Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 27. 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Viva Villa" (M-G-M) Hollywood, March 26. — "Viva Villa" is a great picture, a big picture, a mighty screen entertainment sweeping powerfully across humanity's heartstrings. Auspiciously horn out of nerve-racking production travail, in inspired scenes it records the saga of a man of the masses and, in a Homeric portrait, encompasses Pancho Villa, hero and a human being. Like the "Marseillaise" rousing the emotions, it reveals the birth of Mexico amid a cavalcade of stirring climaxes. Spun from the fiction of truth, it thrillingly rides the meteoric parade of Pancho as a boy and Villa ( Wally Beery) as a man. It shows him as the bandit chief, aided by the jovial killer (Leo Carrillo), loved by his mad peons, pillaging, killing aristocrats, loving song, wanting to marry every pretty face and wrangling with his love-note scrivener (George Stone). It visualizes his affection for a little fellow, Madero (Hfenry B. Walthall), his palship with an American reporter (Stuart Erwin), for whom he captures two towns against the orders of his superior (Joseph Schildkraut) because his newspaper had previously printed the scoop. Exiled and humiliated, Villa returns after Madero's murder, assaults Mexico City with his tattered peons singing "Cacaracha," their revolutionary anthem, and, victorious, avenges the killers of his father and the ravagers of his sister. Inaugurated, he flops as president, resigns, is assassinated, and in a butcher shop, dying, requests Erwin to give him some good last words to say. Ringing throughout the raging expanse is the heart cry of an oppressed people thumping in rhythmic crescendo and galloping like an army of Paul Reveres across the countryside. Lusty and vigorous, salted with humor and flavored with romantic ardor, Villa's glamorous spectacle tingles with continuous excitement. Beery's Villa is an unforgettable conception. The entire cast is made of splendid selections and performs admirably and humanly. Jack Conway's direction rushes him into the spotlight of accomplishment. Ben Hecht's screenplay from the book, with suggestions by Eugene Pinchon and O. B. Stade, is a monumental achievement. All the contributing departments of the studiocrafts rate decorations. David O. Selznick, the producer, may well thrill with pride ; the laurels are his. "Viva Villa" is giant showmanship for tremendous popular reception, and with another current road show, may well mark the rebirth of boxoffice, as well as win Mexico's everlasting friendship. "Manhattan Love Song" (Monogram) Hollywood, March 26. — Nicely produced, with timely story and sets in keeping, "Manhattan Love Song" — not a musical — is an acceptable programmer. The yarn deals with two society girls forced to go to work and servants who go to society. Two orphan sisters, Dixie Lee and Helen Flint, daughters of Park Avenue, are left penniless. Owing their servants back salary, they permit them to use the spare room as paying guests, thinking that the servants would then serve free of charge. However, Bob Armstrong, chauffeur, and Nydia Westman, cook, refuse to serve, turn the table on their employers and refuse to feed them unless they work. Armstrong, who uses the Rolls Royce as a sightseeing vehicle, secures Pancake Annie of Nevada (Cecil Cunningham) and her son, Phineas (Harold Waldridge), as passengers. They want to view New York, meet society and see some horses. Armstrong arranges a socialite tea for Pancake Annie and her boy, which merry mixup results in the engagement of Phineas to the cook, establishes Dixie Lee's romantic feelings for Robert Armstrong, and points the way for the marriage of Helen Flint with Franklin Pangborn. Dixie Lee, wife of Bing Crosby, is attractive, and with Robert Armstrong stands out in the cast, together with Herman Bing. Direction by Leonard Fields is in slow tempo. Ed. Rowland Dies Hollywood, March 26. — Edward W. Rowland, 67, for many years head of the Hollywood Playhouse, died at his home here today from a heart attack. He is survived by a son, Edward W. Rowland, Jr., of New York. Shreveport Bans Contests Shreveport, La., March 26. — The Shreveport City Council has unanimously passed an ordinance forbidding marathon dances and walkathons. Fines ranging from $10 to $50 and imprisonment of not more than 10 days are provided for violations. Looking 'Em Over "Ever Since Eve" (Fox) "Ever Since Eve" makes the grade as generally good entertainment primarily on the strength of its humor. The plot has quite a familiar ring to it, but it is unfurled with such a grand sense of fun that whatever faults the film may have can be overlooked. George O'Brien, owner of a mine in Nevada, is sent to New York to buy new machinery by Russell Simpson and Roger Imhof, two old gents, women haters, who have brought him up. Herbert Mundin is delegated to go along as chaperone. Despite Mundin's vigilance, O'Brien falls in love with Mary Brian, an extremely modern young thing, and marries her. Upon the discover}' that his money has influenced her in marrying him, his affection cools. The gang back in Nevada, though at first displeased at his having gotten himself tangled up with a woman, soon develops a deep liking for Miss Brian. When O'Brien quits her, his pals move heaven and earth to locate him, but with no success. While he is away a baby arrives. At his return everything is smoothed out, to the rejoicing of everyone. The cast apparently had a grand time making "Ever Since Eve." The players romp through the whole thing with considerable zest. Much is due Mundin for making the film so amusing. George Meeker and Betty Blythe are also in the cast. Direction is by George Marshall. "Speed Wings" (Columbia) A fast-paced, actionful thriller that should please the Tim McCoy rooters no end. The roar of airplane motors and the sight of planes streaking through the air will make this film particularly welcome to the young folk. As if this were not enough, the producers have thrown in a couple of fistic encounters between McCoy and those who are trying to foil his plans to build a record-breaking airplane engine. The film begins to gather momentum when McCoy catches a henchman of a rival plane builder on the point of stealing the plans. The intruder gets a lovely walloping, and from then on the villainy gets blacker and blacker. When McCoy finds his plans gone, he suspects Evalyn Knapp of giving the combination to the safe to his rival, whose niece she happens to be. On the eve of the big race of the year Miss Knapp is cleared of suspicion when McCoy surprises one of his assistants at the telephone speaking with his competitor. William Bakewell, associate of McCoy, in love with Miss Knapp, has had his ne,rve broken by the death of a chum in a crack-up. As is to be expected, he picks himself together and comes through the winner of the race. The acting is competent and the air scenes have been extremely well done. Other players are Vincent Sherman, Hooper Atchley, Ben Hewlett and Jack Long. Otto Brower is credited with the direction. Hyams Take Another London, March 26. — Phil and Syd Hyams have taken over the Regal at Edmonton, a suburb of London. This places them in direct opposition to Sydney Bernstein in that suburb. Reeves Finishes Short The Reeves Sound Studios have I just completed synchronizing a short titled "The Yemenite Jew in Palestine" for A. Gabli Pictures. Opportunity DesireJ with Major Producer New York attorney thoroughly experienced in legal business and negotiations in conjunction with production department, associated with and handled important motion picture transactions and accomplished things in this industry; also admitted to the California bar and practiced in that state. Seeks an opportunity with production department of major company in studios at West Coast to handle company business in conjunction with home office. Want opportunity of studying and acquiring the production knowledge of business. Highest references. Box RAS, MOTION PICTURE DAILY 1790 Broadway New York, N. Y.