The Film Daily (1935)

THE 2^3 DAILY Friday, Oct. 4, 1935 « REVIEWS OF T HE NEW F I L M S "BORN TO GAMBLE" with Onslow Stevens, H. B. Warner, Maxine Doyle, Eric Linden, Lois Wilson Republic (Liberty) 70 mins. MODERATELY SATISFYING ANTI-GAMBLING DRAMA WITH FAIR APPEAL FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES. Somewhat of a preachment on the evils of gambling, this yarn holds interest fairly well throughout its narrative contents, but develops nothing in the way of punch and therefore is relegated to a medium program rating. To impress upon some of his fellow club members that gambling is a vicious and destructive habit, H. B. Warner, now an old man, relates incidents in the life of his family, with flashbacks depicting what happened to four sons who inherited the gambling urge and suffered from it throughout their careers, which run from before the war, through the big conflict, the bootleg period, stock market debacle and down to the present day, with one boy losing his life in the war, another being shot down by racketeers, a third committing suicide over stock market losses, and the fourth finally subduing the family curse. The latter, Onslow Stevens, also figures in the incidental love interest with Maxine Doyle. Cast: Onslow Stevens H. B. Warner, Maxine Dcyle, Eric Linden, Lcis Wilscn, William Janney, Ben Alexander, Lucien Prival Producer, M. H. Hoffman; Director, Phil Rcsen; Author, E. Morten Hough (story suggested by Edgar Wallace's "The Greek Poropulos") ; Screenplay, E. Morton Hough; Cameraman, Gilbert Warrenton; Editor, Mildred Johnston. Direction, Fair Photography, Okay. Charge Gov't Counsel Tried to Inflame Jury (Continued from Page 1) theater holdings of the defendant corporations. Later in the proceedings lawyers for the three major companies and six individual defendants involved in the action asked dismissal of the indictments on the ground that they exceed the scope of the Sherman anti-trust law on which they are based. Leading the attack from this angle Attorney George Leisure, representing RKO, declared that the issues specified in the indictments are within state jurisdiction alone and not concerned with inter-state commerce. Judge Moore refused to grant the motions. The session got under way with the selection of two additional jurors, which procedure was again opposed by Attorney Fred H. Wood, who said the statute under which the move was being made had been declared unconstitutional. The court pointed out its previous day's decision approving of the plan. A defendant application to exclude witnesses awaiting their turn to testify was also denied by Judge Moore. Hardy then commenced his opening statement, presentation of which was punctuated by defense counsel objections. First reading from the indictment, he declared that the de Lee Tracy in TWO-FISTED" with Grace Bradley, Kent Taylor, Roscoe Karns, Gail Patrick, Gordon Westcott, G. P. Huntley, Jr. Paramount 60 mins. FAIRLY ENTERTAINING COMEDY OF PRIZEFIGHTERS IN SOCIETY MAKES OKAY POP ENTERTAINMENT. Based on "Is Zat So?" the stage hit and silent picture of about eight years ago, this is still fairly satisfactory mass entertainment even though the wisecracking nature of its story has aged somewhat. Lee Tracy acquits himself very well in the role played on the stage by James Gleason, managing a fighter, Roscoe Karns, while the other members of the cast fit into the picture with agreeable results. Hired as trainers and bodyguards in society, Tracy and Karns mix it up with the social crowd, where they make the usual boners, provide indulgent amusement for the upper crust, become involved in a few dramatic developments along with the comedy, and drum up a romance between Karns and Gail Patrick, all of which results in the kind of fare that has no trouble getting across with the pop audiences. The script has been refreshed a bit, and James Cruze's direction helps it some more. Cast: Lee Tracy, Roscoe Karns, Grace Bradley, Kent Taylor, Gail Patrick, Gordon Westcott, G. P. Huntley Jr., Billy Lee, Samuel S. Hinds, Florence Lake, Sarah Edwards, Lillian Leighton, Ferdinand Munier, John Indnsano, Lew Kelly, Akim Tamircff, Irving Bacon. P.oducer, Harold Hurley; Director, James Cruze; Authors, James Gleason, Richard Taber; Screenplay, Sam Hellman, Francis Martin, Eddie Moran; Cameraman, Harry Fishbeck; Editor, James Smith. Direction, Good. Photography, Good "TOLL OF THE DESERT" with Fred Kohler, Jr. William Steiner 58 mins. LIVELY WESTERN WITH PLENTY ACTION AND A GOOD YARN WILL PLEASE FANS. Fast-moving and with plenty of action against attractive outdoor backgrounds, this picture will satisfy audiences with an appetite for westerns. Fred Kohler, Jr., makes en agreeable hero. Fred is a waif picked up by a passerby after an Indian ambuscade. His father, who was saved from the slaughter by a group of passing outlaws and then threw in his lot with them, is leader of an outlaw band. Grown to manhood, Fred sees his foster father shot down by his real father, whom he does not know and who does not know him. Fred vows to get the outlaw band and after being sworn in as a deputy goes after them. He is captured when he invades the outlaws' camp singlehanded. Fred is turned loose and is about to be shot down when the outlaw