Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

58 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST GIVE ME YOUR H E ART— Continued " 'Give Me Your Heart' is a conventional tearjerker, aimed especially at female cinemaddicts for whom its sentimental appeal will theoretically be reinforced by Kay Francis' clothes." Time p31 S 28 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "It is the mother love theme all over again. Being specific rather than general in appeal, it is doubtful if it will receive more than average support. As entertainment it is not only very talky but suffers from lack of dramatic highlights. One of the virtues is some comedy but hardly enough to balance the long stretches where the story has difficulty in holding the interest. . . Miss Francis doesn't make the part as real as it might have been. Nor does she have support around her that gives the story its maximum power." H Variety pl6 S 16 '36 GO WEST, YOUNG MAN. Paramount 82min N 13 '36 Cast: Mae West. Warren William. Randolph Scott. Alice Brady. Elizabeth Patterson. Lyle Talbot. Isabel Jewell Director: Henry Hathaway Based on the stage success Personal Appearance by Lawrence Riley. In this satirical comedy Miss West plays the part of a Hollywood star whose contract stipulates that she shall not marry for five years. She makes a personal appearance tour under the direction of her publicity man whose task it is to keep her from indulging in romantic interludes with handsome men. Audience Suitability Ratings "A: depends on taste; Y & C: thoroughly unwholesome." Christian Century pl639 D 2 '36 "Decidedly not a picture for children, but will amuse adults." Am Legion Auxiliary "Mae West is poorly cast. Her style is not suited to the part and her characterization of Mavis Arden if not nearly so good as Gladys George's portrayal of the same story on the stage in 'Personal Appearance.' The picture has no outstanding sets or photography. It is destructive of ethical standards, somewhat demoralizing and totally lacking in charm. Matter of taste for adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "The picture is full of action with amusing dialogue and situations but lacks subtlety. The delightful comedy and deft acting of several members of the cast reveal clearly the limitations of the star; in such company Miss West's mannerisms seem all the more exaggerated and incongruous. Adults, if for any audience." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "[It is] a dull story. . . A disgusting characterization; slow tempo. The purpose of the inappropriate title is clear. No one. Mediocre." DAR "A diverting film with excellent character sketches by an expert cast. Story is improbable and overdrawn but it will appeal to those who enjoy the usual Mae West innuendoes. Adults." Nat Soc of New England Women "A burlesque on Mae West by Mae West herself. The characterization is a paradox of elegance and bad grammar, of vulgar sex appeal and glamorous costuming. Subtly sophisticated entertainment. Mature." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui N 7 '36 "This picture though lavishly produced and endowed with a highly competent cast remains a typical vehicle for the exploitation of the suggestive mannerisms of the star. It is replete with sly innuendoes and daring vulgarities, cheaply entertaining. Adults: a matter of taste." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 26 '36 "It will entertain those who enjoy Mae West, but will displease those who are offended by her flamboyant personality. Miss West burlesques the screen personality which she has so vividly created. The entire cast is excellent. Adults." Nat Council of Jewish Women O 28 '36 "The legitimate stage play 'Personal Appearance' with slight changes and additions, provides an excellent medium for Mae West to demonstrate her original brand of acting. . . The plot is smoothly worked out and the clever direction of Henry Hathaway keeps all parts well balanced and offers ample opportunities for the amusing, malapropian remarks of Mae West and for the heavy overplaying of her emotions for rich comedy. A strong cast gives her excellent support. Adult entertainment." + Sel Motion Pict p9 D 1 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "There are times when it is unwise for an actress to have too much her own way in the producing of a picture. This is exemplified in 'Go West, Young Man.' . . In her scenario she has tampered so freely with the narrative that it has been robbed of much of its interest. As it emerges from the studio this production is just another Mae West story, with Mae West lines and Mae West in almost every scene. Thus, a good play has been transformed into little more than a stereotyped picture, with Mae West endeavoring to arouse interest by the same tricks she has employed from her start in Hollywood. . . Miss West is not to be congratulated on her performance, for her method of attracting attention is never in the least subtle. . . Warren William gives a much better portrayal and so does Randolph Scott. . . Perhaps this picture will be a lesson to Miss West to permit others to share in the work on a production and also to hearken to direction." Mordaunt Hall — Boston Transcript p4 N 21 '36 "If you are not one of those who has built up a prejudice against Miss West's lusty humor, this picture ought to provide a satisfactory evening of entertainment for adults. It is not perhaps as satisfactory fare for juveniles." Laura Elston Canadian M p39 D '36 "Lengthy, coarse and not very funny. Mae West as a movie star stranded in the sticks displays her limitations. Adults." H Christian Science Monitor pl5 N 28 '36 "Someone has said that the sex in Mae West's newest picture is of elephantine subtlety. "Vulgar would be more explicit, with the added disadvantage of establishing a new low mark in entertainment for the Mae West series. There is speculation, too, as to whether the net results of the Westian histrionics enjoy an immunity from the Production Code Administration in Hollywood. It is unadulterated Minsky." J. P. Cunningham Commonweal pl62 D 4 '36 "Cleverly weaving the West mannerisms into the story pattern, Lawrence Riley's play, 'Personal Appearance,' gave Mae a vehicle which by the expert direction of Henry Hathaway has been made into the best picture in which she has appeared. Only in her first screen appearance did she entertain me. . . All her previous pictures were based on the belief there is boxoffice in vulgarity. . . Riley's play capitalizes the walk, speech and eyes by making them legitimate features in a decent story that will offend no one." + Hollywood Spec pll N 21 '36 "This stage comedy . . . has lost considerably in its transfer to the screen. The original footlight comedy had a fresh slant on movieland eccentricities. . . Gladys George, now in the + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -| Fair; J Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor