Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

Motion Picture Review Digest Devoted to the Valuation of Current Motion Pictures March 29, 1937 ABYSSINIA. Amkino 63min D 8 '36 See issue of December 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Unadulterated political propaganda written in 'newsreel' style. . . As might be expected, the propaganda is anything but subtle." J. P. Cunningham Commonweal p276 Ja 1 '37 Reviewed by Mark Van Doren Nation p26 Ja 2 '37 Trade Paper Reviews "Vivid and often harrowing compendium of news reel shots taken by two Soviet cameramen. . . Aside from interesting character of footage, thoughtful audiences will realize and appreciate the daring of the two cameramen in obtaining the material." + Film Daily p7 D 10 '36 1 Motion Pict Daily p6 D 9 '36 "A slow film, particularly in its scenic forepart and repetitious to a good extent, but scores limitedly with scenes of battlefield horrors for very limited circulation, although if properly dissected it could make a good trailer argument against war, discounting the propaganda intent. . . Picture has an amazing clip of the Negus' soldiers looking raptly skyward at an Italian bomber raining down death dealing missiles. But such action shots as are shown are not many and involve isolated groups of troops." H Variety pl5 D 16 '36 ACCUSED. Criterion-United artists 70min Ja 8 '37 Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Dolores Del Rio. Florence Desmond. Basil Sydney Director: Thornton Freeland See issue of December 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "Interesting atmosphere and actors, and a good dramatic climax in an excellent court scene. Mature." + Wkly Guide D 19 '36 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Satisfying melodrama. . . Its chief virtues are plenty of suspense, a fine trial scene, a high standard of production, good direction and a graceful and charming performance from Douglas Fairbanks, Junior. Not ambitious, but thoroughly efficient entertainment." H Film Wkly p34 F 20 '37 "The production has been staged at a sluggard pace and the acting is not the sort to rescue it from tedium. The lovely Dolores Del Rio lends an excellent decorative motif to the proceedings, but neither she nor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., succeeds in capturing the quality of suspense and excitement that is so essential in this type of screen compound. The occasional bright moments in the show serve largely to underline its lack of unity and compulsion. . . Miss Del Rio's beauty is not matched by her histrionic skill in her portrayal of the dancer, while Mr. P'airbanks does little to infuse the piece with vitality. . . The direction of Thornton Freeland is generally uninspired." Howard Barnes — NY Herald Tribune p23 D 17 '36 "[It isn't] of much value to the entertainment sector during this pre-holiday season. . . 'Accused' moves with uncommon sluggishness through a series of unimpressive shots of a musical comedy rehearsal to a mildly dramatic , murder trial. As producer, Mr. Fairbanks really should insist that his technicians come abreast of the times and master such rudiments of picture-making as proper lighting, set construction and sound recording. The performances were worthy of more charitable handling." F. S. Nugent — NY Times p35 D 17 '36 "If you are in search of a sound, standardized, moderately well-worked-out and expertly acted murder melodrama you will find it in 'Accused.' . . [It] begins as a 'triangle' and wobbles a little unconvincingly into 'detection;' but it is a spirited and engrossing film that can be recommended as generally enjoyable entertainment. . . The acting is capital. Mr. Fairbanks, Mr. Sydney and Miss Desmond are superb in their respective roles . . . and what Miss Del Rio lacks in the way of acting ability she more than makes up for in looks. . . In all, 'Accused' is a good mixture of humor, romance and homicide, and I think you will enjoy it." William Boehnel + NY World-Telegram p29 D 17 *36 "[It is a] routine murder mystery. . . I wasn't at all surprised by the 'surprise' at the trial in this film. Nor did I hear around me any gasps of amazement." John Mosher + New Yorker p51 D 26 '36 "Current problem of the cinema industry in England is whether the U. S. talent that it is now importing will supply it with a trace of Hollywood dash. . . 'Accused' suggests that, on the contrary, England may infect Hollywood emigres with that dignified lethargy that has been the drawback of so many British pictures in the past. Well-acted by conscientious members of the vast theatre population which is one of London's chief attractions as a cinema capital, it suffers from a torpor so pronounced that U. S. audiences are likely to suspect that the murdered leading lady is not really dead but dozing." h Time pl9 D 28 '36 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -{ Fair; H Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor