The Film Daily (1936)

THE Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1936 ■c&H DAILY ft ft Reviews of the View Films «& i> Tex Ritter in "SONG OF THE GRINGO" with Joan Woodbury, Fuzzy Knight, Monte Blue, Warner Richmond, Al Jennings, William Desmond Grand National 62 mins. MUSICAL WESTERN STUDDED WITH SONGS AND CAPABLE ACTING BY WELL-CHOSEN CAST. Via radio and rodeo, Tex Ritter makes his screen debut in this song-studded western which is also first Grand National release from producer Edward F. Finney. Based on solid story, it is well above average outdoor drama on virtually every count. Ritter's singing ability, personality and natural flare for acting indicate a future of popularity and profit for him. Feminine lead is in capable hands of Joan Woodbury who portrays her role with thorough understanding. Careful casting has much to do with inherent power of footage to entertain, for one looks at supporting performances with feeling that all the stirring happenings in and about the rancho are realities. These events get under way rapidly when Ritter, a young U. S. deputy marshal, sets out to corner a clever band of mining racketeers. Pursued through a stormy night by a sheriff's posse, he takes refuge in the room of the rancho owner's daughter. The property manager of the hacienda prevents the "fugitive's" capture, to add manpower to his marauders. Both men, as the drama progresses, are in love with the girl, — a rivalry which gives Ritter two-fisted, straight-shooting opportunities to show his mettle, both manfully and vocally. The unscrupulous manager kills the girl's father to have blame fall on Ritter, but at the court trial the latter springs the carefully planned trap. The racketeer chief is killed in gun-play in the court room. The young marshal is triumphant both in duty and love. 'Fuzzy Knight, plus three veteran Hollywood players, William Desmond, Monte Blue and Warner Richmond, all add zest to this melodious, fast-stepping film. Cast: Tex Ritter, Joan Woodbury, Fuzzy Knight, Monte Blue, Richard Adams, Warner Richmond, Martin Gorralaga, Al Jennings, Wiiiiam Desmond. Producer, Edward F. Finney; Supervisor, Lindsley Parsons; Director, John P. McCarthy; Authors, John P. McCarthy, Robert Emrnett; Screeplay, John P. McCarthy, Robert Emmett, Al Jennings; Cameraman, Gus Peterson; Editor, Fred Bains. Direction, Good. Photography, Good. FOREIGN "STUETZEN DER GESELLSCHAFT" — German dialogue film based on Ibsen's "Pillars of Society"; produced by UFA, directed by Detlef Sierck, with Heinrich Georg, Maria Krahn, Horst Teetzmann, et al. Presented at 86th St. Garden Theater. Strong, action-filled version of Ibsen's bristling broadside against intrenched greed and ruthlessness among ruling classes. Comedy, thrills and technical perfection are copiously built into scenes. A powerful feature which is sure to evoke enthusiasm from audiences understanding German. "CIELITO LINDO" ("Beautiful Sky"), dialogue film in Spanish, produced in Mex Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern in "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" RKO Radio 58 mins. GAY TRIFLE OF SPARKLING NONSENSE IS BRIGHT AND FUNNY AND MOVES FAST WITH SWELL CAST. If you wanted to pick flaws in the plausibilities missing in this story you could find plenty, for the plot construction is stretched for the fun to be found in it. And the writers found the fun in plenty — and the result is that any audience is in for one grand hour of enjoyment and light laughter. Ann Sothern is a photographer's model for an advertising agency. She is sent with a cameraman to pose on a yacht for nautical costumes, with a male model. The male doesn't show, but the owner of the yacht (Gene Raymond) does. The cameraman and Ann mistake him for the hired hand, and Gene plays dumb when he catches a slant at pretty Ann in her bathing togs. He carries on the deception for days, finally having his valet (Eric Blore) open up an advertising agency so that he can work every day with Ann. The excitement mounts and also the fun, when Ann egged on by her sister (Helen Broderick) is about to get engaged to an eccentric foreign millionaire. Gene pulls a fast one and wins in an exciting finish. What puts this over is the sprightliness of the plot situations, and the comedy work of Eric Blore and Helen Broderick. A very attractive sweetheart-team, this Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern. The lines are witty and crisp, and stand out among the leaders of the season for number of laughs scored. Cast: Gene Raymond, Ann Sothern, Helen Broderick, Eric Blore, Erik Rhodes, Harry Jans, Frank Jenks, Alan Curtis, Edward Price, Rolfe Sedan. Producer, Edward Kaufman; Director, Joseph Santley; Authors, Muriel Scheck, H. S. Kraft; Screenplay, Viola Brothers Shore; Editor, Jack Hively; Cameraman, J. Roy Hunt. Direction, Very Good. Photography, The Best. ico by J. Luis Bueno, directed by R. O'Quigley, with Lupita Gallardo, Arturo de Cordoba, Pepe Ortiz, Carlos Lopez, et al. At the Teatro Cervantes. Story of romance and the revolution of 1910 in Mexico. Two officers find themselves, despite