The Film Daily (1931)

32 fr<2^ DAILV Sunday, April 12, 1931 "Dirigible" with Jack Holt, Ralph Graves, Fay Wray Columbia Time, 102 mins. BIG MONEY PICTURE. SPECTACULAR AIR THRILLS AND SOUTH POLE EXPLORATIONS CARRY BOX-OFFICE WALLOP. Showmanship was employed to excellent advantage by Director Frank Capra in this air story. The picture's chief highlights consist of some amazing air stunts involving rivalry between an airplane and a dirigible, a plane crash at the South Pole, terrific battles with the elements, and Some genuine aviation scenes on land and sea obtained with the co-operation of the Navy Department. Clever interspersing of beautiful location shots with the studio scenes helps to sustain the realism. The heart interest side of the story is subordinated to the air stuff. It concerns two rival navy fliers, one in favor of dirigibles and the other preferring airplanes. Both love a woman who is married to one of them. After a dirigible expedition to the South Pole meets with disaster, the airplane lad ventures the trip and gets lost at the pole. Whereupon the dirigible pilot comes to the rescue, besides serving to keep the wife from divorcing her wandering hubby. Cast: Jack Holt. Raich Graves, Fay Wrav. Hobart Rosworth. Roscoe Karns. Harold Goodwin, Clarence Muse, Emmett Corrigan, Al Roscoc, Selmer Jackson. Director, Frank Capra : Author. Lt. Commander F. W. Weacl : Adaptors. Jo Swerling. Dorothy Howell ; Dialoguer, Jo Swelling; Editor, Maurice Wright ; Cameramen. Joseph Walker. A.S.C., Elmer Dyer; Recording Engineer, E. L. Bernds. Direction, box-office. Photography, fine. George Arliss in "The Millionaire" Warner Bros. Time, 82 mins. CHARMING CHARACTERIZATION BY GEORGE ARLISS MAKES MILD STORY A DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT. CLEVER DIALOGUE AND HUMOR. Again the master shows his versatile powers and makes of a light and frail story something that will linger in the spectator's memory for a long time. The characterization of George Arliss as the tired millionaire is so finely drawn and human that it will probably prove more popular than his outstanding work in "Disraeli" and "The Green Goddess." The star is a constant joy every time he appears, and he is on the screen the greater part of the time. He lifts slight bits to heights of dramatic power, or makes of them delicate gems of sly humor and flashing brilliance. It will undoubtedly rate as one of the finest characterizations of this or any other year. In the hands of the average actor, the film would have been just another of those things, for the ent're motivation is built around the name part. The well known story, "Idle Hands." by Earl Dcrr Bigeers, has been cunningly directed, with sparkling dialogue by Tarkington. Fine support throughout. A screen treat — with plenty wholesome, sparkling comedy. Cast; George Arliss. Evalyn Knapp. David Manners. Florence Arliss. Noah Beerv, J. Farrell MacDonald. Bramwell Fletcher. James Cagney. Tully Marshall, Ivan Simpson, J. C. Nugent. Sam Hardy. Director. John Adolfi ; Author, Earl Derr Biggers: Dialoguer, Booth Tarkington : Adaptor, Jul'an Josephson : Editor, Owen Marks-, Cameraman, James Van Trees ; Recording Enginer, not credited. Direction, expert. Photography, the best. Norma Shearer in "Strangers May Kiss" M-G-M Time, 85 mins. A NATURAL. STAR TREMENDOUS IN SOPHISTICATED DRAMA WHICH IS CERTAIN TO CLICK WITH ANY AUDIENCE. A worthy successor to "The Divorcee," by the same author, Ursula Parrott, and with the same star who goaled 'em in it. It's adult entertainment which deals with a dangerous subject but treats it delicately. Norma's in love with a wandering journalist and is willing to forego the conventions in order to be with him. On a trip to Mexico he is suddenly called to Rio de Janeiro. As he is not the marrying kind he leaves her there. She goes to Europe and lives with this and that chap. The journalist returns to Paris with the intention of marrying her, having divorced his wife, when he learns of her affairs and the wedding's off. Later, in New York, they meet for a reconciliation. Shearer gives one of the best performances of the year. Robert Montgomery clowns through the story in corking form and the entire cast is splend'd. Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Neil Hamilton, Marjorie Rambeau, Irene Rich, Hale Hamilton. Co-ich'a Mon'enegro, Jed Prouty, Albert Conti, Henry Armetta, George Davis. Director, George Fitzmaurice ; Author, Ursula Parrott : Adaptor. John Meehan ; Dialoguer, same ; Editor. Hugh Wynn : Cameraman, William Daniels ; Recording Engineer, Douglas Shearer. Direction, great. Photography, A-l. Will Rogers in "A Connecticut Yankee" Fox Time, 1 hr., 18 mins. WILL ROGERS GETS OVER STRONG IN NOVELTY COMEDY THAT CARRIES POPULAR APPEAL, ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS. With a modernized version of Mark Twain's famous story, Will Rogers scores heavily as a Yankee radio announcer who is transported in a dream back to the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Looks as if they spent considerable dough on this one, with the ancient costumes and sets, and the knights in real armor. The sequences are naturals for the laughs, with Rogers looked upon as a magician by the King, and forced to do stunts to prove his magic. First his cigarette lighter establishes his rep as a magician, and when they are about to burn him at the stake later, he uses an eclipse of the sun as part of his "magic." It is filled with a lot of pleasant absurdities, done in a kidding manner that gets over for the laughs. The final scene, with an army of Austins carrying armored knights coming to his rescue as he is about to be hanged is a riot. Good pop merriment number anywhere. Cast: Will Rogers. Wrlliam Farrium, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan. Frank Albertson. Mitchelll Harris, Brandon Hurst. Director, David Butler; Author. M ■<.< -k Twain ; Adaptor, William Conselman ; Dialoguer, same ; Editor, Irene Mora ; Cameraman. Ernest Palmer ; Recording Engineer. Joseph E. Aiken. Direction, good. Photography, fine. "Beyond Victory" with Bill Boyd RKO Pathe Time, 71 mins. FAIRLY GOOD WAR DRAMA, WITH THE WAR STUFF PREDOMINATING. EXCELLENT WORK BY MARION SHILLING IN HEART-INTEREST ROLE. The heart interest created by the fine performance of Marion Shilling is the chief element of merit in this war production. The story concerns four American soldiers at the battlefront in France. In turn, three meet their fate and, before they die, describe the episode in their lives that compelled them to enlist. Bill Boyd, before he is shot down, tells how he was about to marry Marion Shilling, a German girl. It is in this "flashback" that Miss Shilling, who possesses a contagious German accent, is introduced. Bill is wounded and Marion as a German Red Cross nurse submits to a transfusion of her blood to save Bill's life. James Gleason offers some laughable comedy relief. Cast: Bill Boyd, Lew Cody, James Gleason, Marion Shilling, Zasu Pitts, Lissi Arna, Theodore von Eltz, Mary Carr, Russell Gleason, Fred Scott, Frank Reicher, Wade Bote ler, E. H. Calvert. Charles Coleman, Max Barwin. Hedwig Reicher. Director, John Robertson ; Authors, Horace Jackson. James Gleason; Adaptors, same; Dialoguers, same; Editor. Daniel Mandell; Cameramen, Norbert Brodine; Recording Engineers, Charles O'Loughlin, T. Carmen, B. Winkler. H. Stine. Direction, satisfactory. Photography, good. Buffalo Bill, Jr., in "The Pueblo Terror" Cosmo Time, 59 mins. SNAPPY LITTLE WESTERN PACKS A GOOD PUNCH WITH SURPRISE TWISTS AND COMMENDABLE WORK OF BUFFALO BILL, JR. Some good directorial touches spotted through this picture have resulted in a bright and entertaining horse opera that