Picturegoer (Jan-Jun 1938)

-ICTUREGOER Weekly ionel Collier's FILM REVIEWS •THE JURY'S SECRET General F.D.-UniversaL American. "A" certificate. Crime drama. Runs 63 minutes. I-arry Blake Bill Sheldon Fay Wray Linda Wave Kent Taylor Walter Russell N an Grey Mary Norris Samuel S. Hinds Brandon Williams Halliwell Hobbes John, the Butler Jane Darwell. Mrs. Sheldon Fritz Leiber John Morrow Granville Bates Judge Prendergast Leonard Mi-die District Attorney Ted Osborne Reporter Thompson Billy Wayne Reporter Baker Robert Spencer Reporter Smith Harry C. Bradley Jury Foreman Edward Broadley Williams' Butler Bert Roach Juror Hackenmier Virginia Sale Miss Montague John Miller Juror Simms Lillian Elliott Mrs. Muller Drew Demarest Fourth Reporter Ferris Taylor Attorney Appleby Dick Rush Bailiff Directed by Ted Sloman. Story by Lester Cole. Honour before love is the theme of this picture, which, in trying to escape being conventional, becomes rather discoursive and distinctly theatrical. It deals with a journalist who writes editorials on behalf of a big business man with few scruples and who eventually murders his employer. Another man is suspected— an agitator — and to save his life the journalist confesses to the crime. Kt nt Taylor makes the most of his role as the journalist and Larry Blake is sound as the agitator. Fay Wray is quite adequate as the heroine. *QUIET. PLEASE First Sational. British. "A" certificate. Crime comedy. Runs 68 minutes. Reginald Purdell Algernon Beresford Wally Patch Bill Lesley Brook Margery Meadows h lien Mitchell Holloay Ian McLean Woods Winifred Izard Lady Winterley Ian Fleming Dr. Craven Brvce Lister Dr. Faversham Clem Lawrence Johnson Brenda Harvey Tyler Bobby Lawrence Edgar Directed by Roy William Xetll. Screen play and dialogue by Reginald Purdell and Tony Hankey. Reginald Purdell scores in this impersonation comedy, which develops into somewhat wild slapstick, by his performance as a street entertainer who is used by crooks to try to rob a rich patient in a sanatorium of her jewels; he is in turn a nervous wreck, a solicitor and a housemaid. The whole thing is very extravagant, but it scores laughs by its hearty ingenuousness. Wally Pach is good as the busker's friend, who has to impersonate first an old lady from Lancashire and secondly a specialist from Vienna. There is a sound surprise element and a touch of mystery for good measure. •SCANDAL SHEET Paramount. American. "V" certificate. C.tmudy drama. Runs 61 minutes. Lew Ay res Joe McKnight Louise Campbell Nora Langdon Roscoe Karns Austin Brown Porter Hall James Wilson Edgar Kennedy Daniel Webster Smith Elizabeth Patterson Ada Smith Cecil Cunningham Maybelle Murphy Virginia Weidler Wilma Murphy Jan Ducgan Vera Veazey Larainf. Johnson Peg Smith Lois Kent Marilyn Smith George Offerman, Ji n. Jerome Murphy„ Esther Howard Birdie Brown Fern Emmett Lillian Johnson Louise Beavers Clarice Lucien Littlepield Robert Johnson Directed by fames Hogan. Based on a story by Vera Caspary. Small-town gossip is responsible for involving a girl in a murder charge. The characters introduced are true to type, but the plot is very slight, and neither the murder nor the confession of the culprit are at all convincing. The show is practically stolen by Virginia Weidler. who, as the small child friend of the heroine, is instrumental in making the murderer confess. Lew Ayres has little to do as the hero, but Louise Campbell makes the most of the leading role in a sincere and attractive manner. •MADEMOISELLE DOCTEUR United Artists. British. "A " certificate. Spy melodrama. Runs 79 minutes. Dita Parlo Anne Marie Lesser John Loder Lieutenant Peter Carr Erich von Stroheim Colonel Mathesius, Simonis Claire Luck Gaby Gyles Isham Lieutenant Hans Hoffman Clifford Evans Coudoyan John