Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1940)

Brief Reviews CHICKEN WAGON FAMILY— 20th Century. Fox Originally scheduled for Will Rogers, this has been adapted to the talents of Jane Withers. She's swell, but the piece isn't quite right for Leo Carrillo, who makes his living by exchanging merchandise for chickens. Spring Byington and Marjorie Weaver contribute their bit. (Nov.) COAST GUARD— Columbia Not a new plot, but entertaining. Randy Scott is a cocky pilot in the coast guard who wins Ralph Bellamy's sweetheart (Frances Dee) away from him. then gets himself into a situation from which Bellamy has to save him. Walter Connolly has a small role. (Dec.) COWBOY QUARTERBACK, THE— Warners Bert Wheeler's first solo without the late Bob Woolsey is a dated story of a hick football player who gels into big time. Gamblers try a frame-up anil it looks bad until Bert's girl, Marie Wilson, comes along. Gloria Dickson helps a little. (Nov.) DANCING CO-ED— M-G-M When Lee Bowman, movie dancer, finds he will need a new partner, publicity agent Roscoe Karns tosse a co-ed contest. Lana Turner, a Broadway hoofer, turns college girl for the stunt; Richard Carlson, newshound for the school paper, starts an Investigation, There's a surprise ending when Ann Rutherford enters the contest. Artie Shaw gets hot with his clarinet. (Nov.) if DAY THE BOOKIES WEPT, THE— RKO-Radio Good comedy, with Joe Penner at his best. He's a cab driver in love with Betty Grable. His pals send him to buy a horse and. of course he gets stuck. But when Betty discovers the old nag loves liquor — do they have fun! And so will you. (Dec.) DISPUTED PASSAGE— Paramount A forceful melodrama dealing with the struggle of a young doctor (John Howard) to choose between science and love for Dorothy Lamour. Akim Tamiroff plays an older physician who ruins the romantic setup. When Dottie marches off to China and Howard follows, Tamiroff must decide whether to stick to his guns or — (Dec.) *DUST BE MY DESTINY— Warners A depressing, although gripping study of social problems, with John Garfield again imprisoned unjustly. As a result, he hates everything — except Priscilla Lane. But, finally, out of tragedy comes readjustment. Garfield turns in the performance you've come to expect of him. (A'of.) if EACH DAWN I DIE— Warners There's a quiet brutality, a believable horror about this film in which Jimmy Cagney portrays an innocent victim who is sent to prison by crooked politicians. His newspaper friends, particularly Jane Bryan, take up the fight. There's murder and a jail-break riot done in a superlative manner. George Raft, as a fellow convict, has never done a better job. Add George Bancroft, Maxie Rosenbloom and John Wray to the list who make this picture a must. (Oct.) if ESPIONAGE AGENT— Warners Full of thrills, and sufficiently timely to make your hair stand on end. Joel McCrea is the Nemesis of spies. He marries one (Brenda Marshall) and when what she's done catches up with her, Joel resigns his post to help her run down the ringleader. George Bancroft, Jeffrey Lynn and others complete the cast. (Dec.) if ETERNALLY YOURS— Wangers-U.A. You'll like this story in which Loretta Young marries master magician David N'iven and becomes his associate in a magic act. However, David's femme fans are too fond of him. so Loretta does a disappearing act that is a dilly; divorces David and marries Broderick Crawford; but David won't give up. Billie Burke. ZaSu Pitts and Raymond Walburn rustle up a brace of laughs. (Nov.) EVERYBODY'S HOBBY— Warners A new family-cycle picture — with stamp-collector Irene Rich the mother of a family of hobbyists. Daughter Jean Sharon collects photograph records; brother Jackie Moran is an amateur radio bug; father Henry O'Neill is a camera fiend. Fun for juveniles. (Nov.) EVERYTHING'S ON ICE— RKO-Radio Little Irene Dare zips across ice like a miniature Henie in this amusing, but unimportant, film. Fourflusher Roscoe Karns takes his nieces Irene and Lynne Roberts to Florida where he lives in high style, hoping to marry off Lynne. Of course, he chooses another fourflusher. (Nov.) FAST AND FURIOUS— M-G-M A murder mystery built around a beauty pageant, with bathing beauties, a lion-taming act and villains bumping people off. Ann Sothern plays Franchot Tone's gum-chewing wife. Lee Bowman, Ruth Hussey and sundry beauties co-operate. (Dec.) if FIFTH AVENUE GIRL— RKO-Radio Ginger Rogers has another hit, and it's as cute as punch. A man who is being ignored by his wife pretends romance with a pretty down-at-the-heels girl to make his wife jealous. You can imagine the complications, especially when the man is Walter Connolly, the wife is Verree Teasdale and the innocent peak of the isosceles is Ginger. (Nov.) FIGHT FOR PEACE, THE— WarwickMonogram A medley of authentic newsreels and . graphic cartoons issued for the purpose of promoting anti-war sentiment. Its fragmentary record of (Continued jrom page 4) dying monarchies and flourishing dictatorships, from the cause of the First World War, up to the eve of the present conflict is well worth seeing. (Dec.) FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW— Columbia Maybe you loved the Peppers when you were six, but this is a bit thick for adults. Edith Fellows, Clarence Rolb and Dorothy Peterson follow the script dutifully. All the Liltle Peppers are so virtuous, and this has the expected effect on a meanie when he is quarantined in their house. (Dec.) if FRONTIER MARSHAL— 20th CenturyFox You can guess from the title what this is about. Tombstone, Arizona, is the locale where silver is discovered. The bad element comes in and Marshal Randolph Scott sets out to quell the lawlessness. Cesar Romero, Nancy Kelly and Binnie Barnes all help to make this good cinema. (Oct.) FULL CONFESSION— RKO-Radio Victor McLaglen, in another "Informer" role, plays i criminal who thinks he is expiring, confess-; a murder to priest Joseph Calleia. then reon'ii It's Callcia's job to make him confess to the law. Sally Eilers has a small role. (Nov.) ' GIRL FROM RIO — Monogram An indifferent production, in which Movita is forced to leave Rio on the eve of her debut as a singer, in order to help her brother out of a jam. She gets a job in a night club and hunts down the real meanie. Warren Hull and Alan Baldwin contribute. (Nov.) if GOLDEN BOY— Columbia Clifford Odet's famous play introduces William Holden as the emotionally unstable musician who forsakes a career in the arts for one in the prize ring. He is caught up by unscrupulous racketeers who shove him to eventual downfall. Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou and others help the definite "A" mood of the production with their work. It's excellent drama. (Nov.) HAWAIIAN NIGHTS— Universal A happy little story, this. Johnny Downs plays tin son of a hotel owner who loses his job when he organizes a band. He takes his musical lads to Hawaii and makes a success of his father's rival. Comes romance in the person of Constance Moore. Matty4Malneck's orchestra is swell. (Nov.) if HEAVEN WITH A BARBED WIRE FENCE— 20th Century-Fox A story of disillusionment. Glenn Ford is the New Yorker who works six years to buy a ranch, starts thumbing his way to his property and collects troubles along the way, among them: hobo Nicholas Conte; Spanish refugee Jean Rogers; and tramp Raymond Walburn. It has movement. (Oct.) HERE I AM A STRANGER— 20th CenturyFox Richard Greene and Richard Dix combine talents here and both are good. Greene, raised by his mother and stepfather, meets his real father. The piece is the emotional adjustment of the two. Gladys George plays the mother. (Dec.) HERO FOR A DAY— Universal Football time is here. Charley Grapewin, exfootball star and now a night watchman, is used for a publicity stunt by his alma mater. He becomes a male "Apple Annie." Meanwhile, Dick Foran carries the ball, and lovely Anita Louise falls in love with him. (Dec.) if HOLLYWOOD CAVALCADE— 20th Century-Fox A gay history of movieland, told in terms of drama and slapstick, rainbowed by Technicolor and gorgeously acted throughout. A would-be director, Don Ameche, discovers a would-be star, Alice Faye, and brings her to Hollywood. She falls in love with him, but marries Alan Curtis. The tangle of their love serves as a plot on which to hand such milestones as the Keystone Kops and Sennett Bathing Beauties. See it. (Dec.) * HONEYMOON IN BALI— Paramount This has color and glamour, and Fred MacMurray and Madeleine Carroll on a South Sea Island. You see, Madeleine is a business woman content with her unromantic lot until earthy Mr. MacMurray comes along. Then Sex, a la Tropics, intrudes. You'll like Helen Broderick and little Carolyn Lee, too. (Dec.) HOTEL FOR WOMEN— 20th Century-Fox Shades of "Stage Door." You'll see a lot of models and chorus girls living in a hostelry presided over by Elsa Maxwell, and follow their troubles. New Linda Darnell should turn into a bright star, and Ann Sothern is very good, indeed. James Ellison is the romantic lead. (Oct.) HOUSEKEEPER'S DAUGHTER, THE— Roach-U.A. A rich boy who turns reporter accidentally uncovers a gangster murder. Joan Bennett is his housekeeper's offspring and despite the fact she is a reformed gangland moll, she gets the hero. Adolphe Menjou and John Hubbard try hard. (Dec.) IRISH LUCK— Monogram Here we have Frankie Darro playing a bellhop whose father is mysteriously slain. Frankie sets out to discover the murderer. He's quite engaging and Mantan Moreland. a colored fellow, turns in an interesting performance. (Nov.) if I STOLE A MILLION— Universal Swell melodrama, with George Raft (capably abetted by Claire Trevor) portraying a man who, through circumstances beyond his control, is labeled a criminal and works out his peeve again-l the world by going really bad. Dick Foran, Henry Armetta and Victor Jury contribute to the emotional power of this film. (Oct.) IN NAME ONLY— RKO-Radio If you're a pushover for Cary Grant and Carole Lombard, you'll like this. Kay Francis is the wife who won't give Cary a divorce to marry Carole, despite the fact that she has never loved him. But Carole wins out in the