Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1938)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 53 advantage in the present film than in any of the earlier pictures of the series." Bert Harlen + Hollywood Spec p9 Je 4 '38 Trade Paper Reviews "Advancing another notch in his steady climb toward top-flight popularity as a screen detective, Mr. Moto, the nimble Nipponese, reasons his way through one of his most thrilling adventures to date. Given more plausible story treatment than some earlier vehicles in the Moto series, Peter Lorre scores with his usual deftness and entrenches himself more firmly as an audience favorite. Family." + Boxoffice p39 Je 4 *38 + Motion Pict Daily pll Je 2 '38 "These Moto series have won wide popularity. They are played with intensity. Some excellent character bits in this one make it interesting. . . Although these features are made within restricted budgets, the composition photography, actual shots of London squares and familiar buildings combine to suggest some liberal spending." + Variety pl2 Je 1 '38 "Mr. Moto has hit the crime-does-not-pay trail again, and with a vim and vigor that will make it an easy task for the youngsters to drag their parents away from the radio and into the theatres screening his newest adventures under the tag of 'Mysterious Mr. Moto.' " + Variety (Hollywood) p3 My 28 '38 MYSTERY HOUSE. First national 56min My 21 '38 Cast: Dick Purcell. Ann Sheridan. Anne Nagel Director: Noel Smith Screen writers: Sherman L. Lowe. Robertson "White Based on novel of same title by Mignon C. Eberhart. A mystery story. Audience Suitability Ratings "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency My 12 '38 "A & Y: fair; C: unsuitable." H Parents' M p52 Jl '38 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Here's that hunting lodge murder mystery again. The mystery is how long the public will continue to stand these stock thrillers with stock situations and stock acting. Adults." — Christian Science Monitor pl7 My 21 '38 Trade Paper Reviews "A fair program melodrama whose pace is much too languid to be exciting. There are a number of murders to satisfy the mystery fans with the identity of the guilty one carefully concealed until the final climax. Family." H Boxoffice p27 My 14 '38 "Routine murder mystery to round out dual bill programs." h Film Curb p4 Je 11 '38 "Suspenseful murder mystery with well-knit plot moves to a gripping climax." + Film Daily p7 Je 1 '38 "Fair program thriller, for family neighborhoods, this has wildly phoney, melodramatic lines, unbelievable situations, unconvincing characterizations, to make it belong on lower duals. Its sole asset is excitement." — Phila Exhibitor pl25 My 1 '38 "This B film, which is tipped by its title, will be an inconspicuous entry into the duals, where it will need strong mating on a bill to get by. Neither names nor notices to help." r Variety pl2 Je 1 '38 "Lacking either rhyme or reason, 'Mystery House,' like Topsy, apparently just grew, with the result that sequences through which its makers no doubt had hoped to have spectators gripping their chairs, drew only snickers. Picture contains no saving graces, unless the more or less listless efforts of some members of the cast to rise above the slip-shod and time-worn screen play, plus insipid direction, may be considered such." — Variety (Hollywood) p3 Je 6 '38 N NUMBERED WOMAN. Monogram 60-65 min My 22 '38 Cast: Sally Blane. Lloyd Hughes. Mayo Methot. Clay Clement. J. Farrell MacDonald Director: Karl Brown Screen writer: John T. Neville The tale concerns the attempts of a private nurse to run down a gang of crooks who through misrepresentation have linked her brother with a bond theft. Audience Suitability Ratings "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency Je 2 '38 "A familiar plot. Mature." H Wkly Guide My 21 '38 Trade Paper Reviews "Exhibitors need have no qualms about booking this entertaining little action feature, despite its lack of marquee names, for it is a sufficiently well-mounted production to rate attention in most situations. Family." H Boxoffice p25 My 14 '38 "An entertaining melodrama which will please in the lower bracket houses." + Film Curb p7 My 14 '38 "Crook melodrama, well acted and produced, rates as satisfying program picture." + Film Daily p6 My 10 '38 -j Motion Pict Daily p2 My 7 '38 "This is a slow moving story. . . Low budget production. Estimate: okay action melodrama for duals, neighborhoods." 1 Phila Exhibitor pl33 My 15 '38 "Fortified by a cast of dependable players, though lacking in boxoffice draw names, this E. B. Derr Monogram production will fit* in nicely where mildly diverting action features are in demand. Its only possible drawback is a certain amount of dragginess, due to an overly slow tempo, but this angle should not deter from it giving general satisfaction." H Variety (Hollywood) p3 My 4 '38 NURSE FROM BROOKLYN. Universal 67min Ap 15 '38 Cast: Sally Eilers. Paul Kelly. Larry Blake. Maurice Murphy Director: S. Sylvan Simon Screen writer: Roy Chanslor Based on a Liberty Magazine story of the same title by Steve Fisher. This is the tale of a nurse, Sally Eilers, who is loved by both a cop, Paul Kelly and a gangster, Larry Blake. Blake has killed her brother and pins the crime on the policeman. In the end Blake confesses and she and Kelly marry. Audience Suitability Ratings "Interesting and entertaining social drama. Convincingly portrayed and well directed. Mature." Am Legion Auxiliary "Fairly entertaining melodrama, the hackneyed plot of which is well developed for the most part, although in spots it is unconvincing and slow. Adults." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "Smoothly directed and acted gangster-melodrama, with some novelty in treatment and a minimum of gun-play. Adults." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Good." DAR "Interesting, well directed and acted picture. . . The social values are satisfactory and the entertainment good. Adults." Gen Fed of "Women's Clubs (W Coast) "Well directed and acted, but with an obvious, complicated plot, this picture is interesting and has some clever comedy. . . Unusual musical background, improbable hospital routine. Mature." Nat Council of Jewish Women "Mature." Nat Soc of New England Women