Harrison's Reports (1939)

166 HARRISON'S REPORTS October 21, 1939 "Mutiny in the Big House" with Charles Likktcrci, Dennis Moore, Barton MacLane {Monogram, Oct. 10; time, 83 mm.) Take the name '"Monogram" out of the introductory title and put in its plaec "Paramount," '"KKO," or the name of any ot.ier major company, and you will think that this is one oi their very good "B" prison-theme pictures. Although the thrills are not as plentiful as those in big prison pictures ot major companies, there are thrills, just the same, and one is held in pretty tense suspense throughout. There is also considerable human interest, caused by the fact that Bickford, a prison chaplain, has faith in Dennis Moore, who had been sent to prison for forging a small check to enable him to buy food for his sick mother. Not even the faU that Moore acts tough ail the while induces Bickford to change his mind. And the fact that in the end Moore risks his life to quell an uprising, in which some of the guards had been killed by the leader of the revolt, and the lives of others were in danger, proves Bickford's (Father Joe's) understanding of human nature correct. The thrills are caused by the prison riot, during which Bickford, unafraid of the threats of Barton MacLane to shoot to kill him, unless the warden opened the prison gates to let them escape, walks towards the revoiters, enters their territory and pleads with them to spare the lives of the prison guards, whom they held as hostages, and to give themselves up on the ground that their resistance was useless. It is then that the presence of mind of Dennis Moore and his courage bring about the suppression of the revolt. The situation that shows the priest disregarding the danger to his life, and going into the part of the prison in winch the prisoners had barricaded themselves, is supposed to have been taken from an occurrance in real lite. The story 's by Martin Mooney ; the screen play, by Robert Andrews. William Nigh directed it. Suitability, Class A for adults and for adolescents, Class B for children under twelve. "Disputed Passage" with Dorothy Lamour, John Howard and Akim Tamiroff (Paramount, Oct. 27; 91 min. ) A good human-interest drama. The constant conflict between Akim Tamiroff, a famous surgeon, and John Howard, his assistant, keeps one in suspense, for one does not know what the consequences will be. Although the story itself is not novel, it has been given a few new twists. The scenes in war-torn China, which show the misery and suffering of the helpless people on account of the inhuman acts of the enemy, such as bombing of villages and the like, tear at one's heart. These scenes are starkly realistic. The production values are excellent. The romance is an important part of the story : — Akim Tamiroff, a stern but brilliant surgeon, takes under his wing John Howard, because he recognized a fine surgeon's skill in him. Tamiroff is annoyed to learn that Howard had fallen in love with Dorothy Lamour, a white girl born and reared in China, for he felt that marriage would ruin the young surgeon's career. Calling on Dorothy, he persuades her to give Howard up. Dorothy goes away, leaving behind a note for Howard. He is so distracted that he neglects his work. At last Tamiroff reveals to him why Dorothy had disappeared. Enraged, Howard goes to China in search of her. In a raid by Japanese aeroplanes, he is wounded severely and the village doctor cables to Tamiroff for help. Tamiroff arrives and saves Howard's life. Dorothy learns of the tragedy and goes to Howard. This hrings back to him his desire to live. Tamiroff is softened by the sad experience. The plot has been taken from the Lloyd Douglas novel. Anthony Veiller and Sheridan Gibney wrote the screen play. Frank Borzage directed it, and Harlan Thompson produced it. Judith Barrett, William Collier, Sr., Victor Varconi, and Keye Luke are some of those in the cast. Class A. "These High Grey Walls" with Walter Connolly, Onslow Stevens, Iris Meredith (Columbia, Sept. 21 ; running time, 82 min.) A fair prison melodrama. The action is fairly fast, some of the acts of the characters appeal to the emotions of sympathy, and the spectator is held in fairly tense suspense in one of the situations. This is where the prison doctor and the hero, his assistant, arc held up at the point of a gun, by one of the convicts while they were performing a serious Operation. There is a romance, but it is not of prime importance : — Walter Connolly, a country doctor (hero), is sent to the penitentiary for having extracted a bullet from a young man and failing to report the matter to the authorities ; he had reared the young man and, out of sympathy for him, tried to shield him. At the prison, Connolly is a model prisoner. In time he impresses the prison doctor (Onslow btevens) with his skill as a physician, and is transferred to the prison hospital. The visiting wife of one of the prisoners is seized with labor pains, but Stevens, dreading childbirth cases because of a tragic experience in his life, instructs Connolly to attend to her. Connolly, however, with a view to curing him of that ailment, insists that he aid him in the case. Stevens thanks the hero after the delivery. While the two were performing a serious operation on a prisoner, another prisoner enters the hospital and, at the point of a gun, tries to make them help him escape, but they refuse to do so until after the operation. The prisoner faints at the sight of the operation and they take the gun away from him. An inmate dies from an overdose of a sedative and the hero is accused of the murder. But the other prisoners, who believed in the hero's innocence, in order to repay the hero for his many kindnesses to them, put a suspect through a third degree and make him confess. The hero is paroled. The plot was based on a story by Wm. A. Ullman, Jr. ; the screen play was written by Lewis Meltzer. B. B. Kahane produced it, and Charles Vidor directed it. Bernard Ncdell, Oscar O'Shea and others are in the cast. Suitability, Class B. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" with James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Harry Carey (Columbia^!' > ank Capra, Oct. 19; 2 hrs. and 7 min.) Very good, but it cannot be compared in entertainment value with either "Mr. Deeds Go to Town," or "Lost Horizon." Although there are in it many powerfully dramatic situations, the story impresses one as being motivated for the exposing of political crookedness rather than for the presenting of a virtuous hero. The scenes where the hero is framed by the political crooks because he would not fall in line with their schemes are dene very well ; they awaken deep sympathy for the hero. The scenes where he, inspired and guided by the heroine, stands up and fights in the Senate, holding the floor until he is vindicated, are impressive in the extreme. Mr. Stewart, as the hero, handles his part with skill. Jean Arthur is very good as the hero's private secretary, who knew all about the crooked schemer, of those who were framing him. Claude Rains is realistic as the hero's colleague, tool of Edward Arnoid. the political manipulator and maker of senators. Harry Carey is very impressive as the Vice President: — Guy Kibbee, Governor of a western state and a weakling, is inspired by his children to appoint James Stewart as Senator for the unexpired term of a deceased Senator, disregarding the advice of Edward Arnold, head of the political machine. Arnold is at last persuaded to accept him. Thus Stewart, equipped with youthful enthusiasm, patriotism and naiveness, goes to Washington to represent his state in the Senate. But soon he is disillusioned ; he learns that his colleague had been taking orders from Arnold for twenty years. Yet he refuses to withdraw his bill for a children's camp in his state, which bill would ruin the machine's chances for graft. Arnold talks to him with a view to making him change his mind, but he refuses to budge ; thereupon, Arnold has some papers forged making it appear as if Stewart was interested in the bill financially, and has that colleague demand his unseating. Bewildered, the hero is about to give up when cynical Jean Arthur, his secretary, inspired by his honesty, guides him as to how he could fight for his rights : he takes the Senate floor and. by filibustering, prevents an immediate vote on his expul lion from the Senate. After twenty-four hours he collapses. His colleague, feeling guilty, confesses to the Senate that the hero was telling the truth in everything. Jean Arthur and he become engaged. The story is by Lewis R. Foster ; the direction, by Mr. Frank Capra himself. Others among those in the supporting cast are, Thomas Mitchell, Beulah Bondi, Eugene Pallette and H. B. Warner. Class A. "The Flying Deuces" with Laurel and Hardy — an RKO picture. Pretty good. "Missing Evidence," Universal, a good program melodrama. "The Cat and the Canary," Paramount, a good spooky melodrama. Reviews in next week's issue.