leader realizes that he is his son and saves his life. Fred then captures his father and brings him to be hanged without realizing his identity and without being informed of it. A romance is interwoven. Cast: Fred Kohler, Jr., Betty Mack, Roger Williams, Edward Cassidy, Tern London, Earl Dwiro. Producer, William Berke; Director, Lester Williams; Author, Allen Hall; Screenplay, Miller Easton; Cameraman, Robert Cline; Film Editor, Arthur A Brocks; Recording Engineer, T T. Tnplett. Direction, Good Photography, Satisfactory fendants had conspired to get control of the Ambassador, New Grand Central and Missouri theaters here. He later asserted that the defendant corporations have joint assets of $660,000,000. Senator James A. Reed, heading the Warner legal staff, objected to the statement as serving to prejudice the jury, but Judge Moore overruled it. Breaking down his figures Hardy asserted that in 1934 Warners made 16 per cent of all the industry's "best pictures" and has assets amounting to $168,000,000. Again an objection was registered and the process was duplicated a moment later when the chief government counsel said the company controls more than 500 theaters. Paramount attorneys chorused objections when Hardy said that the company is "part of a gigantic corporate cluster," produced 15 per cent of the "best pictures" in 1934, runs 1200 theaters and has assets approximating $405,000,000. The prosecutor similarly described RKO as part of a gigantic corporation, with the usual objections following. He estimated that the organization in 1934 made 13 per cent of the firstclass films and placed its assets at $92,000,000 and its theaters at 100. Hardy also alleged that the individual defendant officials "assisted" the defendant companies in perpetuating the alleged conspiracy which the government charges occurred through refusal of the companies to sell pictures to the three Fanchon & Marco theaters involved in the action. Hardy then went into a detailed account of events preceding the situation on which the criminal action is based. He also figured that annual film rentals of the defendant corporations amount to $220,000,000. Defense attorneys accused Hardy with deliberately trying to prejudice the jurors through stressing the alleged financial positions and properties of their clients. The Government counsel, however, denied he intended "an attack on wealth." Later defense lawyers renewed their motions for a mistrial. At the afternoon session, Senator Reed, in behalf of Warners, delivered an opening statement which occupied two an a half hours. He alleged that the "only group engaged in conspiracy is the one represented by the government". Taking issue with Hardy's statements relative to the "wealth" of the defendant companies, Senator Reed pointed out that in 1934 both Paramount and RKO were in financial difficulties and asserted that Warners were "staggering" under the weight of monetary burdens at that time. Reed devoted much time to tracing development of the Warner Company and presenting its version of events SHORTS "Wonders of the World" C. S. Clancy Prod. 8 mins. Fine Color Novelty A very unique pictorial done in Cinecolor, containing four subjects. The Natural Bridge of Virginia which George Washington once surveyed. The Endless Caverns in the same state. The most interesting subject is the famous Shenandoah Caverns, showing the gorgeous groupings of stalactites and other crystal formations that nature has jarved through the centuries. A novel lighting system was specially created by cinematographer Burgi Contner in order to properly photograph these natural wonders under conditions far removed from the facilities of the studio. He did a marvellous job, and Cinecolor brought out the color scheme beautifully. The final sequence shows Niagara Falls shot from many unusual angles, finishing with the full roar of the giant falls, turned on by the sound man. The celebrated radio announcer, Arthur Hale, delivers a fine narration. Should score on any program. preceding filing of the government's action. In a vitriolic attack on Harry Koplar, local theater operator who was formerly in partnership with Spyros Skouras' theater company here, Senator Reed said that when the partnership was dissolved, Koplar, under the agreement, was to give the St. Louis Amusement Co. the right to any houses he planned. However, he alleged, Koplar breached the contract when he built a theater in 1925. Furthermore, Reed asserted, Koplar sought to "drive" Skouras and Warners out of St. Louis and to effect a monopoly. Sailing into Koplar, the Warner attorney charged him with inspiring various legal and other attacks upon his client. Senator Reed will resume his statement when court reconvenes this morning. Later in the day examination of witnesses is scheduled to begin with Harry Arthur, President of Fanchon & Marco, slated to first take the stand. Abel C. Thomas to Get Separate Trial Later St. Louis — The severance given Abel Cary Thomas, Warner secretary and general counsel and a defendant in the government's criminal conspiracy action on trial here, means that he will be given a separate trial later, attorneys engaged in the case explained yesterday. Date will be contingent upon Thomas' improvement in health.