Harrison's Reports (1936)

February 8, 1936 HARRISON'S REPORTS 23 "Dancing Feet" with Joan Marsh, Ben Lyon and Edward Nugent (Republic, January 31 ; time, 71 min.) Pleasant program entertainment, suitable particularly for young folk. Its lack in story novelty is made up for by the peppy dancing, popular jazz music, and comical situations and dialogue. It is a little slow in getting started, but is developed as it goes along, ending in a flashy manner, with some pretty good dance routines. The characters are pleasant, and Edward Nugent (hero) and Joan Marsh (heroine) awaken sympathy by their efforts to advance as dancers. Although it is not an outstanding production, it is the type of picture that should satisfy the masses fairly well : — Miss Marsh, granddaughter of Purnell Pratt, an excitable millionaire, leaves home when he forbids her to see Ben Lyon, a millionaire playboy, and insists that she lead a sedate life. She goes to Lyon and asks him to marry her but he refuses, suggesting that they wait until he comes into his inheritance. She registers at an expensive hotel, where she meets Nugent, a bell-hop, with whom she had become acquainted in a dance hall. The manager telephones to Pratt asking him about Miss Marsh, and Pratt, in order to punish her, denies their relationship. Nugent overhears the conversation and induces her to leave before the manager would cause trouble. He refuses to believe that she is a society girl. She goes to the dance hall to see Isabel Jewell, one of the hostesses, whom she had met once. Miss Jewel induces the manager to engage Miss Marsh, and then invites her to live with her. Nugent calls to see her and tells her he was discharged. They plan to do a novelty dancing act over the radio, but meet with many disappointments because of Pratt's interference. In time they win him over and prove they are capable. He gives them his blessings for their marriage. Rob Eden wrote the story, Wellyn Tottnan and Oliver Cooper the screen play, Joseph Santley directed it and Colbert Clark produced it. In the cast are Nick Condas, Yince Harnett, Herbert Rawlinson, and others. Suitable for all. Class A. "Tough Guy" with Jackie Cooper and Joseph Calleia (MGM, January 24; time, 75 min.) A fast-moving and at times thrilling program melodrama, with an appeal mostly to male audiences and to youngsters. There are no women in the cast ; therefore it lacks romance. But it has human interest, awakened by the friendship between Jackie Cooper, a runaway, and Joseph Calleia, a desperate criminal. The scenes in the forest where Calleia becomes regenerated because of his attachment to Jackie are touching. The real hero is, however, Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr., a dog of rare intelligence, who acts as a bodyguard for Jackie and is instrumental in rounding up the gang that tries to kill Jackie ; dog lovers will be thrilled by the remarkable talents displayed by this dog. The story is pretty far-fetched, but the action is fast and it holds one's attention fairly well throughout. The closing scenes are the most exciting. In the development of the plot, Jackie, who was unhappy at home, runs away with his dog. He hides in a truck driven by Calleia and is witness to a holdup perpetrated by Calleia and his gang. They later find him in the truck and plan to kill him. Calleia accidentally shoots the dog and is so moved by Jackie's pleas to do something for Rin that he takes the dog to a veterinarian, who extracts the bullet. When he discovers that the police are on his trail, he escapes with Jackie and they live in a hideout in the forest. They become deeply attached to each other. When Calleia's gang learn that Jackie is the son of a rich man, who had offered $50,000 reward for his return, they follow Calleia to the hideout, and kidnap Jackie, planning to collect the ransom and then kill him. Calleia is captured by the police ; he pleads with them to give him a chance to get Jackie. They permit him to escape. With the help of Rin he finds the gang's hideout and in a thrilling battle rescues Jackie. Edward Pawley, the leader, shoots Calleia just as the police close in. The gang is captured. Calleia dies in Jackie's arms, after pleading with him not to cry. Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf wrote the original screen play. Chester M. Franklin directed it, and Harry Rapf produced it. In the cast are Mischa Auer, Robert Warwick, Harvey Stephens, Jean Hersholt, and others. Although this is a picture primarily for children, exhibitors will have to use their own judgment about showing it to them because a gangster is glorified. Suitable for adults. Class R. "Next Time We Love" with Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart and Ray Milland (Universal, January 27; time, 85y2 min.) A pretty good romantic drama, with an appeal to women. Miss Sullavan, Stewart, and Milland give fine performances, making their respective characters real and likeable. The story lacks action, but this is made up for by its human quality. One feels so much sympathy for the three characters that one becomes interested in their problems. There are a few situations that stir the emotions deeply. The situation in which Miss Sullavan and Stewart meet again after a prolonged absence is one of such situations. The actions of Miss Sullavan and of the others seem inconsistent at times, but this will, no doubt, be overlooked, for the reason that the sincerity of their performances makes one feel as if their actions are logical : — Miss Sullavan leaves college to marry Stewart, a struggling newspaper reporter. Milland, his best friend, helps them out by introducing Miss Sullavan to a theatrical manager, who engages her for his new play. She makes good progress. When Stewart is offered the job of foreign correspondent to Russia, she refuses to go along with him, feeling that she might be in his way. After he leaves she confesses to Milland that she is going to have a baby. Her landlady writes to Stewart when the baby is born. He deserts his post and rushes back home ; he promises Miss Sullavan never to leave her again. The editor discharges him. He is forced to do cub reporting for a news service bureau for which he is poorly paid. Milland again comes to their rescue by getting Miss Sullavan a theatrical engagement. Knowing that Stewart was unhappy, Miss Sullavan goes to see his former editor and pleads with him to reinstate Stewart; she is even willing to let him take a foreign assignment again. He is forced to leave immediately for Europe. She becomes a famous actress and is able to live luxuriously. She sees her husband infrequently and learns to do without him ; but she never stops loving him. Milland confesses his love for her and begs her to divorce Stewart and marry him. She leaves for Europe to talk the matter over with Stewart ; they plan a pleasant vacation together. But he leaves suddenly. She rushes after him and joins him on the train. She senses that he is quite ill and he admits that he is dying from a disease that he had contracted in China. Miss Sullavan tells him, in between sobs, that she will stay with him to the end. The plot was adapted from the story by Ursula Parrott. Melville Baker wrote the screen play. Edward H. Griffiths directed it and Paul Kohner produced it. In the cast are Grant Mitchell, Robert McWade, and others. Suitable for all. Class A. "For Love of You" with Franco Foresta (Celebrity Pictures; running time, 59 min.) A fairly good musical comedy. The arias from the operas "Othello," "The Pearl Fisher," "Pagliacci," and "The Tales of Hoffman," sung by Franco Foresta and a chorus of two hundred and fifty, should be enjoyed by all music lovers. The comedy provoked by Arthur Riscoe and Naughton Wayne is good. Their attempts to show Diana Napier, Foresta's wife, a good time and at the same time avoid any trouble with Foresta are amusing. The carnival atmosphere and the lavish sets on the Venetian waterways, where most of the action takes place, make scenes of beauty, gayety, and laughter. The photography and direction are handled capably : — Riscoe and Wayne, on a vacation in Venice, are awakened one morning by a quarrel between Diana Napier and her jealous husband, Foresta, a well-known tenor. In order to cheer up Miss Napier, Riscoe takes her swimming at the Lido. Foresta, through an accident, finds this out and threatens to kill Riscoe. His wife, angered at his jealousy, plans to teach him a lesson. She therefore promises Riscoe that she will attend the carnival with him that afternoon. Fearing Foresta, and wishing to avoid trouble, he does not meet her ; masked as Neptune, he is bavins a grand time when Foresta finds and unmasks him as well as the girl he is with. To his amazement and sorrow it is Miss Napier whom he had thought safely at home. Foresta wants to kill Riscoe hut is prevented by the crowd who had gathered around him. Finally Riscoe is able to straighten things out. bringing about a reconciliation between Foresta and his wife. Selwvn Jepson wrote the story and the screen play, and Carmine Gallonc directed it. In the cast are Pearl Osgood and others. Suitable for all. Suitability Class A.