Hollywood Low Down (Jan 1935 - Apr 1938 (assorted issues))

Page 52 The Hollywood LOW-DOWN January 1, 1935 #> Night Life of the Gods (Fair) A GAIN a movie mogul has made the inevitable mistake of believing a good novel MUST make a good picture. The humor in Thorne Smith’s hilarious book of the same title could never be effectively presented on the screen. Assuredly it wasn’t in this Carl Lammle, Jr., production for Universal. Even the superb direction of Lowell Sherman and the uniform excellence of the cast could not quite overcome the lack of adequate picture material. Nevertheless, Alan Mowbray gives an outstanding performance. Ably playing the role of Alan’s foil is beautiful Florine McKinney. The remainder of the cast, in which George Hassell, Paul Kaye, Irene Ware, Peggy Shannon, Pat DeCicco, Philip Smalley, Richard Carle, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Teresa Maxwell-Conover and Henry Armetta were featured, seemed at times bewildered by the fantastic humor and frequently appeared at a loss as to how to go on. Sherman probably did more to overcome the faults than any other megger on the Universal lot could have done. The story concerns a scientist who discovers a process for turning statues into animate beings and, adversely, humans into stone. The fun begins when he wanders into a museum hall in which the statues of the ancient gods and goddesses are standing. The difficulty in bringing the Smith novel to the screen was the identical one which confronted producers who sought to make P. G. Wodehouse films. The humor lies more in the writing than in the situations. Besides this, Thorne Smith usually had his characters cavort in a manner considered unseemly by the Purity leagues. Power (Excellent) T'\R. Hugo Riesenfeld, new director at the Filmarte theater, presented as his initial film, British-Gaumont’s “Power,” a stirring vehicle adapted from Lion Fauchtwanger’s literary masterpiece, “Jew Suss.” Dr. Riesenfeld has shown remarkable taste in choosing this picture for his opening. Conrad Veidt adds another triumph to a long list of successful roles by his outstanding performance as the main character in the story. He makes Suss a real being, not just a flickering shadow on the screen. He maintains suspense throughout the piece. Probably his greatest scene is the one in the final reel of the film when he takes his audience through one of the picture’s most dramatic sequences flawlessly Second honors go to Frank Vosper as Karl Alexander, the perverted Duke of PREVIEWS CONTINUED By L. WOLFE GILBERT, JR. Wurtemberg. Benita Hume is effective as the duchess, with Cedric Hardwicke, in the part of a rabbi, next in line. Ramela Ostrer handles a small role effectively. Her beauty should recommend her to any Hollywood producer. Gerald Du Maurier had the remaining featured role. Beautiful Wurtemberg in the Early Eighteenth century provides the locale of “Power.” The story is too familiar to bear recounting here. The principal criticisms to be leveled at “Power” are that it is slow in the early portion, and that at times the dialogue is difficult to understand. The dramatic value of the latter part overcomes these minor faults. Lothar Mendes was the director and the adaptation was the work of Dorothy Farnum. Bernard Knowles is responsible for the A-l photography. County Chairman (Good) WHILE this review bears the label ‘good,’ fans of Will Rogers undoubtedly will pronounce “The County Chairman” excellent. Being prejudiced personally against the steady stream of homespun humor in the Rogers’ style, even the designation of ‘good’ was arrived at only after critical opinion battled with a sense of unprejudiced criticism. WILL ROGERS The slow-moving story of “The County Chairman” concerns a county politician and his efforts to elect his candidate prosecuting attorney. Rogers’ man, Kent Taylor, falls in love with the daughter of the opposition candidate, Evelyn Venable. Burton Churchill gives his customarily excellent performance. Others in the cast are Louise Dresser, Frank Melton, Robert McWade, Gay Seabrook and Stepin Fetchit. ♦ The picture was taken from a dated play by George Ade, but it is good film fare nevertheless. The picture was produced by Edward W. Butcher for Fox, with John Blystone directing. Sweepstake Annie (Excellent) TN “Sweepstake Annie,” the story of what happens when a little girl wins a lot of money she doesn’t know precisely how to spend, Director Bill Nigh used all his stagecraft to squeeze every possible laugh out of a very clever comedy. As a result, the picture is highly amusing. The story is about a script girl (Marion Nixon) who wins $150,000 on the Irish Sweepstakes. Her family, is composed of loafers who refuse to work. What happens when she rebels at this gives the film a unique twist. W. Scott Darling did a commendable job with the original story and the screen play. Producer M. H. Hoffman is to be commended too for the lavish manner in which he staged the production. It was a thoroughly satisfactory job. Others in the cast were Tom Brown, Wera Engels, Inez Courtney, Ivan Lebedeff, Lucien Littlefield, Dorothy Peterson, William Janney and Carol Tevis. The photography is attributed to Harry Neuman. DELIGHTFUL COMEDY OCCUPIES EL CAPITAN A theatrical event of major importance during the holiday season was the opening of the delightful Clare Kummer comedy, “Her Master’s Voice,” at the El Capitan theater a few days before Christmas with Billie Burke starred and Roger Pryor and Elizabeth Patterson in featured supporting roles. Miss Burke is excellent in an exacting part; Roger Pryor displays a flair for comedy that has not been manifest in his screen roles, and Miss Patterson gives a really brilliant performance; all of which makes this gay and amusing comedy very good stage fare indeed. Also in the cast are Mary Loane, Kernan Cripps, Slemer Jackson and Gertrude LeBrandt. The production has been beautifully staged. JOE E. BROWN TO APPEAR IN BENEFIT SHOW JAN. 26 Joe E. Brown will introduce the famous screen, stage and radio stars who are to appear in the huge benefit show to be presented January 26 in the Shrine auditorium to get funds for the Mount Sinai Home for Chronic Invalids, it was announced this week. Noted names will be listed on the program which is to be completed and made public within a few days.