Motion Picture Reviews (1935)

Ten Motion Picture Reviews this superb adaptation of Lion Feuchtwanger’s novel, British-Gaumont should be the envy of American producers Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too mature No •v RED MORNING » » Steffi Duna, Regis Toomey, Raymond Hatton. Direction by Wallace Ford. R-K-O. A courageous young Portuguese girl, brought up at sea, miraculously overcomes shipwreck, hostile cannibals and an evil crew on a perilous voyage to the Polynesian islands. Adventures break out like hives all over the scenario. Anyone who likes naive, melodramatic hokum or is satisfied to look at beautifully photographed tropical scenery will probably enjoy the picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Perhaps interesting No •w STRANGE WIVES » » Roger Pryor, June Clayworth, Esther Ralston, Hugh O’Connell, Ralph Forbes. From the story, “Bread Upon the Waters,” by Edith Wharton. Direction by Richard Thorpe. Universal. Difficult to appreciate as a farce because some of the parts are played “straight” and impossible to accept as a comedy because it is constructed on exaggerated circumstances, this picture is a hodge-podge of dramatic elements, not confusing but not completely satisfying. A young husband deftly handles the problem of parasitical in-laws. His method is unique and might have created greater audience sympathy by bright, witty dialogue and by situations not quite so patently planned. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No SWEET ADELINE » » Irene Dunne, Donald Woods, Hugh Herbert, Nydia Westman. Story, music and lyrics by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. Screen play by Edwin S. Celsey. Direction by Mervyn LeRoy. Assistant Director, Cordon Hollingswood. Warner Brothers. The combination of Kern-Hammerstein music, an excellent cast and skilful technical direction particularly in the dance ensembles, makes “Sweet Adeline” excellent entertainment. The picture is produced in the grand, though regulation, style with several very beautiful song numbers by Irene Dunne. The plot centers about Donald Woods, an aspiring playwright, his sweetheart, two backers of Woods’ operetta and the producer of the operetta. The introduction of the tandem bicycle, Edison’s first phonograph, the first automobile, and newspapers of Dewey’s victory at Manila provide an additional bit of historical interest. Along with its high grade of music, dancing and comedy, “Sweet Adeline” has the quality of charm which sets it above most other pictures of its type. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Satisfactory ■v THE ST. LOUIS KID » » James Cagney, Patricia Ellis, Allen Jenkins, Robert Barrat. Adapted from story “The Perfect Week End” by Frederick Brennan. Direction by Ray Enright. Warner Bros. Here is a breezy “wisecracking” comedy about two truck drivers who are always at odds with the forces of law and order because of their fresh repartee and their easy habit of striking out with their fists. It is typical of James Cagney’s vehicles, fast, farcical, amusing and not particularly elevating. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 A matter of taste No •w WEST OF THE PECOS » » Martha Sleeper, Richard Dix. From a novel by Zane Crey, adapted by Milton Krims and John Twist. Direction by Phil Rosen. R-K-O. A western of much more interest than many. The story concerns a Southern Colonel who finds himself ruined after the Civil War. He starts West toward Texas with his attractive daughter and two darky retainers who provide much of the humor. The young Southern belle finds that roughing it in the costumes of the day is difficult so she disguises herself as a boy and the transformation is quite convincing. It is an entertaining picture in which the cattle rustling and frontier difficulties are well shown, and the love interest is pleasing. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good Cood, unless too exciting A WICKED WOMAN » » Mady Christians, Jean Parker, Charles Bickford, Betty Furness. From the book by Ann Austin. Direction by Charles Brabin. M-C-M. Mady Christians makes a vivid and outstanding figure of the poverty stricken, desperate mother whose determined struggle to make a better life for her children is eventually successful. The theme is powerfully motivated and mere incidents develop into scenes of high dramatic value without losing their force in a welter of sentiment. As a character study the picture undoubtedly