Harrison's Reports (1933)

46 HARRISON’S REPORTS “Fast Workers” with John Gilbert, Robert Armstrong and Mae Clarke {MGM, March 17; running time, 66 min.) Mediocre 1 The action is slow, the talk dirty and suggestive, and the behavior of the characters vile. The hero and his pal spend all of their spare time either drinking or with women. The heroine, a woman of the streets, is shown using her wiles on the hero’s pal, making him believe she is innocent, and trapping him into marrying her. To make matters worse she is shown, after her marriage, going on a week-end trip with the hero. The action of the hero in giving her away to his pal is contemptible, and the subsequent attempt on the part of the pal to kill the hero is revolting. There are some comedy situations, but these are mostly of the vulgar type : — The hero’s pal, a riveter in building construction work, is an easy prey to the wiles of women and the hero, also a riveter, has his hands full rescuing him. But the pal eventually falls hard. This time the woman happens to be the hero’s sweetie, a fact the pal is unaware of. The woman finds it very easy to fleece the pal of most of his savings by feigning sickness and even death in the family. They marry. After her marriage she goes with the hero on a week-end trip. When they return, the hero, realizing that he loves the woman, presents the pal with certain photographs showing him and her together. It is then when he learns that the two had been married. The pal, shocked and bewildered, conceives the diabolical plan of murdering the hero while they are at work, and of making the death appear accidental. He shoves the plank to a dangerous point and the hero drops several floors to the pavemnt below. He is taken to the hospital. The woman and the hero’s pal quarrel ; she had guessed that her husband had attempted to murder the hero and threatens to expose him to the police. At the hospital the pal is told that the hero will live. The hero orders the woman out of the room and renews his friendship with the pal. The story is by John W. McDermott; the direction by Tod Browning. Muriel Kirkland, Vince Barnett, Virginia Cherrill, Sterling Halloway are in the cast. Unsuitable for children, adolescents, and for Sundays. “Mussolini Speaks” (Columbia, release date not set; time, 73J4 min.) This is a compilation of newsreel shots showing the career of Mussolini and the growth of Fascism in Italy up to the present day. It is pure propaganda in favor of Mussolini and should prove of great interest to the followers of the cause. To audiences not interested in the progress of Fascism, however, this picture may prove dull. Lowell Thomas describes and interprets what is being said in Italian and explains what is done. Beginning with the youthful days of Mussolini, he talks on the scenes of rioting by Socialists, of which party Mussolini was a member, and he points to the fact that Mussolini had been arrested eleven times. Then he tells that Mussolini was editor of a Socialist paper, and that, at the outbreak of the war, he deserted his party, becoming a soldier; he was decorated for bravery. The interesting part of the picture shows Mussolini with his black-shirts on their march to see the King, to take over the government. In a speech before a great mass of people, Mussolini describes what has been accomplished from the day he became dictator. With accompanying shots, he describes in Italian, translated by Mr. Thomas in Elnglish, how they have progressed — built factories, paved roads, restored works of art, constructed huge electrical power plants, filled up swamp land making it excellent ground for planting, put people to work in the fields, erected new houses with modern plumbing, restored a ruined town, which had been destroyed by a volcano, in just a short time, making it more livable and sanitary for the people. The audience at the Palace Theatre where I reviewed the picture, comprised mostly of Italians, showed enthusiasm, applauding and cheering at many of the things Mussolini said. “Secrets” with Mary Pickford and Leslie Howard (United Artists, April 16; time, 81 min.) Fair entertainment. The opening scenes, which depict the romance between the hero and the heroine, are both charming and humorous. The scenes that follow, showing their struggle for a livelihood, their encounters with cattle rustlers, and the death of their baby, are fairly dramatic ; March 25, 1933 one feels sympathy for both the hero and the heroine. The situation that shows the death of the baby and the heroine’s grief is heart-rending. It should not have been shown — the death of a baby is not entertaining. Then suddenly, in the Closing scenes, without any previous suggestion, it is brought out that the hero had been unfaithful to the heroine. This comes as an unpleasant shock, and is entirely out of keeping with the story since throughout it is shown that the hero and the heroine are very much in love with each other : — The heroine, daughter of a wealthy New Englander, refuses to marry an English lord, in accordance with the arrangements of her parents. She falls in love with the hero, a clerk in her father’s office. They elope and set out for the West to make their fortune. They encounter many difficulties, particularly with cattle rustlers. One night, during an attack by these rustlers, their baby dies. But their love for each other is so great that they overcome everything and the years bring them success. They have four children, and the hero is nominated for Governor. It is suddenly brought to light that the hero had been having promiscuous affairs, and his career was in danger. But the heroine, knowing of all his affairs, forgives him and stands by him. He is elected. When they are old they run away from their children, wanting to live their remaining years alone. The plot was adapted from a play by Rudolf Besier and May Edington. It was directed by Frank Borzage. In the cast are C. Aubrey Smith, Blanche Frederic!, Doris Lloyd, Herbert Evans, Ned Sparks, Allan Sears and Mona Maris. Because of the hero’s unfaithfulness it is unsuitable for children, adolescents or for Sunday showing. The story lacks originality and since it is a period play its commercial value is very small. “After the Ball” with Elsther Ralston and Basil Rathbone (Fox-Gaumont, March 17; running time, 68 min.) Very dirty, and slow in action. And the story is trite. What the characters say or imply would make some of the dirty American pictures blush. For instance, Rathbone boasts of his experiences with w'omen and a friend, whom he had called from an apartment of one of his flames, asks him if he w'as in bed yet ; Rathbone replies that he is not yet but hopes to be soon. And this is a mild case. Throughout, the talk revolves around affairs with women, and the remarks are either suggestive or downright vulgar. The picture has been produced in England ; it gives one the belief that the English are trying to outdo the Americans in vulgarity. The action unflolds in Geneva, and revolves around the secretary of the British representative to the League of Nations, and the king’s messenger (hero), who had been entrusted with important government documents, delayed on the train because of an affair with a woman. The hero is attracted by the beauty of the secretary’s wife and attempts to make her capitulate to him, but he is unsuccessful. The story is by J. O. C. Orton ; the direction, by Milton Rosmer. In the cast are Jean Adrienne and Clifford Heatherly. Not suitable for children, adolescents, or for Sunday showing. Note; It cannot be pinned down as a substitution. “Treason” with Buck Jones (Columbia, Feb. 10; running time, 6ij4 min.) “Treason” maintains the average quality of the other Buck Jones pictures. This time the action unfolds in 1870, and deals with those discontented Southerners who tried to set up a Republic in Kansas. So many crimes had been committed that the hero, a famous scout, is sent for. He learns that the malcontents were led by a woman (heroine). By a ruse, the hero becomes acquainted with her, and gains her confidence. Thus he is invited to her lair. In a short time he finds out that the crimes had been inspired by her lieutenant, and that she was really a noble character. By another ruse, he leads her away from headquarters, makes her his prisoner, and takes her to the military command. Despite his able defense of her, the tribunal finds her guilty and sentences her to hang. But the hero, by fast riding, reaches the governor and obtains a pardon for her. The story is by Gordon Battle ; the direction, by George B. Seitz. Shirley Grey plays opposite Mr. Jones. Robert Ellis, Ed. Le Saint, Frank Lacteen and others are in it. Suitable for children and adolescents. Good for a Sunday show for those who show Westerns on Sundays.