Photoplay (Jan-Sep 1937)

PHOTOPLAY FOR SEPTEMBER, 1937 117 HOLLYWOOD COWBOY — RKO-Radio. — A movie cowboy proves himself a two-fisted outdoor lad when he is mistaken for a real cowhand. George O'Brien is the hero who outwits ranch racketeers. wins Cecilia Parker. Joe Caits is the riotous stooge. Fast, furious and funny. (July) HOTEL HAYWIRE— Paramount.— A conglomeration of good actors lost in a melee of ancient buffoonery that manages to be very funny. Leo Carrillo is the f.ikc -i-tr whose bad advice breaks up the family of Lynn Overman and his wife. Spring Byington. The amateur detective work of Benny Baker and Collette Lyons adds to the marital confusion. (Aug.) *I MET HIM IN PARIS— Paramount— As modern as tomorrow's hat, this sophisticated conversational comedy reveals what happens when two boys meet one girl. Claudette Colbert is the department store designer out for a fling. Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young see that she gets it The dialogue is delicious and as catchy as measles. The snow scenes taken at Sun Valley are breath-taking. Simply swell. (Aug.) • INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY— Para mount. — Tense melodrama of the clinic and barroom with Joel McCrea in the sacrificial white of a young doctor, and Barbara Stanwyck as the desperate woman seeking a lost child. Villainous Stanley Ridges knows all the answers. A minor gem. (June) IT HAPPENED OUT WEST— 20th Century-Fox. — Paul Kelly, a big business man, is sent West on an undercover deal to purchase a dairy ranch from Judith Allen. He falls in love with her, becomes involved with Leroy Mason, heavy. You write the rest. (Aug.) JIMHANVEY— DETECTIVE— Republic— Portly Guy Kibbee turns sleuth in this mildly amusing comedy mystery, interrupting his mania for rabbit catching to tie a lovers' knot for Lucie Kaye and Tom Brown by solving a murder. Fair (June) • KID GALAHAD — Warners. — An exciting story of the prize ring with Edward G. Robinson as the self-centered manager of Wayne Morris. Eddie hotheadedly tries to sell Morris out when he discovers the fighter is in love with his doll, Bette Davis. Humphrey Bogart, Bette, and Eddie himself are perfect. Punchy he-man material with Morris proving a winner. (July) KING OF GAMBLERS — Paramount. — The shocker-type melodrama reveals the sinister maneuvers of Akim Tamiroff, slot machine racketeer, who murders anyone who stands in his way. In love with Claire Trevor he lures his rival Lloyd Nolan into a trap which catches the wrong feller. Top-notch (July) • KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR — London Films-LTnited Artists. — James Hilton's story of romance and danger during the Russian Revolution, beautifully produced and superlatively photographed. Marlene Dietrich, as the exquisite countess, drops her mask, becomes really human. Robert Donat, as the secret service agent who saves her life, is perfect. Exceptional. (Aug.) LADY ESCAPES, THE— 20th Century-Fox.— Another Grade Z attempt at whimsicaj farce that fails miserably to amuse. Michael Whalen and Gloria Stuart are a pair of battling hyenas who, after a year of assault and battery decide on a divorce. What happens? Who cares? (Aug.) LAST TRAIN FROM MADRID— Paramount.— An action-packed drama of modern Spain with timely subject material and a good story, but the dialogue is an insult to intelligence. Included in the cast are Lew Ayres, Dorothy Lamour, and Gilbert Roland, all of whom overact. (Aug.) LET THEM LIVE — Universal.— Vivid and fastmoving story of a young doctor's efforts to better sanitary conditions in the slums. John Howard is splendid as the medico; Edward Ellis true to type as tlie crooked politician who balks Howard's efforts. The cast is good. (July) • LOST HORIZON— Columbia.— After two years of monumental research and expense, James Hilton's tale of a lost Paradise in Tibet, directed by Frank Capra, is a screen triumph. Ronald Colman distinguishes himself and heads a great cast including Jane Wyatt, H. B. Warner, John Howard, Margo, Sam Jaffe, Isabel Jewell and others. It is spellbinding. (May) MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW— Paramount. — A tender heart-stirring story of two old people who are unwanted by their children. Beulah Bondi and Victor Moore (in a serious role for once) offer a richly sympathetic portrait of a devoted couple. Thomas Mitchell, Fay Bainter and Porter Hall among the strong cast. It's splendid. (July) MAN IN BLUE, THE— Universal.— The story of a cop, Edward Ellis, who adopts the son of a thief he killed in line of duty. The hoy, Robert Wilcox, allows his heritage to throw him for a loop on the wrong path, but all ends well with the help of his heart throb, Nan Grey Take it or leave it (Aue.) • MAYTIMK— M-G-M.— Gay. charming and heart-stirring with a superb musical ;Core, tins again team': leanette Ma. Donald and NVl»ni Eddv in a beautiful story of love, lost, found and lost. Jeanette is a prima donna; John Barrymore her impresario, and Nelson a student. Rapturous songs, both classical and modern. A "Must." (May.) MEET THE MISSUS — RKO-Radio. — Miss America contests come in for some fancy razzing in this Victor Moore-Helen Broderick snicker-flicker. Helen enters a better housewife contest, dragging hubby along. The judges finally pay them to leave town. Anne Shirley is romantic. Looney and lively. (Aug.) MICHAEL O'HALLORAN— Republic— A sentimental, sobby drama of a frivolous wife who befriends two orphans to win back the custody of her own children. When Wynne Gibson, the wife, grows to love Jackie Moran and Charlene Wyatt. her husband becomes convinced of her sincerity. The kiddies are cunning. (Aug.) MOUNTAIN JUSTICE— Warners.— Based on the famous Edith Maxwell case, this reveals the brutalities of a sadistic father (Robert Barrat) who beats his daughter (Josephine Hutchinson). She kills him, goes to prison. George Brent, as her attorney, does his bit. Too repellantly cruel. (Aug.) • MOUNTAIN MUSIC — Paramount. — This screwball story of a hilly-billy with amnesia is a rollicking comedy of the knock-down drag-out tradition. Martha Raye is the homely hen whom no man but Bob Burns wants. Things get raucous when the mountain people accuse John Howard of murdering Burns. If you like fun, here it is! (Aug.) NAVY BLUES— Republic— Sailor Dick Purcell makes a bet he can win unattractive librarian Mary Brian. Besides metamorphosing her into a beauty, winning a promotion and foiling spies, he of course wins the bet. The cast is fair (June) NIGHT KEY— Universal.— The transformation of Boris Karloff from bogeyman to sympathetic character is the important feature of this pleasing picture. Karloff is an inventor of electrical burglar alarms. There is humor and suspense in his revenge when crooks use his brain child for their own ends Uuly) • NIGHT MUST FALL— M-G-M.— Sheer stark horror marches through this unusual, imaginative but superbly produced picture. Bob Montgomery steps out of his playboy roles to appear as an English bellboy with an insatiable blood lust, and does a knockout job ably supported by Rosalind Russell and Dame May Whitty Exceptional. (July) NIGHT OF MYSTERY— Paramount.— This tries to follow the tradition of the Philo Vance series and fails miserably. When a murderous someone seems bent on exterminating the whole Greene family, you wish they would get it over, so you could go home. (Aue.l • PARNELL — M-G-M. — A moving and educa tional portrait of the "uncrowned King of Ireland" and the woman for whom he gave up his power, directed with restraint and scrupulous attention to historical detail. Gable in the title role is dignified, Myrna Loy as Kilty O'Shea is completely charming, and Edna May Oliver, Montagu Love, Neil Fitzgerald and Edmund Gwenn offer able support. Superior entertainment. (Aug.) PERSONAL PROPERTY— M-G-M.— Pulchn tudinous Jean Harlow as a penniless widow and Bob Taylor as a playboy bill collector scramble through this dizzy burlesque in fine style. Reginald Owen is Taylor's brotherly rival. Mildly risque and very exuberant. (June) • PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, THE— Warners.— Mark Twain's sly tale of adventure and pathos revolving around two youngsters whose exchange of costume changes the British Empire. Errol Flynn plays his usual soldier of fortune role superbly. The Mauch twins are infectiously charming. Glamorous and gratifying. (June) PUBLIC WEDDING NO. 1— Warners.— New faces in a slightly used tale of petty racketeers who marry off Jane Wyman to William Hopper in a mock wedding which turns out to be legal. The newcomers are promising; Marie Wilson provides the laughs. (June) RACKETEERS IN EXILE— Columbia.— A family programmer built to high entertainment by George Bancroft's superb impersonation of a racketeer evangelist who finally reforms. 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