Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 93 Audience Suitability Ratings "A theoretical problem is interestingly presented in an unusual story that is strongly told and well worth seeing. . . The novel and controversial subject will have a special appeal for various groups, including the medical and the legal. Adults & young people." E Coast Preview Committee + Fox W Coast Bui O 17 '36 "The story is arresting and unusual, if not entirely credible. An irrelevant love interest weakens the development, and the consequent 'happy ending' is an anti-climax. In this, and in one or two other incidents stronger and more sensitive direction might have avoided bathos. Ralph Bellamy gives a very fine performance. Suitability: adults & adolescents." H Mo Film Bui pl74 O '36 "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency O 15 '36 "A: matter of taste; Y & C: no." Parents' M p32 D '36 "Adults & young people." Sel Motion Pict pll X 1 '36 "The general tone is melodramatic, but the idea and its working out are interesting. Family." Wkly Guide O 3 '26 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "The results of Columbia's experimentation in the allied fields of brain surgery, induced amnesia, the rehabilitation of the recidivist and face-lifting are on view in a diverting, well photographed and nicely performed problem photoplay called 'The Man Who Lived Twice.' " J. T. M. -f NY Times p23 O 12 '36 "In case you have suspected that 'The Man Who Lived Twice' disappointed this reviewer, you will be correct. It did. Although it has some lively and exciting moments, pithy speeches and expert performances by Mr. Bellamy, Thurston Hall, Henry Kolker, Willard Robertson, Ward Bond and Isabel Jewell — especially Miss Jewell — its direction is uneven and its denouement slovenly. The result is a good idea gone wrong." William Boehnel h N Y World-Telegram plO O 12 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Although only a program picture and heavy melodrama, this film has plenty of interest for family audiences." -1 Box Office p35 N 7 '36 "[It is] unusual drama of double identity [which] carries thrills and suspense in wellknit storv." + Film Daily pl3 O 13 '36 "Although it is incredible and extremely farfetched, the plot merits speculative interest on the stage or screen, but only in these realms of fantasy. As a starring vehicle for Ralph Bellamy, he appears to advantage in a heavy role, but in the main the production is undistinguished 'mellerdrammer.' It has suspense and it is provocative until the denouement of the plot is worked out. . . Your audience may walk out of the theater with some feeling of dissatisfaction and readiness to forget the whole thing because of its implausibility, but the production and title can be depended upon to bring them into the house and keep them interested until the last half reel unwinds." h Hollywood Reporter p3 O 19 '36 "Heavy melodrama all the way, it has a good pace, with the result — interesting program. Estimate: saleable." + Phila Exhibitor p36 O 15 '36 " 'The Man Who Lived Twice,' a good title even if it crowds the marquee, deals with crime from the social and pathological angle in a very entertaining manner. Favored by good production, able direction and a script that im presses for this type of story, the picture deserves to do average business or better. . . A worthwhile selection for double bills. [It] has sufficient quality to stand alone on secondary first runs." + Variety pl5 O 14 '36 MANDARIN MYSTERY. Republic 65min D 7 '36 Cast: Eddie Quillan. Charlotte Henry. Rita LaRoy Director: Ralph Stone Based on the mystery story The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen. A young detective investigates a murder and the mysterious disappearance of a valuable Chinese stamp which is a collector's item. Audience Suitability Ratings "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency D 3 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Althqugh there have been exceptions, it is almost axiomatic to say that a film story is usually poor in ratio to the number of writers who concoct it. . . It seems a pity that, having slighted so fine an actor as Eddie Quillan, Hollywood returns him to us in a vehicle so poor that even Eddie is at times almost overwhelmed. The fundamental weakness ... is Producer Nat Levine's disregard of the law of the illusion of reality. The entire story movement is sustained by a series of manifestly impossible events. . . 'Mandarin Mystery' immediately became, and remained throughout just a series of preposterous celluloid incidents. . . The conclusion to be drawn from this unfortunately justified criticism is that 'The Mandarin Mystery' is an exceptionally fine specimen for classroom dissection by students of cinema, as it offers a rich harvest of cinematic errors. If, however, you are in search of entertainment, forget this Republic mistake. That is, unless you have a highly developed sense of humor." Paul Jacobs Hollywood Spec pll D 5 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Despite good comedy performances by Eddie Quillan and William Newell, this picture' will be best to hold up the short end on a double bill. The mystery plot is thin, and the action slow. Family." f Box Office p29 N 21 '36 — Motion Pict Daily plO N 17 '36 "Mystery, with accent on comedy, this lacks name strength, with results best for twin bills, neighborhoods. . . With a cast that has no selling names, familiar type of yarn, the picture's main selling angle would seem to be in the Chinese background of the title." -| Phila Exhibitor p31 D 1 '36 MEN OF THE PLAINS. Grand national 62min Cast: Rex Bell. Joan Barclay. George Ball Director: Robert Hill A western melodrama. Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Strictly for the cowboy opus fans — and then only the avid ones. . . [It is] a particularly uninspired affair. Family." — Christian Science Monitor pl5 O 24 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Fans of the western star and action films glorifying bullets, fisticuffs and flying hoofs will find this entertaining. Though photography + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; \ Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor