Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 47 Trade Paper Reviews "A typical Joe E. Brown farce, this has [an unusually fast moving plot with plenty of suspense." + Phila Exhibitor pl4 S 15 '37 "An ancient story, pepped up with modern situations and snappy dialog and embellished with Joe E. Brown's particular brand of comedy, makes 'Fit for a King' an audience pleaser. ' ' + Variety (Hollywood) p3 S 22 '37 FLIGHT FROM GLORY. RKO 66min Ag 20 '37 Cast: Chester Morris. Whitney Bourne. Onslow Stevens. Van Heflin. Richard Lane Director: Lew Landers Original story: Robert D. Andrews Screen writers: David Silverstein. John Twist "The setting of the story is a little air field in the Andes, where Onslow Stevens reigns as the cruel, money-mad air line head whose planes fly supplies from the coast to the mines. In his determination to make money, he sacrifices lives in worn out planes, always picking his pilots from men grounded in the states. . . Into this scene is plunged Whitney Bourne, as the trusting bride of Van Heflin, disgraced American pilot." Variety (Hollywood) See issue of September 27, 1937 for other reviews of this film FOOTLOOSE HEIRESS. Warner 58min Ag 21 '37 Cast: Craig Reynolds. Ann Sheridan. Hugh O'Connell. Anne Nagel Director: William Clemens Screen writer: Robertson White "Story is that of the blue blood in disguise who subdues a madcap and wilful girl all over again. But this time the masterful youth arrives on the scene on the rods of a freight train in time to prevent the marriage of the girl to a worthless youngster of her own set. Her father, who gives in to all her whims, but this one, enlists the aid of the masterful hobo." Variety (Hollywood) See issue of September 27, 1937 for other reviews of this film Audience Suitability Ratings "A: hardly; Y: not the best; C: no value." Christian Century pll51 S 15 '37 "A light amusing comedy, well directed and satisfactorily acted. Family." + Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) Ag 18 '37 "Suitability: adults & adolescents." A. R. Mo Film Bui pl71 S '37 "When a picture is obviously of the class B type and falls short of that, little more can be said. Adolescents, 12-16 & children, 8-12: unsuited." — Motion Pict R p6 S '37 Audience Suitability Ratings "A: fairly good; Y: strong; C: unsuitable." Christian Century pll83 S 22 '37 "It is a sombre but interesting film, very well acted with some real flying thrills. Suitability: adults and adolescents." D. E. B. H Mo Film Bui p220 O '37 "The film is well acted in parts but does not achieve distinction in any way. It is depressing in the extreme. Adolescents, 12-16: not advised; children, 8-12: no." Motion Pict R p5 S '37 "A: depressing melodrama; Y & C: no." Parents' M pl04 N '37 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "[It is] fast, furious and vigorously male adventure-in-the-air." + Cue p37 S 18 '37 " 'Flight From Glory' deals with airplanes in a lace valentine kind of way. . . The only light touch in the picture is when a comic, Solly Ward, is on the set." Marguerite Tazelaar N Y Herald Tribune p8 S 11 '37 "It is good, clean, pulpwood fun. . . Perhaps it was the mixture of authors . . . that was not right. Perhaps what was needed was more twist." B. R. C. N Y Times p20 S 11 '37 "[The] film is a considerably better-thanaverage aviation drama. . . Altogether [it] is well worth seeing." William Boehnel + NY World-Telegram p21 S 13 '37 Reviewed by John Mosher New Yorker p93 S 18 '37 Trade Paper Reviews "Few current programmers have the solidity and originality of story, as well as dramatic excitement, that this melodrama possesses. Primarily it is a man's yarn, not only because of its general, content but also because men predominate in its cast." + Film Daily pl3 S 17 '37 Newspaper and Magazine Revieivs "Amusing in places but never rises above Class B. Adults." H Christian Science Monitor pl7 O 2 '37 "Ann Sheridan and Craig Reynolds make the leading parts as lively as possible. In spite of their efforts, only fair entertainment." -{ Film Wkly p33 O 9 '37 "If you are shopping for quantity rather than quality, then the Palace should be your market place this week. For on the basement bargain counter you will find such a slightly damaged item as . . . 'Footloose Heiress.' " T. M. P. — NY Times pl6 O 9 "37 Trade Paper Reviews "A gay and insouciant little trifle that is filled with the charm and zest of life, and while it may be very true that it will garner no record-breaking figures at the box-office, still it is so deftly handled throughout that it is bound to please the average audience." H Film Daily p8 O 13 '37 "Not bad, considering that it's intended only for multiple programs." -i Variety pl6 O 13 '37 45 FATHERS. 20th century-Fox 70min D 10 '37 Cast: Jane Withers. Thomas Beck. Louise Henry. Paul Hartman. Grace Hartman Director: James Tinling Original story: Mary Bickel Screen writers: Frances Hyland. Albert Ray "Jane Withers is seen as an orphan who comes 'under the wing of her father's club and is subsequently adopted by one of the members. She enters the wealthy home and creates a stir in the usual Withers style." Variety (Hollywood) + -f Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; j Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor