Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1940)

The Shadow Stage (Continued from page 59) • THE END OF A DAY-Juno Films A POIGNANT and absorbing screen drama is this French film dealing with a group of aged Thespians living together in a home for retired actors. The skillful Julien Duviyier, co-author and director, has built up a sympathetic picture of an assorted group of people, pathetic in their memories of past triumphs and failures, noble in their fierce pride as members of a glorious profession. With a fine cast, headed by Victor Francen, Louis Jouvet and Michel Simon, each character is clearly defined. Among them is Marny. classical actor of the old school; St. Clair, great lover and supreme egoist; Cabrissade, the eternal Pan. Behind the subtle balance of comedy and tragedy and the attention to detail in the film, is the work of a true craftsman. Director Duvier has exercised restraint with a theme that could easily be maudlin, and displayed rare understanding of fundamental human emotions. MUTINY IN THE BIG HOUSE-Monogram nLL right, it's another one about prisons. Still, in all fairness, it must be said this is one of the better in its class; it's based on the Canon City, Colorado, prison riot of 1929 and there's a priest (played by Charles Bickford) who sacrifices self for the unfortunate criminals. Dennis Moore and Barton MacLane do especially good work. The story is brutally clear-cut and so is the direction. ON YOUR TOES-Warners nOW such a company as Warner Brothers could take the best musical New York offered last year and turn it into a weak movie is beyond our comprehension. The excitoomph of Zorina may help you survive what has happened to the gags, but, at best, one can say that "On Your Toes" has slipped to the heeland-toe rating, with second degree fallen arches. Sam Goldwyn tried to put Zorina over a couple of years ago, you may remember, but her vogue didn't catch up with her until this season. Eddie Albert, also snaffled from Broadway, plays the hoofer who writes a great American Ballet, joins up with a traveling Russian company and falls hard for the premiere danseuse. Despite the general feeling of disappointment over the translation of this to the screen, it must be admitted Zorina is good; the ballets delightful. LITTLE ACCIDENT-Universal WELL, if you like babies. . . . This may remind you of some of the Dionne Quintuplet pictures, in which story was merely dragged in for an excuse to show endless photographs of the infants. You are expected to be held in your seats, this time, by the charms of one kid alone, Baby Sandy. She's awfully cute, but not that cute. Hugh Herbert is cast as the babycolumnist of a newspaper; Sandy's father leaves her in Hugh's office, thinking Mr. Herbert is a woman. All this leads up to a contest, in which Sandy is entered. THE FLYING DEUCES-RKO-Radio LAUREL and Hardy up to their old tricks again — this time as enlistees in an African Post of the Foreign Legion. They've joined up because Hardy has been spurned by a loved one. As in all efforts of this pair, you will note some new, ingenious and inventive sequences, as well as many which are quite routine. It is all slapstick. Jean Parker and Reggie Gardiner are also in the cast. THE SECRET OF DR. KILDARE-M-G-M LEW AYRES is still the young assistant doctor, assigned this time to find out what's the matter with Helen Gilbert, an heiress. She thinks she's got a brain tumor because she's going blind, but Ayres diagnoses the whole thing as psychological hysteria. Getting her fixed up is important because her father is a potential donor to the hospital. During the film Lionel Barrymore collapses, and his assistant (Dr. Kildare) has to pretend he's mc:'e interested in Miss Gilbert's millions than in medicine, so the old man will take a rest. And, of course, all the mucking around the boy does with Helen makes his real sweetheart, Laraine Day, get sore. There is simplicity in the direction and a downto-earthness without frills in story treatment — if it doesn't give you a temporary case of hypochondria. BLONDIE BRINGS UP BABY-Columbia DaGWOOD BUMSTEAD loses his job and comes unhappily home to discover that Baby Dumpling has lost the dog, Daisy; furthermore, Baby Dumpling has gone wandering off to find her. Wherefore the original catastrophe pales into insignificance. Baby Dumpling finds Daisy in the home of a rich little cripple, whom he coaxes into walking for the first time; and out of this silly business come some events that have to do with the job Dagwood lost way up there in the beginning of the paragraph — remember? Penny Singleton, Larry Simms and Arthur Lake are still cast as the Bumstead family. LAW OF THE PAMPAS-Paramount TOR those of you who like to sneak out to the Lyceum and whoop and holler with Hopalong Cassidy, here's another in the series. This time Bill Boyd Hops Along to South America on an assignment to deliver cattle, and uncovers two murders en route. He has great fun with them. The piece gives you romance in the person of Steffi Duna. Sidney Blackmer and Pedro de Cordoba help a lot. SMASHING THE MONEY RING-Warners ACTION and melodrama are the excuses for this minor story — there's nothing new about it, but you may enjoy watching nice-looking Ronald Reagan as a G-Man. He pairs with Eddie Foy, who offers some comedy. It's welcome, too, considering the piece deals with prison and convicts. Warner Brothers always give you a jailbreak in these program productions and this particular one is very exciting. Margot Stevenson has the romantic assignment. SCANDAL SHEET-Columbia IT'S too bad, but there just isn't one thing to be said for this film. It's all about newspapermen, but they are newspapermen such as you never saw in your life, even in the movies. Otto Kruger is the publisher, with a secret son, played by Eddie Norris; a girl friend (Ona Munson, who also edits the woman's page) ; and a penchant for homicide. He kills off one of his employees to get records of Norris' birth, and from there on the story goes wacky. 