Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

96 Continued from page 73 hobo life is made more romantic than it really is, and that it is sentimentalized a bit, too, but "Beggars of Life" is well worth seeing. Sound effects add to, rather than detract, for once, and Wallace Beery sings a rollicking ditty somewhat self-consciously. Though slight, the story is poignant and concerns the aid Jim, a young tramp, gives Nancy, who has fled from the consequences of a murder disguised as a boy, and their adventures with the organized hobos. Dregs of the Underworld. The underworld is still attractive to directors who easily follow the example of others, but fortunately for the sake of those who set a vogue, their imitators generally fall short. "Tenth Avenue," a mediocre stage play of the underworld, turns out to be a dull underworld movie. If, however, it points to the waning of crook pictures it should be considered a milestone. Phyllis Haver, out of her element here, runs her sick mother's rooming house. Two lodgers are in love with her — one, Victor Varconi, as a gambler, the other, Joseph Schildkraut, as the gangster Miss Haver is trying to reform. There is snarling rivalry between the two men and a lot of uneventful footage between their snarls. A third lodger is shot, suspicion pointing to the gangster. Finally his confession is brought about unexpectedly, and Mr. Schildkraut shines in this opportune moment. "Tenth Avenue" is just a filler. Should a Wife Tell? Given an unusual story like "The Night Watch," Billie Dove proves her ability to act as well as look doll-like. Her performance is sincere and she suffers only as much as a very pretty woman should, and show it. She is the wife of the captain of a French warship, who permits his officers to entertain their wives at dinner aboard on the last night in port. During dinner Captain Corlaix gets word that France has declared war on Germany. He orders all the women, including his wife, to go ashore, without telling the reason. Piqued, Yvonne Corlaix accepts the invitation of D'Artelle, a young officer, to remain in his cabin an hour longer. They discover, too late, that the vessel is steaming out to sea. D'Artelle is killed during the sinking of an enemy ship, a treacherous officer who attempts to take advantage of Yvonne's compromising position is murdered, and Captain Corlaix is court-martialed and convicted of the crime. How Yvonne makes herself the star witness and sacrifices her reputation, without losing the love of her hus The Screen in Review band — this is just another proof of what beauty, when allied with good acting, will do. Paul Lukas, Donald Reed, and Nicholas Soussanin give performances of distinction and dramatic power, all making for Billie Dove's best picture since I don't know when. Who Talks About Them? All told, there are fourteen minutes of dialogue in "Women They Talk About," so not much is said of the ladies in question — a mother and daughter. It will take you considerably less time to read what is said of the picture. It is a tolerably interesting yarn which deals with a feud between two families in a small town. One gets the impression that it would have been more interesting, if it hadn't been directed and acted in so obvious a manner, and if the dialogue had been less banal. Irene Rich, as the mother of Audrey Ferris, is running for mayor against Anders Randolf, who is the candidate for a second term. Without the knowledge of the mayor, one of his henchmen compromises Miss Ferris in order to bring about the defeat of Miss Rich, who denounces the mayor for his supposedly unscrupulous tactics. Mr. Randolf protests his innocence, he is shot by an enemy and Miss Rich withdraws from the campaign, by means of an audible speech so coy, that one blushes to hear a woman of her intelligence say it. Her daughter and Mr. Randolf 's son, played by William Collier, Jr., have been flirting against the opposition of their parents, so now a double romance comes to a jell. The high light of the picture is Claude Gillingwater, as an aristocratic grouch, a role he has made familiar on the silent screen, but which he now makes audible by means of the Vitaphone. He is irresistibly funny. John Miljan is also present. Our Patience is Tried. What are we coming to? Richard Dix in a dull, uninteresting picture ! "Moran of the Marines" would be less than that without Mr. Dix, whose geniality keeps one in good humor whatever his role may be, but there seems to be no excuse for wasting him on this one. He is Michael Moran who, after a brawl in a cafe, finds himself in the Marines with a boon companion, a taxi driver. He has already met and flirted with General Marshall's daughter, Vivian, who mistakes him for a man of standing, but who later sees him exposed as a private. He is court-martialed for kissing her, but the scenario conveniently sees to it that he retrieves his honor by rescuing her from a Chinese bandit. If this appeals to you as an exciting or amusing plot, go to it. Ruth Elder, the aviatrix, wears the pretty dresses of the heroine. Half-baked. Another picture about adolescent collegians ! Can you bear it ? This time it's called "Red Lips." It might just as well have been entitled "Pink Cheeks," or "Long Legs." There's nothing to the title and only slightly more to the picture, which is a rehash of all the campus situations made exasperating by repetition, only in this collection the sequences are arranged in a different order. However, Charles Rogers, who doesn't appear often enough to please those who enjoy him, will probably attract those who won't give a hoot for the rest of the cast. As a freshman, he falls in love with a college widow, who causes him to break his training, which eliminates him from the "big" game. Hark Ye, Pidgeon Fans! Giving every evidence of having been hurriedly whipped into shape to compete with other talking pictures more carefully produced, "The Melody of Love" at least has the virtue of making Walter Pidgeon audible to his fans. This is done in good measure, for not only does he negotiate considerable dialogue, but he sings several solos and contributes to various choral numbers. He registers excellently both in song and speech, and if I am not entirely wrong, he is due for a decided leap in popularity and more frequent appearances. The story is that of a piano player, who loses his arm in the war and is deserted by his faithless sweetheart. He is followed to America by the usual French girl, who causes him to regain the skill of his playing hand. A Clever Trio. Less boisterous than Bebe Daniels' recent comedies, "Take Me Home" is, in my opinion, better for it. Sly humor and deft satire replace stunts and gags, and there is a semblance of real character in the roles of Peggy Lane, the chorus girl who falls in love with David North, the chorus boy from the country, and worsts Derelys Devorc, the conceited, upstage prima donna in a hot fight for the young man's affections. Not that he had ever been lured by the prima donna, but Peggy just wanted to put a stop to her tactics. The backstage scenes are among the best I have ever seen, Miss Daniels is a convincing chorus girl, Lilyan Tashman a humorously tempestuous prima donna, and Neil Hamilton is an ace.