Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

60 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST GO WEST, YOUNG MAN — Continued "[It] is on the way to snug profits. Aided by an excellent box office title 'Go West, Young Man' cannot miss. Miss West, in her own way, is excellent in the role Miss George created on the stage." + Variety pl4 N 25 '36 "No Mae West picture has been more Westful or more zestful. It is earthy, erotic, pungent — broad comedy pitched at its most entertaining level — providing in ample measure all . . . the [enticements] West legions have come to expect and demand of this ribald farceur. The picture will be heavily touted, and young men and old will heed the title, 'Go West, Young Man,' with generous profit to producer and exhibitor from the ace palaces well down the line. . . For all its broad lines and its calculated entertainment vulgarity, the picture doesn't overstep the bounds of offensiveness within the censorial permissions." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 N 3 '36 GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937. Warner-First National 95min D 26 '36 Cast: Dick Powell. Joan Blondell. Glenda Farrell. Victor Moore. Lee Dixon. Osgood Perkins Director: Lloyd Bacon Dances: Busby Berkeley Music & lyrics: Harry Warren. Al Dubin. Harold Arlen. E. Y. Harburg Music director: Leo F. Forbstein Based on the play Sweet Mystery of Life by Richard Maibaum, Michael Wallach and George Haight. A tuneful musical featuring a back stage story concerned with an insurance company taking over a musical production after the producer has been insured for a million dollars. Nexospaper and Magazine Reviews "It is a wTell-worn formula, and one that has produced results and will doubtless produce them again. [It] varies only in incidentals from its predecessors. . . However, it is still an eyeful, and you could probably do worse, as you could certainly do better. But by any count, it is a pleasant and harmless evening." Laura Elston H Canadian M p39 D '36 Trade Paper Reviexos "This can be rated as the best of the 'Gold Diggers' series. It has a far better story than the usual musical comedy and is loaded with legitimate laughs." + Film Daily p7 D 2 '36 + Motion Pict Daily p6 D 1 '36 " 'Gold Diggers of 1937' should be a golddigging picture for those exhibitors who are lucky enough to have it on their schedules. Lavishly produced from story and script that are substantial, flashy and endowed with a cast of bang-up performers, it stands out as one of the most entertaining musicals of this or any other year. . . Dick Powell's part is a natural. . . His singing of all four songs in the picture ranks with his best vocal work on the screen and his acting sets a new Powell standard. Joan Blondell, in a less rowdy part than she usually draws, is more personable and more appreciated. Victor Moore, as a hypochondriac producer, almost steals the show." -f Variety (Hollywood) p3 N 20 '36 GORGEOUS HUSSY. MGM 105min Ag 28 *36 Cast: Joan Crawford. Robert Taylor. Lionel Barrymore. Franchot Tone. Melvyn Douglas. James Stewart. Beulah Bondi Director: Clarence Brown See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "The picture is an excellent fusion of historical and romantic elements, and it has been directed with taste and distinction." T. J. Fitzmorris + + America p552 S 12 '36 "Direction is outstanding, the story is skilfully unfolded, and the attention to detail in costume and settings is unusually good. The picture is a fascinating presentation of one of the most stirring periods in American history. Adolescents, 12-16: excellent; children, 8-12: beyond their understanding." + Motion Pict R p5 S '36 "A and Y: excellent; C: too mature." Parents' M p42 N '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "It is rather pleasant to find an historical subject that is in itself intensely interesting, yet has not served before as the basis for a motion picture. . . It provides delightful movie material." Laura Elston + Canadian M p45 O '36 "[It is a] well-written screen play, handsomely photographed. Family." + Christian Science Monitor pl3 S 19 '36 "Most moviegoers will go to see 'The Gorgeous Hussy' because of the lovely posters of La Crawford in Bob Taylor's arms, rather than at the promptings of history. If so, you'll be disappointed. Taylor plays a bouncing, marcelled sailor boy who dies at the end of the second reel. . . Miss Crawford travels under wraps as Peggy. I'm afraid history frightened her." (2y2 stars) Beverly Hills Liberty p35 O 10 '36 "[It] is a studied, well-made picture, only half of it boring. Beulah Bondi, acts very well; Robert Taylor and Miss Crawford commendably." -I New Statesman & Nation p589 O 17 '36 "Like a lot of statesmen in 1823, the M.G.M. outfit in 1936 failed to take Andrew 'Old Hickory' Jackson into serious enough consideration; and 'The Gorgeous Hussy' emerges the story of a gusty Presidency. President Jackson and his pipe-smoking Rachel recreate a robust section of history all by themselves; Peg scurries about in their shadows unable to assume the titular responsibilities of a spectacular production. . . Hollywood glamour has become confused with historical glamour — that's what happened to 'The Gorgeous Hussy.' You may like Hollywood clamour, though." Stage p24 O '36 Trade Paper Reviews "This picture has all the fundamental elements that go to spell out good box office. The story will probably not hold quite as much appeal for Canadian audiences as it will for those in the United States." + Canadian Moving Pict Digest p6 O 31 '36 GREAT O'MALLEY. Warner 70min F 13 '37 Cast: Pat O'Brien. Humphrey Bogart. Ann Sheridan. Frieda Inescort. Sybil Jason. Donald Crisp Director: William Dieterle Based on the novel The Making of O'Malley by Gerald Beaumont. This is a remake of a First National silent film. "The story is that of a young New York cop (Pat O'Brien) who, following in the footsteps of his policeman father, thinks that the only thing to do is to enforce the letter of the law. He gives a ticket to Humphrey Bogart, who is going on the first job he has had in years. The delay causes him to lose the job and in desperation to feed his wife and their crippled child, he pulls a holdup and is sent to prison." [Variety (Hollywood)] + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; -f Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor