Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

12 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST BORN TO DANCE— Continued "A, Y & C: excellent entertainment." Parents' M p40 F '37 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "No more vivacious or graceful exponent of the tap-dance than Eleanor Powell has been seen on the stage or the screen. . . James Stewart as a vocalist may be no candidate for the opera, but he is a pleasing actor. . . 'Born to Dance' is filled with all sorts of divertingangles." Mordaunt Hall -f Boston Transcript p4 Ja 2 '37 "Romantics of the plot, a trifle thin to be sure, are so eclipsed by Miss Powell's tapping and the general Ziegfeldian splendor that you won't worry much more about the story than Buddy Ebsen and Sid Silvers do about finding Brooklyn Navy Yard. Cole Porter's new songs are swell. Family." + Christian Science Monitor pl5 Ja 9 '37 "This musical has speed, size, and lilt. Be sure to see it to keep up with Hollywood's latest excursion into musical magnitude." (3% stars) Beverly Hills Liberty p48 Ja 9 '36 "There isn't anything eccentric, reticent, or experimental about this film. Hollywood has used its pet tricks and has let itself go in the way it likes to in the matter of colossal sets and lots of people and lots of noise. . . The outline and the general approach to things may be familiar, but what is remarkable in this case is the expertness and sense with which the material is handled. The speed of the thing freshens up old predicaments." John Mosher + New Yorker pl25 D 12 '36 "A previous contract with Richard D'Oyly Carte probably prevented the astral bodies of Gilbert and Sullivan from haunting the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer lot while 'Born to Dance' was being filmed, but it looks as if they managed to do a little ghostwriting under an assumed name. But let is be hastily added that the lavish 'Born to Dance' is as American as a Presidential straw vote — and twice as funny. . . The plot, strictly run-of-the mill, at least keeps running. Cole Porter's songs, seven of them, are more to the point. . . Eleanor Powell's dancing — to paraphrase another Porter lyric — is the top, especially in the highly spectacular finale. . . It all goes to show that the spirit of Christmas giving is abroad in the land." + News-Wk p32 D 12 '36 Reviewed by Alistair Cooke Sight & Sound pl37 "Winter '36 "Things go along very serenely when all of a sudden you are jerked up by a staccato moment of sheer comic nonsense. You'll be bounced about like this approximately five times. . . All this, you understand, to the accompaniment of that extra-special money's worth — Porter music. It adds up to something approximating a Schrafft's window. That may or may not be your idea of goodies." Katharine Best + Stage p76 Ja '37 Trade Paper Reviews " 'Born to Dance' is a worthy successor to that great hit of a year ago, 'Broadway Melody of 1936.' . . As for selling this picture, exhibitors need have no worry at all; IT WILL SELL ITSELF. The picture has all the elements of good box-office, with a few extras thrown in as a bonus. Our only suggestion is to hire an extra girl to help your cashier, she'll need it!" + Canadian Moving Pict Digest p6 Ja 9 '37 BOSS RIDER OF GUN CREEK. Universal 63min N 1 '36 Cast: Buck Jones. Muriel Evans. Harvey Clark Director: Leslie Selander See issue of December 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Trade Paper Reviews "[It is a] firmly directed and acted Western drama whose well knit plot will please Jones' fans." + Film Daily p8 D 16 '36 + Motion Pict Daily p9 D 9 '36 "Fair to middling Western yarn with a mystery-on-the range angle creeping in. Buck Jones for marquee lights, which means something in the neighborhood houses. . . Fodder for the Western addicts. . . Dubious if the juveniles will respond very much." -| Variety pl5 D 16 '36 BREEZING HOME. Universal 64min Ja 31 '37 Cast: William Gargan. Binnie Barnes. Wendy Barrie. Raymond Walburn. Alma Kruger. Alan Baxter Director: Milton Carruth "An engaging story of the love and training of race horses as evidenced by a young man and a former night club singer." Sel Motion Pict Audience Suitability Ratings "A: depends on taste; Y: good; C: mostly good." Christian Century p366 Mr 17 '37 "An entertaining little drama. Family." Am Legion Auxiliary "Good production qualities. Family." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Good. Family." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Mediocre. Family." DAR "Although as a production it is of minor value, with unimportant acting, there is a swing to it and a certain cleanliness that offers good entertainment. Family." E Coast Preview Committee "Family." Nat Soc of New England Women "A clean entertainment which lovers of horses will appreciate. Family." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui F 20 '37 "A picture that will be enjoyed by all ages." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) F 10 '37 "This is a moderately good sport picture. Adolescents. 12-16: yes; children, 8-12: no." H Motion Pict R p3 Mr '37 "An implausible story but a picture fans will enjoy. Family." Nat Council of Jewish Women F 10 *37 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency F 4 '37 "Family." Sel Motion Pict p9 F 1 '37 + -f Exceptionally Good; + Good; -| Fair; J Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor