Motion Picture News (Nov - Dec 1926)

1962 M o t i o n Picture N e re .? Millionaires The Ghetto to Riverside Drive in One Jump (Reviewed 1>\ Paul Thompson) AGAIN is E. Phillips Oppenheim drawn upon for the material for a moving picture. This time it is his "The Inevitable Millionaires" which serves. Geopje Sidney, Louise Fazenda and, of course, Vera Gordon, are the three featured players in Edward ('lark and Graham Baker's picture. Regretfully I can not class it as one of the ■•classics of the screen" following the publicity man's optimistic heading. It is banal, trite and with little to recommend it. It is the oft-told story of the East Side Jewish tailor (or umbrella salesman or what you will), who suddenly and inexplicably achieves affluence and migrates to Riverside Drive, West End Avenue or the banks of the Hudson, there to spend his miraculouslj acquired wealth. Gauche, naturally unable to adapt himself to his new surroundings his social shortcomings are emphasized and played up for their supposed comedy values. By now there is little that is amusing — and surely the prop has been much overworked — in the social outlander trying to manipulate an artichoke, yet that is given the dignity of many, many feel of film. Alter a complete fiasco in trying to adapt themselves to their new environment a return hegira of the family to the east side is undertaken where the transition is made effective li\ having the dinner guests eal like so many animals rather than in the approved Emily Post manner supposedly indigent to the upper social st ratum. George Sidney doe the type he has done many time before with little or no variation. The same criticism is justly made of Vera Gordon's inevitable matron. The Cast: George Sidney, Vera Gordon and Louise Fazenda (all three featured), Nat Carr, Helene Costello, Arthur Lubin, Jane IVinton, Otto Hoffman, William Strauss. Director, Herman Raymaker. THEME: Unplausibly ac EXPLOITATION ANGLES: quired wealth's reaction of East Popularity of author original Side Jews in West Side setting, story and of featured players. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: East Side ailor shop. DRAWING POWER: Fair. Produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. Length, 6,903 feet. Released November 13. 1926. Incidents in "April Fool," a Chadwick production College Days Tiffany's Football Picture (Reviewed by Paul Thompson) YOUTH must be served — and in this Tiffany production it is. Certainly the author, director and players have been very successful in creating the atmosphere of a co-educational university and in offering a story that, while not particularly novel, inasmuch as already we have had several plays with a college football game as the climax of the action, still holds your interest. Charles Delaney portrays the type of smartA lee who offends through that very quality of over-smartness. Plausibility we must discard or even probability if we accept the picture. Only in novels and movies can such things happen. Fired from the university once because of a fight which the self-styled hero has with an instructor, he conies hack to make good. That psychologically will appeal to almost everyone, for a come-back in any sphere of life is much more amazing and commendable than the original climb to the heights. Suspense it has in plenty. Delaney's desire to save the heroine, charming Marceline Day, from the ignominy of a raid at a roadhouse the night before the championship football game, results in his being penalized himself. Of course, he does get into the frame in time to turn the tide and achieve that fame so essential to his father's, the university's and the girl's happiness. Doth Delaney and Miss Day as well as the supporting company contribute convincing portrayals. Richard Thorpe has done a good job in the directing. The Cast: Marceline Day, Charles Delaney, James Harrison, l> uanc Thompson. Kathleen Key. Pi red or. Richard Thorpe. Story ami continuity by A. I'. Younger. THEME: College life with a football climax; boy in disgrace who makes good. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS : Football scenes of the best and most convincing type. EXPLOITATION ANGLES: Spirit of Youth. All-star college football players employed. DRAWING POWER: Good. (■roup of scenes from Forever After," a Fir^l \ational release Produced and distributed by Tiffany I'rdouctions. I moth. 7.500 feet. Released November 1. 1926.