follows the usual formula. Which all goes to prove that it's not the material, but the way it's handled. And Director Alvin Neitz has made a good job of it. Buffalo Bill, Jr., with a pleasing personality and an unusually modest air, gets over nicely with his snappy work. A good surprise near the close comes with the hero apparently giving himself up to the sheriff's posse, wanted for a murder he did not commit, of course. The hero then kidnaps the girl, lures the real criminal and his henchmen to follow, and maneuvers a confession which is overheard by witnesses. It is so seldom that originality is employed in handling these westerns that it is a pleasure to give credit to whoever may be responsible. Action is there plenty, with lots of suspense. A pop number for the thrill fans. Cast: Buffalo. Bill. Jr.. Jack Harvey, Wanda Hawley. Jim Spencer. Aline Goodwin, Art Mix, Yakima Camitt, Hora'-e Carpenter, Al Ferguson, Hank Bell. Boh Walker. Director. Alvin J. Neitz: Author. L. V. Jefferson; Adaptor not credited: D:a'oguer not credited ; Editor, . not credited ; Cameraman, William Thompson. Direction, smart. Photography, okay. "Playthings of Hollywood" Hollywood Pictures Time, 81 mins. AN INFERIOR PRODUCTION THAT TRIES TO BE SENSATIONAL BUT ONLY PROVES AN AMATEURISH FLOP. POORLY DIRECTED AND ACTED. One of those attempts to try to collect on playing up the sensational side of Hollywood, and not the type that will do the industry any good with the public. It purports to show the experiences of three sisters who go to Hollywood looking for careers. One gets a job as a secretary to an oil magnate, another has a job in a department store, while only the third crashes the studios as an extra. Then the love triangle, with two sisters loving the same man. For no logical reason, the sister who loses out decides to go on a bungalow trip with her boss, the oil man. Of course the other sister and the boy friend arrive there, too. The old rogue drops dead of heart failure, the gal is accused of shooting him, but everything is cleared up. A sloppy, tiresome film, promising a kick but not delivering. Cast: Phyllrs Barrington. Rita La Roy. Sheila Manners. Edmund Breese. Donald Reed. Charles Delanev. Tack Richardson, De'i Henderson. Sid Taylor. D'r'ctnr, William O'Connor: Author, Ida May Park ; Adaptor, same ; Dialoguer, same ; Editor, Tom Persons ; Cameramen, Henry Cronjager, James D:amond. Direction, amateurish. Photography, spotty. "Cities and Years" (Silent) Amkino Time, 81 win",. DREARY SOVIET PROPAGANDA WITH LITTLE APPEAL FOR FILM HOUSES. RAGGED STORY AND ACTION. This is an adaptation of a novel by Konstantin Fedin, and is unadulterated propaganda for the Soviet and the Workers of the World movement. The film is poorly produced, with a jumpy and ragged story that holds little entertainment. It tells of the struggle of the masses against the classes as exemplified in the war situation during 1914 when Russia is seen declaring war and the news is received in the German city of Munich. There we see a Russian artist, who is set upon by the populace, while at the same time in Petrograd a German is beaten up by a Russian mob. Then war carnage scenes with men dying are contrasted with home scenes, with the wives and families of the suffering soldiers trying to carry on at home. Violent class propaganda is featured throughout, with such bits as a German striker telling his companions that they have no Fatherland— that the workers have nothing in common with countrv, patriotism, nothing but themselves. Bad dope for anv film house. Cast: Ivan Schuveler. G. Michurm. Bernard Goetzke. Sophie Magarill. David Futman. A. Kostriczhkin. Director. Evgeni Cherviakov : Author. Konstantin Fedin ; Adaptor, not listed ; Tit'er, not listed ; Editor, not listed ; Cameramen, S. Bfliaez. Alexander Beliaez. Direction, amateurish. Photography, poor.