Motion Picture Reviews (1933)

Motion Picture Reviews Five COONA COONA » » Native cast. Produced by Armand Denning and Andre Roosevelt. R.K.O. In spite of the lurid advertisements, cinema fans will find this picture more instructive than entertaining. The plot unfolds against a background of life in Bali and describes the love of a prince for a maiden outside his caste. Subtitles and a narrator explain the theme. This does not result in dramatic unity, nor is the picture particularly moving. However beautiful scenery, lovely costumes and the use of ceremonial dances make it interesting. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes No interest JUNGLE BRIDE » » Anita Page, Charles Starrett, Kenneth Tompson. Direction by Albert Kelley. Monogram Pictures. Seen in theatre preview. A realistic Hollywood jungle with all the necessary lions and monkeys is the background for a man hunt with a newspaper reporter as the hunter. He takes his bride with him and evidently this is why the picture is called “Jungle Bride.” Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Dull No interest v THE KISS BEFORE THE MIRROR » » Nancy Carroll, Frank Morgan, Paul Lukas, Gloria Stuart. From the play by Ladislaus Fodor. Direction by James Whale. Universal. It is not often that a theme dealing with unfaithfulness and murder can be raised by sheer artistry of acting and directing to an almost spiritual level. Dr. Held, defending his friend for the murder of his wife, finds his own wife also guilty of unfaithfulness. His understanding, sharpened by suffering, makes his plea for the friend’s life almost unbearable in its emotional intensity. The director, with his sound knowledge of human motives, combined with a sensitive artistry, has created a powerful and absorbing picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too sophisticated No ~w MURDERS IN THE ZOO » » Charlie Ruggles, Lionel Atwill, Kathleen Burke. Direction by Edward Sutherland. Paramount. Lionel Atwill, with passions as elemental and fierce as those of his captured jungle beasts is insanely in love with his wife. Any possible rival for her affection is despatched with ruthless cruelty and in a manner whicff bespeaks a diseased, abnormal mind. Man pictured as a beast in the worst sense of the word is not a particularly edifying spectacle. Against a background of jungle and zoo there is unfolded a mystery story with its full quota of horrible and unusual murders guaranteed to shock and thrill. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Bad Injurious •yr PICK UP » » Sylvia Sidney, George Raft, Lillian Bond, William Harrigan. From the story by Vina Delmar. Direction by Marion Gering. Paramount-Publix. This shoddy story is poor in theme but not in execution. In spite of very bad dialogue, the cast and direction make plausible and even of slight interest the slangy glorification of a pretty girl who has served time and whose unconventional life upon release is justified in the film by the fact that her unworthy husband is still imprisoned. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Very objectionable No ■w PLEASURE CRUISE » » Roland Young, Genevieve Tobin. Direction by Frank Tuttle. Fox. A frivolous and frothy comedy which amuses because of its sophisticated charm. Innuendo effectively screens the more risque episodes and at the same time brings a personal element into the interpretation of each of them. Perfected mechanics and the grace of the players enhance the theme to a place above the ordinary, still it lacks a certain sparkle which would have made it a superior play. For plot: a jealous husband follows his wife on a pleasure cruise in order to test her faithfulness. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too mature Unsuited SAILOR’S LUCK » » Sally Eilers, James Dunn. Direction by Raoul Walsh. Fox. An unemployed girl is aided by a sailor on shore leave. This little story is unpretentious yet amusing and is made vividly human and vital by the players. The dialogue is good, many of the situations are comic and because of these, the entertainment value is well above average. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Amusing Fair