Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

August I, 1936 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 57 accidentally learns the truth. While the act is in progress, without a net, he whispers threats to Toni, while swinging in mid-air, and tries to let him fall. The audience thinks the near-accident is an exceptionally clever piece of work. Pat wants to end the performance, but Toni compels her to go on. When the big moment of the act is reached, Pat senses that Mac is about to let Toni crash down. She faints. Mac swings Toni back to the trapeze on which she is precariously resting. The act finishes to uproarious applause. The conclusion suggests that Mac has been purged of his jealousy and the "Three Maxims" will continue. Over and above the realism and intense suspense value of the big scene, the film has that attractive backstage atmosphere, some good crowd scenes and very fair humorous relief. Its action values make it audience material, apart from the special appeal of Tullio Carminati to women patrons. He looks good in acrobat's fleshlings and the role can be talked about as one very different from those in which he previously has been seen. Trade-shown, Piccadilly Theatre, at night. Well received by an invited audience. Undoubtedly the trapeze act climax got them all and got them good. The women fell heavily for Tullio. Allan, London. Produced by Herbert Wilcox Production and distributed in the United Kingdom by General Film Distributors. Directed by Herbert Wilcox. Running time, 87 minutes. General audience classification. CAST Pat Anna Neagle Toni Tullio Carminati Mac Leslie Banks Mike Horace Hedges Hiram K. Winston Arthur Finn Mrs. Winston Olive Blakeney Valentine Miki Hood Val Anthony Ireland Niki Nicolas Koline Juggler Gaston Palmer Infant Prodigy Leonard Smelling His Mother Winifred Oughton Madame Thomas Beatrix Fielden-Kaye Thomas Lawrence Hanray Doctor Tarva Penn.i Cafe Proprietor Vincent Holmari Stage Manager Henry Caine The Twelve Hippodrome Girls. Anna ( Amkino ) Russian Drama A topical Russian drama with the inevitable injection of Communism as the predominant theme, this latest importation from Moscow is by way of being more melodrama than drama, with the acting at times effective, at other times obvious and stilted. Inadequate English titles are superimposed on the film. The story concerns the love of Anna, loyal Communist Party worker, for Pavel, a wanderer from Siberia, of whom little is known. Yasha, in love with Anna, and like her a party worker, sponsors Pavel, obtaining for him a position in a machine shop and presenting him as a candidate for membership in the party. Pavel, in truth an enemy of the party, resorts to sabotage when suspected by Anna, and emerges as a hero in her eyes because of his trickery. Anna and Pavel are married and Yasha, heartbroken, leaves for Siberia, in the region where Pavel was born. Pavel steals Anna's party card, and Anna is expelled from the party. Yasha returns from Siberia and exposes Pavel as a traitor. Pavel is led off to whatever fate is awaiting him. Revieived at the Cameo Theatre in Netv York, the theatre specialising in Russian importations, zvhere an afternoon audience mildly received the picture. M coney, New York. Distributed by Amkino. Produced by Mosfilm. Directed by Piriev. Scenario by Vinogradov. Running time, 95 minutes. Release date, July 16, 1936. General audience classification. CAST Anna Ada Voitsik Pavel Abraikosof Yasha Tgor Maleyef Feotlor Anatol Goryunof Border Caballero ( Puritan ) Western A fast-moving action picture, this should please the western fans. A G-Man angle gives the picture an up to date story but all the trappings of the oldtime cowboy are retained. Interspersed are fighting and shooting, the denouement arriving after a pitched battle in the streets of the town. Tim McCoy plays the lead with assistance from Lois January, Ted Adams, J. Frank Glendon and Ralph Byrd. Concentration on combination of the western locale, the star and the G-Man story content appears to be the most acceptable selling method to adopt, with a spotting on the theatre's action days. McCoy, a former government man, while roaming the range is of assistance to a stranded medicine show. He joins the show in the capacity of an expert pistol and rifle shot. In one of the towns on the route McCoy meets an old G-man comrade, still in the service, who is after a bank-robbing gang. The Federal man is killed and McCoy is granted permission to continue the chase. Disguised as a Mexican, McCoy, with the aid of Lois January, sweetheart of the slain officer, learns of a planned bank holdup. The stage is set and when the gang arrives it is met with bullets. After some plain and fancy shooting the robbers surrender. Reviewed at the Arena