The Film Daily (1936)

THE Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1936 is&m DAILY n « « REVIEWS OF THE NEW FILMS » » "NIGHT CARGO" with Jacqueline Wells and Lloyd Hughes Marcy Pictures (Peerless) 66 mins. JUST A FAIR TROPICAL MELODRAMA WITH NO PARTICULAR STRENGTH IN STORY OR CAST. Covering more or less familiar ground, this melodramatic yarn with a tropical setting makes moderately entertaining fare for the not too discriminating pop stands. With nothing outstanding in its story and no marquee value in its cast, the picture cannot rate as much more than a filler. Story has a romantic angle involving a native woman, with a murder side issue and other complicating developments, all of which are worked out for the usual overthrow of the villain and a happy fadeout for the lovers. Cast: Jacqueline Wells, Lloyd Hughes, Walter Miller, Carlotta Monti, Lloyd WhitIcck, George Regas, Jimmy Aubrey, John I nee. Producer, Peerless Pictures; Director, Charles Hutchinson; Author and Screenplay, Sherman L Lpwe; Cameraman, Walter London; Editor, Fred Bain Direction, Fair. Photography, Okay FOREIGN "TODO UN HOMBRE" ("A Real Man"), in Spanish; produced in Mexico by RegioMex.; directed by Ramon Peon; with Raul Talan, Alberto Marti, Maria Luisa Zea, et al. At the Teatro Campoamor. Entertaining prizefighting story with a pleasing romance on the side. SHORTS Buster Keaton in "Grand Slam Opera" (Star Personality Comedy) Educational 20 mins. A Laugh Riot Easily the best comedy Buster Keaton has ever delivered. Whoever supplied the original and side-splitting gags should be given a longterm contract, This unknown writer has the perfect material for this dead-pan comic, and the way Buster handles that material puts it over for a continuous salvo of laughs. It is fast. It has variety. It has, above all, originality. And Keaton times his laughs, and holds 'em till he gets every possible gurgle out of 'em. In fact there are so many gags in this honey that the average short comedy looks like an anaemic invalid alongside it. Keaton comes to New York from Gopher Prairie to go on an amateur radio program with his juggling act. He tells the amazed director of the program that he does it by explaining each stunt to the radio audience. He gets the gong at the first juggling stunt, but keeps going, not realizing that the orchestra is going ahead with the next number. And that's where the belly laffs come in. Finishes with the orch leader and Buster nlayiner the "Anvil Chorus" to the rhythm of beating each other over the head with broom and baton stick. And the end tag is too good to disclose. See it, — and book it without seeing it. It can't miss. It will be one of the biggest laugh-producers ever shot across your screen. Directed by Charles Lamont. "The Rose Bowl Classic" (Stanford-S. M. U. Game) Reliable Pictures 29 mins. Good Special This is a very interesting presentation of the Pasadena Rose Bowl football game and Rose Tournament parade. It should have strong appeal, especially to those interested in the game. The floats are very beautiful and the picture includes several highlights of the gridiron contest, including the Stanford touchdown and S.M.U.'s near-touchdown. The snappy S.M.U. band also gets a nice play. The photography is clear and the scenes well edited. The narration is good and snappy. A lot of close-ups are shown, including shots of Governor Allred of Texas and Governor Merriam of California. Some of the outstanding plays are shown in slow motion. A number of sidelights have been caught. "The Mayflower" (Paul Terry-Toon) Educational 7 mins. Neat Cartoon The Paul Terry cartoon character comes over on the Mayflower and helps to enliven the voyage of the early fathers of our Best Families. Landed on Plymouth Rock (which consists of a small boulder with a Plymouth hen hatching her brood), the cartoon hero and his blunderbuss and dog soon run afoul of the Indians. They are friendly at first, and sell hot dogs and suspenders to the new arrivals, but turn into howl ing savages when the hero takes a pot shot at a brave's feather headdress, mistaking it for a Thanksgiving turkey. Then the fun begins, and continues with plenty of laughs and clever gags. Produced H" Frank Moser and Paul Terry, with musical score by Philip A. Scheib. "Filming the Feminine Headliners" (Adventures of the Newsreel Cameraman) 20th Century-Fox 9 mins. Expert Femme Sports This one will please all the femmes, for it shows the girl athletes in every possible type of athletic activity. A very fast-moving reel, showing the stars of sports from aviation to fancy diving. And there is nothing