The Film Daily (1935)

« « REVIEWS OF T HE NEW F I L M S » » Miriam Hopkins in "SPLENDOR" with Joel McCrea, Paul Cavanagh, Helen Westley, Billie Burke, David Niven United Artists (Goldwyn) 77 mins. SWELL ROMANTIC DRAMA IN TYPICALLY GOLDWYN STYLE WITH APPEAL RUNNING FROM FIRST ROW TO GALLERY. Produced on the class scale that is synonymous with the name of Goldwyn, and with its appeal geared to take in both the sophisticates and the rank and file, this attraction should give a good account of itself at the box-office. Besides the romantic and dramatic interest of the story, there is a grand performance by Miriam Hopkins, supplemented by fine work on the part of Joel McCrea, Paul Cavanagh, Helen Westley, David Niven and others, while Elliott Nugent's direction does full credit to the efficient script by Rachel Crothers. Story is about a financially embarrassed family, accustomed to living in grand style, and who now look to the eligible son and brother, Joel McCrea, to marry an heiress in order to put them back on their feet. Instead Joel marries the penniless Miriam Hopkins for love. So the family goes to work on Miriam and forces her into a liaison with the rich and influential Paul Cavanagh so he will make it possible for Joel to pull a big money deal. When Joel finds out, it breaks up the marriage, but eventually he comes to his senses, gives his selfish family a kick in the slats and seeks out Miriam for a reconciliation. Cast: Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrea, Paul Cavanagh, Helen Westley, Billie Burke, Katherine Alexander, Ruth Weston, David Niven, Ivan Simpson, Arthur Treacher, Torben Meyer, Reginald Sheffield. Producer, Samuel Goldwyn; Director, Elliott Nugent; Screenplay, Rachel Crothers; Cameraman, Gregg Tcland; Editor, Margaret Clancey. Direction, First-rate. Photography, Fine. "MY MARRIAGE" with Claire Trevor, Kent Taylor, Pauline Frederick, Paul Kelly (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) 20th Century-Fox 73 mins. FAIR MOTHER-IN-LAW STORY OF FAMILIAR PATTERN BUT NICELY HANDLED, OKAY AS POP FARE. Because of the fact that it is well handled, "My Marriage" should do all right as a program number. However, the story of the mother-in-law, who is always menacing the happiness of the newly married couple is familiar. George Archainbaud's direction keeps things moving along and he gets some nice performances from the players, all of which helps to maintain interest. Frances Hyland's story is well worked out, but still it's the oft told yarn. Claire Trevor has the important part, which she handles nicely. Thomas Beck deserves special mention for his handling of a difficult role, and Pauline Frederick, as the plotting mother-in-law, does her work in such a manner as to make a villainous role somewhat sympathetic. Kent Taylor and Paul Kelly are prominent in the cast, and a new girl, Helen Wood, looks like she has the stuff for the screen. Claire and Taylor, society members, are about to be married when Claire's father is murdered and his racketeering businesses are revealed. Because of pride, Taylor's mother wants to prevent her son from living with Claire, but she allows the marriage hoping that his friends would bring about the separation since she knows she cannot break it up herself. Her other son was unknowingly mixed up in the murder, and through Paul Kelly, Clair's friend, everything is straightened out. Cast: Claire Trevor, Kent Taylor, Pauline Frederick, Paul Kelly, Helen Weed, Thomas Beck, Beryl Mercer, Henry Kolker, Colin Tapley, Noel Madison, Ralf Harolde, Charles Richman, Frank Dawson. Producer, Sol M. Wurtzel; Director, George Archainbaud; Original Screenplay, Frances Hyland; Cameraman, Barney McGill; Musical Director, Samuel Kaylin; Editor, Alex Troffey. Direction, Very Good Photography, Good. Gene Autry in "THE SAGEBRUSH TROUBADOUR" with Barbara Pepper, Smiley Burnette and Champion (HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW) Republic 68 mins. FIRST-RATE WESTERN WITH PLENTY OF ACTION AND SOME PLEASING MUSICAL NUMBERS. In addition to putting over some good song numbers, Gene Autry, ably assisted by Smiley Burnette, does some hard fast riding, clever roping, and comes out the winner in bang-up fights. The work of these two boys makes this a number that the outdoor action fans are going to like, even though there are a couple of spots in which the action is a bit far-fetched. There is plenty doing all the time, for the boys are out to find the murderer, and when they are not actually at work, their singing and playing furnish enjoyable entertainment. Burnette has a sense of putting over wholesome comedy and with his vocal changes, the fans should like his work. Autry and Smiley enter on the scene to find the murderer of the owner of a sway-back horse, which they have found. This leads them through a number of exciting incidents, in which Autry meets the girl whose grandfather was the person killed. The sway-back horse leads all the interested parties to an old mine, where Autry is able to find the killer. Cast: Gene Autry, Barbara Pepper, Smiley Burnette, Fred Kelsey, Hooper Atchley, Frank Glendon, Denny Meadows, Julian Riverc. Tom London, Tommy Gene Fairey, Champion. Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Joseph Kane; Author, Oliver Drake; Screenplay, Oliver Drake, Joseph Poland; Cameraman, Ernest Miller, Jack Marta; Songs, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette; Editor, Lester Orlebeck. Direction, Fast. Photography, A-l. second but is ruled the winner. Bill Boyd is ruled off the turf when it is discovered that his horse has been doped. He suspects Ernest Hilliard, a rival horse owner, but has no proof. Later to please a youngster, George Ernest, he buys Color Sergeant, a lame horse owned by Hilliard that is about to be shot. The kid and Boyd become partners owning the lame horse, and at the broken down racing stables left by the father to the boy and his sister, they start working the lame horse back into condition by a clever trick. After a series of incidents including an attempt by Hilliard to destroy Color Sergeant in a fire, the big race is run and won by Hilliard's entry, but Boyd has it disqualifiel and he cops first on proving that the winning horse is a ringer. The usual romance with the girl rounds this out for pop entertainment for both sexes. Cast: Bill Boyd, Barbara Worth, George Ernest, Esther Muir, Ernest Hilliard, Onest Conley, Ben Hall, Henry Roquemore. Dick Curtis, Ted Caskey. Director, Sam Newfield; Authors, Jack O'Donnell, George Sayre; Screenplay, Same; Editor, Charles Hunt; Cameraman, Edgar Lyons. Direction, Okay. Photography. Good. "RACING LUCK" with Bill Boyd, Barbara Worth Republic 59 mins. PLENTY OF THRILL RACING ATMOSPHERE WITH SURPRISE TWISTS GETS THIS OVER NICELY. The plot carries a lot of inside dope on the tricks of the turf, and works up to a suspenseful climax race with a surprise victory after the hero's horse ran "LAND OF PROMISE" Samuel Blitz 60 mins. IMPRESSIVE PICTURE OF PALESTINEREBUILDING BY THE JEWS IS ENTERTAININGLY DEVELOPED. The story of Palestine's modernization and prosperity as a result of Jewish colonization is very interestingly unfolded in this picture, which has a musical score arranged by Boris Morros, narrative by Maurice Samuel, and David Ross as narrator. The narrative is held down to a minimum. The director sought and succeeded in achieving his aim of showing the change which has come over Palestine in the last 15 years by a constant succession of excellently photographed shots showing the Jewish colonists in their activities of work and play in the fields, factories, schools, collectives, cities, beaches. The picture opens to show the ancient character of the modes of living of the natives before the Jews undertook active colonization. Then is shown the change that comes over the land with the years. First the settlers must develop the means of livelihood from the soil. Then come factories and other pursuits. The film has a constant effect of movement. It is of interest not only to Jews but to gentiles also. The actors are the people of Palestine. Supervisor, Leo Hermann; Director, Judah Leman; Musical Score, Boris Morrcs; Recording Engineer, Walter R. Hicks; Cameraman, Chas. W. Herbert; Film Editor, Judah Leman. Direction, Good. Photography, Excellent Buck Jones in "THE IVORY-HANDLED GUN" with Charlotte Wynters Universal 59 mins. REGULATION WESTERN WITH THE NECESSARY STUFF TO PLEASE THE OUTDOOR ACTION CLIENTELE. Nothing drastically new or different in this one, as far as westerns go, but it contains a satisfactory concoction of the usual outdoor melodramatics and should please the fans who go for this type of fare. Buck Jones does a first-class job in the double role of producer and star. His leading lady, Charlotte Wynters, also acquits herself nicely, while the surrounding cast is made up of dyed-in-the-wool western performers who know their way around with their eyes closed. Action revolves around an ivory-handled gun that is in the possession of a clan which has been engaged in a long feud with the Jones side. Jones' mission is to recover the gun and reestablish the Jones family. In true hero fashion, he accomplishes the job. Cast: Buck Jones, Charlotte Wynters, Walter Miller, Carl Stockdale, Frank Rice] Joseph Girard, Robert Kortman, Stanley Blystcne, Lafe McKee, Lee Shumway, Ben Ccrbett, Charles King, Eddie Phillips, Niles Welch. Producer, Buck Jones; Director, Ray Taylor; Author, Charles E. Barnes; Screenplay. Jack Neville; Cameramen, Allen Thompson, Herbert Kirkpatrick; Editor, Bernard Loftus. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. FOREIGN "ICH KENN' DICH NICHT UND LIEBE DICH" ("I Don't Know You But I Love You"), in German; produced by BostonFilms; directed by Geza von Bolvary; with Magda Schneider, Will Forst, et al. At the 86th St. Casino. Pleasing romantic comedy about a composer who derives inspiration from the photograph of a girl he has never met. Fine acting by Magda Schneider and a good supporting cast, plus excellent direction and some enjoyable music, are among the film's highlights. "POLENBLUT" ("Polish Blood"), in German; produced by Ondra-Lamac; directed by Karl Lamac; with Anny Ondra, Ivan Petrovitch, et al. At the 79th St. Theater. Comedy-romance with music makes very amusing entertainment, due largely to the sprightly performance of Anny Ondra and the ample amount of broad comedy mixed in with the romance, action, music and dancing. SHORTS "The Parade of the Maestros" with Ferde Grofe, Red Nichols, Emery Deutsch Paramount 10 mins, Fine Musical Novelty Somewhat off the beaten path in the way of orchestra subjects, this one-reeler presents three leading musical directors, each doing a specialty in his particular line and each announced by a different radio announcer. The outstanding bit is Grofe's presentation of his "Mississippi Suite" composition, with Deutsch also presenting his own number, "When a Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry," while Nichols goes in for some hot stuff. Vocalizing also accompanies the numbers, and for a grand finale the trio of maestros give their respective interpretations of a popular piece. The short has been handsomely produced.