Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1932)

38 MOTION PICTURE HERALD December 17, 1932 viously a strong selling factor, and one which, if it is properly exploited, should show readily at the box office. William has excellent support, with several names of real selling value : Lili Damita, as the foreign actress who completely captivates William ; Glenda Farrell, the girl he deserted to get a start ; J lardie Albright and numerous dependable players in minor roles. With reasonably dramatic effectiveness, the narrative carries William, as Paul Kroll, from a job as porter at an American ball park, back to Sweden to aid with his fictitious American business success in the restoration of the family match factory, in a bad financial way. Only Hardie Albright knows the truth of Kroll's position. Glenda Farrell is the jilted victim of Kroll's desire to get to Europe with his already growing ideas. From then on is a long and mounting trail of borrowing, pyramiding loan on loan without regard to the outcome, robbing Peter to pay Paul, with the unceasing goading of a dream of world dominance, using women in all the capitals of Europe to exact agreements of Kroll monopoly in return for huge sums to aid governments in financial distress. He meets Miss Damita and proceeds to pursue her expensively, assiduously, until she goes to the United States and Hollywood. Finally, himself in financial straits, he takes forged Italian government bonds to Wall Street, there borrows millions, and also learns that Miss Damita loves someone else. Returning to Paris, he discovers that he is about to be revealed as a fraud through the uncovering of the forgery, and commits suicide. That indication of the story's highlights will indicate to the exhibitor the angles from which he may attack his selling problems in this instance. They should all be based on the title and its significance, coincident with the appearance of William in the title role. Obviously, this is an adult attraction. — Aaronson, New York. Produced and distributed by Warner-First National. Directed by Howard Bretherton. From the novel by Einar Thorvaldson. Scenario by Sidney Sutherland and Houston Branch. Photographed by Robert Kurrle. Release date,' December 31, 1932. Running time, 79 minutes. CAST Paul Kroll Warren William Marta Molnar Lili Damita Babe Glenda Farrell Scailatti Harold Huber Oscar Spencer Charters Foreman John Wray Nyberg Murray Kinnell Eric Borg Hardie Albright Sonia Juliette Compton Use Wagner : Claire Dodd Borglund Alan Hale Christofsen Edmund Breese Hobe Harry Beresford Erickson .. George Meeker Rodensky De Witt Jennings Uncle '. Alphonse Ethier Larsen Robert McWade Frau Necher Bodil Rosing Maid Greta Mevc Mensch Qhne Namen The Man Without a Name (Protex) Drama Werner Krauss, memorable to American audiences for his work in "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," herein offers a performance which is considerable substantiation of his recognition as one of the foremost character performers in Europe. Ably supported, Mr. Krauss makes intensely dramatic his role of the shell-shocked war veteran, who returns to Berlin to find himself unable to prove his identity or recover name, fortune and wife, and who finally, with the aid of newly found friends, makes a new start. The entirely German dialogue offers no obstacle to appreciation by the patron without a knowledge of the language. The use of English subtitle translations of important passages in the dialogue is of further assistance. Mr. Krauss' expressive manner of portrayal for the most part makes dialogue unnecessary. The exhibitor who has not specifically a German-speaking patronage from which to draw, may well play this as something in the nature of a special performance, terming it an example of some of the finer work of the European screen. For the exhibitor who can readily count upon understanding patronage, or who regularly plays foreign product, there is much here with which to work in selling the picture. Werner Krauss is a selling name. Hertha Thiele will be remembered as the young girl who contributed so feeling a portrayal in "Maedchen in Uniform," which established something in the nature of a record as a two-a-day attraction at an important Broadway house. Maria Bard, as the girl who in her faith gives Krauss a new outlook on life, is pretty, vivacious, capable. For story value there is the dramatic situation of a man who, gassed in the war, loses his memory, recovers it suddenly and returns to Berlin to regain his name, since he has been reported dead. Once the owner of an automobile factory, he seeks to regain his place, but is spurned as an imposter. Even his wife refuses to recognize him, while his former partner, now married to his wife, threatens him with arrest. Only the faith of his few friends and the spirited cheerfulness of Miss Bard enable him to retain his self-respect. Finally the court grants him a new name and he looks forward to new designs in automobile manufacture and the culmination of a romance which has developed between himself and Miss Bard. This is able screen work, in story, performance and development. It is worthwhile drama and a strong motion picture.