Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 59 films, portrayed the ornate Mavis Arden for ■comedy in the Broadway production. Miss West plays Mavis Arden for comedy — and sex. The result is a smudgy performance with considerable double meaning introduced into its proceedings. Nobody stands out, unless it is Elizabeth Patterson as an elderly country spinster." (2 stars) Beverly Hills Liberty p43 D 19 '36 "Miss Mae West's addiction to a rolling water-front gait and speaking with fine impartiality through both nostrils come to small account in 'G-o West, Young Man.' . . It is possible that abandonment of the lace and bangle customs of the presumably gay '90's has altered the Westian spirit and dampened it. In any event, her first tussle with modern dress and a modern story just about results in a draw. . . The plot of 'Personal Appearance' .. . . is one of the most impolite and hilarious available in the theater. . . The film, for all that it uses the Riley dialog, does not emerge as a particularly comic item." H Lit Digest p26 N 21 '36 "Lawrence Riley's delightful and satirical stage success, 'Personal Appearance,' has come to the screen drained of nearly all its comic quality. It displays the increasingly ample Mae West in a slip-shod and tedious offering. Part of the fault lies in her extraordinarily inept adaptation of the play, but it is mostly due to her dull impersonation of what should have been a sure-fire role. She runs through her limited repertory of acting tricks over and over again and even her efforts at innuendo are less ribald than ludicrous. . . The supporting company is proficient but it is hard put to it to make the action merry or lucid." Howard Barnes NY Herald Tribune pl8 N 19 '36 "[The] film by late afternoon had shattered the box office records of even the popular 'Broadcast of 1937.' . . [It is] one of Mae West's funniest, and certainly her best directed film. . . Necessarily changed for screen purposes, 'Go West, Young Man' remains a hilarious farce. . . The cleaning process, however, has not affected Mae West, who can still drawl a double entendre into the most casual remark." Eileen Creelman + NY Sun p22 N 19 '36 "The suasively undulating Mae West is back on the Paramount screen with a new and engagingly robustious exposition. . . Generally speaking, 'Personal Appearance' has lost little in Miss West's edition. . . The salty idiom and the haughty malapropisms that punctuated the stage piece have been retained wherever they could be got by the censors, and there is something to be said for Miss West's presentation of these features. . . As is customary when Hollywood makes a special effort, the supporting cast is uniformly excellent. . . Warren William, as the press agent, is, of course, deserving of the most special mention of all. He is the only player who has ever come close to stealing a picture from Mae West." J. T. M. + NY Times p31 N 19 '36 "Although most of the ruddier aspects of Lawrence Riley's 'Personal Appearance' have been whitewashed . . . enough torrid moments have been substituted to make the picture an impudently piquant entertainment. . . 'Go West, Young Man' may not be as brisk and hotcha as the original from which it stems, but it is frisky enough and genial enough to be enjoyed without fear of harm by those wrho like a dash of spice in their entertainment." William Boehnel + NY World-Telegram p23 N 19 '36 "The film is Director Henry Hathaway' s first comedy. Best known for such successes as 'Lives of a Bengal Lancer' and 'The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,' he takes kindly to the new type of assignment. Miss West, however, continues to be very much herself. . . 'Go West, Young Man' is strictly Mae West's field day — and strictly for Mae West fans." News-Wk p20 N 28 '36 " 'Go West, Young Man' is as deliberately ribald as the stage farce, but not nearly so funny. . . The best comedy is supplied by Mae and Randolph Scott in scenes that are highly incendiary. The film is inexcusably jerky, badly cut, confused and dramatically weak after the climax on the sofa at 2 a. m. . . Unless [Miss 'West's] vogue is more tenacious and spectacular than I assume it to be, she must learn some new business or spend more time in her study, writing herself the perfect story. 'Go West, Young Man' would have been much better with any one of half a dozen less familiar actresses in the leading role, and that, I fear, amounts to a major criticism." R. S. 1 Script plO D 5 '36 "Lawrence Riley's super dig at the cinema queens has afforded the resourceful Miss West a miraculous opportunity. She is here disposed to make the most of it. If you are a Mae West fan, you'll slap your knee and roar. Even if you aren't a Mae West fan, you won't be able to resist this magnificent poke at pretense." + Stage pl6 D '36 "While other producers are trying to be dainty, [Mae West] tries to be ribald. In 'Go West, Young Man' . . . her efforts are, as usual, successful." + Time p25 N 23 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Showmen can go to town with this latest Mae West hit with every confidence that the take at the wickets w-ill more than justify the trip. Given a role featured by lines, brittle in their brightness, and replete with subtle satire, the becurved star comes through in the best Westian manner with a performance which at least ties, if not tops, anything she has ever done. Family." + Box Office p51 N 14 '36 "Mae West is back with us once more. So what, say you! So far as yours truly is concerned, that remark also sums up my attitude to the voluptuous Mae. What did I think of the picture? I am afraid that I don't know how to spell the word that describes it, but I believe that in polite society it is termed the 'razzberry.' . . As for the performance of La West, she is either very good, or extraordinarily bad; your guess is as good as mine. . . Direction is by Henry Hathaway, who also directed 'Lives of a Bengal Lancer.' How are the mighty fallen!" Canadian Moving Pict Digest p8 D 5 '36 "This will garner plenty of laughs. . . [It] is an ideal vehicle for Mae West and she delivers solidly. Henry Hathaway has done a good job of directing. Warren William comes through with a splendid performance." + Film Daily pl3 N 6 '36 "The story has been fitted out with a multiplicity of gags, many of which have nothing episodic and cumbersome instead of swift and to do with the tale, and in consequence it is sparkling. It is also well provided with Westian wisecracks for guffaw purposes, but will give the censors less trouble than usual. However, it is strictly for the Mae West fans. . . The Mae West glamor, assisted by some stunning gowns and some good portrait photography is not lacking and is helped out with a couple of ballads. . . But the part as played is wholly unsympathetic and unreal. . . Director Hathaway is the victim of the script but adroitly saves individual episodes. The production as a whole lacks distinction and is hardly an auspicious start for Emanuel Cohen under his new Paramount releasing contract." h Hollywood Reporter p3 N 3 '36 Motion Pict Daily N 4 '36 "Though written by her, the picture screams satire at the industry, at actresses like herself. Estimate: depends on Mae." Phila Exhibitor p49 N 15 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; ■] Fair; [-Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor