Harrison's Reports (1938)

74 HARRISON'S REPORTS May 7, 1938 "The Adventures of Robin Hood" with Enrol Flynn, Olivia DeHavilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains (First National, May 14; running time, 102 mill.) Excellent entertainment! Not only does it show great care in production, that is, in lavish settings, fine technicolor photography, expert direction and acting, but also in the manner in which the story has been developed, for action has not been sacrificed in an attempt to stress the beauties of technicolor photography. Adventure, romance, comedy, and human appeal have been skilfully blended to give satisfaction on all counts. Needless to say, it holds one in tense suspense throughout, because of the constant danger to the hero, who dares to defy the tyrannical nobles in an effort to bring about justice for the common people. In spite of the fact that his many escapes are nothing short of miracles, the way he accomplishes them are so thrilling, that audiences will overlook the fact that they are far-fetched. The duel in the closing scenes between the hero and his arch enemy is the most exciting ever screened. And for color and excitement, audiences will long remember the archery tournament in which many men compete: — When word is brought to Nottingham Castle that King Richard (Ian Hunter), while on his way home from the Crusades, had been captured and was being held for ransom, his scheming brother Prince John (Rains) decides to take over the regency. Having tortured the Saxons during his brother's absence, by imposing unreasonable taxes on them, he decides, with the help of the traitorous Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Rathbone), to levy even more taxes by pretending that the money was needed to pay the ransom. Many Saxons are killed and tortured. Sir Robin (Flynn), whose estates and title had been taken from him by Prince John, and who had turned outlaw to help the oppressed, warns the Normans that he would take a Norman life for each Saxon life; and he carries out his threats. Together with his small band of followers, Robin Hood steals from the rich to help the poor. Prince John is enraged; he orders his men to kill Robin Hood, but to no avail, for each time Robin is captured he manages to escape. And Robin places himself in the way of danger just to see Maid Marian (Miss DeHavilland), the King's ward, with whom he had fallen in love. At first she opposed him; but after learning the truth, she tries to help him, particularly because she had fallen in love with him. King Richard and a few followers return to England disguised in clerical robes; with the help of Robin Hood and his men, King Richard is successful in obtaining entrance to the palace in time to prevent Prince John from proclaiming himself King. In a duel with Robin Hood, Sir Guy is killed. And the King banishes his brother and the other traitors, bringing peace and contentment to his subjects. As a reward for his bravery, Robin Hood receives back his title and estates, and obtains the King's consent to his marriage with Maid Marian. The plot was based on ancient Robin Hood legends; Norman Reilly Raine and Seton I. Miller wrote the screen play, Michael Curtiz and William Keighley directed it, and Henry Blanke produced it. In the cast are Alan Hale, Patric Knowles, Una O'Connor, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin, and others. Class A. "Call of the Yukon" with Richard Arlen, Beverly Roberts and Lyle Talbot (Republic, May 16; time, 70 min.) Set in the Alaskan Eskimo country, this melodrama, in which animals play as important a part as humans, is fairly good entertainment for lovers of outdoor action pictures. There are animals fights, a snow avalanche, and even an ice-break, in which both the hero and the heroine are caught. Its appeal will, however, be directed more to men and to children than to women, who may be sickened by some of the situations, such as the one in which the heroine, disgusted at the sight of the hero's roasting the carcass of an animal that a dog had killed, refuses to accept the food when he offers it to her. The hero is, until almost the end, an unpleasant character because of his wild actions and callousness; however, his fearlessness makes one feel some respect for him. The comedy is provoked by the playfulness of two bear cubs: — Beverly Roberts, who had been living in a small Eskimo village in Alaska, in order to get material for a new novel, refuses to leave the village evan though the inhabitants, fearing starvation and attack by wild dogs, had deserted it. Arlen, a trapper, compels her to leave with him. They meet with many mishaps, and during a snow avalanche lose their sled with a large portion of their supplies. They are followed by Swift Lightning, a wolf-dog, responsible for most of the animal killings, and his mate Firefly, a tame Collie dog. Miss Roberts, who had declared her love for Arlen, is disgusted at his idea of killing the dogs for food. They finally find a deserted cabin where Arlen, enraged at Miss Roberts' change in manner, tries to force his attentions on her. Just then, Lyle Talbot, a fur trader in love with Miss Roberts, having heard that the two had reached the cabin, arrives with supplies. The two men have a terrific fight in which Arlen comes out the victor; but he, thinking Miss Roberts loved Talbot, decides to leave during a storm. Miss Roberts follows him, and finds him attempting to lift a tree that had fallen on Swift Lightning; she helps him save the dog. She tells Arlen she really loved him and wanted to stay with him. The plot was adapted from the novel "Swift Lightning," by James Oliver Curwood. Gertrude Orr and William Bar tie tt wrote the screen play, B. Reeves Eason directed it, and Arniand Schaefer produced it. In the cast are Mala, Garry Owen, and others. It is doubtful if children will understand the hero's actions; therefore, suitability, Class A. "Four Men and a Prayer" with Loretta Young, Richard Greene, David Niven, George Sanders and William Henry (20th Century-Fox, April 29; time, 85 min.) This adventure murder-mystery melodrama, tinged with comedy, is good mass entertainment; it should thrill particularly action-loving fans. Although somewhat far-fetched in spots, it holds one's attention throughout; this is owing to the sympathy one feels for the hero and his three brothers, whose desire to clear the name of their father leads them into many adventures. The tension on several occasions is relieved by the amusing actions on the part of David Niven, one of the sons, who provokes laughter without appearing too silly. One of the situations is so gory that it may sicken some spectators: it shows soldiers mowing down with a machine gun a whole group of men and women rebels. But the scenes of fighting are handled effectively. The romantic touch is provided by Loretta Young, whose love for one of the sons (Richard Greene) impels her to follow him on his hazardous investigations. Intelligent audiences may be amused at the situation where Miss Young, dressed in a sheer evening gown, runs through streets where a revolution was raging, avoiding stray bullets, without even spoiling her dress or her haircomb: — Dishonorably discharged from the British Army service in India after many years of distinguished service, C. Aubrey Smith writes to his four sons — Greene, Niven, George Sanders, and William Henry — urging them to meet him at their estate to talk the matter over. He tells them that he had been framed, and had evidence to prove that the conspirators were working for a munitions concern; he promises to go into the matter in detail directly after dinner. But he is murdered before he had a chance to give his sons the information; the papers are stolen. The sons set out to clear their father's name and to avenge his death. Their search narrows down to Reginald Denny, a retired army officer, who had been the chief witness against their father, and to his companion (Alan Hale). They finally force Denny to confess that he had forged the document that had convicted their father; but before he could name his chief, he is murdered. Greene, who was in love with Miss Young, is heartbroken when he learns that her father (Berton Churchill) was the head of the munitions concern. Churchill swears that he knew nothing of the underhanded tactics used by Hale, his agent. The sons finally corner Hale; he signs a confession clearing their father's name and confessing to the murder. With the case cleared, Greene and Miss Young look forward to marriage. David Garth wrote the story, and Richard Sherman, Sonya Levien, and Walter Ferris, the screen play; John Ford directed it, and Kenneth Macgowan produced it. In the cast are J. Edward Bromberg, John, Carradine, Barry Fitzgerald, and others. Class A.