Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

88 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST MAD HOLIDAY — Continued of audiences. The treatment goes overboard on slapstick and the foolery, while funny, removes the impact from the melodrama." Herb Sterne + Script pl5 N 14 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Despite splendid performances by Edmund Lowe and Elissa Landi, this picture has too much plot, too many corpses and too little action to be much more than a run-of-the-mill film. There is plenty of sparkling dialogue and fine comedy, but the picture misses by becoming too involved. Family." 1 Box Office p51 N 14 '36 "Presenting frothy, light entertainment and tragedy at the same time, it is difficult to classify this laughstudded mystery drama which appears to be both a travesty and a very serious piece of business. Only the individual picture patrons can decide. But anyone, regardless of how his or her interpretation is gaited, will discover enough all-around diversion to make the ticket investment fairly worth-while." H Film Daily p8 N 30 '36 "It would be hard to go farther than this in farcing a murder mystery or to wring more laughs from as corpse-bedecked a story. Unhappily, the thing is carried too far. Into a highly ingenious and amusing satirical travesty there have been inserted a battery of lowcomedy gags that throw the rest out of key and slow up the development to no good purpose. . . With some relentless surgery in the cutting room it will be better still." H Hollywood Reporter p3 N 5 '36 1 Motion Pict Daily p9 N 6 '36 "[It is] programmer that has more names than the usual attempt of this sort. . . The comedy elements are strong but the net result is program." H Phila Exhibitor p52 N 15 '36 " 'Mad Holiday' offers a very draggy 72 minutes which includes faked and genuine murders, a dash of comedy and love interest. The ingredients mix together clumsily and the result largely is a bore. Chances at the ticket windows are slender." — Variety p38 D 2 '36 " 'Mad Holiday* is lightweight, run-of-themine filler. It will do well enough as a bit of [mystery] diversion, particularly where customers expect murders well garnished with laughter. Certain irresolutions on part of screen playwrights and director tend to delay the intent of the story until it gradually clarifies as a mildly farced murder mystery. Comedy is stressed, even at expense of suspense. . . Conviction is not maintained even for usual pitch. Characters do not behave as if in the midst of dire doings." 1 Variety (Hollywood) p3 N 5 '36 MAGNIFICENT BRUTE. Universal 74min O 11 '36 Cast: Victor McLaglen. Binnie Barnes. William Hall. Jean Dixon. Henry Armetta Director: John Blystone Based on the Liberty Magazine short story. Big, by Owen Francis. "Laid in the he-man atmosphere of the steel mills, story depicts rivalry between Victor McLaglen and William Hall, two husky workers vying for honor of being head man in their muscular trade." [Variety (Hollywood)] Audience Suitability Ratings "Victor McLaglen continues to be a better actor than his screen stories will admit, for the plot of his latest vehicle is unoriginal and over-sentimentalized. Thanks to a hardworking cast and a generally effective production, the film is slightly better than fair entertainment but not in any sense important. . . The realistic treatment of the story quite evidently places it in the adult bracket." T. J. Fitzmorris -\ America p96 O 31 '36 "A & Y: good of kind; C: no." Christian Century pl438 O 28 '36 "Adults. (Matter of taste.)" Am Legion Auxiliary "Mature-family. Adults: excellent; 14-18: tense; 8-14: no." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Impressive interiors of the mill showing the glowing hot metal being poured and a thoughtprovoking method used to stimulate production make this picture interesting to those who enjoy vigorous drama. Adults." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Harrowing details of the mills. Mature audience & 14-18. Mediocre." DAR "Although ethics are a bit confused, the film is exciting and holds one's attention throughout. Mature." Nat Soc of New England Women "Very realistic photography and an excellent cast and direction have made a strong picture. Family." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women "An open hearth steel mill is an unusual background for a motion picture. The story is weak and sordid, with but little human interest to relieve its tragedy. The shots showing the manufacture of steel are interesting, but the death of Howard is unnecessarily harrowing. 12-16: harrowing; 8-12: no." Women's Univ Club, Los Angeles Fox W Coast Bui O 10 '36 "This unusual picture, a drama of the Steel Mills, though not always pleasant, is forceful in direction, replete with suspense, and gives us an intimate insight into the industry. Family-mature." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) S 28 '36 "Fair. Adults." -i Motion Pict Guide D '36 "The story is weak and sordid with little humor or character development to relieve its tragic events. The sequences depicting the manufacture of steel are interesting, but there are several unnecessarily harrowing scenes. Though acting and direction are adequate the dialogue is trite and what comedy relief there is depends upon 'wisecracks.' Adolescents, 1216: harrowing; children, 8-12: certainly not." 1 Motion Pict R p7 N '36 "Family." Nat Council of Jewish Women O 1 '36 "A perfect setting for a McLaglen characterization. Adults." + Nat Legion of Decency O 15 '36 "A & Y: he-man comedy melodrama; C: possible though tense." Parents' M p46 Ja '37 "This picture [is] fairly interesting. Adults." H Sel Motion Pict p6 N 1 '36 "Well acted and holds the interest throughout. Family." + Wkly Guide O 10 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "[It] is frankly melodramatic in its situations and earthy in its humor. Victor McLaglen's presentation . . . along with the sympathetic and restrained performance of Jean Dixon, justifies this rather rugged fare." Laura Elston Canadian M p39 D '36 "If you expect to see another 'Informer' you will be disappointed in this melodramatic hokum. . . [It is] produced and acted with all the restraint of the street brawl which is one of its features. Victor McLaglen is Victor McLaglen without John Ford's re + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -| Fair; -j Mediocre; Poor; Exceptionally Poor