Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 113 "A box office fandango executed with cliche steps certain to cause millions of housewives to abandon unwashed dishes to the mercy of tomorrow morning; that will prove superior to a foot-bath in making shop girls forget their already weary tootsies. . . The situations revel in the obvious; they have as much reality as the lyrics of Tin Pan Alley. . . Franchot Tone's popularity is mounting if one can judge by the Glendale [preview]. He works romantically, but as an Irishman he permits the shamrocks in his voice to bloom and wither with disconcerting inconsistency. . . George Fitzjnaurice's direction is aces. He takes advantage of every trick, uses glamour as a cover for story-holes." Herb Sterne -| Script plO Jl 25 '36 "Other stories have shown some of the individual happenings which overtook individual farmers, bellringers, soda-jerkers, et al. at the outbreak of War. 'Suzy' sets out to include in one picture all happenings which overtook all chorus girls stranded in all countries in all wars. Over a period of one and a half hours, it seems to succeed. . . Aside from the stuffy epic manner which ill befits its subject, it is a fair sample of its school — frivolous, kinetic and absurd, but not without real moments." -| Time p29 Ag 3 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "With four top marquee names, a full-ofaction war story, and intelligent production and direction, this is sure-fire audience fare. Adults." + Box Office p31 Jl 18 '36 "Box-office cast in excellently acted and directed spy drama that should please generally." + Film Daily pll Jl 14 '36 " 'Suzy' is a definite money picture. Jean Harlow, Franchot Tone and Cary Grant guarantee that by their combined presence in the -picture, together with an excellent supporting cast that is highlighted by Lewis Stone. . . There is an attempt to tell too much story for the ordinary length of a feature picture. This one must be greatly overlength and, because of the fact that it brings in so many incidents that require no telling, the action drags at times." H Hollywood Reporter p3 Jl 9 '36 "The real punch of the film is centered in the last three or four reels, when the legitimate drama of the situation to which much time has been given, makes up for much of the previous meandering. The most effective selling angle seems to be one that combines the appeal of war and spy-menaced romance, backed by the pulling power of the names of Miss Harlow, Tone and Grant in characteristic roles." -\ Motion Pict Daily pll Jl 10 '36 "In the better Metro manner, this will need the names to help it at the box office." Phila Exhibitor p34 Ag 1 '36 "One of those hit-at-all-hazards concoctions that may bore in the de luxers, but which will .appeal to less discriminating audiences, though Jean Harlow does not quite square herself for a clumsy bigamy, and the scenarist does not help much in smoothing this and other incongruities. . . All through, the scenarists have put in the punch whether it belongs or not and the general effect would seem to justify this treatment. It's cheap, sometimes tawdry, but for the moment it appeals." -I Variety pl4 Jl 29 '36 " 'Suzy' is a love narrative ' of theatrical heroics and polished hokum, pitched in sentimental rather than sophisticated key, which Tnay not rate critical raves but will probably be embraced with profitable returns by the hordes to whom Jean Harlow is a name and others to whom Franchot Tone is another name, plus other pull elements of the picture." -\ Variety (Hollywood) p3 Jl 9 '36 SWING TIME. RKO lOOmin S 4 '36 Players: Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers. Victor Moore. Helen Broderick. Eric Blore Director: George Stevens Music and lyrics: Jerome Kern. Dorothy Fields Music director: Nathaniel Shilkret Dance director: Hermes Pan "The story is a gayly irresponsible romantic farce in which Astaire, a professional dancer with a passion for taking a gambler's chance, either at cards or in love, takes up the chase of the highly resistant Ginger Rogers, a pupil in a dancing school." Hollywood Reporter Audience Suitability Ratings "A and Y: very good; C: good." Christian Century pl239 S 16 '36 "Sparkling dialogue, magnificent setting and the superlative dance routine of the popular Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers all contribute in making this an excellent musical. General patronage." + + Nat Legion of Decency S 3 '36 "Highly recommended for the family." -f Sel Motion Pict S 1 '36 "The dancing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers seems better than ever. Outstanding. Family." -( + Wkly Guide Ag 29 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews Christian Science Monitor pl7 S 5 '36 Reviewed by J. P. Cunningham Commonweal p467 S 11 '36 "Fred Astaire's pleasing personality, his rhythmic grace as a dancer, charm and intelligence as an actor and proficiency as a singer make 'Swing Time' a highly entertaining picture. . . Pan Berman no doubt would get in bad with the other fellows who produce musicals if he supplied one of his with a coherent story having some appeal to an intelligent audience, but I think he should have a go at it. The innovation might provoke the box-office into hearty response. I know of no law that would be broken if a picture like 'Swing Time' were made to appeal to the intellect as well as to the eye. But the eye appeal of 'Swing Time' is quite sufficient to make it worth your while. In Fred Astaire you will see an extraordinary artist brilliantly revealing his versatility." + Hollywood Spec p5 Ag 29 '36 "This is the funniest of their teamed films. The hilarity is supplied wholesale by Helen Broderick and Victor Moore. On gay occasion the joking becomes impudently ribald, but there is nothing to frighten a censor in any of it. Camera trickery is used with more abandon, and considerably more forethought in 'Swing Time' than in previous items by the dancing stars. . . Audiences in key cities to which the film was released first have been more than usually breathless in their acceptance." + Lit Digest pl7 S 12 '36 "Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers have a catchy Jerome Kern score, superb comic support from Victor Moore and Helen Broderick and a sleek production in their new film. . . Dancing and singing at the very top of their superlative form and clowning magnificently through interludes of merry nonsense, they distinguish themselves anew as the screen's most engaging musical comedy team. . . Aside from a timehonored complaint about these Astaire-Rogers offerings, it is an enchanting and amusing kaleidoscope of nimble feet, lilting melodies and humorous invention. 'Swing Time' sags badly, however, when it insists upon going through the preposterous routines of parting and reconciliation that RKO seems to think are so necessary in a musical photoplav." Howard Barnes -\ NY Herald tribune pl2 Ag 28 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; +Good; -\ Fair; + Mediocre; Poor; Exceptionally Poor