Picturegoer (Jan-Jun 1938)

PICTUREGOER Weekly REVIEWS — Continued her lack of culture is standing in her daughter's way. John Boles is quite good, and Barbara O'Neil is sound as the woman with whom he falls in love. Anne Shirley is delightfully natural as the daughter and Alan Hale shines in support. The story is full of pictorial cliches and the development is definitely mechanical, but its appeal is directed to and will be appreciated by the sentimental. c**FORLORN RIVER Paramount. American. •■(••• certificate. Western melodrama. Rans 56 minutes. Larry Crabbe Nevada June Martel Ina Blaine Harvey Stephens Les Setter John Patterson Ben Ide Syd Saylor "Weary" Pierce William Duncan Blaine Raphale Bennett Bill Hall Ru th Warren Millie Moran Lew Kelly Sheriff Jim Henry Warner Chester Conklin Sheriff Grundy Barlowe Borland Cashier Directed by Charles Barton. Story by Zane Grey. This is very definitely a two-star Western. It has action, spectacle, picturesqueness, quite good characterisation, and puts over conventionalities of its type with plenty of punch. There are a lot of fights and cattle stampedes are finely photographed; in fact, just the stuff for those who like movement in their pictures. Larry Crabbe is fine physically as Nevada, who wages a longdrawn-out war with a bank robber who later turns his hand to horse rustling. This latter role is well played by Harvey Stephens. Light relief is supplied effectively by Syd Saylor, and the feminine interests are capably looked after by June Martel and Ruth Warren. **IT'S ALL YOURS Columbia. American. " U" certificate. Romantic farce. Runs 81 minutes. Madeleine Carroll Linda Gray Francis Lederer Jimmy Barnes The PICTUREGOER'S quick reference index ••NEW FACES OF 1937 c"LOVELY TO LOOK AT ••BLONDE TROUBLE ••STELLA DALLAS c**FORLORN RIVER ••IT'S ALL YOURS •A ROMANCE IN FLANDERS •BEHIND THE MIKE •PARADISE ISLE •LONDON BY NIGHT •MARRY THE GIRL •NAVY SPY WISE GUYS What the asterisks mean — • *** An outstanding feature. ♦♦♦ Very good. ♦♦ Good. ♦ Average entertainment. c Also suitable for children. Mischa Ai'er Baron Rene de Montigny Grace Bradley Constance Marlowe Victor Kilian City Clerk George McKay License Clerk Charles Waldron Alexander Duncan J. C. Nugent E. J. Barnes Richard^Carle Judge Reynolds Arthur Hoyt Dabney Directed by Elliott Nugent. From a story by Adelaide Heilbron. Bright comedy, with original plot and good acting by entire cast. It is at times rather too drawn out, but, as a whole, it provides good, light entertainment. Francis Lederer is both romantic and eccentric as the hero, a playboy who is cut out of his uncle's will, much to his consternation. He finally has to become secretary to a girl, Linda, who had inherited the money and who had determined to make a man of him. This role is played by Madeleine Carroll, who gives a vivacious performance; quite the best she has turned in since she went to Hollywood. Mischa Auer is in great form as a. fortune-hunting baron who nearly wins the heiress for himself. He has one delightful scene with Lederer — a fight, in which, much to the latter's surprise, he knocks him out ; he has apparently been a lightweight champion ! There are very bright ironic passages between Linda and the playboy, who had once snubbed her. *A ROMANCE IN FLANDERS British Lion. British ." A" certificate. Triangle melodrama. Runs 73 minutes. PaulCavanagh John Morley Marcelle Chantal Yvonne Berry Garry Marsh Rodd Berry Olga Lin do Mme. Vlandermaere Alistair Sim. Col. Wexton Evelyn Riberts Capt. Stanford P. Kynaston Reeves Major Burke Arthur Hambling Col. Kennedy Denier Warren Bill Johnson Frank Atkinson Joe Stuggins Bobbie Comber Chauffeur Andrea Malandrinos Mayor Denise Sydney Muriel Kathleen Weston Bessie Directed by Maurice Elvey. Adapted by Harold Simpson from the novel by Mario Fort and Ralph E. Yanloc. Theatrical but reasonably interesting triangle drama, dealing with the post-war meeting of a sergeant-major, who was acclaimed by his regiment as a hero, with his erstwhile best friend, his rival in love whom he had left in no man's land and whom later he had refused to identify when he was suffering from loss of memory. The man, now acting as a guide to the battlefields, plans at first to kill him, and the girl who has married the sergeant-major decides to leave her husband, but finally they become reconciled to the idea of living their lives as fate has planned them. Paul Cavanagh is polished and sensitive as the guide and affords a strong contrast to the bluff portrayal of the sergeant-major, given by Garry Marsh. Marcelle Chantal is somewhat colourless as the woman in the case. •BEHIND THE MIKE General F. D. (Universal). American. "O" certificate. Small town comedy-drama. Runs 68 minutes. William Gargan George Hayes Judith Barrett Jane Hariedge Don Wilson Tiny Martin Sterling Holloway Tommy Astor William Davidson Cyrus Whittles Gerald Oliver Smith Robert Ainesley Charles Brokaw Harry Fox Spence Charters Pete Jones Grady Sutton Curly Conway Harlan Briggs Sheriff Roy Atwell Vale Jerry Mandy First Violinist Directed by Sidney Salkow. Screen play by Barry T rivers. William Gargan gives a forceful performance in this story of a radio producer who in trying to put a one-horse small-town wireless station on its feet, unearths a political scandal concerning the boss of the station's powerful rival. The producer soon makes his presence felt, and ends by marrying his rival's attractive programme announcer. Small-town atmosphere is well maintained and the characters are quite well drawn. Judith Barrett is a pleasing heroine, and Don Wilson and Sterling Holloway are effective in their respective roles. ♦PARADISE ISLE Pathi. American. "U" certificate. South Seas island romance. Runs 72 minutes. Movita Ha Warren Hull Kennedy George Piltz Tono William Davidson Hoener Russell Simpson Baxter Kenneth Harlan Johnson Pierre Watkin Dr. Steinmever John St. Pons Coxon Directed by Arthur Grevillc Solhns, from a story by Allan Vaughan Elision. An authentic atmosphere and picturesque settings are the main assets of this simple romance, dealing with a blind artist who is shipwrecked on a South Seas island and a native girl who nurses him back to health and dives for pearls in order to provide money to pay for an operation which may restore his sight. Crooks enter into the scheme of things, but their plans are defeated and the romance has a happy ending. Movita, a native girl, is wholly charming as the heroine, and Warren Hull is restrained and likeable as the artist. ♦LONDON BY NIGHT M.-G.-M. American. " A" certificate. Crime drama. Runs 69 minutes. George Murphy Michael Denis Rita Johnson Patricia Herrick Virginia Field Bessie Leo G. Carroll Correy George Zucco Inspector Jefferson Montagu Love Sir Arthur Herrick Eddie Quillan Bill Leonard Mudie Squires J. M. Kerrigan Tims Neil Fitzgerald Inspector Sleet Harry Stubbs Postman Ivan Sampson Burroughs "Corky" Jones Directed by William Thtele, from a play by Will Scott. Moderate crime drama of a macabre order, dealing with a reporter who, with the help of his dog, runs to earth a murderer and kidnapper who has terrorised the district. The London atmosphere is quite colourful — if you can call fog colourful — but not very convincing. The director has introduced some neat touches and stressed the canine element in a popular manner; he has also achieved quite a thrilling climax. George Murphy is sound as Michael and Rita Johnson fair as the heroine. Eddie Quillan and the dog show to advantage in supporting roles. ♦MARRY THE GIRL Warner. American. "A" certificate. Comedy extravaganza. Runs 69 minutes. Mary Boland Ollie Radway Carol Hughes Virginia Radway Frank McHugh David Partridge Mischa Auer Dimitri Hugh O'Connell Michael Forrester Tom Kennedy Jasper Olin Howland First Southerner William Davidson Drake Irving Bacon Happy Elmer Louise Stanley Partridge's Secretary Hugh Herbert John B. Radway Allen Jenkins Specs Alan Mowbray Dr., Stryker Teddy Hart Bill Dewey Robinson Buster Arthur Aylesworth Second Southerner Charles Judels Andres Victor Antoine Descate Louis Mason Third Southerner Bess Flowers Radway's Secretary Directed by William McGann. February 5, 1938 Crazy fooling in a newspaper office and a sanatorium which, while entirely irresponsible, is made quite amusing by a strong cast of American comedians. There is little or no attempt at character drawing and the plot is thin, but the combined efforts of the cast manage to keep things moving fairly briskly, in spite of the fact that there is rather a spate of dialogue. ♦NAVY SPY A.B.F.D. American. "A" certificate. Spy melodrama. Runs 55 minutes. Conrad Nagel Alan O'Connor Eleanor Hunt Bobbie Reynolds Phil Dunham Dr. Matthews Don Barclay Bertie Howard Lang Barradine Crauford Kent Captain Leeds Judith Allen Anna Novna Jack Doyle Lieutenant Don Carrington Screen play and direction by Crane Wilbur. Conventional serial-like melodrama, which contains some popular spectacular thrills and a good deal of "rough house". Conrad Nagel is likeable as the hero, an ace secret-service agent who is sent out on a mission to solve the mystery of the disappearance of the inventor of a vapour fuel, which he does with the help of the American Navy. Eleanor Hunt is breezily effective as the heroine, his friendly rival in the investigation. Jack Doyle, the Irish boxer, and bis ex-wife, Judith Allen, appear in the film. WISE GUYS Fox. British. "A" certificate. Knockabout comedy. Runs 67 minutes. Charlie Naughton Charlie Jimmy Gold Jimmy Audrene Brier Flo Robert Nainby Uncle Phineas Walter Roy Drake Sydney Keith Eddie David Keir Lawyer Peter Popp Manager Directed by Harry Langdon. Story by Allison Booth. Very indifferent slapstick comedy, which has little rhyme or reason and is generally extremely hackneyed in idea. Neither Naughton nor Gold is able to get the better of the poor material with which they are supplied. RELEASES FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS Number of stars awarded in brackets : — Action For Slander (2) Another Dawn (2) Big Business (2) Big Fella (2) Blazing Stxes (2)c Broadway Melody of 1938 (2) ... Cafe Metropole (2) Captains Courageous (4)c Easy Living (3) Edge of the World, The (3) ... Go-Getter, The (2)c Good Earth, The {3) High Wide and Handsome (2)... Hit Parade, The (2) Hollywood Cowboy (2) Hotel Haywire (2) Kid Galahad (3) Knight Without Armour (2) ... Let's Make a Night of It (2) Love is News (3) Married Before Breakfast (2) . .. Midnight Madonna (2) North of the Rio Grande (2) ... Oh, Mr. Porter (3)c One Mite from Heaven (2) ... Said O'Reilly to McNab (2) ... Slim (2) Star is Born, A (3) Sunset in Vienna, (3) There Goes My Girl (2) Top of the Town (2) Topper (3) Victoria the Great (4) Way Out West (2) Who's Your Lady Friend ? (2) Wee Willie Winkie (2)c Wild Money (2) You Can't Have Everything (2) Jan. 22 Jan. 15 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Dec. 26 Jan. 8 Jan. 1 Dec. 25 Jan. 15 Jan. 8 Jan. 8 Jan. 1 Jan. 22 Jan. 15 Dec. 18 Dec. 11 Jan. 22 Jan. 8 Jan. 29 Dec. i Dec. 11 Jan. 8 Jan. 8 Jan. 1 Jan. 8 Dec. 18 Dec. 18 Jan. 15 Jan. 15 Dec. i Dec. 11 Dec. 4 Dec. 25 Jan. 15 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Jan. 1 Jan. 22 22