Harrison's Reports (1935)

February 9, 1935 HARRISON'S REPORTS 23 "Wings in the Dark" with Myrna Loy and Cary Grant (Paramount, Feb. 1 ; time, 74l/> min.) Good entertainment. It is different from the usual aeroplane story and provides deep human interest. Aided considerably by the excellent performances of Myrna Loy and Cary Grant, it holds one's attention throughout. One feels much sympathy for both Myrna and Grant, because of their tine characters and of the sacrifices they make for each other. For instance, Myrna, in order to help Grant (who had been blinded in an accident) perfect his invention for blind flying, risks her life doing aerial stunts so as to earn enough money to make Grant believe he was getting this money for articles he was writing on aviation. Grant's attempts to adjust himself to his blindness are pathetic ; but James Flood's expert direction does not allow any of the action to become maudlin. The closing scenes are thrilling : When Grant is refused a Government permit to try his experiment of flying blind across the Atlantic, Myrna encourages him to make the trip without the permit. He decides to do this and while making preparations for his departure meets with an accident (a stove explodes) and is blinded. Myrna is heartbroken but encourages him to go on with his work to perfect his instruments for blind flying. Just as he is ready to try out the instruments his plane is taken from him because he could not meet the payments due. Myrna accepts an offer to make a solo non-stop flight from Moscow to New York, for which she is to receive $25,000. With this money she hopes to buy back Grant's plane. Everything goes well until she nears New York. She flies into a verv heavy fog and cannot land. Grant is determined to save her. With the use of his blind-flying instruments attached to his old plane, which he took without permission, he reaches Myrna and guides her to safety. Myrna, in order to prevent him from leaving her as he had threatened, crashes into his plane just as they land. Photographers from newspapers start taking flashlight pictures of Myrna and Grant. Suddenly Grant cries out that he can see. Joyfully the lovers embrace. Dale Van Every and E. H. Robinson adapted it from the story by Neil Shipman and Philip D. Hurn. It was produced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr. In the cast are Hobert Cavanaugh, Dean Jagger, Russell Hopton, Samuel S. Hinds, and others. Suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. Class A. "Under Pressure" with Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe and Florence Rice (Fox, Jan. 25; time, 70 min.) Fair program entertainment. It should hold the attention of men who are interested in the mechanics of tunnel building, since most of the action takes place presumably under the East River, where a tunnel is being built. One is held in suspense each time the men are in the tunnel because of the many hazards. The greatest danger is fire which, because of the high pressure, spreads quickly. A fairly exciting situation is one in which a fire breaks out and McLaglen, intent upon not losing any time, forces the men to remain underground so as to help him fight the fire. It is only because Lowe knocks him out and floods the place that the men are saved. Another exciting situation occurs when there is a "blow" and air enters the tunnel, followed by a flood. The men escape and McLaglen risks his life saving Lowe, who had been left in the tunnel. Because of the sudden change of pressure, McLaglen gets the "bends" and becomes crippled. The most thrilling situation is in the end, where McLaglen, who had headed one end of the tunnel building, and Charles Bickford, the other, meet at the centre when the work is completed. The two men, hating each other, have a terrific fight, and McLaglen is proclaimed the winner. The tunnel setting is realistic. But aside from the mechanical end and the few thrills there is little to the story. It is the typical McLaglen Ix>we friendly-enemy type of entertainment. The romantic interest is fair with McLaglen marrying Marjorie Rambeau, and Lowe marrying Florence Rice, a feature writer, who had become interested in Lowe and his work after she had met him at a doctor's office where she had taken a man who was suffering from the "bends." Borden Chase, Noel Pierce and Lester Cole constructed the plot from the story by Borden Chase and Edward J. Doherty. Raoul Walsh directed and Robert T. Kane produced it. In the cast are Siegfried Rumann, George Regas, George Walsh, and others. Suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. Suitability, Class A. "The Gilded Lily" with Claudette Colbert (Paramount, Jan. 25 ; running time, 84 min.) An excellent human-interest comedy. It is the type of entertainment the masses should enjoy because it deals with people whose actions and language they can understand. The fact that the story is simple and not particularly novel does not matter, for in every other respect it is outstanding : — the acting (even to the smallest role) and the direction are unusually good, the action is fast, and the dialogue sensible and amusing. The characters are sympathetic and the spectator is interested in their welfare. There are several situations that provoke hearty laughter. One of such situations is where Claudette Colbert wins over a night club audience with her charm, in spite of the fact that she could not sing or dance : — After an accidental meeting on a subway station, Claudette and Ray Milland fall deeply in love with each other. She thinks he is poor and without a job and hopes to help him. Fred MacMurray, a newspaper reporter and Claudette's best friend, loves Qaudette and is unhappy when she tells him of her love for Milland. Milland is in reality an English nobleman. Wanting to behave in a gentlemanly fashion, he tells Claudette he is going down South for a position ; in reality he sails for England to break off his engagement to a society girl, then return to America, to tell Claudette about himself and marry her. When Claudette sees Milland's nicture in the newspapers she is heartbroken for she feels that he had fooled her. MacMurray, angry because Claudette had been duped, prints a story about Claudette's having refused to marry Milland. She becomes famous and is engaged to perform in a night club. She becomes successful ; but she is unhappy because Milland had not returned. He, after reading the newspaper story, felt that Claudette did not love him and had just used the affair as a publicity stunt. When Claudette is offered a position in England she accepts. In London she meets Milland again. MacMurray, who had accompanied her to England, goes back to America, feeling he is in the way. Claudette is happy for a time but she soon realizes that Milland does not intend to ask her to marry him. She leaves him and goes back to America and to MacMurray. They are united. The plot was adapted from a story by Melville Baker and Jack Kirkland. It was directed by Wesley Ruggles, and produced by Albert Lewis. In the cast are C. Aubrey Smith, Luis Alberni, Eddie Craven, and others. Because of one situation in which Milland suggests that Claudette go away with him for a trip, it is unsuitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. Excellent for adults. Class B. "Sweepstake Annie" with Marion Nixon and Tom Brown (Liberty; time, 73 min.) Fairly good program entertainment. It moves at a fast pace, blending melodrama with farce. The first half concentrates on the comedy situations, which are brought about by the heroine's ungrateful and lazy family, who become frantic with joy when the heroine wins a sweepstake prize of $150,000. The spectator is held in fair suspense during the second half when a bogus count and his sister attempt to fleece the heroine of her fortune. The romantic interest is pleasant : — When Marion wins the sweepstake prize she tells her family she is through with them because of their selfishness. She gives them $25,000 and then takes an apartment for herself and her girl friend. She quarrels with her sweetheart, Tom Brown, and they part. Marion meets Ivan Lebedeff and Wera Engels, supposedly a count and countess, and is impressed by them. They advise her about investments and see to it that she makes a handsome profit at the beginning. Their plan is to take her money and then leave the country. But Tom Brown, who had left his position at a studio to become chauffeur to the count, finds out about their scheme. With the aid of police lie rounds up the gang and saves Marion's fortune. There is a happy reconciliation between Marion and Tom. The story is by W. Scott Darling. William Nigh is the director, and M. H. Hoffman the producer. In the cast are Inez Courtney, Lucien Littlefield, Dorothy Peterson, William Janncy and Carol Tevis. Suitable for children, adolescents, and Sundays. Suitability, Class A. "Lover Divine" (GB Prod. (British) ; Feb. 1 ; time, 83 mm) This picture was reviewed in the January 19 issue of Haxkison's Rkpouts (page 10), under the title "The Unfinished Symphony."