amateurish about their work, including speed skating, parachute jumping and steeplechase. Produced by Truman Talley, edited and narrated by Lew Lehr — and marked by expert photography throughout. "Seeing Nellie Home" with Charles Henderson (A Song and Comedy Hit) Educational 11 mins. Old-Time Atmosphere Charles Henderson and His Master Singers put this one over nicely in the rustic atmosphere of an oldtime barn festivity in winter time, featured by a basket auction. The skit gives opportunity for the harmonizing of the femme and male voices on some of the old sentimental rural melodies, topping of course with "I Was Seeing Nellie Home,'. Nellie being the gal all the boys are trying to take home after the party. It has the old rustic flavor that makes it a timely number for winter showing with the snow atmosphere outside. Good singing and plenty of youth and movement. Produced by Al Christie. Directed by William Watson. Photographed by George Webber. Story by Art Jarrett. "Winter Magic" (Magic Carpet of Movietone) 20th Century-Fox 9 mins. Snow Masterpiece This is a masterpiece of photography in Winter Scenery in our own country. Cleverly contrasted with snow shots of New York in busy traffic and skating on the Central Park lake, with the rural scenes on the farm and the more rugged and blustery snow scenes in the mountain wilds. Some of the scenes are as gorgeous as paintings, and it is a feast of beauty for the nature lovers and the art-minded. A perfect winter number for any theater. Produced by Truman Talley. Edited by Lew Lehr. Narrated by Ed Thorgersen. "The Game of Jai-Alai" (A Treasure Chest) Educational 9 mins. Exciting Sport What is conceded to be about the fastest game in the world, Jai-Alai (pronounced "Hi-Li") is built un interestingly from its earliest form generations ago as an old Mexican ?nd Snanish game similar to the nresent-day American hand-ball. Then it is given in its modern form as demonstrated in Mexico City by a ouartet of expert nlayers. The game is played with a basket-shaped device strapped to the right hand. in which the hard ball is caught and thrown against the walls of the court. The ball travels so fast that the camera can't follow it. A dangerous, fast and exciting sport calling for tremendous speed, stamina °id skill. A sports novelty that will click. With a fine story narration by Edward Thorgersen. Nell Kelly in "Sorority Blues" (A Song and Comedy Hit) Educational 11 mins. Pip Girlies An eye-full of femme charm with the Sorority Girls at the college helping their pal Nell Kelly qualify on her studies so she can captain the big game on the morrow. The Dean gives her twenty minutes to finish her exams, and she does it with the help of the girls who put on a private show with song and dance acts. The girls in the line-up are there with the looks and figures, and the short has nice pace and variety. Produced by Al Christie. Directed by William Watson. Story by Marcy Klauber and Charles Williams. Legion Opening Offices Here Permanent offices will be established in New York by the Legion of Decency, according to Mrs. James F. Looram, chairman of the moving picture bureau of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae. The headquarters will be under the patronage of Cardinal Hayes. Warner Club Ball Feb. 22 The Warner Club plans its seventh annual ball at the Waldorf-Astoria on Feb. 22. "Sex Maniac" Stirs Trouble New Orleans — "Sex Maniac," first of the pictures for "adults only" to play here since the advent of the Legion of Decency, stirred the indignation of the Louisiana Motion Picture Council, the attention of the Better Business Bureau and resulted in the "Times-Picayune's" rejecting the advertising after it had run in two issues. Film is running a second week. Restrains Lease Foreclosure St. Louis — Circuit Judge O'Malley has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the forfeiture of a lease on the Granada Theater, granted to the St. Louis Amusement Co. in November, 1935, by the Royal Neighbors of America, a fraternal insurance organization. The court order was made returnable before Judge O'Malley on Jan. 9. Warners Plug Two Specials Two specials, dated for national release next month, are being given special exploitation by Warners. One is "Story of Louis Pasteur," for release Feb. 22, and the other is "Petrified Forest," Feb. 8. Columbia Film Title Change West Coast Rio-can of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Columbia's Ann Sothern and Lloyd Nolan starring vehicle, which carried the production title "Panic on the Air," has been permanently named "You May Be Next."