Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 97 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Fair program murder melodrama which would be more successful were it not so confusing-. . . Adults." -) — Christian Science Monitor pl9 D 5 '36 "Regardless of the triteness of the piece, and its very sketchy unwinding, it is rather bright entertainment at that. Lew Ayres, as the photographer, is an engaging, if rather hysterical young man." Marguerite Tazelaar -1 NY Herald Tribune plO N 21 '36 "The title of the Rialto's current 'Murder With Pictures' readily suggests itself as a likely critical analysis of the film, especially when you realize how such an item may damage the cinema reputations of talented players like Gail Patrick, Onslow Stevens and Paul Kelly." J. T. M. — NY Times p21 N 21 '36 "[It is a] run-of-the-mill murder melodrama. [It is a] tortuous and complicated film that is frequently exciting but more often too stereotyped to result in something better than an indifferent melodrama." William Boehnel h N Y World-Telegram p31 N 20 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "A terrific tempo marks this melodrama from start to finish. It is chock full of trick twists and surprises, always the unexpected happening. . . A very fast and exciting climax, with the murderer being uncovered in a most dramatic manner. Play this one up for the thrill fans, promise them red-blooded action and heman stuff in big gobs, and you won't be deceiving them." + Film Daily p9 N 20 '36 "Estimate: for neighborhoods, twin bills." H Phila Exhibitor p34 S 15 '36 "Mystery element and some first-rate performances fail to cover up all of the writing flaws. Despite obvious scripting weaknesses, 'Murder With Pictures' will prove entertaining for audiences liking sleuth bafflers. Lack of heavy name draw may keep the film in dual frame in numerous localities. . . Production supplies Lew Ayres with a swell chance to shine, and he makes the most of it. . . Where the scripters fell down a bit on plot premises they partially redeemed themselves with some snappy dialoging of modern type." -\ Variety pl5 N 25 '36 MY MAN GODFREY. Universal 95min Ag 30 '36 Cast: William Powell. Carole Lombard. Alice Brady. Eugene Pallette. Gail Patrick Director: Gregory La Cava See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "The film gambols along at a farcical gait, but, behind the amusing situations, is the wraith of a sobering idea. . . A wholesome and intelligent comedy, pitched to the proper key of exuberance." T. J. Fitzmorris -f America p504 Ag 29 '36 "William Powell is superb as a butler and is careful to underplay Godfrey, using eyebrows instead of words. Gregory La Cava's direction is more than equal to the job and, as a result, this long comedy is not a minute too long. Suitability: adults & adolescents." -f Mo Film Bui pl52 S 30 '36 "A and Y: side-splitting farce; C: mature." Parents' M p43 O '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "[This is] an hilarious movie. . . It is the clever dialogue, the farcical situations and real comedy that promise an avalanche of laughs and there are moments of deft and very fine acting also." Laura Elston + Canadian M p46 O '36 "Hollywood gets the sillies under the adept guidance of Gregory La Cava working with characteristic material from Morrie Ryskind and Eric Hatch, and the result is an entertaining satirical farce. . . Occasional Deedslike philosophy. Family." + Christian Science Monitor pl3 S 19 '36 "1936 is already a good film year, if nothing else. In the past nine months, among half a dozen remarkable films, three outstanding pictures have reached the highest talkie standard: 'Fury,' 'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town,' and 'My Man Godfrey.' All three films blend entertainment value with a certain sociological significance. . . It provides further evidence of Hollywood's entirely changed attitude toward the glaring discrepancy between monied civilisation, as we have it, and the rational, ideal humanity which we lack; for what is so new about several recent films is the indication of something vaguely definable as sincerity. . . Not that 'My Man Godfrey' is primarily, by any means, a sociological film or human document. It is an astringent, flip comedy. . . It is a joyous film, because it has all the speed and sparkle that crisp direction and swift, unpretentious writing can give it. . . The whole cast contributes appreciably to its success — and it's a very great success, in a field which, we are beginning to suspect, may have been too much maligned. . . All concerned with the making of this film deserve congratulation. ' ' + + New Statesman & Nation p428 S 26 '36 "All things considered 'My Man Godfrey' exemplifies the usual Hollywood phenomenon — fine talent lavished on shoddy. Performers and director turn in an outstanding comedy job. . . A dilute imitation of 'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town' (thematically, that is) without the latter's sincerity. Film estimate: you're doing all right." H New Theatre p22 N '36 "It has been shaped to a lunatic and hilarious screen farce. . . It is only when the scattered ends of a plot are gathered up in the concluding sequences, with a preposterous attempt to derive social significance from the nonsensical narrative, that the photoplay falters." Howard Barnes -| NY Herald Tribune pl8 S 18 '36 " 'My Man Godfrey' is one of those unexpected treats, a film long heralded as mad, scatterbrained and hilarious, that actually turns out to be mad, scatterbrained and, best of all hilarious. . . The picture falls to pieces, as such daffy yarns usually do, in the last reel. There it discovers social significance, economics and a happy ending." Eileen Creelman + NY Sun p35 S 18 '36 "[It is] the dafflest comedy of the year. . . There may be a sober moment or two in the picture; there may be a few lines of the script that do not pack a laugh. Somehow we cannot remember them. It's nonsense, of course, but it's something to relish on a damp September morn. . . 'My Man Godfrey' is an exuberantly funny picture." F. S. Nugent + NY Times pl8 S 18 '36 "[It] manages to mix satire and some semiserio social comment in a moderately amusing and entertaining manner. . . If you are depending upon it to call attention vigorously and truthfully to the unfortunate plight of the army of unemployed I must warn you that it is tissue paper propaganda. But if you merely want to be amused by some witty observations on insignificant problems that face the inhabitants of upper Park Ave., you will find it witty, urbane and rather amusing." William Boehnel H NY World-Telegram p26 S 18 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -| Fair; — + Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor