Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

64 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD — Continued "Despite a superb performance by John Halliday as Blakeford, and effective work by Marsha Hunt and Robert Cummings as the love interest, Paramount' s picture fails to rise above the second-feature level." r News-Wk p27 S 26 '36 "The current excursion into Celluloid City starts out with a good idea and then loses a considerable part of it in a morass of trick angles and subplots. . . 'Hollywood Boulevard' is something you'll probably want to see because of Marsha Hunt's haunting loveliness . . . and the chance to welcome a host of past favorites back to a profession that needs 'em." Herb Sterne -| Script plO S 19 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Rabid fans will dote upon 'Hollywood Boulevard' and the general rank-and-file will be entertained. It has unexpected virtues, having one of the best scripts ever possessed by a behind-the-scenes-in-Hollywood picture. It has the advantage of introducing its old timers intelligently and plausibly." 4 Variety p!6 S 23 '36 HOPALONG CASSIDY RETURNS. Paramount 72min O 16 '36 Cast: William Boyd. George Hayes. Gail Sheridan Director: Nate Watt A western melodrama. Audience Suitability Ratings "Fast action and good photography are depended upon to put over this banal story of early mining days. In spite of the hackneyed plot, it will be entertaining to those who enjoy Westerns. Family-mature. (Too much gun play for children.)" Am Legion Auxiliary "The usual bad men, dance hall girls, gambling, drinking and a brutal scene where the crippled editor of the local paper is lassoed in his wheel chair and dragged to his death. Adults: poor; 14-18: good; 8-14: no." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "The story is well told, with sufficient 'punch' to save it from being an ordinary Western. The high principles and courage of this familiar character give a wholesomeness to every picture in this series — this one, however, being a bit more sophisticated in tone than the others. Good for type. Mature." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Picturesque natural settings; hard drinking; much shooting. Mature. Mediocre." DAR "Varied scenes and fine horsemanship in a film which depicts the worst features of the old time West. Adults." Nat Soc of New England Women "Although true to type, the usually trite shooting, drinking and rowdyism are not overdone and the old time 'shindigs' have been omitted, all tending to make a better class Western. Very suitably cast with appropriate dialogue. Family." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui O 24 '36 "[It is] another exciting Western. Family." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 14 '36 "Those who enjoy Westerns will find the latest of the Hopalong Cassidy series much to their taste with its dash and swing, excellent riding, straight-shooting and one of the best of the frontier heroes, William Boyd. These films boast better direction with fewer hitches in action, than most of their kind. . . There is one scene which will bring shudders to many, the spectacle of an invalid dragged to his death in a wheel-chair. Such an exhibition of wanton cruelty is unnecessary and to be deplored, especially in a picture which will attract junior audiences. Adolescents, 12-16: questionable; children, 8-12: no." Motion Pict R p6 N '36 "[It is] a very mediocre Western. . . A waste of time for any audience." — Nat Council of Jewish Women O 14 '36 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency O 29 '36 "A & Y: poor; C: no." Parents' M p46 Ja '37 "[It is] a stereotyped Western. . . The only relieving feature is the scenery. Adults & young people." H Sel Motion Pict p7 N 1 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Showmen can welcome Hopalong back with every confidence that this first of Harry Sherman's new series will be a success at the turnstiles. Family." + Box Office p63 O 17 '36 "This Hopalong is one of the best in the series. It has more plot and more dramatics than the previous ones, and it stacks up as an outdoor picture of the best grade." + Film Daily p8 O 12 '36 "With stories, production and direction constantly improving, this is undoubtedly the best of the Hopalong Cassidy series. It represents a completely satisfactory hour of all-family entertainment and any exhibitor who has done well with the Hopalongs before should do better with this." + Hollywood Reporter p3 O 8 '36 + Motion Pict Daily pl3 O 9 '36 "It holds to the high standard set last season. Estimate: okey." + Phila Exhibitor p33 N 1 '36 "With a substantial following built on former pictures in the series, 'Hopalong Cassidy Returns' is a cinch to bear fruit at the wickets wherever it is played. Film has that ample punch to bring them in. It's truly a Western, with all players portraying their characterizations in magnificent style. . . Capably written, acted, directed and produced, this film shouldn't be hard to sell. It's just what the customers like — in the proper theatres." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 O 8 '36 HOUSE OF SECRETS. Chesterfield 67min O 26 '36 Cast: Leslie Fenton. Muriel Evans. Sidney Blackmer Director: Roland Reed "[It is the story of] an American who finds himself not only heir to a large English estate but also the center of much interest on the part of Scotland Yard. He is helped by a friend, who is a detective bent upon a different mission." Sel Motion Pict Audience Suitability Ratings "An absorbing mystery drama. Adults & young people." E Coast Preview Committee + Fox W Coast Bui N 7 '36 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency N 5 '36 "A, Y & C: fair melodrama." Parents' M p46 Ja '37 "Good acting, smooth and fast direction and an excellent climax are combined in an entertaining film. Adults & young people." + Sel Motion Pict plO N 1 '36 -f -f Exceptionally Good; -f Good; -] Fair; \ Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor