Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

69 A Confidential Guide to Current Releases WHAT EVERY FAN SHOULD SEE. "Trail of '98, The"— Metro-Goldwyn. Magnificent glorification of the historic gold rush to Alaska, directed with great care and skill. Effective performances given by Dolores del Rio, Ralph Forbes, and Harry Carey. "Sunrise" — Fox. One of the best of the season. Skillfully directed tale of a farmer, his wife and a city vamp. George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, and Margaret Livingston. "Tempest"— United Artists. A story of the Russian Revolution. Moments of great pictorial beauty. John Barrymore excellent. Camilla Horn, Boris De Fas, and Louis Wolheim. "Lights of New York"— Warner. Regardless of merits or demerits, picture stands unique as the first of its kind ever made — entirely in spoken dialogue. Not much of a story. A trusting country boy duped by a couple of bootleggers. Gladys Brockwell excellent in her part. Cullen Landis is effective. Robert Eliot and Tom Dugan are fine. Mary Carr, Wheeler Oakman, and Helene Costello. "Four Sons" — Fox. A simple and superbly told tale of the effects of the war on a German mother and her four sons— three of whom are killed, the other migrating to America. Margaret Mann, James Hall, Francis X. Bushman, Jr., and June Collyer. "Man Who Laughs, The"— Universal. No one should fail to be engrossed by its strange story, or fascinated by its weird beauty. Conrad Veidt's characterization is magnificent, Mary Philbin pleasing, and Olga Baclanova gives distinctive performance. Brandon Hurst, Josephine Crowell, Sam De Grasse, Stuart Holmes, Cesare Gravina, and George Siegmann. "King of Kings, The"— Producers Distributing. Sincere and reverent visualization of the last three years in the life of Christ. H. B. Warner dignified and restrained in central role. Cast includes Jacqueline Logan, Joseph Schildkraut, Victor Varconi, and Rudolph Schildkraut. "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" — Metro-Goldwyn. Lon Chaney gives one of his finest portrayals. Story inspires entire cast to do their best. Loretta Young plays with heart-breaking quality. Nils Asther is good, as well as Bernard Siegel. "The Racket" — Paramount. Thomas Meighan gives a fine performance in a fine picture. Best of recent underworld films. Louis Wolheim is superb in the role of "Scarsi." Marie Prevost, now a blonde, is wholly convincing. "White Shadows in the South Seas" — Metro-Goldwyn. Filmed on authentic locations, and has much to offer in natural beauty and pictorial loveliness. Purports to show the corrupting influence of white men among the islanders. Monte Blue is capable in the lead, and Raquel Torres makes the native girl, "Fayaway," vital, naive and charming. "Perfect Crime, The"— F. B. O. The story of a detective who, in despair of there ever being a perfect, unsolvable crime, commits one. Don't miss this picture, especially if Clive Brook is a favorite. The cast, as a whole, is A-l. "Lost in the Arctic" — Fox. A photographic record of the recent expedition to Herald Island. Picture is distinguished by remarkable photographic scenes, moving in rapid and interesting sequence. There is a Movietone prologue in which Vilhjalmur Steffansson describes the object of the expedition. A fine musical score, directed by Roxy, comprises the Movietone accompaniment. "Forgotten Faces" — Paramount. Underworld melodrama, shrewdly directed, interestingly photographed and well acted. First honors go to Olga Baclanova, the fascinating Russian and consummate screen artist. Good work is also done by Clive Brook, Mary Brian, William Powell, Fred Kohler, and Jack Luden. "Hot News" — Paramount. This picture crackles with spontaneous combustion. It is a story of the rivalry between two news-reel camera men, Neil Hamilton and Bebe Daniels — really a camera girl. Story is peppy and thoroughly engaging, giving Neil Hamilton an outlet for his comedy possibilities. "Patriot, The"— Paramount. A story of Russia in 1801. As magnificent and inspired a production as any that Emil Jannings has done. Shows masterly direction of Lubitsch. A perfect cast, including Lewis Stone, Florence Vidor, Neil Hamilton, Tullio Carminati, Harry Cording, and Vera Voronina. Sound effects are least commendable part of otherwise exceptional picture. FOR SECOND CHOICE. "We Americans" — Universal. A Ghetto heroine, in love with a blueblooded hero, scorns the family hearth for a studio. But the old people go to night school and blossom forth as true Americans, with nothing for the heroine to be ashamed of. Patsy Ruth Miller, George Sidney, and John Boles. "Red Hair"— Paramount. Pleasing film of Clara Bow as a manicurist, who wins the heart of a millionaire, only to find that her three "papas" are her fiance's guardians. Climax comes when they object to her marriage, whereupon she strips herself of the "borrowed clothes." "Mother Machree" — Fox. Maudlin film of a sacrificing Irish mother who does all for her son. Belle Bennett, Neil Hamilton, and Constance Howard. "Patent Leather Kid, The"— First National. Richard Barthelfness in unusually good film of conceited little prize fighter who tries to evade the war, is drafted, proved a coward, but finally redeemed by an heroic act. "Show Down, The" — Paramount. Convincing and well-acted film of two oil prospectors in the tropics, both loving the same girl. All ends happiljr. George Bancroft, Neil Hamilton, Evelyn Brent, Leslie Fenton, and Fred Kohler. "Thirteenth Juror, The" — Universal. Interesting yarn of an unscrupulous criminal lawyer accused of murder, who can save himself only by compromising the woman he loves. Francis X. Bushman is unique as the lawyer and Anna Q. Nilsson and Walter Pidgeon capably assist him. "High School Hero, The"— Fox. Gay comedy of high-school life, featuring youngsters who really look like highschool girls and boys. Nick Stuart and Sally Phipps. ;"Night Flyer, The"— Pathe-DeMille. Simple, human railroad story of 1894, having to do with struggles of the president of a Western road to save his company from bankruptcy. William Boyd and Jobyna Ralston. "Underworld" — Paramount. Exciting melodrama of master crook who kills for the sake of his girl, is sentenced to death, and makes a thrilling escape only to find the girl in love with another. George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent, and Clive Brook. "Abie's Irish Rose" — Paramount. Good acting and sincere direction. No emotional thrills. Charles Rogers is good, as Abie. Nancy Carroll perfect, as Rosemary, Jean Hersholt, Bernard Gorcey, and Ida Kramer. "Glorious Betsy" — Warner. A nice picture, tearful, charming, lingering. Vitaphone dialogue unpleasant, but Dolores Costello and Conrad Nagel are charming and agreeable in their roles. John Miljan and Marc McDermott. "Hangman's House" — Fox. Commonplace story, with exceptionally beautiful atmosphere, a tribute to the skill and imagination of the director. June Collyer is an aristocratic beauty, but not an emotional one. Larry Kent, Victor McLaglen, and Earle Foxe. "Ramona" — United Artists. Another beautifully scenic picture. Mild story. Dolores del Rio is picturesque in title role. Warner Baxter is vital and Roland Drew proves languishingly romantic. "Kentucky Courage" — First National. Based on "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come." Richard Barthelmess plays Chad with surprising skill. An impressive cast including Molly O'Day, Claude Gillingwater, and Doris Dawson. "End of St. Petersburgh, The"— No continuity of action or characterization. Excellent photography. Story is told in symbols. If you like this sort of thing this Russian picture is as good as any. "Dawn." Careful, impartial and reverent attempt to picture events culminating in the death of Edith Cavell. Sybil Thorndike is restrainedly effective. Marie Ault, Micky Brantford, Continued on page 120