Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1939)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST whuh qives it a definitely attractive quality. The customary film flippancy toward and distortion of college life is happily missing. It should find a ready response among younger audiences and will give their elders a pleasant, nostalgic hour." -j Hollywood Reporter pi D 2 '39 Reviewed by Roscoe Williams Motion Pict Daily p4 D 7 '39 "A story of college life and student marriages, 'All Women Have Secrets' is one in the *B' division that will have trouble getting anywhere. It is very weak and appears destined for minimum dating, mostly as the No. 2 flat buy dualer. Title, apparently designed as box office bait, may attract to some extent, but that's about as far as it goes. . . Most of the players are deserving of better opportunities, notably Jean Cagney and Joseph Allen." — Variety pl6 N 22 '39 "A neat programmer of unusual charm and quality in its class, in which a group of capable youngsters acquit themselves creditably to leave an agreeable impression. Light but valid drama is projected against a collegiate background which makes it a natural for youthful patronage. At same time the material is in no sense exclusively campus stuff to preclude general interest." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 D 2 '39 ALLEGHENY UPRISING. RKO 81min N 10 '39 Cast: Claire Trevor. John Wayne. George Sanders. Brian Donlevy. Wilfrid Lawson. Robert Barrat Director: William A. Seiter Dance director: David Robel Music director: Anthony Collins Screen writer: P. J. Wolfson Melodrama. Based on the book, The First Rebel, by Neil H. Swanson. The time is about 1760 after the British have won their war with the French and are controlling the area pioneered by Allegheny colonists. The colonists declare that weapons and rum are being supplied the Indians under military protection. John Wayne, leader of the colonists, and his men go through many adventures before the British in command take steps to halt the activities of the Indians. Photoplay Studies devotes an issue to the photoplay appreciation of Allegheny Uprising, prepared by Frederick H. Law. It is obtainable from Educational and Recreational Guides, Inc, 1501 Broadway, Room 1418, New York City at fifteen cents per copy or as part of the $2.00 annual subscription. Audience Suitability Ratings "A & Y: interesting; C: exciting." + Christian Century pl487 N 29 '39 "Mediocre. A well-cast, glorified Western. Mature-family." DAR h Fox W Coast Bulletin O 28 '39 "Family." Am Legion Auxiliary "Production and direction are average, and the acting is fair. Family over 14." Calif Cong of Par & Teachers "There is plenty of action in this historical drama, but the types presented are a bit boisterous and the story does not seem particularly vital. Mature." Calif Fed of Business & Professional Women's Clubs "The direction for the most part is convincing, building to swift, dramatic climaxes, but there is some too-modern treatment. . . The picture is constructive in historical significance but not always convincing. Family." Gen Fed of Women's Clubs (W Coast) "It has great historical interest for schools, while photoplay discussion groups, and every person interested in better films of a genuinely entertaining nature, will hugely enjoy it. We hope you will be among the first in your community to see this production and that you will consider it well worthy of your recommendation to others. Family." Int Fed of Cath Alumnae "Despite its good cast, fine direction and beautiful photography, the picture fails in its effort toward real entertainment. Family but not for small children." Nat Council of Jewish Women "Family." S Calif Council of Fed Church Women "The characters and the conflicts between the stalwart hero and the smugglers are in the manner of a Western. The film is not important as an historical document but it is an entertaining action drama with a pleasing romance and some rousing fights. Adolescents: interesting; children: exciting. Mature-family." Women's Univ Club, Los Angeles Fox W Coast Bulletin N 18 '39 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency N 9 '39 "A & Y: only fair; C: no." H Parents' M p62 D '39 "Familyjuvenile. Plenty of action." Wkly Guide N 4 '39 School Evaluations "Can't vouch for historical accuracy, but consider it a good vehicle for teaching those virile traits necessary to maintain American institutions now as they were necessary then to build them." . . "Excellent for history. Teaches respect for law and upholding the right. Good film for difficulties of early frontier life. Wish the female character could be dressed in accordance with the costumes of that period." . . "Excellent in action, photography, sound. Would arouse in pupils a respect for authority, a fervent patriotism and full appreciation of what the early settlers had to endure." . . "I liked the fact that no matter in what age we live or in what country we study, there are always those who place personal profit before humanity and there are always those willing to fight fair and clean for a cause they know is just and right." . . "I think the picture is mediocre in staging and acting. It will not make history." . . "Could be used for history classes, but I don't think it has any particular merit other than from the historical angle." . . "Not well focussed because action is too much to fore." . . "Not particularly striking from any point of view. A rather confused medley of many things, nothing clearly stated." . . "Mediocre direction and acting. Lifeless and as dull as the Yale pictures about historical phases of American life. Of course it can be used as a start for discussion." Com on Motion Pict, Dept of Sec Ed, NEA N 1 '39 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews Boston Transcript p24 N 24 '39 "Adults and young people." Christian Science Monitor pl7 N 25 '39 "Director William A. Seiter allows involved exposition and a pointless love story between Claire Trevor and John Wayne to slow up the action. But once the excitement starts, the picture speeds along." Philip T. Hartung Commonweal p97 N 17 '39 "It is an uneven, rambling melodrama." Jesse Zunser \ Cue p39 N 18 '39 "A truly American picture which all the school children in the country should see. It sugar-coats history to make it palatable for old and young, in that respect making it a profitable study for motion picture appreciation classes. A picture good enough and wide enough in its visual scope for showing in the biggest house, and at the same time ideal entertainment for the smaller spots where spirited outdoor pictures of the Western flavor are welcomed by audiences. Clean, wholesome, without a rough spot in it." + Hollywood Spectator plO O 28 '39 "This is full of melodramatic plot, with murderous traders, stupid British officers, and earnest pioneers at violent odds. None of the proceedings seem very real; the Indians are none too convincing. This particular era always has been a hard period of history to make convincing on stage or screen." Beverly Hills H Liberty p57 D 9 '39 "Whatever else may be said about the film, it does not lack action. Mr. Wayne and Miss Trevor, who did so well in 'Stagecoach,' come up against an assignment that is less to their advantage. 'Allegheny Uprising' is a picture