Harrison's Reports (1940)

February 24, 1940 HARRISON'S REPORTS 31 "Granny Get Your Gun" with May Robson and Harry Davenport (Warner Bros., February 17 ; time, 56 min.) fust a minor program picture. The talents of good performers are wasted on a plot that is artificial and silly to the point of annoyance. It may find favor with audiences who are not too discriminating, for the action is fast, and occasionally amusing. There is no romance, since the story revolves around two elderly characters:— May Robson, one of the old Western pioneers, who had made millions grubstaking miners, returns to Nevada with her granddaughter (Al argot Stevenson), who was about to divorce her worthless husband (Hardie Albright). Albright, who wanted to gain custody of their child so as to control the fortune that would eventually come to her from Aliss Robson, threatens to contest the divorce action, claiming that he had enough evidence to prove that Aliss Stevenson was not the proper person to bring up the child. Aliss Robson learns that he had bought two checks issued by Aliss Stevenson for gambling debts, which had been returned because of insufficient funds. When Aliss Robson goes to his quarters in an effort to buy him off, she finds him murdered and the checks gone. Suspecting that her granddaughter had committed the murder, she leaves her own fingerprints around the place and then "confesses." But when she learns that Aliss Stevenson was innocent, she changes her plea to "not guilty"; the District Attorney withdraws the charges, and then orders the arrest of Aliss Stevenson', claiming that Miss Robson had tried to shield her. Aliss Robson decides to investigate matters for herself. She finds out who the murderer was. With the assistance of her old lawyer friend (Harry Davenport) she traps the murderer and forces him to confess in the presence of police. Aliss Stevenson is freed, and promises never to gamble again. Erie Stanley Gardner wrote the story, and Kenneth Garnet, the screen play; George Amy directed it, and Bryan Foy produced it. In the cast are Clem Bevans, Clay Clement, William Davidson, and others. Not for children. Suitable for adolescents and adults. Class B. "The Farmer's Daughter" with Martha Raye and Charlie Ruggles (Paramount, March 29; time, 60 min.) A mildly entertaining program comedy. The story, except for the barn theatre background, is routine; but, since it has some comedy, music, and romance, in addition to capable performances, it may amuse some people. Alartha Raye, more subdued than in previous pictures, bursts out into her customary exuberant gestures and remarks only on occasion. She puts over two songs quite well, and provokes laughter by her antics: — Charlie Ruggles, a producer, interests a wealthy man in backing a new show; the backer agrees to finance it on condition that Ruggles star Gertrude Alichael, a temperamental actress, with whom he had been having an affair. Wanting to get rid of her, the backer suggests that Ruggles take the show on the road for a long time. Ruggles conceives a good idea — to rent a barn in the country, there to play for several weeks, after which to bring the show to Broadway. Everyone is compelled to cater to Miss Michaels, even the leading man (Richard Denning), who preferred to be with Miss Raye, the daughter of the farmer from whom Ruggles had rented the barn. Ruggles receives the news that his wealthy backer had married. Knowing that Aliss Alichaels would raise a fit if she learned the truth, he keeps the news from her. But on the opening night she docs find out about it, and leaves the show. Ruggles, out of sheer desperation, agrees to permit Aliss Raye, who knew the part well, to take Aliss AI jehad's place. To his surprise, she makes a big hit. And, when the show finally reaches Broadway, she continues her success there. Eventually she marries Denning. Delmar Daves wrote the story, and Lewis R. Foster, the screen play; James Hogan directed it, and William C. Thomas produced it. In the cast arc William Frawlcy, Inez Courtney, William Demarest. Jack Norton, and others. Suitability, Class A. "Charlie Chan in Panama" with Sidney Toler, Jean Rogers and Mary Nash (20//; Century-Fox, March 8; time, 67 min.) An entertaining program picture. This time "Chan" becomes involved in an espionage plot, in which he eventually uncovers the identity of the clever spy leader. Mystery fans should enjoy it, for the leader is not identified until the very end, thereby keeping the audience guessing. One is kept in suspense, since two characters meet with death, and the lives of others are endangered. The comedy, as usual, is provoked by "Chan's" young son, who imagines himself to be a brilliant detective, but only manages to get himself in trouble. The action takes place in Panama: — Sidney Toler, famous Chinese detective, learns that enemy agents were planning to destroy the United States fleet when it passed through the Canal. His job was to discover the head of the ring, and thus prevent the sabotaging of the fleet. During his investigations, two men, one an American secret service man, and the other, a British secret service man, are killed. Toler's life is endangered on several occasions, but he proceeds with the work. He suspects Jack LaRue, not of being the leader, but of working wtih the spy ring. He finally solves the plot by trapping the leader in the power house where a bomb had been placed by LaRue. The leader turns out to be Alary Nash, who had been posing as a schoolteacher on vacation. She gives herself away by trying to escape; but Toler had discovered the hiding place of the bomb and had disconnected it, a fact that had been unknown to Aliss Nash. LaRue is killed, and Aliss Nash captured. The other persons who had been suspected are glad when the case is finally closed. John Larkin and Lester Ziffren wrote the screen play, Norman Foster directed it, and Sol AL Wurtzel produced it. In the cast are Lionel Atwill, Sen Yung, Kane Richmond, Lionel Royce, and others. Suitability Class A. "A Chump at Oxford" with Laurel and Hardy (United Artists, February 16; time, 62 min.) A fairly good comedy. The fact that the story is thin does not matter much, for there are plentiful gags. Some are old, others new, but mostly all are comical. Where these two comedians are popular, it should do better than average business. But it is the type of comedy that need not depend only on the Laurel-Hardy fans; others should enjoy it as well. The only drawback may be that, aside from Laurel and Hardy, the other players are unknown: — Laurel and Hardy are out of work; and, since they needed money, Hardy induces Laurel to pose as a maid, so that they could obtain work as a butler-maid combination. But after one experience at a dinner party they give up that work to become street-cleaners. They accidentally capture a bank robber and are commended for their bravery. As a reward, the bank president offers to send them to Oxford University, in England, so that they could get an education. Because of practical jokes played on them by the students, they get into trouble. An accidental bump on Laurel's head makes him forget Hardy and everything that had happened in America; it brings back his memory to him — he had been a Lord, a brilliant student and famous athlete. A bump he had received on his head while a student at Oxford had made him forget everything about himself and he had wandered to America, where he had met Hardy. He treats Hardy as an inferior and again takes his rightful place at the University, the most idolized student of all. He receives another bump on the head just as Hardy was about to leave in disgust. This makes him again forget that he was a Lord, and he becomes the same silly, stupid person that Hardy had always known. They leave the University and go back to America. Charles Rogers, Felix Adler, and Harry Langdon wrote tiie screen play, Alfred Goulding directed it. and Hal Roach produced it. In the cast are Forrester Harvey, Wilfred Lucas, Forbes Aim ray, and others. Suitability, Class A.