Motion Picture Reviews (1933)

Motion Picture Reviews T en its dramatic power. The pathetically well meaning Czar, the devout Empress and their beautiful, delicate children are unforgettable in their helplessness against impending fate. The story of the closing years of the Romanoffs, and the part which the insanely ambitious Rasputin played in the wrecking of the empire, is told amid magnificent settings, regal pageantry, and with a tremendous musical background. The cast is excellent. After this it seems a paradox to say that the picture is not “great.” Perhaps familiarity with the Barrymore personalities detracts from the realism, but certainly the production is uneven — at once likable and yet offensive. Sometimes exquisite, sometimes theatrical, often shockingly brutal, but always interesting, it will stamp itself upon your memory. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Pretty strong Too mature ■v SECRETS » » Mary Pickford, Leslie Howard, C. Aubrey Smith. From the play, "Secrets,” by Rudolf Besier and May Edginton. Direction by Frank Borzage. United Artists. Covering a period of fifty years, the story begins with the courtship and elopement of John and Mary Carlton and follows them through all the vicissitudes of their westward trek in a covered wagon, through pioneering days, to eventual fortune and political prominence. It pictures the steadfast devotion of the wife for her husband, and the title indicates the retracing of their life together in memory through many episodes — both beautiful and ugly — which have become their “secrets.” Perhaps because it attempts too much it is not altogether successful as a dramatic whole. It is not one of Mr. Borzage’s most successful pictures. The earlier settings and the costumes are lovely, but the western scenes are overdrawn and Leslie Howard seems a miscast in a character both morally and physically too weak to inspire confidence. However it will be welcomed by many audiences for the personality of the stars, and because it is a human tale of love, courage and loyalty. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Little interest No interest •w SECRETS OF WU SIN » » Lois Wilson, Grant Withers. Direction by Richard Thorp. This concerns a newspaper editor who trys to expose the smuggling of Chinese into the United States via Mexico. A sub-plot deals with the conflict between the old and new generations of Chinese. Because of poor characterizations the picture fails to inspire interest. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No SPEED DEMON » » William Collier, Jr., Joan Marsh. Direction by Ross Lederman. Columbia. A story of boat racing, with a hero who makes good in the face of many difficulties for the sake of a small orphan boy whom he adopts. The little boy is very appealing but the rest of the picture is just something to pass the time. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes Yes XT state TROOPER » » Regis Toomey, Evalyn Knapp, Edwin Maxwell. Direction by D. Ross Lederman. Columbia. Our sympathies ally themselves at once with the gas producer who decides to cut the price because he may well afford to do so, and they continue with him through the period of terrorizing sabotage which the rival companies inflict upon his property. Regis Toomey is excellent in the role of the state trooper, impervious to bribery or graft, and our only regret is that his reward for virtue and ability has to be the hand of the utterly spoiled and brainless heroine. It is good melodrama if one is not too critical of the coincidences which help our hero in his deductions. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Passable — On the whole, good lots of action STRICTLY PERSONAL » » Marjorie Rambeau, Edward Ellis, Dorothy Jordan. Direction by Ralph Murphy. Paramount-Publix. Another “Min and Bill” from a different angle, developing sympathy for an escaped criminal and his wife who are trying to go straight. Though the principal characters portrayed are of the criminal class, the director has chosen the sentimental approach to his story rather than the sensational, and the excellent cast ably put over a rather hackneyed plot. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Passable No interest