Motion Picture Reviews (1933)

Four Motion Picture Reviews ANN CARVER’S PROFESSION » » Fay Wray, Cene Raymond, Claire Dodd. Direction by Eddie Buzzell. Columbia. This is the story of what happens to the home when the wife carelessly overlooks the fact that the husband’s success comes first. Fay Wray as the brilliant young lawyer and Gene Raymond as the plodding architect give an interesting presentation of the old yet timely problem of “Home vs. Career.” Home wins — but only after much suffering and tragedy for all concerned. It should prove to be an extremely interesting picture for those who can overlook exaggeration and who enjoy an effectively done, rather violent melodrama. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No v BEST OF ENEMIES » » Buddy Rogers, Marion Nixon, Joseph Cawthorn, Frank Morgan. Direction by Rian James. Fox. Beer flows so freely in the action of this picture, and looks so attractive, that one wonders sometimes whether it is not a brewer’s ad, and it depends entirely upon one’s attitude toward the question whether one will be offended or not. It is a simple little comedy done in an understanding sort of way, about two families, one German with the traditional attitude toward beer, and the other American. The fathers disagree and the children draw them together to be the “best of enemies.” There’s music and gaiety and if there’s a serious lesson secreted in the unfolding, it is that it is despicable to preach prohibition and drink privately. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 A matter of opinion No BLACK BEAUTY » » Esther Ralston, Alexander Kirkland. From the novel by Anna Sewell. I. E. Chadwick production. “Black Beauty” is the biography of a horse, including, of course the human beings who contact it during its life. The screen adaptation of the book is a disappointment because it follows the theme only in detached incidents. The implausibility of these incidents is accented by the artificiality of the cast. The episodes which so graphically suggest the abuse of animals make it too depressing for small children, but on the whole it is a good family picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Passable Harrowing COCKTAIL HOUR » » Bebe Daniels, Randolph Scott, Muriel Kirkland. Direction by Victor Schertzinger. Columbia A girl whose modern concepts on the freedom of her sex lead her to indiscretions and their unpleasant aftermath, finally marries, admitting the defeat of feminism. Though amusing at times, an effort to be smart is too much the purpose of the picture, thus sacrificing spontaneity. This forced glamor makes it of negligible value when considering the whole of one’s play-going experience. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Unsuited No xt COLLEGE HUMOR » » Jack Oakie, Richard Arlen, Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle. Direction by Wesley Ruggles. Bing Crosby croons, Jack Oakie is his usual self and Richard Arlen plays the part of a football hero who has to be sobered up before appearing on the field, in this terribly Hollywoodian idea of what might take place at college. There is not enough music to please the radio fans, not enough football to satisfy the sport-lovers, and entirely too much emphasis upon a musical comedy conception of college to please a younger generation which is familiar with college life. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No interest ■v PRIVATE DETECTIVE 62 » » Wm. Powell, Margaret Lindsay, Ruth Donnelly, Arthur Byron. Direction by Michael Curtez. Warner Bros. Fair summer time entertainment — not too serious, nor dramatic, nor realistic — but telling a story of intrigue and adventure through many well photographed and varied scenes. It is light and humorous and will pass a leisure hour for adults. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not the best example set. No Not recommended •v THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK » » Frederic March, Cary Grant, Jack Oakie. Based on a story by John Monk Saunders. Direction by Stuart Walker. Paramount. This is an exceptionally interesting picture, another war story but unusual because it deals with the psychology of an aviator, and the undermining power of apparently sue