Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1938)

How to Use the Motion Picture Review Digest Sample Entry OF HUMAN HEARTS. MGM 100-lOSmiii ^ circ^sUols "mfss ^eing^Of 'ifiSSS ^ ll '38 Hearts.' " „ „ „„ ,no Cast: Walter Huston. James Stewart. + + Hollywood Spec p5 F 12 38 Gene Reynolds. Beulah Bondi. Guy Kib "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has wrought a strong bee. Charles Coburn. John Carradine ana fine drama. . . Only the ending is out of nirprtor Clarence Brown joint, disassociated from all that has gone be D. rector. Clarence wown j , Could that have feeen altered> Metro Music director: Herbert Stothart might have claimed an incontestable niche for Screen writer: Bradbury Foote one of 1938's 'best ten.' Even as it stands it Based on the novel Benefits Forgot by is an eloquent, brilliantly performed and fas Honore Morrow. Backgrounded by a village on cinating document To cast, writers and to the Ohio river in the days before the Civil Director Clarence Brown go our compliments. War this tells the story of a bitter hatred tinged only by our regret about the last act. between a young man and his father a stern F. S^ Nuge nt and exacting country pastor and of the sacri + + N Y Times pzs t 18 6S flee of a mother for that son After he be Trade Paper Reviews comes a successful surgeon during the war, * . President Lincoln teaches him his filial duty ''Penetrating drama of Mother love this has to his mother, now widowed. definite mass appeal should garner plenty lu uis mumei, nuw w.uuwc word Qf mouth praise from women patrons. . . Audience Suitability Ratings Preview audience reaction was very good. Es ttr. . . n „ timate: good program drama. 'Genera patronage + Phila Exhibitor p83 F 15 '38 Nat Legion of Decency F 17 '38 'It is an elaborate production, painstakingly ,. llt 1S. a beautifully done slice of American made containing reproductions of architecture, life, not geared up to modern pace but truth costumes and manners of the period it depicts. ful and moving Mature. As such it is an interesting contribution to + Wkiy Guide t \z d» tne screen's library of Americana. Long on ,,,.„. narrative and short on romance, the boxoffice Newspaper and Magazine Reviews reaction is likely to dampen the enthusiasm "Truly a great picture. A human document of those who believe the film possesses any which dignifies the medium recording it. . . Its wide public appeal. . . Chief cause for dis very simplicity, its honesty, its completeness, appointment with the film is its slow pace, and sends surging through it an emotional strain the defeatist mood of the story." which makes 'Of Human Hearts' one of the -\ Variety pl4 F 9 '38 Starting at the beginning, the title of this picture is Of Human Hearts. The producing company is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is 100 to 105 minutes in length depending on whether or not it has been cut after projection room showing. It was released on February 11, 1938. The list of principal players, the director, music director and screen writer will require no explanation. Next comes a brief note describing the picture, its nature, plot and the novel upon which it is based. These notes are written by our staff. Following the descriptive note, the excerpts from reviews begin. Following each review the source is given, with date of issue and number of the page on which the review appears. It will be noticed that plus and minus signs sometimes precede the sources. These indicate the degree of favor or disfavor of the review as a whole (not just of the quoted excerpt). The meaning of the various combinations of these signs is as follows: + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -\ Fair; [-Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor The signs are omitted when a review merely reports on a film without expressing a definite critical opinion. In interpreting these signs, it will be well to remember that their precise significance will vary somewhat according to the source. In general there are three types of sources represented in the MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST: (1) audience suitability ratings by special reviewing organizations (women's clubs, religious groups and the like); (2) general newspapers and magazines; and (3) trade papers. The purpose of the audience suitability ratings by the special reviewing organizations is chiefly to pass on questions of morality and propriety and to report on suitability for children of various ages. The purpose of the reviews in general magazines and newspapers is to inform the adult patron of artistic and entertainment qualities. The purpose of the trade paper reviews is to inform the exhibitor of probable commercial value.