end. Charles Coburn and Helen Vinson have routine roles, Katharine Alexander is good, and Grant, magnificent. (Oct.) if INTERMEZZO, A LOVE STORY— Selznick International This is art in the cinema. It's a love interlude in the lives of concert pianist Ingrid Bergman (new to our screen and strangely compelling) and violinist Leslie Howard. Edna Best plays the wife whom Leslie leaves for his romantic idyl with Ingrid. There's charm to the story. (Dec.) JAMAICA INN— Mayflower-Paramount You're in on the secret that Charles Laughton is the leader of a gang who wreck ships for their cargoes in this free adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel. But neither the members of his gang, nor pretty Maureen O'Hara, know that he is the archvillain. Hairbreadth escapes, last minute rescues will satisfy those who like action. Mr. Laughton, as usual, dominates every scene. (Oct.) KATIA— Mayer-Burstyn There's little dramatic punch in this story which traces the devotion of Czar Alexander II (John Loder) for his mistress, the Princess Katia (Danielle Darrieux), who finally becomes his wife, but pictorially speaking, this French lilm is beautiful. Marie Helene Daste, as the ailing Czarina, do annates every scene she is in. (Dec.) KID NIGHTINGALE— Warner This singing John Payne really looks promising. Here he's a prize fighter who warbles when he isn't fighting. Walter Catlett, fight manager, takes him in hand and leads him at last to a chance at the championship. Jane Wyman furnishes the romantic interest. Action flies along at a fancy pace. (Dec.) if LADY OF THE TROPICS— M-G-M Oriental Saigon provides the lush background for Hedy Lamarr and Robert Taylor in this story of a young American engineer who braves the dangers of far places; with Joseph Schildkraut as the smooth scoundrel who is killed by Hedy when she discovers his interest in her is business, not sentiment. Taylor and Schildkraut give performances to be proud of, while Hedy is her most beautiful.self. (Oct.) MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG, THE— Columbia Boris Karloff, a mad scientist who can bring the dead back to life, is interrupted in the midst of an experiment; the police think his victim is dead and convict Karloff of murder. He sets out to kill the judge, jury and district attorney. Roger Pryor, Lorna Gray and Robert Wilcox try to cope with it all. (Nov.) if MARX BROTHERS AT THE CIRCUS— M-G-M The Marx Brothers team up with a whole menagerie this time when they come to the rescue of Kenny Baker, who is about to lose his circus and pretty Florence Rice to the villainous Fritz Feld. Harpo and Chico give their usual funny solos. There are plenty of circus acts, camels, elephants and a lovely gorilla. (Nov.) MILLION DOLLAR LEGS— Paramount A college picture, dedicated in motif and action to the present generation. A football hero and a mathematical genius (respectively, John Hartley and Peter Hayes) help Betty Grable carry the slight burden of plot. (Oct.) MIRACLES FOR SALE— M-G-M The kids will love this since it's all about magicians. There's murder, too, and Robert Young, paired with pretty Florence Rice, to solve it. If you believe in ghosts, you'll be pretty annoyed at the expose. (Oct.) if MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON— Columbia This is a kind of "Mr. Deeds," in which lanky Jimmy Stewart ambles about Washington like a streamlined version of Lincoln. He gets mixed up in dirty politics, but sticks to his ideals through the urgings of his hard-boiled secretary, Jean Arthur. There's a rousing climax in the Senate. Edward Arnold and Claude Rains are the political villains. The entire cast contribute fine performances, but it's Capra's direction that makes this. (Nov.) MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN— Monogram Boo! It's Boris Karloff who makesa nice menacing Chinaman in whose home a Chinese princess is murdered. Marjorie Reynolds is the newspaper woman who rushes around and helps out. There's a romance angle between her and Grant Withers. And there's comedy to keep you chuckling. (Oct.) NEWS IS MADE AT NIGHT— 20th Century-Fox There's conflict in this when Editor Preston Foster's best friend turns out to be a criminal and an innocent man is awaiting execution because of Foster's machinations. Lynn Bari plays a sob sister. Good pace throughout. (Oct.) if NINOTCHKA— M-G-M Greta Garbo brinns .i smile to her face and a rarebuoyancy to her step in the role of a lieutenant in the Russian army who is sent to Paris to find out Capturing the very spirit of the prevailing peasant model The adjustable SUSPENDERS are rich, black velveteen on red or green felt ground, with exquisite wool embroidered flowers. They clip on— no buttons. The BEIT is mode to match, with red or green rickrack trim. Specify size when ordering. Either of these fashions will be sent promptly for only $1. postpaid. II WIST 42nd STRUT, NIW YO«K ADVKKTISK.MKNT Here's a simple pleasant way to win relief from the pain and discomfort that many women have to face. 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