Harrison's Reports (1934)

HARRISON’S REPORTS “Olsen’s Big Moment” with El Brendel and Walter Catlett {Fox, Nov. 17 ; running time, 66 min.) Just a moderately amusing program slapstick comedy, that becomes quite silly at times. It is a mixed-up affair of drunks, desperate lovers, forced marriages, chasings up and down flights of stairs, and mistaken identity, in which El Brendel is the innocent victim, who becomes involved in several ways much against his own desires. At first he had just tried to help out John Arledge and Barbara Weeks, because he knew they loved each other, and that Barbara’s mother was marrying her off to Walter Catlett, a drunken society man, for his money. But later, in his efforts to take Catlett Home because of his drunken condition, he wanders into a speakeasy with Catlett and they both drink too much. A gangster mistakes Catlett for his sister’s sweetheart and tells Brendel that unless he took care of Catlett and brought him to the marriage license bureau sober the next day that he would kill him. Brendel is worried because he finds it difficult to watch over Catlett who escapes every few minutes. He is also in a dilemma, for he knows Catlett is supposed to marry Barbara Weeks the next day. Everything turns out all right. The gangster’s sister marries another gangster, Catlett comes too late for his wedding, Barbara and Arledge are united, and Brendel becomes the manager of the apartment house in which he had formerly been the janitor, because of his bravery in outwitting some crooks who had attempted to steal the gifts at the wedding. The plot was adapted from a story by George Marshall. It was directed by Malcolm St. Clair. In the cast are Ed Pawley, Susan Fleming, and others. Although the gangster element is burlesqued, exhibitors must use their own judgment as to whether it is suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. “Myrt and Marge” ( Universal , Dec. 4; running time, 64J4 min.) No matter how popular Myrt and Marge may be over the radio, they do not click in this picture, which should prove poor entertainment even for their most ardent fans. Ted Healy and his stooges offer the only amusement, and since they have been seen in several pictures and their type of comedy is always the same, it is not much of novelty. The story is trite, the production ordinary, and the action slow. It is a back-stage story done in an amateurish fashion and boresome most of the time. In addition, it is unsuitable for children who follow the radio story, because of one suggestive situation in which Thomas E. Jackson breaks into Marge’s room at night : — The story revolves around a theatrical troupe backed by Thomas E. Jackson, who promised to bring their show to New York. He is fascinated by Marge, one of the cast, but she is in love with Eddie Foy, Jr., a member of the cast, who loves her, too. One night Jackson breaks into Marge’s room but she beats him off and rushes out to Eddie to tell him what had happened. Eddie has a fight with Jackson and Jackson is so badly beaten that he is taken to the hospital. Jackson withdraws his financial support and threatens to prosecute Eddie. But Myrt, manager of the show, threatens to tell Jackson’s wife about his affairs and he withdraws the charges. Marge’s mother hears about Jackson’s behavior, sells her business and comes to New York. She finances the show and it is a success on Broadway. The plot was adapted from a story by Beatrice Banvard. It was directed by A1 Boasberg. In the cast are Myrtle Vail, Donna Damerel, Ray Hedge, Grace Hayes, Trixie Friganza. and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. “Man’s Castle” with Loretta Young and Spencer Tracy (Columbia. Nov. 20; running time, 73Y min.) “Man's Castle” has missed being a good entertainment, for the material promised a strong, emotional drama. As it stands, it is just fair entertainment, with a drab background, making it more suitable for large downtown theatres than for small towns. Some of the situations are forced and a great effort has been made to bring forth tears, but only on one occasion does it really affect the emotions. The situation in which the hero brings the heroine a new stove has been drawn out ; her joy and tears leave the spectator cold. The one situation that is rather touching is where the heroine suddenly comes upon the hero, who she thought had left her. and realizes that he had come back to her. The hero, a rough but at the same time tender character, is January 6, 1934 just fairly sympathetic. His constant harping on his freedom and what it means to him begins to wear on one’s nerves. He even goes so far as to join in a rob be'" so as to give the heroine enough money, since she was going to have a baby, and thus win his freedom. This situation is demoralizing. The heroine is a sympathetic character throughout, because of her devotion to the hero. The only real comedy comes in the opening situation, and the story offers little suspense : — The hero picks up a conversation with the heroine in the park and when he finds she is hungry he takes her to the best restaurant Since he is wearing evening clothes she thinks he has enough money but finds at the end of the meal that he is broke, and that the evening clothes were part of a make-up he used in walking the streets, displaying an electric advertising sign on his chest In order not to have a disturbance, the restaurant owner permits them to leave. The hero takes the heroine to his shanty town home and they soon become lovers. She realizes he is restless and is staying around only because of her. She eventually tells him she is going to have a baby ; he marries her and then joins another one of the shanty town occupants in a plan to rob a safe so as to obtain enough money to give to the heroine and then leave her. The hero is caught and shot by the watchman, an old friend who finally releases him, and his pal escapes. This man wanted the heroine and planned to tip off the police about the hero. But before he can do this one of the shanty town women, who had been befriended by the hero and the heroine, kills him. The hero now realizes that he does not want to be without the heroine. They hop a freight train to go to some new town, to start all over again. The plot was adapted from a story by Lawrence Hazard. It was directed by Frank Borzaee. In the cast are Marjorie Rambeau, Glenda Farrell, Walter Connolly, Arthur Hohl, Dickie Moore and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. “Sensation Hunters” with Arline Judge and Preston Foster (Monogram, Sept. 10; running time, 73l/i min.) Ordinary program grade fare, and an unpleasant story. The only reason why the spectator’s interest is held at all is because of the sympathy one feels for the heroine. The cause of the unpleasantness is the picture’s suggestiveness. Particularly distasteful are the closing scenes in which the heroine, in order to earn enough money to take care of her friend who was in the hospital, is shown luring a man up to her room. The atmosphere is unwholesome, and the comedy, although it may arouse some laughter, is vulgar. One loses sympathy for the hero, because he is too quick to misjudge the heroine’s actions. The plot was adapted from a story by Whitman Chambers. It was directed by Charles Vidor. In the cast are Marion Burns, Kenneth MacKenna, Juanita Hansen. Creighton Hale, Cyril Chadwick, and others. Not suitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. “Lady Killer” with James Cagney (Warner Bros.. Dec. 9; running time, 75 min.) The first half of this picture is “terrible” ; it is extremely demoralizing, for Cagney is shown working a cheap card racket, later becoming a crook, aiding his gang in getting information to help them rob wealthy women of their jewels. He and his gang are shown having much money and good clothes. It is not until the gang kills a man that he breaks with them. In one situation Cagney is shown in an intimate pose with Mae Clarke; this scene belongs in a cheap burlesque show. In another situation Cagney, dressed up as an Indian chief, makes a filthy remark when Margaret Lindsay asks him who he is. Although the expression is in Yiddish most audiences will understand it. The second half provides some real comedy, when it shows Cagney in the role of a moving picture actor. One of the funniest scenes is where he is to act with Miss Lindsay and because she is angry at him he eats some garlic before he starts the scene with her; her eyes water all during the scene. The whole picture is fast, racy, and vulgar, and is the type of entertainment for male audiences. The first halt of the picture kills it for the family trade. The picture will, no doubt, draw large crowds, but it will prove a disgrace to the industry : — Cagney, forced to leave New York with Mae Clarke, his mistress, to avoid police questioning, goes to California with her. The police department there had been wired to hold Cagney and as soon as he arrives he is taken into custody. He gives Mae Clarke all his money. Sc. 500, and