Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1938)

48 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST LIFE DANCES ON— Continued "Venice Biennial Film Exposition designated this picture as the finest produced in the world during 1937. Such designation Is an over-estimation to put it mildly. . . 'Life Dances On' is not up to 'La Kermesse.' . . [It] is worthwhile entertainment, especially in arty cinemas. It suffers, of course, when stacked up against a reasonably strong 'B' American feature, but is a sturdy French entry. Production serves to bring into sharp relief just how far behind European producers are even with strides taken recently." -| Variety p!5 Mr 30 '38 LITTLE MISS ROUGHNECK. Columbia 63min F 9 '38 Cast: Edith Fellows. Leo Carrillo. Jacqueline Wells. Scott Colton. Margaret Irving Director: Aubrey Scotto Screen writers: Fred Niblo, Jr. Grace Neville. Michael L. Simmons Little Edith Fellows portrays a conceited, arrogant child whose mother feels she has Hollywood possibilities. She runs away as a publicity stunt and meets Leo Carrillo, a kindly man who teaches her humility. He is accused of kidnapping her and narrowly escapes a lynching. SEE ALSO issue of April 4 Audience Suitability Ratings "A: mediocre; Y: no value; C: unsuitable." f Parents' M p64 My '38 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Leo Carrillo' s shining personality and Edith Fellows' s surprise emergence as a singer of note combine to make 'Little Miss Roughneck' a good picture. I have never seen Carrillo in better form, and I believe that his current portrayal is one of the best to date." Robert Joseph + Hollywood Spec p8 Ap 9 '38 Trade Paper Reviews "Prosperous runs among the neighborhoods, where it has much to offer, particularly for the children, can be predicted for this Edith Fellows-Leo Carrillo starrer. Although from the 'B' stratum it dishes the hokum comedy in generous measure, with Carrillo at his best, and has plenty of selling possibilities in its revelation of Hollywood-behind-the scenes. Family." + Boxoffice p28 Ap 9 38 -j Motion Pict Daily p2 Ap 5 '38 "A programmer spliced together at random with practically no continuity whatsoever, this Columbia release is very dull fodder. Reel after reel of nothing happens until the volatile and personable Leo Carrillo arrives in the footage. Then there are a few scenes worth while, but without Carrillo, in spite of the able voice and definite personality of Edith Fellows, the picture has very little in the entertainment line." h Variety (Hollywood) p3 Ap 2 '38 LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED. Warner 65min Je 4 '38 Cast: Ann Sheridan. John Litel. Frank Mc Hugh. Janet Chapman. Eric Stanley Director: John Farrow Original story: Albert DeMond. George Bricker Screen writer: Jo Graham A little orphan, injured in an automobile accident, brings good fortune to a race track gambler. Audience Suitability Ratings "A good cast makes this somewhat trite story human and interesting. Family." Am Legion Auxiliary "Well plotted picture but weakened at the climax by an unconvincing court scene. Adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Pleasant blending of sentiment, comedy and social drama make this acceptable entertain ment if not entirely convincing. Family." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Mediocre. Little Janet Chapman is very good but the race-track story of this production is mawkishly sentimental. Mature." DAR "Fairly well produced. Ethics questionable. Mature." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) "This human interest story, with its tense action and touching pathos, serves as a fitting background for the vivid, superb acting of little Janet Chapman. Family." Nat Council of Jewish Women "Human interest social drama, good characterizations, natural acting of a rather far fetched plot which is nevertheless constructive and appealing. Family." Nat Soc of New England Women "Well presented appealing story. Familymature." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women Fox W Coast Bui My 21 '38 "Janet Chapman has an individuality different from other children of the screen, a delicate charm which lifts the film to a higher niche than it would ordinarily occupy. . . Gambling is [made] glamourous, and the picture of a child in racing environment is not too pleasant to contemplate. Adolescents, 1216: bad example; children, 8-12: no." h Motion Pict R p6 Je '38 "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency My 26 '38 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Adults." Christian Science Monitor pl5 Je 4 '38 "Pleasingly light story touting new baby star along with horses is fair programmer. . . Janet Chapman ... is very bright and possessed of unusual acting sense, but it is doubtful if her precociousness will make up for the child-like charm that is lacking and which the public demands in its child stars." H Film Daily p7 Je 15 '38 Trade Paper Reviews + Motion Pict Daily p6 Ap 28 '38 "Here is an entertaining programmer, with a not unknown story. . . The principal merit of the picture is the introduction of cute Janet Chapman, whose natural, wistful acting makes her especially appealing. Estimate: entertaining programmer." -f Phila Exhibitor pl41 Je 1 '38 "Uneven picture which varies from moments of good comedy and pathos to mediocrity. While mediocrity predominates, film is pulled together for a good finish. It marks the debut of Warner's new six-year-old moppet, Janet Chapman, a cute, bright youngster with commercial possibilities." h Variety pl5 Je 15 '38 "Crammed with production and entertainment values, 'Little Miss Thoroughbred,' budgeted as a B, takes on the proportions of an A, and serves to zoom six-year-old Janet Chapman into the cinematic heavens. Besides her natural flair for histrionics, both dramatic and comic, she is equipped with a wistfulness that tugs at the heartstrings." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 Ap 25 '38 LONE WOLF IN PARIS. Columbia 66min Mr 24 '38 Cast: Francis Lederer. Frances Drake. Olaf Hytton. Walter Kingsford Director: Albert S. Rogell Music director: Morris Stoloff Screen writer: Arthur T. Horman Based on the novel of the same title by Louis Joseph Vance. A mystery story. Audience Suitability Ratings "A: fair; Y: good; C: good of kind." H Christian Century p679 My 25 '38 "Clever dialogue and a general atmosphere of gaiety help make this modern fairy tale seem good, though not outstanding entertainment. Adults and young people." E Coast Preview Committee -f Fox W Coast Bui My 14 '38