The Film Daily (1931)

10 DAILY Sunday, January 2^ "Resurrection" wj't/i John Boles, Lupe Velez Universal Time, 1 hr., 21 mins WEAK PRESENTATION OF TOLSTOY'S FAMOUS NOVEL LACKS DRAMATIC AND HUMAN APPEAL OF ORIGINAL. In its talker form Tolstoy's famous work is not the vital, human and dramatic story that one expects. The direction is uninspired, and in many spots moves along mechanically. It seems that more attention was given to extracting idyllic photographic shots than in catching the real pulse and searching and poignant drama that the Russian novelist's work teems with. The result is just a passably entertaining screen offering that builds to no great climax. Lupe Velez does remarkably well in g, very difficult emotional role, which got beyond her in several situations. John Boles as the aristocratic lover of the poor peasant girl merely succeeds in being personable, but fails to convey the psychological reactions of the part. The ending, with the girl sent to Siberia, is depressing, but of course they could not tamper with such a world-famous story. Cast: John Boles, Lupe Ve'.ez, William Keighley, Nance O'Neill, Rose Tapley, Michael Mark, Sylvia Nadina, Edward Cecil. Director, Edwin Carewe; Author, Leo Tolstoy ; Adaptor, Finis Fox ; Diaioguer, same ; Editors, Edward L. Kahn, Maurice Pivar ; Cameramen, Robert B. Kurrle, Al Green ; Recording Engineer, C. Roy Hunter. Direction, weak. Photography, good. "Millie" with Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Ames RKO Time, 1 hr., 25 mins. TENSELY DRAMATIC, HUMAN AND ULTRA-MODERN STORY CARRIES POPULAR APPEAL AND WILL GET THE WOMEN. Director John Francis Dillon did a showman's job on Donald Henderson Clarke's story and built it up humanly and to a very tense climax. The cast is exceptionally well picked, and above all the characterization is kept very human throughout so that the atmosphere of realism gets you. It is a highly sophisticated theme, and not for the kiddies, telling as it does of a girl's many love affairs after she leaves her husband for his unfaithfulness. B*ut the sex stuff has been delicately handled, with nothing risque or offensive. Helen Twelvetrees as the disillusioned girl trying to protect her young daughter from the man who had played an intimate part in her own life is made for the part, and has charm and a natural acting sense. It is entertainment all the way, especially for the women. Cast: Helen Twelvetrees, Lilyan Tashman, Robert Ames, Joan Blondell, John Halliday, James Hall, Anita Louise, Edmund Breese, Frank McHugh, Franklin Parker, Charlotte Walker, Harry Stubbs, Harvey Clark, Charles Delaney, Carmelita Geraghty, Geneva Mitchell, Otis Harlan, Marie Astaire, Aggie Herring. Director, John Francis Dillon ; Author, Donald Henderson Clarke ; Adaptor, Charles Kenyon ; Dialoguers, Charles Kenyon, Ralph Murphy ; Editor, not listed ; Cameraman, Ernest Haller. Direction, expert. Photography, very good. "Trader Horn" with Harry Carey, Duncan Renaldo and Edwina Booth M-G-M Time, not set. DISTINCTIVE DRAMA OF AFRICA REPLETE WITH THRILLS. A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PICTURE WHICH OUGHT TO BRING IN THE CUSTOMERS. Much of this picture was filmed in Africa under the direction of W. S. Van Dyke, who earns plenty of bouquets for his splendid work. It is based on one of the greatest bestsellers in publishing history, which indicates one of its numerous exploitation angles. In this b. o. number Harry Carey returns to the screen and delivers a swellegant performance. Duncan Renaldo and Edwina Booth, who provide the love interest, are always believable and their work is plenty fine. The yarn shows Carey, Renaldo and Muti Omoolu, a native, penetrating wildest Africa to find Miss Booth, the white queen of a cannibal tribe. They are captured by the natives and eventually, after sequences which discharge thrill after thrill, get back to civilization with the girl. It's a swell, suspense-full entertainment. Cast: Harry Carey, Edwina Booth, Duncan Renaldo, Olive Golden, Muti Omoolu. Director, W. S. Van Dyke; Author, Trader Horn; Adaptors, Dale Van Every, John Thomas Neville ; Diaioguer, Cyril Hume ; Editor, Ben Lewis ; Cameraman, Clyde De Vinna. Direction, A-I. Photography, great. Neil Hamilton and Man'a^^H in "Ex-Flame" with Norman Kerry ajQl Judith Barrie Tiffany-Liberty Time, 1 hr,, FAIR PROGRAM BASED ON OLD MELOlM. " \ LACKS PUNCH BUT HAS FINE CAST AND BEAUTIFU TINGS. This Liberty production due to the poor adaptation^ , old play "East Lynne" and its tr. formation to modern setting* dialogue. Women will'likf it cause of the beautiful settigg^ the display of fashionable gow^ij Marian Nixon, whose fine acting" to boost the picture out of the ' gram class. The story concerns a young married couple in England who separate because of a misunderstanding that is broughJ||ufjf|fc|| through the entrance of the hut "ex-flame." Unconvincing ^H^^V occur and in the end thejB too hurriedly brought back 1tr%ac other by either poor story, wf or direction. Norman KerrW £ft thoroughly fine reading ofl paratively short part. Cast: Neil Hamilton, Marian NUcOM man Kerry, Judith Barrie, RohBubrbfew, Joan Standing, Snub Pollard. May .j^pftty, Lorimer Johnson, Jose Bohr, _/c3 Keefe, Joseph North, Charles ll C+Wfi Little Billie Haggerty, Louis Arrr^ttdufe and His Jazz Band. Director, Victor Halperin ; A Adaptor, George Draney ; DialoguH^^H Farjeon ; Editor, not credited; Camntaman, Ernie Miller. , Direction, fair. Photography, eSp? Elissa Landi in "Children of Chance" British International Time, 1 hr., 8 mins. WEAK DRAMA FILLED WITH IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS. POOR ACTING AND DIRECTION. Elstree has sent over a picture, so weak in plot and with such inferior acting that American audiences will not be very apt to take it seriously. Elissa Landi, to whom better parts should be given, plays a dual role and fails to be in any way convincing as an adventuress. As her "double," a sweet, innocent character, Miss Landi seems to be at home. The plot concerns an artist's nodel who is also an adventuress atempting to secure an engagement vith the city's "leading producer." \. young chorus girl, who looks exctly like the model, is chosen for ihe part, the producer and his angel (believing the girl to be the model Some crook stuff is introduced, but it falls flat. Impossible situations and poor dialogue hold the picture to a low level. Cast: Elissa Landi. Mabel Poulton, Dorothy Minto. John Stuart, John Longden, Gus Sharland. Gus McNaughton, Wallace Lupino, John Deverell, Eric Donaldson, Charles Dormer, Kay Hammond, Aileen Despard, Jack ,F.irquhar. Director, Alexander Esway ; Author, not credited; Adaptors, Frank Lauder, Miles Malleson; Dialoguers, same; Editor, E Jarvis; Cameramen, H. E. Palmer, L. RogersRecording Engineer, Cecil Z. Thornton. Direction, poor. Photography, poor. "Westward Bound" with Buddy Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill, Jr. Syndicate Pictures Time, 1 hr., 5 mins. SLOW MOVING WESTERN FAILS TO GET GOING TILL LAST REEL, AND THE STORY IS FLAT AND UNINTERESTING. Just another western turned out from the old formula. It has a western setting, but fails to develop any real western atmosphere till almost the last reel. Buffalo Bill, Jr., as the hero is sent west by his dad after an escapade, along with his chauffeur. He is suspected of being a cattle rustler, but in the last reel manages to clear himself and convince the girl he met back East that he is an honest boy. The story is very draggy, and poorly directed and indifferently acted. Only in the last reel does it develop any fast action, and that is too late to save it. Allene Ray makes a very attractive heroine, above the average for the westerns, and Buffalo Bill, Jr., is a personable youngster with strong appeal. But they need a better vehicle than this to do them justice. Cast: Buffalo Bill. Jr., Allene Ray. Buddy Roosevelt. Ben Corbett, Fern Emmett, Yakima Canutt. Robert Walker, Tom Lon-lon, Pete Morrison. Director, Harry Webb; Author, Carl Krusada. Adaptor, same; Diaioguer, same; Editor Fred Bain : Cameraman, William Nobles ; Recording Engineer, Ralph M. Like. Direction, poor. Photography, good. "The Primrose Path" With Helen Foster Hollywood Pictures Time, 1 hr., 11 mins. OUTDATED STORY ABOUT THE MISGUIDED GIRL FROM THE COUNTRY. LACKS PUNCH, REALISM AND PLAUSIBILITY. Evidently built for exploitation in the neighborhood houses, with the usual message that "every mother and father should know" about the pitfalls and temptations that their daughter is liable to encounter in the wicked city. But the film is very weak, unconvincing, and poorly acted. And that goes double for the direction. Helen Foster is the wayward girl, and the most wayward thing she does is to go out on a few parties with a rich boy friend. She is expelled from school, leaves home in disgrace, and her father, the cop, is shot by her boy friend when disturbed parking in his car with another dame. Then the business of the young motorcycle cop hero tracking down the culprit and taking the heroine in his arms. Cast: Helen Foster, John Darrow. Dorothy Granger, Lane Chandler, DeWitt Jennings, Mary Car-, Virginia Pearson, Julia Swayne Gordon. Director, William O'Connor: Author, not credited ; Adaptor, not credited ; Diaioguer, not credited ; Editor, not credited ; Cameramen, Henry Cronjager, Ernest Laszio. Direction, poor. Photography, poor. June Collyer in„ "Damaged Love/* Sono Art Time, 1 hr., i%ft WEAK OFFERING LACKS APPEAL IN OUTWORtfiiMH» FROM OLD STAGE PI; AY MECHANICALLY DIRBCTED AND ACTED. This one rates pretty low7^^11^" adaptation from the old sta^fe^lay" by Thomas W. Broadhu itten in the days when plays with',(ifti preachments were quite the^^^^H The nature of the theme sympathy for June Collyer,^WP takes the role of a girl tfyir?£ I steal another woman's husbatftf.* TV wife, to whom all the sympathy _v should be directed, plays a mil role, so that the whole set-up wrong from the audience standpoint. And Charles A. Starrett in tj)& husband_ role is weak and unimpressive, moving mechanically through his part. The story tells of thej.y<?ung hubby's infatuation for the rich ijirJ and he is out sporting around wit1 her the night his baby die^ Hfi wife turns against him, and ifce r:rh girl prepares to bump her^jfy 0R when the hero refuses to maffy ' for there is a baby in th^ Then he hotfoots it back and is forgiven. Cast: June Collyer, Charles R.' Eloise Taylor, Betty Garde, CharT bridge. Director, Irvin Willat; Author.rtrpjon \V. Broadhurst ; Adaptors, Fredsriol Fanny Hatton ; Diaioguer, Tli<jni«%_ Rroadhurst ; Editor, not listed; CameTa not listed. naiD Direction, weak. Photography, Mr."