Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

40 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST FIRE OVER ENGLAND— Continued "[It] has all the solid virtues of the better English pictures. It is dignified, sound, carefully filmed, extremely well played and reasonably faithful to the events it sought to re-enact. It has, too, a curious lack of vitality for all its wealth of vibrant material. . . In Wordsworth's words, 'It moves us not.' The film is impressive but dull. . . Miss Robson has given us a colorful interpretation. . . It is a sincere and eloquent performance, one of the best this year. . . The materials, in brief, were there; only the vital spark, to fuse them into a stirring historical drama, was missing." F. S. Nugent H NY Times pl6 Mr 5 '37 "It is only fair to say at the outset that [it] is a spectacular, beautifully acted and directed and oft-times eloquent film. Since it is as good as that, a reviewer has a right to be a little bit finicky and complain that it is by no means as good as it might be. . . The film rather lags and never quite succeeds in recapturing the tenseness and excitement and daredevil gallantry and lovemaking of the period in which it is set. . . In any event, I urge you to see it because it represents one of the finest pictures that has come out of England and because it has enough good stuff in it to hold one's interest." William Boehnel + NY World-Telegram p29 Mr 5 '37 " 'Fire Over England' turns out to be a good deal of fun. This is a big, showy piece, as it should be, and the burning of the Spanish fleet will please the children. Tudor folderol is played up to the last and wildest farthingale. . . Mr. Korda . . . hands over a bright sixteenth-century romance." John Mosher + New Yorker p77 Mr 6 '37 "[It is] a colorful and sometimes exciting pageant, chiefly notable for Flora Robson's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. . . 'Fire Over England' has been produced on the grand scale, and with something — if not all — of the expert Korda touch." -i News-Wk p22 F 27 '37 "They have caught the very spirit of an English public-schoolmistress's vision of history. . . Miss Robson catches the very accent and manner of an adored headmistress. . . I know I find myself in a tiresome minority. . . It is not, I am sure, Miss Robson's fault: she has only too faithfully carried out the suggestions of the script. . . Nevertheless this is the best production to come from Denham yet. The sets are magnificent. . . The direction, until the closing scenes which are spoilt by the absurdity of the story, spirited, and the acting is far better than we are accustomed to in English films." Graham Greene Spec p403 Mr 5 '37 "Miss Flora Robson, as regal a personage as ever tamed a ruff, holds complete sway over this brilliant court drama of Elizabethan days. Fire has been over England many times, but never quite so magnificently as at the time of the Spanish Armada. . . An overwhelming structure envelopes the story, but its spacious beauty never endangers the concept of royalty as portrayed by a brilliant cast. This is a noble film, in story, in character, in entertainment." + + Stage pl6 F '37 Time p36 Mr 15 '37 Trade Paper Reviews " 'Fire Over England' is one of (he greatest historical dramas ever to come from a film studio. This is a cultural, intellectual suc cess. Familv." + Box Office p23 Ja 16 '37 "Here it another important picture from London Films, directed with taste, intelligence and imagination Dominating the offering in acting is Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth. Here for the first time, the English Queen is shown as considerate and human." -f Film Daily p9 Ja 14 '37 "[It is] another costume drama of dignity and distinction. Alexander Korda's London company has this time, however, failed to capture emotional values that will rank it with its recent predecessors in the response of American audiences. Its handsome and authentic vivification of great events in English history, its gallant adventure and gentle romance will win the approval of the history-minded but it will be found lacking in any strong mass appeal. . . [It] is photographed with distinguished artistry by James Wong Howe, whose contribution is, in fact, one of the memorable high spots of a production that is eye-filling from beginning to end." -I Hollywood Reporter p3 Ja 9 '37 + Motion Pict Daily p5 Ja 11 '37 "This is one of the best offerings to come across the pond in some time. . . Its American box office handicap is lack of familiar names. Properly exploited, however, it may bring okey returns. Its reference to Spanish history is timely with the present situation. Estimate: good but needs selling." + Phila Exhibitor p42 F 1 '37 "This is a handsomely mounted and forcefully dramatic glorification of Queen Bess. It holds a succession of brilliantly played scenes, a wealth of choice diction, pointed excerpts from English history and a series of impressive tableaux. What it hasn't got is Main Street appeal. Film should bring much artistic acclaim but, outside of the urban class spots, business will be stubborn." + Variety pl4 Mr 10 '37 " 'Fire Over England' is a picture to delight the discriminating. An important production, impressively presented, it upholds the best standards of London Film and should commercially justify itself. . . An obvious but unexploitable factor is the film's almost topical timeliness in dealing with a phase of Spanish history akin to the present turmoil." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 Ja 9 '37 FLYING HOSTESS. Universal 65min N 22 '36 Cast: William Gargan. Judith Barrett. William Hall. Astrid Allwyn. Andy Devine. Ella Logan Director: Murray Roth See issue of December 28, 1936 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "Suitability: adults & adolescents." Mo Film Bui pl3 Ja '37 "An average but interesting picture. Familymature." -| Motion Pict Guide Ja '37 "To the making of airplane pictures there is no end, but the theme of the brave air hostess who grounds the plane after the pilots have been injured seems in danger of being done to death. However, in the present version there is such irresistible lure in the thrilling action and so much of the refreshing audacity of youth, that the producers may be pardoned for serving an old plot again. . . Details of the operation of the plane and the training required of an air hostess lend authenticity to a picture that holds breathless interest throughout. In fact, sufferers from high blood pressure would be wise to leave when the hostess takes the controls to land the plane in a fog. Adolescents, 12-16: yes; children, 8-12: exciting and mature." + Motion Pict R p4 D '36 "This is an average but interesting picture which tells of the training necessary to make hostesses acceptable to airplane executives. One thrilling but improbable scene demonstrates the + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; H Fair; \ Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor