Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

66 MOTION PICTURE H ERALD July 25, 1936 buy a prize steer which he hopes to be the basis of a vast western cattle herd. In the meantime Doris gets into a jam with Ma Holloway, a rugged western cattlewoman, because she has no desire to marry the man picked out for her by Ma. Stowing away aboard a cattle car carrying Jeff, Buck and the bull, Doris first is accepted by Jeff as a trouble fleeing crook. There's a thrill action twist as the bull escapes and is recaptured, the excitement emphasized when a gang of potential kidnapers headed by Big Brain, wise to who Doris is, plot to abduct her. The bull manages to prevent that temporarily, but as the gang follows by auto, its comedy drama again is picked up at the Halloway ranch to effect a romantic, music-embellished finale. Returning Crosby to comedy seems to have benefited his crooning talents. Several of his songs, particularly "Empty Saddles," are of the popular variety. The idea also makes it possible for Bob Burns and another surprising newcomer, Martha Raye, to contribute much that is amusing. The renewed Crosby, however, seems to be the chief commercial asset. Though recent pictures may have caused his screen prestige to suffer, this one, properly sold, should do much to restore his drawing power. Under the circumstances, the entertainment being of the quality desirable to average theatergoers, it appears to be wise to exert a real attempt to attract large first showing audiences. It may be expected that word-of-mouth advertising will considerably benefit subsequent showings. Previewed in Westwood Village Theatre. Audience ivas enthusiastic in its appreciation of picture. McCarthy, Hollywood. Produced and distributed by Paramount. Produced by Benjamin Glazer. Directed by Norman Taurog. Assistant director, Joe Youngerman. Original, Mervin J. Houser. Screen play, Walter DeLeon, Francis Martin, John C. Moffitt and Sidney Salkow. Sound, Eugene Merritt and Don Johnson. Film editor, Ellsworth Hoagland. Art directors, Hans Dreier and Robert Usher. Photographed by Karl Struss. Costumes, Edith Head. Interior decorations, A. E. Freudeman. Musical director, Boris Morros. Special photographic effects, Gordon Jennings and Dev Jennings. Lyrics and music, Leo Robin, Sam Coslow, Frederick Hollander, Richard A. Whiting and Ralph Rainger. Songs: "Empty Saddles," Billy Hill and J. Keirn Brennan; "I'm An Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande," lyrics and music by Johnny Mercer; "Roundup Lullaby," Bager Clark and Gertrude Ross; "I Can't Escape from You," Richard A. Whiting and Leo Robin; "The House That Jack Built for Jill," Frederick Hollander and Leo Robin; "You'll Have to Swing It," Sam Coslow; "Drink It Down," Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin. F. C. A. Certificate No. 2321. Running time, when seen in Hollywood, 85 minutes. Release date, July 31, 1936. General audience classification. CAST Jeff Larabee Bing Crosby Doris Halloway Frances Farmer Buck Bob Burns Emma Martha Raye Robert Halloway Samuel S. Hinds Big Brain Warren Hymer Penelope Ryland Lucille Webster Gleason Shorty George E. Stone Wabash James Burke Constance Hyde Martha Sleeper Gila Bend (cowboy) Clem Bevans Mischa (cowboy) Leonid Kinskey Gopher (cowboy) Charles Williams "Cuddles" Beau Baldwin, 50th My American Wife (Paramount) Comedy Western Here's a show that seems to be earmarked for popular success. It appears to have those elements necessary to a surprise feature. The unique story is novelly premised and well developed, the direction sound, the acting spirited. Moving to the pace of intriguing dialogue and brisk action, the hokum flavored show makes smart use of clever conversation and situation gags. All elements are combined for one purpose, that of providing desirable amusement acceptable to specialized as well as general audiences. The attraction is a new kind of domestic comedy western. Eschewing formula, the odd and pleasing character of the idea is made evident in a prelude episode which, instead of being blood and thunder pioneer-Indian melo drama, turns into civic celebration pageant. Then all previous ideas are reversed. News of granddaughter Mary's marriage to a Count horrifies fleabitten old gun fighter Lafe Cantillon. Gagged by situation and dialogue comedy, Lafe meets the "furriner" and decides he wants no truck with him. But the Count, ambitious to be known as Spike and being adverse to wanting to exist as something to be displayed to envious friends and neighbors, turns he-man cowboy, and wins the respect of Lafe, who thinks the rest of the mob, even Mary, have turned into sissies. At a big reception Count "Spike and Lafe, the Count dressed in royal uniform and later accoutered in Rough Rider costume, show up plastered, much to the amazement of Mary, her mother and others of the Cantillon menage. The Count's refusal to play a peacock role brings on a threat of divorce, a situation that is given a further comedy twist when rumor has the Count gadding around with a red headed woman. The woman turns out to be valet Adolph's daughter and when Mary ascertains this she decides to settle down to primitive ranch life with her tractor driving Count. While the picture affords acceptable names to sell, its principal showmanship quality seems to rest in the novelly amusing character of the story to be sold as entertainment assuring any kind of audience plenty of laughter. Previewed in the Alexander theatre, Glendale, to an audience that did not hesitate about demonstrating its appreciation. McCarthy, Hollywood. Produced and distributed by Paramount. Produced by Albert Lewis. Directed by Harold Young. Assistant director, Richard Harlan. Original story, Elmer Davis. Screen play, Virginia Van Upp. Sound, Earl Hayman and Louis Mesenkop. Film editor, Paul Weatherwax. Art directors, Hans Dreier and Robert Odell. Photographed by Harry Fischbeck. Original score, musical direction, Boris Morros. Interior decorations, A. E. Freudeman. Costumes designed by Travis Banton. P. C. A. Certificate No. 2309. Running time, when seen in Hollywood, 70 minutes. Release date, July 31, 1936. General audience classification. CAST Count Ferdinand von und zu Reidenach Francis Lederer Mary Cantillon Ann Sothern Lafe Cantillon Fred Stone Mrs. Robert Cantillon Billie Burke Adolph Ernest Cossart Robert Cantillon Grant Mitchell Vincent Cantillon Hal K. Dawson Mrs. Vincent Cantillon Helene Millard Stephen Cantillon Adrian Morris Mrs. Stephen Cantillon Dora Clemant Butler Montague Shaw Meet Nero Wolfe ( Columbia) Murder Mystery Edward Arnold is the rotund, beer guzzling Nero Wolfe of Rex Stout's widely popular mystery novel, "Fer de Lance," which this picture brings to screen without important deviation from text, and Lionel Stander is the brusque, abrupt and intellectually stolid Archie Goodwin who serves the immobile detective as eyes, ears and legs. The roles are congenial to both. Melodrama and comedy are adroitly balanced under Herbert Biberman's direction and B. P. Schulberg's production is wholly adequate to story requirements as to settings, cast and technical aspects. The necessary taking of life is accomplished without bloodshed and the fatal side of the action is without undue emphasis. Exploitation of the picture may proceed with confidence that the claims made for first flight detective fiction are borne out by the picture. The name of the principal star might be linked with that of the author and of the book on which the picture is based for informative purposes. A number of others in the cast possess individual followings. Mystery and comedy are the principal thematic ingredients. The picture opens with the death of a college professor on the golf links, evidently from heart disease, and tightens up when Nero Wolfe, associating this with another apparently unrelated death also imputed to natural causes, declares that both men were murdered and proceeds to unravel the mystery without leaving his home. He conducts his investigations at second hand through the aid of Archie Goodwin, his assistant, who postpones his marriage to Mazie Gray, over her humorous objections, until the case is cleared up. This is done by adroit deduction of a kind and on the basis of fact j and incidents better left to the picture for unveiling. Reviewed at the Rivoli theatre, Nezv York, as shown at noon on Sunday to a filling auditorium, frequently manifesting approval of the comedy sequences by spontaneous laughter. Weaver, New York. Produced by B. P. Schulberg. Distributed by Columbia. Directed by Herbert Biberman. Assistant director, George Rhein. Story by Rex Stout. Screen play by Howard J. Breen, Bruce Manning and Joseph Anthony. Photographed by Henry Freulich. Edited by Otto Meyer. P. C. A. certificate No. 2212. Release date, August 1. Running time, 72 minutes. General audience classification. CAST Nero Wolfe Edward Arnold Archie Goodwin Lionel Stander Ellen Barstow Joan Ferry Claude Roberts Victor Jory Sarah Barstow Nana Bryant Mazie Gray Dennie Moore Manuel Kimball Russell Hardie E. J. Kimball Walter Kingsford Professor Barstow Boyd Irwin, Sr. Olaf John Qualen O'Grady Gene Morgan Maria Rita Cansino Dr. Bradford Frank Conroy Touring the Sport World ( Columbia) Entertaining This is an entertaining short on sports peculiar to various countries. Starting with England's Rugby football, the camera transports one to Japan and its wrestlers ; Spain with its matadors and bulls ; France with its foot-and-fist fighting; the Philippines, where the natives play foot tennis ; Canada with its hockey and finally to the United States, where scenes of boxers in the prize-ring are shown. The narration was written by Jack Kofoed and described by Ford Bond. Running time, 10 minutes. Rio de Janeiro — City of Splendor (MGM-FitzPatrick ) Excellent An excellent picturalization in color of one of the most famous cities of South America, Rio de Janeiro. Focal points of the city, the buildings, the boulevards, the parks, the unique sidewalk designs, the beaches and the harbor are all splendidly recorded by the camera's lens. James FitzPatrick, in a running commentary, vividly describes the scenes. Running time, eight minutes. On The Wrong Trek (MGM) Good Comedy Charley Chase, his wife and his mother-inlaw are motoring to California during Chase's vacation. On the road they stop to inspect what they believe is an accident. Instead their car is stolen and their clothes exchanged for others not so good. Continuing in an old broken down car they run out of gas. While trying to drain gasoline out of a stranger's car they push the car over a cliff. Refused admittance into California because of their disreputable car and clothes they return home. When Chase returns to the office he finds a new boss, the stranger whose car he pushed over the cliff. It all adds up to good comedy. Running time, 19 minutes. "Robin Hood" Scheduled The first all-color production on the new Republic program will be "Robin Hood," a story based on the life of the famous English outlaw.