Picturegoer (Jul-Dec 1936)

PICtUREGOER Weekly LIONEL COLLIER The PfCTUREGOER'S quick reference index to films just released "SWING TIME c"POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL "THE LAW IN HER HANDS ••MEET NERO WOLFE ••MISTER CINDERELLA c^GUNS OF THE PECOS •THE FINAL HOUR •PALM SPRINGS AFFAIR •M'LISS cCALL OF THE PRAIRIE What ih4 atterisks mean — • • • * An outstanding ftaturt. • • • Vary good. • • Good. • Avtragt enttrtatnnunt. c Also tuiuMtfor childrgn. ••SWING TIME Radio. American. " U " ctrti/icaie. Musical comedy. Runs 94 minutes. Fked Astaikx Lucky GiNGEK RoGEBS Penny Victor Moore Pop Hei^n Broderjck Mabel Eric Blore Gordon Betty Furness Maigaiet Georges Metaxa. Romero John Harsincton Raymond Pierre Watkins Simpson Landers Stevens Judge Watson Gerald Hamer. Eric Abe Revsolos. Tailor Fbrh Emeett Maid Howard Hickman 1st Minister Ferdinavd Muniek 2nd Minister OuN Francis Tough Mug Directed by George Stevens. Screen play by Homard Lindsay and Allan Scott. Music by Jerome Kern. Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Previewed November 7, 1036. This does not come up to the high standard set by some of the previous Rc^ers-Astaire musicals, but in spite of that it provides good entertainment owing mainly to the brilliance of the dance numbers. Astaire in particular does one, BojangUs of Harlem, which is noteworthy for its clever shadow effects. The settings are excellent and the staging lavish. Song numbers are well put over, but humour is not strong and the plot is indifferent. Lucky Gamett, a dancer by profession, but gambler by inclination, has to find 25.000 dollars before he can marry Margaret, a small-town society girl. Accompanied by his pal. Pop Cardetti, a light-fingered gentleman. Lucky comes to New York in search of easy money and, through a spot of four-flushing on the p>art of Pop, he teams up with Penny, an attractive dance instructress. While they are making a hit in cabaret. Pop and Penny's girl friend, Mabel, get together, but Lucky, now in love with Penny, cannot bring happiness to the foursome because of his long-standing obligation to Margaret. More complications arise when Romero, a dance-band leader, tries to catch Penny on the rebound but, after dehberately squandering his earnings in order to postf)one his return to Margaret, she works the oracle by announcing that she has fallen in love with another. Both the stars work hard with the material at their command. 20 Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in " Swing Time." Victor Moore and Helen Broderick are fair as Pop and Mabel, but Eric Blore is very j)oorly served with material as Gordon. Romero is played quite weU by Georges Metaxa, who was well known over here as a musical comedy star. c»*POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL Fox. American. " U " certificate. Comedydrama. Runs 79 minutes. Shirley Temple Barbara Barrv AucE Fa YE Jerry Dolan Gloria Stuart Margaret Allen Jack Haley Jimmy Dolan Michael Whalen Richard Barry Sara Haden Coffins Jane Darwxu. Woodward Claude Gillincwatir. Simon Peck Paul Stanton Geoige Hathaway Henry Armetta. Tony Charles Coleman Stebbins Arthur Hoyt Percival Gooch John Kelly. Fertrnson John Wray Flagin Tyler Brooke. I)an Ward Mathilde Comont Tony's Wife Leonard Kibrick. Freckles EhcK Webster S<^oist Bill Ray Announcer Directed by Irving Cummings. Suggested by stories by Eleanor Gales and Ralph Spence. Previewed September 26, 1936. Shirley Temple carries this picture on her own shoulders, and in spite of the fact that she has very indifferent story material, succeeds in providing her admirers with good entertainment. The songs she has to sing are tuneful and she puts them over with effectiveness, whilst her dancing is excellent. She has one number with Alice Faye and Jack Haley which is particularly noteworthy. The plot deals simply with the daughter of a wealthy soap manufacturer who walks out into the streets of New York and is found by two radio artistes. They believe she is an orphan and put her into their turn, which proves a tremendous success, and is booked by a rival soap manufacturer. I^ter, her father, who had believed she was at school, recognises her voice over the air and gets her back. The child's escapade results in the amalgamation of the rival soap concerns and she sings on the air for both of them. A slight love interest is introduced between the star's father and his rival's secretary. As the radio stars who introduce Shirley as part of their turn, AUce Faye and Jack Haley give sound performances; the former sings' pleasingly. As the father, Michael Whalen has little to do, neither has Gloria Stuart, as his rival's secretary, with whom he falls in love. The best performance, apart from the star, is given by Claude GiUingVvater, as the soap manufacturer whom Shirley manages to charm into submissiveness. Her scenes with him are particularly good. ••THE LAW IN HER HANDS First National. American. "A " Certificate. Crook drama. Runs 58 minutes Margaret Lindsay Mary Wentworth Glenda Farrell. lioiothy Davis Warren Hull. Robert Mitchell Lyle Talbot Frank Gordon Eddie Acuff. Eddie CMalley Dick Purcell Marty Al She an Franz Joseph Ckehan Thomas Mallon Matty Fain Augie Simelli Addison Richards William McGuire Milt Kibbee Herman Sturm Eddie Shubert. Harry Morton Mabel Colcord Fishcake Fanny Billy Wayne Mug Directed by William Clemens. In spite of the fact that the plot is far-fetched even for an American crime story, this picture holds your Shirley Temple in "Poor Little Rich Girl." attention by the brightness of its dialogue, its acting and its surprise element. The court scenes are particularly good and keep you on tenterhooks most of the time. Margaret Lindsay appears to her best advantage as Mary Wentworth, and is ably supported by Glenda Farrell as her fnend. who are both admitted to the Bar and find themselves hard up for clients. The lady lawyer appeals to Frank Gordon, the head of a gang by the way her evidence as a witness turned the tables on one of his own henchmen, and he tries to bribe her to team in with him as a defending counsel. She resists for a time, being in love with the District Attorney, the sworn foe of the crooks. But, stung by his reproaches and being hard up, she engages in Gordon's shady l^al work. She is revolted, however, when she is called upon to help him get out of a charge of polluting, the city's milk supplies. Two of Gordon's victims squeal, and they are murdered. Mary, under penalty of death, concocts an alibi for him. bringing a double into court for the purpose. The climax conies when she proves that the District December 26. 1936 Attorney has identified the wrong man. Then she reveals the truth said Gordon is arrested and convicted. But the tricks and technicaUties of the law have proved too much for her, and she is glad finally to accept her lover's offer of marriage. Lyle Talbot is strongly dramatic cis the racketeer, and Warren Hull adequate as the District Attorney. The broad humour is supplied by EUidie Acuff as a process server. ♦•MEET NERO WOLFE Columbia. American. " A " certificate. Murder mystery. Runs 71 minutes. Edward Arnold Nero Wolfe Lionel Stanoer.. Archie Goodwin Joan Perry Ellen Barstow Victor Joby Claude Roberts Nana Bryant Sarah Barstow Dennie Moore Hazie Gray Russell Hardie Manuel Kimball Walter Kings ford E. K. Kimball Boyd Irwin, Sen Prof. Barstow John Qualeh Olaf Gene Morgan O'Grady Rita Cansino Maria Frank CoNROY Dr. Bradford Directed by Herbert Biberman. For story, freely based on the film by Marjory Williams, see page 24. Edward Arnold's acting holds this murder mystery, with its romantic and comedy interludes, together. He presents a somewhat fascinating addition to suave detective characters as Nero Wolfe and his {x>lished acting and strong p>ersonality show to advantage. He is cast as an eccentric criminology, who has an insatiable thirst for a particular brand of beer, that brewed by Maiia Maringola. When her brother. Carlo, is reported missing, and later dead, she consults Wolfe, and he with his uncanny instinct for sensing mystery, Unks Carlo's death with that of Professor Barstow, a gentieman who has passed out suddenly on a golf-course. Wolfe's deductions then lead him to the conclusion that both men had been murdered and by the same method. Finding the culprit is his next task, and after playing each of the many suspects one against the other with the help of his henchman. Archie, he finds the clue to the double murderer in a skeleton in Barstow's cupboard. As his "Dr. Watson," Lionel Stander is good, and Dennie Mome scores as Mazie Gray — ^these two provide both the comedy and the love interest. The remainder of the cast give sound support. There is more dialc^e than action, but it is well written. Actually it is necessary to follow it carefully in order to avoid missing the thread of the deduction. ••MISTER CINDERELLA M.-G.-M. Amerieam. " U " eertificaU. Parte. Runs 7S wunutet. Jack Haley Joe Jenkins Bkttv Furness Patricia Randolph Akthur Treacher Watkins Raymond Walburk Peter Randolph Robert McWade. Gates RosiNA Lawrence Mazie Monroe Owsley Aloysios Bferryweather Kathleen Lockhart Aunt Penelope Edward Brophy Detective .McNutt Charlotte Wyntirs. Martha Tom Ducan " Spike " NoUua Iris Adrian Lil Toby Wino Luhi Morgan Wallace Fawcett Arthur Ayleswoktii Simpson John Hyahs. ttr. Wilbcrfciee Leila McIntyre Mrs. WUbeiforee Direetad by Edarard SedgmieM, from a itary by Jack Jevne. The misadventures of a nervous young barber who is forced to play the role of a millionaire provides good farcical entertainment, although the plot is conventional and its development definitely crazy. However, some new gags are introduced and the cast gives a good example of competent team work. I cannot say that I particularly appreciate Jack Haley's brand of