Motion Picture Reviews (1933)

Eight Motion Picture Reviews The story needs pointing up dramatically before release, but it is different, full of humor and character interest, and well worth seeing. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Depends upon individual Too mature •w TOMORROW AT SEVEN » » Chester Morris, Vivienne Osborne, Henry Stephenson, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, Crant Mitchell. Direction by Ray Enright. RKO. When anyone becomes the recipient of a card bearing a black ace, he is marked for death on the following day by a mysterious murderer. The story has shudder-evoking thrills, yet is not too tense, because of a running accompaniment of comic dialogue, and if one is not too critical of coincidences, it is fairly entertaining. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Fair No VOLTAIRE » » George Arliss, Doris Kenyon, Margaret Lindsey, Allan Mowbray. Direction by John Adolphi. Warned Brothers-First National. This historical drama of episodes in the life of Voltaire is elaborately costumed and staged, but lacks the interest of really dramatic action. The author has chosen incidents which show Voltaire’s intolerance for religious persecution, but one hopes for something more significant, a turning point in history or a coup d'etat upon which might have depended the career of this brilliant statesman. Though Mr. Arliss’ portrayal of the ageing genius is human and finely drawn his lines lack the rapier keenness of Voltaire’s famous wit. One sees merely the outer shell of the man and the gorgeous trapping of that period of vast extravagance, but not the soul of Voltaire. It is interesting but we expect the superlative from Mr. Arliss. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Possibly interesting No interest WHEN LADIES MEET » » Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, Alice Brady, Frank Morgan. Direction by Harry Beaumont. M-G-M. A young and zealous authoress has certain fixed ideals about her work and certain fixed ideas about her personal life. The fun begins when she tries to introduce her literary theories into her personal life and finds that the solution cannot be worked out on paper. The adaptation for the screen of this Rachel Crothers’ comedy maintains all of its indigenous theatrical vitality because of sensitive direction and intelligent acting. After a period of years, it brings Alice Brady back to the screen as a finished comedienne whose bits of business add mirth to the already witty lines of the play. Acted by a cast no less accomplished, it is one of the few photoplays which deserves to be described in superlatives. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Good WORLD CONE MAD » (Originally titled “Public Be Damned”.) Mary Brian, Pat O’Brien, Evelyn Brent, Neil Hamilton. Direction by Christy Cabanne. Majestic. A melodrama of modern Big Business, crooked financiers, stool pigeons, a martyred district attorney and his beautiful daughter. The scenario offers no new angles to an already large collection of similar plots, but the picture is sufficiently exciting to be diverting. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No Children, 8 to 12 Too mature YES, MR. BROWN » » Jack Buchanan. Direction by Jack Buchanan. A British and Dominions Production. Released by United Artists. Adapted from the play by Paul Frank and Ludwig Hirshfield. This musical comedy, set in a movie studio, gets its title from the fact that when the head of the corporation visits the studio everyone must say (or sing) “Yes, Mr. Brown.” Because it has music one is probably supposed to forgive its lack of substance, but it is not very entertaining. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not worth while No