Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

78 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST LEGION OF TERROR— Continued Trade Paper Reviews "Timely and authentic in theme and holding audience interest during a series of hair-raising episodes, this proves splendid box office fare for the thrill fans. Family." -I Box Office p29 N 21 '36 "Good audience picture that exposes in convincing and exciting fashion the insidious, cowardly activities of lawless secret societies masquerading under hood and robe. In addition to being entertaining, its sequences are ministers of good Americanism." + Film Daily p6 N 3 '36 "The picture has a distinct let-down after the final climax when the chief postal inspector reads a lecture to the audience on the folly of people allowing themselves to be misled by such secret organizations. [It] is just made to order for old-time showmen who like to get the utmost out of exploitation possibilities which are here in abundance. Direction and photography are fair, and the film as a whole is unpretentious, but has good possibilities for drawing them in at the box office." -I Hollywood Reporter p4 N 9 '36 + Motion Pict Daily pl5 O 16 '36 "Columbia has produced an actionful, melodramatic picture that can stand loads of selling. . . It has been directed with plenty of punch." + Phila Exhibitor p32 N 1 '36 "That it doesn't pack solid conviction is due chiefly to its abbreviated treatment of the subject-matter. . . Composite results have a quickie tinge, and would appear to classify best for duals in selected houses. Promotional possibilities are inherent, but in this case are best suited to the adventure houses and neighborhoods where they can stomach horror in stereotype setting." -1 Variety pl9 N 4 '36 LIBELED LADY. MGM 90min O 9 '36 Cast: Jean Harlow. William Powell. Myrna Loy. Spencer Tracy. Walter Connolly. Cora Witherspoon Director: Jack Conway "Theme . . . depicts antics of a suave metropolitan reporter trying to quash $5,000,000 suit against his newspa.per by attempting to compromise the millionairess plaintiff. Scheme is engineered by the managing editor with the aid of his gullible, but loyal fiancee." Variety (Hollywood) Audience Suitability Ratings "A: very good of kind; Y: better not; C: no." Christian Century pl406 O 21 '36 "[It is] an amusing and well told story. Family." Am Legion Auxiliary "Gay spontaneous comedy with ridiculous situations and some slapstick, it is, none the less, exhilarating entertainment. Adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Smartly modern, with hilarious situations, comedy bordering occasionally on the slapstick, admirably directed and superbly cast. Adults." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "For a good laugh, see suave William Powell floundering midstream. Mature & 14-18. Excellent." DAR "Four leading stars head a good cast who put over an absurd but amusing plot with verve and sparkling dialogue. Gorgeous gowns. Mature." Nat Soc of New England Women "A picture of interest to adults." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women + Fox W Coast Bui O 17 '36 "This pretentious production has every thing necessary to enjoyable entertainment. Mature." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 7 '36 "Very good. Adults & young adults." -f + Motion Pict Guide D '36 "No more preposterous concoction than 'Libeled Lady' can be imagined, but its lively pace, its flippant rapid-fire dialogue, its ludicrous situations and the zest with which the cast enters into the spirit of the story make it unique in the school of sophisticated slapstick. Adolescents, 12-16: too sophisticated; children, 8-12: no." + Motion Pict R p7 N '36 "This highly amusing, light and refreshing comedy with its clever, witty dialogue and sparkling repartee proves hilarious entertainment. Abounding in humorous situations, the story is improbable but develops smoothly to a happy conclusion. Family." + Nat Council of Jewish Women O 7 '36 "Objection: marriage is used as a convenience. Objectionable in part." — Nat Legion of Decency O 15 '36 "A: excellent; Y: sophisticated; C: too mature." Parents' M p46 Ja '37 "Mature. Outstanding." + + Sel Motion Pict p3 N 1 '36 "[It is] a hilarious comedy of errors. . . Each of the numerous stars is lucky enough to have a very fitting part. Mature. Outstanding." + + Wkly Guide O 10 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews " 'Libeled Lady' . . . kept an Orpheum audience yesterday morning in a constant state of glee. . . Aside from the other humorous incidents, the producers have thought up an excellent sequence dealing with trout fishing. . . This fount of fun gives all the participants an opportunity to distinguish themselves, with the result that the film is a good pendant for 'The Thin Man.' . . If you find your sides aching or splitting, complain to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, for this concern is responsible for 'Libeled Lady.' " Mordaunt Hall + + Boston Transcript p3 O 31 '36 "[It is] a hilarious comedy drama. . . If there were to be any choice as between the admirable performances of this group of talented players, it would probably fall on Miss Harlow, not perhaps because of any exceptional display of talent, but because after playing in a series of sentimentalized roles where she was obviously not at home, she is once again cast as a slightly indecorous young lady. . . 'Libeled Lady' is a combination of amusing and exhilarating experiences tied together with the smartest dialogue of any picture for some time past. . . The unravelling of this tangled skein is a thing of joy to those who delight in smart fastmoving comedy. This is a picture for the reasonably adult. It could not be suggested as either soundly interesting or soundly educational for the adolescent." Laura Elston -f Canadian M p38 D '36 "From its slapstick depths to its high comedy peaks, here is the funniest farce in several moons. Director Jack Conway has ordered no holds barred in the rowdy gag fest and, except for an occasional breathing spell, the quartet of stars and their supporting cast are right there flicking out comedy punches right and left for some 80 odd minutes. Adults & young people." + -j Christian Science Monitor pl7 N 14 '36 " 'Libeled Lady' is grand entertainment, a brilliant example of talkie craftsmanship, splendidly acted, of course, and splendidly directed. . . Any review would be merely a string of superlatives. I say about all there is to say when I tell you it is a picture you must see." + -f Hollywood Spec pll O 10 '36 -f+ Exceptionally Good; -f-Good; -| Fair; (-Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor