Screenland (Jun-Oct 1932)

for June 1932 63 Best Pictures 4f 5o SEALOF — .t-S.' SCREENLAND'S Critic Selects the Most Important Screenplays of the Month "Are You Listening?" with William Haines and Madge Evans, has appeal for screen and radio fans. Are Yo u Listening? Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Are y'u listenin', folks? Well, I hope you are, because I want to tell you that Billy Haines gives positively the best performance of his smart-cracking career. He plays a radio announcer whose life is a series of static because he married the wrong girl. Madge Evans is his real heart but his wife, poor wretch, won't divorce him. Tch, tch! It's a pretty serious part for Haines, but he takes it big, and reinstates himself among the stars that matter. Madge, more expert and lovely than ever, fulfills all those grand predictions. Anita Page and Joan Marsh are decorative as ''play-girls" who go haywire in the big town. The story is as modern as television, and has equal appeal for radio and screen fans. It's Bill Haines' first film since his vaudeville tour — let's all tune in on him. Yes, "Are You Listening?" is a very neat little numbah. Ten Best Portrayals of the Month: Loretta Young in "Play Girl" Barbara Stanwyck in "So Big" Spencer Tracy in "Sky Devils" Jack Oakie in "Dancers in the Dark" Charles Farrell in "After Tomorrow" William Haines in "Are You Listening?" Lilian Harvey in "The Congress Dances" Walter Huston in "The Beast of the City" Maurice Chevalier in "One Hour with You" Johnny Weissmuller in "Tarzan the Ape Man' "So Big" is an acting triumph for Barbara Stanwyck. The film is adapted from Edna Ferber's famous book. So Big Warners Barbara Stanwyck believes this is her best picture. Edna Ferber, who wrote the original story, cried when she saw it — at the right times, too. And I just want to make it unanimous. It's a splendid photo-drama. Barbara's portrayal of Selina Peake is remarkable, first the young girl, then the woman, and finally Selina in her old age. In fact, it's in the latter part of the picture that Barbara's acting reaches its "Peake." (There! That's over.) You can call this film "an epic of American motherhood," because that's what it is. It will appeal to' women everywhere, and to their husbands and brothers. Selina is a country school-teacher who marries a farmer, and upon his death lives and works for her son. Stanwyck's scenes with little Dickie Moore are lovely. George Brent and Bette Davis are good, too. Better than a circus is "Tarzan the Ape Man," with Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Maureen O' Sullivan. Tarzan the Ape Man Metro-Go/d-wyn-Mayer Circus days are here again! Get the whole family and go to see "Tarzan." A lot of fun! It's a question who will squeal louder — Junior or Grandma. And if you think Clark Gable and Jimmy Cagney employ caveman tactics, wait until you see Johnny Weissmuller sneak up on Maureen O'Sullivan. This is your old friend, Tarzan of the Apes, with sound effects. He's the boy, you remember, who was brought up by apes and Edgar Rice Burroughs in the jungle. And how Johnny plays him! It's the swim-champ's first screen appearance outside of the newsreels, and he looks like a coming star. In fact, he's here. Maureen O'Sullivan is a charming heroine. Neil Hamilton and C. Aubrey Smith play the English explorers. With elephants, apes, and everything, "Tarzan" has appeal for youngsters and oldsters and "in-betweensters." You'd better see it.