Modern Screen (Dec 1931 - Nov 1932 (assorted issues))

REVIEWS Hail Ricardo Cort'ez, the star ! In Fanny SYMPHONY OF Hurst's gripping story simmer from the Ghetto, civ aaii i ihm Cortez earns stellar honors. 51 A WILLIUIN The son of a Ghetto tailor he strives to be (RKO-Radi'o) come a great surgeon so that this skill can be dedicated to the suffering humanity around him. Feeling a duty to family, he forsakes his charity patients to practise in fashionable circles and earns fame and wealth. Somewhat reminiscent of Dick Barthelmess' "Alias the Doctor" is the scene showing Cortez operating on his aged father. More palatable, however, is the sequence in which his surgeon's hands must manipulate to heal his crippled sweetheart, Irene Dunne. CARELESS LADY (Fox) The metamorphosis of one Sally Brown (Joan Bennett) from a drab wall-flower to an alluring sophisticate, is the theme of this frothy drama. Like sister Constance in "Lady With A Past," Joan believes Paris will cure her wallflower complex. By mistake she picks up a coat, during a speakeasy raid, belonging to one Stephen Illington, whose name she adopts for her Paris sojourn. Imagine her embarrassment when Mr. Illington turns up at her hotel and meets his "wife" ! That is when things begin to happen. You will like the youngest Bennett daughter as the careless lady. Also, the personable John Boles as Stephen Illington. THE BROKEN WING (Paramount) First-class hokum done on a lavish enough scale with such of your favorites as Lupe Velez, Leo Carrillo and Melvyn Douglas. Carillo ees one bad hombre ruling an isolated j section of Mexico and wants the ravishing Lupe for his veree own. But she will have none of heem. Her romantic preference runs to Melvyn Douglas who arrives on the scene when his airplane crashes right in Lupe's patio. Plenty of complications develop when Carrillo becomes jealous and decides to shoot his rival. You know that he won't succeed in this dastardly attempt. And Melvyn and his Lupe presumably live happily ever after. THE WET PARADE (M-G-M) Has the Eighteenth (Prohibition) Amendment to the Constitution accomplished any part of its original purpose? That is the problem which "The Wet Parade" forcibly presents. Overlooking the wet and dry propaganda contained therein, this picture shines brightly with outstanding characterizations. Walter Huston as a political-minded city drunkard, and Lewis Stone in the role of a gentleman down South who | comes to self-destruction through alcoholic cravings, both offer unforgettable portrayals. And mark it down on this year's calendar — Robert Young is climbing right into the star class. Jimmy Durante, as a brother prohibition agent, adds plenty of laughs. SO BIG (Warner Bros.) Barbara Stanwyck, so to speak, puts the words in the mouth of Colleen Moore in this famous Edna Ferber story. The consensus of opinion is that she doesn't add much to the memory of the silent version. But all agree that it is a picture worth seeing and that her acting is good. The story, so well known to all, need not here be retold. Miss Stanwyck brings a real sincerity to her part as the young school teacher who marries a farmer and grows old before your eyes. In the last few scenes she has white hair, but the sparkle of her eyes and the cnspness of her voice fail to show a corresponding agin? George Brent, Dorothy Peterson and Alan Hale are also in it Make sure it's the sort of a picture you'll like!