Motion Picture Reviews (1941)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS Five clearly-drawn characters clash for ownership of a fabulous statuette. The director, John Huston, wrote the screen play from the novel by Dashiell Hammett whose characters are always close to real life, and Mr. Huston has kept them vigorous, ruthless individuals and built up the dramatic situation to a smashing climax. The cast is practically perfect; Sydney Greenstreet is superbly sinister, and Humphrey Bogart gives the best performance in his career. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too brutal Too brutal ❖ MARRIED BACHELOR <> O Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Felix Bressart, Lee Bowman, Sheldon Leonard, Sam Levene, Murray Alper, Roy Gordon. Direction Edward Buzzell. M.-G.-M. To recoup losses in a get-rich-quick flurry in bookmaking, a young husband becomes involved as a phoney radio expert on marital problems and has to pretend that he is a bachelor in order to capitalize on publicity. His wife turns the tables on him and through his own advice brings him to his senses. The story is so smoothly written that each step is logically motivated and is nicely balanced between comedy and sentiment. The ethical values are slightly on the cockeyed side, but definitely not to be taken seriously. Amusing for adults. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended Too sophisticated ❖ MOON OVER HER SHOULDER O O Lynn Bari, John Sutton, Dan Bailer, Jr., Alan Mobray, Leonard Carey, Irving Bacon, Joyce Compton, Lillian Yarbo. Screen play by Walter Bullock from an original story by Helen Vreeland Smith and Eve Golden. Direction by Alfred Werker. 20th CenturyFox. This plot uses the hackneyed theme of the expert on marital problems who has no time for his own wife. He advises her to get a hobby, but when the pursuit of this hobby includes association with another man, “01’ man Jealousy” rears his ugly head. It is a slap-happy domestic comedy which has some surprisingly funny scenes and dialogue but ends, as per formula, in a fist fight. The young and attractive cast is competent. It is light, frothy entertainment for adults. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended Unsuitable THE PRIME MINISTER O O John Geilgud, Diana Wynyard, Will Fyffe, Owen Nares, Fay Compton, Pamela Standish, Stephen Murray, Frederick Leister, Nicholas Hannen, Anthony Ireland, Irene Browne. Screen play by Michael Hogan and Brock Williams. Direction by Thorold Dickinson. Musical direction by Jack Beaver. Warner Bros. -First National. Produced at Teddington Studios, England. In this biographical study of the life of Disraeli the subject matter is treated in a rather deliberate, intellectual vein with long speeches and many historical episodes. It is interesting because it covers points which have vital bearing on the present world situation: the acquisition of Cyprus and the Suez Canal, Disraeli’s encounter with Bismarck. In this version emphasis is placed on the help Disraeli received from his wife, Mary Anne, whose foresight and gentle resolution curbed his hot-headed impulses and encouraged him to greater achievements for his Queen. John Geilgud’s acting is a great treat, and Diana Wynyard is beautiful and capable as Mary Anne, Fay Compton praiseworthy as Victoria. While the picture may have a limited audience appeal, it is an interesting presentation of one period of English history. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Instructive Little interest ♦ SILVER STALLION O O David Sharpe, LeRoy Mason, Chief Thundercloud, Thornton Edwards, Walter Long, Janet Waldo, Fred Hoose, Thunder and Black Jack, and Boots, the police dog. Screen play by Robert Emmett. Direction by Edward Finney. Monogram Pictures. Trite story of boy meets girl. This time the boy is a horse thief who reforms under love’s gentle spell. The wild horses which the gang are rounding up are not integrated into the plot in any essential way, although the photography of the animals provides some interest. The production is reminiscent of the “flicker” days. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Matter of taste Not recommended ❖ SKYLARK O O Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland, Brian Aherne, Binnie Barnes, Walter Abel, Grant Mitchell, Mona Barrie, Ernest Cossart, James Rennie. Based on a play and novel by Samson Raphaelson. Musical score by Victor Young. Direction by Mark Sandrich. Paramount. “Skylark” presupposes a point of view which went out of date over a decade ago. Once a pampered society woman was considered worthy of the pity of an audience when time hung heavily on her hands and the poor dear turned to an attractive, dangerous male for consolation. As in the stage play, the cinema version depends largely on smart dialogue and clever treatment of in