Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1936)

52 MOTION PICTURE HERALD August 8, 1936 THE CUTTINC ROOM Advance outlines of productions nearing completion as seen by the Hollywood staff of the Motion Picture Herald Green Light (Warner-Cosmopolitan ) Drama Story character, production values which it is being given, cast selection and assignment of director unite to establish this film as one that deserves much more than passing exploitation consideration. Basically it is drama that relates unusual but not theatrically unfamiliar events' in a young doctor's career. Briefly, in several well rounded chapters, it tells of a young doctor who assumes responsibility for a death on an operating table so that the reputation of a surgeon he worshiped should remain unblemished. It has a further dramatic counterpart in situations in which the younger doctor permits himself to be inoculated with a lethal virus in development of a serum to eliminate the danger of an epidemic scourge. Naturally the production has a compatible romantic counterpart, the love interest quality of which is as poignant as the drama. With the current series of doctor pictures demonstrating that there is a public appetite for this type of entertainment, the production is adapted from a novel of the same title by Lloyd C. Douglas. The screen play is by Milton Krims, and direction is by Frank Borzage, whose screen accomplishments need no delineation. To bring to screen realism a story to which the producers attach so much importance, an unusually worthy cast has been selected. The young doctor will be interpreted by Erroll Flynn, star of "Captain Blood" and soon to be seen in "The Charge of The Light Brigade." Flynn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, noted English player, seen in "The Crusades," Henry O'Neill and Spring Byington are the central figures in the story's dramatic phases, while the romantic quality is entrusted to Anita Louise, currently prominent in "Anthony Adverse." In additional important parts Henry Kolker, Pierre Watkin and Myrtle Stedman will be seen. As the picture will be released as a Cosmopolitan Production, it can be expected that it will be given the benefit of an extensive publicity and advertising campaign. Old Hutch (MGM) Comedy Drama The character of the story told in this production and the cast names form a combination open to exceptional exploitation effort. In digest the yarn narrated is about a lovable, lazy old fellow who found $100,000 and then was confronted with the problem of how to spend it without attracting too much attention to himself or causing suspicion. Eventually the problem is solved as the shiftless, irresponsible old rascal is instrumental in obtaining conviction of a bank robbing gang and really earning a reward that will permit him to spend his days fishing. For Wallace Beery, who plays the title role, the story undoubtedly is of unusual character. As it unfolds, there is considerable about it reminiscent of the atmosphere of "Min and Bill" and "The Champ," two of his most successful appearances. Supplementing the motivating story is a contrast of youthful romance which features Eric Linden and Cecilia Parker, re membered for "Ah, Wilderness." From a publicity angle it should not be forgotten that Beery, also, was prominent in that picture in a similar shiftless role. Besides those names, naturally the ones that will be relied upon to carry the brunt of exploitation as it pertains to personalities, the supporting cast lists several wellknown players and presents a few that are new to the screen. Among the better known performers are Elizabeth Patterson, Robert McWade (also an "Ah Wilderness" player), James Burke and Donald Meek. Newcomers are the Perkins sisters and the Watson brothers and Virginia Grey. The production is based on a novel by Garret Smith which attained high popularity, and direction is by J. Walter Ruben, maker of "Riffraff" and "Trouble for Two." Thank You, Jeeves (20th Century-Fox) Comedy Published as magazine serials and books the P. G. Wodehouse stories detailing the hilarious adventures of Bertie Wooster and his sober visaged but whimsical "gentleman's gentleman," Jeeves, have been delighting readers for years. With this vehicle as an introductory effort 20thFox is planning production of several Jeeves stories with Arthur Treacher starred. The story, localed in England, was adapted by Joseph Hoffman and Harry Sauber. It is at all times nonsensical farce foolishness. Jeeves and his employer become involved in the mysterious misadventures of an attractive girl, take on an American negro saxophone jazzer for a companion, and get mixed up in a cops-androbbers story in a haunted medieval English castle. Dialogue, situations, action and characterizations have only one objective — to be productive of the maximum amount of fun for any kind of audience. With the exception of Willie Best, the cast is exclusively British. Treacher's appearances in over forty pictures since coming to America about three years ago have made him popular with legions of theatre goers. David Niven, who plays the part of Bertie, was seen recently in "Splendor" and Palm Springs." The girl in the case, Virginia Field, has had considerable stage experience and is under contract to 20thFox, though her previous screen appearance was in United Artists' in "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Other members of the all-English cast are John Graham Spacey, Lester Matthews, Colin Tapley, Ernest Stanton, Eugene Reynolds and Douglas Walton. As particular attention was devoted to preserving a full British savor and atmosphere in the picture, Arthur Greville Collins, onetime London stage director and maker of several American pictures, including "Personal Maid's Secret" and "Unconscious," was chosen to handle the filming of the story. Straight from the Shoulder (Paramount) Drama Actually two stories are told in this picture. One concerns the great affection that existed between a widowed father and his young son and the efforts the boy made to keep his dad from remarrying. The other is a gangster atmosphered drama in which the trio, witnesses to a murder, are put on the spot by the criminals, only to have the youngster, after his father has been seriously wounded, frustrate the vicious attempt of the gangsters to wipe out all witnesses to their crime. As these two main themes are dramatically developed, a third one deals with the happy association between the youngster and an old sharp-shooting gun-maker. The yarn is based on a story by Lucian Cary, who, as a contributor to Saturday Evening Post, has told many interesting stories with the old gun maker as the central figure. The screen play is by Madeleine Ruthven, and direction is by Stuart Heisler. With but one exception, the cast is composed of familiar names. However, in spotting the players one radical change has been made : Andy Clyde, whose previous screen appearances have been exclusively confined to comedy roles, will be seen in a dramatic part. He is the gun maker who, in teaching young David Holt how to make and handle rifles, makes it possible for the lad to be the story's hero. Ralph Bellamy is featured, and a newcomer, Katherine Locke, makes her debut as the girl in the case. Onslow Stevens is the brains behind the gangster trio, which consists of Bert Hanlon, Noel Madison and Paul Fix. Other players to be seen are Purnell Pratt and Rollo Lloyd. Don't Turn 'em Loose (Radio) Drama Though the idea of this story is to demonstrate the danger of lax parole board clemencies, and the yarn is definitely gangster in character, it is, nevertheless, a human interest drama. From a practical topical consideration it is a digest of many headline situations currently prevalent. Looked at from the standpoint of dramatic entertainment, it is a "black sheep" story. For years the criminal scion of a respectable family has perpetuated the hoax that he is a wealthy business man. A law breaker, living under a dual identity, he commands financial and political power continually enabling him to receive paroles from sympathetic pardon boards. The first smash sequenece, following much thrill action, comes as the boy's father, now a parole board chairman, is forced to recommend clemency when the son threatens to expose the situation. Climaxing the melodrama is the son's death at his father's hands as he plans to commit a payroll robbery. The story is an original by Ferdinand Reyher, with screen play by Harry Segall. Direction is by Ben Stoloff, familiar with this type of material through his handling of such pictures as "Two in the Dark" and "Night Mayor." Starred is Bruce Cabot, featured in "Show Them No Mercy" and "Let 'Em Have It," and the character quickly identifies the title and story atmosphere. Outstanding among the screen's portrayers of gangster roles, he is supported by an exceptional cast. Prominent among those to be seen are Lewis Stone as the boy's father and James Gleason as his detective nemesis. As the full gangster-political atmosphere of such plots is preserved, the story also entails a contrasting bit of romantic love interest between Betty Grable and John Arledge. Other players who will be seen are Grace Bradley and Maxine Jennings as gang molls ; Frank M. Thomas, a crook lawyer ; Louise Latimer ; (Continued on pane 54)