Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Brief Reviews of Current Pictures -^Indicates that photoplay was named as one of the six best upon its month of review ACQUITTED— Columbia.— Underworld drama with a real punch. Sam Hardv is more amusing than ever. All Talkie. (Feb.) AFTER THE FOG— Beacon Prod.— If you like relentless drama about cruel husbands and martyred wives, you'll like this. All Talkie. (Jan.) APPLAUSE— Paramount.— When this is good, it's very, very good and when it's bad it's — you know. Helen Morgan, in a rfile which does not take advantage of her unique talents, does some brilliant work none the less. All Talkie. (Jan.) • AWFUL TRUTH, THE — Pathe. — Delightful Ina Claire in a sophisticated drama. Excellent support by Paul Harvey. All Talkie. (Oct.) BACHELOR GIRL, THE— Columbia.— Dull love triangle, but nicely act<-d by Jacqueline Logan and William Colliei, Jr. Part Talkie. (Sept.) BARNUM WAS RIGHT— Universal— Miss this one unless vou're one of those people old P. T. was talking about. All Talkie. (Feb.) BEHIND THAT CURTAIN— Fox.— Well done but rambling mystery melodrama well acted by Warner Baxter and Lois Moran. All Talkie. (Sept.) BEHIND THE MAKE-UP— Paramount— More backstage melodrama, but different and real 1 1 is time. Hal Skelly is aiestrained Pagliacci and Fav Wray and Kay Francis are good. All Talkie. (Dec.) BIG NEWS— Pathe.— Another, and obvious, story of an unhappy young reporter, with pleasing work by Bob Armstrong and Carol Lombard. All Talkie. (Sept.) BIG REVUE, THE— All-Star.— All-singing and toddling juvenile extravaganza featuring the so-called Ethel Meglin Wonder kids. If you like to hear ten-year (Ids sinking about moonlight madness you'll lil.Mli!-., All Talkie. (Nov.) • BIG TIME— Fox.— This is closer than a brother to "Burlesque," but it's darned gocd. Dialogue is bright and Lee Tracy and Mae Clarke make the story convincing. All Talkie. (Nov.) BISHOP MURDER CASE, THE— M-G-M.— Murder a la Mother Goose, with Basil Rathbone Philo Vancim* this time. Plenty of thrills. All Talkie. (Feb.) BLACK MAGIC— Fox.— Another priceless title gone wrong. South Sea life — and very dull, too. Sound. (Oct.) • BLACKMAIL— Sono Art World Wide.— A few like this excellent phonoplay will put British producers among the leaders in the (alkie race. All-Talkie. (Dec.) BROADWAY BABIES— First National.— Alice White as a chorus cutie at her best to date. Fred Kohler steals it as a big beer and booze man from Detroit. All Talkie. (Sept.) BROADWAY SCANDALS— Columbia.— Vei sion No. 999 of Love Behind the Scenes — with music. A new lad named Jack Egan looks like Buddv Rogers ana sings nicely. Carmel Myers glitters as the vamp. All Talkie. (Jan.) CALL OF THE CIRCUS, THE— Pickwick Prod. — Worth seeing because it proves that Francis X. Bushman and Ethel Clayton can still act. Otherwise nil. All Talkie. (Dec.) CAMEO KIRBY—Fox-.—Tiie lam..,, sold romance of a river gambler revived gracefully but not txcitedlv. J. Harold Murray sings well and Stepin Fetchit sings. All Talkie. (Feb.) CHASING RAINBOWS— M-G-M. — (Reviewed under the title "The Road Show.") Another one. Bessie Love Pagliacches over Charlie King as in "Broadway Melody." Polly Moran, Man. Dressier and Jack Bennv are funny, but even -.> it's just another — oh, you say it. All Talkie. (Jan.) CHASING THROUGH EUROPE— Fox— Sue Stuart and Nick Carol (our error) seeing Europe with lipstick and cameia. Sound. (Oct.) CLIMAX, THE— Universal.— Jean Hersholt good as an old maestro in a picture of music, love and music lovers. All Talkie. (Sept.) • COCK EYED WORLD,. THE— Fox— Further disagreements of Sergeants Eddie Lowe Quirt and Vic McLaglen Flagg, with Lily Damitathe chief trouble maker. Highly seasoned. All Talkie. (Oct.) COLLEGE COQUETTE, Another picture of college lif. ought to be a law. All Talkie. THE— Columbia.— as it ain't. There (Nov.) • CONDEMNED— United Artist'.— A beautiful and thrilling story, crammed with action and romance. You'll like Ronald Colman's sophisticated yet appealing portrayal. And Dudle> Digges, Ann Harding and Louis Wolheim are grand. All Talkie. (Jan.) DANCE HALL— Radio Pictures— Arthur Lake is grand as the youngster who haunts the local dance hall where Olive Borden, in a blonde wig, is a hostess. Amusing. All Talkie. (Feb.) • DANCE OF LIFE, THE— Paramount.