husband, William Lundigan, advertise for another couple to share expenses to go to Florida. The ad is answered by two gangsters unknown to the couple. The gangsters hold up a warehouse and in the forced escape, Lundigan, an innocent victim, is killed in an auto crash. The gangsters make their getaway, but Sigrid is captured and held as an accomplice. Her story seems very fantastic and she is convicted by the district attorney, Donald Briggs, on circumstantial evidence. Her child is born in prison. One of the gangsters is slain and before he dies he makes a confession to the district attorney's aide. When Briggs finds out about the injustice to Sigrid, he goes to the orphanage in which the child has been placed and adopts the youngster. The child is injured in an accident, and Sigrid and Briggs discover that they are in love with each other. Eve Arden, Eizabeth Risdon, Paul Harvey and Ray Walker are among the supporting cast who do nice work. The photography by Stanley Cortez is high-grade, and the sets by Jack Otterson are worthy of mention. CAST: Sigrid Gurie, William Lundigan, Eve Arden, Donald Briggs, Donnie Dunagan, Elizabeth Risdon, Paul Harvey, Ray Walker, Virginia Brissac, Joseph Downing, Norman Willis, George Walcott. CREDITS: Associate Producer, Edmund Grainger; Director, Harold Young; Author, John Kobler; Screenplay, Lionel Houser and Harold Buchman; Cameraman, Stanley Cortez; Art Director, Jack Otterson; Associate, John Ewing; Editor, Charles Maynard; Musical Director, Charles Previn. DIRECTION, Convincing. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Televisuals Registered Audio Productions, Inc., has registered the trade-name Televisuals to describe a new series of commercial motion pictures now being made for television purposes through arrangement with the American Television Corp. Schlenger Funeral Held Newark, N. J. — Funeral services were held Tuesday for Sigmund Schlenger, 66, who for many years operated movie houses here. Death, which occurred July 2, was caused by pneumonia. He leaves his wife, a son and four daughters. "Stunt Pilot" with John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone Monogram f'^Min (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW ta ! SECOND "TAILSPIN TOMMY" SHOULt DO WELL IN HOUSES CATERING TO AC TION FANS. "Stunt Pilot," the second in the series of "Tailspin Tommy" series which Paul Malvern is producing for Monogram, should do well in the houses that play to the audiences that like action. It has sufficient amount of thrills and action, and the suspense is maintained throughout by director, George Waggner. Scott Darling and Joseph West wrote the screenplay based on the comic strip "Tailspin Tommy." The photography by Fred Jackman, Jr., is very effective. John Trent has a likeable personality and his portrayal of Tailspin Tommy is convincing. The story deals with the trials of John Trent, a stunt pilot, when a moving picture company uses the airport for the filming of a picture. George Meeker, a stunt pilot, is murdered in the air by someone who replaces the blanks in the machine gun with real bullets. Trent is suspected of the murder, because of a fight he had with the victim. Buddy Cox, the youngster, unknowingly photographed the murderer in the act of placing the real bullets in the gun, and these pictures prove the innocence of Trent. Pat O'Malley, the director, is found to be the murderer. He sought to get revenge on Meeker, because he stole the affections of his wife and then deserted her. Marjorie Reynolds is decorative as the sweetheart of Trent, employed as a hostess, Buddy Cox, as the youngster, turns in a good performance while Milburn Stone, Jason Robards, Wesley Barry, George Cleveland, Mary Fields and Charles Morton turn in capable performances in supporting roles. Paul Malvern did a noteworthy job as the producer of the picture. CAST: John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards, Pat O'Malley, George Meeker, Wesley Barry, George Cleveland, Johnny Day, Charles Morton, Mary Fields, Buddy Cox. CREDITS: Executive Producer, Scott R. Dunlap; Producer, Paul Malvern; Director, George Waggner; Based on "Tailspin Tommy" newspaper strip; Screenplay, Scott Darling, Joseph West; Cameraman, Fred Jackman, Jr.; Editor, Carl Pierson. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. Lipscomb Moves to Para. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — W. P. Lipscomb is at Paramount to write the screenplay of "Safari." Picture will be produced by Anthony Veiller and will co-feature Joel McCrea and Madeleine Carroll and will be directed by Edward H. Griffith. Lipscomb recently completed the screenplay of "I Had a Comrade" at M-G-M. Bugie Twins Dead Cincinnati — Mrs. Levitt Bugie, wife of the 20th-Fox representative, is seriously ill following the death of twin daughters born prematurely.