Harrison's Reports (1934)

78 HARRISON S REPORTS May 19, 1934 “Stingaree” with Irene Dunne and Richard Dix ( RKO , May 25 ; running time, 76 min.) A fair entertainment for the masses, and fairly good for the classes, particularly for those who enjoy good music. Irene Dunne sings songs of the operatic as well as of the ballad type, and she does so well ; and since the music is made part of the plot the action does not slow up at any time. Mary Boland provokes, as she usually does, laughter ; this time she is an ambitious matron who imagines that she has a beautiful voice when in fact it is “terrible.” Conway Tearle, as a great musician and Irene’s manager, is sympathetic; one feels that it should be he and not Dix to receive Irene’s attentions, for Dix is a highwayman, even though of the romantic type, and it seems too bad that she should want to waste her time living a hunted life with him, even though Dix had been the cause of her success as an operatic singer. The picture’s main drawback is, in reality, the fact that Dix is a highwayman; normal persons cannot feel sympathy with a man of such pursuit : — Irene Dunne, a housemaid in the home of Mary Boland and Henry Stephenson, somewhere in Australia, dreams of becoming a great singer, and hopes that her chance will come when Conway Tearle, a composer of renown, would arrive at the home of the Stephensons to test Mary Boland’s voice. Richard Dix, a highwayman, kidnaps Tearle from an inn where he was lodging for the night and then calls at the Stephenson’s and poses as Tearle. At the time he arrived, only Irene was there and he is charmed by her voice ; she is joyful when he promises to see that she gets a chance. When his identity is discovered he kidnaps Irene and takes her to his hideout where he thinks Tearle is still being kept. But he arrives there to find that his stupid aide had permitted Tearle to escape. He tells Irene she shall have her chance. Dressing her up in clothes he had stolen he takes her to the party given in Tearle’s honor and at gun point for.es Tearle to listen to Irene sing. This disgusts Mary Boland who had hoped to make an impression with her voice. Tearle tells Irene she has a great future and offers to take her to London to train her. Dix is shot and imprisoned, and at first Irene is reluctant to leave him. But Dix insists that she go. In time she becomes a famous singer, but she is unhappy ; she cannot forget Dix. She goes back to her home town to give a concert and there learns that Dix, who had escaped from prison, is wanted by the police. He calls to see her and she tells him her career means nothing to her. They go away together. The plot was adapted from a story by E. W. Homung. It was directed by William A. Wellman. In the cast are Andy Devine, Una O’Connor, George Barraud, and others. Because of the fact that Dix is a bandit, the picture may not be suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. The sex relationship between hero and heroine is handled delicately. “Change of Heart” with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell {Fox, May 18; running time, 77 min.) Good performances by the four leading players saves “Change of Heart” from being just ordinary entertainment, since the story is inane, and the action slow — it is draggy for the entire first half. As usual, it is pleasant to watch Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, for there is about them a certain romantic quality that appeals to the masses. Ginger Rogers and James Dunn provide the comedy relief and do the best they can with inadequate material. Human interest is aroused by the efforts of the four young people to get a start in life, the most sympathetic being Janet Gaynor, who tries to keep them all together. This may do for GaynorFarrell fans who are content to see them, regardless of the story value. There is little suspense and the outcome is obvious : — When Janet, Ginger, Dunn and Farrell graduate from college they decide to go to New York together to make their way in life. Farrell is in love with Ginger, and this makes Janet unhappy for she loved Farrell. Ginger is flighty and cannot make up her mind : at times she thinks she is in love with Dunn. Dunn loves Janet and begs her to marry him but she refuses. Eventually they all obtain positions, but Ginger decides to go to California with Kenneth Thomson, a wealthy play producer. This makes Farrell ill and Janet nurses him back to health. He then realizes he loves Janet and they marry. They are happy until Ginger return* from California, and decides she wants Farrell back. But Farrell is completely over having been in love with Ginger, and makes Janet happy by telling her he wants only her. They are both delighted when his law firm offers him a junior partnership. Eventually Ginger transfers her affections to Dunn. The plot was adapted from a story by Kathleen Norris. It was directed by John G. Blystone. In the cast are Beryl Mercer, Gustav Von Seyfferitz, Mary Carr, and others. Except for the suggestion that Ginger goes away with Thomson, it is suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. “Thirty Day Princess” with Sylvia Sidney and Cary Grant ( Paramount , May 18; running time, 73 min.) Good entertainment. The theme is not novel, but it has been produced so well, with performances so good, that it holds the interest. Sylvia Sidney plays effectively a dual role, that of a princess and of an actress. The romantic angle should appeal to the masses. Human interest is aroused because of the sympathy one feels for Sylvia when she realizes she loves Cary Grant, but cannot tell him the truth about her impersonation of the princess. There are some good comedy situations, and the spectator is held in suspense throughout for fear lest the impersonation be discovered. The closing scenes, in which the real princess saves the actress from disclosure, are exciting and laugh-provoking : — Sylvia, princess of a mythical kingdom, arrives in America on a good will tour, the purpose being to float a loan for her country. Just as she arrives she develops mumps, and Edward Arnold, the American banker, who was to float the bond issue, realizes that without her people will not buy the bonds for the loan. He sends out detectives to find a girl to look like the princess, and they find Sylvia, an impoverished actress. When Sylvia is dressed up and coached, she fools everybody, including Cary Grant, a newspaper publisher, who had started out insulting her and her country, but ended up loving her. Her good will tour is a success and the bond issue is over-subscribed. But certain circumstances develop, and Cary Grant finds out about the impersonation. However, to prove her love for Cary, Sylvia, the actress, tears up the check for the fee she had received for impersonating the princess. There is a happy reunion. The plot was adapted from a story by Clarence Budington Kelland. It was directed by Marion Gering. In the cast are Henry Stephenson, Vince Barnett, Edgar Norton, Ray Walker, Lucien Littlefield, and others. Suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. “Such Women Are Dangerous” with Warner Baxter {Fox, May 4; naming time, 81^2 min.) It is too bad that the Fox Film Corporation should have put Warner Baxter, one of the most wholesome actors on the screen, in material of this type ; it doesn’t do him any good, nor does it do so to the Fox Company. Mr. Baxter, a writer of best sellers, is presented having an affair with a married woman and, while in that state of affairs, a young country girl, the hero-worshipping kind, manages to have an interview with him and then he cannot get rid of her; she is in love with him. Mr. Baxter treats the girl, of course, as a mere child, and tries to bring her back to her senses, but his talk brings no results, until finally the foolish girl takes poison and dies. Because of some letters, innocent Mr. Raxter is accused of murder and he would have certainly been convicted were it not for a last minute discovery of a note from the dead girl indicating that she was about to take her life. During all these times the married woman dreads discovery by her husband of the fact that she was intimate once with Baxter ; but the discovery of the note makes this unnecessary. The subject matter is not pleasant at the best, and since not one of the characters does anything that is worh-while the picture leaves one cold, despite Mr. Baxter’s fine performance. Rochelle Hudson does good work as the lovestruck girl, but her part is unpleasant. The plot has been founded on Vera Caspary’s story “Odd Thursday;” it was directed by James Flood. Rosemary Ames, Herbert Mundin, Henrietta Crossman, Irving Pichel and others are in the cast (Coast Review). Children under twelve will not understand it but there is nothing in it to give them enjoyment. Not particularly edifying for adolescents ; not suitable for Sunday showing.