Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1939)

Brief Reviews • IF I WERE KING-Paramount A rich period piece, elaborately embroidered with spectacular sets, huge crowds of peasants and princes and charmingly acted by the chief protagonists, Ronald Colman as Francois, the 15th Century poet-adventurer, and Basil Rath bone (superb) as the sly, craven Louis XI. Frances Dee is de-lightful as the lady-in-waiting who captures Colman's heart after Ellen Drew has had it. This is your dish. (Dec.) INSIDE STORY-20th Century-Fox The second in the "roving reporter" series finds Michael Whalen a^ain the intrepid newsman involved in a night-club murder when the villain steals the witness, Jean Rogers. Oh, well, it all works out. A weak sister. (Jan.) • JUST AROUND THE CORNER— 20th Century-Fox Shirley Temple's studio has given her a perfect formula for her growing-up talents in this gay picture. Daughter of a depression ruined architect (Charles Farrell), she manages to charm a flinthearted old mogul into putting papa back into big-time money. Joan Davis, Bert Lahr, Cora Witherspoon, Bill Robinson and others do their stuff. (Jan.) KING OF ALCATRAZ-Paramount A hard-fisted drama of a pair of friendly enemies, Lloyd Nolan and Robert Preston, who forget their leuds to hunt for J. Carrol Naish, an escaped convict hiding aboard a tramp steamer. Gail Patrick, the ship's nurse, is calmly beautiful through the bloody fracas; Harry Carey is clever as the captain. Pretty brutal. (Dec.) LADY OBJECTS, THE-Columbia A genuine understanding of the problems of young marrieds is evident in this simple tale. Gloria Stuart and Lanny Ross are the couple whose attempts to keep up with the Joneses force a readjustment in their lives after much action and some suspense. Very nice. (Dec.) LISTEN DARLING-M-G-M This little story of an everyday problem and how to solve it is fresh as a daisy. When widow Mary Astor decides to marry a man she doesn't love, daughter Judy Garland and son Freddie Bartholomew decide to take a hand, find a perfect papa for a ready-made family in Walter Pidgeon. It's very funny. (Jan.) ir MAD MISS MANTON, THE— RKO-Radk) Miss Stanwyck, carrying her furs with great aplomb as a Park Avenue heiress, runs afoul a murder in the first reel. Bodies continually disappear, but "Babs" and her coterie of debs clear up a crime wave in a swank way to the disgust of Henry Fonda, a hard-working reporter. You will grin like silly all the way through. (Jan.) MAN FROM MUSIC MOUNTAIN-Republic It's warbling Gene Autry to the rescue when real estate sharks take over a ghost town. Carol Hughes does little but look pretty, Sally Payne is funny, Smiley Burdette is around as Autry's aide. Lots of cowboy heroics. (Nov.) • MAN TO REMEMBER, A-RKO-Radio A heart-appealing story of a country doctor more interested in the life and death of his patients than in his bank account. Lee Bowman, as the son who disappoints him, Anne Shirley, as his adopted daughter, are splendid, but it's Edward Ellis, as the medicine man, who steals his own show. (Dec.) • MARIE ANTOINETTE-M-G-M You don't need our advice about this magnificent effort to make you happily, if weepily, sentimental over the young Queen of France who lost her head in 1793. Norma Shearer is superb. Tyrone Power, as her lover, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Anita Louise, Joseph Schildkraut and too many to mention are simply elegant. Yellow orchids to this. (Oct.) ■k MEN WITH WINGS— Paramount Due to expert technical direction and Technicolor, this is in the main an exciting, if sketchy, saga of men's conquest of the air from the Wright Brothers to Howard Hughes. Basting it together is a triangle love affair between I.ouise Campbell, Fred MacMurray and Ray Milland. Great spectacle. (Jon.) MISSING GUEST, THE-Universal What goes on here, anyway? Organs are played by invisible hands, doors close with no one around, thunder rolls madly while Paul Kelly, a journalist, wanders around murmuring proverbs while solving a murder. Of all the nonsensical pictures, this takes the biscuit. (Nov.) MR. DOODLE KICKS OFF-RKO-Radio Just as daffy as the title indicates, this allows Joe Penner to be band leader, Ping-pong champion, football player and general campus cut-up . . . and he'll make you laugh in the bargain. Otherwise j ust another college pix. (Dec.) MY LUCKY STAR-20th Century-Fox A too mediocre college film, until Sonja Henie gets on the ice — then the screen becomes magic. English Richard Greene (his accent is impossible) is her beau ideal; Cesar Romero is again a playboy caught in the clutches of gold-digger Louise Hovick. See this for Sonja's lovely ballet and for her smiling self. (Nov.) NIGHT HAWK, THE-Republic Possibly on a double bill you will grab this little melodrama of gangsters and iron lungs. Relax. It's not bad. Bob Livingston plays the reporter who (Continued from page 6) gets past hijackers with a respirator to help Bob Armstrong's sick brother. June Travis is easy to look at. (Dec.) • PARADE OF DISNEY SHORTS-RKO-Radio In