Screenland (Apr-Oct 1930)

for August 1933 59 Reviews without Prejudice, Fear or Favor! Extra Review of "Pilgrimage" Fox The screen has been busy glorifying pretty nearly everything and everybody, from prize babies to presidents. Now it undertakes to glorify America's Gold-Star Mothers, and succeeds handsomely. "Pilgrimage" is a picture of, for, and about mothers. The younger generation had better go to see "The Warrior's Husband" instead. The pathos of mothers who lost their sons in the world war, and their pathetic journey to their graves, is scarcely the sort of screen fare to lure youngsters from the beaches. But how the oldsters will love itl The story concerns a farm woman whose fierce love for her son makes her give him up to the war rather than to the girl he loves. He never returns. The mother joins the gold-star pilgrimage to France and over there she atones for the wrong she had done her son by helping another boy find happiness. Henrietta Crosman has the principal role; Norman Foster and Marion Nixon are excellent, and a glimpse of Heather Angel makes me look forward to seeing this English girl in a real part. Adorable Fox And if you think that there aren't whispers of "Adorable!" in the audience all through the showing of this screen operetta, you're crazy. Oh, so you heard them, too? Then will those cynical little boys and girls back there please stop making fun of the title? It's "Adorable," all right, and if you don't like it, then think of a better title for a Janet Gaynor picture. This cream-puff romance is an exquisite production, perfect setting for Janet's daintiness, and a promising American screen debut for Henry Garat. Janet plays a queen in love with a dashing lieutenant. She proceeds to promote him to captain, to major, to lieutenant-colonel, to general, and finally makes him a prince, while democratic American audiences cheer. There are overtones of "Congress Dances," with poignant memories of La Belle Harvey, whose European leading man Garat was. But "Adorable" will win its own audience from the legion of Gaynor lovers. The Big Cage Universal Peg O' My Heart M-G-M The family film of the summer season! I congratulate Universal on being the one movie company to recognize the tremendous appeal of a circus picture starring Clyde ™ Beatty, the American small boy's hero. Here's a refreshing novelty and a relief to worried parents who, when Junior and Sis want to go to the movies, have to put the neighborhood theatre manager through the third degree to find out if the current screen attraction is suitable juvenile fare. Clyde Beatty's sensational liontiger act is even more thrilling when seen on the screen than under the big top. You can hear Beatty whistle his commands; you can see the huge cats close-up. Beatty himself is an ingratiating, natural personality. Not too much plot; humor by Andy Devine and Vince Barnett ; romance by Anita Page and Wallace Ford ; and those marvelous "lines and taggers." Beatty puts his savage "pets" through their paces with unbelievably beautiful precision. Feel one of those quaint, sweet, old-fashioned moods coming on? Then here is just the movie for you. It's quaint, it's sweet, it's old-fashioned. Peg is one of those peren nials, those little girls of stage, screen, and fiction who never, never grow up. And that's all right, because Peg has lots of admirers who wouldn't want her to be like these hard, modern women. Marion Davies, undoubtedly, plays the Peg parts better than any other actress; she is very charming as the Irish heroine whose inheritance of a huge fortune fails to change her brogue or her heart of gold. I liked best the parts of the film in which Mies Davies is permitted to be gay and funny, until the plot rears its horrid head and spoils her fun, and mine. You'll be asking for more of Onslow (Ronald Colman II.) Stevens, who is thoroughly charming in the worst leading man's role of the year. Irene Browne, remembered from "Cavalcade," is most amusing as a doughty dowager. