Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 35 To the students of psychology and the halflights of neurasthenia the picture will undoubtedly go down as a landmark of the screen; for the seeker after entertainment pure and simple, however the crescendo of psychopathic emotionalism is no recommendation. . . The picture loses in comparison with its original [German version]." Hollywood Reporter p7 F 23 '37 + Motion Pict Daily p6 F 10 '37 "In many respects, this is one of the finest productions ever made in England. . . Every indication that it will be successful commercially, as well as artistically, but easily 500 feet could be clipped from it. . . [Bergner] has a role giving her opportunity for the lightest kind of youthful vivacity, ascending the scale of emotions up to scenes of the most intense tragedy, and acquits herself with distinction. . . They certainly can make good pictures in England once in a while, and this is one of them." + Variety pl4 F 10 '37 mai] is descended from four generations of mahouts. When his father is killed in a tiger hunt, the elephant he has been riding, and which was ridden by his father and grandfather, is taken away and allocated to another driver, despite the protests of the boy." (Variety) Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Robert H. Flaherty's super motion pictures . . . attract more favorable attention from all sorts of people than almost any other cinemas made anywhere in the world. . . Most of it was shot in the actual jungle with intelligent natives, one of them an orphan lad of twelve, the hero of the story, and numbers of huge elephants. . . No matter how exciting the exploits of trick and stunt actors, both human and animal, may be in Hollywood and Elstree, nothing can approach the thrills of actual living and fighting in the dense cobra-infested jungles of India." Laura Elston + Canadian M p42 Ja '37 EASY TO TAKE. Paramount 6Smin N 6 '36 Cast: Marsha Hunt. John Howard. Eugene Pallette. Richard Carle. Douglas Scott Director: Glenn Tryon See issue of December 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "A: mediocre; Y: perhaps; C; doubtful value." Christian Century pl760 D 30 '36 "The complications that result give us a mediocre comedy with a little entertainment value. Fair. Family." H Motion Pict Guide Mr '37 "The film is off to a very good start. It deteriorates quickly, however, and the longest sequence is devoted to the exploitation of a swarm of children in a radio program which will amuse some, bore many and thoroughly disgust the remainder of the audience. A story with a spark of originality is held to the pace of a jog-trotting program picture. Adolescents, 12-16: fair; children, 8-12: not very good." h Motion Pict R p4 D '36 "Although the theme is unusual and the story novel, providing many a laugh and moments of genuine entertainment, this film sadly droops to its climax. . . The direction is jerky, with humor poorly spaced. Family." 1 Nat Council of Jewish Women N 1 '36 Trade Paper Reviews " 'Easy to Take' lives up to its title. It has plenty of hefty laughs, whimsical moments, a touch of romance and most of the time moves at staccato tempo. . . What might easily have been the old familiar centering about the activities of radio stars and in particular an 'airwave uncle for the kiddies,' has been treated with genuine humor." + Variety pl8 D 23 '36 ELEPHANT BOY. United artists lOOmin Cast: Sabu. W. E. Holloway. Walter Hudd. Alan Jeayes Directors: Robert H. Flaherty. Zoltan Korda Based on the short story, Toomai of the Elephants, by Rudyard Kipling. Filmed in Mysore, India by an English company. "[Too Trade Paper Revieivs "Kipling's delightful half -fantasy . . . offers the ingredients, aided and abetted by superb background material from Robert Flaherty, for a spectacular and vivid summary of the Indian scene with its mystical traditionalism. The picture, however, falls far short of expectations owing to a slipshod and uninspired script and weak direction." h Hollywood Reporter p8 Mr 6 '37 + Motion Pict Daily pll F 18 '37 "All children between the ages of nine and 90 will probably long to see this picture. . . The whole thing is so different, a simple picture of jungle life, it definitely should be classified as a picture that will draw anywhere in the world. . . Direction, photography and everything else is secondary by comparison — merely essential mechanical accessories to the boy — a grand bet for future films." + Variety pl7 F 24' '37 ESPIONAGE. MGM 62min F 26 '37 Cast: Edmund Lowe. Madge Evans. Paul Lukas. Ketti Gallian. Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher Director: Kurt Neumann Based on the play of the same title by Walter Hackett. "The plot concerns two newspaper reporters whose adventures and mishaps when assigned to trail a famous munitions maker involve them in Continental intrigue and in romance." (Sel Motion Pict) Audience Suitability Ratings "Family-mature." Am Legion Auxiliary "The mediocre story offers little opportunity to a good cast. Adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Confused and involved story. . . 'Skeets' Gallagher has the distinction of having one of the most unconvincing roles to be seen for a long time. Whether the original play or the screen adaptation was to blame, the whole thing summed up is 'a lot of fuss over nothing.' Mature." Calif Fed of Business & Professional "Women's Clubs "Overdrawn. Mature & 14-18. Mediocre." DAR "A clever sleuth story, with adroit turns of plot and diverting incidents. Mature." Nat Soc of New England Women "An interesting international mystery story but fails miserably in its developments, turning into a silly comedy without any idea behind it. Inconsistent and poorly directed. A good cast + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -| Fair; [-Mediocre; —Poor; Exceptionally Poor