Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1938)

Consult Thin Movie Shopping Guide and Save Your Time, Money and Disposition • INDI ONE OF THE BEST OF THE MONTH WHEN REVIEWED •k ACTION FOR SLANDER— Korda-United Artists This is Clive Brook's best picture in years. Playing an English army man, he falls in love with a brother officer's wife, is accused of being a card shark, tries to vindicate himself in court. Fine direction allows exceptional suspense and a superlative cast assists Buy British and go. (April) * ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO. THE— Goldwyn-U. A. The travels and romantic mishaps of the Venetian stalwart who opened the trade routes from Europe to Asia in the 13th Century. Gary Cooper is ably supported by Sigrid Gurie (a newcomer), Basil Rathbone, Alan Hale, Binnie Barnes and others. Humor and excitement in settings of incredible beauty. Distinguished. (April) if ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THE— Warners The universal appeal of the reckless courage and chivalry of the philosopher-bandit of Sherwood Forest brought to the screen again (in Technicolor this time) by Errol (what a man) Flynn. You will happily enjoy Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marian, Alan Hale as Little John, Eugene Pallette as Friar Tuck, Claude Rains as Prince John and a host of others. Magnificent entertainment. (June) * ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, THE— Selznick-U. A. Two little stars. Tommy Kelly and Ann Gillis, once more prove David Selznick (discoverer of Freddie Bartholomew) a genius in choosing new talent. Mark Twain's loved classic of Mississippi village life in 1845 is faithfully and beautifully reproduced in Technicolor, and Muff Potter (Walter Brennan), Aunt Polly (May Robson), and Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran) are all here. Need we say more? (.April) ARSENE LUPIN RETURNS-M-G-M The polish of Melvyn Douglas as the renowned French Raffles overcomes the lackluster of this antiquated story of missing "jools." With the aid of Warren William, Douglas convinces the gem of his heart, Virginia Bruce, that he is innocent of stealing her baubles. Average. (A pril) * BARONESS AND THE BUTLER, THE-20th Century-Fox A confused political satire built around a domestic's attempts to get elected to Parliament in Hungary. He succeeds and the havoc it creates in his social relationships is amusingly outlined by Bill Powell, Annabella, Henry Stephenson and Joseph Schildkraut. The actors are much better than the story material (May) BATTLE OF BROADWAY, THE— 20th Century-Fox A new team of gusty enemies, Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy, take over where Quirt and Flagg of yesteryear left off. The boys are Legionnaires attending the convention in New York City. Anything can happen, and does. Raymond Walburn aids in the comedy and Louise Hovick adds some snap too. (June) BELOVED BRAT, THE-Warners A sadly unconvincing story of a spoiled, rebellious child's transformation into a cherub through the kindness of a reform school superintendent. Bonita Granville, Dolores Costello, Natalie Moorhead and Donald Crisp are in the cast, but the picture is a yawn. (May) it BIG BROADCAST OF 1938, THE-Paramount Offering a diversity of entertainment, this elaborate vaudeville brings back W. C. Fields to the screen after a two years' absence. Kirsten Flagstad. the famous Wagnerian, sings Briinnhilde's "Battle Cry," Tito Guizar warbles Spanish ballads, Martha Raye and Ben Blue clown; Bob Hope and Shirley Ross duet, but the whole show belongs to Fields! (May) BLACK DOLL, THE-Universal Mystery and lowdown comedy abound in this, the latest of the Crime Club series. It deals with the attempt of C. Henry Gordon to conceal a murder and his own extermination by The Doll. Nan Grey is lyrical, Donald Woods is lackadaisical, Edgar Kennedy is simply hysterical. (April) * BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE-Paramount Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper in a reckless, highly amusing comedy of no manners, directed by Ernest Lubitsch with his usual gay skill. Cooper, believe it or not, has had seven wives before he meets the penniless daughter of a nobleman, who thereupon becomes the eighth and leads him a merry chase. David Niven and E. E. Horton are able coplayers. Celluloid sex at its best. (May) • BRINGING UP BABY-RKO-Radio This chronicles the chase of a young heiress after a shy collector of bones for a museum, and their problem in hiding a baby panther on a Connecticut farm. Katie Hepburn and Cary Grant give their respective roles their best; May Robson as the eccentric aunt, Charley Ruggles as a big game hunter, and above all, the leopard and Asta of "Thin Man" fame, make this a magnificently funny picture. (May) BULLDOG DRUMMOND'S PERIL-Paramount This time it's diamonds that lead to a killing and subsequently to John Howard's rushing off from his wedding to Louise Campbell to trail Porter Hall. John Barrymore is the unco-operative inspector; Reginald Denny is Howard's man Friday. The players have had the same roles so long they're perfect. (June) Prime screen gangster Edward G. Robinson turns the tables on himself. In "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse," he plays a sleuthing medico who runs racketeers ragged CHANGE OF HEART-20th Century-Fox Love here finds a novel way to take the conceit out of a misguided executive; the result is mildly entertaining. Gloria Stuart is the gal who uses Cupid as Bergen uses McCarthy; Michael Whalen is the one who profits by the experiment. Two-bit material. (April) CONDEMNED WOMEN-RKO-Radio Though grim and pretty dreary, there's much interest and excitement in this picture which tells of the plight of women convicts who need help rather than punishment. Sally Eilers is the outstanding prisoner; Louis Hayward the forward-looking psychiatrist in love with her. A new slant on a social problem. (June) • DIVORCE OF LADY X, THE-Korda-United Artists Merle Oberon's lusciousness, the enticements of the English countryside in Technicolor, and a side-splitting characterization of a drunken nobleman by Ralph Richardson, are well worth your admission. The silly story involving mistaken identity will bore you, but pay no attention and go anyway. (April) VIEWED T A G ISSUE Page . 49 BLOCKADE— Wanger-United Artists CALL OF THE YUKQN-Republic COCOANUT GROVE-Paramount .... 48 COLLEGE SWING-Paramount . CRIME SCHOOL-Warners . . DOCTOR RHYTHM-Paramount .... 48 FOUR MEN AND A PRAYER— 20th Century-Fox 88 GO CHASE YOURSELF-RKO-Radio 88 JOSETTE— 20th Century-Fox 49 KENTUCKY MOONSHINE— 20th Century-Fox 48 KIDNAPPED-20th Century-Fox 48 LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED-Warners NURSE FROM BROOKLYN-Universal . OVER THE WALL— Warners RASCALS— 20th Century-Fox ROMANCE ON THE RUN-Republie . . SAINT IN NEW YORK, THE-RKO-Radio SINNERS IN PARADISE— Universal . . TOY WIFE, THE— M-G-M . ... UNDER WESTERN STARS-Republie . . VIVACIOUS LADY-RKO-Radio .... DOUBLE DANGER-RKO-Radio This might be labeled "On the Trail of the Missing Preston Foster," for it is he, in the guise of a gentleman crook, who keeps policemen late for their chicken stew. Whitney Bourne is an attractive accomplice. Vapid. (April) • EVERYBODY SING-M-G-M More pictures like this and the recession would be over! It's funny, bright with music, the cast happily chosen, the production good. It concerns a mad family with Billie Burke (mother) , Reginald Owen (father), Judy Garland (daughter), Fanny Brice (maid) and Allan Jones (chef). Their antics will delight you. (April) FIRST HUNDRED YEARS, THE-M-G-M This frothy domestic comedy revolves around a quarrel between newlyweds Bob Montgomery and Virginia Bruce over the question of their respective careers. Their attempts to bluff each other are confused by Binnie Barnes, who makes a run for Bob, and Warren William, who tries to play catch with Virginia. It's all very gay. (June) FOOLS FOR SCANDAL— Warners Only the bright presence of Carole Lombard saves this witless comedy from disaster. The action shuffles a cinema queen into a situation with a penniless Frenchman (Fernand Gravet), who then becomes a chef in her household. Ralph Bellamy is her woodenheaded lover, Allen Jenkins and Marie Wilson stooge. Just charge it up to the California flood! (June) • GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST, THE-M-G-M In a vague version of David Belasco's old-time favorite, Nelson Eddy emerges as a Wild West Robin Hood, Jeanette MacDonald as the owner of a saloon (yes indeedy). Walter Pidgeon is the sheriff out after Nelson for hate, Jeanette for love. The lusty days of padres and Indians are beautifully photographed in Technicolor, and the duets of the two principals offer you a prize package. (June) • GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT-Warners Based on the battle between farmers and miners in the lowlands of California's Sacramento Valley, this is rugged, gripping drama, its scenic beauties enhanced by Technicolor. George Brent, Olivia de Havilland and Claude Rains are extremely competent in their respective r61es. Highly recommended. (April) GOODBYE BROADWAY— Universal Everybody is very nice and performs excellently, but this is a tired, slow story of a pair of outmoded vaudevillians who buy a small-town hotel. Alice Brady and Charles Winninger are bright spots in a desert of dullness. Tommy Riggs, of radio fame, entertains with his Betty Lou imitations. (June) if HAPPY LANDING-20th Century-Fox Here are prime requisites for good cinema — spectacle, fine music, comedy and, first and last, Sonja Henie. The thin story concerns Cesar Romero's dalliance with a little Norwegian who, of course, manages to become A-l skater of the world under Don Ameche's tutelage. Hot swing by Raymond Scott; Ethel Merman's voice; a ballet on ice — swell I (April) (Continued on page 89)