Harrison's Reports (1939)

174 HARRISON'S REPORTS November 4, 1939 "Roaring '20s'* with James Cagney (Warner Bros., October 28; 105 mitt.) Whether picture-patrons will like this picture or not will depend on how they feel to see in their picture entertainment a reenactment of doings in the afterwar bootlegging and racketeering days, or Cagney again as the head, of a racketeer ring. Mark Hcllinger, the author of this story, tried to build up sympathy for the hero by presenting him as the victim of afterwar conditions, which gave him the choice of either entering the illegal traffic to make a living with, or starving to death. The picture, considering the fact that the story was written by an experienced writer, lacks sustained dramatic power. Here and there one is held in tense suspense, but the suspense is not constant. The chief reason for the picture's inability to grip the spectator and hold him in such grip at all times is the hero's characterization ; one is not in sympathy with what he docs, even though he may feel interested in his doings somewhat. There is a romance, but it is not the hero who gets the girl. This is a mildly redeeming feature. There are also several thrilling situations : — Cagney returns from the war with the confidence that he would get his old job at a garage, but is disappointed. Although he tramped the city day after day he is unable to find employment. Accidentally, he comes upon Gladys George, who conducted a speakeasy, and is induced by her to enter the bootlegging business. Selling at first by the bottle liquor manufactured by somebody else, he eventually lands to manufacturing his own poison and employing others to sell it. He employs Jeffrey Lynn, a lawyer, pal in the trendies in France, to protect him from the clutches of the law. He meets Priscilla Lane, to whom he was a dream soldier, and falls in love with her. He induces Gladys to employ her as a singer, and she makes a success. Because his liquor was cheap, he could not get into high places. He calls on Paul Kelly, famous head of a powerful bootleg ring, and asks for a deal ; but he is refused. Thereupon, he proceeds to high-jack Kelly's boat. To his surprise, the head on the boat was Humphrey Bogart, also an ex-soldicr. Bogart proposes that they become partners. They agree. In highjacking Kelly's warehouse, Humphrey murders one of the guards. Cagney is incensed over the murder. Soon they float into millions. But the stock market collapses and Cagney, not only goes broke, but also loses his girl — she fell in love with Jeffrey. Priscilla and Jeffrey, who did not like the racket and quit, marry. Cagney goes down and down and eventually goes broke. Four years later Cagney, while driving a taxi, for a living, gets Priscilla as one of his fares. She is glad to see him and, when they reach her home, she shows him her four year old boy. Because Jeffrey had been appointed to the district attorney's office, Humphrey, who feared lest Jeffrey reveal what he knew of him, sends word to Priscilla that he would kill her husband. Priscilla rushes to Cagney for protection, Cagney is resentful at first, but he calls on Humphrey just the same. When Humphrey refuses to promise Jeffrey immunity, 'Cagney shoots and kills him. Humphrey's henchmen kill Cagney. Gladys grieves, for she was in love with Cagney. _ , Raoul Walsh directed it from a Screen play by Jerry Wald, Richard Macauley, and Robert Rossen. Not suitable for children or for Sunday showing. Good for adults. Class B. Tempo fast. "Meet Dr. Christian" with Jean Hersholt, Paul Harvey, Dorothy Lovett, Robert Baldwin and Enid Bennett (RKO, released Nov. 17; running time, 70 min.) A sweet picture, with the hero, a doctor, as a character whom one cannot help loving. There is human appeal all the way through, particularly toward the end, where he is shown saving the life of the little daughter of a man who almost persecuted him ; it will be hard for one to restrain his emotions in that part. It would have been much better for the picture, however, if the "honey" had not been spread so thick in the first half of the picture, and if it had not dwelt on so many trivial matters, for these faults weaken the picture's effectiveness with the adult trade ; they direct an appeal to children too much. Perhaps the strongly emotional ending may redeem these faults. There is a fairly charming romance. The stnry deals with Jean Hersholt, a country but able doctor, whose one aim in life was to better the community he was living in. He works toward providing the community with a modern hospital, but he is balked by Paul Harvey, a haughty town pillar, who, as mayor of the city, had in mind improvements on other things, until his own