Harrison's Reports (1939)

January 21, 1939 HARRISON'S REPORTS 11 "Jesse James" with Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Randolph Scott and Nancy Kelly (20//; Century-Fox, Jan. 27; time, 105 min.) This is very good mass entertainment. Technicolor photography has never been employed to better advantage. Some of the outdoor scenes are like paintings ; they are certain to bring gasps of delight from the audience. But the biggest drawing card is the title itself, for the fame of "Jesse James" is known to most people in this country ; and with such popular players in the cast, there is no doubt that it will do smash business. It has, however, its defects. For one thing, Tyrone Power is hardly the type to portray a bold bandit ; as a matter of fact, he comes out third best, for both Henry Fonda and Randolph Scott act more convincingly. Secondly, there are spots in which the action drags considerably. And, thirdly, the hero is not a sympathetic character, despite the efforts of the producers to justify his criminal activities. But the action is at times thrilling, at other times laugh-provoking, and for the most part interesting : — Embittered by the ruthless methods employed by the railroad company in usurping their farm land, thereby causing the death of their mother, Jesse James (Power) and Frank James (Fonda) become outlaws, centering most of their activities against the railroad company. In time, however, they branch out to robbing also banks. A big reward is offered by the railroad company for Jesse's capture. Despite the risk, Jesse visits Zerelda (Nancy Kelly), with whom he was in love. There he meets Will Wright (Scott), a federal marshal, who, too, loved Zerelda ; Wright knows who Jesse was but lets him go free. In an effort to help the young couple, Wright obtains a written promise from the railroad president that, if Jesse would surrender, he would be given a six-month sentence and then released. Zerelda and Jesse marry, after which Jesse gives himself up. But it turns out that the president really intended to have Jesse hanged. The double-cross disgusts Scott. Frank, in company with his bandits, carries out his threat to free Jesse. Jesse and Zerelda live in hiding. This makes her miserable. Scott and her uncle (Henry Hull) are with her when she gives birth to her son ; she goes back home with her uncle. Jesse decides not to follow her ; instead, he continues his outlaw career. After five years, he and his wife are reconciled, and plan to go to California, there to start life anew. On the day they were to leave, Jesse is killed by one of his own men for the reward. Nunnally Johnson wrote the original screen play and produced it. Henry King directed it. In the cast are Slim Summerville, J. Edward Bromberg, John Carradine, Jane Darwell, and others. Since the hero is a bandit, exhibitors will have to use their own judgment about showing it to children. Suitability, Class B. "King of the Underworld" with Kay Francis and Humphrey Bogart {Warner Bros., Jan. 28; time, 68 min.) A fairly good program gangster melodrama ; the action is fast and exciting. The story is similar to that of "Dr. Sociates," produced by Warner in 1935, for the main idea — that of a doctor subduing a gang of murderous criminals by frightening them into permitting him to give them an injection that doped them, is used here, except that in this case the doctor puts drops in their eyes, which blind them temporarily. It is more effectively done than in "Dr. Socrates," for the gangster leader, although unable to see, walks around with a gun in his hand, intent on killing the doctor ; this holds the spectator in tense suspense. For another thing, the leading character (Miss Francis) is more sympathetic, for she docs not willingly help the gangsters. The romance is pleasant : — Kay Francis and her husband (John Eldridge), both surgeons, complete a successful operation on a gangster who had been shot. When Humphrey Bogart, gangster leader, hears of it, he visits Eldridge and insists on giving him $500 for his work. Eldridge tells Miss Francis he had won the money betting on horses ; he suggests that they move to more fashionable quarters. Unknown to Miss Francis, Eldridge continues his association with the gangsters. Eventually the police raid Bogart's hideout ; Eldridge is killed during the shooting, but Bogart and his men escape. Miss Francis is arrested as her husband's accomplice. At her trial, the jury disagrees and she is released. The Medical Association gives her three months in which to prove her innocence. Hearing that two of Bogart's henchmen were