Harrison's Reports (1937)

2 HARRISON'S REPORTS January 2, 1937 "College Holiday" with Jack Benny, Gracie Allen, George Burns and Mary Boland (Paramount, Dec. 25 ; time, 86 min.) As in "Big Broadcast of 1937," this is made up of a series of skits in which familiar players participate ; and it will in all probability duplicate the success of the other. The skits are, however, tied together by a thin plot ; as a matter of fact the picture follows the formula set by Paramount for its musical comedies. Some of the skits are comical, and others dull ; most of the time the action lags. The comedy skit that shows Gracie Allen doing an aesthetic dance with George Burns and Ben Blue tops them all ; and since this occurs in the closing scenes, spectators will leave the theatre in an agreeable mood. The romantic interest is of little consequence : — Jack Benny, manager of the bankrupt hotel conducted by Marsha Hunt's father, conceives the idea of bringing college boys and girls to the hotel to liven things up and draw customers. He gets the financial backing of Mary Boland, holder of the mortgage, by leading her to believe that his purpose in bringing the young people to the hotel was to mate them according to her theory of eugenics. Difficulties arise when Miss Boland wants to see the rehearsals of what she believed was to be a Greek pageant, but in reality only a typical musical comedy. With the help of the students, Benny puts his plans over and makes enough money from the entertainment to pay off the mortgage. Miss Boland had, in the meantime, lost interest in her theories owing to her interest in some new fad. J. P. McEvoy, Harland Ware, Henry Meyers, and Jay Gorney wrote the original screen play. Frank Tuttle directed it and Harlan Thompson produced it. Others in the cast are Martha Raye, Eleanor Whitney, Leif Erikson, Johnny Downs, and Olympe Bradna. Suitable for all. Class A. "Stowaway" with Shirley Temple, Alice Faye and Robert Young (20th Centwry-Fox, Dec. 25 ; time, 85l/> min.) Excellent! This is the best story Shirley has had in a long time and it should increase her popularity. She is given a real acting assignment, and does justice to the part ; instead of going through dance routines and singing sentimental songs, she shows her talents as a comedian. The courtroom scene, in which Shirley, coached by the wellmeaning judge, gives her testimony in legal terms, using difficult words, is a "gem," and should provoke hearty laughter. On several occasions she speaks in Chinese and does it convincingly. The supporting players are agreeable and awaken one's sympathy. The romance between Alice Faye and Robert Young is charming and ends in a way certain to please spectators : — Shirley finds herself alone in Shanghai ; she had been deserted by her Chinese guardian who had been instructed to take her from the village of Sanchow, where a bandit raid was expected, to the safe-keeping of the missionary in Shanghai. Her missionary parents were dead. She becomes acquainted with Young, a millionaire playboy, and intrigues him by her knowledge of Chinese and her ability to deal with the trades people. He leaves her in his car in front of a hotel, and when he comes out and cannot find her he thinks she had gone away. But she had just run after her dog, and when she returns it starts to rain. She hides in the rumble seat, falls asleep, and awakes to find herself a stowaway aboard an ocean liner. She is brought to Young, and he is happy to see her again ; he promises to be responsible for her. She meets Miss Faye, and introduces her to Young, who falls in love with her. Miss Faye is engaged to Allan Lane, who was meeting her at the next stop. The Captain tells Young that, since he is an irresponsible bachelor, Shirley will be taken from him and put in an institution. Miss Faye pleads with Lane to permit her to adopt Shirley, and when he refuses she breaks her engagement. Young suggests that she marry him in name only and later obtain a divorce, his purpose being to enable him to keep Shirley ; she agrees to this. Later at the trial for the divorce the judge realizes that Young and Miss Faye love each other. With Shirley's help, he brings them to their senses. There is a joyful reunion and Shirley at last has parents. Sam Engel wrote the story, and William Counselman, Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin the screen play ; William A. Seiter directed it, and B. G. DeSylva, Earl Carroll and Harold Wilson produced it. In the cast are Eugene Pallette, Helen Westley, Arthur Treacher, and