Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1940)

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE-20th CenturyFox When Professor Moriarily decides to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London, he doesn't figure on Sheer-Luck Holmes' uncanny deductions. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce play Holmes and Dr. Watson. Alan Marshal and Ida Lupino are the lovers and George Zucco, the Professor. Lots of murders but little pace. (Nov.) ALLEGHENY UPRISING-RKO-Radio Before the American Revolution the Allegheny Valley settlers worked up a rebellion to keep industrialists from selling ammunition to the Indians. John Wayne plays the leader of the protesting settlers and Claire Trevor adds the romance. Recommended with reservations. (Jan.) ALL WOMEN HAVE SECRETS-Paramount A college picture in which football gives way to the problems of undergraduate marriages. The story revolves around the marital woes of Joseph Allen, Jr., and Jean Cagney; John Arledge and Betty Moran; Peter Hayes and Virginia Dale. (Jan.) • AMAZING MR. WILLIAMS, THE-Columbia Melvyn Douglas carries off his role of a slap-happy detective with much zest, but Joan Blondell, his sweetheart, can't be too happy when every date is broken because of a murder. Edward Brophy, a convicted criminal, Ruth Donnelly and others add to the fun. Full cf laughs. • ANOTHER THIN MAN-M-G-M Bill Powell's first since his illness — and it's amusing. As usual, the Myrna Loy-Powell family, now blessed with a baby, sparkles with smart talk. Bill, of course, gets mixed up in another murder mystery in which C. Aubrey Smith is the victim and his daughter, Virginia Grey, complicates the plot. Otto Kruger is the D. A., aided and hindered by Nat Pendleton. (Jan.) • BABES IN ARMS-M-G-M They don't come any funnier. Mickey Rooney, as the son of exvaudeville artist Charles Winninger, tries to change the family fortunes by organizing his own show. With the aid of Judy Garland, Betty Jaynes, June Preisser, he puts on routines that will have you in the aisles. Guy Kibhee is the kindly judge who keeps the kids out of the state work school. Don't miss this. (Nov.) • BAD LITTLE ANGEL-M-G-M It's a touchy subject, religion; but Virginia Weidler has made this an inspirational film. She's an orphan whose faith has its effect on adults. Gene Reynolds foils for her; Guy Kibbee, Ian Hunter and Henry Hull contribute. (Jan.) • BALALAIKA-M-G-M The title is the name of a cafe in Russia in 1914 where Cossack Prince Nelson Eddy comes upon the stunning Ilona Massey of the gorgeous voice. There's a revolutionist plot, the war. and Paris after the war. Eddy dees a fine job and is in perfect voice. Ilona is a discovery and an important one. You'll like this. (Jan.) BEWARE SPOOKS-Columbia Rookie cop Joe E. Brown is assigned to catch Marc Lawrence, bank robber, but Joe's off on his honeymoon with Mary Carlisle. At the resort, however, he runs up against some murders, and there's a climax in a spook house. Boo! (Jan.) BLACKMAIL-M-G-M A morbid but thrill-packed movie revolving around oil-well fires and the methods of fighting them. There's an escaped criminal, a Consult This Movie Shopping Guide and Save Your Time, Money and P'" PICTURES REVIEWED IN SHADOW STAGE THIS ISSUE Page BIG GUY, THE-Universal 84 CAFE HOSTESS-Columbia 84 CISCO KID AND THE LADY, THE-20th Century-Fox 84 CITY IN DARKNESS-20th Century-Fox . . 84 COVERED TRAILER, THE-Republic 84 DAY-TIME WIFE-20th Century-Fox . ... 84 DESTRY RIDES AGAIN— Universal . ... 84 FOUR WIVES-Warners 63 GERONIMOI-Paramount 63 GONE WITH THE WIND— Selznick-M-G-M 62 GREAT VICTOR HERBERT, THE-Paramount 62 GREEN HELL-Universal 63 GULLIVER'S TRAVELS-Paramount .62 HARVEST-Marcel Pagnol Prod 84 HIS GIRL FRIDAY-Columbia 63 HONEYMOON'S OVER, THE-20th Century-Fox 84 JOE AND ETHEL TURP CALL ON THE PRESI DENT-M-G-M 84 LEGION OF THE LAWLESS-RKORadio 84 LIGHT THAT FAILED, THE-Paramount . 63 NICK CARTER, MASTER DETECTIVE-M-G-M 84 NIGHT OF NIGHTS, THE-Paramount . 84 OF MICE AND MEN-Roach-U. A 63 REMEMBER THE NIGHT-Paramount 84 THAT'S RIGHT -YOU'RE WRONG -RKO Radio 84 TOWER OF LONDON-Universal 84 TWO THOROUGHBREDS-RKO-Radio .84 WE ARE NOT ALONE-Warners 62 • INDICATES PICTURE WAS ONE OF THE BEST OF THE MONTH WHEN REVIEWED -r E WS "The Amazing Mr. Williams" has one weakness — curiosity. Melvyn Douglas, as the comedy-thriller hero, tries his detecting on Ruth Donnelly, as Joan Blondell and Ed Brophy look on chain gang, and Edward G. Robinson, who does a swell job. Gene Lockhart and Bobs Watson are good, too. (Dec.) BLONDIE BRINGS UP BABY-Columbia Dogwood Bumpstead loses his job; Baby Dumpling loses the dog Daisy and goes off to find her. Whereupon the original catastrophe pales into insignificance. Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake and Larry Simms remain the Bumpsleads. (Jan.) CALL A MESSENGER-Universal The Little Tough Guys and the Dead End Kids merge in this story of a telegraph official (Robert Armstrong) who thinks he might work some regeneration by giving the kids jobs. The idea clicks. Anne Nagel, Victor Jory and Mary Carlisle support the boys. (Dec.) CALLING ALL MARINES-Republic Here's a strange story of gangsters who attack the U. S. Marines to steal a bomb. There's plenty of blasting and noise, but Helen Mack, Donald Barry, Robert Kent and Warren Hymer all seem mildly bewildered at what they're doing. (Dec.) * CAT AND THE CANARY, THE-Paramount A thriller' — and funny! Paulette Goddard is heir to the estate of an eccentric millionaire, but there's a second will in case she should die or become insane within a month. With a dangerous lunatic loose, uncanny noises and clutching hands, there's plenty to keep you screeching. Paulette makes a convincingly frightened heiress and shares a hectic romance with Bob Hope. (Dec.) -A CHALLENGE, THE-Denham Films The villain of this melodrama is a mountain; the hero, the breathtaking escapes from snowslides in the Alps in the 1860's. The rivalry of an Italian and an Englishman (Luis Trenker and Robert Douglas); the rivalry of three countries to be the first to scale the Matterhorn is the basis of the plot. It's intense drama. (Dec.) CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND— 20th Cenlury-Fox Routine Chan fare with philosophical Charlie uncovering the hocus-pocus of one Dr. Zodiac, mystic. An expose of fake mediums, which Sidney Toler, as Chan, docs admirably. Cesar Romero, Pauline Moore and Wally Vernon help the plot. (Nov.) 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 rcle. (Dec.) (Continued on page 85) PHOTOPLAY