Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 15, 1934 • Looking 'Em Over • "I Was a Spy" (Gaumont British-Fox) An intriguing effort, entertainingly handled by all concerned. The picture presents to American audiences for the first time Madeleine Carroll, an accomplished actress, whose performance here is a distinct credit. In addition, Herbert Marshall and Conrad Veidt also contribute capital work. Victor Saville directed. A Roxy audience enjoyed it. Suggested by the title, the story deals with the British espionage system in Belgium at the time of the German invasion during the World War. Miss Carroll is enlisted into the service because she is employed in a hospital used by Germans. There she meets Marshall, also a spy, and in short order they fall in love. Working hand in hand, the two manage to secure valuable information which causes havoc with the Germans. Veidt, the commandant, in love with Miss Carroll, forgets himself in a frenzy of passion and divulges some of the important moves of his forces. Ultimately, Miss Carroll is arrested. On trial she refuses to reveal her aide, even at the price of going free. She is sentenced to death, but rather than see her put before the firing squad, Marshall confesses. He is put to death and the heroine goes to prison. Her term there is cut short by the evacuation of the Germans for Allied forces. "Big Timeor Bust" (Capitol) Little of originality is to be found in "Big Time or Bust," a Tower production. The story it tells has been repeated so often that it has lost much of its edge. However, there is some good acting and some good sets, a number of them more or less sumptuous, to give the film modest drawing power at neighborhood houses. Regis Toomey is a high diver, and Gloria Shea, his wife, is his assistant. The team breaks up when Miss Shea gets a job in a New York night club. Eventually she reaches stardom on Broadway. Toomey, virtually living on her earnings, is jealous of the attentions of other men to her. In despair he goes back to his high-diving work, resolved to plunge to his death during his performance. Only the sudden appearance of Miss Shea at the foot of the ladder, cheering him on as in the old days, turns him from the idea of ending it all. The fadeout finds them vowing to team up again as in the old days. The acting is commendable. Also in the cast are Walter Byron and Edward Maxwell. Sam Newfield did a routine job of directing. "Public Stenographer" (Showmen's Pictures) Fairly entertaining melodrama which would go nicely on a dual program. Lola Lane, a public stenographer in a hotel, falls in love with William Collier, Jr., a construction engineer. When her fiance leaves for Cincinnati to settle a former love affair, Miss Lane misunderstands the mission. Esther Muir, Miss Lane's friend, secures the stenographic notes taken by the heroine from Collier, and sells them to Jason Robards, the heroine's ex-fiance and competitor of Collier. Before Robards has a chance to translate the notes, Miss Lane secures them by a ruse and everything ends to the satisfaction of all. Also in the cast are Richard Tucker, Al St. John, Bryant Washburn, Duncan Renaldo and Al Bridge. "West of the Divide" (Monogram ) This is a variation of the ranch-stealing, cattle-rustling formula with three spectacular fist fights and four good chases, and a mild romance with John Wayne and Virginia Brown Faire as the lovers. Wayne and his pal, George Hayes, who, by the way, knows his stuff as a portrayer of western roles, show up in a California valley intent on solving the mystery of who murdered Wayne's parents. After a series of adventures they discover Lloyd Whitlock is the man and that he and his gang are still playing tricks. In addition to occupying Wayne's ranch they are plotting to get Whitlock's place as well. Whitlock is Miss Faire's father. The story and direction are by R. N. Bradbury. Both are better than average. Reviews On Shorts "Manhattan Lullaby" (Educational) Starring Helen Morgan, and featuring Henry King's orchestra, this musical short is highly entertaining. Interesting shots of New York at dawn and at sunset are interposed throughout the film. Miss Morgan sings a narrative song. Running time, 9 mins. "The Little King" (Van Bern en-Radio) In a short called "Jest of Honor," the "Little King" falls short of amusement value expected from the hilarious Soglow cartoons current in magazines. There are, however, several amusing scenes, such as the King riding a surf-board behind a battleship. Running time, 7 mins. "The Inventors" (Educational) A hilarious comedy starring Stoopnagle and Budd. Their inventions and their lectures are the whole film. Olive Borden is also featured. Running time, 20 mins. "Strange Case of Hennessy" (Van Beuren-Radio) An amusing musical with Cliff (Ukulele Ike) Edwards, and Jack Fulton and Jean Sargent, the radio stars. Posing as a famous detective, who later turns out to be insane, Cliff Edwards provides many laughs. Running time, 21 mins. "Hey Nanny, Nanny" (Radio) A fairly amusing hodge-podge of the antics of Clark and McCullough. showing their rise from window cleaners to magicians, with Thelma White, Monte Collins and Sidney Jarvis aiding in producing laughs. The story and dialogue are typical of Clark and McCullough. Running time, 21 mins. "Not Tonight, Josephine" (Vitaphone) A very amusing short done in Technicolor, burlesquing the life of Napoleon. Frank McHugh as Napoleon, Kitty Kelly as Josephine and Florence Robertson as Anne of Austria furnish most of the laughs. Several songs are also featured. Running time, 21 mins. "The Seventh Wonder" (Monogram) This is one of the "Port O'Call" series produced by Deane H. Dickason. The seventh wonder is the Panama Canal and the working of its massive locks with some preliminary scenes and narrative describing Panamanian history. Ships are shown moving slowly in various parts of the big ditch. It's an interesting travelogue. Running time, 11 mins. "On Approval" (Radio) Featuring Frank Crummit and Julia Sanderson, this RKO-Headliner comedy could be much more amusing. Using the adoption of an orphan as the foundation on which to build a comedy, the action tends to be too serious. Running time, 17 mins. "In Venice" (Educational) Another amusing Terry-Toon, this one having Venice as its setting. Traffic on the canals, a burlesque arrival of Will Rogers, and his greeting to the air squadron of Balbo are featured. A burlesque Italian opera runs through the last three minutes. Running time, 5 mins. 1 4 "Moorish Spain" (Van Beuren-Radio) Novel in the sense that not a bull, nor a shot of a bullfight is seen, this travelogue, produced by J. HerrickHerrick for Van Beuren in Spain, is very interesting. Shots of the Alhambra and the adjoining gypsy village are particularly good. Off-stage dialogue is by Alois Havrilla, the radio announcer. Running time, 10 mins. "Pardon My Pups" (Educatio}ial) Starring Junior Coghlan and Shirley Temple, this one furnishes plenty of laughs. The story concerns a youngster who is afraid of dogs, but who finally is won over by a spaniel. Shirley Temple is great. Running time, 17 mins. "Hollywood on Parade" (Paramount B-6) The conventional "Hollywood on Parade," with shots of the Paramount studio, Ruth Etting, Jimmy Durante, Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, Alice White, and Joe E. Brown and Johnny Mack Brown on location. Running time, 10 mins. "Canyon of Romance" (Educational) Shot in Cinecolor, this short is breath-taking in its scenic beauty. Claude Fleming's off-scene dialogue explains the wonders of the "golden west" among the deserts and canyons. Running time, 10 mins. "Sitting on a Backyard Fence" (Vitaphone) A one-reel musical "Merrie Melody" cartoon, dealing with the amorous side of alley cats. Done in the conventional manner, and affords fair entertainment. Running time, 7 mins.