Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Four Motion Picture Reviews a number of excellent reasons, with which most of us will agree, for opposing one bill. However he offers as one argument against legislation local community success in “adjusting the theatre program to the needs of children.” And in this we must fVankly face our failure. Even three years ago in Southern California we could proudly point to a measure of success of a number of towns and neighborhoods where local groups in cooperation with their theatre exhibitors arranged satisfactory programs meeting their tastes. Now this is impossible. Exhibitors plead “depression,” double billing, lack of family pictures, and distributing problems as excuses. The public, long apathetic, is apparently suddenly stirring. What will the next year bring about? O FEATURE FILMS A VERY HONOURABLE GUY » » Joe E. Brown, Alice White, Robert Barrat, Alan Dinehart. Direction by Lloyd Bacon. First National. The fans of Joe E. Brown will probably feel that this part is not noisy enough or characteristic enough to give their favorite full scope for his powers. The story is one that should be a combination of comedy and pathos, but the acting and the direction are not sufficiently subtle to give it the pathos which is needed to make it convincing. Ethically the picture might be questionable for it deals with gamblers on Broadway, but it is cast in a light, humorous vein, similar to that of “Lady for a Day.” Unfortunately, however, it is a departure from Mr. Brown’s usual policy of steering clear of underworld themes. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Hardly No -w AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN » » Paul Lucas, Leila Hyams, Murray Kinnell, Patricia Ellis, Onslow Stevens. Direction by Ed L. Marin. Universal. This is murder mystery with an unusual technique. Starting with the finding of the victim it jumps backward to an earlier period and pictures events in the life of the murdered man to explain his death. Dealing with so called “society” and indulging in smart talk, it is well acted and diverting enough to disguise somewhat the inherent trashiness of the plot. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No •w CALL IT LUCK » » “Pat Patterson," Herbert Mundin, Charles Starrett. From a story by Dudley Nichols and George Marshall. Direction by James Tinling. Fox. A guileless cabby wins a large sum of money and through the wiles of clever crooks is soon penniless, his only asset being a former cavalry horse, which quite unexpectedly recoups his owner’s losses. It is a simple, moral comedy with an exciting if wholly improbable climax. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Fair Passable ■v CHANGE OF HEART » » Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, James Dunn, Ginger Rogers. From a story by Kathleen Norris. Direction by John C. Blystone. Fox. Four college graduates go to New York to seek their fortunes. The picture deals with their attempts to gain renown and the vicissitudes which throw first one and then another of the couples together. In the face of difficulties, they maintain their ideals and appreciate spiritual over material values, but the story loses some of its charm because it is so deliberately planned and so lifelessly machine-made. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Harmless No interest DR. MONICA » » Kay Francis, Warren William. Direction by William Keighley. Warner Bros. This rather weak picture with a hackneyed and melodramatic plot concerns a woman obstetrician who is called upon to deliver the child of her husband’s paramour. In spite of some excellent work by Kay Francis, the play is not at all convincing. Though evidently not intended to illustrate the platitude that a woman, otherwise intelligent, may blindly adore a man unworthy, this is the impression given. Warren William is merely “the doctor’s husband,” which obviously, was not the intention of the writer. One feels that the play would have been equally effective if he had been simply “a voice off-stage,” and would thus have escaped the slightly ludicrous effect which his wooden presence gave to certain scenes. A