Harrison's Reports (1938)

210 HARRISON'S REPORTS December 31, 1938 "Flirting With Fate" with Joe E. Brown and Beverly Roberts (MGM, Dec. 2; time, 68 min.) Just a fair comedy. It is not as good as this star's last picture, for the gags used are old and not particularly amusing. Brown works hard to put freshness into trite situations, but his efforts fall mostly flat, for the material is poor ; in only a few situations docs the comedy provoke laughter. There is some excitement towards the end, when Brown, who had been intent on killing himself, suddenly decides he wants to live, but finds his life endangered by a scheming bandit. Incidental music has been worked into the plot, but with only fair results : — Stranded with his troupe in South America, Brown realizes that their bad luck had been due to his poor management, for he had incurred the animosity of the most powerful theatrical man (Charles Judels) in South America on account of his clumsiness each time he met him. Knowing that the troupe would get good booking if they could return to New York, Brown writes a note to Beverly Roberts, a member of the troupe, assigning his life insurance to them; he then sets out to kill himself. But all his efforts are in vain : the gun he chooses turns out to be empty, the ant poison he drinks turns out to be whiskey, and the lion he battles with becomes tame. Finally he makes a bargain with Leo Carillo, a bandit, whereby Carrillo, for $500, would kill him. But first Brown has to go to a party at Carrillo's hacienda, to await his execution at sunrise. Carrillo brings Judels to the party by force to listen to Steffi Duna sing, but she sings so terribly that Judels refuses to listen; so they lock him up with Brown. Judels promises Brown that, if he would obtain his release, he would book his troupe for a year. Brown then decides to live. But Stanley Fields, one of the bandits who had been trying to overthrow Carillo, had other ideas; he wanted to collect the $500. After a hectic fight, in which Brown and Judels try to escape by hiding in the costume of a bull, the bandits are subdued. Miss Roberts, who loved Brown, is happy to find him alive. Dan Jarrett and A. Dorian Otvos wrote the story, and Joseph M. March, Ethel LaBlanche, Charlie Melson, and Harry Clork, the screen play ; Frank McDonald directed it, with Edward Gross as an associate producer under David Loew, the producer. In the cast are Wynne Gibson, Leonid Kinskcy, Chris Martin, and others. Suitability, Class A. "Arrest Bulldog Drummond" with John Howard and Heather Angel (Paramount, Nov. 25 ; time, 56 www.) Good entertainment. It has fast action, thrilling situations, and a good sprinkling of comedy. In spite of the fact that parts of the story are far-fetched, one is held in tense suspense, for something is happening every moment. The production values are good, and the acting commendable. This time, Drummond and his pal (Reginald Denny) accidentally stumble upon a murder, which soon involves them in an international plot. The murdered man had invented a powerful death ray, anil the villain, (George Zucco), desiring to get the machine so that he might sell it to international agents, had killed the inventor. Because of threats to his fiancee (Heather Angel) from the villain, Drummond is compelled to postpone his wedding. But he, his pal, and his ever-faithful valet (E. E. Clive), determined to uncover the plot and to find the machine, start out on their search. Drummond, learning that the villain and his assistant were sailing on the boat on which his fiancee was a passenger, flies down to the first stopping point, equipped with full authority by Scotland Yard to bring back the villain. Drummond's pal and his valet are caught by the villain ; he plans to kill them after killing Drummond, who, as he thought, was walking into a trap he had set. But Miss Angel's quick thinking saves Drummond's life. In company with his two friends, who had escaped, and with police following, Drummond rushes to the villain's hideout. Drummond blows up the machine and helps in rounding up the villain and his co-workers. II. C. McNcile wrote the story, and Stuart Palmer, the screen play ; James Hogan directed it, and Stuart Walker produced it. In the cast are H. B. Warner, Jean Fcnwick, Zcffie Tilbury, and others. Because of the murders, it is hardly suitable for children. Class B. "Sweethearts" with Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy and Frank Morgan (MGM, Dec. 30; time, 113 min.) Very good. The lavish production is enhanced by the technicolor photography. Even though the story is thin, the MacDonald-Eddy fans will probably overlook this, for the stars sing many good numbers in their customary talented way. And there is comedy both in dialogue and situation to brighten up things. The picture has unusual appeal for women, for Miss MacDonald wears beautiful cloihes and makes many changes; this is so particularly in one scene, where she is shown buying a new wardrobe in preparation for a trip. The romance is pleasant : — Miss MacDonald and Mr. Eddy, stars of a Broadway musical siiow that had been running for six years, arc married and happy. They arc, however, slaves to their profession for not only do they appear at the theatre each night, but they arc compelled to make appearances at benefits, sing over the radio, and make recordings. The members of their respective families live in luxury on the earnings of the stars. Tired of their hectic existence and annoyed at the demands of their manager (Frank Morgan) and of their relatives, they decide to leave Broadway for Hollywood, there to make motion pictures. Morgan is frantic, for it meant losing his best source of revenue. Mischa Alter, a playwright, thinks of a way of handling the situation, lie reads the script of his new play to Miss MacDonald in .which he includes dialogue similar to the love letters Eddy had been sending to his wife each night; Miss MacDonald is unaware that Auer had stolen the letters from her dressing room. Auer leads her to believe that the notes had been sent to a young lady by a married man whose wife knew nothing of the affair. Miss MacDonald, thinking that the persons involved were her husband and his trusted secretary (Florence Rice), refuses to go to Hollywood; as a matter of fact she leaves her husband. They both go on the road with different companies, and both are miserably unhappy. Eventually the truth comes out and husband and wife are reconciled. They forgive Morgan for his part in the affair and decide to remain on Broadway. The plot was adapted from the Victor Herbert stage play ; Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell wrote the screen play, W. S. VanDyke directed it, and Hunt Stromberg produced it. In the cast are Ray Bolger, Reginald Gardiner, Herman Bing, Raymond Walburn, Gene Lockhart, and others. Suitability, Class A. "Adventure in Sahara" with Paul Kelly (Columbia, Nov. 15; time, 57 min.) A trite program melodrama, centering around the Foreign Legion. The plot besides being far-fetched, is depressing. Most of the action deals with the cruelties of a sadistic commander at a French foreign legion outpost, resulting in the death of many men. Nor are the hero's actions particularly edifying, for they are motivated by a desire for revenge. In one scene he is shown sending the cruel commander and his loyal soldiers out in the desert with just enough water for a short trip ; all' the men, with the exception of the commander, die. The love interest is somewhat silly : — When Paul Kelly, an aviator working in France, learns that his brother, a member of tlse Foreign Legion, had died, he gives up his position to join the Legion ; he requests that he be placed in the regiment to which his brother had belonged. He knew that his brother's death had been caused by the cruelties of the commander (C. Henry Gordon). Once at the outpost. Kelly gets a taste of this cruelty. Gordon causes the death of many other men. The men having decided to revolt, request Kelly to be their leader. Gordon and those soldiers who desired to remain loyal to him are sent out into the desert with a scant supply of food and water. Gordon, the sole survivor, reaches the nearest outpost and returns with soldiers and supplies. He arrives just at the time of an Arab uprising, during which Kelly and the other men distinguish themselves for bravery. Nevertheless they are arrested and tried; they are sentenced to four months' imprisonment. But they gladly serve this term, for Gordon's methods had been exposed and he had been removed from office. Lorna Gray, Kelly's fiancee, promises to wait for him. Sam Fuller wrote the story, and Maxwell Shane, the screen play; D. Ross Lcderman directed it. In the cast are Robert Fiske, Marc Lawrence, Dick Curtis, and others. Not particularly suitable for children. No Sunday picture. Class B.