Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Six Motion Picture Reviews GALLANT LADY » » Ann Harding, Clive Brook, Otto Kruger, Tullio Carminati, Janet Beecher, Dickie Moore. Story by Gilbert Emery. Direction by Gregory LaCava. Twentieth Century Production. United Artists. “Gallant Lady” offers Ann Harding an intelligent and sympathetic role in a story of a woman’s readjustment after tragedy. The situation is interesting and appeals to audience emotions, but it is handled with taste and delicate skill and the dialogue is so spontaneous and amusing, that it never becomes too poignant to be entertaining. Clive Brook, as the loveable self-effacing Dan whose human weaknesses are so real, is an exceedingly happy choice, and even the minor roles are executed with finesse. It is an adult theme which is not appropriate for children. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No ■v HiS DOUBLE LIFE » * Lillian Gish, Roland Young, Montague Love. From the novel and play by Arnold Bennett. Direction by Arthur Hopkins. Paramount. Arnold Bennett’s story of the celebrated artist who exchanges identities with his defunct valet is most entertainingly brought to the screen. The incidents in themselves are amusing, and the character of eccentric Priam Farrel as played by Roland Young is a delicious character study, the highlight of the picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Little interest ▼ HOUSE ON 56th STREET » » Kay Francis, Gene Raymond, Ricardo Cortez. Direction by Robert Florey. Warner Bros. The story of this picture proceeds upon the general outlines of many another mother love drama. A mother is separated from her little girl and by coincidence meets her again just in time to save her from a fate as sordid as her own. Due to the good cast and the atmospheric background of the New York smart world in 1905 the production is entertaining. The opening sequences have sparkle, charm and originality, but unfortunately as the picture progresses much of it is a trite echo of former scenarios and the coincidences are too obviously manufactured to be plausible. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended because No interest ■ of confused ethics IF I WERE FREE » » Irene Dunn, Clive Brook, Nils Asther, Vivian Tobin, Henry Stephensen. Direction by Elliott Nugent. R-K-O. In this suavely acted and deftly directed film the problem of the love of a woman and a man who is not free to marry her, is presented with restraint and understanding. Pathos is nicely balanced with wit and the urbane characters are a pleasant relief after the hoodlums of the underworld who seem to crowd most of our current entertainment. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too mature No interest THE LAST ROUND-UP » » Randolph Scott, Barbara Fritchie, Monte Blue, Fred Kohler. From a novel by Zane Grey, "The Border Legion.” Direction by Henry Hathaway. Paramount. Beautiful photography, hard riding and very acceptable acting make this a better than usual western. Its conventional plot is based on conflicts between bad men and good, miners and outlaws, with the obvious happy outcome for the hero and heroine. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Exciting ■w LET’S FALL IN LOVE » » Gregory Ratoff, Ann Sothern, Edmund Lowe, Miriam Jordan. Direction by David Burton. Columbia. Distracted by the temperament of a Swedish star, a director stops work on his picture and tries to find a substitute for her. The hoax which is finally resorted to forms a pleasantly amusing plot for this romantic comedy. It is a Cinderella theme in an upto-date setting, satirizing Hollywood and introducing catchy tunes when a musical comedy is produced in furtherance of the plot. Gregory Ratoff, as the Jewish producer, is excellent as usual. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good light Of little interest entertainment LONC LOST FATHER » » John Barrymore, Helen Chandler, Alan Mowbray, Donald Cook, E. E. Clive. From the novel by G. B. Stern. Direction by Ernest Schoedack. R-K-O. An artificial and lightweight comedy of debonair sophisticates whose human qualities finally assert themselves. Mr. Barrymore as the father who meets his daughter after