Motion Picture Reviews (1930)

band who openly shows his love for another woman, that she decides to get a divorce. The picture depicts dramatically her experiences with her child in Reno where her husband makes every effort to prevent her accomplishing her purpose. The story is not a pleasant one; although acting and directing are both good, the incidents are somewhat too exaggerated to seem real and the ending also answers no problem except for this woman! Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. No, unsuitable. No. — o — THE SANTA FE TRAIL. Richard Arlen. From the novel “Spanish Acres” by Hal Evarts. Direction by Otto Brower and Edwin Knopf. Paramount. An absorbing and exciting Western tale of sheep herders and Indians, laid in the picturesque setting of an old Spanish estate. Although the frame work of the story is of the accepted type, the excellent acting, unusual scenic beauty, and touching romance, contrasting with bits of humor, contribute toward making it a splendid and entertaining production. Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. Recommended. Good. — o— SCOTLAND YARD. Edmund Lowe, Joan Bennett. From the play by Dennison Clift. Direction by Wm. K. Howard. Fox. A conventional plot of a criminal who is made over by plastic surgery and believes that he is remade morally as well. The moral is rather weak in that he has nothing to lose and a great deal to gain by his reformation. Of average interest to adults. Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. Of no value. Better not. — o — SEA GOD. Richard Arlen, Fay Wray. Direction by George Abbott. Based on short story “The Lost God”, by John Russell. Paramount. An adventurous romance laid on a South Sea Island, in which the natives mistake for a lost sea god, the young hero who has been accidentally tossed on their shores. Imaginative and exciting, it will provide splendid entertainment for those who would enjoy the world of make-believe. Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. Recommended. Good. — o — THE SEA WOLF. Milton Sills. Direction by Alfred Santell. Fox. “The Sea Wolf” is a virile and tragic melodrama based on the story by Jack London, which forcefully depicts and emphasizes the brutality of “Wolf Larsen”, a terrifying sea captain. The production is uniformly excellent and Mr. Sills gives a splendid characterization. But it is questionable whether these can justify, to the average audience, the succession of gruesome and horrible incidents. Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. Not recommended. Absolutely not. THE SPOILERS. Gary Cooper, Kay Johnson, Betty Compson. Direction by Edwin Carewe. Paramount-Publix. All of the family will find interest in this film play which has been evolved from Rex Beach’s novel of the gold rush days of 1900 in Nome, Alaska. Full of dashing adventure and the fervor of mining camp life, completely played, and carefully produced in regard to historical detail, the film is exceptionally good for its type. Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. Yes. Yes, if not too — o — exciting. SONS OF THE SADDLE. Ken Maynard, Doris Hill. Direction by Harry Joe Browm. Universal. A ‘western’ with a very mediocre and inconsequent plot, and rather amateurish acting, which will appeal only to those who love that particular type wdth its exciting riding, thrilling scenes of danger, and somewhat fancifully portrayed cowboy life. Adolescents, 12 to 16. Children, 6 to 12. Yes. Yes.