Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST BELOVED ENEMY— Continued '"The incidents on which 'Beloved Enemy' are based are so exciting that it would be hard for them to inspire a really dull picture. . . Lacking the succinct power of 'The Informer' [it] . . . will probably reach and please an even larger audience. Strenuously romantic, magnificently acted and produced, it contains numerous moments of honest cinematic intensity." + Time p21 Ja 4 '37 Trade Paper Reviews "This is another Goldwyn 'Quality' production, and with proper exploitation should head for handsome grosses in key spots and subsequent runs." + Canadian Moving Pict Digest p6 Mr 6 '37 " 'Beloved Enemy' is an outstanding picture of intense emotional and dramatic action, artistically produced, superbly performed. Again Goldwyn scores with that type of film in which he excels, a story of strong human values." + Film Daily p3 D 12 '36 "The film has all the ear-marks of success all the way from the first-runs down. . . It will have a general audience appeal because of the admixture of the two basic elements for audience reaction, stirring drama and romance. The tenderness and sincerity of its love story will have a particularly strong draw for the women and, while honestly tear-impelling in spots, it will not be scorned by the male side of an audience, because excellent treatment has been given the romantic sections that might have gone saccharine in less expert hands." + Hollywood Reporter p2 D 9 '36 + Motion Pict Daily plO D 10 '36 "[It is] a picture with definite mass appeal. . . The tragic but beautiful romance between an Irish patriot and an English girl has strong feminine appeal plus fighting spirit to please male customers. Estimate: very good." + Phila Exhibitor p43 Ja 1 '37 " 'Beloved Enemy' is a Hollywood version of how peace was restored between the British and Irish in 1921, and it is one of the most incredible screen yarns which has been shown in many a day. And one of the most remarkable things about it is that it is done with such consummate histrionic and directorial finesse that one almost believes it. Almost, but not quite." -\ Variety plO D 30 '36 "This is a great, moving, beautifully narrated love story so shrewdly invested with showmanship that it could scarcely fail of smash box office despite its essentially tragic nature. The names of Merle Oberon and Brian Aherne may not be marquee of the first water, but the poignant quality of the performances, the exciting drive of the drama, topnotch direction of Henry C. Potter and the quality of the Samuel Goldwyn production spell the kind of entertainment which sends customers out singing praises that mean mass support and prosperous runs." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 D 9 '36 Audience Suitability Ratings "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency F 18 '37 "A & Y: fair; C: if interested." Parents' M p46 Ap '37 "Unfortunately, the rollicking, debonair hero is not quite within Mr. Chevalier's present acting ability and the effect is rather forced. The story sequences are too jerky and there is lack of clearness, due probably to the fact that a knowledge of the novel is taken for granted. Family." — Sel Motion Pict p8 Mr 1 '37 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "A meandering romance. . . The story is a rather thin affair in which very little seems to happen; and the entire film is a little too tenuous and lacking in vitality to kindle the spark of Chevalier's enthusiasm. Very fair entertainment as far as it goes." -| Film Wkly p31 Mr 6 '37 "There is something buoyant about Chevalier on the screen, a debonair, saucy and sunny quality as infectious as it is charming, and perfectly suited to such agreeable trivia as his current film. I would not say that it is impossible not to like him, but I am positive it is an attitude which would require deep concentration to maintain." F. S. Nugent + NY Times pl2 F 8 '37 "Since this department has pleasant memories of earlier Chevalier films, nothing would please it more than to write cheerfully of 'The Beloved Vagabond.' . . But the bitter truth compels me to report that not only has M. Chevalier been unhappy in the script he has chosen for his return to the cinema, but also that M. Chevalier is only a shadow of his former self. . . I found it pretty dull." William Boehnel — NY World-Telegram pl2 F 8 '37 Trade Paper Reviews "The original novel by W. J. Locke was a lilting and charming story of a vagabond, and Maurice Chevalier did his best to keep it so. But heavy treatment kills off much of the charm and debonair quality of the theme, and it becomes a mechanical and routine film of moderate entertainment value." h Film Daily p8 F 9 '37 "It will not hasten Chevalier's return to Hollywood, in case the singing French star is interested, and in all probability will not encourage further American release of anything he does on the other side. . . [It] will have difficulty grabbing more than passing notice on double bills." — Variety pl5 F 10 '37 BELOVED VAGABOND. Columbia 78min D 14 '36 Cast: Maurice Chevalier. Betty Stockfeld. Margaret Lockwood. Desmond Tester Director: Kurt Bernhardt Music: Darius Milhaud See issue of September 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film BEWARE OF LADIES. Republic 61min D 21 '36 Cast: Donald Cook. Judith Allen. George Meeker Director: Irving Pichel "The story has a newspaper background, with Judith Allen as the girl reporter who is assigned by her managing editor to put some sex appeal into the campaign being waged by the paper's favorite, Donald Cook, for the job of district attorney." Variety (Hollywood) Audience Suitability Ratings "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency D 24 '36 "[It is] a mildly dramatic mystery story. . . The trite plot is fairly well acted and presents interesting sidelights on the power of a newspaper and on the underhanded methods often + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -j Fair; [-Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor