Life Begins (Warner Bros.) (1932)

A’, I | DAILY, NONG RIALTO Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1932 FIRST RAHONAL ee PICTURES fd Dne WAY July.30, 1932 ‘LIFE BEGINS’ TREMENDOUS: ANOTHER HIT FOR WARNERS Fine Production ‘Of Unusual Theme “LIFE BEGINS” First National Seca eae SS James Flood, Elliott Nugent Play by......-. Mary McDougall Axelson Adaptation and Dialogue..Earl Baldwin Photography .............James Van Tress Cast: Loretta Young, Aline McMahon, Eric Linden, Glenda Farrell, Preston Foster, Clara Blandick, Vivienne Osborne, Frank McHugh. Mark down another hit for Warnre Bros.-First National. “Life Begins” is one of those unusual stories, the type exhibitors have been yelling for and the kind audiences will. go out and talk about. And, +00, it is down to earth, every foot of it, furnishing a brand of entertainment that no audience, anywhere, will deny. It is a show for showmen and | how that gang (the few that are left) will go for this attraction. , How, why and where Warners dig up such original story ideas when almost every other studio in Hollywood is begging for them, can only be answered by an expression we heard on leaving the theatre: ‘‘Maybe other Direction studios cannot recognize them.”’ The entire running of this picture takes place in a maternity hospital. It-never leaves that atmosphere for a second. Even when a nurse sends an anxious and waiting father to a drug store on a gag errand to get a can of ether, there is still that atmosphere. And it. is refreshing, terrifying, astounding. but at all times ENTERTAINMENT. It reaches the heights of tense drama and then drops you down to a big laugh. It shows in. 4 few reels of celluloid the workings of such an institution, the people who conduct it and the men and women who pass through its doors to get its benefit. This reviewer once had a course in medicine, did maternity ward duty, thought he knew all there was to be known, but the manner in which"‘Life Begins’? was presented by Warners. the treatment of every sequence of the picture, the beautiful direction, the fine acting and the excellent production, taught us things we had never learned; held us as if it were all new, a page from a book we had never read, oS Women who have been confined, who have given birth, will get just as much entertainment out of “‘Life Begins’ (maybe more) as those who know little of childbirth. And if you don’t think the men.will get a kick out of this revelation in motion pic tures, then you’ve finished your guessing. It is a show for the masses and that should mean a smash. The entire cast of the picture was almost perfection, with the honors easily going to Eric Linden as the young husband. It is a performance you will remember long after you have forgotten-the picture. Glenda Farrelf, Aline McMahon and Frank McHugh should be ranked next, with Loretta Young excellent, but with not as much to do. The remainder of the big cast were distinguished. James Flood and Elliott Nugent can take plenty of bows for the direction. The Earl Baldwin adaptation of the play by Mary McDougall Axelson was about as finished as anything we have seen. in months. The photography of James Van Trees effected a perfect combination of all the other production elements of the picture. As we suggested above, this is a show for SHOWMEN, There is nothing in the cast that will draw. You have the brand name of Warner-First National to which the public has begun to look more and more for its entertainment. You have to create your own draw. But there is plenty to create. You have a-sensational topic to play with, the most important in life—childbirth—backed by a swell picture. What more do you want? NEW VORK AUER Ene F 4s PHIL M.DALY \ ete x y iaee Wiles “an \ ot yy, a7 ee wh wai LOS ANGELES @ @ @ FROM TIME to time we may have given you a stiff pain in the neck........ when we ding-donged one of our Pet Theories: 33. 5.10. wit. Se: this film biz is crying aloud for a cycle of simple, human stories....... dramas taken from the lives of ordinary, everyday folk ....... pictures without theatricalism and artificiality........ films that got right down tovearth 3% 7. and handled with sympathy and understanding the plain Facts of Life........ familiar, everyday things that John Public and his wife could go to see .......and come away front the theater with a feeling that they had seen a screen visualization of matters very close to their hearts ....... and such pictures........ we have said again and again would go BIG with the Masses and the Classes........ IF some producer had the gawdgiven intelligence to up and make ’em.... * * * * @ @ @ AND,LO..... our prayer has been answered... Warners have turned out their First Nash pix........“Life Begins’’. .and we are here to state........ without any ifs, ands’ or buts Ss oer that this pix is a searching human document that will stir the heart and mind and soul of every man and woman that views it........ and send them away with renewed faith and interest in the Motion Picture........ * * k ~ @ @ © IT TAKES the situation of a young married couple ........0n the brink of life’s Greatest Adventure........ the advent of a baby........ and facing one of life’s most ironical problems........ shall the mother die and the baby live?...... * * * * ® @ @ THAT IS the crux of the entire drama........ but what they have done with it!........ every single step in this supreme crisis in the lives of two helpless young people is developed with consummate artistry...... a fine understanding of pease Sei ene its hopes and fears...... _joys and sorrows .sacrifices and devotion...... it plays on every emotion builds beautiful and soul-stirring moments........ with the magic of Sympathetic Understanding...... of Lifes. 6s of Love Ee ee of Motherhood ......the eternal longings of a man and woman throughout all eternity have been graphically and poignantly caught up......and presented to the world in this RICCO * * Se x @ @ ®@ IT IS the hitherto unsung glorification of WomanHood... the courage and fortitude of Motherhood....... no blatant, blustering male heroics........ just the quiet faith and resignaticn of a woman........ facing her great crisis Ee a when Life Begins........and as such........it should bring every woman to the theater: 2925354 and drag every man with her .,....: renewing their faith in Life........ in Love ao ee the Home .....in a word........makine “is world more beautiful and worthwhile for everyone fe — -augh to see “Life Begins” : * ye * f * * ® ® ® TO YOU exhibitors....... let us say this........ in all earnestness and sincerity. . -here is a picture you can SHOUT about. Raine for it has a ‘theme that reaches to the heart of the Universe........ plays on all the beauty and tenderness that Life holds........ and your theater will take on a distinction and dignity it never. knew for having shown a setbpehs human picture that, will linger in the memory of everyone....:.... long after most pictures have been forgotten. «<q « <« > 2» » MOTION: PICTURE HERALD August 6, 1932 Warners’ “Life Begins” Is As Outstanding As It Is New, Says Meehan; And There Are Others by LEO. MEEHAN Hollywood Staff Corres pordent There is no question as to which is the outstanding picture previewed the past week. It is ‘Life Begins,” from the WarnerFirst National incubator. The last word is used advisedly, for, listen to this, the entire action of the picture takes place in a maternity hospital! It deals with birth, and the tragic consequences which sometimes attend. There never has been a picture remotely resembling it; and possibly for story interest,’ intense, throbbing drama interlaid with natural comedy (the about-to-become-a-father stuff), there never has been a more gripping picture. Rumors have been leaking out of the Warner plant these past several weeks to the effect that “Life Begins” was something very unusual, very courageous, daring, sensational. The spontaneous applause which broke out in the preview audience heralded confirmation of previous reports. Women went out with tear-stained faces, men with glistening eyes. The rather commonplace subject of childbirth has been pretty much taboo in pictures up to now. Here is one to challenge anyone who thinks it is not a screen subject. Don’t get the mistaken notion it is clinical, either. It is intensely human, understandable, sincere: The Warner production staff and the Hays office have worried considerably about the possible reaction of censoring bodies. Well, if they don’t pass this one and tack a gold star on it, mothers had best quit having babies and studios better begin making Grimm’s fairy tales exclusively.