Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1939)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST this could be called — will wrap them up in the aisles, and before the ticket windows." + + Box Office Digest pll S IS '39 "From infants to octogenarians and every class and age in between, theatre-goers should applaud this diverting musical comedy, so loaded with top-grade light entertainment that it is almost certain to launch a new cycle of extravaganzas and net itself a substantial profit in tbe bargain.' + + Boxoffice p41 S 23 '39 "Metro has a grand hit on its hands! It should be one of the biggest business-getters of the season. . . Practically everyone who sees 'Babes In Arms' will leave the theatre a walking 24-sheet. It's that good! " + + Film Bulletin p4 O 21 '39 "Here is a grand package of entertainment that exhibitors should be proud to play in their bouses. It has sock performances by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, and properly exploited should be a bonanza at the box office. Director Busby Berkeley has given expert guidance to the comedy and pathos, in addition to directing a stirring finale, which has tbe White House as a background." + + Film Daily p7 S 19 '39 "The amazing Mickey Rooney is more amazing in Metro's 'Babes in Arms.' He becomes about the tops in this picture business through a display of versatility that has never been recorded before by the camera and mike. . Mickey is simply tremendous and tops everything he has ever done before. The picture is a solid, smack hit; a musical that will make audiences want more musicals but who will stand little chance of getting many, if any, that will give as much entertainment as this one. The showT, as we saw it last night, moved with the speed of a bullet and moved from one entertaining scene to another." + + Hollywood Reporter p3 S 15 '39 + + Motion Pict Daily pi S 19 '39 " 'Babes in Arms' is a topflight filmusical entertainment. It will click mightily in the key de luxers, with extended runs indicated, and roll up hefty profits for exhibitors in the subsequent runs and smaller situations. For solid entertainment, picture rates with the best. . . Mickey Rooney gives out plenty, and shoulders all responsibility for swinging the picture into the top classification." + + Variety pl5 S 20 '39 "Incited by a script rich in comedy and heart interest, by an excellent musical book and showmanly production, an array of top talented youngsters, supported by veteran troupers, herewith put on a choice and lavish piece of entertainment heading straight for important coin. Topping the names is Mickey Rooney, the young folks' favorite and one o'f the strongest marquee fetcher-inners." + + Variety (Hollywood) p3 S 15 '39 BAD LITTLE ANGEL. MGM 77min O 27 '39 Cast: Virginia YVeidler. Gene Reynolds. Guy Kibbee. Ian Hunter. Elizabeth Patterson Director: William Thiele Music: Edward "Ward Screen writer: Dorothy Yost Drama. Based on a novel Looking After Sandy by Margaret Turnbull. This is a tale of the childish faith of a little orphan girl in God and the Bible. Virginia AVeidler, the orphan, seems to be followed by a jinx as trouble follows every family which adopts her. Audience Suitability Ratings "This is a departure in film subjects because it dares to have a spiritual motivation. . . The cast is excellent and Virginia "Weidler carries conviction where a less gifted child might have failed for the screen play is sentimental and resorts to emotional melodrama as a climax. However, the theme is unique and there is humor, pathos and kindliness in its unfolding. Adolescents: yes; children: emotional climax. Family." Women's Univ Club, Los Angeles + Fox W Coast Bulletin N 11 '39 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency N 2 '39 "A. v & C: good." -f Parents' M p36 Ja '40 "Family-juvenile. A story of the Sunday School type. Quite pious and moral." Wkly Guide O 28 '39 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "A very, very clean and wholesome little picture, with a religious motif, centering about an orphan child's belief in the good Book. There is plenty of humor in it, but some may find the fare a little too simple for their tastes. Good entertainment for children." Bert Harlen + Hollywood Spectator p9 N 11 '39 Trade Paper Reviews "Nothing pretentious, but withal, a neat little gem of family entertainment. . . One of Weidler's best, and fine family entertainment. Will need something with action or comedy stressed to balance the bill." + Box Office Digest pl2 O 25 '39 "A Sunday School lesson in celluloid, eminently suitable for children and old ladies, quaintly mid-Victorian in character but with the Pollyanna spirit laid on a bit too heavily for average audience enjoyment. Little Virginia Weidler shows genuine talent and selfassurance in the title role, albeit the demands of the part are somewhat cloying at times." H Boxoffice p35 O 28 '39 "Fine acting and a well contrived screenplay by Dorothy Yost combine to make this low budgeted MGM offering a better than average dualler. It is human, appealing, sustains interest throughout and moves along at an agreeable pace. In the smaller neighborhood houses and rural locations it will please as a companion piece to any feature." David J. Hanna + Film Bulletin p4 N 18 '39 "Human interest story has adult as well as juvenile appeal." + Film Daily p7 N 14 '39 "Produced strictly for the family trade, 'Bad Little Angel' advances the acting stock of young Virginia AVeidler in a screen story which sets off her talents to unusual advantage. The picture moves brightly toward an inspirational conclusion and may suitably bear out any double bill." + Hollywood Reporter p6 O 19 '39 Reviewed by Roscoe Williams 4 Motion Pict Daily p6 O 26 '39 "Some may find 'Bad Little Angel' a little too sticky, but to the familypatronized theatres and the neighborhoods, as well as many subsequents, the film will be on friendly ground and do a fair share of business." -\ Variety pl4 D 6 '39 "Here is a sparkling and heart touching little gem, beautifully played, skillfully directed and ably produced to hold its own on any program. Virginia AVeidler projects a character which will grapple audiences with its restrained comedy, its sure pathos, its inspirational note. . . The tale is told very simply and with a natural naive comedy which keeps it from being smugly religious. Not many pictures have dared . to attempt this kind of premise for general entertainment." + Variety (Hollywood) p3 O 19 '39 BALALAIKA. MGM Announced for release D 29 '39 (Not yet previewed) BARRICADE. 20th centurv-Fox 71min D 8 '39 Cast: Warner Baxter. Alice Faye. Charles Winninger. Arthur Treacher. Keye Luke Director: Gregory Ratoff Original story: Granville Walker Melodrama. The scene is war-torn China during the siege of an American consulate by Mongolian bandits. Warner Baxter, foreign correspondent, drinks to forget his troubles; Alice Faye is a murderess trying to escape; Charles Winninger, an American consul who refuses to leave his headquarters.