Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Motion Picture Reviews Seven MORGENROT (Dawn) » » Adele Sandrock, Rudolf Forster, Fritz Genschow. Direction by Custave Ucicky. Produced by Leo Brecher. German dialogue and English titles. A simple enough story is made magnificent by the absolute sincerity of theme and acting. All the tragedy and futility of war is pictured through the scenes of village life back of the lines, the constant movement of troops to the front, and warfare in the submarine service. It is depressing and yet enormously interesting. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 If mature enough No THE MYSTERY OF MR. X » » Robert Montgomery, Elizabeth Allan, Lewis Stone, Ralph Forbes. Adapted from the novel “Mystery of the Dead Police” by Philip MacDonald. Direction by Edgar Selwyn. M-G-M. Scotland Yard is baffled by a series of murders of policemen but eventually “Mr. X” is captured through the cunning of a master jewel thief — a gentlemanly “Raffles.” This adventurous yarn is told with a deftness and lightness of touch which makes it thoroughly entertaining. Mystery tales are not to be taken too seriously — if they hold interest, maintain suspense, and entertain also, they apparently serve their purpose. This one is particularly successful. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Depends upon Too intense and maturity mature MURDER IN TRINIDAD » » Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel, Victor Jory. Story by John Vandercock. Direction by Louis King. Fox. The story concerns smuggling of precious stones and the murders attendant upon the deception. Suspicion is leveled at every person concerned in the plot up to the final denouement— a perfect set-up for a good detective story. The background is unusual: Trinidad with its swamps and jungles and an atmosphere of British Colonial intrigue. The cast is excellent, especially Nigel Bruce, who, with his monkey and trail of peanut shells is a cleverly individual type. This is another mystery story to recommend. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Excellent if type interests Too exciting MELODY IN SPRING » * Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland, Ann Sothern. Direction by Norman McLeod. Paramount. This is a comfortably entertaining comedy interspersed with song. There are the usual number of preposterous situations with a vague attempt at unity of disparate elements. Humor ranges from slap-stick to passably clever witticisms. Soothing music and picturesque backgrounds complete the ensemble rendering it light, innocuous and undisturbing. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Little interest •w NO GREATER GLORY * » George Breakston, Ralph Morgan, Frankie Darro, Jackie Searl. From Molnar’s “The Paul 1 1 Street Boys," adapted by Jo Swerling. Direction by Frank Borzage. Columbia. This is an unusual picture, consistently well done, vivid, dramatic and swift in action, a testimonial to Director Borzage’s power to reach audience emotions, to sentimentalize and romanticize until brutal subject matter is made to seem vital and inspiring. The picture opens with a diatribe against war, but the plot is concerned with a battle between two rival gang of boys over a playground and the story is developed in such a manner as to make this miniature war an opportunity for childish heroism. The futility of the whole struggle is supposedly illustrated by the tragic and ironical ending but we believe that younger audiences will fail to discern either the analogy of this gang fight to real warfare or the ironical intent of the ending. Whatever interpretation adults may wish to read into it our feeling is that the lasting impression is that it is glorious to fight and die for one’s comrades. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended Undesirable NANA » * Anna Sten, Phillips Holmes, Lionel Atwill, Richard Bennett. Adapted from novel by Emil Zola by Willard Mack and Henry Wagstaff Cribble. Direction by Dorothy Arzner. Sam Goldwyn Production. United Artists. Nana closely resembles the book from which it is derived, not only in the story but in the interplay of emotions, even in the whole stock of morals which belong to the Paris of Zola’s day. Nana is the courtesan, as many of those heroines were, and by her beauty raises havoc among men. The great irony of it is that through debasing the stan