Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 149 "Family & junior matinee." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) Mr 21 '36 "Family." Jt Estimates Mr 15 '36 "The story is occasionally absurd, though there are many good natural touches, but the direction and cutting are very good. Suitabil itv: family; especiallv for children under 16." Mo Film Bui p90 My '36 "The remarkable histrionic genius of the two chief actors and their exciting but plausible adventures will hold the interest of aU who cherish a sympathy and kinship with horses and dogs. Adolescents, 12-16: excellent; children, 8-12: excellent." + Motion Pict R Ap '36 "Familyjunior. " Nat Bd of R M Ap '36 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency Mr 15 '36 "Family." Sel Motion Pict Ap '36 "A horse, dog and love story. [It is] one of the most satisfactory of its kind. Alive and likeable all through. Family. Junior." + Wkly Guide Mr 14 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Good entertainment of its kind." + Christian Science Monitor pl5 Je 13 '36 "[It] is a thoroughly entertaining and heartwarming little film. . . If 'Two in Revolt' is not enormously exciting, it is at least striking and. entertaining throughout and a credit to its producer, Robert Sisk, who has a way of bringing stories that matter to the screen." William Boehnel + NY World-Telegram pl7 Ap 27 "36 "This picture must have been difficult to make and Tryon has done a fine job. . . If you like animals and scenery this can be recommended." H. S. + Script pll My 16 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Possessing more than average appeal for animal lovers, this entertaining story of a dog and a horse that are born on the same day and whose friendship endures through a long estrangement, will please young and old." + Box Office p217 Mr 21 '36 "Varying tastes can come to agreement on this one. Presenting a horse and dog of remarkable intelligence, 'Two in Revolt' shows the escape to nature made by both animals in an effort to find adjustment." + Film Daily p6 Mr 19 '36 "Exploitation based on the widespread and earnest human admiration for dog and horse is suggested by the picture content. Special attention might be given to the early sequences, depicting the infancy of the featured animals, and to the canine and equine combats which take place when they escape to their primitive associations with their kind." Motion Pict Herald p53 My 2 '36 "Neighborhood audiences should like 'Two in Revolt.' For 'A' time, de luxers, it will have little appeal despite the fact that the production was given evident sincerity. . . Handicapped in cast, the picture will probably be relegated to twin bills, dish nights, but it deserves a better fate." N Y Exhibitor p31 Mr 25 '36 "A horse, a dog and a small cast figure in 'Two in Revolt' which is half-Western and half of the racetrack variety. It is moderate entertainment of its kind and will go best before audiences that like animals, racing and western desert backgrounds. Hardly strong enough to get anything but dual dates. Story is rather thin." h Variety pl5 Ap 29 '36 U UNDER TWO FLAGS. My 1 '36 lOOmin 20th century-Fox Players: Claudette Colbert. Ronald Colman. A'ictor McLaglen. Rosalind Russell Director: Frank Lloyd This is the third screen version. Based on the novel of the same title by Ouida. "The predominating theme is the love of Miss Colbert as Cigarette and Miss Russell as Lady Venetia for Colman, who fled a jail sentence in England as a result of shielding his wayward brother. McLaglen [plays] the commander of the Legion post at Algeria who becomes insanely jealous of Miss Colbert's affection for Colman. The picture carries a dramatic impact when Arabs declare war and McLaglen sends Sergeant Colman into almost certain death among the Arab tribes to assuage [his] jealous emotion." (Motion Pict Daily) Audience Suitability Ratings "I thought this the best desert film I have seen; even better than 'Beau Geste,' which we all considered an exceptionally fine film." ■+■ Bks & Films My '36 "[It is] translated to the screen with pomp and ceremony of old-fashioned 'glory of dving on field of battle.' Decidedlv militaristic and outmoded: the 'heroic' French Foreign Legion protecting the lives of white men and women against the 'barbarous' Arabs. One expects any tale of the Foreign Legion to abound in bloodshed and violence — and 'Under Two Flags' is no exception." Bui on Current Films Je 6 '36 "A and Y: very good; C: too exciting." Christian Century p751 My 20 '36 "This epic of the screen is a spell-binder, and shows that Zanuck's personally produced attempt has exceeded all expectations. Family." Am Legion Auxiliary "Family." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Excellent-mature. Beautiful photography of African dunes: marvelous, terrifying battlefield riding of Arabs, tragedy and comedy skilfully blended." DAR "Family." E Coast Preview Committee "Claudette Colbert's 'Cigarette' is ardent and tempestuous, but has been toned down to meet present day attitudes towards roles of this kind, and therefore much that might have been found objectionable has been eliminated Family — mature." Xat Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "This story of the little French girl who gives her life for the legionnaire whom she loved so simply and wholeheartedly is delicately and beautifully handled and so far above the average of motion pictures that it stands in a class of its own. A familv film, altho possibly the battle scenes will be too exciting for young children." Xat Soc of Xew England Women "For those who love action, its vitality and its brilliant production qualities place it among the best of its kind. Familv." Mrs T. G. Winter + + Fox W Coast Bui My 9 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; -{-Good; -\ Fair; -f Mediocre; Poor; Exceptionally Pooi