Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 119 same hokem makes the [children] cheer, only this time it is the coast guard instead of the marines." H Variety (Hollywood) p3 S 25 '36 SECOND WIFE. RKO 60min Ag 21 '36 Cast: Walter Abel. Gertrude Michael. Erik Rhodes Director: Edward Killy See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "The special perils awaiting the woman who marries a widower with a son are -met and overcome in this human interest document on marriage. . . The direction is a shade inferior, running to heavy emphasis on the more sentimental moments." T. J. Fitzmorris H America p528 S 5 '36 "An improbable story fairly well acted with good production values. Adults, family, young people: matter of taste; 8-14: too intense." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "The picture gets off to a slow start, but gathers momentum, and the sequence in which David steals the guns of the bandits is quite breath-taking. There is some pleasant photography of outdoor scenes, the direction is good and the cast well chosen." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs + Fox W Coast Bui S 12 '36 "Fair. Adults & young adults." -| Motion Pict Guide D '36 generous load of fun, sometimes farce and sometimes straight comedy. Perhaps it might come under the heading of intelligent nonsense of the rougher variety. There are even moments when the effervescent humor is spiced with subtlety." Mordaunt Hall + Boston Transcript p4 S 19 '36 "Adults." Christian Science Monitor pl3 S 26 '36 " 'Sing, Baby, Sing' slipped into town with a modesty and absence of ballyhoo most unlike 'Swing Time' and at once established itself as the best semi-musical of the year, miles ahead of Twentieth Century's last attempts in the genre — 'Thanks a Million' and 'King of Burlesque.' " Robert Stebbins + + New Theatre pl7 O '36 "There is some entertainment to be found in a minor item called 'Sing, Baby, Sing,' thanks especially to the comic antics of Adolphe Menjou." John Mosher r New Yorker p83 S 26 '36 News-Wk p30 S 19 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Sing, showmen, sing. For here comes something called 'Sing, Baby, Sing,' a melody for the box office that will keep the ticket machines ringing and audience sides shaking. . The cast, story and songs combine to remove any alibi that this picture isn't entertaining, as well as any exhibitor excuse for using another feature with it. . . Ritz Bros., long in vaudeville, make their debut in this DeSylva musical. They are a riot. . . It wouldn't do any harm for exhibitors to start in right now to sell this trio of clowns." + Variety pl6 S 16 '36 SING, BABY, SING. 20th century-Fox OOmin Ag 21 '36 Cast: Alice Faye. Adolphe Menjou. Gregory Ratoff. Ted Healy. Patsy Kelly. Michael Whalen Director: Sidney Lanfield Music & lyrics: Lew Pollock. Jack Yellen Music director: Louis Silvers See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "The picture is for the more mature and, although there are some very funny moments, there is also a touch of vulgarity. The film belongs not to the realm of art but to the cruder regions of slapstick." T. J. Fitzmorris + — America p504 Ag 29 '36 "The story ... is not too clearly developed. It is generously padded with songs, in themselves good, and with burlesque acts by the Ritz brothers who bring a new type of crazy fooling to the screen. This crazy atmosphere runs through the film and Adolphe Menjou is in grand form in his caricature of a famous actor. . . Technically the film is good. Suitability: adults & adolescents." + Mo Film Bui pl76 O '36 "It is a noisy farce with musical interludes, inartistic and overplayed. While the Ritz Brothers are clever and undeniably versatile, their strident voices and grotesque dances soon become exhausting. Adolescents, 12-16: no; children, 8-12: no." — Motion Pict R p7 S '36 "A and Y: mad merriment; C: mature." Parents' M p43 O '36 Newspaper and Magazine Revieios "Adolphe Menjou, who can claim the enviable distinction of never disappointing his audiences, is at the peak of his form as an overworked, alcoholic actor in 'Sing, Baby, Sing.' . . The picture is wild and witty, a SING ME A LOVE SONG. Warner-First national 75min Ja 9 '37 Cast: James Melton. Patricia Ellis. Hugh Herbert. Zasu Pitts. Allen Jenkins. Nat Pendleton Director: Raymond Enright Music director: Leo F. Forbstein "The story rambles through James Melton's adventures as the youthful inheritor of a great department store. In order to learn the business, he works in the music department under an assumed name and wins his way into the hearts of the employees, not to mention the heart of Patricia Ellis, who is a sheet music plugger in the store." Variety (Hollywood) Audience Suitability Ratings "[It is] gay and rollicking. . . The continuity is poor and the youthful lead a little stiff in his love scenes, but the excellence of the cast make it good entertainment. Family." Am Legion Auxiliary "This [is] excellent family entertainment. Adult & 14-18: excellent; 8-14: little interest." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Very good. Family." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Family but mature for children. Good." DAR "Improbable and rather silly, this inoffensive plot offers a vehicle for James Melton's really fine voice which deserves a much better opportunity. Family." Nat Soc of New England Women "This semi-musical farce [is] good light entertainment." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui O 24 '36 "A very clever and amusing comedy interspersed with unique situations and romantic song. Family." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 14 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -| Fair; j Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor