The Film Daily (1931)

10 THE ■^Zk DAILY Sunday, January 11, 1931 is "Kiss Me Again" First National Time, 1 hr., 17 mins. PLEASING OPERETTAWITH VICTOR HERBERT MUSIC AS ITS HIGHLIGHT. MOST ATTRACTIVELY STAGED WITH ALL-TECHNICOLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. Based on the Victor Herbert operetta, "Mile. Modiste", the principal appeal of this production will be to the music loving fans. From a production standpoint, it is as beautiful a picture of its kind as First National has turned out in Technicolor. The background is handsome without being burdensomely ornate and there is a continual parade of lovely gowns to delight the feminine eye. A simple plot, concerning the love of a little modiste, Bernice Claire, for a handsonje soldier, Walter Pidgeon, supplies the romance. The lad's father objects, because of her lowly station, so she sets out and becomes a famous opera star, winding up with the approved ending. Edward Everett Horton as the hero's pal, Claude Gillingwater as the gruff parent, and Frank McHugh as the hubby of the modiste shop owner, supp.ly a fair amount of comedy. Judith Voselli;, Albert Gran and June Collyer also are good. Cast: Bernice Claire, Walter Pidgeon, June Collyer, Edward Everett Horton, Judith Yosselli, Albert Gran, Claude Gillingwater, Frank McHugh. Director : William A. Seiter ; Author, Henry Blossom ; Adaptors, Julian JosephSon, Paul Perez ; Dialoguers, same ; Editor, Peter Fritch ; Cameramen, Al Gilks, Lee Garmes. Direction, Smooth. Photography, Good. "The Second Honeymoon" Continental Pictures Time, 1 hr., 16 mins. ENTERTAINING LITTLE PROGRAMMER IN FARCE COMEDY VEIN IS GOOD FAMILY PICTURE WITH CLEAN HUMOR. This is adapted from the novel by Ruby M. Ayres, which is a guarantee that it is a safe show for the family trade, for nothing has been injected that the author herseff would not have written. The cast is weak, especially Josephine Dunn, who lacks the light comedy touch that her part requires. But the story itself is entertaining, and the director handled it intelligently, and got the light comedy touches over. After five years of married life, the young wife pines for romance which her husband absorbed in business fails to give her. His pal, a former suitor of the wife, returns from righting abroad as a Major, and the wife falls romantically in love with him all over again. So hubby and the Major frame the wife in order to cure her of her romantic tendencies. Works out into a good series of comedy situations. Cast: Josephine Dunn, Edward Earle, Ernest Hilliard, Bernice Elliott, Fern Emmett, Harry Allen, Henry Roquemore. Director, Phil Rosen; Author, Ruby M. Ayres; Adaptor, Harry O. Hoyt; Editor, Charles Hunt; Sound Recorders, Neil Jack, C. S. Franklin; Cameraman, Kirk Patrick. Direction, Good. Photography, Fair. "Al Yemen" Amkino Time, 1 hr., 16 mins. SOVIET FILM OF EXPEDITION INTO ARABIAN COUNTRY IS IN THE TRAVELOGUE CLASS, BUT NOVEL AND INTERESTING. This is the pictorial account of a Soviet expedition conducted by Vladimir Shneiderov into a little known section of Arabia. The civilization is one of the most ancient, and the natives in many respects are living according to the customs and traditions of their forefathers in Biblical times. Then again in the capital of Yemen, which is the name of the country, the business life is concluded in modern Asiatic style. The pictorial work is well handled and diversified, and as a straight travel picture is very interesting. But it holds little interest for the average American motion picture audience. The Soviet tendency of pushing over propaganda is quite obvious, showing the contrasts in living conditions between the rich sheik rulers and the poor peasants. It is a remarkably fertile country, and the variety of products of the country are shown, and the method of handling and marketing. In the city are found dozen ot gorgeous mosques ot ancient and beautiful architecture, all widely different. The ancient methods of tilling the soil and manufacturm gnative implements and weaving carpets is all highly novel, and this part of the world has never been seen on the screen before. Only credits go to Expedition leader, Vladimir Sheniderov, who directed, and Cameraman, Ilya Toltcham. "Jaws of Hell" Sono Art Time, 1 hr., 12 mins. FAIR BRITISH PICTURE BASED ON FAMOUS WAR POEM, HAMPERED BY UNINSPIRED DIRECTION AND WEAK STORY. A British film made by Gainsborough Productions. It is based on the historical incidents surrounding tne famous "Charge of the Light Brigade", which Tennyson immortalized in his poem of that name. The actual charge forms the climax to the picture. A story is built up around it concerning a young lieutenant of the 93rd Highlanders unjustly accused of murdering a fellow-officer, discharged from service, and who re-enlists under an assumed name in another regiment. He takes part in the historic charge, and after the battle the dying murderer confesses his crime, absolves the hero, who finds happiness with his lady love. The main sequence is the famous charge, and that is poorly handled, without inspiration. Just a bunch of mounted troopers riding across a field in a smoke screen. The battle scenes are blurred, and the big scene fails to click. Cast: Cyril MacLaglen, Benita Hume, Alf Goddard, Miles Mander, Robert Holmes, Betty Bolton, Wal Patch, Harold Huth, J. Fisher White, Clifford Mollinson, H. St. Barbe