Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1939)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT— Continued document against war. . . The picture is a definite indictment against one of the nations involved in the present conflict, and it is therefore questionable whether it is advisable to release this type of war propaganda when a neutral attitude seems desirable. Adults." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "Good. A re-issue, this harrowing protest vs. war arouses aversion to the film itself even as it presents the horror, gruesomeness, and futility of war; for just now most people do not want to be reminded of a possibility that most 'of us dread. Adults." DAR "The revival of this powerful anti-war film is both timely and commendable and some of the added historical newsreels make the picture even more interesting; it is regrettable that the narrative does not make the most of a great opportunity as it detracts from the underlying purposes. Although the protests against Hitlerism are valid, they do not belong here, for the production stands by itself as the finest film of its kind ever made. Mature-family." Nat Council of Jewish Women "The picture presents a strong plea for peace and is an indictment against war. Adults." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women "The picture used at this time is patently propaganda although most of it is salutary in effect. A series of newsreel shots, a running commentary throughout the body of the film, and another collection of newsreel scenes at the end, rising to a crescendo of anti-Hitler propaganda. These detract from the artistic as well as from the moral value of the production. Adolescents: too strong; children: no. Adults." Women's Univ Club, Los Angeles -j Fox W Coast Bulletin O 21 '39 "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency O 26 '39 "A: it should be seen; Y: gives a true picture of war's horror; C: no." Parents' M p62 N '39 "Mature. Outstanding. The added [material] gives the picture a strong topical appeal, sympathetic towards the Germans as people but strongly anti-Nazi and anti-militaristic. Exceptional photoplay." -f + Wkly Guide S 30 '39 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "Lest you miss any little point of irony, a commentator now makes pithy remarks on 'All Quiet on the Western Front.' . . That 'All Quiet' stands up so well after nine years is due principally to Lewis Milestone's direction, the script and Erich Maria Remarque's sincerity in debunking war. Although sentimental at times, the film still has terrific force in its argument against war's futility." Philip T. Hartung + Commonweal p564 O 13 '39 "Today, as nine years ago, 'All Quiet' is a dynamic preachment against militarism and nationalism run amok. It is also a stirring denunciation of the godless materialism, blind bigotry, racial hatreds, and the cynical, cruel betrayal of a people by the murderous gang that has driven it at gunpoint into a ruinous war from which no nation can emerge victorious. This is still the greatest of all war dramas. If you failed to see it in 1930, don't fail to see it now. If you did see it then, you would do well to look at it again — for its lesson is sharper, more vital than ever." Jesse Zunser + + Cue p32 O 7 '39 "Universal, in reissuing its famous war film has been careful not to make the horrible mistake of assuming that film audiences are intelligent. A pictorial prologue and epilogue, a narrator's voice breaking into the film at a dozen points eliminate the danger of any one's failure to see the relation between this picture of the last World War and the actuality of the present world war; they guarantee, also, that even the dullest of us are made to understand that Remarque thought war was stupid and futile and probably thinks so still. . . That it isn't as good a film this way, that it comes, in fact, closer to stupid vandalism — and what can be more stupid than mutilation of one's own art treasures? — is merely a personal opinion. . . We are glad that the picture has been brought back, for there are things in it that cannot be killed even by opportunist editors; but we should have preferred seeing it as it was before it went through its second battle on Hollywood's western front." Frank S. Nugent ■] NY Times pl5 O 9 '39 "The reason for its resuscitation is obvious. I suspect that with the passing of the " years, and with our own more calloused senses, it may seem milder than it once did. A running commentary, of conventional oratory, has been devised to date it for us. There has been a little cutting, though for what purpose isn't clear to me. Perhaps there's a hope that the piece won't harass us now too much, as we should be protected, of course, from thoughts of violence." John Mosher New Yorker p97 O 14 '39 "The film that won five international prizes as an anti-war document since its release in 1930 sacrifices some of its dramatic effectiveness in the interest of a superficial timeliness. Nevertheless, this sympathetic story retains much of the original's bitter denunciation of war. ' ' Newsweek p36 O 9 '39 "When Carl Laemmle Jr. produced this picture in 1930, critics hailed it as one of the few great U. S. films. . . But its conscientious producers tried to improve the masterpiece. . . When the revamped picture opened, result of such tinkering was almost as complete a disaster for 'All Quiet on the Western Front' as even Nazis could have wished. Hard to spot were any restored cuts. The historical newsreel was a separate show. ' The strident commentator, harshly sounding off in the worst tradition of Russian soap-box films, demolished each of the picture's high-voltage, moving climaxes as efficiently as if a 12-inch shell had ripped through the screen." — Time p49 O 2 '39 Trade Paper Reviews "Clearly and at the outset of the European conflict, this revamp places war guilt directly on Hitler's doorstep. The effect may be twofold: it may fan public opinion to a point where it will tend to foment a war psychology in this country or it may aid in establishing the reverse; this reviewer cannot predict which. Certain it is, however, that time has done little to dim the power of the original. In itself and without treatment, it is an overwhelming indictment against war." + -f Boxoffice p27 S 30 '39 ALL WOMEN HAVE SECRETS. Paramount 59min D 15 '39 Cast: Jean Cagney. Joseph Allen. Virginia Dale. Peter Hayes. Betty Moran Director: Kurt Neumann Original story: Dale Eunson Screen writer: Agnes Christine Johnston Comedy drama. The plot concerns three married couples who are students at college. When Jean Cagney, wife of a promising student finds she is going to have a baby and must give up her job, complications arise. Audience Suitability Ratings "Adults." Nat Legion of Decency N 23 '39 "A & Y: good; C: no." + Parents' M p36 Ja '40 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews Photoplay p58 Ja '40 Trade Paper Reviews "Story and plot weaknesses and the absolute absence of draw names in the cast handicap the effort to a degree where it can hope to qualify for little more than supporting spots, in which it will probably find its best following among adolescents of the more seriousminded type." H Boxoffice p67 D 9 '39 "A pleasant, intriguing presentation of the problems of undergraduate marriage, this picture is imbued with a wholesome sincerity