20,000 MEN A YEAR-20th Century-Fox IHROUGH association you may have some idea that this is about Sing Sing. Well, it's not. It's the story of how Uncle Sam is training young men to fly. That's all it is, though — a catalogue, a class in aviation. When it comes to story, you may just as well relax. Randy Scott plays a washed-up professional pilot who takes a job as flying instructor at the CAA, rescues some lost flyers, and shares the fade-out with Margaret Lindsay. The rest of the cast, including Preston Foster, Mary Healy and Maxie Rosenbloom, doesn't show very often, or very much. SUED FOR LIBEL RKO-Radio IIERE'S a murder picture with a swell new twist. You see, Morgan Conway is acquitted of the murder of his brokerage partner but Linda Hayes, a shereporter, pulls a trick on a rival pressman by telling him the verdict's "guilty." Kent Taylor dramatizes the thing on the air and Conway sues for libel; so Linda and Taylor start digging into Conway's past to stop the action. What they find is the answer to three killings, altogether — and will you be surprised! STATEMENT OK THE OWN EKSHIP. M \NAOEMENT, < 1RCUI. \ HON ETC . REOIJIRED BY THE A( TSOK CONGRESS OK AUC.IiST 24, I "11. AND MARCH 3, 1933. ..( I'lIUTUI'I.AV, | , ,1 1 jl i -, 1 .. -< 1 monthly at Chicago. Illinois, for October 1. 1939. State of New York Iss. County of New York / Before me, a notary public in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appeared Ernest V. Heyn, who. having been duly sworn according to law. deposes and says that he is the Editor of the PHOTOPLAY and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation ), etc . of the aforesaid [lublieutuiu for tin' date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24. 1912. as amended by the Act of March 3, 1933, embodied in section 537, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit: 1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are.' Publisher. Macfadden Publications-, Inc.. 122 E. 42d St.. New York City; Editor. Ernest V. Heyn, 122 E. 42d St.. New York City; Managing Editor. None; Business Managers, None. 2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding one per cent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, comoanv. or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well as those of each individual member, must be :i.n, I Owner: Maeladden Publications. Inc.. 122 E. 42.1 St.. New York City. Stockholders in Maeladden Pubheat.ions. Inc.; liernarr Macfadden Foundation, Inc., 122 E. 42d St.. New York City; Bernarr Macfadden, Miami Beach. Florida. 3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.) None. 4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list of stockhold' rs and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company, but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation lor whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's lull knowledge anil belief as to the circumstances and con lit ions under which stockholders anil security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock anil securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him. 5. That the average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distribtited. through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers d tiring the twelve months preceding the date shown above is (I'lns information is regime, 1 Iroin daily [in hi nations only.) (Signed) ERNEST V. HEYN. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of September, 1939. (SEAL) JOSEPH M. ROTH Notary Public Westchester County Certificate Filed in N.Y. Co. No 439 N. Y. Co. Register's No. 1 R 299 Commission l-Jvpiies March 30, 1941 THOSE HIGH GRAY WALLS-Columbia I HIS is a psychological study, an analysis of a fear trauma, and not too obscure for general consumption. Walter Connolly plays a small-town doctor who helps a wounded convict; and he himself is sent to prison. Instead of being allowed to help in the hospital, he is sent to the tailor shop because Onslow Stevens, prison physician, doesn't want competition. It's Stevens who has the fear complex, and Connolly diagnoses it. At least, what with the superabundance of films about jails this month, you will appreciate the originality of the idea. Connolly gives his usual fine performance. • BAD LITTLE ANGEL-M-G-M IT'S a touchy subject, religion; but by careful production, good use of good story, and the activities of Virginia Weidler, it has been made touching and inspirational in this film. Virginia's an orphan with a deep and ingenuous faith in God. The effect (of this belief in Deity) on adults with whom she comes in contact forms the basis for the story. Gene Reynolds foils for Virginia, with a touch of very young romance thrown in; Guy Kibbee, Ian Hunter and Henry Hull all contribute fine performances. It is, however, the little star's picture, from beginning to end. BEWARE SPOOKS-Columbia JOE E. BROWN, the Great Mouth, stars in no A-classic this time, but his incomparable brand of comedy, so fascinating to his loyal fans, is intact. He's a rookie policeman, on the force because of his dead father's fine record, and the Captain assigns him to catch Marc Lawrence, a bank robber. Joe's just off on his honeymoon with Mary Carlisle and does a bad job so far as Lawrence is concerned; but at a resort he discovers some murders and there is climax in a spook-house. Very funny. THAT THEY MAY LIVE-Mayer-Burstyn WAR and censorship prevented the European release of this unusual film — as strong a plea for peace as we've yet seen. A veteran of the World War, whose comrades were all killed in action, is convinced that they have not died in vain. Once again, however, comes the call to arms, and when he realizes no man can stem the tide, he turns to the War dead. They arise, thousands strong, mutilated and bloody, to accuse the world of breaking its pledge for peace. We warn you — this is a strong dose of propaganda, yet the film cannot be dismissed with a shrug. There is a splendid performance by Victor Francen as the war veteran; and Les Gueules Cassees (the Mutilated Veterans of the Last War), seen in the March of the Dead, give the picture a terrifying reality. • INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY-Warners I HIS won't let you sit still in your seats a moment. The plot is built around the always touching design of two brothers and one girl. Pat O'Brien is cast as the elder brother, a cocky racing driver who wants to help the kid, John Payne, at the racing game. But Payne falls in love with Ann Sheridan and Pat gets sore, because he doesn't approve of Ann. You'll see an accidental killing when O'Brien gets drunk and some wonderful race shots. Altogether it's smashbang entertainment. 82 PHOTOPLAY