Picturegoer (Jan-Apr 1935)

PICTUREGOER Weekly January 5. 1935 Jean Muir plays the role of " the other girl " in " Doctor Monica." •••HIDE OUT M.-G.-M. American. " U " cerlificaU. Romantic comtdy drama. Runs 80 minuUi. RoBEMT Montgomery Lucky Wilson Maukeen O'Svllivan Pauline Edward Arnold Maccarthy C. Henry Gordon Tony Rerrelli Elizabeth Patterson Ma Miller Whitford Kane Pa Miller Mickey Rooney Willie Muriel Evans Babe Edward Brofby Britt Henry Arhetta ...Loois Shnman Herhan Bing Jake Lillie Louise Henry Millie Harold Huber Dr. Anderson DirecUd by W. S. Vim Dyke. Reformed-crook stories usually leave me quite unconvinced about the sincerity of the reformation. In this case, however, I found Robert Montgomery as an ex -crook, who is led into the straight and narrow way by his love for an unsophisticated country schoolmistress, quite natural and credible. Incidentally, Maureen O'Sullivan is quite at her best as the schoolmistress in question; a charming character study, played with real sentiment and understanding. The story is a simple one, planned on conventional lines, but the treatment is exceptionally good and pictorially satisfying. Sentiment is introduced in a restrained manner, and all the characters are interesting and human. The picture op»ens with racketeering scenes, and then changes to the country, when the crook hides out after he has been too hotly pursued by the police. The rural surroundings are delightfully pictured and the little school-mistress's family is exceptionally well drawn. There is Mickey Rooney, for instance, giving an excellent juvenile study of her kid brother, and her parents are finely characterised by Whitfcrd Kane and Elizabeth Patterson. Edward Arnold is very good as a friendly detective, who finally gives Montgomery a chance to run straight, and the star himself is excellently cast and thoroughly convincing. C. Henry Gordon, as usual, maJces a most effective gang leader. The picture is replete with gentle humour, and the dialogue is natural and excellently delivered. The sheer, unsophisticated nature of the plot and the characters make it a most refreshing change to the usual run of sex dramas, and I can thoroughly recommend it. •••THE PARTY'S OVER Columbia. American. " A " cerlificaU. Domestic comedy. Runs 87 minutes. Stuart Erwin Brace Arune Jt'DCE Phyllis Ann Sothern Ruth Chick Chandler '.....Martin Patsy Kelly Mabel On the Screens Now by Lionel Collier The PICTUREGOER'S quick reference index to fiims just released ♦•KISS AND MAKE UP ♦CRAZY PEOPLE ♦♦♦HIDE OUT ♦♦♦THE PARTY'S OVER ♦♦AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN ♦♦Dr. MONICA ♦♦MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD ♦♦JEW SUSS ♦LONE COWBOY <*BLUE STEEL FATHER AND SON THE GIRL IN THE CASE What the asterisks mean — An outstanding feature. ••• Very good. *» Good. * Average entertainment. c Also suitable for children. Catharine Doucrr Sarah Marjorie Lytell Betty Henry Travehs Theodore William Bakewell Clay Esther Mvir Tillie Directed by Walter Lang from the stage play by Daniel Kusell, adapted by S. K. Lauren. An exceedingly well-acted and characterised domestic comedy, with Stuart Erwin on top of his form as the eldest son of a family, all of which presume on his good nature, until his eyes are at last optened to their parasitical nature by a girl who loves him. It is a simple enough story, and gains its effects more by detail and incisive characterisation than by any actual strength of story value. The role of the easy-going son, whose hard-earned money is squandered by his family cis if it were their right, fits Stuart Erwin admirably. As the girl who loves him, and eveqtually persuades him to assert his rights, Ann Sothern acts fairly well. Henry Travers as the father, a bibulous old gentleman, is excellent and Catherine Doucet as the mother, who resorts to tears whenever her will is crossed, gives an amusing and human study. The daughter, Phyllis, who is engaged to a conceited and impecunious would-be crooner, is well acted by Arline Judge, as is the younger son, who brings home an undesirable wife, by William Bakewell. Chick Chandler is excellently in character as the crooner and Marjorie Lytell effective as the younger brother's wife. An amusing piece of acting comes from Patsy Kelly as a maid with whom the father attempts to take liberties, and Esther Muir is good as an ex-maid who attempts to blackmail him. Situations are extremely well handled and comedy is gained naturally without exaggerating the characters. ••AFFAIRS OF A GENTLEMAN Universal. American. " A " certificate. Mystery drama. Rura 67 minutes. Paul Lukas Gresham Leila Hvams Gladys Durland Patricia Ellis Jean Sinclair Onslow Stevens Lyn Durland Phillip Reed Carter Vaughn Dorothy Burgess Nan Fitagerald Lillian Bond Carlotta Joyce CoMnoN FoEey Murray Kinnell Fletcher Dorothy Le Bairk Gail Melville Richard Carle Bindar Wilfred Hari Sato Sara Haden Gresham's Secretary Charles Wilson Inspector Gregory Gaye Bela Directed by Edwin L. Marin from the ptav, " Women in His Life" by Edith and Edward EUis. A mystery film which will keep you guessing to the end and which is amusingly sophisticated in a completely amoral manner. The story ap])eared in the December 22 issue of PlCTUR£COER, SO I do not intend to go into its ramifications again here. Briefly, it concerns the murder of a novelist with a penchant for the fair sex told in retrospect. Paul Lukas is very good indeed Helen Mack is good as a secretary and Gary Grant rather heavy as a doctor in " Kiss and Make Up." Benita Httme is extremely beautiful in "Jew Siiss." as the philandering writer whom Nemesis at last overtakes. It is a completely unsympathetic part, but Lukas makes it interesting and human. As his valet Fletcher, Murray Kinnell is very good, and the several women who play a part in the author's life are all well drawn. Dorothy Burgess is particularly good as Nan, one of his old flames, who has taken, in desftair and disillusionment, to drink. The story is well told and directed, and has a sound psychological basis. ••Dr. MONICA Warner. American. " A " certificate. Marital drama. Runs 63 minutes. Kay Francis Dr. Monica Verree Teasdale Anna Jean Muir Mary Warren William John Virginia Pine Louise Herbert Bunsoh Mr. Pettinghill Ann Shoeharer Mrs. Hazlett Phillip Reed Burton Virginia Hammond Hn. Chandor Hale Hamilton Dr. Brent Emma Dunn Mrs. Marahan Difttied by WiUiam Keighley. Kay Francis, not to be left out of the vogue for medical heroines, is cast here as a gynaecologist whose irresponsible husband engages in a clandestine afiai/ with one of her friends. Because of the demands of her profession on his wife, he feels himself neglected, and turns to Mary, a young girl, for companionship. Unknown to him she has a child shortly after their idyll ends; his childless wife attends her and is furiously jealous when she learns about the affair. She determines to leave her husband, but Mary, knowing that he loves his wife, takes her own life. Husband and wife, realising the greatness of the sacrifice, are reunited. Kay Francis gives a convincing characterisation in a not very edifying and none too convincing story. Her performance is equalled by the fine treatment Jean Muir affords the unfortunate Mary. Warren William is also very good ; indeed, the acting as a whole helps to cloak the shortcomings of the plot. William Keighley direction is competent, but there is a tendency to allow detail to obscure the m&in threads of the plot at times. Good staging and the acting make this sound entertainment with a strong emotional appeal. ••MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD Radio. American. " A " certificate. Crime comedy-drama. Runs 70 minutes. 22