Motion Picture Reviews (1933)

Motion Picture Reviews Seven usual powers but has been fooling the public. His attempts at legitimate business fail and he returns to mind reading in lucrative but dangerous fields. These prove to be disastrous. The picture is well done and is interspersed with humorous incidents which balance the more dramatic episodes. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Fair Mature yr NEVER GIVE A SUCKER A BREAK » » Lee Tracy, Madge Evans, Frank Morgan. Direction by Jack Conway. M-C-M. “The ethics of a people are measured not by the things they condemn in the abstract, but by the things they tolerate in practice.” This picture is an expose if what is tolerated in the practice of law and is particularly concerned with the flagrant activities of a shyster lawyer, but because it is lightly satirical, it becomes a highly diverting play instead of a solemn preachment. The director shows rare perception in realizing all the possibilities of the script and the actors are alert to all the nuances of their parts. The play itself is racy, exuberant, amusing and thoughtprovokinkg. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Doubtful Unsuited yr THE PICTURE SNATCHER » » James Cagney, Ralph Bellamy, Patricia Ellis, Alice White. Direction by Lloyd Bacon. Warner Bros. Again Mr. Cagney is seen sweeping all obstacles from his path with a boisterous disregard of ethics in the role of news photographer for a scandal sheet. His onslaughts upon society involve him in a gangster melodrama that has punch, of no significance as a story and seems to be simply a medium for the expression of the star’s dynamic personality. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No PEG O’ MY HEART » » Marion Davies, Onslow Stevens, J. Farrell MacDonald. From a play by J. Hartley Manners. Direction by Robert Leonard. M-C-M. This old stage favorite in its transfer to the screen retains many of the qualities which gave it its original popularity: humor and gaiety and appealing pathos, and the universally moving theme of devotion between daughter and father. It is beautifully photographed, and the elaboration of the plot to fit picture technique makes possible some delightful atmospheric scenes. The addition of musical sequences lends a light opera touch that justifies a somewhat outmoded lack of realism in the working out of the plot. Marion Davies manages very well the role made famous by Laurette Taylor, and to the younger generation who cannot make comparisons, the screen version will seem wholly delightful. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Very entertaining Good •v THE POWER AND THE GLORY » » Spencer Tracy, Colleen Moore, Helen Vinson, Ralph Morgan. Direction by William K. Howard. Lasky Production. Fox. (A preview.) Discriminating audiences will not want to miss “The Power and the Glory” when it is released in the near future, for it has unusual interest. An original screen play by Preston Sturgis, it is the portrait of a man as seen through the eyes of a friend and it is so real, so true to life, and so sympathetic in the telling that it is a rarely moving experience. It is unique in technique. We are introduced to the hero at his funeral and realize from comment afterward that he has died, leaving bitterness and hatred in his memory. Then his lifelong friend, who has been a close companion since boyhood and who feels that no one should judge the man until he understands the influences which moulded him, undertakes to piece together the pattern of his life. His thoughts weave backword and forward to their childhood, to the less distant past, and again back to an almost forgotten incident, as a mind would wander in remembering a life’s varied happenings, until like a jig-saw puzzle, the parts fall into place and we see the character completely and with understanding. Spencer Tracy is superb as the man whose career is launched through a wife’s ambition, and the cast as a whole is magnificently human in their roles. Great credit is also due Mr. Howard, whose direction grips the attention so completely. It is a mature and thoughtful production — excellent entertainment. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 1 2 Too mature No interest •w THE REBEL » » Luis Trenker, Vilma Banky, Victor Varconi. Direction by Curt Bernhard and Luis Trenker. Produced abroad. Universal release. “The Doomed Battalion,” a European production released by Universal about a year