Harrison's Reports (1931)

174 HARRISON’S REPORTS “The Cisco Kid” with Warner Baxter (Fox, Nov. 1 ; running time, 63 min.) A good Western, although only fairly exciting. Warner Baxter makes a likeable bandit, for he is shown stealing only from those who pose as worthy people but who in reality are crooks attempting to steal from innocent people ; as for instance when he takes $5,000 from the town banker to give to the widow who had nursed him back to health. He knows that this banker is responsible for the widow’s husband's death and that she needed the money to pay the mortgage to the banker, who was attempting to get possession of her ranch. But, of course, the moral effect is not good for children, for it shows an individual taking the law into his own hands. There is one exciting scene where the hero, in an attempt to escape from the police sergeant, jumps his horse over the widow’s small child who tries to stop him. The child faints and he thinks she had been injured. Regardless of the fact that he will be captured he rushes back to the child. The police sergeant, when he hears of the things the hero had done for the widow and her children, permits him to go free telling the widow that he had mistaken the hero for a bandit. She had not been aware of the hero's identity. Most of the humor is supplied by the love affairs of both the hero and the police sergeant. There is human appeal in the scenes where the bandit is shown displaying fondness for the little children of the woman who nursed him. The plot was adapted from a story by O. Henry, and directed by Irving Cummings. In the cast are Edmund Lowe, Conchita Montenegro, Nora Lane, Frederic Burt, Willard Robertson and others. The talk is clear. Because of the fact that the hero is a bandit and is glorified, it may prove unsuitable for children and for Sunday showing. “Bad Company” with Helen Twelvetrees ( KKO Pathe, Oct. 2; running time, 67/ min.) Entertaining, although it deals with gangsters and racketeers. The interest is kept alive by reason of the fact that the hero, when he falls in love with the heroine, wants to get out of the racket, but because he knows too much he finds it difficult to quit. Also there is a good deal of action and suspense, especially in the situation where the villain sends the hero, who is in love with the heroine, to what he supposes will be his death. There is another suspensive situation where the hero, knowing that his wife is in the villain’s apartment, goes there with the police to rescue her. There is a good deal of shooting in this scene, and the villain is eventually killed by the heroine in self-defense. This leaves the way clear for them to start life anew. The heroine arouses the sympathy of the audience because she is innocent of the fact that both her brother and her husband are racketeers : — The heroine marries the hero not knowing that he is a ra keteer and also innocent of the fact that the marriage will bring her brother’s gang together with the hero’s gang ; she is unaware that her brother is a gangster. At the wedding the villain, head of the hero’s gang, sees her for the first time and falls in love with her. He showers gifts on her but she does not care for his attentions. He sends the hero out on an errand one night in his place, knowing that the police were in waiting and would shoot him. The hero is shot but not fatally and taken to a hospital. The heroine’s brother learns of this and goes witli his gang to even things up with the villain. Once there he and his gang are killed. The heroine goes to the villain’s apartment for revenge. But lie takes her gun from her which she later gets back. The police, with the aid of the hero, surround the building and shoot their way in. The heroine, in self defense, kills the villain, hut the police sergeant does not hold her. The hero and the heroine are reconciled and free to live a decent life. The plot was adapted from the story by Jack Lait. It was directed by Tay Garnett. In the cast are Ricardo Cortez, John Garrick, Paul Hurst, Frank Conroy, Frank McHugh, Harry Carey and others. The talk is clear. Hardly suitable for children and for Sunday showing. “Range Law” with Ken Maynard (Tiffany, Oct. 4; running time, 60 min.) Not a bad program western but not as good as some of those Mr. Mavnard has appeared in. There is some human interest, and the action is fairlv fast, but the construction of the plot is somewhat mechanical. It will, however, prove acceptable in theatres that show western melodramas. There is a fairly thrilling fight between the hero and the villain, in which the hero comes out victorious, as usual. Ken Maynard’s horse continues to display ingenuity: — October 31, 