Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Motion Picture Reviews Five the riddle for Death it does not attempt to answer it for us — the living. There is one beautiful line, “Has it ever occurred to you that death is often easier than life and infinitely more kind? which seems a suggestion for some, but not for all, and throughout the play we receive a mysterious, sinister impression which even the attractive human form of Death cannot dispel. The play has elements of charm and beauty blended with mysticism but offers no philosophy on the problem to which we all seek a satisfactory answer. The unusual nature of this theme would be impossible of production except in the hands of artists. Fredric March makes the human emotions of the character, Death, understandable and Evelyn Venable is the personification of the lovely, spiritual girl hovering on the borderline between life and death. Sir Guy Standing plays the Italian nobleman with graciousness and dignity. At times the mystical and prosaic are so merged that one feels a slight shock, but on the whole the caustic wit and sombre subject matter are brilliantly integrated. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too mature No DEVIL TIGER » » Marion Burns, Kane Richmond, Harry Woods. Direction by Clyde Elliott. Fox. There have been several outstanding wild animal pictures with the result that we expect a more remarkable exhibition each time. “Devil Tiger” adds few new thrills. It is chiefly interesting because of the vivid impression of the Malay Jungle and the encounters between oddly-assorted creatures: lion and crocodile, monkey and land crabs, malay bear and hyena, water buffalo and python, and the horror is mitigated because the conflict never ends in slaughter. The addition of a crude love motive makes the film a cross between adventure tale and travelogue. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Exciting EVER SINCE EVE » » George O’Brien, Mary Brian, Herbert Mundin, Betty Blythe. From “The Heir to the Hoorah” by Paul Armstrong. Direction by George Marshall. Fox. Unfortunately the director has confused comedy with vulgarity in one or two sequences and has thus detracted from the value of this picture for family audiences. It has otherwise a sentimental, stereotyped plot of some appeal. A gullible young man from the west marries a pampered New York socialite. The near failure of their marriage is the logical sequence and their final reconciliation, the expected denouement. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No interest FASHION FOLLIES OF 1934 » » William Powell, Bette Davis, Veree Teasdale. Direction by William Dieterle. Warner Brothers. Racketeering in fashions is the theme of this elaborate conglomeration of singing, dancing, love interest and fashion revue. It is light and farcical in tone and concerns a Paris style thief who stops at nothing, even blackmail, to make a fashion scoop. Probably the most striking sequence of the picture is a fan dance, beautifully done, though perhaps too scantily dressed for some tastes. Humor depends largely upon Hugh Herbert’s slightly intoxicated foolery. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No value No GOOD DAME » » Sylvia Sidney, Fredric March. From a story by William R. Lipman. Direction by Marion Gering. Paramount. Arraigned before the judge of a night court, a stranded chorus girl and a card shark declare their mutual love and are married then and there. We gather the impression that they are supposed to be entering a state of perpetual happiness. Thus ends a tiresome photoplay picturing the vicissitudes in the lives of carnival troupers. It is a cheaply sentimental story of uninteresting characters. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Bad No HI-NELLIE » » Paul Muni, Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks. Direction by Mervyn Le Roy. Warner Bros. Because he refuses to join in condemnation of a bank president whose name has come under suspicion, the managing editor of a newspaper is demoted and becomes “Nellie Nelson” the head of a heart-throb column. In the conduct of his new duties he accidentally uncovers the truth about the bank official and is reinstated. The cast and direction are good and the picture is interesting entertainment for adults. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No