Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

40 M o 1 1 o it Picture News November 29 , 19 30 Opinions on Pictures B Only Saps Work (Paramount ) Not a Sap in the Cast (Reviewed by S. A. Kane) EGINNING with the author, everyone connected with "Only Saps Work" shows implicit belief in the title. The results would indicate that what the picture needed was a few saps. This is a comedy of decidedly average quality, that is emphatically not suited for the weekly grinds. Smaller houses may rind it suitable for a day or two of average business. The story is inconsequential and almost unrecognizable, as such. It is full of absurdities and improbabilities, which producers of feature length comedies have come to believe is about all that is necessary in the making of a comedy. Leon Errol is the picture's comedy mainstay, and, with lack of distinction in his work, the whole structure of the production falls through. Errol does try, but even a better comedian than he would be discouraged by the material given him to work with in this one. As a voluble crook who talks his way out of a variety of embarrassing predicaments his performance depends on his chatter to put it over. The lines given him in this one are dull, lacking in originality and too plentiful. He is obliged frequently to go into lengthy spiels of tiresome chatter, and what little of humor there is in them is lost to audiences more often than not because of the rapidity with which, Errol barks them out and follows them up. Errol, a semi-gentlemanly crook, involves Richard Arlen in a bank robbery, unknown to the latter, who waits outside in the car while the job is pulled by Errol. They make their way to a health resort where Arlen has obtained a job as a kitchen boy. On the train en route they encounter Mary Brian, Charles Grapewin, in the role of her father, and Anderson Lawler, who" plays an admirer of Miss Brian's. Arlen has posed as the owner of the health resort to Mary Brian. His real position is discovered by Lawler when the party arrives at the resort, and a portion of what passes for comedy in this is supplied in the course of Lawler's attempts to show up Arlen to the girl. Errol poses at the resort as a detective working on the bank robbery which he has perpetrated. A dumb bellhop, played irritatingly by Stuart Erwin, who is ambitious to become a detective, volunteers his help to Errol. The latter points out Grapewin and Lawler as the robbery suspects and instructs the bellhop to shadow them continually. When Arlen learns that Errol has "stuck up" the bank, he insists they return the money. Errol finally agrees, but at this juncture two detectives enter. Considerable allegedly humorous confusion results, which ends as Errol and Arlen are being taken away by the two newcomers. At the doorway they are halted and revealed as fakes by two genuine detectives. Explanations which absolve Arlen, fixing things for him with the girl, result. Errol, however, is wanted by the detectives, but employs a ruse in order to escape them at the fadeout. No particular demands are made of either Arlen or Miss Brian by the story. They are little more in evidence than any supporting member of the cast, and have nothing to do even when on the scene. Fault of the picture, however, is entirely the story's. It offers less than the cast manages to deliver. Heeds strong support, in which a good comedy will fit. Produced ami distributed by Paramount Publix From stage olav, "F.a^v Monev," by Owen Davis. Directed by Cvril Gardner nnr] Edwin Knni'n. Adinted by Sam Mintz. Percv Heath and Tn^epli MnnkieiA-ic;r. Edited by Edward Dmvtrvk. Photographed hv R« Winlv. Length, 6.122 feet. Running time. 68 minutes. Rclcnse date. November 1 5. THE CAST Tim Wilson Leon El rol Kait v Payne Richard Arlen Barbara Tanner Mary Brian Oscar Stuart Erwin Simeon Tanner Charles Grapewin Horace Baldwin Anderson Lawler Fast and Loose ( Paramount ) Disappointing (Reviewed by BUI Crouch) TAKEN from the stage play, "The Best People," this talker should have been a sparkling comedy drama throughout, but as it stands it is bright in some spots and very amateurish and overdone in others. The photography is not at all good and detracts from the action in numerous scenes. Will perhaps be okay for the average week run spots if heavily plugged. Cast has no great name value and needs strong support in balance of program. The story of "Fast and Loose" concerns the love of a rich boy for a poor girl and a rich girl for a poor boy. Both eventually marry their opposites, but not until they are made to see there is no such thing as class distinction. Miriam Hopkins is the rich girl and Charles Starrett is the poor auto mechanic. When she first meets him it is at the beach and, clad only in a bathing suit, his poverty is not so apparent. Later Miss Hopkins meets him when she calls for a mechanic and, despite the shock, she loves him and wants him to marry her. This he will not do because of the class inequality. In the meantime, Henry Wadsworth, the rich son of Frank Morgan, falls in love with Carole Lombard, a chorus girl. Morgan, thinking the girl is after the boy's money, plans a meeting with her and takes the suspicious brother-in-law, Herbert Yost, along for Carole's girl friend, Ilka Chase. This little party, however, is broken up when the son and daughter appear and suspect the worst. They get drunk and are taken to jail, where the whole family meets to settle the affair. Here it is discovered that money you have or haven't doesn't make any difference — love is what counts and all is settled satisfactorily. The acting in this picture is very spotty. Miss Hopkins is excellent at times and her comedy good. Charles Starrett and Frank Morgan give the best performances and their characters are real. Miss Lombard is most fitting in a rather small role and deserves better parts, as she has the ability. The unevenness of the production handicaps it greatly and unless the comedy angle is thoroughly installed in the mind of the spectator at the first the talker is apt to prove dull for the most part. Use strong name shorts with this one. Produced and distributed by Paramount. Directed by Fred Newmeyer. Based on "The Best PeopK" by David Gray and* Avery Hopwood. Screen play _hy Tack Kiikland. Dialogue by Preston Sturges, DiaInpnie staged by Bertram Harrison. Photographed by William Steiner. Length, 6.384 feet. Running time, 71 minutes. Release date. Nov. 0. THE CAST Marion Lenox Miriam Hopkins Tl'tiry Morgan Charles Starrett A1 ice O'Neil Carole Lomhard Bertie Lenox Henrv Wadsworth Rronson Lenox Frank Morgan Trirrie Lenox Winifred Harris George Craft-m Herbert Yost T,<ird Rockingham David Hutche=< m Millie Montgomery Tlka Oiasi1 liv'cr Summers Herschel Mayall Men Without Law (Coin m bia) Plenttf of Action ( Reviewed by Charles F. Hynes') BUCK JONES lias plenty to do and does it well in this actionful western. The story has several implausibilities, and the long arm nf coincidence mars it somewhat, but there is action a-plenty and some comedy, which is what action fans want. Added t< > this U the beauty of Car melita Geraghty, and although her Mexican accent slips at times, she makes a pleasant heroine. Buck's horse, Silver, plays an important role, releasing Buck's bonds at one point. The action takes place along the Mexican border, to which Buck returns from overseas. He falls for a Mexican girl on the train, but does not learn her identity. Arrived home, he finds that his brother has turned bad man, and that afternoon the youngster is captured following a hold-up of the bank. Buck prevails upon the sheriff to release the boy so that he can go home to his mother, agreeing to act as a hostage. The boy is captured by the gang and Buck escapes and goes to the rescue and is captured. The outlaw finds a letter from a Mexican don on Buck, and impersonates the latter to rob the old man. He makes off with the daughter, .but Buck accomplishes a couple of more sensational escapes and saves the girl. There are a few tears, a few laughs, good direction with the supporting cast adequate, although Tommy Carr is light for his part. As a double feature or split week fare for action fans, it gets over well. Musicals and comedy zvith this. Produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Directed by Louis King. Story by Lew Seiler. Continuity and dialogue by Dorothy Howell. Edited by Roy Snyder. Photographed by T. D. McCord. Length, 6.090 feet. Running time, 67 minutes. Release date, Oct. 15, 1930. THE CAST Buck Healy Buck Jones Tom Healy Tommy Carr Murdock Harry Woods Sheriff Jim Fred Burns Deputy Sheriff Fred Kelsey Hank Sid Say lor Juanita Carmelita Geraghty Mrs. Healy Lydia Knott Senor Del Rev Victor Sarno Are You There? (Fox) Dull and Unfunny (Reviewed by Red Kami) THE average audience won't know whether they went super-subtle on this, or just muffed the works. It's supposed to be funny and no doubt the intentions were honest, but between preparation and the cutting room something missed fire and the results show it. Beatrice Lillie, whose name doesn't mean a thing to picture audiences, occupies the featured spot in this musical comedy affair. The book has her down as an ultra-modern detective who never loses her case. To her comes Geoffrey, son of the Duke of St. Pancras, with an ambition to block the marriage of his pater with Countess Helenka. Miss Lillie determines to take the case and goes to the castle as Lady Diana Drummond, big game hunter. Of course, she exposes the countess for the crook she is and wins the duke. Musical comedy formula never calls for heavy brain work on the story. On that score, "Are You There?'' may be excused. But more than indulgence is necessary to alibi the old wheezes turned out of their dust-covered corners for gags and the generally ineffectual efforts of Miss Lillie to be funny. Perhaps it was the material; perhaps Miss Lillie is too British. At any rate, she doesn't deliver in this talker. The supporting cast has inconsequential roles and plays them that way. Needs heavy short subject support. Pick the best. Produced and distributed by Fox. Story and dialogue by Harlan Thompson. Directed by Ha milt mi MacFadden. Songs by Grace Henry and Moi I is Hamilton. Dances arranged by Edward Do'ly. Edited h v A I de Goetann. Photographed by Joseph Valen tine. Length. 5,-100 feet. Running time. 60 minutes. Release date. Nov. 30. THE CAST Shirley Travis Beatrice Lillie Gneff rv John Garrick Countess Helenka Olga Baclanova Duke nf St. Pancras George Grossmith Barbara Blythe Tillian Sand Barber Roger Davis