others. Suitable for all. Class A. "Beloved Enemy" with Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne (United Artists, Dec. 25; time, 87 min.) This is a powerful love story, set against the melodramatic background of the Irish Rebellion. Instead of focussing the interest on the Rebellion itself, the author made the tragic effect it has on the lives of the two lovers (Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne ) the pivotal point. The love scenes have been handled with good taste; not once do they become over-sentimental. Even the closing scenes, where Aherne is shown dying from a bullet wound inflicted by one of his compatriots, with Miss Oberon at his side, are powerful without being maudlin. The events leading up to the Rebellion are exciting and thrilling, because of the skillful way by which they were handled. The situation that shows the meeting between the Irish and English leaders, in which they try to come to some understanding, is extremely dramatic. The tragic ending may disappoint some, but it is logical and in keeping with the story : — Aherne, undercover leader of the Irish rebels, is the most sought after man in Ireland ; but since the English had never seen a picture of him, they are unable to arrest him ; and so they let him slip through their fingers on many occasions. Henry Stephenson, a peer, arrives in Ireland with his daughter (Miss Oberon), to investigate the matter for the British government. Aherne saves them from death, much to the disguest of the more radical leaders of the movement, who wanted to blow up the automobile in which they were riding. The chance acquaintance between him and Miss Oberon ripens into love. Miss Oberon is shocked when she accidentally finds out that Aherne is the notorious leader. She gives him away only to regret her actions when the soldiers are sent after him. She is tearfully grateful when she hears that he had escaped. Her father insists that she go back to England with him. Once there she convinces him that he should recommend negotiations instead of war. Aherne and the other leaders are called to England. The old love flares up again when he meets Miss Oberon. Through her pleas, he agrees to moderation in the settling of the Irish dispute, even though he, by so doing, doomed himself — he knew that the fiery patriots would kill him as a betrayer of their cause. He leaves for Ireland, promising to return to Miss Oberon. When she hears of his danger she rushes to Ireland, and arrives at his side just as he is shot by his own loyal friend who had believed the stories of betrayal told to him by Donald Crisp, a radical leader. Aherne dies. John Balderston wrote the story, and he, Rose Fanken, and William Brown Meloney the screen play. Henry C. Potter directed it, and Samuel Goldwyn produced it, with George Haight as associate producer. In the cast are David Niven, Karen Morley, Jerome Cowan, Ray Hould, and others. Suitable for all. Class A. "Counterfeit Lady" with Ralph Bellamy and Joan Perry (Columbia, Dec. 31 ; time, 58>y2 min.) This program melodrama may go over with audiences who do not object to far-fetched plots as long as the action is fast. Up until the closing scenes one is led to believe that Joan Perry (heroine) is a crook; for this reason one is not in sympathy with her. By the time it is shown that she was justified in the theft of a famous diamond, it is too late for one to readjust one's feelings. The love affair is developed pleasantly : — Miss Perry, by a clever trick, steals a valuable diamond from Douglas Dumbrille, who engages Ralph Bellamy, a private detective, to get it back for him ; he did not want to call in the police, because it was a stolen diamond, turned over to him by the crooks. Bellamy trails Miss Perry and compels her to stay with him. They meet with many exciting experiences, during which Dumbrille's henchmen attempt to steal the diamond from Bellamy. But eventually Bellamy gets the facts from Miss Perry — the diamond had been stolen from her father and he did not have enough money to make good the loss. She had, therefore, stolen the diamond, which rightfully belonged to her father. Bellamy outwits Dumbrille and his men, and turns them over to the police. The diamond is returned to Miss Perry's father. Bellamy proposes marriage to Miss Perry and is accepted. Harold Shumate wrote the story, and Thomas VanDycke the screen play. D. Ross Lederman directed it and Ralph Cohn produced it. In the cast are Gene Morgan, Henry Mollison, George McKay and others. Suitable for all. Class A.