friendship, suitors of the same girl. Battle and riding scenes are splendidly filmed, and the acting colorful. Feature is well produced and theme song pleasing. Lupita Gallardo plays leading feminine role with skill and restraint. SHORTS "Queensland's Tropic Gardens" World Wide Wonders 8 mins. Informative Fishing from an open boat offshore; shots of the giant crawfish; the inhabitant of the marine garden and aquaria; and the scenic beauties of Stony Creek Falls are presented. The concluding footage, containing the ascent to dizzy heights of towering trees by native climbers, is especially interesting. Another, and even stranger climber is introduced in the person of a species of climbing kangaroo. This is solid travelogue subject that gives onlookers an idea of Queensland's points of interest for tourists. It is informative and peppy. "Mother Pluto" (Silly Symphony) United Artists 9 mins. Clever Fancy Coming home to his kennel, Pluto finds the hen has laid a nest of eggs, which hatch and the chicks swarm all over Pluto as if he was their mother. In consternation he tries to get away from them, but they follow and soon he finds himself interested. When one chick gets hurt, he starts nursing it, and soon they are all swarming over him crying for attention. The mother hen discovers the loss of her chicks, and calls on the rooster for help. He finds Pluto with the chicks and licks the stuffings out of the pup. But after retiring defeated to his kennel, the chicks follow him in, and Pluto is still a mother by choice of the feathered family. A very clever fancy. "Skiing Is Believing" (News World of Sport) Columbia 10 mins. Thrilling A thrilling presentation of the amateurs in the skii sport, showing how they are instructed in the rudiments of the dangerous game, and then start out on the skii train to the mountains for their first adventure in the open. The work of the professionals is shown as they take the dangerous leap from the longest runway in the world. A good sports reel with plenty of thrills. Narration by Jack Kofoed. Described by Ford Bond. 10 mins. "Winter Thrills" World Wide Wonders Swell Action and beauty are arrayed in this chapter presenting skiing in the Australian mountains which have snow field covering two thousand square males. Breath-taking scenes are filmed of ski champs sweeping down the slopes of towering ranges. Camerawork is excellent. With Winter setting in, and interest in the rugged sports of the outdoors increasing among skating, sledding, snowshoeing and skiing enthusiasts, this short is a swell bet for exhibitors and their patrons. "Pleasure Places of Australia" World Wide Wonders 9 mins. Fine Audiences are shown sights of bustling Sydney, busiest port south of the equator, and beauties of New South Wales. Environs of former contain magnificent beaches and seascapes which delight travelers from all parts of the world. Human interest is injected by filming parks where honey bears disport. But the highlights of the reel are the eerie caves which are masterpieces of Mother Nature, who has performed esthetic miracles in the weirdly, appealing traceries formed by the seeping of calcium and water through the rock strata. These caves rank with the natural wonders of all continents. A fine short. "Tight Lines" World Wide Wonders 9 mins. Bang-Up One of best big game fishing reels to date, its footage packed with action. Sea lovers and landlubbers alike will find thrilling drama in the baiting of giant hooks with horse mackerel which is prelude to the real show, — the sensational battle that ensues successively with a giant blue shark, a hammerhead shark and a majestic swordfish. It's nine full minutes of bang-up entertainment, forcefully narrated and photographed skillfully. "Camelback to Central Australia" World Wide Wonders 7 mins. Bright Its subject matter bright and deftly edited, this chapter recounts a journey on "ships of the desert" to Australia's interior. The caravan passes through picturesque country which is one of most unusual in world from geological standpoint. Aboriginal villages are visited where strange native dances are on tap. Of these the more unusual are the bushmen's conceptions of a snake, kangaroo and emu dance. "Skyways to Gold" World Wide Wonders 10 mins. Off Beaten Path This short is decidedly off the beaten path, depicting the conquest of New Guinea's cannibal country by gold mining interests. At the risk of life and limb, these undaunted miners carry on their activity in the mountain fastnesses far from civilization. ' Their successful operations are made possible by the transport of equipment by airplane. Even huge steel girders are carried by plane. The entire risky project is paying handsome returns. So rife with peril is flying in the forbidden confines of New Guinea that audiences would much rather watch the planes on the screen than be in them. Md. Blue Law Killed Washington Bureau of Til II FILM DAILY Washington — Complete returns from Howard County, Maryland, reveal that another Maryland "blue law" has been killed, 1,649 voters casting ballots in favor of Sunday movies with 1,089 opposed.