Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 121 "Mature." Sel Motion Pict p7 D 1 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "One of the smoothest cinematic jobs of this or any other season. As perfect an example of the talkie form as one could wish for. Direction that has not been excelled by any of the big-time directors. . . There are laughs in 'Smart Blonde,' but they are worked in smoothly •• • [in] the skilfully constructed screen play, and bob up only at permissible moments without interrupting the flow of the story. . . McDonald gets from his players a collection of the finest performances I ever saw in a class B picture, as fine as I ever saw in a class A picture. We rate a performance by the degree of conviction it attains, whether it be comedy, drama or tragedy." + Hollywood Spec pT D 5 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "Splendid performances by a cast full of convincing characters, particularly Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane, and a mile-aminute screen play, well devised by its authors and well directed by Frank McDonald, make this a picture which will hold up its end of the gross on any bill. Film has suspense, logical plot development and best of all, a hat full of sparkling dialogue. Family." + Box Office p23 N 28 '36 "This is a very satisfying program offering. It has much action, fresh comedy and has been well directed by Frank McDonald. Glenda Farrell, as a newspaper woman, is an ideal choice for the title role and does excellent work." + Film Daily p7 N 21 '36 "An undistinguished murder mystery whose chief reason for being is to give Glenda Farrell, reporter, the chance to rib Detective Lieutenant Barton MacLane as she tags after him through an intricate clue-hunt. . . The formula crime story unfolds with neatness if not dispatch to make an average dual offering." -1 Hollywood Reporter p3 N 18 '36 1 Motion Pict Daily pll N 20 '36 "Presence of Miss Farrell should help but otherwise the show has nothing to distinguish it. . . A Warner stock feature cast contributes fair performances while Miss Farrell's observations supply plenty of comedy. Made for the program division, it holds to that standard all the way." H Phila Exhibitor p30 D 1 '36 'Warners herewith launches its Adventures of Torchy Blane series to a swift, exciting and wholly entertaining start. If the successors, to co-feature Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane, can follow the pace set by "Smart Blonde,' the series is a cinch to click as acceptable diversion on any dual program and should be a profitable venture, creditable to those who broached the idea and to Bryan Foy and his staff for excellent production quality." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 N 18 '36 SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN. RKO 60min N 27 '36 Cast: Gene Raymond. Ann Sothern. Helen Broderick. Eric Blore Director: Joseph Santley "Ann models smart clothes for photographic purposes. Helen manages the studio. For a series of yachting costumes they bribe Eric Blore, valet to the immensely wealthy young Gene Raymond, to let them use Gene's yacht as a background. The male model is late and when Gene show? up he is mistaken for the missing male model and put to work." Hollywood Reporter Audience Suitability Ratings "This is merely program entertainment, momentarily enlivened by the comic resources of Helen Broderick and Eric Blore. . . There is little novelty in this film and the saving touches of humor are too infrequent to do anv more than slightly break the fall of the production. As far as it goes, it is adult entertainment." T, J. Fitzmorris h America pl92 N 28 '36 "Amusing, light entertainment. Familv." im Legion Auxiliary "Family." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Mature & 14-18. Good." DAR "Family." Nat Soc of New England Women "This delightful picture [is] somewhat mature but suitable for the familv." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women "You are more than likely to be amused bv its vagaries, its freshness and its vouthful zip'. Family." Mrs T. G. Winter Fox W Coast Bui N 7 '36 "This picture [has] high entertainment value. Family." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 26 '36 "Adolescents, 12-16: possible; children, 8-12: no. Motion Pict R p8 X '36 "Mature." Nat Council of Jewish Women O 28 '36 "A. Y & C: amusing." Parents' M p46 Ja '37 "This picture [has] high entertainment value. Family." + Sel Motion Pict p6 D 1 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Revieics "There is too much talk and not enough of it funny in this farce. . . The last 10 minutes are hilarious but that isn't enough in an hourlong film. Family." f Christian Science Monitor pl3 X 21 '36 "[It is] handsomely staged by RKO, nicelv acted by a competent cast, and mildlv amusing'. . . If motion picture brains had been applied to the preparation of 'Smartest Girl,' it would have been an exceedingly bright little comedv that any audience would accept with satisfaction. As we get it, however, it is just another offering which reflects Hollvwood's complete misunderstanding of the nature of its medium." h Hollywood Spec p9 X 7 '36 "Although 'Smartest Girl in Town' . . . has no pretensions beyond the telling; of a lig;hthearted variation of the Cinderella theme.^the result is somewhat disappointing-. The disappointment becomes more acute when one stops to consider that the film is not without some nice inventiveness of situations and some patches of engaging dialogue and that, further, it has some really pleasant people portravine its principal roles. . . [It is] a farce which with a little more attention on the part of all concerned could have been converted from an indifferent entertainment into something fri^kv and engrossing." William Boehnel h N Y World -Telegram pl9 X 30 '36 News-Wk p20 X 28 '36 ■ "Something to put Springtime in your heart ... an ingratiating, unpretentious romantic comedy that's light-headed as a chorine and quite as attractive. . . Helen Broderick \ trenchant lass is Helen, one who knows how to sell a salty quip effectively. Her best screen chance to date, for she has not onlv wisely tailored material but also Eric Blore as partner. . . Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern have heretofore found greater favor with the fans than they have with this reviewer, but now I'm able to add my applause with that of the big + + Exceptionally Good; -fGood; -\ Fair; (-Mediocre; — Po< Exceptionally Poor