Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

68 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST JUNGLE PRINCESS — Continued their liking in a motion picture theatre, will have cause to give thanks for this Paramount production. The story perhaps might have been a little more believable and more closely knit, but, after all, it is the background that matters most, and we certainly can not quarrel with it on the ground that it is not entertaining. . . 'Jungle Princess' is worthwhile, particularly as entertainment for children who have been a neglected box-office element since the screen went talkie. When it comes your way, take the youngsters to see it. It is essentially entertainment for the entire family." + Hollywood Spec pll D 5 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "A splendid performance by Dorothy Lamour and several gripping stock jungle shots make this good entertainment, despite its many unbelievable situations. Film will rate with juveniles, made 'jungle conscious' through the celluloid and newspaper antics of Tarzan, and can command prominence in any neighborhood situation. Family." + Box Office p23 N 28 '36 "Lacking the real thrilling excitement that makes a Tarzan or Jungle picture, this number is only mild entertainment of its type. The picture's interest in the main, is that it introduces the new and charming Dorothy Lamour who exhibits physical charm and personality that should mean something. . . The screenplay ... is imaginative and well constructed. But with all the good technical contributions, the picture still lacks the vital tense situations that really make this type of picture." h Film Daily p9 N 20 '36 "The highly imaginary situation gives opportunity for exciting animal melodrama and social complications, and it will be hugely enjoyed by junior-minded audiences on the Tarzan level. It should also be profitable. . . Max Marcin's story is, of course, according to formula, but it has been worked up into innocent and ingenious entertainment." + Hollywood Reporter p3 N 17 '36 H Motion Pict Daily pl3 N IS '36 "Where a female Tarzan is saleable, so is the show. Miss Lamour indicates she has plenty of talent. Estimate: depends on exploitation." Phila Exhibitor p30 D 1 '36 "Although based on an improbable story and filled with impossible situations, 'The Jungle Princess' is a female Tarzan yarn that will rate fair as a bolsterer on duals. It is hardly a sufficient vehicle to introduce to audiences the screen personality of Dorothy Lamour. . . Those who like their Tarzans, male or female, may go for this one for its action and somewhat idyllic nature, but this will hold only with the neighborhood trade and youngsters." -i Variety (Hollywood) p3 N 17 '36 K DER KAMPF. Amkino 90min S 10 '36 Cast: Lotte Loebinger. Bruno Schmits dorf. Gregor Gog. Ingeborg Franke Director: Gustav Wangenheim See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Maybe we miss the social significance in the cinematic confusion. . . It is hot with bitterness against the Nazis; but the bitterness gets involved in the general muddle. . . Critics tell us Lotte Loebinger does some fine acting as the mother, but you will have to discover for yourself. We are not sure just what she is trying to express — but, whatever it is, she is expressing it at top emotion for ninety minutes." (1 star) Beverly Hills Liberty p39 O 17 '36 " 'Der Kampf is at one and the same time the most important, moving, formalistically the most interesting, and yet the most incomplete and imperfect film of current running. . . This pent-up protest has crystalized in the greatest single movie performance of the last five years — Lotte Loebinger as Mother Lemke. . . The two strands of the story run side by side and at times cross to the illumination of each. Unfortunately neither is sufficiently clear to make for a complete and logically acceptable whole. . . All its shortcomings taken into consideration, 'Der Kampf [rates] as an unqualified must [see], if only that it proves that films need not be sure divertissement but can be as rich, raw, and full of protest as life. . . We get a sense of participating in the future." Robert Stebbins New Theatre p25 O '36 "It is surprising and a great disappointment that 'Der Kampf ' should turn out to be a botched piece of work. . . There are outstanding scenes in the film. . . They suggest what the whole film might have been as a piece of reporting had there been an inspired handling of the story involved. . . Yet most of it is too muddled for us, too baffling and murky." John Mosher h New Yorker p98 S 19 '36 "This is propaganda. Flicker fans whose eyes glaze at films made to arouse indignation had better look elsewhere. But it will doubtless please those who enjoy an emotional evening at the expense of the Brown Shirts." News-Wk p30 S 19 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "A provocative condemnation of Nazi barbarism, and a tribute to German workers who have fought and still fight against fascism. . . The entire cast is effective, playing the parts with great realism. Spoken in German, but liberally supplied with super-imposed English dialogue titles, the action is easily followed and should appeal to liberal audiences." -f Hollywood Reporter p7 S 25 '36 "It is strong and frequently heartrending. . . As cinematography, on the other hand, it is, unfortunately, not all it should be. This latter is unfortunate. It seems as though the producers were nursing their wounds a bit too much, still conscious of their bruises and, in their anxiety to tell the world about it all, forgot about such things as scenaristic equity, acting, photography and direction. . . And yet the spectator can't help feeling the tense drama of it all, behind scenes." Variety pl6 S 16 '36 KELLY THE SECOND. MGM 70min Ag 21 '36 Cast: Patsy Kelly. Guinn (Big Boy) Williams. Charley Chase. Pert Kelton. Edward Brophy Director: Gus Meins See issue of June 29, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "Here is a comedy which will effectively dispel any suspicion that the movies are goinghighbrow, in spite of their wholesale raids on the classics. It seems to be Patsy Kelly's day off as the bright spot in other people's poor pictures, and in this boisterous affair she has a whole hour in which to convulse her public with laughter unrefined. . . As any movie-goer who knows the star's forte will appreciate, this is not comedy in terms of George Meredith; but if it never quite penetrates into cerebral regions, it is immensely pleasing as far as it goes." T. J. Fitzmorris + America p528 S 5 '36 -t+ Exceptionally Good; + Good: -\ Fair; \ Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor