Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1931)

Photoplay Magazine for November, 1931 ll5 The Shadow Stage The National Guide to Motion Pictures (REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.) [ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53 THE DREYFUS CASE— Columbia THIS account of the famous Dreyfus and Emile Zola rumpus (go on — brush up on your history as we did) is done with precision and accuracy (Dreyfus supervised it) but without much warmth. Taking place mostly in the French courts, it will appeal to people who like that sort of heavy film fare. Splendidly acted. Made in England with a British cast. HEAVEN ON EARTH— Universal IF you're a Lew Ayres fan you'll probably like this, but Lew is about the only reason for seeing it. The hatred between the shantyboaters and the steam-boaters on the Mississippi is the theme of the picture. There is one thrilling scene, however, when the shantyboaters are set adrift. 1931 Baby Star Anita Louise is splendid, but they should not have given her that Southern accent to do. FIFTY FATHOMS DEEP— Columbia THE same old plot, that of the two-pals-andone-wife, and it's a shame to waste Richard Cromwell, one of the few youngsters with real talent, on such hokum. In this he and Jack Holt are deep-sea divers. The storm and underwater scenes are thrilling and the dance hall is a nice piece of realism. THE MYSTERY TRAIN— Darmour Prod. A MYSTERY melodrama of the old school, with enough sure-fire hokum and suspense to satisfy both kiddies and grown-ups. Marceline Day and Nick Stuart carry the love interest, while Hedda Hopper and Bryant Washburn keep you guessing about the "mystery." Al Cooke does well with the comedy. THE WHITE DEVIL— UFA THE Russians are at it again — fighting seriously, loving seriously and suffering seriously in those big fur hats. This movie, made in Germany with English dialogue, is about a Caucasian leader who rescues an innocent dancer from the Czar and gets killed for his trouble. But some of the shots are magnificent. Lil Dagover, over here now, is beautiful, and it's quite impressive. SHOULD A DOCTOR TELL?— Regal Prod. A DREARY story about a doctor torn between his duty as a medico to keep silent and his duty toward his son to tell a consultingroom secret. Spoken in the most Oxfordian British, it is still pretty monotonous stuff. The cast is all English. You wouldn't know them. THE PARISIAN— Capital Prod. ADOLPHE MENJOU and Elissa Landi made this one in England. And it goes to show that the gals get their glamour after they hit Hollywood. At least you would never believe Elissa could turn out to be the sloeeyed mystic. Menjou is his usual suave self either at home or abroad, but the story (peppy lad tries to make father a business man) is twaddle. THE OLD SONG (DAS ALTE LIED)— Kreutzburg Prod. HpHEY have Cinderellas in Austria, too. And *■ they also have wicked vamps. This yarn, with German dialogue, is about a young baron who falls in love with a Viennese shopgirl. But it's interesting, mostly because of Lil Dagover, the glamorous, langourous menace, who is making pictures in Hollywood this very minute. A STUDENT'S SONG OF HEIDELBERG (EIN BURSCHENLIED AUS HEIDELBERG)—UFA XT 7HETHER or not you understand German *** this is a grand picture, with rollicking students, rollicking tunes and rollicking acting. The extras arcall real Heidelberg boys and the cameras did their grinding on the old Heidelberg campus, or whatever they call it over there. There's a story, with very good actors, but the scenery and the songs are what make it worthwhile. WOMEN MEN MARRY— Headline Prod. •"pHIS is a melodrama that finishes as a *■ comedy without intending to do so. It relates the experiences of two married couples in New York. These roles are played by Natalie Moorehead, Kenneth Harlan as her husband, and Randolph Scott as Sally Blane's. The story is obvious, but players do their best and a good time is had by all. THE SEA GHOST— Imperial Prod. T AURA LA PLANTE is too fine an actress -'-'and too lovely to look at to play in such an old-fashioned melodrama as this. It's a complicated story about a naval officer who is sent to find a will at the bottom of the ocean. PAGAN LADY— Columbia •"THE Sadie Thompson theme is given a new *■ dress in this briskly moving melodrama of Cuba, bootleggers and reformers. Evelyn Brent starts out as a barmaid but is taken in tow by the two-fisted Charles Bickford, head of a bootlegging gang. In the end they both reform, and the story leaves you with a laugh. William Farnum, Conrad Nagel and Roland Young are other good actors in the cast. Who Will Get The Gold Medal? Announcement of the winner of The Photoplay Gold Medal of Honor for the best picture released during 1930 will be made in Photoplay as soon as the ballots are counted. It's the highest honor in filmland because it"s the public's choice. 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