Harrison's Reports (1933)

April 1, 1933 HARRISON’S REPORTS 51 “White Sister” with Helen Hayes and Cl2urk Gable i^MGM, Mar. 3 ; running time, 1 hr. and 40 min.) The production end of this picture is superb, the acting is excellent, and time has not affected the love story it tells ; but it certainly lacks the great emotional appeal of its silent predecessor, no doubt because it is more restrained in the unfolding of the story. It has been modernized so that it takes place during the World War ; because of this, certain changes have been made — as for instance the manner in which the hero meets with his death, but the tlieme remains the same. The love affair between the hero and the heroine retains its tender and romantic appeal, and one’s emotions are stirred by the tragedy that befalls the lovers. The situation in which the heroine, believing the hero to be dead, renounces the world and becomes a nun, is extremely impressive and pathetic, particularly by reason of the fact that one is shown just before this that the hero is still alive. The situation in which they meet again in the convent hospital is heart-rending; their eventual unhappiness because of the heroine’s refusal to renounce her vows is depressing. As with the silent version, one is left unhappy. There is one extremely gruesome situation; it is where cholera breaks out in the German prison camp and bodies are dumped into ditches, kerosene poured on them, and then set on fire : — The heroine, daughter of a wealthy Italian nobleman, is betrothed to a man for whom she feels no love. During a carnival she meets the hero, an Italian soldier, and they fall madly in love with each other. Her father forbids her to see the hero again. She tells him this is impossible. She rushes to the barracks by automobile and her father follows in another car. There is an accident and he is killed. Kemorseful, she refuses to see the hero, but by insistence she finally consents to see him and again she cannot resist him. They plan to marry when war is declared and he is forced to leave. He is reported dead. The heroine is so heart-broken that she dptermines to become a nun to forget. But the hero was not dead ; he had been wounded and cared for by a German family. In attempting to escape he is captured and kept prisoner for two years. When he rettirns and finds the heroine a nun he is heartbroken and tries to persuade her to give up her vows to marry him. But she will not do it for she feels it would be wrong. The hero is forced to return to the front, where he is wounded severely. He is brought to the convent hospital and dies in the heroine’s arms. The plot has been adapted from the novel by F. Marion Crawford. It was directed by Victor Fleming. In the cast are Lewis Stone, Louise Gosser Hale, May Robson, Edward Arnold and Alan Edwards. Suitable for children, adolescents and for Sunday showing. “Bondage” with Dorothy Jordan {Fox, March 31 ; running time, 66 min.) This is the type of picture that will appeal to female audiences, in spite of the fact that it is a simple story told in a simple fashion, and that for the most part is depressing. The reason for this is that the heroine’s sufferings will be understood by them and will stir their emotions. Several situations will bring tears to the eyes, particularly those that show the inhuman treatment the heroine receives. Her sufferings because of her separation from the baby, and the eventual death of the child are heart-rending. The resentment one feels for the heroine in the opening scene, where she is shown as being a woman of the streets, changes to pity as the story unfolds showing how she was brought to such circumstances. The picture unfolds in an institution whee expectant mothers are taken to give birth to their illegitimate children: — Tlie heroine is arrested for soliciting on the streets and when she appears before the judge her case is argued by a young doctor w'ho tells the judge the follownng story, which is shown in a flashback : The heroine, through the insistence of her girl friend, went out with a young popular radio singer. Thinking he loved her she succumbed to him. WHien she discovered that she was going to have a baby her girl friend called on the young man and he promised to meet the heroine the following day so as to marry her. But he did not appear. Through the help of a kind woman the heroine w'as sent to an institution, w'hich was supervised by a cruel matron. She was given difficult work to do but she did not mind it since she was looking forward to the day when her child would be born. After tlic baby’s birth it was necessary for her to find a position since the only way she could keep the baby was to show that she could support it. She finally obtained a position and joyfully returned to the home only to find that the matron had given the baby away. In a fury she attacked the woman, and for this the matron had her confined to an insane asylum. Several days later the heroine was released, and when told that her baby had been brought back to the home she rushed there. Her joy turned to sorrow when she learned that the baby had died. The doctor, who had found out about her case, had gone to the home to help her, but when he arrived there he found that she had disappeared. And this was the first time he had seen her again. The j udge suspended sentence, and the doctor followed the heroine out of the court. The plot was adapted from a story by Grace S. Leake. It was directed by Alfred Santell. In the cast are Alexander Kirkland, Merle Tottenham, Nydia Westman, Jane Darwell, Edward Woods, and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents or for Sundays. Good for mature persons. Substitution Facts : This is replacing No. 28 which is listed on the contract as “Whirlwind Romeo,” from the novel “Alcatraz” by Max Brand. It is, therefore, a story substitution. “Soldiers of the Storm” with Regis Toomey and Anita Page {Columbia, April 4; running time, 67 min.) A fairly good action melodrama. The audience is held in suspense throughout because of the danger to the hero. Some of the situations are thrilling, particularly the closing scenes, where the hero’s identity is found out by the criminals. Another exciting situation is where the hero, in his aeroplane, follows the criminals who were attempting to escape by automobile. There is a pleasant romance between the hero and the heroine : — • The hero, a Border Patrol officer, and his assistant, are sent out on an assignment to round up a gang of crooks. He is given the license card of an imprisoned civilian flyer, a crook, and uses this as a means of getting friendly with the chief of the gang. He meets the Mayor’s daughter and they fall in love with each other; he is unaware of the fact that the Mayor was helping the gang chief to carry out his crooked plans. He joins up with the gang to fly across the border transporting liquor. He is forced to break many appointments with the heroine, and since he is not at liberty to explain matters to her she thinks he does not love her. Eventually he is able to obtain all the facts he needed and is about to make his arrests. The Alayor is killed by the gang chief when he refuses to accede to his wishes. The chief and his assistant escape in their automobile but the hero, following them in his plane, shoots at them ; they lose control of the car, and fall down a steep incline to their death. Explanations follow and the hero and the heroine are united. The plot was adapted from a story by Thomson Burtis. It was directed by D. Ross Lederman. In the cast are Barbara Barridey, Robert Ellis, Wheeler Oakman and George Cooper. Suitable for children, adolescents and for Sundays. “Sweepings” with Lionel Barrymore {RKO, April 14; running time, 77 min.) A poor entertainment. The trouble with it is the fact that there is very little human interest and the doings are mostly about business — the hero conducts a dry goods store and becomes wealthy ; he wants his children to step into his shoes but they are either unfit or unwilling to take up his kind of work. Most of them are wastrels ; they had been spoiled by too much indulgence. Because of this, one condemns the father ; and because of the ingratitude the children show towards their father, one condemns the children. The only part where there is a fair degree of emotional appeal is in the closing scenes, where the father, now old, having gathered his children around him, denounces them. The plot was taken from Lester Cohen’s novel. The book contained material for many pictures but not enough for one good picture. There has been considerable altering, and much of the action in the book has been left out. John Cromwell has directed it. In the cast are Eric Linden, Alan Dinehart, William Gargan, Gloria Stuart, Lucien Littlefield, Nana Suderland, Helen Mack and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents or for Sundays.