this series of eight shorts, Mickey Mi father pnflves again the ineffable amusement in animated cartoons. "Ferdinand the Bull," "The Ugly Duckling," "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood," "Donald's Lucky Day," "The Practical Pig," "Goofy and Wilbur," "The Brave Little Tailor" and "Barnyard Symphony" ... we hope you catch each and every one. (Dec.) RICH MAN, POOR GIRLM-G-M A surprise awaits you who expect just another movie and find here a gay and charming hit. Robert Young is the rich boy who falls in love with Ruth Hussey, a poor girl — but proud. Lew Ayres, as the complaining cousin, is priceless and Lana Turner looks button-cute. (Nov.) ROAD DEMON-20th Century-Fox A stirring little action-drama, second in the series of sports-adventure pictures dealing with the thrills and hazards of auto racing. Henry Armetta is again the garrulous, lovable Papa Gambini. Thomas Beck, Henry Arthur and Joan Valerie round out the cast. (.Yoi>.) ROAD TO RENO, THE-Unlversal Hope Hampton looms as a new screen personality who sings divinely, looks ditto. The story is a satire on divorce in a Nevada setting with Randy Scott as the rancher husband who teaches his changeable wife a good lesson in matrimony. Glenda Farrell, Helen Broderick and Alan Marshal are able support. (Nov.) • ROOM SERVICE-RKO-Radio The mad Marxes in the screen version of the play that rocked Broadway. It concerns a down-at-theheel producer who boards his whole company at a hotel, is then at his wits end to get any bread to put butter on for them all. Frank Albertson, Donald MacBride, Philip Loeb and the Marxes themselves will have you hysterical with laughter at moments. (Dec.) SAFETY IN NUMBERS-20th Century-Fox The Jones family in one of the fastest comedies in the series. June Carlson wins a radio contest; Ma Jones then goes on the air, swindlers step in, the clan goes to her support and wonderful things happen till you are pretty hysterical. The usual cast. (Nov.) SERVICE DE LUXE— Universal Golly, this is a bad picture. There was originally a good idea in a woman running a personal service bureau on the look out for a husband, but the humor missed fire. Connie Bennett is the inventive business gal, Vincent Price (late of "Victoria Regina" on the stage) does nicely in his first screen role. (Jan.) • SISTERS, THE-Warners Myron Brinig's novel dealing with the varying romances of three sisters, against a San Francisco background in the early '°0's, emerges on the screen as one of the great emotional dramas of the year. Emphasized is the marriage of Bette Davis to a drunken, irresponsible newspaper man, Errol Flynn. Anita Louise, Jane Bryan, Beulah Bondi and Henry Travers are outstanding. On your "must" list. (Dec.) SONS OF THE LEGION-Paramount 100% Americanism patriotically glorified in this sentimental piece concerning a former soldier dishonorably discharged and the effect of this on his two sons who wish to join the Legion. Tim Holt, Billy Cook, Billy Lee, Lynne Overman and Elizabeth Patterson contribute touching moments. (Dec.) SPAWN OF THE NORTH-Paramount A high-spirited tale of friendship between two men (Henry Fonda and George Raft) in the days of fierce fishermen feuds in the salmon waters of Alaska, tins is sometimes an epic, often an error. Louise Campbell and Dot Lamour are "the women," but Slicker, the seal, steals the show. The photography and fights scenes are superb — so is John Barrymore. (Nov.) ir STABLEMATES-M-G-M As a workout for the tear ducts, this is another in the four-handkerchief class. Wallace Beery has again his sad-eyed "Champ" role as the discredited horse doctor; Mickey Rooney, with a heart of gold, is his pal. Margaret Hamilton and Marjorie Gateson are elegant support. The Rooney is quite at home. (Dec.) STORM, THE-Universal A whirlwind of action takes place in this minor drama. Charles Bickford, he-man wireless operator, and sea captain Barton MacLane, put on terrific brawls when Bickford's pal, Preston Foster, dies on shipboard. Tom Brown and Nan Grey are loverlike; Andy Devine and Frank Jenks supply the comedy. (Jan.) ir STRAIGHT, PUCE AND SHOW-20th Century-Fox Three bad men on a horse, the Ritz Brothers, skim tlirough this race-track story with their usual balminess. Dick Arlen and Phyllis Brooks are the nag's owners; they land behind the eight ball and so does the horse. Ethel Merman's torch songs are swell. (Dec.) ir SUBMARINE PATROL-20th Century-Fox An excitingly well-handled story of the splinter fleet, that World War group of ships which hunted enemy submarines. Richard Greene is the rich snob shown the error of his ways by Nancy Kelly (Zanuck's new find — and nice); Preston Foster -11 as the officer who heroically regains hi Lost reputation. Very fine. {Jan.) it SUEZ— 20th Century-Fox If you like your history artistically (if t. truthfully) told. y>u will Ik highly enti I watching Tyrone Power ■> Ferdinand >U I <li« the Suez Canal. Loretta Young, ««, and Annabelia, as a French uamin with a heart of gold, take his mind oh In work at | Tin photography, the