Abbott Armand Anthony Holles Mario Edward Lexy Carr's Orderly Robert Nainby French General Brian Powley Colonel Burgoyne Molly Hamley Clifford Proprietress of Blue Peacock Raymond Lovell Colonel von Steinberg Frederick Lloyd Colonel Marchand Claud Horton Captain Fitzmaurice Directed by Edmond Greville. Based on a story by George Neveux and I. Cube. Heavy-handed spy melodrama, in which the protagonists chase each other half way over Europe before tragedy ends romance. The whole thing is very hackneyed and conventional, and it is difficult to believe in the characters or their environment. Dita Parlo is fair as a German girl who becomes involved in espionage in order to revenge the death of her fiance, and John Loder is sound, if rather heavy, as Peter Carr, an English officer. Erich von Stroheim is very artificial as a German Secret Serv ice Agent. Technical qualities are, however, quite good, and there is plenty of action and variety of setting. •THE ADVENTUROUS BLONDE Warner. American. " A" certificate. Murder mystery. Runs 61 minutes. Glenda Farrell Torchy Blane Barton MacLane Steve McBride Anne Xagel Grace Brown Tom Kennedy Gahagan George E. Stone Pele Natalie Moorhead Theresa Gray William Hopper Matt Anderson Lawler Hugo Brand Charley Foy Dud Bobby Watson Mugsy Leland Hodgson Harvey Hammond Raymond Hatton Maxie Frank Shannon Captain McTavish Virginia Brissac Mrs. Hammond Granville Owen Dr. Nolly James Conlos Dr. Bolger George Guhl Sergeant Walter Young Lawyer Al Herman Herman Charles Wilson Mortimer Gray Directed by Frank MacDonald. Another of the "Torchy Blane" series, with Glenda Farrell as the sob-sister who always outsmarts her fiance, a police detective. She gives a sound performance, but, as a whole, the picture is very verbose and extravagant in plot. It deals with a hoax on the part of rival reporters who hope to make Torchy and her fiance look silly, which turns into a real tragedy which does not make the reporters look too bright. Barton MacLane is adequate as the detective, but the rest of the cast have rather a hard struggle with the spate of dialogue. DIAL 999 Fox. British. " A" certificate. Crook drama. Runs 45 minutes. John Longden Bill Waring Elizabeth Kent Margot Curtis Neville Brook Hicks Ian Fleming Sir Edward Rigg Paul Neville Inspector Morris Ivan Wilmot Gelder Victor Hagen Brandon Howard Douglas Davis Jon Godfrey Blake Cecil Bishop Baker Jo Mott Lang Paul Sheridan Mario Directed by Lawrence Huntington. From an original story by Lawrence Huntington and Gerald Elliott. This story of the trailing of an international counterfeiter has little to recommend it. The acting is not particularly good — John Longden is fair as the hero and Ivan Wilmot good as a private detective agent — and the development is scrappy. There is a certain amount of suspense, but the characters are not intriguing enough to keep one continually interested. SILVER TOP Paramount. British. " U " certificate. Crook drama. Runs 67 minutes. Marie Wright Mrs. Deeping David Farrar "The Babe" Betty Ann Davies Dashka Vernon Brian Buchel "Flash" Gerald Marjorie Taylor Hazel Summers Brian Herbert Jem Withers Polly Emery Martha Bains Alice Bolster Miss Puckridge Isobel Scaif Aggie Murbles Fred Sinclair "Daddy" Murbles Directed by George King. From a story by Evadne Price. The number of crooks who have found redemption on the screen is legion. In this case an exconvict, "The Babe," quite well played by David Farrar, sees the light. The plot shows how Dashka Vernon an adventuress, and Flash Gerald, a confidence man, conspire to rob Mrs. Deeping, owner of a small country general store, of a £20,000 legacy. It is arranged for "The Babe" to pose as Mrs. Deeping's long-lost son, but soon after he takes residence in the Deeping home, environment and romance with Hazel Summers, the vicar's daughtef, cause him to refuse to go through with the plot. Mrs. Deeping shows her appreciation by adopting The Babe." Marie Wright is sincere as Mrs. Spy meets spy in " Mademoiselle Docteur," in which Joh and Dita Parlo are starred. June 25, 1938 Deeping and Marjorie Taylor is quite pleasing as Hazel. QUICK MONEY RKO-Radio. American. "U" certificate Business comedy-drama. Runs 59 minutes. Fred Stone Jonas Tompkin Berton Churchill Bluford Smythes Paul Guilpoyle Ambrose Ames Gordon Jones Bill Dorothy Moore Alice Sherwood Bailey Freddie Dorothy Vaughan Mrs. Tompkins Harland Briggs Barnsdall Dick Elliott Walker Frank M. Thomas Clark Jack Carson Football Coach Fuzzy Knight Peter Potter Kathryn Sheldon Mrs. Otis Directed by Edward Hilley. Although characters are well drawn, there is little else in this comedy drama, which is pedestrian in construction and ends in slapstick. The best performance comes from Berton Churchill as a share pusher who tries to swing it on his hometown. Fred Stone is fair as the local mayor who manages to block the scheme with the help of his little son, Freddie, well enacted by Sherwood Bailey. The plot is very weak, but some of the detail work and small-town atmosphere is not bad. PAID TO DANCE Columbia. American. "A" certificate. Gangster melodrama. Runs 56 minutes. Don Terry William Dennis Jacqueline Wells Joan Bradley Rita Hayworth Betty Morgan Arthur Loft Jack Miranda Paul Stanton Charles Kennedy Paul Fix Nifty Louise Stanley Phyllis Parker Ralph Byrd Nickels Brown Directed by C. C. Coleman, jun. Story by Leslie T. White. American dance-hall racket with reference to white-slave traffic is exposed in this melodrama, which is not too pleasant in theme, tut has some broad humour and a touch of romance to relieve it. Gangsters are bumped off wholesale and Don Terry proves himself a he-man as the hero, a stage agent who stops the unsavoury trade of a danca-hall proprietor, effectively played Dy Arthur Loft. ! RELEASES FOR THE | PAST TWO MONTHS j : For the benefit of readers from whom \ \ we have had numerous requests, we publish • • below 3 list of films awarded two, ihree or • | four stars during the past two months. • | The stellar rating is giv.-n in brackets ■ : after the title of the film. \ Angel (3) April 23 \ ': Bad Man of Brimstone. The (2) June 4 : : Bank Holiday (3) June 4 : : Beg, Borrow or Steal (2) . .. May 21 : I Breakfast for Two (2) May 21 : : Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (2) Mav 28 : : Damsel in Distress, A (2) ... June 4 : : Danger ^Love At Work (2) ... May 14 : : Ebb Tide (2) May 14 j : Everybody Sing (2) June 18 : : Expensive Husbands (2) May 7 : : Fight For Your Lady (2) .Way 14 : : First Lady (2) June 11 : : Forty-Five Fathers (V\c ... May 7 : : Game That Kills, The (2) ... June 4 • : Girl With Ideas, A (2) ... May 7 ■ : Great Garrick, The (2) June 11 • t Hero of Pine Ridge, The (2)c May 7 : : Hitting a Sew High (2) May 21 • • / 7/ Take Romance (2) ... May 7 • • Jungle Adventure (2) May 7 • • Last Gangster, The (2) .., April 30 : : Live Wire, The (2) June 1 1 : • Man-Proof (2) May 14 : : Music For Madame (2) M «* 28 : : Mutiny of the Elsinore" (2) April 23 : ■ Paradise Far Two®) April 23 j • Perfect Specimen, The (2) Way 28 : • Prescription For Romance (2) .Way 21 : • Range Defenders [i\c ... April 23 : : Rosalie (2) April 23 : : Rhythm in the Clouds (2) .Way 14 : : Second Honeymoon (2) April 23 : • Sheik Steps Out, The (2) .Way 21 : : Something to Sing About (2) June 18 : : submarine D.l (3) April . Hi \ i Thunder Trail (2) April 30 : : Trapped by G-Men (2) June 11 j i Trigger Trio, The {2)c .Way 7 : : True Confession (3) June 18 : i Wells Fargo (2) -Wav 28 : j Wise Girl (2) ... J* You're Only Young Once (2) . Way : 22