Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1940)

Brief Reviews of Current Pictures (Continued jrom page 6) •k JOHNNY APOLLO-20th Century-Fox Tyrone Power gets all mixed up with gangsters in an attempt to get his embezzling dad (Edward Arnold) out of prison — and winds up there with him, for his pains. Dorothy Lamour is a torch singer who tries to help them out. A jail break climaxes this well-acted, suspenseful and generally superior offering. (July) LA CONGA NIGHTS-Universal Despite the sexy ring to the title, this is all Hugh Herbert, with Hugh in six — count 'em, six — different characterizations. In his main role, he helps Constance Moore and Dennis O'Keefe save their landlady from certain eviction. (Angus!) LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS, THE— Paramount This favorite Zane Grey yarn has received excellent screen treatment. The above-average Western cast includes Victor Jory, as an outlawfighting ranch foreman, and Jo Ann Sayers, as a socialite who adds to his troubles. (July) • LILLIAN RUSSELL-20th Century-Fox Opulent, nicely cast — and rather dull, despite an astonishingly good job by Alice Faye in the title role. Henry Fonda and Don Amcclie are two of her husbands and Edward Arnold is again Diamond Jim Brady, that being the lavish era portrayed. The result is more nostalgic than exciting. {August) LUCKY CISCO KID— 20th Century-Fox However, Cesar Romero's none too lucky in the newest addition to his series. What little plot there is permits him to come to the rescue of a hapless widow with a mortgaged ranch — which he does, of course, with the expected result. (August) ic MARYLAND-20th Century-Fox Technicolor drama based on Fay Bainter's lifelong attempt to keep her son, John Payne, from dangerous riding. But her real love of horse ia in In lil. Hid and, aided and abetted by Brenda Joyi e and her grandfather, Walter Brennan, John tually rides in a steeplechase. The whole cast is engaging and more than competent and the result is an exciting, heart-warming picture. (Sept.) MILLIONAIRES IN PRISON-RKO-Radio At last, a prison picture without a single jail break or frame-up. There's considerable comedy in the spectacle of five pompous wealthy men adapting themselves to penitentiary discipline. Lee Tracy is a big shot who helps Truman Bradley carry out important medical experiments. Virginia Vale and Linda Hayes provide the romantic interest. Novel entertainment. {Sept.) • MORTAL STORM, THE-M-G-M The screen version of Phyllis Bottom--' novel loses none of its bitter impact. Frank Mol splendid as the German university professor who becomes a Nazi victim. But so are Margaret Sullavan, as his daughter, and Jimmy Stew the young idealist >he loves. Von won't like this powerful tragedy, but you can't afford to mi- it if you want to know what's going on in the cinema. (Sept.) if MY FAVORITE WIFE-RKO-Radio Irene Dunne returns from a seven-year absence on the very day that husband Cary Grant, having given her up for dead, has married Gail Patrick — and the fact that her desert-island companion turns out to be Randolph Scott doesn't help matter-, either! Sophisticated humor, superbly directed and acted. (July) • MY LOVE CAME BACK-Warners Olivia de Havilland, as a poor young violinist, innocently accepts the attentions and hi wealthy Charles Winnin^er, and the latter's office manager (Jeffrey Lynn) is among the many who misunderstand the philanthropy behind it all. All three prove themselves delightful comedian indeed, does everyone in the cast. Romantic comedy at its best and most refreshing. (Sept.) • NEW MOON-M-G-M But no new plot. However, that won't bother anybody, with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy at their very best both musically and pictorially, handsome pre-Frcnch Revolutionary settings in New Orleans (remember "Naughty Marietta"?), good comedy and — well, anything you can think of in the way of glamour and excitement! (Sept.) ONE MILLION B. C.-Hal Roach-United Artists Charging dinosaurs, whose gigantic realness i a noteworthy tribute to studio technique, create most of the excitement and keep caveman Victor Mature and cave girl Carole Landis in an understandable state of jitters. It's the darndest thing! (July) ir OUR TOWN-Sol Lesser-United Artists The Pulitzer Prize play emerges as unusual film fare which is often slow but, more often, strangely compelling. Martha Scott is the daughter of Guy Kibbee and Beulah Bondi. William Holden is the son of Thomas Mitchell and Fay Bainter. Their small-town courtship and marriage supply most of the plot, as "narrated" by Frank Craven. Stuart Erwin is another member of the exceptional cast. (July) OUT WEST WITH THE PEPPERS-Columbia Edith Fellows and her mother, Dorothy Peterson, have their hands full with the younger m. rubers of their family in this latest addition to their series, wluch has them all trying to reform their drunken uncle, Victor Kilian. Mainly for children. (Sept.) PHANTOM RAIDERS-M-G-M Welcome return of Nick Carter, insouciant detective perfectly portrayed by Walter Pidgeon. This time, he goes after the blokes who are blowing up ships near Panama to collect the insurance. Superior cops-and-robbers stuff, with Donald Meek very, very funny as Bartholomew. (August) POP ALWAYS PAYS-RKO-Radio Leon Errol is the papa who objects to Dennis O'Keefe's marrying his daughter, Adele Pearce. But he promises his consent and S1000 if Dennis can raise a like sum. Dennis does — and Pop's attempts to pay off make up the picture, to the tune of much hearty laughter. (Sept.) PRAIRIE LAW— RKO-Radio You'll like this picture, if you have a weakness for Westerns. Starring George O'Brien, supported by Virginia Vale and Slim Whitaker, it is an extra good one with plenty of action, romance sincere enough to pluck at your heartstrings and some appealing cowboy music. • PRIDE AND PREJUDICE-M-G-M Full justice has been done the beloved Jane Austen novel, with Greer Garson ideal as the heroine with a mind of her own and Laurence Olivier just right as her arrogant suitor. It has plenty of Old World charm — not to mention such shining characters as Maureen O'Sullivan, Edmund Gwenn, Edna May Oliver, Mary Boland and many others — but is long and slow for the average movie-goer, i PRIVATE AFFAIRS-Universal When hardhcaded Grandpa Montagu Love won't let her marry Robert Cummings, Nancy Kelly flees the social purlieu of Bo-ton to Beek help from Papa Roland Young, the family outcast. Papa comes to the re-cue with taxi-driver Hugh Herbert and the resultant antics provide fair entertainment. (Sept.) QUEEN OF THE MOB— Paramount Another melodramatic sock from J. Eduar Hoover's true -ton. in "Persons in Hiding." This time it follow the criminal career of \lu Webster (superbly played by Blanche Yurk.i) and her devilbrood. Ralph Bellamy i excellent as the G-man and Jimmy Cagney's sister Jean makes a brief but auspicious appearance. {Sept.) • REFUGEE, THE-Republic Surprisingly successful treatment of ,-i simple ibout two Viennese refugees I surgeon Charles 11 and daughter Sigrid Gurici who join with John Wayne in an attempt to save a stricken community in the dust bowl. It's as true a life, but courageously inspiring: (August) SAFARI— Paramount Madeleine Carroll manages to mess things up beautifully for Doug Fairbanks Jr. and Tullio ( arminati when she conies along and injects the triangle motif into an already dangerous lion hunt. The story isn't much, but the players are excellent — particularly Lynne Overman in an outstanding character portrayal. (July) SAINT TAKES OVER, THE-RKO-Radio George Sander is as charming as ever in one of the best of thi -erie-. On this occasion, lie step! "'it to vindicate the fair name of Insptcta ! (Jonathan Hale), with some rather gory results which up-et everybody except George and his helpful pal, Paul Guilfoyle. {July) SANDY IS A LADY-Universal Though Bal>\ Sandy Henville stars, thi i mainiut those "Underpup" youngsters, Kenneth Brown and Billy Lenhart, who carry the child off ,.n i erie! i ii ad\ enl axes that ch mg the ' everybody — including Mischa Auer. i lugusl) SATURDAY'S CHILDREN-Warners Loads of human interest and great performances from Anne Shirley and John Garfield can't keep this refutation of the two-can-hve-as-cheaply-asone theory from being depressing. Anne tricks John, who has other plan-, into a marriage which her father (Claude Rains) has a dramatic time trying to save. (July) ir SEA HAWK, THE-Warners Swashbuckling drama of Elizabethan days in the best Errol Flynn-Rafael Sabatini tradition (the "Captain Blood" actor-author combination). 1'lynn is a pirate bold whose exploits endear him Queen (Flora Robson) until he fall in love with Brenda Marshall and runs afoul of the Spanish Armada. Intrigue, suspense, colorful backgrounds and a magnificent cast make this a "must." {Sept.) SKI PATROL-Universal Glorifying the heroism of a small group of Finnish soldiers holding an important fort against Russian invaders. Definitely antiaggressor in attitude, with Philip Dorn, Luli Destc, Edward Norris and others in the ca-t working hard. {August) SON OF THE NAVY-Monogram Orphan Martin Spcllman sets out to find himself a papa and mama, creating lots of complicationfor battleship gunner James Dunn and Jean Parker. Unpretentious but pleasant. (July) SOUTH OF KARANGA-Universal Lots of action still can't conceal the weakness of a confusing plot which has Charles Bickford subduing rebellious natives in Africa. It all has something to do with copper mining and the first official trip on a new railroad line. (August) STREET OF MEMORIES-20th Century-Fox Sincerity of direction and acting (by newcomers John McGuire and Lynne Roberts) and a grand tramp portrayal by Guy Kibbee give twist to the old amnesia formula, in which a rich How Well Do You Know Your Hollywood? Pretty hint: Paulette Goddard GRADE yourself ten points for every one you guess right. If you get seventy or less, you don't keep up with Hollywood. If your score is eighty or over, you're doing quite well. Check up on page 88. 1. She is giving up motion-picture work to return to radio because she's tired of dieting for films: Patricia Morison Gale Page Ona Munson Madeleine Carroll 2. This studio is using song titles like "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now" as titles for several of their pictures: Universal Republic Columbia Hal Roach 3. She is the latest star to adopt a baby: Hedy Lamarr Dorothy Lamour loan Crawford Joan Bennett 4. He's donating his entire salary received from working in "The Philadelphia Story" to war charities: Cary Grant Brian Aherne Richard Greene George Brent 5. Only one of the following stars is unmarried: Merle Oberon .Andrea Leeds Rita Hayworth Rosalind Russell 6. The illness of one of the following gave Martha Scott her opportunity in "The Howards of Virginia": .AJice Faye Joan Fontaine Margaret Sullavan Carole Lombard 7. Which of the following stars prefers not to be photographed smiling? Don Ameche Dick Powell George Rait Clark Gable 8. A group of artists recently voted that one of these stars has "the most beautiful body in the world": Marlene Dietrich Paulette Goddard Dorothy Lamour Betty Grable 9. Can you fill in the married names of the stars' wives who had the following maiden names? Hervey Shaw Gahagan Eldridge 10. Which actress had her name legally changed to that of the role that brought her stardom? man's son falls in love with a poor girl before he remembers who he is. (Sept.) • SUSAN AND GOD-M-G-M Joan Crawford scores brilliantly as a superficial society woman whose preoccupation with each passing fad — in this case, a new religious cult — drives husband Fredric March to drink and gives daughter Rita Quigley an inferiority complex. A splendid cast plays the story up to the hilt, creating a hit which ranges from sparkling comedy to deep drama. (August) ic THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT-Warners Ann Sheridan, George Raft and Humphrey Bogart are all excellent in this stirring, down-toearth tale of truck drivers and their wives, but it's Ida Lupino — as a murder-minded dame — who gives the standout performance. You see, Ida's in love with George, but George loves Ann — all of which spells dynamite for both characters and audience. (Sept.) THOSE WERE THE DAYS-Paramount