The Film Daily (1933)

THE DAILY Saturday, Jan. 7, 1933 "CAVALCADE" Fox 110 mins. IMPRESSIVE DRAMA UNFOLDED AGAINST TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORICAL BACKGROUND. UNUSUAL PICTURE. Fox has converted Noel Coward s London stage hit into a picture which paints graphically and poignantly the lives of two English families as they blend with dramatic events of the Twentieth Century. Much of the while, the affairs of the principals dwindle in significance in comparison to the gigantic, world-sweeping drama going on. The production itself has been made on a lavish scale, with much attention paid to authentic atmosphere. The cast headed by Give Brook and Diana Wynyard is thoroughly competent. Alternating from lauphter to tears, with the latter predominating, the story opens on New Year's Eve. 1899, and runs to the present period. It involves two English families, one aristocratic, and the other their servants. History-making events such as the Boer War, sinking of the Titanic and the World War pass in procession, particularly with emphasis on the great conflict. Cast: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Ursula Jeans, Herbert Mundm, Una O'Connor, Merle Tottenham, Irene Browne. Beryl Mercer, Frank Lawton, John Warburton, Margaret Lindsay, Tempe Piggott and Billy Bevan Director, Frank Lloyd; Author, Noel Coward; Adaptor, Reginald Berkeley; War Scenes, William Cameron Menzies; Dialogue Director, George Hadden; Art Director, William Darling; Editor, Margaret Clancy; Recording Engineer, J E Aiken, Cameraman, Ernest Palmer. Direction, Splendid Photography, Fine LASKY STARTS FIRST WtA Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Jesse L. Lasky wil1 p'ace "Zoo in Budapest," his first independent feature for Fox, in production on Monday. Gene Raymond and Loretta Young head the cast with Rowland V. Lee directing. Lasky's second will be "Warrior's Husband," followed by "Peking Picnic" and "Berkeley Square." s>fjritlatt& $c gentian?! Men's Tailors IS West 45th St. New York • DUSINESS suits made to order. Finest imported cloths of rich, luxurious patterns. Hand workman-hip only. Formerly $125 and more — NOW 75 Ruth Chatterton in "FRISCO JENNY" First National 72 mins. RUTH CHATTERTON GIVES EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN STRONG DRAMA OF MADAM X" THEME. This feature provides thoroughly good entertainment from start to finish. Starting with Miss Chatterton as a San Francisco barkeeper's daughter, in the early nineteen hundreds, the story tells of her secret love affair with a chap who later is killed in the earthquake and the subsequent birth of her fatherless son. She is induced to permit the adoption of her boy, by a wealthy lawyer and his wife. Frisco Jenny then enters illegitimate and illegal pursuits. Her son becomes district attorney. Jenny's partner threatens to tell ler son about his illegitimate birth but is shot down by Jenny. She is then prose:uted by her own son and convicted of first degree murder. She goes to the gallows without divulging her life's secret to the boy. The earthquake scenes are thrilling and Miss Chatterton's emotional scenes extremely convincing. Cast: Ruth Chatterton, Donald Cook, James Murray, Louis Calhern, Hallam Coolley, Pat O'Malley, Robert Warwick. Harold Huber, Helen Jerome Eddy. Frank McGlynn, J. Carrol Naish, Noel Francis, Robert Emmet t O'Connor, Sam Godfrey, Frank in Parker. Director, William A. Wellman; Authors, Gerald Beaumont, Lillie Hayward, John Francis Larkin; Scenarists, Wilson Mizner, Robert Lord; Editor, James Morley; Cameraman, Sid Hickox Direction, Excellent. Photography, Fine "THE BILLION DOLLAR SCANDAL" with Robert Armstrong and Constance Cummings Paramount 70 mins. PLENTY OF DIVERSIFIED ENTERTAINMENT MATERIAL PACKED INTO DRAMA OF GOVERNMENT OIL SCANDALS. Except that its woman interest is not very strong and that the news idea on which it is based has become a bit stale in view of more recent developments, this story of oil scandals with big government officials implicated makes engrossing fare. It has quite a bit of action, too, and Robert Armstrong, as an athletic instructor and former convict who overhears the crooked plots and eventually exposes them, °ivcs a swell performance. What little love interest there is in the yarn involves Armstrong's young brother, Frank Albertson, whom he is trying to bring up as a respected gentleman, and Constance Cummings, the daughter of a promoter. Stock market manipulations, newspaper crusading, murder and a long list of dramatic and comedy material has been woven into the story, all of it together making for fairly consistent suspense and entertainment. It's a Charles R. Rogers production. Cast: Robert Armstrong, Constance Cummings, Olga Baclanova. Frank Morgan, James Gleason, Irving Pichel, Warren Hymer, Frank Albertson, Berton Churchill, Sidney Toler, Walter Walker, Hale Hamilton, Dorothy Peterson, Edmund Breese, Ralf Harolde, William Davidson, Ed Van Sloan, Purnell Pratt. Director, Harry Joe Brown; Authors, Gene Towne, Graham Baker; Adaptors. same; Dialoguers, Willard Mack, Beatrice Banyard; Cameraman, Charles Stumar. Direction, Good Photography, Good "Cavalcade" Selling 6 Weeks Ahead First matinee of "Cavalcade," Fox picture, at the Gaiety yesterday was a complete sell-out, and ticket agents, reported a "buy" of from six to eight weeks, according to Fox. Audience at the initial matinee was distinctly a class one. Studios Are Turning Out Better Product — Allied (Continued from Page 1) from a box-office standpoint, Warner-First National was rated first, Paramount second, M-G-M third and Fox fourth. Among companies in .he second half of the list are Columbia, World Wide, United Artists and RKO. Opinion of the meeting was that :here appears to be a growing sentiment in favor of revising admission prices downward. Date of the regular meeting of he Allied board, which was to have been held this week, will be set in a few days. The confab will be sometime about Jan. 15. W. B. MANAGER MEET ENDS Meeting of Warner circuit zone managers, held in New York with Joseph Bernard president, was concluded yesterday and the district heads have returned to their respective territories. Policies for the next few months were outlined, and various problems presented at the confabs are now being taken up by Bernhard at home office executives. Henry Muller Loses Action Against Erpi (Continued from Page 1) close of the plaintiff's testimony, and before any testimony had been offered by the defendant. This suit, originally brought in October, 1930, against Fox, Erpi and various film companies, sought about half a million in damages. Two Favorable Measures Pending in Pennsylvania Harrisburgh — Two measures which would somewhat alleviate exhibitor difficulties are <being considered by Pennsylvania legislators. Rep. Louis Schwartz of Philadelphia has introduced a bill permitting theatrical performances on Sunday evenings. It would remove the legal ban on "worldly labor" on Sabbath. The regular Republican organization is considering elimination of the state censor board as part of its proposed $4,500,000 economy program. "SPEED DEMON" with William Collier, Jr., Joan Marsh Columbia 64 mins. LIVELY AND COLORFUL YARN OF MOTOR BOAT RACING GETS OVER WITH PLENTY OF HUMAN INTEREST. A very enjoyable number of the light entertainment variety, that gives William Collier, Jr., a fat part. And he handles it with plenty of snap. It is another in the motor boat racing cycle. Collier is a mechanic employed by an old boat builder who has perfected a new design for a racing craft. The youthful hero begs the chance to drive the boat, but the rival gang sec to it that he has imbibed liquor, and he loses the race. The builder throws him out, and the daughter of the owner also passes him up, although she is madly in love with him. Some good human interest stuff with a kid, Georgie Ernest, who plays an orphan waif whom Collier adopts. Through the efforts of the kid and trie girl, he stages a comeback in a later race, outwits the racketeer gang that is out to beat him as their rival, and wins the race. The speed boat sequences are plenty sensational, and the human interest slants makes it a film with appeal to old and young. Cast: William Collier, Jr., Joan Marsh, Wheeler Oakman, Robert Ellis, Georgie Ernest, Frank Sheridan, Wade Boteler, Ed Le Saint, Fuzzy Knight, Ethon Laidlaw, Harry Tenbrook. Director, D Ross Lederman; Author, Charles R Condon; Adaptor, same; Cameraman, Ben Kline; Recording Engineer, Glenn Rominger. Direction, Snappy Photography, Very good THEATER MANAGER MISSING Arnold Stevens, manager of the Regent, Bay Shore, has been missing since Monday, when he left his home for the theater, it was reported to the poilce yesterday by his wife. IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD'S most convenient hotel. Next to famous studios, theatres, cafes and shops ..ten minutes from golf courses, bridle paths, etc The Plaza Hotel is quiet, luxuriously furnished, with restful beds, glistening tile baths and showers, excellent service and cuisine, convenient parking— every modern convenience for vour comfort. European plan. $2 50 and up, single $3. 50up. double. $4.50 up, twin beds Special weekly and monthly rates Loot for the "Doorway of Hospitality' HOLLYWOOD PLAZA VINi ST. AT HOLLYWOOD BLVD.