The Film Daily (1931)

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Sunday, February 1, 1931 -. &&* DAILY 11 "The Royal Bed" with Lowell Sherman and Mary Astor RKO Time, 1 hr., 15 mins. EXCELLENT SATIRICAL COMEDY OF MODERN ROYALTY. CLEVER STORY, SNAPPY DIALOGUE AND FINE CAST. The subtle but sure-fire humor of Lowell Sherman and the superb acting of Nance O'Neil are the outstanding features of this fine production. The story is from Robert E. Sherwood's novel, "The Queen's Husband" and the dialogue, which is cleverly written, fares well in the hands of the. talented cast. Sherman as the King and husband of the publicity seeking queen (Nance O'Neil) takes advantage of the many opportunities offered in the part for suave, smooth readings and geslures. The queen arranges for the marriage of their daughter, Mary Astor, to a prince of a friendly nation. Mary is in love with the King's secretary and through the planning and efforts of the king, and a pre-arranged revolution, all difficulties are ironed out. Cast: Lowell Sherman, Nance O'Neil, Mary Astor, Anthony Bushnell, Robert Warwick, Alan Roscoe, Hugh Trevor. Gilbert Emery. Frederick Burt. Carroll Naish, Desmond Roberts, Lita Chrevret, Nancy Lee Blaine. Director, Lowell Sherman ; Author, Robert E. Sherwood; Adaptor, J. Walter Rubin; Dialoguer, not credited ; Editor, Arthur Roberts ; Cameraman, Leo Tover ; Recording Engineer, George Ellis. Direction, Excellent. Photography, Excellent. "Gretel and Liesel" ("Kohlhiesel's Daughters") Foreign Feature Films Time, 1 hr., 25 mins. CHARMING GERMAN FILM OF RUSTIC BAVARIAN LIFE. PLENTY OF COMEDY AND REMARKABLE ACTING OF HENNY PORTEN IN DUAL ROLE. Here is a play made for German consumption but with such fine pantomimic work by all the cast that anybody can follow it intelligently with delight. It was made some years ago as a silent with Emil Jannings, and Henny Porten as the Gretel and Liesel in the dual role. The Bavarian rural atmosphere in the small mountain town is charming, and the quaint characterizations beautifully handled. The story tells of two daughters of the owner of a beer garden, where most of the action takes place. One is attractive, and the other a middle aged and homely shrew. The dumb actions of the latter are marvelously portrayed, and extract a load of laughs. The remarkable characterization in this part of Henny Porten, contrasted with her exactly opposite role as the attractive daughter, furnish one of the best double portrayals of the screen. The double love story and rivalry is an artistic triumph for author and director, as well as all the cast. Cast: Henny Porten, Leo Peukert, Fritz Kampers. Heinz Lpo Fischer, Karl Harbacher. Gustl Stark-Ostettenbauer. Director, Hsnn rVhrenc ; Authors, Friedrich Raff, Jul'us Urg:ss : Adantor, same; Dialoguer, s?me ; Cameraman. Emil Stecht ; Recording Engineer, Hans von Tassavant. Direction, very good. Photography, good. Seymour Hicks in "The Love Habit" British International Time, 1 hr., 12 mins. ADAPTATION OF FRENCH NOVEL MISSES FIRE AS SOPHISTICATED FARCE THAT SCORES FEW LAUGHS. An Elstree Production from a French novel with the English characters talking and acting like typical London characters destroys the illusion from the start, and keeps it that way. The idea is a typical French farce that is too far-fetched to make much impression, and the situations seem forced and mechanical. The cast is very good, and they make the most of the material. All about a philandering architect who sets a young dancer up iiiyfl swell apartment, and then tries to keep his wife, from finding out. Seymour Hicks comes on the scene, and has a little on the wife, and uses this, and his knowledge of the husband's dilletanting, to force hubby to give him a place in his home where he can make love to the wife. It is all pretty much of a mixup, and the laughs are few and far between. Cast : Seymour Hicks, Margot Grahame, Edmund Breon, Walter Armitasre, Ursula Jeans, Elsa Lanchester, Clifford Heatherley. Director, Harry Lachman ; Author, Louis Verneuil ; Adaptors. Seymour Hicks, Val Valentine ; Dialoguer, not listed ; Editor, E. B. Jarvis : Cameraman, John J. Cox; Recordin? Engineer, A. S. Ross. Direction, Weak. Photography, Good. C) Presentations C By JACK HARROW ER Capitol Presentation Is Modernistic Review This week's stage show at the Capitol is preceded by a tableau tribute to Anna Pavlowa, with the playing of her favorite number, "The Swan." The regular stage show is "Revue Moderne," being a collection of vaudeville acts. Opens with the Chester Hale Girls doing a drum number. Then comes two steppers, whose act consists principally of acrobatic flips mixed with their steps. A colored comedy pair do a routine patter, followed by a male singer with two girls as violinist-dancers The Chester Hale Girls are then on for a novelty routine employing arm instead of leg movements. Slim Timblin, as colored parson in an old southern church setting, does a sermon monologue which is good an'1 gets the laughs. He follows thi? with a comedv marriage ceremony of two darkies. The finale is a mechanistic number, with a futuristic setting and the Chester Hale trouoe dressed as mechanical robots. The featured artists are Timblin, Joev and Harold Mack, Carlos Peterson Weslev Boynton, and the Chester Hale Girls. 