— Hal Skelly and Nancy Carroll in an all-talkie made from the famous backstage pla> "Burlesque." Grand. (Sept.) Pictures You Should Not Miss "The Trespasser" "Rio Rita" "Sunny Side Up" "The Taming of the Shrew" "Condemed" "The Virginian" "Paris" As a service to its readers, Photoplay Magazine presents brief critical comments on all photoplays of the preceding six months. By consulting this valuable guide, you can determine at a glance whether or not your promised evening's entertainment is \vortr while. Photoplay's reviews have always been the most authoritative published. And its tabloid reviews show you accurately and con( isely how to save your motion picture time and money. The month at the end of each review indicates the issue of Photoplay in which the original review appeared. • DANGEROUS CURVES— Paramou nt —Clara Bow in tights in a love stnrv uf a small circus. Richard Arlen does will. All Talkie. (.Sept.) DANGEROUS FEMALES— Paramount-Cliri in . — A hilariously funny two-reeler. And why not. with both Marie Dressier and Polly Moran cavorting in their beit manner? All Talkie. (Feb.) DANGEROUS PARADIS E— Paramount — Iak< n from Conrad's South Sea yarn "Victory." Begins well but goes astray. Dick Arlen and Nancy Carroll good, as always. All Talkie. (Feb.) DARK SKIES— Kiltmore. — Old time varn of "East Lynne" vintage. Terrible. All Talkie. {.Nov.) DARK STREETS— First National.— One of the first dual roles in the talkies. Jack Mulhall plays an honest cop and his gangster twin and L.ila Lee i his (their?) gal. All Talkie. {Dec.) DARKENED ROOMS — Paramount. — Unimportant little comedy-drama with an O-Henry twist. Neil Hamilton scores but Evelyn Brent is again -;n i ificed to an unworthy vehicle. All Talkie. (Dec.) DAUGHTER OF HEAVEN— All Star.— Nicety done Chinese picture, with Lady Tsen Mai. prominent in "The Letter," in lead. Silent. (Sept.) DELIGHTFUL ROGUE, THE— Radio Pictures. — Rod La Rocque gives such a superb performance as a villainous pirate that the heroine marries him instead of the hero. All Talkie. (Dec.) • DEVIL-MAY-CARE— M-G-M.— A moving picture that both moves and talks. Swift and colorful romance, with Novarro giving one of the finest performances of his career and Dorothy Jordan and Marion Harris scoring heavily. Some swell vocalizing. All Talkie. (Feb.) • DISRAELI — Warners. — Introducing George Arliss to thv audible screen in one of his most brilliant characterizations. He's grand. All Talkie. (Dec.) DOCTOR'S WOMEN, THE— Wcrid Wide.— Just foiget this was ever made. That's what its producers would probably like to do. Silent. (Dec.) • DRAG— First National.— Dick Barthelmess shines in a quiet domestic ctory. with Lila Lee a sensation in the film. All Talkie. (Sept.) DRAKE CASE, THE — Universal. — Tense murder melodrama. Noteworthy chiefly for the late Gladys Brockwell's fine performance in the leading role. Ail Talkie. (Nov.) DUDE WRANGLER, THE— Mrs. Wallace Reid Prod. — A bang-up Western comedy done magno cum gusto. Children can safely take their parents. All Talkie. (Feb.) • DYNAMITE— M-G-M.— Stark drama, full of suspense, bringing to the screen two splendid players, Charles Bickford and Kay Johnson. All Talkie. (Oct.) EMBARRASSING MOMENTS — Universal. — Reginald Denny in a farce that manages to amuse in spite of its hoary plot. All Talkie. {Sept.) EMPIRE BUILDERS, THE— Carlsbad Prod — An unintentional burlesque on "TheCovered Wagon." But Tom Santschi — remember him? — proves he is still a real he-man actor. All Talkie. (Jan.) EVIDENCE— Warners. — Bewhiskered dramn.er of circumstantial evidence in the divorce courts. But Pauline Frederick is swell and so is the rest of the cast. All Talkie. (Dec.) FALL OF EVE, THE— Columbia.— Rowdv farce of the buver who comes to the big town to make whoopee. Fold Sterling, Patsy Ruth Miller. All Talkie. (Sept.) • FARO NELL— Paramount-Christi". — A reviewer's dream of what a two-reel talking comedy should be and usually isn't. Gorgeously acted burlesque of the old-time Western thrillel with Louise Fazenda in long yellow curls. All Talkie. (Dec.) FAST COMPANY— Paramount.— Baseball stuff ail. i|ited from Ring Lardnel's play "Elmer the Great" and garnished with bright lines. Jack Oakie takes the honors and Evelyn Brent is miscast. All Talkie. (Nov.) FAST LIFE— First National.— "Still Life" would be a more accurate title for this melodrama. It drags. Loretta Young is lovely. All Talkie. (Nov.) FLIGHT— Columbia. — The first flying talkie, and good, too. Love and adventure among the thing marines, illustrated bv Jack Holt, Ralph Graves and Lila Lee. All Talkie. {Dec.) I PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 14 )