Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1937)

•February 20. 19 3.7 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 53 THE CUTTING ROOM Night Key (Universal) Drama The story chosen for this production is novel. Basically it is drama through which an appealing vein of romantic love interest has been threaded. The author, William A. Pierce, secretary to Universal's production head, Charles R. Rogers, has been spoken of several times by his chief as a potential Irving Thalberg. With such a status to aspire to, it may be expected that the young writer has put his whole heart and soul as well as theatrical knowledge into his first major story opportunity. As the story is novel, so is the part assigned to the leading player, Boris Karloff. While not the fearsome terrorizer this time, he nevertheless extracts a grim revenge against the man who almost wrecked his life and fortune. Deirauded of a fair share in the profits of a burglar alarm system he invented, Karloff creates an instrument that neutralizes its protective efficiency. No criminal intent other than the ruining of his nemesis is intended initially, but when crooks force him to become a partner in their scheme of mass looting and later kidnap his daughter to assure their safety, the story takes on a tense dramatic character as Karloff effects their capture. To support Karloff the producers have selected an acceptable if not altogether strong cast. Samuel S. Hinds is his unethical partner. The romance is shared by Jean Rogers and Warren Hull. Hobart Cavanaugh appears as a petty crook who assists Karloff in embarrassing Hinds. Alan Baxter is the master crook, his henchmen are David Oliver, Edwin Maxwell and Ward Bond. The screen play was prepared by Tristam Tupper, inactive recently but a participant in Universal's "The Great Impersonation," released in 1935. Lloyd Corrigan, who made "Dancing Pirate," is directing. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Radio) Comedy-Romance As if in contrast to the number of dramatic •pictures currently on release schedules and booked for production soon, Radio is preparing :a comedy romance, the keynote of which is modernly tempoed, light, airy and possibly semifarce amusement. Characterizations in the story, its dialogue, and the situations point to that quality. The fact that it may be identified as "comedy amusement" gives it unique commercial value. The hero is a young man, penniless but brimming over with ingenious ideas, whose only trouble in getting a job is that everyone else is trying to get one, too. By avocation a "dog walker" and fall guy in a newspaper office, who is fired every time someone must take the rap, he is compelled to become a pseudo-detective in order to capture the heart of his lady love, as well as win the respect of her father and his boss. All promises giddy amusement, with plenty of fun resulting from dialogue and action. John Morley, previously seen in "Poppy" and "Border Flight," gets his first chance at a fea tured role. The girl is Anne Shirley, who is graduated from country girl characterizations to that of a wealthy society girl. Another newcomer, Dudley Clements, also will be seen. Other names are Grady Sutton, Gene Lockhart, Barbara Pepper, Alec Craig, Charles Coleman, Jack Carson and Dot Farley. The story is an unpublished novel by Richard English. Dorothy Yost and John Grey Collaborated on the screen play. Release date undetermined. Wake Up and Live (20th Century -Fox) Musical Comedy For names this production will offer Walter Winchell and Ben Bernie, who have attracted considerable public attention to themselves ; Alice Faye, Patsy Kelly, Ned Sparks, Grace Bradley, Walter Catlett, Douglas Fowley, Paul Hurst, Etienne Girardot and Eric Linden, all of whom, by reason of past performances, are fairly esteemed as amusement providers ; and Miles M'anders, Gary Breckner, Barnett Parker, William Demarest, George Givot, Joan Davis and Charles Williams, whose names not yet have won the places accorded the others mentioned. To assure, as far as possible, that the forthcoming feature will embrace entertainment and commercial values comparable with the company's best successes, the production has received more than the usual amount of personal attention from Darryl F. Zanuck. In addition to selecting the story vehicle, Dorothea Brande's "best selling" book of the same title which devotes itself to an embellishment of the Winchell-Bernie "feud," Mr. Zanuck chose the cast, elected the song writing team of Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, to prepare the music and lyrics, and assigned as director Sidney Lanfield, who handled "One in a Million" and "Sing Baby Sing." Additionally Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen were given the duty of transposing to screen purposes Curtis Kenyon's story from the Brande book. That the combination of personnel identities represents unique name value cannot be denied. That 20th Century-Fox has met with considerable success in production of comedy tinged and well mounted musicals is also a matter of record. For release in April, exact date to be determined. Speed Mad (Columbia) Action Drama Thrill action stuff on the ocean waves is the substance of this production. Speedboat drivers who are daring and reckless, crooks, gamblers, gangsters and, of course, a girl and her poor old father, are the personnel involved. Naturally there is a determined lover, even though he is to be disappointed. There's a little boy, too, whom the villains grab at the crucial moment. As is usually in productions of this sort, the hero manages to get himself into and out of many jams, and the heavies are always on the point of triumphing, but of course they don't. It's that sort of material that had the gallery gods stamping when played by the stock company actors of a generation or more ago. The story used is jointly credited to Grace Neville, who some time ago, wrote "Dangerous Intrigue" and "Air Hawks," and Fred Niblo, Jr., who in his career with Columbia has accounted for numerous melodramas. Direction is by D. Ross Lederman, whose facility for handling such material is attested by "Alibi for Murder," "Hell Ship Morgan" and "Too Tough to Kill." While the cast is quite lengthy in order to encompass all the character and atmosphere players, the active principals are few. The hero is the newcomer, Allan Brook. Rosalind Keith is the girl. J. M. Kerrigan is the poor old man whose fortunes and future are wrapped up in the racing boat which Brook drives when the chief heavy, John Tyrrell, isn't interfering. The double crossing suitor for the girl's hand is Joseph Sawyer, lately in "The Black Legion." Probable release date, March 5. Marked Woman (Warner) Drama Present day drama, laid in the atmosphere of New York's seamy night life and dealing with characters to whom that sort of life is flesh and blood, is the substance of this picture. It is the story of a hostess who rebels against the imposition of gansterdom and racketeering in human life, and in the face of great danger and at the cost of great personal sacrifice, brings about the elimination of the leeches who preyed upon dancing girls. To mark the harmonious return of Bette Davis, who is starred, to the Warner banner, the story was especially written for her, the 1936 Academy Award winner, by Robert Rosen and Abem Finkel. Lloyd Bacon, whose accomplishments need no repeating, is directing. Incidental music and lyrics, featured in the night club sequences, were prepared by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. Warner concerned itself no little with selection of an appropriate cast, and seems to have done well not only from the standpoint of the various players' adaptability to the several roles, but also from the very important angle of marquee value. Humphrey Bogart, first noted by screen followers in "Petrified Forest" and more recently in "Black Legion," plays the role of a prosecuting attorney. The menace is Eduardo Ciannelli of "Winterset" fame. The supporting cast is lengthy. Outstanding among the many names are Jane Bryan, Rosalind Marquis, Lola Lane, Isabel Jewell, Mayo Method, Allen Jenkins, Kenneth Harlan, John Litel, Robert Strange, Raymond Hatton, Arthur Aylesworth and William B. Davidson. Probable release date, March 15th. Columbia Leases Globe Columbia Pictures has leased the Globe theatre on Broadway for the New York opening of "Lost Horizon." The house will be remodeled and redecorated before the film opens March 3 on a two-a-day policy. Following the New York opening, the picture will be roadshown.