West. Directors, Maurice) Elvey, Milton Rosmer ; Author, Boyd Cable ; Dialoguers, Milton Rosmer, Angus McPahail ; Adaptor, Robert Stevenson ; Cameramen, James Wilson, Percy Strong. Direction, Weak. Photography, Spotty. "Almost a Honeymoon" British International Time, 1 hr., 25 mins. LIGHT FARCE COMEDY WITH A BEDROOM ATMOSPHERE THAT DEVELOPS CLIFFORD MOLLISON AS A FINE SCREEN COMEDIAN. CARRIES GOOD QUOTA OF LAUGHS. This product of the Elstree studios is chiefly notable for presenting (. lifford Mollison as a screen comedian to be reckoned with. He has an individual style, and gets his comedy touches over with smoothness ml ease. Monty Banks did a nice directorial job, and all in all it shapes up as a light but intelligently handled bit of fun that should please the oetter types of audiences who can .ppreciate English comedy among nice people." Clifford has rented lis quarters to a young lady about -o be married, but he staggers home after a party and goes to bed, not ealizing that the young lady is aleady asleep in the adjoining bed. i he complications that arise in the norning are highly amusing. She scheduled to marry a dub that .norning, but Clifford maneuvers .natters so that he becomes the bridegroom. Cast: Clifford Mollison, Donald Calthrop, Dorothy Watts, Lamont Dickson, C. M. Hallard, Edward Thane, Pamela Carme, Winifred Hall. Director, Monty Banks; Author, Walter Elhs ; Adaptors, Monty Banks, Walter Mycroft ; Dialoguer, J. Valentine ; Editor, A. C. Hammond; Cameraman, Jack Cox. Direction, Smooth. Photography, good. Charles Rogers in "Along Came Youth" Paramount Time, 1 hr., 12 mins. SWELL COMEDY WITH ROGERS IN HIS BEST VEIN AND STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY A HILARIOUS CHARACTERIZATION BY STUART ERWIN. Charles (Buddy) Rogers comes into his own again in this sure-fire yarn about a couple of Yankee lads who make good in England. Buddy's sidekick is Stuart Erwin. Stranded among the Britons because their horse failed to win the race they hire out as domestics on an English estate. One of them poses as a chef and the other as his helper. Meanwhile they have struck up a romance apiece, Buddy with Frances Dee and Stuart with Betty Boyd. Luck on the race track finally comes their way and the rainbow finish is accomplished. Buddy's role is in the comedy vein and he makes the most of it. Erwin, affecting near-sightedness, builds the laughter up to the near the riot point. The amusing and breezy nature of the story makes it ideal for all types of audiences. Frances Dee, Betty Boyd and Mathilde Comont handle the feminine support in fine style. Cast: Charles Rogers, Frances Dee, Stuart Erwin, William Austin, Evelyn Hall, Leo White, Mathilde Comont, Betty Boyd. Directors, Lloyd Corrigan, Norman McLeod; Author, Maurice Bedell; Adaptors, Marion Dix, George Marion, Jr. ; Dialoguer, George Marion, Jr. ; Editor, Jane Loring ; Cameraman, Henry Gerald. Direction, Lively. Photography, Fine. ?! "Beau Ideal" RKO Time, 1 hr., 15 mins. STUPENDOUS FOREIGN LEGION PRODUCTION WITH STOUT DIRECTION AND EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHY BUT WEAK STORY. Although hampered by an unconvincing story, Herbert Brenon has turned out a feature that is strong m the direction of battle scenes and mob rushes. Added to this is photography of the first class. The story brings out the unbelievable situations of John Geste joining the Foreign Legion in an attempt to restore his pal to civil life for the girl whom they both love. Geste even forces his way into the penal service and finally into the dreaded ,iain pit — all for his pal. The male cast is excellent, especially Paul McAllister. Loretta Young appears only during the start of the story but carries her emotional sequences with force and feeling. Cast: Lester Vail, Ralph Forbes, Don Alvarado, Otto Matieson, Loretta Young, Irene Rich, Paul McAllister; George Rigas, Leni Stengel, Hale Hamilton. Director, Herbert Brenon ; Author, Percival B. Wren; Adaptor, Elizabeth Meehan; Dialoguer, not credited ; Editor, Marie Halvey ; Cameraman, Roy Hunt ; Recording Engineer, John Triddy. Direction, Strong. Photography, Excellent. "Der Tanz Geht Weiter" (Those Who Dance) Warner Bros. Time, 1 hr., 25 mins GERMAN DIALOGUE PRODUCTION MADE IN HOLLYWOOD WITH FOREIGN CAST. TELLS AMERICAN GANGSTER STORY ENTERTAININGLY. GOOD FOR GERMAN NEIGHBORHOODS. This German version was adopted from the story of the Chicago underworld by George Kibbe Turner, originally made with an American cast. It is strictly for German audiences, with a German cast and dialogue. The picture is good of its kind, but cannot rate with the better type of underworld screen story that usually comes from Hollywood. A gang chieftain kills a young policeman, and his older brother, also a cop, starts out to pin it on the head of the gang. To do so he enters his home and poses as another tough gangster from San Francisco. Works out into some tense situations well acted and ably directed. Wilhelm Dieterle plays the lead, as well as directs, and does a good job at both. Cast: Wilhelm Dieterle, Lissi Arna, Anton Pointner, Carla Bartheel, Werner Klingler, Lothar Mayring, John Reinhardt, Paul Panzer, Adolph Miller. Director, Wilhelm Dieterle; Author, George Kibbe Turner ; Adaptor, H. Fraemkel ; Dialoguer, same ; Editor, Edward Schroeder ; Cameraman, Sidney Hickox Direction, Good. Photography, Okay.