1930 Para. Earnings Set New High Record (.Continued from Pane 1) announced Friday. The net for the past vear is about 18 per cent ahead of 1929 and sets a new high record for Paramount. Estimated profit for the last ouarter is estimated at $4,825,000. eoual to $1.55 a share on the 3.113.026 shares outstanding a< the end of the vear. After paying out $12 000.000 in dividends for the vear. the comnanv will have about $6,200,000 remaining to add to surplus. In commentinrr on the earning statement. Adob-di Zukor said that the gratifv'ncr public support of talkers, couoled with new production nlans and the program nut into effect 'ast summer for unifying theater nnpration= make the prospects for 1931 distinctly encouraging. Path** Stave Senarafo, Savs H*ram S. Brown (Cm, tinned from Pane 11 T^anizations will be operated. Brown stated, one the nresent RKORadio Pictures Corn, and the other a senaratc comnanv to continue operating the nresent Pathc sfudi" and Pathe exchanges, as exclusively printed in The FtT.M DaTLV. The operating romnanv holding Pathe assets wi'l continue its hnmc office on West 45th St.. Brown stated Although the full name of the new concern has not vet heen definitely determined, the name Pathe will be retained in its corporate title Enlarged Screen Future Not Promising — Mayer (Continued from Pane 1} timacv in detail. Maver does no* expect color to staee a comehark to the degree it formerly a'taine^t Production nlans for 1031-^2 will He discussed bv Maver with NieViolaSchenck and other M-G-M officials TTo«tilp Fnrpiq-ti Artion F*»«>»*o#! Ovpr Ponvrierht (Crmtin»rd from Pnae 11 neareH at the hearino before tn» Senate Patents Committee on Friday and armied in favor of the automatic ^onv-<Vrit hill. Renrpsent.attyps or the r»irtii*-Q procurers are nndo*-sto-~»'' ♦o favor trip rtiMciirp Morp than 4n per cent of the business is abroad W'te said, and this would he ruined unless protection is rnven aeainst hostile action bv membership in the international copyright union. Such aetion. lie stated, is now boinf planned in one country. A*** St0hh?n*i and Wife RorovArino Frntn Smash (Continued from Paqe 11 mother, are making satisfactory oroeress toward recovery, according to telephomV advices from T.os Angeles on Friday. Stebbins' skull was fractured in three places and Mrs Stehhins' nose was broken. Gratlman's mother, who is pact 80. suffered a broken leg. The Stebbinses. while on the coast, are making their home at 523 Beverly Drive, T.os Angeles. Chevalier and Variety In Paramount Stage Show The big stage attraction at the Paramount this week is the personal appearance of Maurice Chevalier in his inimitable song and chatter act which wows 'em. The stage show is "Vagabond TraUs," a Boris Petroff production. Against a forest setting with a gipsy wagon, the Gypsy Singers appear in colorful costumes and do a tambourine and song number. Their voices are good. Then comes a snappy wire act, with the girl jazz dancing on the wire and finishing with sensational ropejumping. Three fast tappers do splendid work and get a big hand. This is followed by a team of comedy acrobats who are good and get plenty of laughs. The finale goes Russian, with the girls in gorgeous Russian costumes, and a male and femme team vocalizing beautifully. Finishes with a toe dancer featuring a dizzy whirl routine. Altogether a nicely varied presentation that has a little of everything. The featured acts are the Kuznetzoff-Nicolini Trio, Christy & Nelson, Ray, Realy and Ray, Miachaua, and the Gypsy Singers. Roxy Ballet Honors Memory of Pavlowa "The Dancer," an effective ballet in tribute to Anna Pavlowa, who recently died, is a highlight of the Roxy stage bill this week. Participating in the number are the Roxy Ballet Corps., Markert's Roxyettes and the Roxv Chorus. A delightful fantasy entitled "Winter Gaieties" is the other number on the stage program. The set depicts a wintery, icicled scene with orange panel, resembling a window, in the center background. The individual numbers include adagio work, and splendid ballet drills. Leaders Assigned Topics For Discussion At Meet (Continued from Page 1) parts and service charges, Nathan Yamins. (d) Block booking and the tying of features and shorts, W. A. Steffes. (e) Unreasonable protection, W W. Whitson. (f) Guarantees and percentage. Charles E. Nolte. (g) Checking percentage playing, Sidney E. Samuelson. Chi Exhibitor organization and national advertising for Allied theaters. II. M. Richey. (i) Quality, length and availability of feature pictures, R. E. Myers, (j) Price and quality of talking trailers, Bennie Berger. (k) Circuit theater expansion, Fred Herrington. (]) Legislation, committee consisting of all Allied presidents. (m) Stabilization of industry and coordination of all its branches, Ahram F, Myers,