The Film Daily (1932)

—2&* Friday, July 22, 1932 CRITICS' FORUM (Continued from Page 1) better pictures and the public paid less to see them." —CLARENCE L. LUCAS, Moline, 111., "Dispatch." • BOOMERANG ADS "Greed for box-office success as reflected in high-powered advertising is gradually but surely wearing down the public's faith in what it can expect to see at the theater. A mediocre picture is press-agented and advertised until to the theater patron it becomes the greatest production of the age. Sky-high exploitation of a poor picture is as fraudulent as the claims of a quack selling cure-alls from a soap box." — O. F. CLAYBAUGH, Rock Island, 111., "Argus." • 'GLAMOUR' "Producers appear to be attempting to glorify, for box-office reasons, something they describe as glamour. Perhaps it is glamour. I believe Webster defines the word as 'one which deceives the sight.' Certainly some are being deceived, particularly the public. They are being fed huge portions of Garboism, while other perfectly able actors and actresses are apparently going to waste." —ALBERT M. EFNER, Ottumwa, la., "Daily Courier." • BETTER TASTE "Improvement could be made largely in matters of taste. Most of the current pictures display bad taste because they exploit sex, horror and vulgar reality." —CHARLES J. NEUGEBAUER, Marquette, Mich., "Daily Mining Journal." BERT WHEELER AT ORIENTAL Bert Wheeler, who closed at the New York Paramount yesterday, has left for Chicago, where he will play one week at the Oriental before returning to the Coast to start work at Columbia. Show U^fV^&f man s \«2r Daily Jnff REMINDER K i • // after the kid trade through i /nation sitison. Lionel Barrymore in "THE WASHINGTON MASQUERADE" with Karen Morley and Nils Asther M-G-M 75 mins. SPLENDID DRAMA OF NATIONAL POLITICS WITH LIONEL BARRYMORE AT HIS BEST IN STRONG ROLE. This picture is all Lionel Barrymore and for that reason holds together in fine form and provides thrill after thrill from start to finish. The story opens with Barrymore in the governor's chambers making an impassioned plea for the life of a young man who has been sentenced to death. His success in several similar matters makes him the idol of his local community, and eventually he is elected to represent his city as a senator in Washington. There he falls in love with Karen Morley, a scheming beauty, who so turns Barrymore's head and heart that he betrays his fellow citizens and resigns from the senate for a monetary consideration. The picture finishes strong with his trial before the senate investigating committee. Karen Morley is beautiful and handles her part with finesse. Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Karen Morley, Diane Sinclair, Nils Asther, Reginald Barlow, William Collier, Sr., William Morris, Rafaela Ottiano, C. Henry Gordon, Burton Churchill, Henry Kolker. Director, Charles Brabin; Author, Henry Bernstein; Scenarist, John Meehan; Dialoguer, same; Editor, Ben Lewis; Cameraman, Gregg Toland. Direction, Fine. Photography, Okay. Arthur Wontner in "THE SIGN OF FOUR" World Wide 74 mins. SHERLOCK HOLMES THRILLER FINELY PRODUCED WITH WONTNER GIVING A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE. This is a British production from Associated Radio with an all-English cast, and is one of the finest detective mysteries we have ever seen screened. The classic story by Conan Doyle has been faithfully followed, and lends itself beautifully to screen treatment. Arthur Wontner has the role of Sherlock Holmes tracking down the one-legged man and his two accomplices. The treatment is clever, for the audience is let in on a great part of the mystery, so that when the great detective enters the case they can appreciate his deductions that eventually lead to trapping the criminals. There is a strong chase scene near the end with two high powered motor boats j roaring through the night, and then a thrill finish with the fight in the warehouse as Holmes and Dr. Watson trap their men. Wontner gives a splendid performance and this goes for the entire cast. Cast: Arthur Wontner, Isla Bevan, Ian Hunter, Graham Soutten, Miles Malleson, Herbert Lomas, Gilbert Davis, Margaret Yardo, Roy Emerton. Director, Graham Cutts; Author, Arthur Conan Doyle; Adaptor, W. P. Lipscomb; Editor, Otto Ludwig; Cameramen, Robert G. Martin, Robert De Grasse. Direction, Very good. Photography, Fine. "ISLE OF PARADISE" Adolph Pollak Productions 61 mins. UNUSUAL PHOTOGRAPHIC BEAUTY AND FASCINATING NATIVE LIFE MARK THIS AS DISTINCTIVE PICTURE. Bali, located in the Dutch East Indies, is the happy island depicted in this production. Both its scenic splendor and the beauty of its women live up to the extravagant heralding they have had. The picture, made by one Charles Trego over a period of six months spent on the island, is a consistently fascinating affair in which everything just seems to happen in its natural way without being forced or rushed. It genuinely carries out the spirit of the legend that Bali is the one place on earth where happiness is made a business. The natives are shown going about their daily occupations and in various celebrations and ceremonies. Highlight of the ceremonies is the elaborate festival surrounding a cremation. Accompanying talk, written by Richard Mack, is delivered by David Ross, the popular radio announcer. The production also has a synchronized musical score by Jimmy Bradford composed of pleasing native melodies. Fine camera work and the artistic eye employed by Charles Trego in photographing the island's beauties have much to do with the general distinctiveness of the production. It will appeal particularly to those who like the unusual. "DER STOLZ DER 3 KOMPAGNIE" ("The Pride of the 3rd Company") In German Capitol Film Exch. 80 mins. COMEDY OF MILITARY LIFE IS LIGHT AND BREEZY AND CARRIES PLENTY OF LAUGHS AND GOOD ACTING. Several German favorites are included in this light comedy offering, among them being Heinz Reuhmann, Fritz Pampers, Paul Henckels and Trude Berliner. It is the old American comedy idea of the private and the top sergeant continually at war with each other. But in this case there is a sensible plot, and it is worked out with nice romantic touches and plenty of comedy that does not depend on mere gags. The company is in barracks in a small town, and when they learn that the Crown Prince is about to visit them they prepare a theatrical performance in his honor. Reuhmann takes the part of the private, and supplies most of the comedy in a very clever manner. As he is the only one that knows anything about acting, he is put in charge of the play, and makes himself a lieutenant in the cast. His new role, played on and off the stage, raises the confusion that supplies the laughs. Cast: Adolph Wohlbrueck, Eugene Burg, Josef Peterhans. Walter Steinbeck, Viktor de Kowa, Fritz Kampers. Heinz Reuhmann, Paul Henckels, Trude Berliner, Use Korseck, Christl Mardayn. Director, Fred Sauer; Author, Wilhelm Hartstein; Adaptor, Friedrich Raff; Dialoguer, same; Cameraman, Friedel BehnGrund. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. A Little from "Lots" By RALPH WILK TAMES GLEASON is playing a J motorcycle cop in "Crooked Circle," which William Sistrom is producing for Educational-World Wide. Gleason dons his makeup at his home in Beverly Hills and speeds to the studio on his motorcycle, with "fellow motorcycle cops" believing he is "one of the boys!" * * * Our Passing Show: Lothar Mendes, Chandler Sprague, Al Cohn, Houston Branch, Eddie Welch, Mann Page, Rita La Roy, Ben Hershfield. Paul Perez. Bill Woolfenden at "Hullabaloo"; Boris Karloff, Henry Stephenson, C. Aubrey Smith, Halliwell Hobbs, Paul Perez attending a La Crescenta Garden party given in honor of the Swedish Olympic team and the New Zealand cricket team. * * * Mel Shauer's ability as a lyric writer is coming to light in "Hullabaloo," now at the El Capitan. He wrote the lyrics for "Marihuana" and "Uniform," two popular numbers in the revue. * * * John Boles has been added to the cast of Fox's "Six Hours to Live," with Warner Baxter. Wilhelm Dieterle is to direct. * * . * William Desmond and Yakima Canutt will portray General Custer and Wild Bill Hickock, respectively, in RKO's "The Last Frontier." * * * Mascot Pictures has started production on "The Hurricane Express" with the following cast: John Wayne, Shirley Grey, Tully Marshall, Edmund Breese, J. Farrell Mac Donald, Mat hew Betz, Joseph Girard, Jimmy Burgin and Lloyd Whitlock, under the direction of J. P. McGowan and Armand Schafer. * * * Constance Cummings will play the leading feminine part opposite Charles Bickford in Columbia's "The Thirteenth Man." * * * Charles Farrell has been chosen to play opposite Joan Bennett in Fox's "Salomy Jane." Ralph Bellamy is to occupy a featured position in the cast. The 900th feature picture made by Paramount since 1912 went into production recently. Picture was "Guilty as Hell."