held in a small town jail, she leaves for that place, and there she opens an office. Bogart and his henchmen arrive at the jail and shoot their way through to release the prisoners. James Stephenson, a penniless author wdio had accepted a lift from Bogart, is shot ; so is Bogart. Stephenson is caught trying to escape and is arrested as one of the gangsters; but he proves his innocence. He and Miss Francis become good friends. Miss Francis' aunt insists that he stay with them for a while. Bogart calls on Miss Francis ; she takes care of him. Wanting to have the story of his life written, Bogart has his men kidnap Stephenson; his intention was to kill him when the book was finished. Miss Francis outwits the gang, leading them into the hands of the federal officers. Bogart is killed. Her name cleared, she marries Stephenson. W. R. Burnett wrote the story, and George Bricker and Vincent Sherman, the screen play; Lewis Seiler directed it, and Bryan Foy produced it. Not suitable for children. Class B. "Pirates of the Skies" with Kent Taylor, Rochelle Hudson and Regis Toomey (Universal, Feb. 3; time, 61 min.) A fair program melodrama, revolving around the activities of the air police patrol. Although the story is familiar, it holds one in fair suspense, because of the exciting action during the encounters between the police and the criminals. Since the audience knows from the very beginning who the criminals are, the interest lies in the methods emploved by the police in solving the case. Occasionally the action is slowed up because of too much dialogue and of the interjection of comedy that is not particularly effective: — Kent Taylor, a happy-go-lucky aviator, who could not hold down a job, joins the air police force in wdiich his pal (Regis Toomey) was an officer. Rochelle Hudson, Kent's wife, who had left him because of his inability to take a job seriously, expresses doubt as to Kent's ability for such work. The police are unable to obtain clues as to the identity of a gang of racketeers, who had been terrorizing the district by their bold holdups. Kent, who had been ordered to fly to a summer camp, there to pick up the Governor and take him to the Capitol Building, notices, while in flight, a car stopping at a landing field. Two men emerge from the car and rush to a waiting plane. Realizing that they must be the mysterious criminals, he starts pursuing them ; but they get away from him. Because of engine trouble, Kent is forced to land at the pigeon farm owned by Lucien Littlefield, who was really the head of the gang. Littlefield helps him out. after which Kent returns to headquarters ; but he is forced to resign because of acting against orders. He follows the case up himself, and eventually proves that he was correct in his deductions. The gangsters are trapped by the police. Kent's reinstatement brings happiness to Miss Hudson, who becomes reconciled with him. Ben G. Kolm wrote the screen play, Joe McDonough directed it, and Barney Sarecky produced it. In the cast are Dorothy Arnold, Marion Martin, and others. The activities of the criminals make it unsuitable for children. Class B. "Fighting Thoroughbreds" with Ralph Byrd, Mary Carlisle and Robert Allen (Republic, January 6; time, 65 min.) A pretty good racetrack program melodrama. Although not very different in story content from other pictures of this type, it should please an average audience, for the action is pretty fast and fairly interesting. One is in sympathy with the heroine (Mary Carlisle) and her grandfather (George Hayes), who, because of financial difficulties, had lost their home and their horses. The spectator is. therefore, pleased when they come into possession of a coit whose sire had been a race horse, for it meant that they could recoup their fortunes if the colt should turn out to be a racer. One's attention is held until the end, when the big race is run ; during this situation one is held in suspense for the heroine's chances of winning are endangered by gamblers, who had kidnapped her grandfather in order to force her to hold her horse back, for they were betting on another horse. But her horse wins, and her grandfather is rescin d by the hero (Ralph Byrd), a physician who had brought the colt into the world and had helped her train it. and by Robert Allen, a wealthy man, who was in love with her But she gives her love to Byrd. Clarence E. Marks and Robert Wyler wrote the story, and Wellyn Totman, the screen play"; Sidney Salkow directed it. and Annand Schaefer produced it. In the cast are ( harles Wilson, Marvin Stephens, and others. Suitability, Class A.