Motion Picture Reviews (1939)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEWS Five EACH DAWN I DIE O O James Cagney, George Raft, Jane Bryan, George Bancroft, Maxie Rosenbloom. From the novel by Jerome Odium. Screen play by Norman Reilly Raine and Warren Duff. Direction by William Keighley. First National. It is difficult to find a justification for this picture outside of the fact that James Cagney and George Raft are given an opportunity to play he-man, human-nature-in-theraw parts in which they both excell. It is full of unbridled brutality and distorted social values. A young newspaper man, “framed” by a candidate for high office, is sent to the penitentiary for a long term. Since the prison is in a State which does not permit capital punishment, obviously it should be one of the most enlightened institutions. However, it is manned by a depraved staff and is as degrading and vicious as the worst prisons of the deep South some years ago. The only people who possess a shred of honor are a few of the convicts. Full of action, the picture ends with a battle which would do credit to a World War film and a confession which would be thrown out of any court in the land. It is bad material, well acted and well produced. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Bad stuff Impossible ELSA MAXWELL'S HOTEL FOR WOMEN Elsa Maxwell, Ann Sothern, John Halliday, Lynn Bari, Alan Dinehart. Joyce Compton, Linda Darnell, James Ellison, Katharine Aldridge, Jean Rogers, June Gale, Sidney Blackmer. Screen play by Kathryn Scola and Darrell Ware. Based on a story by Elsa Maxwell and Kathryn Scola. Directed by Gregory Ratoff. 20th Century-Fox. Assuming that Elsa Maxwell knows whereof she speaks, this film provides a splendid opportunity to become acquainted with the conversation and habits of the more successful models, show girls, and professional gold diggers of Manhattan. The story gives a rather hackneyed account of the adventures of Marcia Bromley of Syracuse who came to New York to rekindle the affections of a cast-off suitor and remained to ornament night clubs with her dazzling presence until she attracted the attention of a roue, got mixed up in a shooting, and was rescued by her Syracuse sweetheart. While the plot is stereotyped, the incidents of life in the hotel for women are rich in humor, the dialogue is clever, and the various types of girls are entertainingly portrayed. Though Miss Maxwell delivers kindly homilies on courage and straight shooting and keeping your chin up, the impression persists that New York is a happy hunting ground where wily huntresses snare rich “boyfriends” and live glamorously ever after. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Much too sophisticated No ❖ FOUR FEATHERS O ❖ John Clements, Ralph Richardson, C. Aubrey Smith, June Duprez, Allan Jeayes. From the story by A. E. W. Mason. Screen play by R. C. Sheriff. Direction by Zolton Korda. London Films (Alexander Korda). A man’s picture and particularly a Britisher’s, “Four Feathers” might be dedicated to the valor of war and the glory of the Empire. It is very fine in its way, a huge spectacle with gorgeous color photography of Egypt’s deserts and the Nile, and of native hoards and bright-uniformed British soldiery, with thrilling and bloody battles fought in the historically famous campaign which ended in the capture of Khartum. The central figure of the story is Harry Favcrsham, last descendant of a line of military heroes, who uses the excuse of civilian interests to cloak physical cowardice. He is sent four white feathers by his friends, and can be exonerated only by military prowess, which in the end he achieves through great sacrifice and heroism. The attitude towards war will be displeasing to many thinking people who believe that cool sanity should be preserved at a time when all the world is seeing red, but if it can be taken as straight military adventure, and if one is not too squeamish about details of torture, it is well worth seeing. Acting and direction are commendable. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Too brutal Decidedly not ❖ FRONTIER MARSHAL O O Randolph Scott, Nancy Kelly, Cesar Romero, Binnie Barnes, John Carradine. Based on a book by Stuart N. Lake. Screen play by Sam Heilman. Direction by Allan Dwan. 20th Century-Fox. Although this story follows the main outlines of the usual “western,” it is done in a manner which makes it convincing. The characters act like real people, and there is actually more emphasis on saving human lives than on taking them. A new marshal, self-appointed, determines to run the disreputable, gun-toting element out of Tombstone and in his progress is brought in contact with a doctor amd a dance hall girl who in spite of checkered pasts, have retained elements of good in their characters. Photography is beautiful in many scenes. Adolescents, 12 to 16 Children, 8 to 12 Good "Western" Too exciting