Picturegoer (Jul-Dec 1936)

' — Continued J. Carrol Xaish Mansfield AoDisoN Randall Ouke Reed Russell Hicks McCord Richard Howard O'Brien Directed by Ben Slolo/f, from the novel by Gelett Burgess. For story freely based on the film by Major y Williams see page 21. There is a good deal of ingenuity in the presentation of this " spot the murderer" mystery. The brief outline of the plot will give you a good idea of its departure from the conventional story. Marie Smith, an out-of-work chorus girl, finds herself sharing a park bench with an attractive man suffering from loss of memory. They repair to a nearby restaurant and read in a paper that Richard Denning, a famous producer, has been murdered and robbed, and that the police are searching for a man in a pin-striped suit. The man's suit and the contents of his pockets suggest that he had something to do with the crime, and his helplessness prompts Marie to seek accommodation for him in her boarding-house. By fjosing jis a reporter, the man proceeds to search for evidence that will lead to his identity being established and the apprehension of the real murderer, and after majiy exciting adventures his two goals are reached. Romance with Marie automatically follows. As the man suffering from lack of memory Walter Abel is exceedingly good. As Marie, Margot Grahame shows to advantage and Wallace Ford puts plenty of pep into the role of an inquisitive reporter. There is a strong supporting cast and the direction generally is polished. ••ABSOLUTE QUIET M.G.M. American " A" certificaie. Comedymelodrama. Runs 69 minuUs. Lionel Atwill G. A. Axion Irene Hervey Laura Tait Raymond Walburn Governor Pruden Stuart Erwin "Chubby" Rudd Ann Loring Zelda Tademan Louis Haywaro Gregory Wallace Ford Jack Bernadine Hayes Judy Robert Gleckler Jasper Cowdray Harvey Stephens Barney Tait J. Carrol Naisu Pedro Matt Moore Pilot Robert Livingston Co-Pilot Directed by George B. Seiti. From a novel by George F. Worts. A somewhat hazy affair, this, with ramifications which do not amount to much, but which gets its entertainment from the sound performances put up by a very competent cast. The story deals with G. A. Axion, an unscrupulous financier, who is ordered by his doctor to his secluded private ranch, and he takes with him Laura Tait, his married secretary. While there. Jack and Judy, two killers, break in, and through them an aeroplane crashes in the grounds. The passengers, represented by Governor Pruden, Gregory, a film star, severely cut about the face, Zelda Tadema, his companion, Axion' s cast-off, and Chubby Rudd, a reporter, are brought into the house. Axion wants to score off Pruden, Rudd wants to 'phone a story, Gregory has hysterics, and Jack and Judy want their freedom, and the tangle, upon which the entertainment is based, becomes still more involved as things go on. However, Gregory runs amok in the end and kills Jack and Judy, and so the tale ends abruptly but conclusively. George B. Seitz has assembled his characters into the required locale with skill, but thereafter they get Ann Loring and Raymond Walburn in "Absolute Quiet." rather out of hand. Still, if you do not wax too critical about eventualities, you will find it all quite amusing. Lionel Atwill gives a very good performance as Axion, and the rest of the cast are not far behind in their characterisations. **THE INVISIBLE RAY Universal. American. "A" certificate. "Horror" drama. Runs 79 minutes. Boris Karloff Dr. Janos Rukh Bela Lucosi Dr. Benet Frances Drake Diane Rukh Frank Lawton Ronald Drake Walter Kingsford Sir Francis Stevens Bei'lah Bondi Lady Arabella Stevens Violet Kemble Cooper Mother Rukh Nydia Westman Briggs Danell Haines Headman George Renavent Chief of Surete Paul Weigel Noyer Adele St. Maur Mme. Noyer Frank Reicher Professor Mendelssohn Lawrence Stewart Number One Boy Etta McDaniels Zulu Woman Inez Seabury Celeste Winter Hall Minister Also Lloyd Whitlock, Edwards Davis, Alphonse Martell, Daisy Bufford, Clarence Gordon Directed by Lambrrt Hillyer. Frankly I have little use for "horror" pictures, but if your taste lies that way you will find this well up to the standard of Karloff thrillers. The story shows how Jamos Rukh, a scientist, discovers with instruments of his own invention the existence in the heart of Africa of a substance far more powerful than radium. Eventually he finds the metal, known as Radium x, but is poisoned by it, and this causes his body to become luminous. Benet, another scientist, produces an antidote, but the poison, nevertheless, softens Rukh's brain, and instead of using Radium x for the good of humanity, he employs it to wipe out his wife, Diane, her boy friend, Ronald Drake, Benet, and Sir Francis and Lady Arabella Stevens, against each of whom he has an imaginary grievance. He destroys Benet and Sir Francis and Lady Stevens, but is himself eliminated, mainly through the instrumentality of his mother, before he can harm Diane and Ronald. Boris Karloff, mercifully bereft of hideous disguise, is very good as Rukh, while Bela Lugosi teams well with him, as usual. Support is adequate and the settings lavish and ingenious. •A FACE IN THE FOG Paihe. American. " A " certificate. Backstage thriller. Runs 60 minutes. June Collyer Jean Monroe Lloyd Hughes Frank Gordon Lawrence Gray Peter Fortune Al St. John Elmer Jack Mulhall Reardon Jack Cowell Wilson John Elliu.i Davis Sam Flint Harrison Directed by Bob Hill. From a story by Peter B. \ Kyne. Improbably complex plot which owes httle to logic and contains thrills of a palpably manufactured variety. These, however, come fast and often, so that there is httle time for the unsophisticated to worry about their lack of conviction. Frank Gordon, a reporter, and Jean Munroe, a dramatic critic, and the police, find their time busily engaged in tracking down a mysterious killer who goes around bumping people off in the vicinity of a theatre. Peter Fortune, an author of crime plays, invites suspicion by his eagerness to co-operate, and it is not long before Gordon pins the crimes on him and arrests him after a desperate struggle. Fortune's motive apparently is revenge on two theatrical producers whom he holds responsible for the death of his brother in a fire. Acting generally is quite good, as are staging and camera work. •ESCAPE FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND Columbia. American. " A" certificate. Strong • drama. Runs 62 minutes. Victor Jory Dario Florence Rice Johanna Norman Foster Andre Stanley Andrews Steve Daniel Haynes Djikki Herbert Heywood Bouillon Frank Lackteen Python Arthur Aylesworth Commandante Noble Johnson Bisco Directed by Albert Rogell. Previewed March 7, 1936. Quite well-developed story which which has a rather sketchy romance incidental to it but relies mainly on the thrill of a prison break from the famous French penal settlement. While not altogether convincing, it has good atmosphere and an adventurous tang in it. The story shows how Steve, an international spy, is caught and sent to Devil's Island. His friend, Dario, with the help of Johanna, Steve's daughter, with whom Dario is in love, plans his escape, and manages to get him away with a fellow convict, Andre. Steve is shot. Dario and Andre part, arranging to meet at Cayenne. Andre gets there first and seeks out Johanna. When Dario arrives he reaUses that Andre loves Johanna, and sets him ashore to perish in the jungle, but on learning that Johanna reciprocates Andre's love, he gives himself up to a guard, asking in return that Andre should be found. He is found and freed, as he had been proved innocent. Dario is sent back to Devil's Island for five years. The acting honours go to Victor Jory as Dario. Norman Foster is stodgy as Andre and Florence Rice colourless as Johanna in spite of her physical attractions. Stanley Andrews is fair as Steve. c*GALLANT DEFENDER Columbia. American. "U" certificate. Western drama. Runs 55 minutes. Charles Starrett Johnny Flagg Joan Perry Barbara McGrail Harry Woods Munro Edward J. Le Saint Campbell Jack Clifford Sheriff Al. Bridges Salty Smith George Billings Jimmy George Cheeseboro Swale Directed by David Selman. From a story by Peter B. Kyne. Pioneering story dealing with the war between cattlemen and homesteaders planned on the usual lines and adequately acted by a cast headed by Charles Starrett, who is new to Westerns but puts up a virile performance. Well set and actionful, it should be particularly pleasing to juveniles. •ANNIE DOESN'T LIVE HERE A. B.F.D. American. " U " certificate. Comedy drama. Ruris minutes. Tom Brown Bill Enright Marion Nixon Annie Foster Wera Engels Baroness Baritska Inex Courtney Marge Ivan Lebeoeff Baron Baritska LuciEN Littlefield Mr. Foster Dorothy Peterson Mrs. Foster William Janney Arthur Foster Carol Tevis Sally Foster Directed by Willian^ Nigh. From the story by Scott Darling. Songs and lyrics by J. Walter Leopold. Somewhat conventional comedydrama deabng mainly with the reactions of a girl and her family when they get wealthy by holding the winning ticket in a sweepstake. It does, however, succeed in being human and it introduces into its very wide scope romance and crime. The action is very hectic and the whole thing is generally well set. Marion Nixon puts in a good performance as a script girl at a studio, and Tom Brown is distinctly hkeable as her lover, Bill, who finds it difficult to get her away from her family. As continental crooks who try to rob the heroine of her winnings, Ivan Lebedeff and Wera Engels are well cast and the family is excellently represented by Lucien Littlefield, Dorothy Peterson, William Janney and Carol Tevis. UNDER PROOF Fox. British. "C/"' cerfificate. Comedymelodrama. Runs SO minutes. Betty Stockfield Vivian Tyrrell Davis Dudley Judy Kelly Corone David Horne Dr. Walton Viola Compton Mrs. Richards GtTY Middleton Bruce Edward Ashley Ward Delaney Henry Longhurst Inspector Holt Charles Farrell Spike Harry Watson Mike Andrea Malandrinos Wop Peter Popp Caretaker "Tuff De Lyle" The Dutch sheep-dog Directed by Roland Gillett. From a story by Tod WaUer. Poorly presented, weak story, dealing with five people who take shelter in a deserted house which, unknown to them, is used by smugglers as a hide-out. It is an attempt to emulate the American gangster comedy, but it entirely fails in its objective. The acting is adequate, but no more. The PICTUREGOER'S quick reference indexto films just released ***DANGEROUS ♦♦♦THIRTEEN HOURS BY AIR ♦♦♦IT HAD TO HAPPEN ♦♦♦MR. COHEN TAKES A WALK c**THE EAGLE'S BROOD ♦♦TWO IN THE DARK ♦♦ABSOLUTE QUIET ♦♦THE INVISIBLE RAY ♦A FACE IN THE FOG ♦ESCAPE FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND c^GALLANT DEFENDER ♦ANNIE DOESN'T LIVE HERE UNDER PROOF What the asterisks mean — •••• An outstanding feature. ••• Very good. •• Good. • Average entertainment, c Also suitable for children. 27