Motion Picture Reviews (1934)

Motion Picture Reviews Seven JUDGE PRIEST » » Will Rogers, Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Berton Churchill, Stepin Fetchit. Screen play by Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti. Direction by John Ford. Fox. Writing, direction, and acting unite to make a perfect screen play. The scene is laid in Kentucky about twenty years after the Civil War and the story is based on Irvin S. Cobb’s Judge Priest stories. The climactic incident is furnished by the short story, “Words and Music.” The screen play not only relates the incidents but captures the spirit of the stories of Cobb’s Judge Priest, a lovable old character with a dislike for form but a real love for people and justice. Notable characterizations, besides Will Rogers’ Judge Priest, were Berton Churchill’s Senator Mayde<w, Henry Walthall’s cleric, and Stepin Fetchit’s Jeff. The story is a simple one of the young girl whose father is not known, and whose lover is the son of one of the old village families. A jest about the charming young girl brings about a barber shop fight and finally a trial. To save the man on trial the minister breaks a confidence and tells the story of the man who has defended the name of his own child. There are accompanying developments, which reinstate the father, the lovely girl, and Judge Priest. A very beautiful story, never to be forgotten. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Excellent Yes, but perhaps beyond their comprehension THE LADY IS WILLING » » Leslie Howard, Cedric Hardwick, Binnie Barnes, Nigel Bruce, Claude Allister. From story by Louis Vernell; adapted by Cuy Bolton; direction by Gilbert Miller. R-K-O. This picture falls far below the standard of entertainment set by other English films shown recently in this country. The plot hinges upon unpleasant situations — crooked business dealings, lost fortunes, a parsimonious and unfaithful husband, an unhappy wife who falls in love with her kidnapper, and an amateur detective who carries off successfully a series of impossible situations in various ingenious disguises. It is a comedy melodrama, light, original in plot, and having an excellent cast from the English stage. It does not, however, hold interest because the plot becomes too involved to be as amusingly farcial as intended. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No MILLION DOLLAR RANSOM » » Edward Arnold, Phillips Holmes, Marjorie Cateson. From a story by Damon Runyon. Direction by Murry Roth. Universal. This is an unimportant program feature but it shows how kidnapping may be used as the theme and yet be censor proof as well as fairly entertaining. Edward Arnold gives a “swell” performance as a former rum runner released from a Federal prison after serving for evading the income tax. He is induced to cooperate in a reasonable hoax, and the thrills are provided when the old gang will not leave their former associate alone. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Not particularly Unsuitable recommended ■w THE MAN WITH TWO FACES » » Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, Mae Clarke, Arthur Byron, Louis Calhern, Ricardo Cortez. Director, Archie Mayo. Warner Bros. A thrilling mystery drama revolving round a successful actress and her husband whom she supposes to be dead but who returns after years of absence to exert a diabolical hypnotic influence over her and the whole family. Edward Robinson as “The Man with Two Faces” plays a dual role, the brother of the actress and a French doctor. In the latter capacity, he solves the family troubles by poisoning the husband but is himself arrested for the crime. It is well acted and realistic — a good picture of its type. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Doubtful No w NAME THE WOMAN » » Richard Cromwell, Arline Judge, Rita LaRoy. Direction by Al Rogell. Columbia. An old fashioned melodrama in which a cub reporter solves a murder mystery. The lack of discernment in direction and the lack of finesse in acting definitely classify the film as poor in artistry, while the story, which culminates in a mad drive over hillside highways, leaves much to be desired in interest, coherence and plausibility. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Would lower standard No of appreciation xr ONE NIGHT OF LOVE » » Grace Moore, Tullio Carminati, Lyle Talbot, Mona Barrie. Direction by Victor Schertzinger. Columbia. Columbia is offering a lovely combination of semi-popular and operatic music, with