Motion Picture Reviews (1937)

Six MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS picture carries a suggestion of abnormality and gruesomeness, and before the end both are realized. The main plot deals with the work of international spies seeking to learn an important secret of U. S. aviation. Lorre, as usual, is successful in his particular kind of acting, and there are several strong, contrasting roles. The flying scenes are remarkable for suspense, rising to a high climax in the final catastrophe. There is a heavy depressing undertone throughout, but on the whole it is an interesting though unpleasant picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No • • • CRIMINAL LAWYER Lee Tracy, Margot Grahame. Direction by Christy Cabanne. R.K.O. It seems from this picture that the road to success for an aspiring lawyer may be traversed only with the assistance of the criminal element in the community. Barry Brandon is a lawyer in the pay of night club interests and rises to the position of district attorney through his influential clients. The court room scene in which he defends the girl whom he later loves is strikingly vivid, but his tactics would not be permitted in any court outside the movies. The production has an unwholesome atmosphere with much drinking and too many disreputable characters. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 No No • • • GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN George Brent, Beverly Roberts, Barton MacLane, Robert Barrat. Based on the novel by James Oliver Curwood. Direction by William Keighley. Warner Bros. With each new picture. Technicolor comes a degree closer to the true color palette of nature with firmer flesh tones, warmer fabric hues and fresher greens and blues in leaves and waterways. The far-flung northern forest land is particularly beautiful in this story of the rought lumber camps, where two rival companies, one owned by a woman, fight for supremacy. Steve, the younger brother in the Russett camp, has more regard for fair-dealing and is more susceptible to women's smiles than iron-jawed jejf, and thereon hangs the tale. George Brent is very good throughout, Beverly Roberts is pleasing. The plot is typical of Curwood, a vigorous drama of the wilds. The high point is reached when Steve dynamites the log jam impounding the Barton logs. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes Too rough • • • GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937 Dick Powell, Joan Blondeli, Glenda Farrell, Victor Moore. Direction by Frank Lloyd. Warner Brothers. "Gold Diggers," 1937 model, is as enlivening as ever. On a thin thread of plot the songs, comic incidents and spectacular dance ensembles are glitteringly strung together. A stranded chorus girl aids a young man to sell a million dollar life insurance policy to an important theatrical producer, and the action thereafter is motivated by rivalry between the insurance company representatives who are fearful lest the policy holder may die prematurely, and the beneficiaries who are hopeful that he will. Photography and scenic effects are beautiful and the lyrics are unusually clever. It is spirited holiday entertainment. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good If interester in musical comedy • • • GREAT GUY James Cagney, Mae Clarke, James Burke, Edward Brophy, Edward McNamara. Based on the Johnny Cave stories by James Edward Grant. Direction by John G. Blystone. R.K.O.Pathe. Pugnacious James Cagney, as johnny Cave, a deputy in the Weights and Measures Department, uses his various abilities in his effort to defeat a powerful ring of grafters and politicians in the "short-weight" racket. He administers a magnificent licking to the wardheeler, extricates himself from a difficult situation later when he is accused of blackmail and even carries off his arch-enemy's secretaryin romantic triumph. Cagney plays with his usual gusto and gives a good account of himself, and other members of the cast deserve credit in this straightforward bid for honesty in public office. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Yes Little interest THE GREAT O'MALLEY Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Frieda Inescort, Sybil Jason, Donald Crisp. Direction by William Dieterle. Warner Bros. In a human if sentimental story, Pat O’Brien plays the role of "The Great O'Malley," a policeman overzealous in his strict administration of the letter of the law. Association with the crippled child of a man for whose prison sentence he is indirectly responsible, at last teaches him the distinction between fanatical upholding of minor statutes and the performance of duty tempered with judgment and mercy. There is food for thought here but also a danger lest to immature minds the scales may seem weighted with too much sympathy for a man who has committed a crime of violence. In real life, law-abiding persons might prefer a zealous policeman to a lax one, but for the purposes of fiction, O’Malley is a nicely drawn character who wins sympathy when he refuses to prosecute a