Harrison's Reports (1934)

HARRISON’S REPORTS 119 July 28, 1934 “The Notorious Sophie Lang” with Gertrude Michael and Paul Cavanagh ( Paramount , July 20; running time, 62 min.) This crook melodrama is fast-moving but implausible and, because of its theme, demoralizing. However, if not taken seriously, it should amuse adults fairly well because there are plentiful laughs provoked by the clever way in which the crooks fool the nonsensical detectives. One of the funniest situations is where Gertrude Michael, one of the crooks, goes to a jewelry store posing as a Countess and immediately senses that something is wrong. She turns the tables by placing the store manager in the seat where she was supposed to have sat, and she finds a connection installed by the police that was to have taken her picture but which took the pcture of the manager instead. Alison Skipworth, as her fellow conspirator, adds to the comedy by her pretended bewildered behavior. The reason why the picture is so nonsensical and far-fetched is that doors and windows always seem to be open so as to permit the crooks to steal in peace, and even to do their conniving under the very nose of the police. The story is the old one of using one crook to catch another crook. Arthur Byron, the police inspector, knows that Paul Cavanagh is an international crook, from France. Byron is out to get a notorious American woman crook and knows that Cavanagh, too, wants to meet the woman. So he sends his sleuth to follow Cavanagh but both Cavanagh and Gertrude are so clever that they constantly keep the Inspector bewildered. They become involved in the robbery of a famous string of pearls and it seems as if the police really have them. But again they escape, this time leaving for France together, for they had fallen in love with each other. The plot was adapted from a story by Frederick Irving Anderson. It was directed by Ralph Murphy. In the cast are Leon Errol, Ben Taggart, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Jack Mulhall, and others. Not for children, adolescents, or Sundays. Some adults may like it. “Here Ccmes the Navy” with James Cagney, Fat O’Brien and Gloria Stuart ( Warner Bros.. July 21; running time, 85 min.) This is a fast-moving comedy, done in the typical breezy Cagney style ; it should satisfy the Cagney fans, particularly men. Although it belongs to the cycle of sailor stories, it varies somewhat from the usual in that it concerns the enmity between two sailors instead of dealing with the exploits of sailors on shore leave. The United States Navy cooperated in the filming of the picture and, for this reason, the background is authentic ; and it is impressive. Several of the situations are exciting, as for instance the one in which Cagney, during target practice, endangers his own life to save the crew when some spilled powder ignited and threatened to cause an explosion. Another exciting situation comes in the closing scene where Cagney is shown saving Pat O’Brien’s life when O’Brien had held on to the rope of the Macon after every one else had let the rope go. Because of Cagney’s manner and his insolence towards superiors, at first one does not feel much sympathy for him, but later, because of his courage, one changes his attitude toward him. The romantic interest is pleasant. The story' revolves around the feud existing between Cagney and O’Brien. O’Brien is a naval officer and Cagney purposely joins the Navy so as to meet O’Brien and settle his differences with him by a fight. Cagney becomes acquainted with Gloria Stuart and finds to his regret that she is O’Brien’s sister. This makes him feel even more bitter towards O'Brien, particularly when O’Brien forbids him to see Gloria. Cagney displays bravery during target practice when some powder ignites and threatened a disaster, and is decorated for it. But he remains just as bitter, and holds the Navy in contempt. He is transferred to the air service and again show's his courage by saving O’Brien’s life when O’Brien wTas accidentally hoisted into the air by a strong wind when he was trying to assist in landing a Navy airship. This brings about a reconciliation between the two and Cagney, besides receiving a promotion, which made him O’Brien’s superior, marries Gloria. Cagney now feels that the Navy is the greatest place in the world. The plot was adapted from a story by Ben Markson. It was directed by Lloyd Bacon. In the cast are Frank McHugh, Dorothy Tree, Robert Barrat, Willard Robertson, and others. Because of a few suggestive remarks by Cagney, even though they are subtle, it may not prove suitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. Very good for adults. “You Made Me Love You” with Thelma Todd and Stanley Lupino ( Majestic-Brit . Int.; running time, 70 min.) Exhibitors who are able to use British-made pictures should find this picture a pretty good comedy, done in the typical British farce style. It is more or less a modern version of “The Taming of the Shrew,” and the situations showing Lupino trying to tame Thelma are quite funny, particularly those in which he purposely makes her most uncomfortable. The tunes are quite catchy, and the action is fast. The one drawback is that the only name known to American audiences is that of Thelma Todd. The closing scenes make it unsuitable for family trade because of the reference to the hero’s establishing proof at a hotel for his wife to obtain a divorce : — Thelma’s father is overjoyed when Lupino tells him he wants to marry Thelma. She is a shrew with an uncontrollable temper and wrecks furniture. Lupino feels he can train her, but knowing that she will not marry him, he works out a scheme with her father whereby it appears as if the father was indebted to Lupino, and that Lupino threatened to foreclose on the home unless Thelma married him. She marries Lupino but in name only. He tries all his tricks on her but they don’t seem to work. Her last fit of temper leads her to break up the home that belonged to Lupino’s friend. Lupino tells her it is no use; he will go to a hotel to give her evidence for a divorce. When he leaves, his friend tells Thelma how much Lupino loves her and she realizes she loves him, too. She follows him to the hotel, there is a reconciliation and at last everybody is happy. The plot was adapted from a story by Stanley Lupino. It was directed by Monty Banks. In the cast are John Loder, Gerald Rawlinson, James Carew, and others. Unsuitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. An adult picture. THE DISTRIBUTORS’ NATIONAL POLICIES In a recent editorial I suggested that, since the National Policies of the distributor are not really national but are applied according to the circumstances existing in a town or locality, you send me the terms on which you bought your pictures, or the terms they are insisting upon your accepting for the coming season’s product, so that I might publish them without giving your name. The thought back of it was to enable every one of you to compare your terms with the terms of the other exhibitors. But only one exhibitor responded. The same exhibitor, at whose suggestion I wrote that editorial, has written me as follows : “If you recall, a few weeks ago, you commented at my suggestion on ‘National Sales Policies’ of film companies as being a myth and suggested that we send you the terms of what we have been asked for each company’s product. Pete Wood, secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, has asked for the same thing. I wish some one would start the ball arolling and quote terms. Who can tell what this may lead to ? Possibly the end of preferred playdates, which are the bane in every exhibitor’s existence, and perhaps the end of percentage pictures. “I myself have not been approached by any salesman yet. But unofficially, I have heard that Fox is selling 12 pictures on percentage, with six preferred play-dates ; WarnerFirst National are selling ten percentage pictures as follows : One at 50%, two at 35%, and seven at 30%, all to have preferred play-dates. The one at 50% may be omitted from the contract if the exhibitor wishes, the catch being that he loses his 10% cancellation right by not buying all the product, as the Code requires. “I really believe that you can do us a lot of good by getting a nation-wide response to this matter. And goodness knows we need it.” Write and tell me the terms they are asking from you so that I may publish them. The facts will be so disguised that no one will know where the information comes from. In reference to the practice of Warner Bros, of allowing an exhibitor to refrain from buying the 50% picture so that he might lose his right to cancel ten per cent of the pictures, allow me to inform you that several exhibitors are inserting the following provision into their applications for contracts before they sign them. If they buy forty pictures out of fifty-five : “Forty pictures offered and forty pictures bought.” A provision of this kind protects their cancellation rights. Insert such a provision in your application for a contract.