Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

January 23, 1932 Pictures — Reviewed and Previewed NAN PRESTON After Nan Preston completed her part as the French Maid in "Shop Girl," the premier production, under the direction of Mason Hopper, she was immediately requested by the Troopers to play the part of Patricia Lee, the ingenue lead in "The Red Coat," with such a splendid cast as Phillis Barrington, as Peggy Chu, James Gordon, as George Washington, the male lead, Lillian Hatheway Marcus, as Martha Washington and May Foster as Clorinda. This play is to be produced for the Friday Morning Club on February 12. i 1 -f BILL CODY IS AGAIN WORKING ON A WESTERN FEATURE FOR MONOGRAM Bill Cody is working once more on the Trem Carr-Monogram lot, this time in "Texas Pioneers" directed by Harry Frazer with Sheila Mannors, Le Roy Mason, John Elliott, Frank Lackteen, Harry Allen, Chief Standing Bear, Iron Eyes, and of course Andy Shuford who appears with Bill in the series. There are plenty of Indians who inject thrills and action galore. Bill Cody will soon make a tour of the state of Texas in their leading theatres, last year he made quite a trip through Oklahoma where he was feted on down the line and topped it by visiting Major Lillie (Pawnee Bill) at Pawnee, Oklahoma, where they staged a rodeo in his honor. AT LAST! Perpetual Youth Thanks to latest scientific discovery we can now be young and vigorous at 80 instead of old and tired at 40. HEMORRHOIDS, PROSTATE or other ORIFICIAL DISORDERS sapping your strength and vitality need no longer be a cause for worry. Your future welfare and happiness demands that you at least investigate this wonder self treatment. Phone GRanite 3366 "PASSIONATE PLUMBER M-G-M has a good comedy in this one, starring Buster Keaton. Director Edward Sedgwick dug up all the old hokum and gags that he or any one else ever did, and worked 'em into a laughfest. Buster is funny in spots. Jimmy Durante yells too much and should be toned down before he bores people. Polly Moran has a bit any one could have done equally as well. Gilbert Roland gave a surprisingly good performance, with Mona Maris catching the eye of every one — even more so than Keaton and Durante. M-G-M or some other company should sign Miss Maris. Others who helped hold together the story of "Her Cardboard Lover," that the plot was supposed to be taken from, but which the producers failed to recognize. Ralph Spence furnished the dialogue, which was the funniest thing about the picture. "STEADY COMPANY" Universal has discovered a new feature director in Edward Luddy, and two budding stars in June Clyde and Norman Foster, but they did one more and most important thing when they placed Henry Armetta in the leading character role in the story, and if you ask us, he almost ran away with the whole show. J. Farrell McDonald did a bit well. The Big U liked the story by the director so much that Carl Laemmle, Jr., told him and Earl Snell to go ahead and make a picture out of it, and to say that they did would be putting it mildly, when you figure cost and time it was made in. ZaSu Pitts, a,s always, came through with many laughs; Wallace Morgan, Maurice Black and others helped materially. Charles Stumar s photography speeded up the action and helped tell the story. Technical work of Morrie Cohan put the fight sequences over the top, and they were quite different than the usual run. "THE MAN WHO PLAYED COD" George Arliss is all washed up as far as pictures are concerned. He is becoming mechanical and playing every part like he did "Disraeli," regardless of 'what the locale is, and when it comes to allowing Mr. Arliss to make love to some little girl — why, it is asking too much, even for audiences who have sort of expected better things from the Warner Brothers. Mr. Arliss is no longer an attraction in the talkies. The public is not ready for the heavy religious subjects, and the brians of the Warner's who are selecting these stories and spending fortunes on them should find other fields to waste the cost of such a production, and the poor direction by John Adolfi couldn't raise a dull, uninteresting picture from the mediocre class. Other who played in the picture 'were Violet Hemming, Louise Closser Hale, Bette Davis, Donald Cook, William Janney, Hedda Hopper, Oscar Apfel, Ivan Simpson, and many others. "THE FALL GUY" James and Lucille Gleason wowed 'em at the EI Capitan Theatre last Sunday night. It was a wholesome play by George Abbott and James Gleason, and well staged by Edwin H. Curtis. Next in attention we found Frank McHugh sharing laughs with James and Lucille. Alan Birmingham pleased as the Federal Chief. Jo Wallace came through in fine form as far as attention went, while Bradley Page caught our eye as a polished heavy. James Gordon and Mitchell Ingraham, as a couple of dicks, especially Gordon, scored. Donald Campbell and Frank Thorne helped to round out an interesting show. Henry Duffy was wise in bringing the Gleasons back to the EI Capitan. The folks out this way just love 'em in anything that they appear in, and rightly so. "OLD MAN MINICK" In spite of slow tempo, bad selection of angles, and unsympathetic direction, Chic Sale slides through his second feature to share honors with little Dickie Moore. Dickie is building for himself a solid foundation in the hearts of his fans. 'Old Man Minick," Warner Brothers-First National latest plea for your applause, lacks universal appeal and will attract only those who follow Chic Sale. The story, as adapted by Julian Josephson and Maude Howell, is uninteresting— after you find it. The novel by Edna Ferber is an interesting characterization of an old man in the seventies, who accepts an invitation to spend the rest of his days as a house guest of his married son, and projects with great sympathy the futility of Old Man Minick to "fit in" with the progressive younger generation When he unwillingly discovers this fact, he seeks the understanding companioship of his ' buddies" in the Old Gentleman's Home across the way. Chic Sale is sincere in his portrayal of Old Man Minick to the extent of, at times, over emphasis which obviously could have been caught by the director, Archie Mayo. Dickie Moore gives a "swell" performance as the orphan who learns the truth about stealing. Lois Wilson is honest in her portrayal of the daughterin-law. Ralf Harolde and Adrien Dore add the melodramatic touch to the picture. An excellent cast includes the names of May Boley, Dorothy Wolbert, Louise Beavers, Ben Holmes, William Robyns, Charles Evans, Walter Catlett, Noel Francis, Elizabeth Patterson, Zita Moulton and Elsa Peterson. Thci photography by Bob Kurrle was good. L. H. CLICKS Doris Kenyon clicked in "Lyric Silhouettes" at the Philharmonic Auditorium Tuesday evening, January 12. She gave us the surprise of our life, and producers should find plenty for their very capable actress to do in our present day talkies. REVIEW "NATALIE THE NEOPOLITAN" The premiere, at the Major Theatre recently, of the beautiful phantasy, "Natalie the Neopolitan," presented by the Hollywood Studio of Stage Craft, under the direction .of Elise Schuyler Garrett, proved to be an evening of entertainment well worth seeing. There were two surprising things about this lovely costume play; one, that it was a Fairyland play so beautifully and realistically played that it took one back to happy childhood days and the other, discovery of rare and unusual child talent that would be useable in the talkies. Dede Francis who played the title role, was charming and did a very clever bit of acting; Catherine Jane Kennedy as Prince Le Normand showed remarkable talent for a child; Russel Kelley as Prince Jacques, Kent Bessire as Malatesta, The Banished Gypsies, Helene Dillon as Maman, Melvene Patch as Davy, Martha Wilcox as Juan, Lauralea Phelps as the Fairy Queen did exceptionally clever work. Rosalind Douglas as the Witch of Endor did a characterization that was worthy of a mature actress. Clever little Lois Mannis played the Fairy Godmother and was indeed charming in her lovely cosstume. Betty Nixon as Cindrella, Joan Shoemaker as Titania, and Maxine French as Cindrella Brown were charming and clever in their respective roles. The specialties were of an unusual high order and very entertaining. Beautiful Rose Marie Costello danced very cleverly in the Fairy Revel. Little Madeleine Harris who played the Fairy, is one of the cleverest children on the stage today. Elinor Graham who played Maid Marion, treated the audience to a pleasant surprise when she gave a demonstration of the Vernon Castle Waltz in pantomine. The Vernon Castle Waltz, by the way, was taught to Mrs. Garrett originally by Mr. Castle himself. The music for this lovely play was by Hazel M. Lindorf and the lyric by Willmae Groves Francis. i -f i Madeliene Cortelli, with the expressive dark eyes and graceful little carriage, was espied in the street scene for "After Tomorrow" last week. Seessil Anne Johnson, Douglas Haig and Jay Berger were there too, enjoying the clever tricks of the ringtail-monkey "George." Delaney & Kohlsaat, Inc. Personal Representation of Artists, Directors and Writers 402 First National Bank BIdg. Beverly Hills CRestview 0141 MRS. CHARLES GILLETTE FRENCH CONVERSATION By a Native Teacher Guaranteed Parisian Accent 706^ El Centro HI. 1551 THE ULTIMATE SOUND-ON-FILM RECORDING GENERAL SOUND CORPORATION, Ltd. GRanite 4141 STATION 107 5360 MELROSE AVE. HOLLYWOOD