Harrison's Reports (1939)

June 17, 1939 HARRISON'S REPORTS 95 "House of Fear" with Irene Hervey and William Gargan ( Universal, June 30 ; time, 65l/2 min.) A good program murder mystery melodrama. Although the story is developed in the routine manner, and familiar tricks are used to create an eerie atmosphere, it holds one's interest well, because of the fact that the murderers identity is not disclosed until the very end. In addition, it has a good sprinkling of comedy, and a pleasant romance : — The police are puzzled over the mysterious death of an actor during the rehearsal of a play in which he was to have starred. The theatre in which the murder had occurred is closed, the owner (Alan Dinchart) having despaired of finding a tenant. William Gargan, a detective, posing as a producer, rents the theatre for the purpose of producing the play with the original cast. Irene Hervey, who was to have been the leading lady, refuses to resume her old part, but when she learns that it would mean a great deal to Harvey Stephens, the director, with whom she was in love, she agrees. The new leading man (Walter Woolf King) is killed in the same mysterious fashion as his predecessor. Since it was opening night, Gargan insists that Stephens himself take the part; he assures Miss Hervey, who was frightened, that he would give Stephens protection. The criminal is trapped just as he was attempting to kill Stephens. Everyone is amazed when he is exposed, for he was Dinehart's younger brother (Robert Coote) ; he had committed the first murder because his victim had found out that he had forged his name to a check. Later he had entered into a secret agreement with a syndicate that wanted to buy the property. His purpose in committing the murders was to give the theatre a bad name, thus forcing his brother to sell. Thomas F. Fallon and Wadsworth Camp wrote the story, and Peter Milne, the screen play ; Joe May directed it, and Edmund Grainger produced it. In the cast are Dorothy Arnold, El Brendel, and others. Because of the murders it is unsuitable for children ; harmless for adolescents and adults. Suitability, Class B. Tempo, fairly fast. "The Kid From Kokomo" with Wayne Morris, May Robson, Joan Blondell and Pat O'Brien (First National, June 24 ; time, 92 min.) Just a fair program comedy, centering around prizefighting ; its appeal will be directed mostly to men. It lacks general audience appeal, for not only is the story silly, but the characters are extremely unappealing. They, with the exception of the hero, display the basest traits. And even the hero fails to win one's sympathy because of the stupidity of the character he portrays. An effort has been made to awaken human interest by showing the reformation of a slovenly old drunken woman with criminal tendencies through her association with the hero ; but the manner in which it has been presented is in such poor taste that it annoys one :— Pat O'Brien, a prizefight manager, double-crosses four gamblers by selling each of them a half-interest in his fighter (Maxie Rosenbloom). He leaves town in company with his fiancee (Joan Blondell) and his trainer (Ed Brophy). At one of his stops he finds Wayne Morris, a young farmer with a powerful punch. But Morris refuses to leave because he hoped that some day his mother, who had been gone for twenty years, would return. O'Brien and Miss Blondell promise to help Morris find his mother. When they return to the city, O'Brien picks up May Robson, a rum-soaked pickpocket, and engages her to pose as Morris' mother. The trick works ; Morris is happy with his "mother" and agrees to continue fighting. Miss Robson makes merry with Morris' money. O'Brien, knowing that she would dissipate all of Morris' earnings, tells Morris the truth, but he refuses to believe it, and so O'Brien calls in Stanley Fields, a crook-pal of Miss Robson's, to identify her. But Miss Robson outwits him by introducing Fields as Morris' father. When Morris learns from gamblers that Miss Robson had given bad checks for gambling debts, he promises to throw the championship fight in order to keep her out of prison. But when the champion makes cracks about his "mother" he knocks him out and wins the championship. The gamblers kidnap him. Miss Robson and Fields, who were preparing to run away with Morris' money, go to his rescue ; they save him, turn back his money to him, and confess everything. Instead of turning them away, he compels them to get married and then adopts them as his parents ; and he marries Jane Wyman. Dalton Trumbo wrote the story, and Richard Macanh and Jerry Wald, the screen play; Lew Seiler directed it. and Sam Bischoff produced it. In the cast are Sidney Toler. Winifred Harris, Morgan Conway, Ward Bond, and others. Not particularly edifying for children. It will do for adolescents and adults. Class B. Tempo, fairly fast. "6,000 Enemies" with Walter Pidgeon and Rita Johnson (MGM, June 9; time, 61 min.) A fair program prison melodrama, suitable mostly for the action fans. As far as they are concerned, it has plentiful excitement, such as a prison break and fights ; and it should hold them in suspense owing to the danger to the hero, one of the prisoners. The story is, however, so far-fetched that discriminating audiences may find it slightly ridiculous. And, although one wants to sympathize with the hero, one finds this difficult because of the indifferent way in which the part has been handled. The most sympathetic character is played by Paul Kelly, as the prison doctor, who tries to help the hero. The romance is of slight importance : — Walter Pidgeon, District Attorney, is famous because of the number of convictions he had obtained. Rita Johnson, one of the persons he had sent to prison, is unable to convince any one that she was innocent. When Pidgeon himself is framed on a bribe charge by Harold Huber, a gangster, and is convicted and sent to prison, he realizes that innocent persons could be convicted. Kelly, the prison doctor, warns Pidgeon of his danger because of his many enemies, men he had convicted. The prisoners, led by Nat Pendleton, do everything they can to make life miserable for Pidgeon ; but he overcomes their antagonism when he shows his courage in a bout with Pendleton. He manages to talk to Miss Johnson, who was at the same prison, and to get her side of the story ; he promises to help her. In the meantime, his young brother (John Arledge), who had been trailing Huber and had obtained valuable information, rushes to the prison to tell Pidgeon about it. He is killed by the gangsters just as he approaches the prison entrance ; but the prison guards capture the gangsters. In the excitement that follows, the prisoners start a break. Quick thinking on Pidgeon's part prevents real trouble. Eventually both he and Miss Johnson are cleared, and they marry. Wilson Menard and Leo L. Stanley wrote the story, and Bertram Millhauser, the screen play; George B. Seitz directed it, and Lucien Hubbard produced it. In the cast are Grant Mitchell, J. M. Kerrigan, and others. Unsuitable for children ; suitable for adolescents and adults. Class B. Action, pretty fast. "It Could Happen to You" with Stuart Erwin and Gloria Stuart (20th Centuiry-Fox, June 30 ; time, 71 min. ) Here is a picture that, despite its lack of star names, is very entertaining. It may be difficult to attract patrons to the box-office, but once in, there is no doubt that they will be entertained. It starts off delightfully, in a natural, downto-earth manner, and then develops into a comedy-drama that holds one's interest to the very end. The writing, direction, and acting are all good : — Gloria Stuart, married to Stuart Erwin, is unhappy because Erwin gave all his ideas to Douglas Fowlcy, who worked with him at an advertising agency owned by Raymond Walburn. Fowley progressed, but Erwin stayed in the same place. Miss Stuart, learning that Walburn was giving a party for his college alumni, to which Fowley had been invited, insists that Erwin attend, even though he was not invited. Erwin, by suggesting that he would stop giving Fowley ideas, induces him to take him to the party. The) have a good time, get slightly tipsy, and leave for home. On the way, they stop at a cafe for a drink. After Erwin returns, Miss Stuart remembers she had left her purse in the car, and goes down to get it. She is shocked when she finds in the car a dead woman. Erwin, being innocent, calls in the police ; but they arrest him on a murder charge. Miss Stuart decides to take matters into her own hands. She visits a famous lawyer who had been at the party and threatens to expose the fact that there had been chorus girls at the party unless he handled her husband's case. In the meantime, Walburn promises Erwin a promotion and increase if he would not involve him and his friends ; the friends send Erwin expensive gifts. Miss Stuart and Fowley finally solve the case and help the police capture the murderer. Frwin is happy at the way things turned out. Charles Hoffman wrote the story, and Allen Rivkin and Lou Breslow, the screen play; Alfred Werker directed it. and David Hempstead produced it. In the cast are June Gale, Richard Lane, Clarence Kolb, Paul Hurst, and others. Because of the murder, unsuitable for children. Suitable for adolescents and adults. Class B. Tempo, fairly fast.