Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1936)

132 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST THEY MET IN A TAXI — Continued Trade Paper Reviews " 'They Met in a Taxi' is a modest little comedy that hasn't the heft for solo playing but in the duals it will stand on its own. While it totes no heavy box office draft, the cast is a capable one, and that's the picture's chief asset." -\ Variety pl6 S 16 '36 THREE-CORNERED HAT. See II cappello a tre punte THREE MARRIED MEN. Paramount 60min S 11 '36 Cast: Roscoe Karns. William Frawley. Lynne Overman. Mary Brian. George Barbier. Marjorie Gateson Director: Eddie Buzzell See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "It aims at being a pleasant little comedy rather than a tract on domestic society and, with that good intention in its favor, one must not reprove it too harshly for being funny only part of the time." T. J. Fitzmorris 4 America p576 S 19 '36 "A: hardly; Y: not the best; C: no." Christian Century pl343 O 7 '36 "Mature." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) S 8 '36 "Mature. (D. A. R. says comedy depends on innuendo and will not please.)" Jt Estimates S 15 '36 "A delightful domestic comedy, packed with the human element and full of situations which, though familiar, will be appreciated by many audiences. . . It is a theme in which treatment is everything and the direction is admirable. It may well give more pleasure than a much more pretentious film. Suitability: adults & adolescents." + Mo Film Bui pl77 O '36 "The adventures and embarrassments of newlyweds often form a basis for an amusing comedy. . . The picture is amusing of its type, but the general atmosphere seems unwholesome. Adolescents, 12-16: not recommended; children, 8-12: no interest." + — Motion Pict R p9 O '36 "Family." Nat Bd of R M S '36 "A, Y and C: poor." Parents' M p44 N '36 "Story only fair but held together by pertinent dialogue and humorous situations, resulting in many laughs. Mature." -1 Sel Motion Pict p7 O 1 '36 Neiospaper and Magazine Reviews "It certainly seems as though [Dorothy Parker] has steered clear of her usual wit, for while there are undoubtedly a few good moments in the film, the sum and substance is by no means above the average of such comedies. . . Although it is nothing to write home about, it at least is never irritating or actually boring." Mordaunt Hall H Boston Transcript p6 S 18 '36 "Freshness and laughter characterize this little comedy. Possibly because the clever Dorothy Parker worked on the screen version, giving sharpness and observation to the dialogue." (2V2 stars) Beverly Hills Liberty p31 O 24 '36 "Writer Owen Davis has a long memory. It stood him in good stead while preparing this yarn. . . Okay for audiences that have laughed at the same situations for twenty years . . . and still manage to find 'em funny." Herb Sterne + Script pl2 N 14 '36 Trade Paper Reviews "[It is] light domestic comedy of newly wed troubles mildly diverting and carries laughs." r Film Daily p6 S 25 '36 "Family picture, short on names, longer on entertainment, 'Three Married Men' should please in small towns, on twin bills. It lacks strength for the de luxers." H Phila Exhibitor p34 S 15 '36 "Adept performances and succinct comedy elevate this above the accepted dual bill placement. But the absence of really box office names undoubtedly will force 'Three Married Men' to get most of its coin on double programmers. Story content, while graduated for high laugh results, is a trifle too light for film to stand alone in most spots. . . Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell have done elegant work in transferring the Davis story to the screen and providing sparkling dialog." + Variety pl7 S 30 '36 THREE MEN ON A HORSE. Warner-First national 105min N 21 '36 Cast: Frank McHugh. Joan Blondell. Carol Hughes. Sam Levene. Allen Jenkins. Guy Kibbee. Teddy Hart Director: Mervyn LeRoy Based on the play of the same title by John Cecil Holm and George Abbott. "Frank McHugh is a gentle suburbanite who writes giftcard verses for savage old Guy Kibbee. His secret recreation is picking winning horses, for which he has some sort of psychic gift. But he never bets. That, he believes, would spoil the trick. Falling into the hands of a gang of unlucky gamblers, his guesses are taken seriously and the money begins pouring in. They kidnap him just as his grist of Mother's Day poetry is needed by Kibbee' s printers." (Hollywood Reporter) Audience Suitability Ratings "A: depends on taste; Y: better not; C: no." Christian Century pl670 D 9 '36 "[It] follows the play, with just as few scenes, just as much talk, and just as much drinking. Adults." Am Legion Auxiliary "Too much gambling and drinking. Adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "The blunt humor of this farce will entertain men; but its cheap jargon will not appeal to women." Adults. Mediocre." DAR "A highly diverting farce, improbable but well cast and with sustained interest. Good race track scenes. Much drinking. Adults." Nat Soc of New England Women "A doubtful comedy filled with drinking, gambling and coarse language. Waste of time. Adults." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women "Adults." Mrs T. G. Winter Fox W Coast Bui N 7 '36 "The humor and dialogue though crude and coarse provoke laughter and will appeal especially to men. Adults." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) O 26 '36 "This is the rollicking stage play, which is equally mirth-provoking on the screen, with its free-for-all comedy and pungent dialogue. . . It is somewhat rough and alcoholic as the theme implies; men will enjoy it most. Adolescents, 12-16: better not; children, 8-12: no." + Motion Pict R p8 N '36 + -f Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; [-Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor