Motion Picture Reviews (1933)

Motion Picture Reviews Five FLAMING GUNS » » Tom Mix, William Farnum, Ruth Hall, Clarence H. Wilson. From a story by Peter B. Kyne. Direction by Art Rosson. Universal Pictures Corp. The true love of a foreman for the rancher’s daughter never does run smooth. Tom Mix, who changes nothing but his last name in any picture, goes through his heroics for the pleasure of a youthful public. Unfortunately he forsakes the background of desert and mountain scenery for a city office building and a Hollywood night club. The picture is carelessly constructed and would be classed by a critical audience as melodrama of the pot-boiler variety. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Mediocre Passable v FRISCO JENNY » » Ruth Chatterton, Donald Cook, Louis Calhern, Helen Jerome Eddy. Direction by William Wellman. First National. Anyone might guess from the title a good deal of what this picture discloses, and, in spite of the fact that it is enlivened by good local color of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast and a much too violent earthquake, anyone who had seen it half way through would consign it to the archives of ancient melodrama. It is only in the final sequences that Miss Chatterton takes hold of her audience and manages to imbue them with genuine sympathy for the tragic heroine. She does not hesitate to appear old and ugly and defeated, and the sincerity of her acting gives dignity and power to an almost impossible story. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Unsuitable theme No HANDLE WITH CARE » » James Dunn, Boots Mallory, El Brendel. Direction by David Butler. Fox. The plot is simple and not unusual, dealing with a young assistant district attorney in love with the aunt of two mischievous youngsters, with the element of villainy supplied by our modern monster, the gangster. It is comedy drama of an exciting type done in a pleasant and romantic vein with a well chosen cast, especially the two lively boys who are largely responsible for its charm. Children will enjoy it very much, and most adults will find it diverting. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Entertaining Excellent HYPNOTIZED » » Charlie Mack, George Moran, Ernest Torrence, Maria Alba. Direction by Mack Sennett. Educational Pictures, Inc. An elephant trainer’s love affair is interrupted when he falls into the hands of an unprincipled hypnotist. His rescue provides opportunity for many farcical situations, which will seem rollicking fun to many audiences. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes Yes THE ISLAND OF LOST SOULS » » Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Bela Lugosi, Kathleen Burke. From the story by H. G. Wells. Direction by Erie Kenton. Paramount-Publix. Do modern human beings enjoy the sight of mangled bodies and the dying agonies of fellow men, as they did in the Roman days when Christians were torn to pieces in the arena? Apparently there is a certain clique of motion picture directors who believe they do and who are responsible for films such as this one, which uses as its central idea the transformation of animals into men by a horrifying process involving vivisection. It is regrettable that so fine an actor as Charles Laughton should be cast in a picture which offers neither mental stimulus nor relaxation and will actually prove nerve-racking to the majority of people. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Bad influence Harmful v KAMERADSCHAFT » » Ernst Busch, Elizabeth Wendt, Alex Bernard, Alexander Granach. Directed by C. W. Pabst. Nero Productions. Associated Cinemas of America, Inc. (German and French dialogue — English titles.) This is the dramatic portrayal of a mine explosion on the Franco-German frontier in Alsace. On one side of a barrier are the German shafts; on the other, French. When the Germans learn of the trapped French miners, forgetful of petty jealousies or national antagonism, they rush to their aid and, overcoming almost unsurmountable difficulties, they help to rescue many of the victims. There is no personal story, although there are individuals who project themselves from the scene in moving incidents; but the panorama of the tragedy unfolds with the relentless fidelity of a news reel. Sound is used with startling realism. It is unusual, very exciting, and inspirational when national