Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

14 DEC, 10, 1932 REVIEWS AND PREVIEWS By Arthur Forde "The Island of Lost Souls" Out-Frankensteins "Frankenstein" All thai can be done in the way of horror pictures has now definitely been done. "The Island of Lost Souls" tops all the rest. It out-Frankensteins "Frankenstein," and relegates all other thrillers to the class of children's bed time stories. Not satisfied with creating one horrific make-up, it presents deformed creatures by the dozen. If it does nothing else, it should gain the "year's best" award for its make-up artist. What the general reaction to this picture will be, one cannot with certainty say. Personally, I am for it one hundred per cent. In other words, I ate it up and yelled for more. It is an example of the free use of imagination on the screen. I think the screen needs imagination — lots of it — even if it is morbid. I should say approximately half of the Pasadena preview audience agreed with me in this stand. The other half divided into two sections. One section left the theater during the preview, grunting and denouncing. The other remained, hair standing on end, also grunting and denouncing, but fascinated by the eerie tale being unfolded before them. This picture, which is rather freely adapted from the H. G. Wells' novel "The Island of Doctor Moreau," deals with a mad doctor who experiments with surgery, evolution, and germ actions. He is attempting to create human beings from animals, and the island is populated by the half-human, half-animal things he has botched. Things with hoofs and feet mixed, with claws instead of hands, with fur covered bodies, with dog ears. And when these things gather before their master in the jungle clearing and mumble "The Law" in chorus: "What is the Law?" "That we shall not spill blood, for are we not men?" "What is the Law?" "That we shall not walk on all fours, for are we not men?"— Well. when all this happens, if you don't get a bad case of galloping jitters, you're not human either. For the part of the mad doctor, Charles Laughton was selected. This great, but unfortunately cast, actor had played four lunatics and one half-lunatic in the five pictures he has made. I cannot but wish he would be given a chance at something else, and I imagine he must feel the same way. Be that as it may, he makes a grand character of "Dr. Moreau." Next in line of credit I would place Kathleen Burke, the much publicized "Panther Woman." In a terrifically difficult role, this newcomer performs with striking charm. Arthur Hohle, as Moreau's assistant turns in a consistent and strong work. Richard Arlen performs pleasantly as the hero. The leader of the beast-men, who resembles Jo-Jo, the Dog-Faced Boy of circus memory, is more than ably portrayed by Beli Lugosi who bellows from behind foot-long hair which sprouts eagerly from his face. Hans Steinke, Leila Hyams, Stanley Fields and Paul Hurst are other members of the cast who distinguish themselves. Erie C. Kenton did a splendid job of directing, in fact his work put the picture across the top, and Karl Struss photographed it expertly. The adaptation of Wells' story was in the expert hands of Waldemar Young and Philip Wylie and is worthy of special mention. "The Island of Lost Souls" is like a nightmare. One might almost fancy it the result of too much mince pie. But it is splendidly conceived and imaginatively produced. There will probably not be another picture like it in a decade. There has not been one resembling it since "Mysterious Island." My hat is off to Paramount and the whole staff of the picture. If you want horror, here is your dish! "Self Defense" Is Interesting Peter B. Kyne Story for Monogram Trem Carr, supervising director for Monogram Pictures, knows nothing but the best for their patrons, and "Self Defense," a W. T. Lackey production, has an interesting story and a cast that has rarely been surpassed. Tristram Tupper, who has a great many productions to his credit, adapted this splendid Peter B. Kyne story "Just Judge," and made a screen vehicle that should interest anyone who likes complications and surprises in his entertainment. The yarn tells of a wonderful woman, Katy Devoux, who operates a gambling saloon in the northwest in order to obtain the money necessary for her daughter's education in a finishing school in the east, but is kept in ignorance of her mother's real mode of life. The girl is taught to believe that her mother is running an exclusive inn and health resort in the far west, and when the girl writes to her mother that she is to pay her a visit the woman changes the gambling den into a respectable resort. This scheme would have gone over all right except that a crooked gambler is about to expose the plan so that he can gain control of the gambling resort. Plenty of drama and suspense here and in the unravelling of the plot the gambler is killed by a young man who has fallen in love with the girl and has been commissioned by the mother to keep the true facts from her. At the trial, the unexpected happens in that the boy refuses to testify in any manner and it looks as if the jury of townsmen will convict him. During the recess the woman takes the judge aside and explains that the gambler was killed in self defense but that the boy wouldn't tell the facts as he wanted to spare the girl, knowing how her mother had earned her living. The jury is deadlocked and the judge explains the situation to them and suggests that to get matters settled and on account of their indecision that dice be thrown and in this way the boy is exonerated. The cast is one of the prime factors in this picture, as the famous Pauline Fredericks plays the mother. They have added Claire Windsor, Theodore von Eltz, Barbara Kent, Robert Elliott, H. B. Walthall, Jameson Thomas, George Hackathorn, Lafe McKee, Willie rung, Si Johns and George Hayes to the cast. Phil Rosen, who has made a name for himself in pictures of this character, does a great job w,th the story but the photography of Archie Stout was one of the high spots of the production. He shows us some lovely views of the timber country. This picture has been produced with a high calibre idea and should please those who like their screen fare of vivid drama played by real artists. "Drop In and Soy Hello" Fountain of Youth Toiletries MINTA DURFEE (Arbackle) NOrmondie 7207 4664 Hollywood Bl Hollywood "The Death Kiss" Is Another Knockout for K. B. S. Pictures Edwin Mann, another director to be advanced from the ranks of assistant, makes a decided hit with his first picture, and clearly shows that the judgment of the executives of K-B-S Pictures and their confidence in the youthful director was perfect. Here is another mystery story that has for its locale a motion picture studio. But in this instance they have injected a gangster element in which the leading man has been murdered. The leading lady, who was the ex-wife of the leading man, is suspected but she is finally proven innocent by the clever work of a scenario writer who turns detective. Interesting drama, with plenty of suspense is sustained and cleverly intersperced with excellent comedy — and just a little satire regarding studio life, that is not at all offensive. The clever story was by Madeline St. Denis and splendidly adapted into a screen play by Gordon Kahn and Barry Barringer. The direction of Edwin Marin is noteworthy, and if this is a sample of what he can do he should go far in his chosen field. David Manners, as the scenarist-detective, does the finest work he has shown us in a long time. Adrienne Ames as the "suspected one," has little to do but she is lovely and shows up to fine advantage. John Wray is particularly clever as a real detective, and is a splendid acquistion to the fine cast. The comedy is in the hands of Vince Barnett as a studio cop, and of course, a dumb one. But no one can get as much out of a role of this kind as our favorite ribber. He is ably aided by Alexander Carr who plays the producer to very good advantage. Other splendid roles were essayed by those fine actors Edward Van Sloane, Bela Lugosi, Harold Minjir and Barbara Bedford, while many good laughs are cleverly put over by James Dolan as a studio press agent. Mister Exhibitor! Here is a splendid mystery story that should give you the necessary thrills, laughs and excellent acting, coupled with splendid direction and fine photography by Norbert Brodine. K-B-S Pictures have produced many fine pictures this season, but the interesting story and fine work of their new director, places this one in the first class theaters, and which should be well received by any kind of audience. "UNDER COVER MAN" AND STAGE SHOW AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER, DOWNTOWN The audience liked th's picture with a crook theme, but this time they have taken the under cover man, who works in great danger, to help the police solve crimes in which they seem helpless to unravel. The story by John Wilstach, is full of surprises and keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering just what the finish will be, and as adapted by Thomas Burtis, with screen play by Garrett Fort and Frances Faragoh, is chock full of surprises and thrills. George Raft is once more given a role as the under cover man that exactly fits his peculiar talents, and Nancy Carroll is seen in some of the best work of her career as the sister of the boy who was killed by gangsters, and clearly demonstrates that she is an actress of fine ability. Two of the slickest crook roles we have seen played on the screen for a long time are in the hands of Gregory Ratoff and Lew Cody, while Roscoe Karns once more demonstrates his splendid ability as another man in the pay of the police department. As for David Landau, he plays another fine characterization as head of the police department and repeats the fine work he recently finished with another Paramount picture. Noel Francis is seen briefly as the paramour of the head of the crooks, but her dramatic moments are worthy of fine praise. Paul Porcasi, Leyland Hodgson, William Janney and George Davis fit into the smaller roles perfectly. We cannot praise too highly the fine work of James Flood, the director, who handled his players masterfully, and the photography of Victor Milner, was all that could be wished for. Paramount Studios have turned out consistently fine productions this season and this one should get the same reaction in other theaters as it did in this huge showhouse. The stage show was on the same high order as the feature picture, as they have Eddie Nelson with his clever clowning. Hector and his pals, Edith Spencer with her Harlem Harmony, Don Smith and Nitza Virnelle and the lovely Paramount girls who always please. "MAGIC NIGHT" IS A DECIDED HIT AT FILMARTE THEATER ON VINE STREET One of the best productions from Europe for the year is the tuneful little operetta Magic Night." which is showing on the screen of our foreign theater in Hollywood. It has everything that is supposed to make entertainment — a famous English star, a supporting cast that matches him, and the best lines and catchy music that has been seen and heard for a long time. Then the story has a catchy theme that takes place in colorful Austria during and after the war, and reveals the officers' lives, which always consisted of more romance than military tactics. Perhaps you will remember one of the best of productions made by the famous director, Lubitsch in "Monte Carlo," and the star who made such a decided hit in the film at the time it was shown here. This was Jack Buchanan who is the toast of London and equals Chevalier in popularity wherever he is seen and is the star of the present offering, "Magic Night." He has such a carefree way about him and in this one he is snappier than ever. They have also surrounded him with a superlative cast. We could never realize why Jack was never brought over here to Hollywood with a fat contract, but in some way he escaped the eyes of the producers. When they see him this week in "MAGIC NIGHT," they will surely realize their mistake for the feminine portion of the audience registered their approval unmistakably. You will miss one of the best bets of the year, if you fail to see "Magic Night" before the week ends, and as the dialogue is in English it had a special attraction to us. 200 ROOMS HOLLYWOOD 200 BATHS EL CORTEZ HO TEL Splendid Coffee Shop 5640 Santa Monica Blvd.— HOllywood 5801 E. J. CLARK, Manager Special Weekly and Monthly Rates