1931 The hero escapes from jail, where he was put for a crime he had not committed; the villain had framed him and he was not able to prove his innocence. He is headed for the region where the villain was operating. A stage is held up by the villain’s men and the villain tries to fasten the crime upon the hero. The hero is arrested and put in jail by the sheriff, hut a friend of the hero helps him escape. The heroine is about to marry the villain but the hero, who had met her and fallen in love with her, is determined to prevent her from ruining her life. He carries her away just as the judge was about to perform the wedding ceremony, and takes her to the mountains, to his friend’s cabin. In the end, the heroine overhears two men of the villain admit of crimes and of the fact that the hero was innocent, is an eyewitness to a murder, helps the sheriff arrest the murderer, and gives the information that clears the hero. The story was written by Earle Snell ; it was directed by Phil. Rosen. Francis Dade assists Ken Maynard. Frank Mayo, Jack Rockwell, Charles King and others are in the supporting cast. Children will find it fairly interesting. Fair for Sunday showing. “ihe Sporting Chance” with William Collier, Jr. ( Peerless Productions ; running time, 65 m.) This is a racing melodrama, built along the familiar formula ; but taking into consideration the kind of stuff the big producers have been releasing lately, one cannot help classing it as a good entertainment, for it is clean, it has human appeal, and the action holds the interest pretty tense all the way through. It would have been much better, however, for the author to have deviated somewhat from the beaten path of making the hero, a jockey, feel swelled up with conceit after his success, for in almost four out of five racing pictures the hero goes through similar experience. This defect is somewhat compensated for by the loyalty of the heroine, who remains loyal to him despite his inexcusable conduct towards her. The picture is embellished by jazzing and drinking, the hero being shown as having been led to such life by his employer’s son, a young man spoiled by too much money. There is good negro music. The story was written by King Baggot. Albert Herman directed it. Claudia Dell plays opposite Mr. Collier. James Hall is the spoiled son. Joseph Levering, Eugene Jackson, Mahlon Hamilton and others are in the cast. Not bad for children or for Sunday showing. “Shanghaied Love” with Richard Cromwell (Columbia, Sept. 20 ; running time, 65/ min.) This picture is filled with action from beginning to end. most of which takes place aboard ship, which is ruled by a villainous captain and his equally villainous mate. All sailors are shanghaied aboard and are never paid off because they run away at the first landing. There are several terrific fist fights that are almost brutal. On two occasions the hero is beaten almost to death by both the captain and the mate because he loved the heroine and wanted to free her from the clutches of the captain. There is human interest in the love affair of the hero and the heroine. There are many suspensive situations caused by the attempt of the captain to kill the heroine’s father and so force her to marry the mate and get her fortune : — The captain of the ship called “Golden Bough” is known as a brute and the only way he can get sailors aboard is by shanghaing them. The heroine, who believes the captain to be her father, attempts to run away, but the captain follows her and brings her hack. The hero, having witnessed her unwillingness to go back and, being attracted to her. signs for a job on the ship. There is a mysterious Mr. Newman who signs also. He is the heroine’s real father. The captain had framed him and he was sent to jail for fifteen years for a crime he had not committed. His wife had died and the captain had reared the girl as his daughter so as to get her fortune. Newman and the hero have the crew under their control. When the captain tries to marry off the heroine to the brutal mate, so as to get her fortune, Newman and the hero prevent him. The crew side with Newman. The mate is thrown overboard by a husky member of the crew and the captain is put in irons for Newman proves that the ship rightfully belongs to his daughter. He takes charge of it. much to the joy of the whole crew. The hero and the heroine are united. The plot was adapted from the story “Then Hell Broke Loose” by Norman Springer. It was directed by George B. Seitz. In the cast are Noah Beerv. Sallv B!an<». Willard Robertson, Sidney Bracy. Dick Alexander, Edwin J. Bradv, Erville Alderson and others. The talk is clear. Suitable for children and for Sunday showing.