simoon -<-<tuc-nce and the supporting cu^t are exciting. (Jan.) • SWEETHEARTS-M-G-M The new Jeanette MacDonald-Nelaon Eddy film < famous team married, playing in I pa rated by the machinations of Frank Morgan, a producer, Mischa Auer. a playwright, and Reginald Gardiner, a Hollywood agent. This has beauty and the delicious melodies of Victor rt sung by the pair — both in perfect voice. (You 11 go without any of our remarks.) (Jan.) TENTH AVENUE KID— Republic Cops and robbers are played again with Bruce Cabot surprisingly on the side of the law. You 11 remember Tommy Ryan, a youthful newcomer, who is finally persuaded by Cabot that there is no gain in guns. Beverly Roberts i* adequate as the girl in love with the policeman. (.Vot.) • THAT CERTAIN AGE-Universal Check up another triumph for Deanna Durbin's singing in this story of a young girls infatuation for an older man (Melvyn Douglas) and her reaction to the pangs of first love. Irene Rich and John Halliday as Deanna's parents and Jackie Cooper beau are exceptional support. Delightful. (Dec.) THERE GOES MY HEART-Hal Roach-United Artists A dated story on the "It Happened One Night" angle with Freddie March miscast as the nev chasing Virginia Bruce, an heiress uored with hex dough. Patsy Kelly is Ginny's shop-girl friend and gets any laughs there are. If you are a devotee of the goofy school. (Dec.) • THREE LOVES HAS NANCY-M-G-M All the ingredients in this pie are A-N'o. I. Itoffers Bob Montgomery as an author, his old-time role as sophisticate, Janet Gaynor as the na'ive little country wench whom he falls in love with on a lecture tour. Franchot Tone is a playboy publisher, also nuts about Janet. The dialogue is particularly good and all the principals are at their best. (Nov.) ir TOO HOT TO HANDLE-M-G-M A spectacular saga of newsreel men and an aviatrix, filled with explosive action and suspense. Gable is at his exuberant best as the sly cameraman who uses his charm to entice flyer Myrna Loy to fake a few shots, finally wins tier from rival Walter Pidgeon in fine style. If you liked "Test Pilot," you'll be nuts about this sequel. (Dec.) TOUCHDOWN ARMY-Paramount John Howard is the smart-aleck ace football hero who comes to West Point, takes a beating because he isn't "regular." Mary Carlisle, the Major's daughter, then puts in her oar, and Love and the Army team set out to win. Straight autumn cinema. (Dec.) VACATION FROM LOVE-M-G-M We thought we had said finis to screwball comedies schooled in an asylum, but no . . . Dennis O'Keefe and Florence Rice are pretty dizzy in this one, marrying in haste and repenting in leisure. Reginald Owen is perfect as the capitalist father who wants miracles of service because he pays his taxes, doesn't he? (Dec.) • VALLEY OF THE GIANTS-Warners Buttressed with magnificent natural scenery in Technicolor and heavy action in the way of fistic encounters, Peter B. Kyne's rugged story of the California redwoods adds up thus — boy has lumber property, villain has mortgage, both want girl. Wayne Morris. Charles Bickford and Claire Trevor play their straightforward roles in character. Worth seeing. (Nov.) ir YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU-Columbia Frank Capra has miraculously transferred the daffy doings of Grandpa Vanderhof from the stage to the screen. An appealing love story, a subtle commentary on American life filled with delicious humor, a slick job of casting and acting — what more do you want? Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer — each is beautiful. (.Vot.) • YOUNG DR. KILDARE-M-G-M Lionel Barrymore and Lew Ayres both handle their jobs with sincere competency in this conventional story of a veteran physician's faith In a young intern who prefers a metropolitan hi ward to country practice, lands in trouble when he denes a rich patient. Jo Ann Sayers (new to films) is Ayres' romance. (Jan.) ir YOUNG IN HEART, THE-Selznick-U. A. Introducing a giddy family which lives by its wits on other people's pocketbooks. Billie Burke i* the flighty mamma; Roland Young, the upstart father; Janet Gaynor and Doug Fairbanks Jr.. brother and sister. Paulette Goddard is Doug's heart interest, Richard Carlson, Janet's. Minnie Dupree is elegant as the rich old lady who cliangcs the family's tune. A good job. (Jan.) YOUTH TAKES A FLING-Universal There is something satisfying in this unpretentious picture of a girl's attempts to follow the adage "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Joel McCrea couldn't be better as the Kansas farmer boy who yearns for the sea; Andrea Leeds is prettily adequate as the shop girl. Lots of chuckles. (Dec.) My yf^ndi Ivcuje. clumcfed, toe" So many prefer this golden liquid lotion that isn't thiclc and is guaranteed not to thicken. Chamberlain's Lotion is ideal to protect skin in wintry weather. It dries with convenient rapidity and there's never a trace of stickiness. It soothes as it smooths away roughness and resulting redness. You'll like Chamberlain's Lotion, too. 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