The Film Daily (1940)

W"V DAILY Wednesday, January 24, 1940 :< :< REVIEWS OF THE ll€UI flLfllS :< :< "The Grapes Of Wrath" with Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Charley Grapewin, Dorris Bowdon 20th-Fox 129 Mins. DYNAMIC ENTERTAINMENT POINTED TOWARDS TOP GROSSES TAKES ITS PLACE WITH INDUSTRY'S MILESTONES. In a film year already made notable by an array of distinguished pictures, there now comes "Grapes of Wrath" to take its proper place with those unusual productions critically chronicled as industry milestones, and pointed towards top grosses. Discriminating audiences will find this tellingly picturized adaptation of John Steinbeck's dramatic and poignant best seller dynamic, and showmen no less so. Generally accepted because of its theme and treatment as a challenge to Hollywood, it may be said that the challenge has been ably met by Darryl F. Zanuck and those associated with him in translating Steinbeck's saga of the tragic Okies into cinema. Nunnally Johnson, who wrote the screen play and then served as associate producer, has done an honest job; the screen play follows the novel closely and the 129 minutes of screen time are richly endowed with warmth and sympathy by Director John Ford. If there are any punches pulled, they do not come readily to mind. The dispossessing of the Okies from the farm land they have tilled for generations, the return of Tom Joad from prison, the long trek to California in search of work, the Joads' joy at their first glimpse of California's fruitful acres, the deaths of Granma and Grampa Joad, the slaying of Preacher Casy by the deputy and Tom Joad's killing of the deputy, and the final parting of Ma Joad and Tom — these are among the highlights of Steinbeck's novel (the order is not necessarily chronological) which have been grippingly and effectively enacted. The emotional impact is tremendous and in this respect the picture seems to eclipse the book itself. Vividly as Steinbeck may have written, the camera again proves it is more potent as a dramatic medium. Casting is as close to perfection as you'll find in a month of Sundays. Or even a couple of months. And from such perfection in casting comes a procession of performances of Oscar stature. Henry Fonda's Tom, Jane Darwell's Ma, John Carradine's Casy, the preacher; Charlie Grapewin's Grampa, Dorris Bowdon's Rosasharn, Russell Simpson's Pa, 0. Z. Whitehead's Al, John Qualen's Muley, Eddie Quilan's Connie and Zeffie Tilbury's Granma etch characters that are unforgettable, and the others contribute generously to a magnificent histrionic whole. Gregg Toland's photography is fine, Alfred Newman's musical setting exactly what it should be. CAST: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Charley Grapewin, Dorris Bowdon, Russell Simpson, 0. Z. Whitehead, John Qualen, Eddie Quillan, Zeffie Tilbury, Frank Sully, Frank Darien, Darryl Hickman, Shirley Mills, Roger Imhof, Grant Mithell, Charles D. Brown, John Arledge, Ward Bond, Harry Tyler, William Pawley, Arthur Aylesworth, Charles Tannen, Selmar Jackson, Charles Middleton, Eddie Waller, Paul Guilfoyle, David Hughes, Cliff Clark, Joseph Sawyer, Frank Faylen, Adrian Mor "The Lion Has Wings" with Merle Oberon, Ralph Richardson, June Duprez United Artists 76 Mins. INTERESTING AND EXCITING STORY OF ENGLAND'S AIR FORCE DRAMATICALLY PRESENTED. Splendid staging, capable acting and dramatic presentation make this film interesting as entertainment above its propagandist^ aspects. Alexander Korda has done a highly successful job. Merle Oberon, Ralph Richardson, Flora Robson, June Duprez and other members of the cast are excellent. Story opens with Britain at peace, but it rapidly gains crescendo as events march forward at breakneck speed until the day Britain goes to war. A breathlessly exciting air raid is staged against the German fleet. Then an equally dramatic sequence deals with English fighters and the air defense as a whole driving off a night raiding bombing squadron. Picture closes on a typically English note with Richardson quietly falling asleep as his wife, Merle, tells him of the part they all must play, but a price they are all glad to pay for the privilege of living in freedom and security. Newsreel shots have been cut into the film and narration by Lowell Thomas bridges some of the gaps between actual scenes and injected ones. Picture can't fail to hold an audience throughout its showing. CAST: Merle Oberon, Ralph Richardson, June Duprez, Flora Robson, Robert Douglas, Derrick De Marney, Anthony Bushel). CREDITS: Producer, Alexander Korda; Directors, Michael Powell, Brian D. Hurst and Adrian Brunei; Narrator, Lowell Thomas. DIRECTION, Dramatic. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. Fred Schwartz as Host Fred Schwartz will play host this week to a number of film folks at his Lake Placid retreat, "Timberdoodle." Joe Springer, and Moe Eisenberg leave with Schwartz today and they will be joined later by Jake Milstein, Arthmr, Manny and Charles Silverstone, Harry Cosener, Monroe Greenthal and Arthur Baker. Double Celebration Wilmington, Del. — Friday, opening day of GWTW at Loew's Theater here, is also the 20th wedding anniversary of Loew's manager and Mrs. Edgar J. Doob. ris, Hollis Jewell, Robert Homans, Irving Bacon, Kitty McHugh. CREDITS: In Charge of Production, Darryl F. Zanuck; Associate Producer, Nunnally Johnson; Director, John Ford; Screenplay, Nunnally Johnson; Based on a novel by John Steinbeck; Cameraman, Gregg Toland; Editor, Robert Simpson. DIRECTION, Brilliant. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine. "The Llano Kid" with Tito Guizar, Alan Mowbray, Gale Sondergaard, June Clayton Paramount 70 Mins. FAVORITE 0. HENRY STORY AS VEHICLE FOR TITO GUIZAR IS ENTERTAINING FILM. The widely known 0. Henry story, "A Double-Dyed Deceiver," has been brought to the screen as a pleasing film, with Tito Guizar in the starring role. Guizar, better known for his singing talents, handles a gun effectively as well as a guitar in this western. In addition to Guizar, Alan Mowbray, Gale Sondergaard, June Clayton and Miner Watson are in the wellbalanced cast. The story has been kept in its period with all the picturesque background of the old Southwest. Guizar is a notorious bandit, the terror of the stage coaches. He falls in with a scheming couple who are attempting to rob a woman, but when Guizar falls in love with the woman's ward he exposes the scheme, saves the woman's property, squares himself with the sheriff and gets himself in good standing all around. Plenty of action leads up to an exciting climax. CAST: Tito Guizar, Alan Mowbray, Gale Sondergaard, Jane Clayton, Emma Dunn, Miner Watson, Harry Worth, Anna Demetrio, Chris Martin, Carlos De Valdez, G.enn Strange, Tony Roux. CREDITS: Producer, Harry Sherman; Director, Edward D. Venturini; Screenplay, Wanda Tuchock; Based on an 0. Henry story; Cameraman, Russell Harlan. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "Chip Of The Flying U" with Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight Universal 55 Mins. FAST-MOVING WESTERN HAS PLENTY OF BULLETS, BATTLES AND BANDITS. Cowboy fans should be well pleased with this new Universal western. Cast includes three favorites, Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker and Fuzzy Knight, with Doris Weston attractive as the femme interest, and Karl Hackett villianous as the trouble maker. Brown, while riding with Doris, daughter of the boss, narrowly escapes a holdup staged by Hackett. The neighboring rancher who employs Hackett is trying to drive Brown's boss off his property to move munitions stored in an old cache. A bank holdup, kidnapping and plenty of other incidentals to make the action step along at a fast pace are woven into the yarn before Brown and his trusty comrades make hash of the opposition. Brown gets the reward and the girl. CAST: Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight, Doris Weston, Karl Hackett, Forrest Taylor, Anthony Warde, Henry Hall, Claire Whitney, Ferris Taylor, Cecil Kellogg. CREDITS: Produced by Universal; Director, Ralph Staub; Screenplay, Larry Rhine and Andrew Bennison; Story, B. M. Bower; Cameraman, William Sickner. DIRECTION, Snappy. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. "My Son Is Guilty" with Bruce Cabot, Harry Carey, Jacqueline Wells Columbia 63 Mins. COPS AND ROBBERS YARN^ ''ITH FATHER-SON ANGLE LACKS -r'RESH TREATMENT. Lack of fresh treatment makes this new Columbia release just a fair picture for program use in nabe houses. All story material is old in basic plot material, but fresh treatment and novel ideas can make the oldest story interesting, but they are lacking in this case. The cast is able, with Bruce Cabot, Harry Carey, Jacqueline Wells, Glenn Ford and Wynne Gibson in the principal roles. Exhibs. have some marquee value in some of the cast names. Cabot, son of Carey who is a policeman,, is a wrong guy. Just out of jail, his father tries to get him to go straight and: gets him a job in the police radio department. However, Cabot uses this opportunity to deaden the radio while a payroll holdup takes place. From there to the finish, when Carey shoots him, there is a pretty good chase and enough excitement to keep the picture rolling. CAST: Bruce Cabot, Harry Carey, Jacqueline Wells, Glenn Ford, Wynne Gibson, Don Beddoe, John Tyreil, Bruce Bennett, Dick Curtis, Edgar Buchanan. CREDITS: Produced by Columbia; Di rector, Charles Barton; Screenplay, Harryi Shumate and Joseph Carole; Story, Karl Brown; Cameraman, Benjamin Kline; Edi-i tor, William Lyon. DIRECTION, 0. K. PHOTOGRAPHY, Good. 'The Fatal Hour" with Boris Karloff, Grant Withers, Marjorie Reynolds Monogram 68 Mins^ LATEST IN WONG SERIES OKAY MYS TERY MELLER FOR NABE HOUSES. The fans that go for the mystery mel fers will be entertained by this new Mono gram release. Karloff is good in his role of the oriental sleuth. Grant Withers okay as the police captain, and the rest of the cast fills the bill adequately. Mar-j jorie Reynolds provides an attractive feminine touch. D.rector William Nigh keep] the picture moving and four murders held to enliven the proceedings no end, with plenty of suspense injected into the story Withers calls in Karloff to help when i detective is murdered. Trials and tribu] lations dog the sleuths until they clean u(j the situation effectively. CAST: Boris Karloff, Grant Withers Marjorie Reynolds, Charles Trowbridge John Hamilton, Craig Reynolds, Jack Ken nedy, Lita Cheveret, Frank Puglia, Stan ford Jolley, Jason Robards, Pauline Drakej CREDITS: Producer, William T. Lackey Director, William Nigh; Screenplay, Sco Darling; Story, Joseph West; Based oi stories by Hugh Wiley; Cameraman, Harr] Neumann; Editor, Russell Schoengarth. DIRECTION, Good. PHOTOGRAPHY Good.