Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1938)

52 MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE— Continued "Mr. Moto improves with age, and this one, fourth in the series, will do much to give new impetus to recruiting that is constantly swelling the ranks of the Jap detective, now running a close second to Charlie Chan. Already a favorite with the youngsters, Peter Lorre, as Mr. Moto, develops an appeal to grownups in this newest start, which is worthy of a spot in any two-program house." -f Variety (Hollywood) p3 Mr 12 '38 MOONLIGHT SONATA. Malmar 80min My 9 '38 Cast: Ignace Jan Paderewski. Charles Farrell. Marie Tempest. Barbara Greene Director: Lothar Mendes Original story: Hans Rameau Screen writers: Edward Knoblock. E. M. Delafield Filmed in England. Filmed two years ago and just released in the United States. In addition to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, the music includes Chopin's Polonaise in A flat major, and Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody and music by Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Paderewski. The locale is a Swedish estate where Paderewski and some friends are forced down by an airplane mishap. The pianist is able by his playing of the Moonlight Sonata to further the cause of a young American who is in love with the daughter of the house. Audience Suitability Ratings "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency Ap 28 '38 "A, Y & C: good." + Parents' M p52 Jl '38 "Family. Outstanding. A leisurely and rather trite story of a young girl being cured of an infatuation for an adventurer. Paderewski's personality and piano playing give it importance and distinction, and make it a priceless record of a great artist and his music." + + Wkly Guide Ap 30 '38 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Here, indeed, is a giant in a pup tent. The camera studies of Paderewski' s face and especially of his hands are magnificent. The recordings are good for the most part and even in the shadows, the greatness of the man emerges. Story of the girl who is saved from going off with the bounder, however, is written, played and directed in the same style as when Marie Tempest was an ingenue. Family." _j_ _ Christian Science Monitor pl7 My 28 '38 "Paderewski and his music are the chief attraction in this release." M. F. Windeatt Commonweal pl06 My 20 '38 "There's a grand cinematic treat at the Little Carnegie this week— an unpretentious little love story made memorable by the screen d6but and superb piano playing of that great musician, 77-year-old Ignace Jan Paderewski. . . Of minor consequence is the amusing, mildly entertaining story; to music lovers, and most others as well, Paderewski' s unparalleled playing at the piano takes full precedence. . . You will not want to miss them." Jesse Zunser + + Cue p38 My 14 '38 " 'Moonlight Sonata' may have succeeded in perpetuating some of Ignace Jan Paderewski's playing on a sound track, but it is a very bad motion picture. . . Within the limits of canned music, the actual renditions are satisfactory enough, but they punctuate a preposterous dramatic narrative. The script would have you believe that a great pianist, playing great music, can perform the function of a pick-me-up for an emotional hangover, but it fails rather signally in putting over the point." Howard Barnes 1 N Y Herald Tribune pl2 My 10 '38 "The story is of no great consequence. . . Dame Marie Tempest, one of England's oldest and best dramatic institutions, is a sparkling line tosser who keeps the script alive when Paderewski is not putting it to music. . . "With Tempest in one corner and Paderewski in another, 'Moonlight Sonata' belongs on the recommended list." F. S. Nugent -f NY Times pl7 My 10 '38 "A somewhat sluggish story, sluggish even with the E. M. Delafield dialogue and Marie Tempest in the cast, has been arranged for Paderewski. Incidentally, if you go, don't miss the opening of the picture." John Mosher New Yorker p93 My 14 '38 "Except for Paderewski's brilliant piano playing, 'Moonlight Sonata' has little to recommend it. . . Next to Paderewski, who impersonates himself with dignity and some embarrassment, Marie Tempest shines best in this fumbling English film." Newsweek p21 My 23 '38 "Excepting the one discord of a too strident villainous note in the picture, it serves well to present Mr. Paderewski. . . It also serves to present, in her first talking picture, Marie Tempest as a noble and lovable grande dame. An experience in exquisite music and man + Stage p46 Je '38 " 'Moonlight Sonata' has its soul in Parnassus, its feet in Grub Street. A trite British treatment of cinema's tritest theme, it makes the wobbly point that music hath charms to shoo the city slicker out of the country girl's heart. But what lofts it to the skies for two memorable reels is the piano-playing of 77-yearold Ignace Jan Paderewski, most notable pianist of his time, in cinema a tired old man in a tacky dress suit, a mismanaged bow tie." + Time p57 My 16 '38 Trade Paper Reviews "Now, millions who have never had the opportunity of seeing and hearing the great Paderewski play, can view him on the screen. It is a film milestone on which the alert showman can capitalize. Family." + Boxoffice p89 Ap 30 '38 "Music lovers will welcome this class production which brings to the screen for the first time the matchless piano genius of the renowned Ignace Jan Paderewski. . . A class picture that will wow the musical-minded and should prove a strong attraction for high class audiences." + Film Curb pl2 Ap 30 '38 "A very charming picture made unique in musical annals by the appearance of the world-famous Paderewski who takes a very important part in the story and performs several times at the piano, the high spot being his celebrated rendition of Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata.' . . Can't see how this one can miss, both for its musical significance and a delightful, wholesome and sincere love story." -f + Film Daily p6 Ap 25 '38 + + Motion Pict Daily p3 Ap 27 '38 "Strictly art, class, this is a treat for music lovers. Estimate: fine art, good class." + Phila Exhibitor pl26 My 1 '38 "Charming love story woven round the central personality of the world-famous pianist. Will delight music lovers, and should make good with class audiences both here [London] and in the United States. For the highbrows there will probably not be enough of the maestro's genius — for the lowbrows, there will certainly be too much." + Variety pl7 F 24 '38 MYSTERIOUS MR. MOTO. 20th centuryFox 62-65min O 21 '38 Cast: Peter Lorre. Mary Maguire. Henry Wilcoxon. Erik Rhodes. Harold Huber. Forrester Harvey Director: Norman Foster Music director: Samuel Kaylin Screen writers: Philip MacDonald. Norman Foster Another in the Mr Moto series based on the character created by John P. Marquand. This time Mr Moto goes to London to track down a band of assassins. Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "At last Mr. Moto has assumed a virility in keeping with his remarkable detecting exploits. . . The firmer chin and more resolute eye, together with factors of story and direction, result in Peter Lorre being seen to better