Harrison's Reports (1933)

42 HARRISON’S REPORTS March 18, 1933 *‘The Masquerader” with Ronald Colman and Elissa Landi {United Artists, Ret. date not set; time, 78 min.) An excellent dual-role melodrama ; it has been handsomely produced and is superbly acted. Although the story at times is somewhat implausible, it holds the attention throughout, arousing much human interest, provoking comedy, and holding one in suspense. Since Colman, a poor relative but a man of fine character (hero), is forced to impersonate his cousin (villain — also played by Colman), a dissolute English lord, addicted to drugs, one is held on edge for fear lest the duplicity be discovered. Elissa Landi (heroine), wife of the villain, arouses much sympathy because of the humiliation she suffers when her husband flaunts his affair with another woman in her face. The hero is an extremely sympathetic character, winning one’s respect by his fine behavior towards the heroine. The situations in which the hero is at a loss as to how to behave when he meets his “wife” for the first time arouse laughter. In the development of the plot, the family servant of the villain pleads with the hero to take the place of the villain, whom he resembled, at home as well as at the Parliament, since England was very much in need of “him.” Although fearful of the outcome the hero consents and while he impersonates his cousin, the servant keeps the villain in the hero’s quarters. The villain is ill, insisting on large doses of drugs, and the hero is forced to continue with the masquerade. Eventually the villain dies and his servant, realizing what a fine character the hero possessed, inserts in the death certificate the hero’s name. In that way the hero, with the consent of the heroine, who knew the truth and had fallen deeply in love with him, as he had with her, steps into his cousin’s place forever, without any one else’s knowing the difference. The plot was adapted from the play by John Hunter Booth. It was directed by Richard Wallace. In the cast are Juliette Compton, David Torrence, Claude King, and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents or for Sunday showing. Good for all types of adult audiences. “42nd Street” with Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels and George Brent (IVamer Bros., Mar. ii ; running time, 89 min.) Excellent! It is a back-stage musical comedy, providing fine entertainment in the way of acting, music, dancing, and presentation. Although there is nothing novel in the story, it is presented realistically ; one lives with the characters and understands what they are going through. All the heartaches, comedy, and drama incidental to the production of a lavish musical comedy are shown, and since the action moves at a fast pace it holds the interest well throughout. The dance numbers are particularly effective, especially as performed by Ruby Keeler, a new-comer to the screen. Warner Ba.xter, as the stage director, acts with such realism that he makes the spectator share his moods. Good comedy is provided by Ginger Rogers, as one of the chorus girls, particularly when she uses an English accent and high-hats the other girls. Guy Kibbee, a wealthy manufacturer, is infatuated with Bebe Daniels and agrees to sponsor a show in which she is to star. Wanier Baxter is called in to direct. Bebe is in love with George Brent, an impoverished actor, and he is forced to stay away from her during the rehearsals of the show so as not to arouse Kibbee’s suspicions. Ruby Keeler, one of the chorus girls, becomes friendly with Brent. The night before the opening of the show Bebe becomes intoxicated and throws Kibbee out of her room. She telephones for Brent to come over and just as he enters her room the producer sees him. Ruby had seen the occurrence and rushes to Bebe’s room to warn her. Bebe is jealous because Brent and Ruby know each other and in her attempt to get at Ruby she slips and breaks her ankle. Everybody is heartbroken ; it means the show cannot go on. Kibbee, however, had by this time formed an attachment for Ginger Rogers and suggests her for the lead. But Ginger realizes she is not good enough for it and tells them that Ruby would fit the part perfectly. Just a few hours before the show. Ruby is coached by Baxter until they are both exhausted. With tears in his eyes he tells her that everything depends on her. Just before she is to go on Bebe calls to see her to apologize and to wish her all the luck in the world. She tells Ruby that she is going to marry Brent. Ruby is a hit and the show is saved. She is united with Dick Powell, a member of the cast. Baxter is completely worn out. The plot was adapted from the novel by Bradford Ropes, which has been cleaned up almost entirely. It was directed by Lloyd Bacon. Others in the cast are Una Merkel, Ned Sparks, Allen Jenkins, George E. Stone and Edward J. N ugent. Suitable for children, adolescents and for Sunday show ing. “The Woman Accused” with Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant and John Halllday (Paramount, Feb. 17; running time, 72 min.) Just fair. It is somewhat illogical, and the story is unpleasant in that the heroine commits a murder. Even though one feels that it was justifiable homicide, yet it is difficult to sympathize with her. The situation in which she is trapped into a confession by the murdered man’s law partner by means of a mock trial is fairly exciting. The hero is a sympathetic character for when he learns of the murder he does not leave the heroine; instead he seeks means to gain her freedom with. In the development of the plot the heroine’s former lover (villain) threatens to have the hero murdered unless the heroine went back to him, giving up the idea of marrying the hero. Unable to dissuade him Irom harming the hero, she murders him. She then leaves on a three day cruise with the hero. The dead man’s law partner is convinced that the heroine had committed the murder and boards the boat to watch her. While everyone is making merry the lawyer suggests a mock trial and the heroine is put on the witness stand. By using the facts of the murder he forces a confession out of her and although the other people think it is all a joke the hero realizes it is the truth. Back in New York the heroine is brought to the District Attorney’s office for questioning. But the hero breaks down the testimony of their chief witness, leaving them without a clue. The heroine is freed and she and the hero marry. The plot was adapted from a story by Polan Banks. It was directed by Paul Sloane. In the cast are Irving Pichel, Louis Calhern, Norma Mitchell, Jack LaRue, Frank Sheridan, and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents or for Sunday showing. “The Keyhole” with Kay Francis and George Brent ( JV arner Bros., Mar. 25 ; running time, 68 mitt.) A pretty good comedy-drama; it holds the interest throughout. Excellent comedy situations are brought about by the attempts of Glenda Farrell and Allen Jenkins to impress upon each other the fact that each was wealthy and came from a fine family, when, in reality, he was a cheap detective and she was working a racket. George Brent, as the hero, although enacting an unsympathetic role (that of a spy,) is never offensive and somehow holds one’s respect. Much sympathy is felt for the heroine who is harrassed by a blackmailing former lover, tempted by Brent, and suspected by her husband : — Kay Francis, married to a millionaire, is told by a former husband that he had never divorced her as he had promised he would. He demands $50,000. She tells the whole story to her sister-in-law who advises her to leave the country and procure a divorce from the first husband. She leaves on the trip but her husband, who is suspicious, engages Brent to trail her, not telling Brent she was his wife. Brent and Francis become acquainted and spend most of their time together. Her former husband had followed her on the trip, just as she had hoped he would, and since he was not an American citizen, her sister-in-law was arranging matters so that he would be refused re-entrj' into the United States. The sister-in-law is furious when her brother informs her what he had done. She tells him the whole stor>-. .\shamed of his suspicions, he rushes by aeroplane to join his wife, and sends Brent a cable telling him so. In the meantime Francis tells Brent all about herself and he confesses what he had been doing, but swears that he loves her. The former husband calls at her room just as Brent is expecting the millionaire to arrive. By using threats he forces the man out of the room. In his attempt to escape by way of the balcony, the ex-husband falls to his death. MTien her husband arrives Francis tells him she is though with him and informs him further that she is in love with Brent. She remains with Brent. The plot has been adapted from a story by Alice D. G. Miller. It was directed by Michael Curtiz. In the cast are Monroe Owsley, Helen Ware and Henry Kolker. Suitable for children ; not for adolescents or for Sunday showing. Substitution Facts : In the contract 422 is listed as “Wm. Powell and Kay Francis.” Since Powell does not appear in “The Keyhole” it is a star substitution.