Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 1 . 1930 Motion Picture News 53 Opinions on Pictures tarium, the way is cleared for him to make both roles permanent ones. Which he does, with only a minor alteration in the latter one. He marries Norma. Much of the sordidness which was present in the stage play has been eliminated for the purposes of the picture ; and, though it may have been prompted only as a concession to the censors, it has had a happy result. It has succeeded in making the story a little more pleasant and somewhat more credible. It has contributed audience appeal which the stage play, however successful, did not possess. Numerous comedy touches have also been introduced and do much to lighten the story. Maurice Black, as Lorenzo, and Rita Carlyle, as Mag, the inebriate, and frequenter of Oily Joe's, are particularly deserving of mention. Dorothy Sebastian, as Norma, is at all times a charming actress and likeable character. Frank McCormack as Oily Joe does a convincing bit of characterization. Lytell in both roles is everything the picture demands. "Brothers" is the equal of any current program material, and should do the normal business in the one-week stands and, later, in the split-week houses. A musical short and a newsreel will round out a nice program. Produced and distributed by Columbia. Directed by Walter Lang. From the stage play of the same name by Herbert Ashton, Jr. Adaptation and continuity by John Thomas Neville and Charles R. Condon. Dialogue by Sidney Lazarus. Photographed by Ira Morgan. Length, 6,843 feet. Running time, 76 minutes. Release date, Oct. 25, 1930. THE CAST Bob Naughton Bert Lytell Eddie Connolly Bert Lytell Norma Dorothy Sebastian Dr. Moore William Morris Prosecuting Attorney Richard Tucker Lorenzo Maurice Black Oily Joe Frank McCormack Mrs. Naughton Claire McDowell Mr. Naughton Howard Hickman Tony Francis MacDonald Mag Rita Carlyle Maud. Jessie Arnold The Concentratin' Kid (Universal) Pretty Weak (Reviewed by Charles F. Hynes) HOOT GIBSON gives a good performance in this western, but he is handicapped plenty by a weak plot. The story is so thin, it probably will be kidded. However, for juvenile and rabid western fans it will get by all right, although it won't stand any real promises. In this Hoot is a cowboy with a strong yen for a radio crooner whom he has never seen. He wagers a radio set that he will win her as his bride and is kidded plenty by the rest of the outfit. It's a cinch that the two are to be brought together, so the girl comes to the town as member of a theatrical troupe. When Hoot rescues her from the unwelcome advances of the villain, she falls for him, but after he proposes she gives him the air because of the wager. She feels that Hoot has gone to all the trouble of wooing her just to win the radio. There is a rustling plot thrown in, with Hoot routing the band single handedly and rescuing the girl, whom the villain had abducted. Kathryn Crawford, playing opposite Hoot, is an attractive heroine who can act and sing. James Mason is fair as the heavy, and the rest of the cast is okay. Robert E. Homans gets some laughs as the crusty showman. Another feature or strong shorts with this. Produced by Hoot Gibson. Distributed by LTniversal. Directed by Arthur Rosson. Story by Harold Tarshis and Charles Saxton. Scenario and dialogue by Harold Tarshis. Edited by Gilmore Waler. Photographed by Harry Neuman. Length, 5,148 feet. Running time, 57 mins. Release date, Oct. 26. THE CAST Concentratin' Kid Hoot Gibson Betty Lou Vaughn Kathryn Crawford Moss Blaine Duke R. Lee Campbell James Mason C. C. Stile Robert E. Homans Murder (British International) Good Attraction (Rcvicivcd by Charles F. Hynes) PROBABLY the best of the pictures recentl ly produced in Great Britain, this boasts a strong story, capably acted by a tine cast. Top honors go to Herbert Marshall, a good looking and capable hero, who solves the murder mystery. The picture has the fault common to many British films of too much dialogue and lack of action, but good direction surmounts this obstacle and the suspense is sustained throughout. An actress is murdered in a theatre after a quarrel with a girl in the cast, who is found unconscious beside the corpse. The girl is sentenced to hang but on the jury is a noted playwright-producer who, after the trial, becomes convinced of the girl's innocence. He traps the murderer through the ingenious method of casting the suspected man in a dramatization of the murder case. The climax carries a good punch, with the murderer going through his trapeze routine at the circus, placing a noose around his neck and jumping to his death when he realizes he is caught. There are no names of American prominence in the cast, but Marshall should be played up. as he is a good potential bet. This looks like a good offering for the weekly changes, as well as subsequents. The title should give it draw. It's recorded by RCA Photophone. Musicals and comedy needed. Produced and distributed by British International Pictures. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. From the play. "Enter Sir John," by Clemence Dane. Scenario by Alma Reville. Edited by Rene Harrison and Etnile De Ruelle. Photographed by J. J. Fox. Length, 8,200 feet. Running time. 91 mins. Release date, Oct. THE CAST Sir John Herbert Marshall Diana Baring Norah Baring Doucie Markham Phyllis Konstam Ted Markham Edward Chapman Gordon Druce Miles Mander Handel Fane Esme Percy Ion Steward Donald Calthrop Prosecuting Counsel Esme V. Chaplin Defending Counsel Amy Brandon Thomas Juage Joynson Powell Miss Mitcham Marie Wright Bennett S. J. Warmington Mrs. Didsome Hannah Jones Fair Warning (Fox) Just Another Western (Reviewed by Don Ashbaugh) UTTAIR WARNING," the latest of the string •T of George O'Brien Fox westerns, should have much the same audience appeal as other recent releases in which this star is featured. Good split-week billings with heavy draw from the juvenile element. O'Brien, strong man idol of small boys, cavorts through this one in his best western manner. He captures a wild horse, shoots three of the villain's cronies and finally wins the heroine without joining those punctured by flying lead. The picture has all of the elements of the good old pre-talker westerns, plus the various noises which go with rough riding on wild horses and gallops down hills. Louise Huntington makes her talker debut in this production. She shows a nice control of dramatic and emotional ability and displays promise. A winning personality is coupled with beauty and charm to make her seem quite worth while for the fighting O'Brien does to win her. The villain of the piece is nicely handled by that old trouper, Mitchell Harris. George Brent, who began his stage career with a company in Dublin, is the villain who regrets his evil life, splits with the gang, rescues the damsel and is shot at the finish. The story was written for O'Brien by Max Brand. It offers nothing particularly unusual in plot. O'Brien is the foster son of an old fellow who has a daughter. These two are in love. Harris hates young O'Brien because the youngster shoots better. The two men fight. Harris pops George on the head with a chair. During the remainder of the picture O'Brien is attempting to gain revenge for this blow. Alfred L. Werker, who has directed many westerns, has done an able job in this one, while the photography by Ross Fisher is beautiful. He has achieved some great shots of the high Sierras. A trained horse and an educated dog do some clever stunts, including the rescuing of O'Brien from a burning building. Xeeds dramatic shorts and lizrly comedy for support. Produced and distributed by Fox. Directed by Alfred Werker. Story by Max Brand. Adaptation and dialogue by Ernest L. Pascal. Photographed by Ross Fisher. Length, not set. Release date. Ian. 18. THE CAST Whistlin' Dan Barry George O'Brien Kate Cumberland Louise Huntington Jim Silent Mitchell Harris Lee Haines George Brent Purvis Nat Pendleton Kilduff John Sheehan Morgan Erwin Connelly Tex Calder Willard Robertson Mr. Cumberland Alphonz Ethier Jordan Ernest Adams The Lady Who Dared (First National ) Average Dove (Revieived by Bill Crouch) JUST another picture is about the only classification you can give this talker, which will need all the help the Billie Dove name can give, to put it over. The story is filled with many incongruities and moves slowly. No one in the cast has a great deal to do, although all perform rather capably. The picture lacks punch — decidedly. Will fit okay on double bills and is all right for the split-week spots, but requires plenty of help if booked for week runs. The Dove name is about the only exploitation plug unless set in where Conway Tearle has a following. This story concerns the wife of the American vice-consul in a South American country. She falls in love with Tearle, an alleged explorer who is really in league with smugglers. Tearle is forced to aid Cosmo Kyrle Bellew and his wife, Judith Vosselli, frame Billie Dove, so they may "be able to use her in preventing Sidney Blackmer, the consul, from inspecting their belongings for diamonds. Billie is caught in Tearle's room, where she has gone to visit him, but his cleverness prevents the agents from searching the room. She is thus saved from disgrace as Blackmer is one of the searchers. It all ends well when Tearle is cleared and the real smugglers are caught. Tearle goes away and Billie and Blackmer are left for the clinch. Tearle gives the best performance of the cast, while Miss Dove is attractive and does her best with a simple role. The many queer twists of the story spoil its effect and it fails to develop any amount of suspense or interest. Use musical and strong comedy support with this. Produced and distributed by First National. Directed by William Beaudine. Based on "The Devil's Playground," by Kenneth J. Saunders. Screen version and dialogue by Forrest Halsey and Kathryn Scola. Photographed by Tony Gaudio. Edited by Hugh Bennett. Length, 5,076 feet. Running time, 56 mins. Release date not set. THE CAST Margaret Townsend Billie Dove Chas. Townsend Sidney Blackmer Jack Norton Conway Tearle Julianne BooneFleming Judith Vosselli Seton Boone-Fleming Cosmo Kyrle Bellew Farrell Lloyd Ingram Butler Ivan Simpson