Harrison's Reports (1932)

46 HARRISON’S REPORTS March 19, 1932 “The Passionate Plumber” with Buster Keaton ( MGM, Feb. 6 ; running time, 73 min.) An amusing slapstick comedy, although it becomes a bit tedious towards the end. There are several hilarious situations. One is where Buster Keaton is to fight a duel and takes Jimmy Durante along as his second. Both duelists are scared off when they hear the shot of a hunter. Most of the comedy is caused by Keaton attaching himself to Irene Purcell in order to prevent her from surrendering to Gilbert Roland. This causes many embarrassing situations, especially one in which he is forced to pretend he is a doctor j it is where Irene Purcell’s aunt finds him in her niece s room. This situation is funny and yet vulgar for many suggestive things are said: — . , t, , a Irene Purcell is very much in love with Gilbert Roland. But he tells her falsely that he is already married, and that his wife will not give him a divorce. She tries to forget him but he follows her wherever she goes. In order to force him to leave her alone she pretends she has a lover and picks on Buster Keaton, a plumber who had been repairing the shower in her bathroom. She tells him that he must not permit her to go with Gilbert Roland, using force if necessary. This Keaton finds necessary, for Irene Purcell forgets what she had told him and tries to make several attempts to get away from him. Gilbert Roland was having another affair with Mona Maris, to wlibm he told the sarne false story— that he was married and that his wife would not divorce him. Keaton finally^rings the three together and proves to Irene Purcell the infidelity of Gilbert Roland. This cures her. ^ au a The plot was adapted from the play Her Cardboard Lover,” by M. Deval. It was directed by Edward Sedgwick. In the cast are Polly Moran, Maude Eburne, Henry Armetta, and others. . Not suitable for children or for Sunday showing. (Not a substitution.) “Docks of San Francisco” (Syndicate Exch., Feb. 20; running time, 55 hum.) A demoralizing gangster picture. There is one situation in which the heroine is shown robbing a man at the point of a gun. At another time she is shown forcing a man, again at the point of a gun, to do her bidding and to drive her to safety away from the police. She arouses some sympathy when she attempts to reform. There is some fast action, of the type found in gangster pictures, and some suspense towards the end, when the heroine and the hero are surrounded by the gangsters, who attempt to kill them : — . • r j The heroine, a member of the villains gang, is forced to steal. She is tired of the life and wants to reform. In order to keep her with him, the villain promises to reform, too, and begs her to marry him. She consents. He tells her to meet him that night at a certain spot. She waits for him. In the meantime he, with his accomplices, robs a bank. The police, having been tipped off, give chase to him and he passes the heroine, throws the bag to her and tells her to hide. Fearing the police, she hides in the hero’s car in which he was to leave for his cabin in the mountains. The villain sees her do this and notices the license number. At the point of a gun, she forces the hero to drive her to his cabin. They become friendly and she tells him her story. He believes her and knows she is not implicated in the robbery. They are about to go back to the city to surrender the bag with the money when they find themselves surrounded by the villain and his men. The hero is wounded and when the heroine attempts to escape to call for help she is shot. The police, having heard the shooting, arrive at the cabin in time to save the hero. All the members of the gang are killed. The plot was adapted from a story by H. H. Van Loan. It was directed by George Seitz. In the cast are Mary Nolan, Jason Robards, Marjorie Beebe, John Davidson, and others. The talk is clear. Not suitable for children or for Sunday showing. “Office Girl” (Gainshorough-RKO , Al^ril 8; running time, 82 tnin.) An entertaining comedy, interspersed with music. Although there is little to the story, there is such a gay spirit about it that the interest is held to the end. The heroine is of a charming, happy disposition, and just watching her brings forth a smile. The music is cleverly worked into the story, at times taking the place of talk to signify what the characters mean. One of the most enjoyable situations is where the hero and the heroine go to a beer garden for dinner. This situation has comedy, gaiety, and music. The picture leaves one with a happy feeling ; — The heroine arrives in Vienna to seek employment as a typist. She knows just what she wants out of life and decides that her head instead of her heart will rule her. She is employed as typist in a bank. She refuses the attentions of the office manager. This infuriates him and he forces her to stay late one night in order to finish her work. The hero, director of the bank, about to leave, notices her working. He questions her and she tells him all, thinking he was one of the clerks. He invites her to dinner and she goes with him, to a beer garden where the bank reception clerk leads a male chorus. The clerk is warned not to disclose the identity of the hero. By the end of the evening the hero and the heroine are in love with each other, but she tells him she cannot marry a poor bank clerk. The next day she is amazed to find out that he is the director. Wanting to test her affection he treats her coldly and invites her to his apartment to take dictation. Once there he offers her luxury but not marriage and she refuses. He is happy for now he knows she loves him. He eventually calls on her and asks for forgiveness and they are united. The plot was adapted from a story by Franz Schulz. It was directed by Victor Saville. In the cast are Renate Muller, Jack Hulbert, Owen Nares and Morris Harvey, who give excellent performances. The talk is clear. There are several suggestive situations that make it unsuitable for children or for Sunday showing. (This is being offered as a special and is not a substitution). “Young Bride” with Helen Twelvetrees and Eric Linden (RKO Pathe, April 8; running time, 76 min.) There are some situations in this picture that appeal to the emotions; but on the whole the picture is unpleasant. Its chief defect is the fact that the young hero is unsympathetic ; he is presented as a braggadocio, who fools the heroine into marrying him; she took his boasts as facts. In addition to this, the atmosphere is not very cheerful, for there is much drinking, and underworld visiting. The most harmful situation, however, is that in which it is clearly implied that the hero and the heroine had had improper relations. The best part of the film is toward the end, w’here the young hero is shown begging the heroine, who is his wife, to take him back, assuring her that he had learned his lesson, and that he will be loyal to her. The young hero, a braggart, meets the heroine, a library clerk, and woos her. In time she comes to believe his bragging and marries him. Soon, however, she is disillusioned. Although she is about to have a baby, he continues being unkind to her until he exhausts her patience : she then sends him away. He has a fight at a cabaret w’ith a man who had m.ade a derogatory remark about his wife and is beaten up. He returns home just as his wife was making ready to take poison. The sight of his battered face moves her. They become reconciled and decide to start life anew. The plot has been based on the stage play by Hugh Stanislaus Strange ; it was directed by William Seiter. In the supporting cast are Arline Judge, Cliff Edwards, Roscoe Ates, Allan Fox. Blanche Frederic! and others. Not suitable for children or for Sunday showing. (Not a substitution.) “Whistling Dan” with Ken Maynard (Tiffany, March 20; running time, 61 hum.) .\ good Western, although the story' is not different from the usual Western story. This time. Mr. Maynard pretends to be an outlaw so as to gain the confidence of the outlaw leader; his intention was to induce this leader to take him into his confidence and thus give him an opportunity to avenge the death of his pal, killed by the outlaws. He succeeds in having the outlaws corralled ; he also wins the love of the heroine, who was his dead pal’s sweetheart. There are some thrills here and there and the attention of the spectator is held fairly tight. Tarzan again gives an exliibition of his intelligence. Stuart Anthony is the author ; Phil Rosen the director. Joyzelle, Georges Renavent, Harlan E. Knight, Don Terry and others are in the supporting cast. If you have been showing western pictures to children and on Sundays, you may use this one for the same purpose.