child is injured in an automobile accident; he then bends, and is prepared to follow Hcrsholt's lead in everything, in this manner hoping to undo the injustices that he had done to him and to express his gratitude for having saved his child's life. In Harvey's house now reigns peace, which had been shattered by his unreasonable conduct towards the doctor, whom the entire family — wife and two children (Patsy Lee Parsons and Jackie Moran) — loved. Baldwin, the town pharmacist, is accepted by Dorothy Lovett, Hcrsholt's office nurse. The screen play was written by Harvey Gates, from a radio idea by Jack Hasty. Bernard Vorhause directed it, and William Stephens produced it. Suitable for the whole family — Class A. "Bad Little Angel" with Virginia Weidler, Gene Reynolds, Guy Kibbee, Ian Hunter, Elizabeth Patterson, Reginald Owen, Henry Hall and Lois Wilson (MGM, October 27; 72 min.) Not big but a sweet little picture, the kind that will make every one who will see it talk about it afterwards. It is the acting of Virginia Weidler, as well as of Ian Hunter and of Lois Wilson, that gives it wholesomeness. Virginia is a sympathetic little character, and brings gulps to one's throat frequently. It is her faith that makes people see thugs in a different light. It is the story of a little orphan who had been taught by Elizabeth Patterson, who wanted to adopt her, but who died before the fulfilling of her wish, to look into the Bible for guidance whenever in trouble. When Elizabeth died and the miserable old manager of an orphans' home wanted to take her back, she opens the Bible, closes her eyes, sticks her finger into it, and strikes the passage where the Lord had told Joseph to go to Egypt. So to Egypt (New Jersey) she goes. Accidentally, she is befriended by Ian Hunter, a newspaper editor. But because Ian was a fearless and honest editor and would not pull his punches on Guy Kibbee, a skinflint, he loses his job. Kibbce's paint factory catches fire and Ian Hunter, who was chief of the town's volunteer fire department, becomes injured seriously. The brave Virginia and young Reynolds drag Ian out of the burning building. Virginia prays to the Lord to spare Ian's life, and Ian lives. Her prayers also melt the heart of Kibbee ; he restores Ian to his position. The plot has been founded on the book by Margaret Turnbull. Dorothy Yost wrote the screen play. William Thiele directed the picture, which was produced by Albert E. Levoy, his first production job, and a good one. Quality as well as suitability, Class A. Excellent particularly for theatres that cater to a religious element, no matter of what denomination. "Jeepers Creepers" with Roy Rogers, Maris Wrixon and Leon Weaver (Republic, October 27 ; running time, 66 min.) A nice little double-bill picture, suitable chiefly for small towns, and for neighborhoods in big cities. A note of cheerfulness runs through the picture, as a result of the method by which the outstanding characters in the picture are shown living. There is in their hearts joyfulness, which is externalized in song and laughter. There are also a thrilling forest fire and a pleasant romance. The title has been taken from the song that was recently fairly popular :— Young Roy Rogers, sheriff in a hillbilly town, arrests Thurston Hall, haughty and intolerant coal mine operator, because he had violated the forest fire law; he had been fishing in a river nearby with Maris Wrixon, his daughter, and was in no mood to tolerate interference with his liberties. The sheriff takes him to Leon Weaver, mayor and judge of the city. He and his daughter are convicted to spend one day at hard labor. While serving his sentence digging. Hall discovers that there is plentiful coal in the country and determines to buy land for the purpose of starting coal operations. But the simple folk love their land more than Hall's money and will not sell him any of their land. Hall is incensed and, having learned that the simple folk had not paid taxes for years, pays the taxes and assumes title to their properties. With the thugs he had hired, he evicts them from their homes. A forest fire breaks out and Hall, while speeding to get awav from it, is pinned under his car, which had overturned. Little Billy Lee, who was in the hills, discovers Hall and, rushing through the burning trees at the risk of his life, brings help. Thus Hall's life is saved. Hall, repentant, promises to undo the wnng rVis>t he had done to them all. He also blesses the union of his daughter with the young sheriff. The story and screen play is by Dorrell and Stuart McGowan. It was directed by Frank McDonald, and produced bv Armand Schaefer. Suitable for every member of the family. Suitability, Class A.