Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1936)

Tennis is just a racket for Shirley PREVIEW MURDER MYSTERY, THE — Paramount. — A smartly paced and puzzling mystery, with Rod LaRoque as the murdered star, and Reginald Denny, Frances Drake, Gail Patrick and Conway Tearle all contributing to the suspense and suspicion. (April.) RETURN OF JIMMY VALENTINE, THE — Republic. — A semi-mystery with exceptional suspense and sparkling dialogue, concerning the disappearance ol that beloved rogue, Jimmy Valentine. Well played by Roger Pryor, J. Carrol Naish and Edgar Kennedy. (April.) • RHODES— GB— A sincere picture of the life of the famed British diamond merchant, patriot and scholar. Walter Huston able as Rhodes, Basil Sydney fine as Dr. Jameson, but highest honors go to Oscar Homolka as Paul Kruger. (May.) ROAD GANG — Warners. — Good performances by Donald Woods, Kay Linaker Henry O'Neill, and Joseph King fail to raise this grim, depressing story of a writer who exposes the crookedness of a state political dictator. Pretty brutal. (May.) ROBIN HOOD OF EL DORADO, THE— M-G-M. — Fine direction and superb cast in a thrilling, but too romantic tale of the bandit Juaquin Murrieta, the Robin Hood of early California history. Warner Baxter handles the desperado's role well. (May.) SEEING EYE, THE — Educational.— An instructive and heart-warming picturization of the worthy non-profit organization in New Jersey which trains German police dogs to lead the blind. (April.) SILLY BILLIES — RKO-Radio. — Old Home Week for Wheeler and Woolsey, who are covered wagoneers this time. Old stuff, but funny. Dorothy Lee is Wheeler's heart trouble. (May.) • SMALL TOWN GIRL— M-G-M— Janet Gaynor magnificent in this beautifully directed story of a small town girl married to a sophisticate who doesn't want her. Robert Taylor takes honors too, and noteworthy acting is contributed by a fine cast. (June) SNOWED UNDER — Warners.— An unpretentious and rib-tickling little farce with George Brent as a playwright harassed by too many wives. Genevieve Tobin, Patricia Ellis and Glenda Karrell furnish the feminine distraction. (April.) SONG AND DANCE MAN — 20th Century-Kox. — Paul Kelly and Claire Trevor struggle through an old story of a mis-mated vaudeville team who can't stick together on Broadway, with the usual back tage aci ifi< e. I u il anot hei movie. (.1 pril.) • SUTTER'S GOLD — Universal. — Drama, comedy, romance and tragedy combine in this colorful epic of the discovery of gold in ( alifornia, Edward Arnold as Suiter: Lee Tracy as his friend, are splendid; Binnie Barnes and [Catherine Alexandei i mi romance into Sutter's life admirably. (June) • 13 HOURS BY AIR— Paramount— A melodrama I ii tory of the transcontinental air serv■ th a fine cast. Fred MacMurray is pilot; roan Bennett, Brian Donlevy, Alan Baxter. Fred Keating and ZaSu Pitl are thi pa engers who furnish thrilling a pense. Excellent direction. [May.) THE COUNTRY BEYOND— 20th Centurv-Fox. — Insurpassable pictorial beauty and the dog Buck's cleverness help a weak story in which two Canadian Mounties, Paul Kelly and Robert Kent, solve a murder which entangles Rochelle Hudson and Alan Hale, her fur-trapper father. (June) • THE COUNTRY DOCTOR— 20th CenturyFox. — The famous Dionne quintuplets' debut as actresses. Superb story, direction and cast, which includes Jean Hersholt as the doctor, Dorothy Peterson as nurse, John Qualen as the father, and Slim -Summerville. On your "must see" list. (May.) THE DESERT PHANTOM— Supreme— Above the average sage-brush drama with plenty of mystery revolving around an unnamed sharpshooter who tries to force Sheila Manners to sell her ranch. Johnny Mack Brown, surprisingly good, comes to her assistance. (June) THE FIRST BABY— 20th Century-Fox— Life like and appealing story of a young couple who encounter in-law trouble. Johnny Downs as the husband, Majorie Gateson as his selfish mother-in-law, and Jane Darwell as his mother are outstanding in a fine cast. (June) THE GIRL FROM MANDALAY— RepublicUninteresting and somewhat morbid tale of a British plantation owner's (Conrad Nagel) tiresomely noble efforts to regenerate his faithless wife (Kay Linaker). (June) • THE GREAT ZIEGFELD— M-G-M.