Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 105 and routines. . . The surprise of the film is Adolphe Menjou, who long ago added sly comedy to his knapsack of tricks. Slyness melts away in 'Sing, Baby Sing,' and he is seen as a complete Shakespearean ham actor, pompous, ridiculous and exceedingly funny." + Lit Digest p24 Ag 22 '36 "A brilliantly amusing caricature of a film actor by Adolphe Menjou lends comic distinction to a medley of lively vaudeville turns in 'Sing, Baby, Sing.' . . [Menjou] is superbly funny. It takes subtle restraint and knowing assurance to realize so mad a satire. Mr. Menjou has brought both qualities to the role. . . Although the Ritz Brothers, with their mad and funny routines, the irrepressible Miss Kelly and Mr. Healy at his most triumphant do the principal work in supplementing Mr. Menjou s antics, the whole company is splendid. Michael Whalen is excellent as the reporter." Howard + NY Herald Tribune p8 S 12 '36 "Darryl F. Zanuck and Twentieth CenturyFox have contrived a gay, irresponsible medley which is at least as good as the average program picture and finds itself in the upper brackets now and then." P. T. N Y Sun pl9 S 12 '36 " 'Sing, Baby, Sing,' [is] one of the most amusing pictures shown at the Roxy this year. . . Darryl Zanuck's nimble company has developed it with keen relish for its absurdities and has entrusted its performance to a group of assorted comedians, clowns and madcaps. . . Mr. Menjou is boisterously funny." F. S. Nugent + NY Times p20 S 12 '36 "Here it is at the Roxy, a musical film so tuneful, fast and amusing that it immediately goes on the top of your list of photoplays that must be seen. . . Adolphe Menjou is superb as Farraday, and his antics while recuperating from a hangover in a hospital will keep you in stitches. Also of great value in making your sides ache from laughter are Gregory Ratoff and Ted Healy. Unless you want to cheat yourself out of some swell fun don't miss the Roxy this week." William Boehnel + NY World-Telegram p8a S 12 '36 "An excellent example of good musical farce. This has a honey of a central idea (Darryl Zanuck certainly gets his nickel's worth out of the daily paper). . . Highjinks run wild. . . Three eccentrics billed as the Ritz Brothers devastate the risibilities with a knockabout comedy routine which includes poisonous burlesque of such personalities as Harry Richman, Ted Lewis and Freddie March. . . Ted Healy does his famous magician act and it's as funnv as ever . . . funnier, for he has Patsy Kelly to stooge for him." Herb Sterne + Script pll Ag 22 '36 "Adorned with able comics . . . full of good tunes." Time p23 Ag 31 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "One of the wow comedy hits of the year. It has music — it has laughs — it has a trio of musical clowns." + Box Office p31 Ag 15 '36 "It's all good for whatever might have ailed you. It should carry a 'before and after taking sign,' and the results — would just be grand." L. S. Niemeyer + Canadian Moving Pict Digest plO S '36 "This picture introduces a wow comedy trio, the Ritz Brothers, and they present a show that should be heavy box-office in any kind of house. . . Gregory Ratoff, with his dialect, garners a lot of laughs, Adolphe Menjou as the drunken actor is swell, Alice Faye does her songs well, and Ted Healy and Patsy Kelly have some good footage. The song numbers are all very good and should be very popular." + Film Daily p7 Ag 1 '36 "Here's a grand boxoffice bundle of buffoonery-with-music that rates away up top for speed and laughter. It will keep theater tills jingling merrily with smash takes in all classes and audiences in hilarious mood for its full 90 minutes. . . The crackerjack cast carried the loony doings to hilarious heights and registered several comedy performances beyond all previous achievements. . . The picture will definitely set up box office records. It has everything an audience wants for entertainment, plus some performances you will want to hang your exploitation kite to. . . Promise your patrons more laughs and solid entertainment than they have had in a picture for a long time." + Hollywood Reporter p3 Ag 1 '36 " 'Sing, Baby, Sing' merits top rung on the filmusical ladder. Its dialogue is witty, sparkling and smart and its tunes exceptionally good for exhibitor plugs. . . The performances by the entire cast are smooth and ably executed, guided by directorial tempo and gusto which kept a preview audience roaring throughout from footlights to the rear of the balcony." + Motion Pict Daily p6 Ag 3 '36 "Strong on comedy, with music to help, filled with people whom audiences should want to see, 'Sing, Baby, Sing' looms as good program. . . Audiences should like it. Estimate: good." + Phila Exhibitor p36 Ag 15 '36 "Logically contrived, 'Sing, Baby, Sing' can stand up with the screen's best musical output. It's box office in any language. With a cast of names and a flock of selling angles it should have no trouble getting grosses." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 Ag 1 '36 SINS OF MAN. 20th century-Fox 85min My 29 '36 Players: Jean Hersholt. Don Ameche. Allen Jenkins. J. Edward Bromberg. Ann Shoemaker Directors: Otto Brower. Gregory Ratoff See issue of June 29, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "A: fine of kind; Y: very sad; C: not for them." Christian Century p975 Jl '36 "The picture is sincere and deserves respect. It needs more restrained direction. . . This is not a film for those who like to be cheered up, but it has strong human interest. Suitability: adults & adolescents." H Mo Film Bui pl06 Je '36 "A: powerful human interest drama; Y: sombre in tone: C: no." Parents' M p45 Jl '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "As a character study, 'Sins of Man' . . . is a remarkable piece of work — sensitive, artistic and exceedingly harrowing. . . A sudden, but surprisingly logical, happy ending sends one away, moist-eyed yet not dissatisfied. If entertainment is the criterion for film merit, 'Sins of Man,' is not so much good cinema as it is an interesting character study." E. F. Melvin + Boston Transcript p7 Je 20 '36 "An excursion into the past in title and style of story, with Jean Hersholt by sheer authority and benevolence making engrossing the part of a pious sexton of the Tyrol. . . Too persistently sad for some tastes." E. C. S. + — Christian Science Monitor pl3 Je 20 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; [-Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Podr