Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Motion Picture Reviews Five an obscure, deceased artist and the subsequent mad scramble to obtain those of his paintings which may be extant. That the one who finally gets them is the one who is most deserving, satisfies one’s sense of fitness. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Amusing Mature ■w COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW * * John Barrymore, Bebe Daniels, Doris Kenyon, Onslow Stevens, Isabel Jewell. From the play by Elmer Rice. Direction by William Wyler. Universal. This screen production of a very successful stage play stands high on its own merit. It is a dramatic and vivid portrayal of a tempestuous, brilliant and lovable Jewish lawyer, the problems he faces, and the people he contacts in his office. Often the plot loses its primary significance and becomes a background for numerous interesting character sketches, but it remains coherent nevertheless. Although Mr. Barrymore loses some of the sympathy which he might have developed in his role because his interpretation lacks the humor and characteristics of the Jew, he gives an excellent performance. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Mature No interest ■w DANCING LADY » » Joan Crawford, Clark Cable, Franchot Tone. From the book by James Warner Bellah. Direction by Robert Z. Leonard. M-C-M. The work of a dancer is so intimately connected with the theatre that there is a logical reason in this picture for the development of a backstage musical extravaganza. The theme concerns the determination of a dancer to win her way to success. Miss Crawford does some splendid work, and Mr. Gable also gives an excellent performance. The specialty and ballet numbers are beautiful in execution and effect, and Fred Astaire’s dancing is to be particularly noted. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No. Too sophisticated No •w FEMALE » » Ruth Chatterton, George Brent. Direction by Michael Curtiz. Warner Bros. For many people there seems to be a never failing fascination in watching the development of a plot in which a beautiful business woman succumbs to the rough and rugged charms of a strong man in a tweed suit. “Female” conforms to the usual pattern of such pictures. It is obvious from the begin ning that the lovely heroine will cease to be the predatory female and become coyly alluring when she meets her match in the person of a man canny enough to resist her usual tactics. But who cares for subtleties? In the hands of Miss Chatterton and Mr. Brent a trashy story becomes a mildly entertaining picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No FLYING DOWN TO RIO » » Dolores Del Rio, Cene Raymond, Fred Astaire, Raoul Roulien, Ginger Rogers. Direction by Thornton Freeland. R-K.O. An extravagant production in which Fred Astaire reaches stardom. It is a riot of gorgeous dance spectacles, several of them very lovely, but one, the “Carico,” open to improvement by a liberal use of the cutting shears. The story is unimportant, a characteristic of this type of spectacle. Our criticism is that it is too elaborate and not always in good taste. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No v THE FORGOTTEN MAN » » Made by the Public Welfare Corporation. Arranged and edited by Samuel Cummings. These are actual scenes taken on the battlefields of the World War by camera men of different nations but chiefly by Americans, pictures which, until recently, were not permitted to be shown to the public. The grandeur and power of the great nations is impressive but far more so is the picture of glorious youth sent forth to overwhelming slaughter, a carnage so gruesome that only the indistinctness caused by the smoke and gas of battle makes it endurable. With Europe seething with hatred and unrest, one wishes that this film might be given wide circulation in this country and abroad. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Educational Too harrowing FROM HEADQUARTERS » » George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Eugene Pallette, Robert Barrat, Dorothy Burgess. From the story by Robert N. Lee. Direction by William Dieterle. Warner Bros. In this rather ordinary story a rich society man is murdered, and an art collector, a girl and her brother are a few of the possible suspects. Though the audience will have little difficulty in pointing out the real criminal before the denouement, more than usual in