Theatre, New York. Audience reaction was favorable to the picture. Mooney, New York. Produced and distributed by Puritan. Producers, Sig Neufeld, Leslie Simmonds. Directed by Sam Newfield. Story by Norman S. Hall. Screen play by Joseph O'Donnell. Photography by Jack Green haugh. Editor, Holbrook Todd. P. A. Certificate No. 2.031. Running time, 59 minutes. Release date, March 1, 1936. General audience classification. CAST Tim Ross Tim McCoy Goldie Ralph Lois January Tex Weaver Ralph Byrd Buff Brayden Ted Adams Doc Shaw Earl Hodgins Wiley J. Frank Glendon Stranger Than Fiction, No. 25 (Universal) Of Interest In this the 25th of the series such strange phenomena are recorded as a spring that gives out a constant supply of "chicken" broth, so that tourists with crackers and a bowl can have their soup direct from the spring ; a collection of clocks worth $150,000 on display at New York University ; a blind sculptor who at 59 still is carving wood ; a meeting of the Ancient Order of Cavemen; a car bought 15 years ago put in a garage and never used, a tree blocking the door, and a man who performs contortions with his face. Running time, 10 minutes. Mister Smarty ( Columbia) Funny A comedy replete with funny situations and with Andy Clyde grunting and groaning in his well known style. This is entertaining fare. Clyde decides to do the spring cleaning in his house and sends his wife and children away. Then his troubles start. Clyde orders a few boards and a truckful arrives. Carrying the wood into the house Clyde cuts down furniture right and left. Similar situations just about wreck the house when his wife reappears. Last scene shows Clyde on the run, his wife with a rifle in her hands. Running time, 18 minutes. Master Will Shakespeare (MGM) Very Good A very interesting short subject on some of the highlights in the life of William Shakespeare, this picture is the first of a new series to be known as "Milestones of the Theatre Miniature." It is well produced and d'Vected. Anthony Kemble Cooper as Shakespeare gives a thoroughly convincing performance. He is shown on his way to London by foot, taking care of horses, as a prompter in the Blackfriars Theatre, amending others' plays and finally watching scenes from his own. Romeo and Juliet as produced 200 years ago and also scenes from the forthcoming motion picture version are a study in contrast. Running time, 10 minutes. Screen Snapshots No. 1 1 ( Columbia) Of Interest This number of the entertaining Screen Snapshots' series presents another parade of the stars as caught by the camera's lens. A cricket match with C. Aubrey Smith, Frank Lawton, H. B. Warner and others of the English colony as players ; afternoon tea, players at work on the various sets, and a costume party in honor of Jackie Coogan with a host of actors and actresses making an appearance, are scenes of interest. Running time, 10 minutes. Going Places, No. 26 (Universal) Interesting This subject contains an interesting journey through Olvera Street in Los Angeles, the street having been rebuilt to the quaintness of its frontier days ; a trip through a golf ball factory, wherein is shown and described each step in the making of a golf ball; and a sojourn through the waters of Canyon Lake in the wild Superstition Mountains of Arizona. Running time, 10 minutes. Two Little Pups (MGM) Clever This Harman-Ising cartoon in color has to do with the efforts of two small puppies trying to catch a red hen. Fortune smiles on the hen, however, and with the aid of a lawn mower, a scarecrow outfit, a spouting fountain plus the ability to fly in crucial moments, she has all the better of the argument, much to the sorrow of the disconsolate pups. Running time, eight minutes. Untrained Seal ( Columbia ) Amusing This Charles Mintz color rhapsody concerns the little seal's difficulty in catching a fish, while his elders stand by, laughing at his predicament. The fish have a lot of fun with the clumsy little seal, but repent when it appears the seal will have nothing to eat and it is the fish who help the tiny seal in obtaining his dinner. Running time, 7 minutes. Playing Politics ( Columbia) Fair This cartoon has Scrappy campaigning for Oopy for President. In lieu of making campaign speeches, a phonograph is used. Complications arise, however, when the Tough Guy changes the records with the result that Scrappy rapidly reverts from a dance to sitting-up-exercises, back to a dance until he and the audience become dizzy. It all ends up in a free-for-all with Ooopy retiring as a presidential candidate. Running time, seven minutes. Found Talent Bureau Kertnit K. Schafer, radio producer, and William Slater, exploitation man, have opened an office at 1270 Seventh avenue, New York, to act as personal representatives for radio and picture talent.