Motion Picture Reviews (1938)

Six MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS about a vacant-minded college student who rises to sudden glory and wins the most important football game of the season. Of course, it is all broad farce, and those who like Penner's brand of humor will enjoy it without a doubt. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 1 2 Matter of taste Would probably enjoy it PERSONAL SECRETARY O O Story by Betty Laidlow and Robert Lively. Screen play by Betty Laidlaw, Robert Lively and Charles Grayson. Direction by Otis Garrett. Universal. Cast: William Gargan, Joy Hodges, Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly. In the movies, when a man meets a lady rival in the newspaper field, he is bound to marry her no matter how much she irritates him at the start. So it happens in this story, the chief variation from the set formula being the fact that the lady is a dabbler in astrology who writes under the name of The Comet and is convinced that a darkly tragic female did not murder her husband, although all the evidence reviewed by Mark Farrell indicates that she did. The picture has entertainment value because the characters are individuals, clearly drawn; the dialogue is fitting, and the direction is lively. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Only fair Too mature © THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER O O Douglas Dumbrille, Sidney Toler, Russel Hayden, Charlotte Fields, Monte Blue. Original story by Zane Grey. Screen play by Maurice Geraghty. Direction by Lesley Selander. Paramount. Pecos Bill, who takes from the rich to give to the poor, an outlaw for the reason that twenty years earlier he was unjustly accused of the murder of his partner, returns to his former domains to thwart the dark characters who are robbing his long-lost daughter. There is high action, with shooting and villainy. Beautiful camera views of fine Western country, a pleasing musical score, and the good characterization by Douglas Dumbrille as the Rider are the best points of the film. Gun battles are prolonged and the fist fights between the hero and villain grow tiresome. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Above average Too much killing Western © THE ROAD TO RENO O O N Randolph Scott, Hope Hampton, Helen Broderick, Alan Marshall, Glenda Farrell. Story by Charles Kenyon and F. Hugh Herbert. Screen play by Roy Chanslor and Adele Comandini. Direction by S. Sylvan Simon. Universal. Low in ethical value is the story of a thrice married opera singer who hies herself to Reno to divorce her rancher husband for an aviator, and then cannot decide which one she loves. Hope Hampton has a beautiful voice, but her acting lacks conviction. Randolph Scott is good as the rancher, Glenda Farrell amusing as the singer’s rival. Fine photography of the range country with exciting views of a round-up of horses by aeroplane adds color to the film and compensates somewhat for the dull and tawdry scenes of the divorce court. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Objectionable theme Impossible ROOM SERVICE O O Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Lucille Ball, Ann Miller, Frank Albertson. Screen play by Morrie Ryskind. From the play by John Murray and Allan Boretz. Direction by William A. Seiter. R. K. O. -Radio. The Marx Brothers, with their grotesque make-up, are often very funny, but not in “Room Service.” This is probably the fault of the vehicle. It is no subject for the sort of travesty in which such comedians might shine, but a broad farce dependent for laughs upon the predicament of a theatrical producer continually thinking up new ruses to keep himself and several companions from being evicted from a hotel bedroom. There are a few bright spots, but only the fans who love the Marxes right or wrong are likely to be pleased by this silly, monotonous picture. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children. 8 to 12 Waste of time No © THAT CERTAIN AGE O O Deanna Durbin, Melvyn Douglas , Jackie Cooper, Irene Rich, Nancy Carroll, John Halliday, Jackie Searl, Juanita Quigley. Original story by F. Hugh Herbert. Screen play by Bruce Manning. Direction by Edward Ludwig. Universal. Deanna Durbin feels the first heartbeats of romance in this delightful story of a subdeb who finds a hero in a newspaper reporter wounded in the Spanish war. Her entries in her beloved diary are typical of a sixteen-year-old, things written in all seriousness which seem very funny in the light of mature years. When she attempts to attract Vincent Bullit (Melvyn Douglas) by wearing her mother’s sophisticated, strapless evening gown, the grown-ups, including the object of her affections, decide the matter has gone too far. They are aided by Ken (Jackie Cooper), her Boy Scout admirer, who is only too glad to welcome her back to her regular activities and associations of her own age. Miss Durbin's singing adds a large measure of charm to the picture. The supporting cast is very pleasing. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 1 2 Excellent Yes