Picture Play Magazine (Jul - Dec 1929)

GI A Confidential Guide to Current Releases WHAT EVERY FAN SHOULD SEE "Thunderbolt"— Paramount. All dialogue. Romanticized movie underworld, with exceptional touches paving the way for excellent acting. George Bancroft, as the king gunman, seeks revenge by framing a rival lover, but is himself undone. Fay Wray reveals hidden talents, and Richard Arlen scores. Good supporting cast. "Dangerous Curves" — Paramount. All dialogue. Rattling good picture, with Clara Bow in a serious role. Heart tangles in a circus troupe, with unexpected developments. Strong support from Richard Arlen, and intrigue de luxe by Kay Francis. David Newell also a nice addition. "Fashions in Love"— Paramount. All dialogue. Adolphe Menjou's first talkie and last picture for Paramount, and one of his most engaging ones. Deft story of philandering husband and a wandering wife who went back to their respective home nests. Fay Compton, Miriam Seegar, John Miljan. "Wonder of Women" — Metro-Goldwyn. Part dialogue. Dignified, beautiful portrayal of a genius who fled from his simple fireside to renew his association with a prima donna and his awakening to his true inspiration. Marvelous acting by Lewis Stone, and Peggy Wood ideal as his wife. Leila Hyams the singer. "She Goes to War"— United Artists. Incidental sound. War picture with unusual story and magnificent acting, in which a girl dons her drunken fiance's uniform and goes to battle, and is awakened to real life. Alma Rubens and Eleanor Boardman give fine performances, and the talents of Edmund Burns are brought out. John Holland, Al St. John, Yola d'Avril, Glen Walters, Kulalie Jensen. "Studio Murder Mystery, The"— Paramount. All dialogue. Film studio crime unraveled by gag man and police, with suspense, many laughs, and after suspicion points to five persons, a satisfactory solution is hit upon. Neil Hamilton in leading role gives engaging performance, Fredric March the murdered actor. Florence Eldridge's talking debut. Warner Oland, Doris Hill, Lane Chandler, Eugene Pallette, Chester Conklin. "Where East Is East"— Metro-Goldwyn. Silent. Troubles of a jungle animal hunter, who seeks happiness for his untamed daughter. Lon Chaney as you would expect him, Lupe Velez, and Estelle Taylor in a brilliant role. Lloyd Hughes also at his best. Splendid atmosphere and a picture to see. "Man I Love, The"— Paramount. All dialogue. Striking film of prize fighter's drifting and his come-back in the nick of time. Richard Arlen's pleasing talkie debut as the fighter who is captivated by Baclanova, but in the end knows his heart is with his wife, Mary Brian. Swiftly presented, engrossing. Leslie Fenton effective. "On With the Show"— Warner. All dialogue, singing, dancing, and entirely in color besides. Gayety and beauty of musical comedy, with young love of an usher and coat-room girl, with other issues galore. Entire cast does well. Betty Compson, Louise Fazenda, Sally O'Neil, Joe F. Brown, William Bakewell, Arthur Lake, Wheeler Oakman, Sam Hardy, Ethel Waters. "Bulldog Drummond" — United Artists. All dialogue. A melodramatic thriller, with sophisticated viewpoint which makes fun of what transpires. Story of bored ex-war hero, who advertises for adventure and gets it. Ronald Colman vitalized and remade by speech, giving memorable performance, ably seconded by Joan Bennett, Lilyan Tashman, and Montagu Love. "Madame X"— Metro-Goldwyn. All dialogue. Old-time melodrama of mother love superbly vivified by fresh dialogue, modern direction, and superb acting, with Ruth Chatterton and Raymond Hackett as mother • and son reaching heights of tear-wringing emotion in famous courtroom scene, where wretched woman charged with murder is defended by son taught to believe her dead. Lewis Stone, Eugenie Besserer, Mitchell Lewis, Holmes Herbert, and Ulrich Haupt. "Valiant, The"— Fox. All dialogue. Grimly uncompromising picture notable for introduction to screen of Paul Muni, whose place among leaders now is unchallenged. Story of murderer's efforts to convince sister that her brother is not himself, but a soldier who died a hero. Marguerite Churchill also fine, and John Mack Brown does well. "Pagan, The" — Metro-Goldwyn. Singing. Treat for Ramon Novarro's fans and justification of all they've read of his singing voice, which is delightful, exceptional. Story of young South Sea Islander's love for half-caste girl. Dorothy Janis, Renee Adoree, and Donald Crisp. "Close Harmony"— Paramount. All dialogue. Lively, up-to-date medley of backstage life, shrewd, clever, entertaining, with best performance Charles Rogers has given in talkies, and another by Nancy Carroll. Jack Oakic, "Skeets" Gallagher, and Harry Green. "Trial of Mary Dugan, The"— MetroGoldwyn. All dialogue. Courtroom drama glorified in baffling mystery murder of a chorus girl's lover. Norma Shearer excellent in talkie debut, as accused girl. Raymond Hackett, a newcomer, Lewis Stone, H. B. Warner, Lilyan Tashman give fine support. "Coquette" — United Artists. All dialogue. The "new'' Mary Pickford. in fancy frocks and bob, essays a flirt whose actions create drama in a smalltown Southern family. John Mack Brown, John St. Polis, Matt Moore. "Rainbow Man, The**— Paramount All dialogue. An irresistible picture, with finely balanced sentiment and fun, with Eddie Dowling, tin stage star, and his young partner, Frankie Darro, in minstrel-show settings. They find Marian Xixon and love and trouble. Dowling is a knock-out. "Divine Lady, The"— 1 ir-t .National. Silent. A series of exquisite paintings animated with poetic feeling and a little drama. Lovely presentment of "Lady Hamilton" by Corinne Griffith and finely modulated "Lord Nelson" by Victor Varconi. H. B. Warner, Ian Keith, Montagu Love, Dorothy Camming, Marie Dressier. "Alibi"— United Artists. All dialogue. Crook picture, played and directed with distinction. A cop's daughter sympathizes with underworld, marries a crook, but is soon disillusioned in a thrilling climax. Chester Morris, Eleanor Griffith, Pat O'Malley, Regis Toorhey supply high lights in action and talk. "Wild Orchids"— Metro-Goldwyn. Silent. Greta Garbo in her best role, rather slow, but impelled by adult emotions. Java beautifully pictured. Nils Asther and Lewis Stone. Triangular love situation, a wife's admirer "punished. "Letter, The"— Paramount. Entertaining eloquence and dramatic situations make this a milestone in all-dialogue films, and bring to the screen the gifted Jeanne Eagels. A civilized picture showing the wrecked lives of an English couple in Singapore. Stage cast devoid of cuties includes O. P. Heggie, Reginald Owen, and Herbert Marshall. "Iron Mask, The"— United Artists. A picturesque tapestry, sequel to "The Three Musketeers," superbly exploiting Douglas Fairbanks. Story from Dumas revolves around the throne of seventeenth-century France. Marguerite de la Motte, Dorothy Revier, William Bakewell, and Ulrich Haupt. "Broadway Melody, The"— MetroGoldwyn. An extraordinarily entertaining musical-comedy picture, human in its appealing story of stage life, with dialogue, song and spectacle. Concerning two sisters with ambitions to make Broadway, and a song-and-dance artist from their home town, and their careers and loves. Bessie Love, Anita Page, and Charles King top-notch. FOR SECOND CHOICE "Lucky Star"— Fox. Part dialogue. A countryside idyl with Janet Gaynpr and Charles Farrell. and the director is Frank Borzage. As pretty and as good as one would expect, the story being that of a farm girl and her erippled ex-soldier lover. Guinn Williams is the bad, bad villain. "Pleasure Crazed"— Fx. All dialogue. Wild scramble of nub drama, [Continued on pace lit]