Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Motion Picture Reviews Seven Otherwise it is only a fair example of its type. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No •v REGISTERED NURSE » * Bebe Daniels, Lyle Talbot, John Halliday. Direction by Robert Florey. Warner Bros. First National. The medical profession usually comes in for a good deal of punishment in the hands of the movies, and this production is no exception. The nurses are rowdy, vulgar or immoral; one doctor is a cad; hospital procedure is far from realistic. We believe even the least discerning public will appreciate its falsity and fail also to be interested in the story of the unhappy heroine who has several suitors, but must have her husband conveniently commit suicide to clear the way for her ultimate happiness. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No SADIE McKEE » » Joan Crawford, Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone. From the story by Vina Delmar. Direction by Clarence Brown. M-G-M. It is generally conceded that Joan Crawford has ability and that she appeals to many audiences. She is, however, rarely given a story which is not so preposterous and cheaply melodramatic that it is offensive. As Sadie McKee, daughter of a cook, she elopes, is left stranded, marries a debauched millionaire, divorces him for another man and of course, reaches her heights through the usual, “easy” path of cabaret dancer. There is no character development and no moral intended. It offends the intelligence and bores emotionally. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Very objectionable No •w SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY » » Otto Kruger, Nancy Carroll, Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel, Herbert Mundin, Arthur Holt. Direction by George Tuttle. Fox. This is an ultra sophisticated modern farce, taken from a stage play of the same name, in which Henry, a philandering bachelor, finally meets his match when he falls in love with a still more heartless young woman. Considered seriously it would be offensive, but it is impossible nonsense and should be taken with more than a grain of salt. Unfortunately it has missed the lightness of touch necessary to the success of this type of picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not recommended No SORRELL AND SON » » H. B. Warner, Peter Penrose, Hugh Williams. Direction by Jack Raymond. Anyone who did not care for Mr. Deeping’s novel will probably not like it in the form of a motion picture. It is quiet, deliberate, very English, rather sentimental, somewhat monotonous. The theme, however, is one which possesses wide appeal, the devotion of father and son: the self-sacrifice of one for the other, and the suffering of sensitive human beings in crudely unsympathetic surroundings. Because it is not in the ultra smart, modern manner, it offers to many audiences the kind of entertainment that is eminently satisfying. It depends for interest entirely upon the solidity of character and high aspirations of its principals. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes Too mature and sad STAND UP AND CHEER » » Warner Baxter, Madge Evans, James Dunn, John Boles. Story idea suggested by Will Rogers and Philip Klein. Direction by Hamilton McFadden. Fox. A New York theatrical producer is appointed Secretary of Amusement by the President, the duty of his office being to amuse the public and extricate them from the depression blues. The idea is an unique one but it falls short of its possibilities. The story becomes subordinate to a series of theatrical spectacles and dwindles to such insignificance that at times it is lost in a wide assortment of specialty acts. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Mediocre Trivial SUCH WOMEN ARE DANGEROUS » » Warner Baxter, Rosemary Ames, Rochelle Hudson, Mona Barrie, Herbert Mundin, Henrietta Crosman, Irving Pichel. From the story “Odd Thursday” by Vera Casparty. Direction by James Flood. Fox. The various loves which fall to the lot of the successful novelist are revealed: the idolatrous love of the young girl which sweeps on towards tragedy, the vain-glorious passion of the concert singer, and the comprehensive, never-failing devotion of the woman who knows him best of all. Warner Baxter as the novelist has sufficient magnetism to make it all plausible; dialogue is bright, situations often clever, and the action rises to a strong crescendo at the end. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes, if it interests Too mature