Harrison's Reports (1932)

HARRISON’S REPORTS 167 October 15, 1932 “The Crooked Circle” with with Ben Lyon, Zasu Pitts and James Gleason (World Wide, Seft. 18; running time, 66 min.) Entertaining! It is a mystery melodrama, using all the old tricks of secret doors, people disappearing, weird sounds, spooky places, half-wit people, and it is too illogical to be taken seriously ; but it has so much comedy that the interest is held all the way through. The action takes place in a supposedly haunted house in a quiet country section, and most of the comedy is caused by Zasu Pitts, as a frightened maid, and James Gleason, as a policeman. The situation in which Zasu Pitts goes up to an attic and gets her foot caught on a rug on which some glue had spilled, thereby pulling the rug with a skeleton on it along: with her, will set the audience howling; so will the situation in which she receives a visit from a half-wit who tells her spooky stories about the house being haunted. The story revolves around a band of crooks who have their hide-out in a supposedly haunted house, which no one knows about. This house is bought by the chief of detectives and his housekeeper goes there to get it ready for him. The chief’s life is threatened and his co-workers go to his home with him. One of them is the hero, a detective. A new member joins the force and warns them all of danger. Strange things happen, beginning at midnight, in the house — violin music is heard, the clock strikes thirteen, and lights go on and off. And then the chief is found apparently dead. But all is solved in the end when the gang is found. They had been uncovered by the new member and his assistant, the heroine, who was working with him on the Secret Service force. This explains the heroine’s strange behavior to the hero and they are united. Romance also comes into the lives of the maid and the policeman who had helped round up the gang The plot was adapted from a story by Ralph Spence. It was directed by H. Bruce Humberstone. In the cast are Irene Purcell, C. Henry Gordon, Roscoe Karns, Raymond Hatton. Berton Churchill and others. Sensitive children may be frightened ; otherwise suitable for children and for Sunday showing. “The Western Code” with Tim McCoy (Columbia, Sef't. 16; running time, 57 min.) This one, too, is a press-sheet review ; it being physically impossible for me to cover all pictures, I am giving you some facts to guide you. A synopsis of the story is as follows ; “While Tim, a secret member of the Texas Rangers, is tracking down a band of counterfeiters, he learns that the girl, Nora Lane, had a short time previously lost her mother, and that her stepfather, Wheeler Oakman, had inherited a ranch, the will being apparently signed by Nora’s mother. In his investigation, Tim learns that the ranch had been serving as a base for counterfeiters and forces Wheeler to admit that the signature was a forgery. Tim clears Nora’s young brother of a murder charge, delivers Wheeler to the authorities, and gets Nora.” Since every one of the McCoy pictures has proved thrilling, this one should prove the same ; the material lends itself to such a picture. The story is by William Colt McDonald ; the direction, by J. P. McCarthy. It seems good for children and for Sunday showing. (There will be no other review.) “Honor of the Mounted” with Tom Tyler (Monogram, June 7 ; running time, 56 min.) This western follows a routine story and is just fair entertainment. The action is fairly fast all the way through ; the closing scenes are the most exciting, when the hero gives chase to the villain, finally conquering him by a battle in a lake. Suspense is caused by fear lest the villain discover that the hero was a member of the Canadian Mounted Police : — The hero is sent by his commander to find the villain and bring him back to Canada to face a charge of murder. The hero settles in a western town and recognizes the villain by his voice. At first the hero is suspected by the town marshal of being a thief but once the hero takes the marshal into his confidence he gets all the help he needs. He finally proves the guilt of the villain and promises to return to the western town and to the heroine with whom he had fallen in love. The story was written and directed by Harry Fraser. In the cast are Stanley Blystone, Francis McDonald, G. D. Wood and Arthur Millett. Suitable for children and for Sunday showing where westerns are shown. “Strange Justice” with Marian Marsh (RKO, Oct. 7 ; running time, 64 min.) Mediocre ! It is boresome. The plot is somewhat illogical. In addition, the constant bickeririg between the hero and the heroine gets on one’s nerves. Sympathy is felt for the heroine but it is not enough to hold the interest. The closing scenes in which the hero, an innocent victim of a plot by the villain, is about to be electrocuted for a crime he did not commit, are fairly suspensive. The scene showing him going to the electric chair, has been done so many times that it may make people laugh. There is some comedy caused by the heroine’s talkative girl friend : — The heroine is a hat check girl in a cabaret. A wealthy banker is a frequent visitor there and he pays her much attention. She asks him to give the hero a job as his chauffeur and he consents. After being out all night the banker arrive at his office in a drunken condition and is greeted by the vice-president, the villain. The villain tells him he knows he has embezzled a large amount of money from the bank and wants him to share it with him. The hero resents the attentions the banker pays the heroine. Angry at his suspicion she goes to a party in the banker’s apartment and when he tries to kiss her the hero knocks him down. The villain had been working on a scheme to get the banker out of the way so that he might become president, and he forces the banker to agree to it. A strange man calls on the hero and tells him he won money in a lottery and gives the hero three thousand dollars. The hero rushes out, buys a taxicab, furnishes an apartment, and then goes to the banker for a reference to get his hacking license. The banker drives him home and gives him a ring as his weddding present. A short while later a body beyond recognition is identified as the banker because of the papers found in his pocket. The hero is arrested on a charge of murder because he had been heard to threaten the banker at the party. He is condemned to death by the electric chair. The banker is conscience stricken. He kills the villain and then rushes to the heroine’s home. They are able to stop the electrocution just in time. The plot was adapted from a story by William A. Drake. It was directed by Victor Schertzinger. In the cast are Reginald Denny, Richard Bennett, Norman Foster, Irving Pichel, Thomas Jackson, Nydia Westman and others. Not suitable for children or for Sunday showing. “The Big Stampede” with John Wayne (Warner Bros., Oct. 8; running time, 53 min.) Better than “Ride Him Cowboy.” The story could have been stronger but the production is on a bigger scale than the average western melodrama. It is the second western First National has produced and it gives hope that subsequent pictures of this type will be made still better. There are plentiful thrills. Most of these are caused by a big stampede of cattle, in which the life of the heroine is put into danger, and from which the hero saves her by riding fast to the spot and taking her away. The spectator is held in pretty tense suspense in the scenes that show the contemplated encounter between the hero, a ranger, and the villain, leader of a gang of outlaws terrorizing a Southwestern state. This time the Governor of a Southern state sends the hero to one of the remote parts of the state to clear the region of the lawless element, who had been terrorizing it and robbing all the new settlers. The hero finds it necessary to obtain the services of the leader of some Mexican bandits with his gang. By pinning a sheriff’s badge on the leader’s breast, he makes this Mexican determine to help the audacious hero. With the help of this gang, the hero is able ot exterminate the lawless element. The story is by Marion Jackson ; the direction, by Tenny Wright. In the supporting cast are Noah Beery, Mae Madison, Luis Alberni, Berton Churchill and others. Children should enjoy the excitement. Good for Sunday showing. “Downstairs” with John Gilbert (MGM, August 6; running time, 77 min.) Last week I gave you a press-sheet review. After seeing the picture I can say that the press-sheet review was accurate, for "Downstairs” is not an entertainment. The hero is a scoundrel from the beginning to the end. He cheats, and blackmails and keeps women under his power ; in fact, he does everything that serves to alienate sympathy. Mr. Gilbert wrote the story himself ; evidently he has been dissatisfied with the stories that have been given him and was determined to show MGM how to write stories. He had better stick to acting and leave story-writing to others. Monta Bell directed it. Paul Lukas, Virginia Bruce, Hedda Hopper, Olga Baclanova, Otto Hoffman, Lucien Littlefield and others are in the cast. Not for children or for Sunday showing.