Harrison's Reports (1931)

62 HARRISON’S REPORTS “The Millionaire” — with George Arliss ( Warner Bros., May 1; running time, 81 min. ) This is the same picture as “Ruling Passion,” which was released through United Artists several years ago in silent form, and which starred also Mr. Arliss. Though the silent version was a far better comedy, “The Millionaire” is not bad ; it is, in fact, very good. Where the difference comes in is in the beginning, which Warner Bros, stuffed with material that retards the progress of the real story : — Mr. Arliss, the head of a big automobile concern, is ordered by the doctor to give up work and go west for his health. Since he loves work, he puts up a fight against submitting to his orders, but eventually he succumbs. In the west, he misses his pipe, and soon tires of the life of quiet and pills. An insurance salesman plants a thought in his mind — to buy an interest in some business and keep active. Looking over the “Business Opportunities” column in a newspaper, he decides to buy secretly a half interest in a garage. He pays his money and becomes a half-partner with a young man, who had just bought the other half. A day after they took charge of the garage they noticed that no trade was coming, and learn that they had been swindled, for they had bought the garage just a day before a new road opened, diverting the trade. The young man, although he had invested every cent he owned in the world, feels sorry for his old partner, who had told him he had a wife and child, and who had engaged in the garage business under an assumed name, so as not to let his family know what he was doing. He craved for freedom and for activity and he was determined to get it. Mr. Arliss thinks over their situation and determines upon a plan. He arranges with a bank for a loan and starts a new garage opposite the new garage of the swindler ; they take his business away from him. Mr. Arliss’ daughter had accidentally become acquainted with his young partner. The two fall in love, but the young man does not know that his partner is the father of the girl he loves, and a wealthy man. The garage prospers, they sell it, and with the proceeds the hero decides to help the young man open an office as an architect, a profession he had studied. The two young folk become engaged, and the young man learns who his partner is. The comedy occurs mostly in the situations where George Arliss goes under an assumed name, posing as a hard working man ; also in those that show him trying to dodge his wife and his daughter so that they might not recognize him. The plot has been founded on a story by Earl Derr Riggers; it was directed by John Adolphi. Evalyn Knapp is the daughter, Florence Arliss, the wife, David Manners, the young man, and Noah Beery, the swindler. The talk is not so clear at times. Good for children as well as for adults. Excellent Sunday show. Note : The production number is 317, which on the contract was titled, “Both Were Young.” Although no author was given either in the contract or in the Work Sheet, in the Warner announcement printed in the June 25, 1930, Variety, Elugh McNair Kahler was given as the author ; and since the finished product has been founded on a story by a different author, it is a story substitution and you can reject it if you so wish. But George Arliss was not promised in the cast ; therefore, if you should accept it, you will receive more than you bargained for. “Swanee River” ( Sono Art; Feb. 25 ; running time, 48 min.) A fair program picture. There is some suspense in the scenes where the hero eludes a posse, who wrongfully accuse him of having killed the heroine's guardian, and when the villain dynamites a dam, causing a flood and trapping the heroine in a cave. The action takes place in the South, and there is singing by a negro chorus throughout : — The heroine, ward of a Southern Colonel, feels it her duty to marry her guardian’s nephew, even though she loved the hero, an engineer working on a dam near where she lived. The nephew during a quarrel with the Colonel, kills him and the hero, who had come to plead with the Colonel to permit him to marry the heroine, is accused, the nephew being the first to accuse him so as to save himself. He evades his pursuers. With the aid of the heroine, who had faith in him, he procures a paper from the boss of the construction gang which shows that the nephew had deeded April 18, 1931 away property belonging to the Colonel, which brought on the fight and the murder. The nephew blows up the dam, causes a flood and is swept away by the water. The hero rescues the heroine from a cave which was gradually filling with water, where she was waiting for him. His name is cleared and the hero and the heroine are united. The story was written by Barbara Chambers Woods. It was directed by Raymond Cannon. In the cast are Grant Withers, Thelma Todd, Philo McCullough, Walter Miller, Palmer Morrison and Robert Frazier. The talk is clear. Suitable for children and for Sunday show. Note: According to the contract the story was to have been written by Roger W. Sherwood, and since it has been founded on a story by Barbara Chambers Wood it is a substitution. You have the right to reject it. “Stepping Out” ( M-G-M ; release date, April 11; running time, 70 min.) Average ! The picture’s redeeming feature is the work of Charlotte Greenwood, who struggles valiantly to inject comedy into the proceedings. The story, familiar, deals with two wives who decided to go on a spree of their own after they surprise their husbands with two pretty girls. The lines are spicy. To some, several of the situations may prove too spicy : — When the wives of two wealthy husbands who are dabbling in independent motion picture production suddenly return home and find them having a party with two pretty girls, they decide to take a “vacation” for themselves across the border at Agua Caliente. But before they go they discover that their husbands had, for business reasons, transferred all their holdings to their wives. This leaves the husbands without a penny. The latter discover that the secret is known and chase after their wives, who are attempting to have an affair with two college boys. The wives will not become reconciled with their husbands because of the pretty girl episode. The two girls arrive, intent on blackmail. Matters are later straightened out when the husbands get into their wives’ rooms and their lawyer takes care of the blackmailers. Charles F. Reisner directed the play by Elmer Harris. Charlotte Greenwood and Leila Hyams are the wives. Reginald Denny and Harry Stubbs are the husbands. Merna Kennedy and Lilian Bond are the girls. Richard Tucker is also in the cast. Not for children. Suitable only for adults who like the “racy” type of stories. Not for Sunday shows in small towns. (Not a substitution. One of the “Lucky Seven.” Out-of-town review.) “Misbehaving Ladies” ( First Nat.; release date, April 18; running time, 75 min.) A pleasant little comedy, especially suitable for small towns as it deals with life in that type of community. The characters may be a bit burlesqued but the spirit is likeable. Originally made as a silent, the talkie version is practically a duplicate with sound. Louise Fazenda and Lucien Littlefield are true to life in their roles. The end is happy : — The heroine, a small town girl who married a prince, returns to her home town when her husband dies. The community is planning a gala reception and expects to see her arrive in her royal raiment. But the princess comes to the home of her aunt and uncle dressed in modern clothes and is mistaken for a dressmaker who is expected at that time. Her uncle recognizes her, but her aunt does not. There are humorous complications when the aunt sees her husband flirting with the princess, not knowing the true facts of the situation. The hero, an inventor, recognizes the heroine, but keeps her secret. Their love flames anew. To thrill the aunt, the heroine slips away and returns bedecked in royal splendor. The town honors her, and welcomes the princess at a special gathering. After making a speech, the princess asks the town to finance the latest invention of the hero. It willingly contributes. William Beaudine directed the story by Juliet Wilbor Tompkins. Louise Fazenda. Lucien Littlefield, Lila Lee. Ben Lyon, Emily Fitzroy, Martha Mattox, and Oscar Apfel are in the cast. Good for all classes. Excellent for Sundays in small towns. Note: There are no ads in the film, but a copy of American Magazine is prominently displayed. (Out-oftown review. Not a road show. Not a substitution.)