— Aaronson, New York. Produced by UFA. Distributed by Protex. Directed by Gustav Ucicky. Story by Robert Liebmann. Cameraman, Carl Hoffman. Recording engineer, Erich Leistner. Release date, November 5, 1932. Running time, 90 minutes. CAST Heinrich Martin Werner Krauss Helene Martin Hertha Thiele Eva-Marie Sander Helene Thimig Dr. Alfred Sander Mathias Wieman Grete Schulze Maria Bard Julius Hanke Julius Falkenstein Swing High (MGM) Thrills There are thrills and stunts in this subject of the Sport Champion series, with the famed Flying Codomas, trapeze artists, seen in their daringly hazardous aerial feats of skill, strength and nerve. Two brothers and a sister form the troupe, and the camera has caught them from various unusual angles, making for effective photography. It is sport of a different kind, and a few of the tricks will make the spine tingle. An active, well executed subject. — Running time, 10 minutes. Toyland (Educational) Christmasy The Paul Terry-Toons here offer a timely Christmas subject, with plenty of action and lots of fun for everyone. The antics of the pup reflect a keen knowledge of dogs on the part of the animators, and so many animals appear that there's something happening every moment. — Running time, 6 minutes. By -ways of France (Fox) Excellent One of that excellent series, Fox Magic Carpet of Movietone, this subject moves about the peasant country of France. The South, where the grape harvest is the great annual event, Normandy in the North, where the hardy fishermen of Celtic ancestry ply their chilly trade, come before the camera eye. Highly interesting, the subject has a wide appeal and the photography is excellent. — Running time, 9 minutes. Easy Street (RKO Pathe) Chaplin Again One of the early Chaplin comedies, this has been released as one of a series with sound and musical accompaniment added, and rather effectively. Charlie becomes a cop and proceeds to clean up the rowdies on Easy Street and thereby win the jjirl at the mission house. The inimitable Charlie, with his superb pantomime, is almost as comically effective today as he was when this and other films were first released as silents. A New York theatre audience enjoyed his antics without reservation.— Running time, 20 minutes. Cornell (Educational) Fair If the audience is college-spirited, it may derive some enjoyment from the rendition by a glee club led by Reinald Werrenrath, singing the songs of Cornell. While the group sings the camera roves about the Cornell campus, spotting various buildings, watching the football team and crew in action. The singing is reasonably good though unstirring. Running time, 9 minutes. The Toy Parade (MGM) Unusual and Excellent One of the "Oddities," this novel and splendidly executed subject concerns the mechanical toys of toyland. A tiny demon tries to impress the nutcracker man with his skill at transformations without success until the little dancer attracts the nutcracker, who is repelled by the squad of toy soldiers. This is a natural for children and the Christmas season, and should prove entertaining in its cleverness for the adults as well. — Running time, 7 minutes. Courting Trouble (Paramount) Fair Charlie Murray, heavy set and stupid looking comedian, is the husband, henpicked not by his wife but by his mother-in-law. A ruse gets him out for a lodge meeting, a slip brings him to court. Sentenced to 30 days at home in his wife's clothing, he watches his step until the last day, then gets into more hot water. Nothing unusual, contrives to be a fair comedy. — Running time, 19 minutes. Seeing Stars ( Columbia) Clever One of the Krazy Kat cartoons, this subject, with Krazy Kat entertaining in a night club crowded with animated animals, is most unusual, extremely clever, in its use of enormously smartly caricatured film stars of today. Appearing in characteristic pose and action are Joe E. Brown, Laurel and Hardy, Marie Dressier, the Four Marx Brothers, Jimmie Durante, Harold Lloyd and several others, all easily distinguishable. Decidedly an unusually amusing, clever animated cartoon. — Running time, 8 minutes. You're Too Careless with Your Kisses (Vitaphone) Amusing Amusing and suitable for a light spot on any supporting program is this number of the Merrie Melodies animated cartoon series. The small feminine fly leaves home and is caught in a shower and the house of the ugly spider. Hubby calls out the fly-army, which rallies to the attack with a variety of weapons, conceived cleverly by the artist. The spider is vanquished in amusing animated fashion. — Running time, 8 minutes.