— Completely enthralling picturization of the life of Ziegfeld combining delicious music, lavish spectacle. This is a love set. Follow through! drama and humor. Bill Powell, Myrna Loy, Luise Rainer are only a few of the superb cast. Don't let anything keep you away. (June) • THE MOON'S OUR HOME— ParamountComedy, drama and emotional appeal in a gay and stirring love story. Margaret Sullavan, a spoiled movie queen, and Henry Fonda, a spoiled writer, fall in love unaware of each other's identity. Magnificently cast. You must go. (May.) • THE SINGING KID— Warners.— Al Jolson with never a better voice in a story of a singer and his troubles with two-timing Claire Dodd, a crooked lawyer. Lyle Talbot, Sybil Jason, the little fixer, and Beverly Roberts, the heart. Plenty of exhilarating frills, too, including the Yacht Club Boys and Cab Calloway. {May.) THE SKY PARADE— Paramount.— -A slow, disappointing film version of the radio serial, "The Adventures of Jimmy Allen." Jimmy Allen plays his original role none too well, and William Gargan, (Catherine DeMille and Kent Tayloi try haul. (June) THE WITNESS CHAIR RKO-Radio. There's good entertainment in this tense murder and courtroom drama built around a woman's great love. Ann Harding is emotional with reserve and William Benedict is enjoyable. (June) • THESE THREE — Sam Goldwyn-United Artists. A powerful dramatic theme showing how a child's maliciou lie ( tn destroy three innocent people. ,h>e McCrea, Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon splendid and two little girls, Bonita Gran ville and Marcia Mae Jones, win stellar honors. Outstanding direction. (May.) • THINGS TO COME— London Films-United Artists. — Perfect technically and interesting from a story standpoint is H. G. Wells' tale of our world over run by war collapsing into barbarism, redeemed by science and exploring the planets. Well worth while. (June) THREE GODFATHERS — M-G-M.— Peter B. Kyne's story of three desperadoes' sacrifices for a baby found in the desert has expert direction by Richard Boleslawski. Chester Morris as the toughest is superb, and Lewis Stone and Walter Brennan are excellent too. (April.) THREE ON THE TRAIL— Sherman-Paramount. — Another Hopalong Cassidy story with better than usual suspense. Bill Boyd, likable as ever in the title role, chases Onslow Stevens, perfect as the villain. (June) TILL WE MEET AGAIN— Paramount.— Here's the perfect answer to those who like adventure. Herbert Marshall and Gertrude Michael pit their brains against one another in rival spy organizations and plenty of excitement ensues. Rod La Roque wins honors in a minor role. (June) • TIMOTHY'S QUEST — Paramount.— Kate Douglas Wiggin's story of two orphans charmingly and sincerely produced. Dickie Moore Virginia Weidler, Eleanor Patterson, Eleanore Whitney are all delightful. Take the family. (April.) TOUGH GUY — M-G-M.— Mild and moral little piece about a little boy's (Jackie Cooper) adventures when kidnapped with his dog. Gangster Joseph Calleia is excellent, and Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr. the real hero. (April.) • TOO MANY PARENTS — Paramount — Don't miss this excellent picture of juvenile life in a military academy full of entertainment and heart interest. All the cast which includes George Ernest, Billy Lee and Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer, is effective. (May.) • TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE, THE— Walter Wanger-Paramount. — A powerful, splendid picturization of John Fox, Jr.'s novel of mountaineer's feuds done entirely in color. Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, Fred MacMurray and the whole cast excellent. Don't miss it. (April.) • TWO IN REVOLT— RKO-Radio.— A nice outdoor story of friendship between a horse and dog. John Arledge trains the horse and wins the boss' daughter. Louise Latimer. Children will love the new Rin-Tin-Tin. (May.) • VOICE OF BUGLE ANN, THE — M-G-M — A homey, appealing little saga, with Lionel Barrymore grand as the dog breeder whose love for his dog causes him to commit murder. Maureen O'Sullivan and Eric Linden are the love interest. Good. (April.) • WIFE vs. SECRETARY — M-G-M— Expert direction, pretentious production and star performances by Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow lift this familiar triangle to success. Effective support by May Robson and James Stewart. (.4 pril.) WOMAN TRAP — Paramount. — An exciting melodrama with jewel thieves. G-raen and abductions all mixed up. Gertrude Michael, George Murphy, Sidney Blackmer in the cast. Suave Akira Tamiroff as a Mexican bad man is a treat. (April.) A new all star champion. Am I good? 8