Harrison's Reports (1937)

January 30, 1937 HARRISON'S REPORTS 19 gang, who were wanted by federal agents. Willis is killed in attempting to escape. Arlen and Miss Grey marry. Harold Bell Wright wrote the story, and Dan Jarrett, Earle Snell and Paul Franklin the screen play ; Howard Bretherton directed it, and Sol Lesser produced it. In the cast are Sid Saylor, Maude Allen, and others. Suitable for all. Class A. "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" with Ray Milland and Heather Angel {Paramount, January 22; running time, 66 mm.) The plot in this version of the "Bulldog Drummond" series resembles its predecessors — it is a wild, fantastic, and somewhat old-fashioned melodrama, of the type to amuse the rank and file. It holds one in suspense, owing to the exciting situations Ray Milland (Drummond) gets himself into. Though the plot is far-fetched, one's attention is held fairly well, for the action is fast throughout — at times it is laugh-provoking, while at other times thrilling. Intelligent people may, however, find it somewhat ridiculous. Milland's romance with Heather Angel, the girl for whom he risks his life, is pleasant : — Milland returns to England, and soon after his arrival he becomes involved in a mysterious case revolving around Miss Angel. Believing that she was being held against her will by Porter Hall and his friends, he goes to Sir Guy Standing, Scotland Yard Inspector, and insists that he help Miss Angel. Standing, professing to be annoyed at Milland's melodramatic theories, tells him that Hall is a good friend of .his. But Milland persists in continuing the investigation on his own. He sneaks into the house to see Miss Angel ; she tells him Hall had murdered her brother, and that he was holding her prisoner. Milland is captured by Hall and his men and taken to the basement. Hall tells him that he and his friends were counterfeiters, and that they had killed Miss Angel's brother because he knew too much. Just as they are about to shoot Milland, Standing arrives with the police. He tells Milland he knew all along about Hall's activities, but he had decided to let Milland continue on the case in his own way. Miss Angel accepts Milland's marriage proposal. H. C. McNeile and Gerard Fairlie wrote the story, and Edward T. Lowe the screen play. James Hogan directed it In the cast are Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive, and others. Suitable for all. Class A. "Under Cover of Night" with Edmund Lowe, Florence Rice and Henry Daniell (MGM, January 8 ; running time, 71 mill.) A pretty good murder melodrama. It borders somewhat on the horror type of picture, because of the number of murders and of the manner in which these are committed. The fact that the audience knows from the beginning who ,the murderer is gives the picture a novel twist. The interest, therefore, is concentrated in watching the methods employed to trap him. One is held in tense suspense in the closing scenes. There are a few good comedy bits and a pleasant romance : — Henry Daniell, professor of physics, has hopes of being appointed head of his college department upon the retirement of Harry Davenport. Every one considered him a brilliant scientist, because none knew that all the research work was being done by his wife (Sara Haden). She had .evolved for Daniell a certain scientific theory that would bring him fame. She refuses to turn over to him the book that contained the calculations and the summary unless he broke up his affair with his secretary (Maria Shelton). Knowing that his wife had a weak heart, Daniell frightens her and she dies ; he then searches for the book. Not finding it, he decides that Miss Haden must have given it to some other member of the physics department. In his attempts to find the book, he kills three other persons, and then tries to put the blame on Dean Jagger, another member of his department. Florence Rice finds the book, which had been put in her coat pocket by Miss Haden by mistake. She goes to see Daniell to turn it over to him. While talking to him she realizes that he is the murderer. He tries to kill her, but is prevented by the timely arrival of Edmund Lowe, who had been investigating the different murders and had come to the conclusion that Daniell was the murderer. Jagger is happy to find Miss Rice, whom he loved, alive. Bertram Millhauser wrote the story and screen play; George B. Seitz directed it and Lucien Hubbard and Ned Marin produced it. In the cast are Nat Pendleton, Frank Reicher, Henry Kolker, and others. Unsuitable for children and adolescents. Adult entertainment. Class B. "The Woman Alone" with Sylvia Sidney and Oscar Homolka (Gaumont-British, January 1 ; time, 74]/2 min.) A thrilling melodrama ; it should appeal particularly to intelligent audiences. The one drawback, as far as the masses are concerned, is the slow-paced action. Otherwise, the story is extremely interesting and holds one in tense suspense throughout. Alfred Hitchcock, who will be remembered for his direction of "39 Steps" and "Secret Agent," again shows his skill in building up a situation to a tense climax. The scenes that show young Desmond Tester walking through the London streets, unaware that he was carrying a bomb that had been set to explode at a certain time, are directed expertly; nothing with so much power has been seen in a long time. Another equally dramatic situation is that in which Sylvia Sidney, heartbroken at her brother's death, which was caused by her husband (Oscar Homolka), is shown looking at a bread knife ; one understands that her desire is to kill her husband. The romantic interest is of slight importance : — Miss Sidney and Homolka operate a small motion picture theatre in London. She is grateful to Homolka, whom she does not love, for being kind to Desmond, her young brother, who lives with them. She is unaware of the fact that her husband had been working with foreign agents and had been committing acts of sabotage on government property. John Loder, a Scotland Yard agent, posing as a clerk in a fruit store adjoining the theatre, was watching Homolka's actions. Homolka, realizing that he was watched, sends Desmond to deliver a bomb-containing package to a certain crowded spot. Desmond is delayed because of a parade and boards a bus ; the bomb explodes, blowing up the bus, and killing Desmond and the other passengers. Homolka tells Miss Sidney that he is sorry but this does not console her. In an attempt to take away a bread knife she was holding, knowing that her intention was to kill him, Homolka is stabbed and dies. Miss Sidney confesses to Loder and he pleads with her not to say anything. Homolka's co-worker, maker of the bomb, resisting arrest, blows up the theatre ; the evidence of how Homolka had died is, therefore, covered up. Miss Sidney accepts Loder's sympathy and love. The plot was adapted from a story by Joseph Conrad. Charles Bennett wrote the screen play. In the cast are Joyce Barbour, William Dewhurst, and others. It may be a little strong for children. Good for adults. Class B. "The Bold Caballero" with Robert Livingston and Heather Angel (Republic, January 18; time, 71 min.) If there were any entertaining values in the story, they have been killed by the atrocious color ; the faces are grotesque, and the outlines of the bodies fringed. As to the outdoor scenes, which ordinarily bear much punishment from overcoloring, even these are unpleasant to behold, for the different colors run wild, one having no regard for the rights of the other. As to the story, it seems to have no effect : the acts of the sympathetic characters do not seem to touch one's heartstrings. For one thing, the picture seems to have been miscast ; for another, the direction has "missed." A similar story was put into pictures once before, by Douglas Fairbanks, who took the part of Zoro, the gallant Spaniard, who tried to protect the peons from the injustices of a cruel Spanish official. In this instance, a new Governor arrives, but the old Commandante has him killed and contrives to have the dead man's daughter (heroine) believe that the murder had been committed by Zoro (hero), the idol of the Indians, but the terror of the wrongdoers. The heroine, who upon the death of her father had become the Governor, orders that Zoro be caught. All the while Zoro had been masquerading as a fob and serving the heroine. In the end, Zoro is able to prove to the heroine that the crimes against the Indians were committed, not by "Zoro," but the Commandante and his henchmen. Zoro so brings things about that right eventually triumphs. He saves the heroine from the hands of the Commandante, who was forcing her to many him, and the Commandante pays the price for his misdeeds. Wells Root wrote the screen play and did the direction ; Albert W. Levoy produced it. Sig Rumann, Ian Wolfe, Robert Warwick, Emily Fitzroy, Walter Long and others are in the supporting cast. There is nothing morally objectionable in it. And from this point of view, the picture is suitable for the entire family. Class A.