Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

44 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST EVERYTHING IS THUNDER— Continued formance can be laid to the account of our maleficent Board of Censors, who have imposed on Miss Bennett the complicated task of acting a prostitute without ever mentioning her profession. . . The film is very good entertainment of a kind, the kind that deals with disguises and pursuits and incredible resourcefulness, with policemen on the stairs and hunted men in bathrooms. Captain Hardy's book, from which the film is drawn, was better than that." Graham Greene + Spec p307 Ag 21 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "The dramatic moments are frequent during this profoundly moving wartime story which has been directed with an intense feeling for the romantic but slight regard for action or suspense. Constance Bennett is attractive, though not ideally cast as a pretty waif of Berlin, but Douglass Montgomery contributes a gripping screen portrayal of an escaped prisoner and the rest of the cast is capable. Family." H Box Office p21 D 5 '36 "This melodrama is fairly good entertainment for audiences generally, especially those whose tastes for love triumphant over all obstacles transcend such elements as plausibility of plot, technical solidity and the brighter facets of acting skill. The picture gets under way slowly, due to lengthy prologue-sequences." -{ Film Daily p9 N 20 '36 "A war-time melodrama, put over with a punch and a sense of suspense values which make it rank as good entertainment, not only here, [London] but doubtless in America, where fans may come to see Bennett in her first British picture and remain to be thrilled by the surge of crisp melodrama put over by Douglass Montgomery and Oscar Homolka. . . All told, a British production of some real merit. It lias a few minor faults which carpers might seize upon, but as melodramatic entertainment it is there." + Hollywood Reporter p6 Ag 5 '36 -f Motion Pict Daily p6 Ag 3 '36 "GB has produced another interest-holding war melodrama, with two American names to help it at the box office. . . Production is of the better brand from GB, with plenty of selling angles." + Phila Exhibitor p35 O 1 '36 "British film producers apparently have one favorite theme for picture stories — the World War. . . 'Everything Is Thunder' is another along these lines, but so weak in plot and general production that it is doubtful of getting by on this side of the Atlantic. Strictly for the dualers. . . British standards in productions of this type of story are closely followed: dim lighting is a British idea of heightening the dramatic moments: dense, smoky fog is another and Milton Rosner's jumpy direction cannot be considered an asset. Acting is okay all around, the Bennett-Montgomery-Homolka trio carrying the entire story." ■ 1 Variety p!4 N 25 '36 FALLING IN LOVE (English title). See Trouble ahead 15 MAIDEN LANE. 20th century-Fox 65min O 30 '36 Cast: Claire Trevor. Cesar Romero. Douglas Fowley. Lloyd Nolan Director: Allan Dwan "Locale is biggest gem retailing center in the world, Maiden Lane, in New York City, and its fashionable social and underworld exten. sions. Plot rests on activities of a jewelry insurance firm in running down identity of highclass gem dealers who buy baubles from thieves and recut them." Variety (Hollywood) Audience Suitability Ratings "A: depends on taste; Y: better not; C: no." Christian Century pl670 D 9 '36 "Fairly interesting for adults." Am Legion Auxiliary "The picture is well produced, with good casting and excellent direction, and is good entertainment for those who like murder mysteries. Adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "[It] has continuity and a spirited if obvious climax. . . While the production has the fault of most crook films — too many killings — with the added one of disclosing probable methods of jewel thieves, it has more originality than the majority. Adults." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Informative diamond cutting sequence; much shooting. Mature & 14-18. Mediocre." DAR "The plot is full of action and sustained suspense, with a nice balance of mystery and comedy, the dialogue is clever and the acting convincing. There are some interesting shots showing the art of diamond cutting. Adults & young people." E Coast Preview Committee "While several of the situations seem overdrawn, the whole moves along at an even tempo, is full of surprises and never lags and there are no offensive sequences, although there are several murders committed in the end. Mature." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui N 14 '36 " 'For a picture of this type, it is exceptionally good — a nice blending of action, mystery, excitement and suspense. The direction is excellent and the dramatic work convincing. Family-mature." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) N 2 '36 "Good. Adults & young adults." + Motion Pict Guide D '36 "This is a well sustained, suspenseful program picture in which there are some surprising angles and hairbreadth escapes. The audience is spared the usual romance and an interesting explanation of gem cutting is informative and dramatic. Family." + Nat Council of Jewish Women N 3 '36 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency O 22 '36 "A: fair; Y & C: unsuitable." Parents' M p46 Ja '37 "Adults & young people." Sel Motion Pict plO N 1 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Although Allan Dwan gives it the directorial accelerator, this is only a fair melodrama. Adults." -\ Christian Science Monitor pl5 O 24 '36 "Uniformly excellent. . . [The cast] bring reality's vivid touch to each characterization, inducing through their support those moodbuilding moments which make any picture great entertainment. '15 Maiden Lane' is just exactly that." Paul Jacobs + Hollywood Spec p21 O 10 '36 "This is more than an entertaining melodrama. It takes you into the inside of the wholesale jewelry business and it shows the guarded handling of gems — even takes you to the ringside at the actual splitting up of a large diamond by professional cutters. Of course there is a story. Oddly enough, it is sharp, unsentimental, fresh in treatment." (2 stars) Beverly Hills Liberty p57 N 14 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; — + Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor