Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1937-1940)

Page 6 HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE REVIEW June 5, 1937 ANALYZING IMMEDIATE PRODUCT PICTURES NOW BEING FILMED BUDGET *** High Budget ** Medium Budget * Low Budget PRODUCER ttt Top Average tt Medium Average t Low Average STORY Hini Great Prospects IfTf Ordinary Prospects II Doubtful Prospects DIRECTORIAL STAR VALUE §§§ Highly Recommended xxx Pretentious §§ Favorable xx Attractive § Inconsistent x Weak BOX-OFFICE PREDICTION * Means 2Syo greater ooo A Record Breaker 00 Holds Its Own o Undervalue MAKE A WISH RKO-Radio Rating: ***. ftt IHf. §§§• xx. oo*. Catchlines: "He thought there was nothing new under the sun until this child proved he was mistaken. . . ." "A man's friendship for a lad brings about the end of a mistaken marriage. . . ." THE STORY: "Going away to a summer camp to obtain inspiration for his forthcoming operetta, Rathbone meets Breen and an instant friendship is formed. Rathbone learns from Breen that his mother, Marion Claire, once a singer, has given up the stage to marry Forbes, whom Breen dislikes because he is not a regular fellow. From this, Rathbone gets his inspiration. He meets Breen's mother and falls in love with her. Knowing she is the only one to sing his operetta, Rathbone leaves town when she refuses. Marion finds she loves Rathbone and does sing in his operetta with everyone, including Breen, happy over the coming marriage. CREDITS: The Cast: Bobby Breen, Basil Rath bone, Marion Claire, Henry Armetta, Ralph Forbes, Leon Errol, Donald Meek, Billy Lee, Herbert Rawlinson, Leonid Kinskey, Fred Scott, and others. Produced by Sol Lesser . Directed by Kurt Neumann. Criginal Story by Gertrude Berg. Screenplay by Gertrude Berg, Bernard Schubert, and Earle Snell. GOOD NIGHT LADIES Paramount Rating: **. ff. 1HI. §§§. xx. oo. Catchlines: "Just an out of town boy trying to make good but a couple of scheming females wouldn't let him. . . ." THE STCRY: Downs, amateur song-writer from upstate New York, meets Eleanore Whitney on the train enroute to the city, where he plans to look up Cverman, a semi-successful songwriter. Downs gets tangled up with a pair of scheming females — Cverman's wife and her sister— and unexpectedly finds himself on the road to fame. At the last minute he finds out he has been duped by the publisher, and tosses the whole thing off in favor of Eleanore, only to discover that he's really a hit after all. CREDITS: The Cast: William Demarest, Benny Baker, Lynne Cverman, Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs, Terry Walker, Helen Flint, El Brendel, Kitty McHugh, John Patterson and Barlowe Borland. A General Manager's office Production. Directed by George Archainbaud. Criginal by Ring Lardner and George Kaufman. TOO CLEVER TO LIVE Universal Rating: **. f. i §§. x. o. Catchlines: "He formed a perfect alibi — then confessed to save his son. . . ." THE STCRY: Planning to murder the man who broke up his home. Stone, an actor, bothers the police with crazy murder stories saying he committed the crimes. His son, Brown, joins the troupe, not knowing Stone is his real father. During intermission. Stone murders Brown's foster father and Brown Is accused of the crime. Realizing what he has done. Stone confesses, but the police do not believe him. He finally convinces them and knowing he has saved his son from the electric chair, he is now ready for the death that awaits him. CREDITS: The Cast: Lewis Stone, Tom Brown, Barbara Read, Robert Gleckler, Forrester Harvey, Billy Wayne, Marjorie Main. Associate Producer E. M. Asher. Directed by Lewis R. Foster. Screen play by Charles Grayson, Cy Bartlett and Lewis R. Foster. FEUD OF THE TRAIL Victory Rating: *. ft H1I §§■ x. o. Catchlines: "His ruse and clever detection saved a family from certain death and won him the hand of a pretty girl. . . ." THE STCRY: Assuming the name of a dead ban dit, Tyler, operative of the Cattlemen's Association, is detailed to investigate mysterious attacks on the ranchers. He learns that the dead bandit Is the brother of Harlene Wood and under threats of coercion, her father had been forced to sell their ranch. Tyler discovers a rich gold vein has been located on the property and Williams is using every means to obtain title to the ranch. Tyler is able to trace Williams and his henchmen to the hidden mine, pin the guilt upon them, and make the capture. He Is obliged to disclose his identity and when he leaves, it is understood he may return to help pacify Harlene for the loss of her brother. CREDITS: The Cast: Tom Tyler, Harlene Wood, Milburn Morante, Jim Correy, Dick Alexander, Roger Williams, Vane Calvert, and Slim Whittaker. Produced by Sam Katzman. Directed by Bob Hill. Criginal story and screenplay by Basil Dickey. THE LIFE OF THE PARTY RKC-Radio Rating: ***. ftt IHI §§§■ xxx. oo*. Catchlines: "She wanted a singing career — when American men didn't interest her." THE STCRY: It is Moore's job to see that Ray mond, who is soon to come Into a fortune, does not become involved with a woman. Raymond meets Harriet Hilliard, a singer who is really daughter of a countess. Complications arise when Harriet's mother arrives with Penner as a prospective husband for her daughter. But Harriet settles this by announcing Raymond is her husband. Raymond's mother arrives and says he has passed the age limit and will not have to forfeit his fortune. Harriet's mother is delighted to learn of his wealth. Harriet and Raymond find they really do love each other and are truly married. CREDITS: The Cast: Gene Raymond, Harriet Hilliard, Victor Moore, Helen Broderick, Eric Blore, Joe Penner, Parkya karkus, Richard Lane, Billy Gilbert. Producer Edward Kaufman. Director William Seiter. Criginal by Joseph Santley. Screenplay by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Violet Brothers Shore. LANCER 20th Century-Fox Rating: **. ftt HH §■ x. oo. Catchlines: "His life meant nothing as pitted against the happiness and freedom of his country. . . ." THE STCRY: Because of his resemblance to a German officer taken prisoner, Sanders, a Britr Ish officer, is sent to Germany to discover plans of attack. He successfully steals them and is about to escape when his ruse is discovered by Rumann. As he is about to be shot by Rumann, Lorre, a French spy, kills Rumann. Safely back In England, Sanders rejoins his wife, Virginia Field and is praised for his courage and bravery. CREDITS: The Cast: George Sanders, Fritz Feld, Lester Matthews, Lionel Atwill, Virginia Field, Joseph Schiidkraut, Sig Rumann, Peter Lorre, Germaine Aussey and others. Associate Producer Samuel Engel. Director Gregory Ratoff. Criginal by Marte McKenna. THIS WAY PLEASE Paramount Rating: **. ft P §§§• xx. oo. Cdtchlines: "Her job was to lead young men down the aisle — but not to the tune of the wedding march. . . THE STCRY: Betty Grable, usherette in a motion picture theatre, falls in love with Rogers, dynamic orchestra leader. Mary Livingstone, also an usherette; Ned Sparks, the theatre's press agent, and Lee Bowman, house manager, all try to break it up, but to no avail. James and Marian Jordan visitors, find themselves unwittingly involved in the romance. Rogers and Betty quarrel, and when he is fired, she takes his place. He pretends to be reconciled, and they are to be married on the stage. But Rogers fails to show up, and complications come thick and fast until everything is settled amicably. CREDITS; The Cast; Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Betty Grable, Mary Livingstone, Ned Sparks, James and Marian Jordan, Porter Hall, Lee Bowman, Cecil Cunningham, Wally Vernon, and others. Produced by Mel Shauer. Directed by Robert Florey. 100 MEN AND A GIRL Universal Rating: ***. ftt U §§§ xx. oo*. Catchlines: "The joke of a flighty . society woman brought success to three desperate people. . . ." THE STCRY: Deanna Durbin and Menjou, her father, who is an unemployed musician, are about to be evicted from their room, when he finds a woman's purse. Deanna returns it to the owner who, when hearing about the hundreds of unemployed musicians, decides to sponsor a symphony orchestra. Her husband, Pallette, thinking this Is a joke of his wife's, tells Deanna he will put the show on the air providing the great Stokowski will conduct. When Stokowski hears Deanna sing, he agrees to direct the orchestra. ..Deanna knows their troubles are over for a while. CREDITS: The Cast: Deanna Durbin, Leopold Stokowski, Adolphe Menjou, Mischa Auer, Eugene Pallette, Billy Gilbert, Alma Kruger, Frank Jenks, and others. Associate Producer Joe Pasternak. Directed by Henry Koster. ..Criginal Story by Hans Kraly. Screenplay by Charles Kenyon. SHE’S NO LADY Paramount Rating: **. ft 1HI §§• xx. oo. Catchlines: "Cupid became confused trying to straighten out a young couple's difficulties. . . ." THE STCRY: Trent strikes up a daring flirtation with Ann Dvorak. Both have an invitation to a party at the home of Aileen Pringle and Hoyt. When some diamonds are stolen, Trent, believing Ann has the jewels, relieves her of her purse, but finds he is mistaken. Going to her apartment, he saves himself and Ann from coldblooded killing by attracting the police. At headquarters, Ann is disclosed as an Insurance Investigator and Trent, a detective, both on the trail of a former coup pulled by Aileen and Hoyt. CREDITS: The Cast: Ann Dvorak, John Trent, Harry Beresford, Guinn Williams, Aileen Pringle, Arthur Hoyt, and others. Produced by B. P. Schulberg. Directed by Charles Vidor. Criginal by James Edward Grant. Screenplay by George Bruce and Frank Partos.