College life at the turn of the century provides horse-and-buggy antics aplenty for such engaging juveniles as William Holden, Ezra Stone and Bonita Granville. Fun for the whole family. (July) TOMBOY— Monogram Marcia Mae Jones has the title role as the daughter of an ex-baseball player. Grant Withers, and makes life tough for her young boy friend, Jackie Moran. Sweetness and light. (July) if TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYSRKO-Radio The English classic emerges as a masterly blend of 'tears and laughter, with Jimmy Lydon outstanding in the title role. Story's about Jimmy's attempts to adjust himself to school life, under the kindly eye of headmaster Cedric Hardwicke and against the plots of bully Billy Halop and foppish Freddie Bartholomew. Not for sophisticates, but iust right for everyone else. (Sept.) TORRID ZONE-Warners Proving that almost anything can happen on a Central American banana plantation managed by Pat O'Brien — and invaded by Ann Sheridan, who's carrying a torch for Jimmy Cagney. Not to be taken seriously, but it's lusty fun. (August) TURNABOUT-Hal Roach-United Artists Thorne ("Topper") Smith's loopy fantasy of the husband and wife who got their wish: "If only you were in my shoes for a day!" Carole Landis and John Hubbard are hilariously convincing as the couple who change bodies, as well as jobs, and nearly wreck her household and his business. Slaphappy comedy. (July) 20 MULE TEAM-M-G-M Wallace Beery has a made-to-order role as the toughest mule skinner in all Death Valley in the early days of the borax industry. Helping him out are Leo Carrillo and Marjorie Rambeau. Topbudget Western. (July) TYPHOON-Paramount Back to sarongs for Dottie Lamour, as a white girl cast aw.iy on a desert isle when she was only a tot. Comes love, in the person of drunken sailor Robert Preston, whom she reforms, with an assist from the typhoon. All too reminiscent of "My Jungle Love," but Lynne Overman's humor helps and so docs beautiful color photography. (July) • UNTAMED-Paramount Society doctor Ray Milland takes to the great open spaces to reform himself and thereby puts a kmk in the marriage of Patricia Morison and Canadian guide Akim T.imirofT. The Technicolor's gorgeous and, since it includes a whale of a blizzard, in. ikes for pleasantly cooling warm-weather fare. (August * WATERLOO BRIDGE-M-G-M This tearful story of World War I is important chiefly because of the work of Vivien Leigh (first since "GWTW") and Robert Taylor (first with his new mustache). Their pathetic romance is broken when he's reported killed in action and she takes to the world's oldest profession — which means plenty of heartaches when he turns up alive. (August) WAY OF ALL FLESH, THE-Paramount Akim TamirofT is a respected banker until crooks swindle him out of his trust on a trip to New York. Hi resultant degradation and exile from wife Gladys George, who courageously goes on bringing up the family, offers a "Stella Dallas" in reverse. Morbid and tear-drenched, but for the most part honest and well-acted. (July) WOLF OF NEW YORK-Repuhlic In the title role, Edmund Lowe isn't a crookbut he's mighty close to it, as a lawyer who works on the side of crime and against law and order. Adequate cops-and-robbers entertainment. (July) WOMEN IN WAR-Republic Not a very auspicious comeback for Elsie Janis, favorite entertainer of the doughboys during World War I. Here she's in charge of a hospital at the front and trying, in her hard-boiled way, to watch over Wendy Barrie, who has all the other girls down on her because she's so darned attractive. {July) YOU CAN'T FOOL YOUR WIFE-RKO Lucille Ball and James Ellison are a nice young married couple who suffer from too much motherin-law interference — particularly after Jimmy comes home drunk from entertaining a client. Simple, unsophisticated entertainment. (August) YOU'RE NOT SO TOUGH-Universal The Dead End Kid are reformed again fprobably as temporarily a in the pa-t), in this case by ,n Italian woman who believes Billy Halop is her long-lost son. She has a hard time doing it, though. {August) PHOTOPLAY