Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

14 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST BROKEN BLOSSOMS— Continued ham film is endowed with a richness of production, a dramatic sweep and a poignancy in the telling of its deathless love theme that is uncommon, if not brilliant. Family." + Box Office p31 Ja 23 '37 "To many sensitive [women] it may prove too strong meat. . . However, there is no denying the power of the production, and the outstanding element is the remarkable work of Dolly Haas, whose emotional range is marvellous, and whose pitiable sufferings would wring the heart of the most callous. . . As an exhibit of sordidness and brutality in the notorious Limehouse district of its time, here is a stark, gripping drama that has seldom been equalled on the screen, and Dolly Haas' performance makes the entire production a notable event." + Film Daily p6 Ja 15 '37 "The opening promises well. But the promise fails to perform when the action switches to England. Here the action becomes jumbled, slow and heavily over-acted. Emlyn Williams, fine actor though he is, completely fails to convince anyone that he is a Chinaman, and Dolly Haas, looking pathetically and beautifully childlike, too obviously repeats her lines by rote and does not even register as other than a foreign actress playing a London slum child." — Hollywood Reporter pl2 Je 4 '36 "Excellently produced, acted, photographed, it will stack up against any American production, compares [well] with the original. Dolly Haas, as Lucy, out-Gishes Gish in wistful, tearful portrayal, although Emlyn Williams does not quite measure up to the Barthelmess standard." + Phila Exhibitor p30 D 1 '36 "There isn't much reason for this one, and its American distribution is likely to be limited to the houses which show only the unusual films and the continental importations. . . The tragic note is too strong. . . [It] will have tough sledding." 1 Variety p27 Ja 20 '37 the talents of some very pleasant and gifted players, makes for agreeable entertainment. Family." E Coast Preview Committee "[It is] a well planned mystery story. . . Mature." Nat Soc of New England Women Fox W Coast Bui Ja 30 '37 "Intrigue, suspense, breathtaking experiences and a pleasing romance give entertainment value to this mystery drama which is well staged, especially well cast, and interestingly photographed." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) Ja 22 '37 "Little to recommend it. Fair. Adults." H Motion Pict Guide Mr '37 "Adolescents, 12-16: passable; children, 8-12: unsuitable and too exciting." Motion Pict R p5 F '37 "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency Ja 21 '37 "A & Y: good; C: possible though tense." Parents' M p46 Ap '37 "Well cast and acted, this film offers mental relaxation for those who delight in this type of film. Mature." + Sel Motion Pict p5 F 1 '37 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Further romantic, thrilling and improbable adventures of Captain Drummond. Adults & young people." Christian Science Monitor pl7 F 6 '37 "Its weakness lies entirely in its exaggeration. James Hog an, director, striving for the last drop of suspense, has burlesqued his action, reducing the sinister mood to unintentional comedy. Had he used restraint, allowing his villains less nastiness, fewer funny faces, and had made them normal persons instead of bogey men, [it] would have been tops in entertainment." Paul Jacobs r Hollywood Spec pll F 13 '37 BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES. Paramount 66min Ja 15 '37 Cast: Ray Milland. Heather Angel. Reginald Denny. Sir Guy Standing. E. E. Clive Director: James Hogan Based on the famous detective character by MacNeile. This is the first in a new Drummond series. When Drummond returns to England he finds a maiden in distress on the dark English moors, a man murdered in a swamp and a gang of counterfeiters. Audience Suitability Ratings "The latest episode of the resourceful Captain Drummond's adventures suffers from a story that is consistently unexciting. It struggles against the disadvantage of Ronald Colman's absence from the title role and, although Ray Milland does as well as can be expected in his stead, the personality of the suave Briton no longer hides a multitude of weaknesses. Adults." T. J. Fitzmorris 1 America p408 Ja 30 '37 "A: perhaps; Y: fair thriller; C: doubtful." Christian Century p231 F 17 '37 "A tense and thrilling melodrama. Interesting dialogue. Adults." Am Legion Auxiliary "This picture is the light, romantic, fast moving type, well constructed and entertaining. Mature. Family." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Mature & 14-18. Mediocre." DAR "A melodrama patterned closely upon previous ones dealing with the exploits of the famous fictional character. . . The formula begins to show signs of wear, but it is still amusing, and the technical excellence of the production, plus Trade Paper Reviews "Murder, counterfeiting and romance ride the fogbound moors of England in a thrilling vehicle of melodramatic mystery. Family." + Box Office p31 Ja 23 '37 "This first of a new series of English crime unravelings raises the comedy content by several degrees and it presents the dare-devil sleuth as an impetuous youngster. The first change is all to the good and Ray Milland is so breezy, debonair and likeable as the new Drummond that he successfully holds his own in a strong British cast. With a first rate mystery story and a handsome production the picture rates tops as a program offering and should build to good business for the series." + Hollywood Reporter p3 Ja 26 '37 + Motion Pict Daily p5 Ja 11 '37 "With the 'Bulldog Drummond' title to sell, a saleable hero in the person of Ray Milland, [it] shapes up as just about average program. Lack of name strength will handicap it, but once audiences are in, they'll enjoy it. Comedy moments interfere a bit too much with the melodramatic ones. Estimate: program, can stand selling." 4 Phila Exhibitor p39 F 1 '37 "Paramount' s latest in the 'Bulldog Drummond' series is not destined to enjoy the favor of its predecessors. Although entertaining, film lacks the draw for reasons of a light cast (all featured and supporting players) and a thinner story containing nearly as much farce as melodrama. Makes for a neat program picture, however, and might in some spots do better than that on its tag strength." -| Variety pl7 F 24 '37 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; [• Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor