The Film Daily (1931)

THE Sunday, February 15, 1931 «■ -2&*l DAILY 11 "Dracula" Time, 1 hr., 25 mins. Universal FINE MELODRAMA OF HUMAN VAMPIRE CARRIES SPOOKY THRILLS WITH BELA LUGOSI GIVING SPLENDID PERFORMANCE IN ROLE. The screen transposition of the melodramatic stage play has been given a finished production undcthe expert direction of Tod Browning, who knows how to get the most out of the weird and spooky effects. Bela Lugosi as the human vampire gives a, convincing performance that will send chills down the spines of sensitive people. The story is that of Count Dracula condemned to eternal life, who takes human form only at night, returning to his coffin as soon as day breaks He lives on human blood, and coming to England where the story takes place, is finally uncovered and killed by a scientist, who saves the heroine from the horrible fate that awaits all the victims of the vampire. It is not a picture for too squemish people to see, but there is no deriving its dramatic power and tingling thrills Bela Lugosi creates one of the most unique and powerful roles of the screen in this one. Cast: Beta Lugosi. David Manners, He'en Chandler, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan. Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade, diaries Gerrard. . „ Director. Tod Browning ; Author. Brain Stokers; Adaptor, Garrett Fort; Dialogues not listed: Editor. Milton Carruth ; Cameraman, Karl Freund ; Recording Engineer. t Roy Hunter. Direction, Expert. Photography. Excellent. Buffalo Bill, Jr., in "Trails of the Golden West" Cosmo Time, 58 mins. CRUDE WESTERN AMATEURISHLY DIRECTED AND ACTED. GETS LAUGHS IN WRONG PLACES. RATES VERY POOR. This is one of the worst westerns seen in a long time. It is so crudely put together and tells such an amateurish story that the audience started kidding it out loud. They tried to make a covered wagon "epic" in the days of the forty-niners traveling to the California gold fields. Everything about the picture is phoney, including the Indians. Buffalo Bill, Jr., as the brave scout in charge of the wagon train does his darndest to make it realistic, but the story licks him. The villain in the caravan cooks up a plot with a renegade and the Indians to attack the train and steal the gold chest in one of the wagons. It reminds us of the westerns they made 10 years and more ago, so amateurish is it. It is doubtful if tlrs will get by in even the small stand' without the wise fans razzing it. Cast: Buffalo Bill, Jr.. Wanda Hawley, Tom London. George Reed. Horace Carpenter, William Bertram. William McCormick, Chief White Eagle. Director, Leander De Cordova ; Author. L. V. Jefferson ;Adaptor. not credited ; Dialog uer," not credited; Editor. William Austin; Cameraman, William Thompson. Direction, Amateurish. Photography. Poor "Nar Rosorna Sla-Ut" (When the Roses Blooml Paramount Time, 1 hr., 26 mins. WEAK OFFERING FOP SWEDISH AUDIENCES WITH NATIVE DIALOGUE AND CAST DOESN'T AFFORD MUCH ENTERTAINMENT. It is doubtful if even Swedish audiences will go strong for this one. It moves in a verv slow and leisurelymanner, with little action and a tremendous amount of dialogue. In fact the actors are standing around talking most of the time. The story is meant for a lieht comedv, with a voun^ attornev in financial straits He discovers an old document in a book in a second-hand shop which tells of a hidden treasure of old coin = in the Palace Brignolles near Pan's He secures a iob there as chauffeur, and falls in love with the dauehtc of the house. Comedv is added b\ the romanticallv inclined mother o' the girl fallinsr in love with the suoposed chauffeur. Upon discovery or the hidden treasure concealed in the wall of a room, evervbodv is happv and the romance wit.h the daughteblooms satisfactorilv The product tion was made at the Dan's studio. Ca't: Karin Pwanstrom. Nils Wahlhom Margita Alfven. Sven Gusta'snn. TJno Hen nincr. Anna-T.isa "Rand". Riga de C.-.str" Viking Rnigheim. Else Marie Hansen. Sven Garho. Director, Edvin Adolphsnn : Author. Yves Mirande; Adantor, not credited: Dialoeuer. not credited : Editor, not credited ; Cameraman, not credited. Direction, fair. Photography, all right. "Oh, Sailor, Behave" Warner Bros. Time, 1 hr., 10 mins. MUSICAL COMEDY THEME RATES WEAK ENTERTAINMENT IN POORLY DIRECTED FILM WHERE THE STORY FALLS FLAT. Just another of tho^e musical comedy themes transpiring in a foreign setting with princesses, princes and all the other musical comedy props. The principals burst forth into -ong at the most unexpected moments, and kill any realism that Hot might possess, which isn't much. The life savers are Olsen and Johnson as two goofy sailors, and when they are on their kidding and gagging brings some good laughs. The American girl marrie a Russian prince to save her sister from disgrace, and her American sweetheart rescues her from his clutches when he and his henchmen are about tc kidnap her. Olsen and Johnson have some good sequences in a restaurant, wdiich has nothing to do with the plot, and these bits are the best part of the show. The acting of the principals, Trene Delroy and Charles King, is very mechanical. Cast: Irene Delroy, Charles King. r.owell Sherman, Noah Beery. Olsen and Johnson. Lotti Loder, Vivien Oakland, Charles ludels, Lawrence Grant. Elise Bartletl. fiino Corrodi ►, Director, Archie .Mayo ; Author. Elmei Kin Adaptor, Joseph |ackson: Dialoguers, Elmer Kite. rosepb Jackson; Editor. Robert Crandall; Cameraman. Dev Jennings. Direction, Weak. Photography. Fair. Six Foreign Dialoguers Open In N. Y. This Week {Continued from Page 1) named the Central Park. "The Night is Ours," French all-talker comedydrama, with a cast including Mile Marie Bell of the Comedie Francaise. opens Feb. ]') at the Little Carnegie. '"The Lion's Cage," Spanish talke made in Hollywood, starts ;i run Feb. 2(1 at the San, Jose on uppe Fifth Ave. "Homeland Echoes", German synchronized production w!tl. English and German title*-, opens Saturday (Feb. 14) at the Eightl St. Playhouse, and "Mother Love.'' German silent starring Henny Por en. opens the same day at the Fifth \ve. Playhouse. 50 Detroit Theaters Give 5-Cent Matinees (Continued from Page 1) RKO Downtown, opening soon after the Fox cut, adopted the same scale. The1 Rialto, key house on the east side, is operating on a 10-20-30 policy. The Lincoln, which has always maintained prices before with the opposition Rex lowered to 5 and 15 cents lowered from 35 to 25 cents. The Hollywood, previously 40 and 60 cents, lowered the Sunday matinees to 25 cents, partly in answer to the first run downtown houses charging 50 cents at 2 o'clock. The Russell, a 1.200 seat house, is charging 10 cents for matinees. The Times Square under the new management of Robertson, who also operates the Roosevelt and the' Cinderella, is running stage presentations with a 10-cent matinee and 20-cent evening policy. To top it all Bill Slocum at the Library is understood to be keeping books with charge accounts for al1 regular customers. Presentations Paramount Dickering For Murnau's South Sea Film (Continued from Page II ert Flaherty assisted Murnau on the oroduction. Murnau plans to come to New York soon en route to Germany for a vacation. The picture was synchronized at the Coast by Meyers Synchronizing Service Australian-Made Feature Being Released March S "Fpund," a feature made in *h' Australian bush, is now beine edit.-'' and synchronized bv F.lmer 1. McGovern for release March 5 on th" independent market. Roxy to Direct Charity Ball S. L. "Roxv" Rothafel will direct •be stagine and entertainment of the 15th annual theatrical ball for combined theatrical charities which will l>e held at Madi«on Smiare Garden m the night of Feb. 21. Two Portland Marriaeres Portland, Ore. — Tames O'Connell. Paramount house manager, has married Ancreline Bonneau Johnnie Harvev, M-G-M booker, also has marched up to the altar with Ella Johnson, »-■ JACK HARROW EH ____ Revue in Five Acts Clicks Strong At Roxy The Row -tage show i^ in the form of a muscial revue, called "Hell.. New York." It i in five scenes, the tir-t being The Bowery. with the old Roxy standby repeat number showing the Bowery at night. San try and Norton, George Kiddon and M. V.xlnoy are the principals. Then come Greenwich Village, opening with a presentation of the old pop number. "Thre< O'Clock in the Morning." with two dancers performing behind the face of an immense clock as a male and female singer warble the number on the stage. The curtain rises to show a set of a cabaret show, with various dancing groups featured. "Harlem" is a lively offering, showing » streel scene in Harlem with four street cleaners warbling a spiritual as the} sweep. The curtain then goes up on a night club set, with jazz band and patrons seated at tables in the background. Some good colored steppers are featured with the Roxyettes in black false faces doing a hot routine. This number features the Cotton Pickers Quartette. Snake Hips, Three Rhythm Boys, Bessie Dudley and Baby Cox. "Rapid Transit" shows a subway car with the customers singing all the old New York songs, followed by the ballet entering the car and doing a strap dance as the car lurches them off balance. The Roxy Chorus and Ballet Corps are featured. The finale is "Times Square." Smith and Dale Headline Swell Show at Paramount Smith and Dale, famous funsterof the Avon Comedy Four, highlight the current flesh program at the Xew York Paramount. They indulge in a good routine of their well-known brand of comedy, which went over big with the fans. Another choice item on the bill is Leo Reisman's conducting of the Paramounl orchestra in "Give Me Something to Remember You By." Reisnian al i conducts two lighter numbers, "Just a Gigolo" and "Find Me a Primitive Man." This week's production at tin Paramount is known as "Imagine M\ Embarrassment," a Fred Evans unit Ted Mick and the stage band top the group of entertainers, which also include Dave and Jo< man. novelty performers who billed a making their first Ami can appearance . Ufi ed I ..Hell an I Sylvan Dell. Sammj Krevoff, Bab< Kan. and the David Bines Girl-. At On organ, instead of Jesse Crawford, is Anne I.e. it. ,i talented mu-i cian. who has been performing WW Station WABC