Modern Screen (Dec 1935 - Nov 1936)

■ .'•'•.■.•-;;t (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8) (Above) "The Dark Angel" is a picture that no one should miss and one that women' particularly will love. Sterling performances by Merle Oberon, Herbert Marshall and Fredric March. (Above, right) Warren William plays one of his lawyer roles in "The Case of the Lucky Legs," with Genevieve Tobin and Patricia Ellis in supporting roles. (Right) "The Bishop Misbehaves," a grand mystery tale v/ith Norman Foster and Maureen O'Sullivan. the boys only ioo glad to lose their gold. Complications arise when she meets Joel McCrea, a young prospector with the heart of a poet. More complications come when the law-abiding citizens band together to break Robinson's lawless control of the city. "Barbery Coast" sets a rapid tempo almost from its opening shot and maintains it to the fadeout. Incidentally, you'll be surprised at the excellent performance by Joel McCrea, and you'll welcome a new comedian named Walter Brennan, who'll have you in stitches. Preview Postscripts The United Artists lot had a wild and wicked look while this picture was being filmed. Son Francisco's water-front of 1850 was faithfully reproduced down to every saloon, dance-hall and dive. The famous Barbary Coast was built around the studio's two-acre water tank, on which floated two genuine ocean schooners, transplanted from the Pacific piece by piece for the occasion. Mud and fog were the two props that caused the most trouble. Workmen were constantly busy stirring up barrels of mud to keep the "streets" covered with the two feet of mire which took the place of pavement in them thar days, while Paul Widlcza, Hollywood's famed fog-maker, worked day and night. There's not a cough in a carload of his product, for the old-time smoke and incense 10 fogs are taboo with him. Paul's murky atmosphere comes from an apparatus that shoots live steam into mineral oil. The temperature was 140 degrees the first few days, but an air-cooling system was finally installed which saved considerable wear and tear on the cast. Not, however, before Director Hawks had lost 25 pounds, Joel McCreo 17, and the rest of the crew had lost plenty of pep if not pounds. Producer Samuel Goldwyn and Art Director Richard Day spent months scouting around San Francisco for material and old lithographs on the Coast of the old days. The pleasantest research job was on the old-time refreshments. "Blue Blazer" was a favorite In the days when men were men and whisky was the real stuff. They just set fire to a gloss of whisky and downed It for on appetizer. "Prairie Oysters" were the approved pick-up for the following A. M. Into this concoction went a raw egg, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, tobosco and whiskey. This not only picked up the researchers but practically flung them through the roof. The Last Days of Pompeii (RKO) As a spectacle, this production rates high in the month's ratings. As out-and-out dramatic fare, it is still above the average, although we believe the photographers and the technical department are the real stars of the picture. Sets are gorgeous, and the scenes of the destruction of Pompeii are actually breath-taking in their seeming reality. For those scenes alone the picture can be highly recommended. The story is not the tale we all know, for the producers have taken it upon themselves to make a complete change in that department. We now find "The Last Days of Pompeii" to be a story of a poor young blacksmith (Preston Foster) who decides, after his wife and son die, because he has no funds for their proper care, that money and power shall be his gods. He attains his ends only to find everything he has built up shattered before him, and the real truth coming to him. An excellent cast is headed by Basil Rathbone, David Holt, Louis Calhern, John Wood and Dorothy Wilson. Preview Postscripts Research on this picture took longer than any yet undertaken by RKO Studios. For a year and a half, experts waded through material on the ancient days of Pompeii, on costumes and customs of the people, and particularly on the architectural developments of the time. Meriam C. Cooper, the 'producer, took a special trip to that part of the globe where Pompeii formerly stood, in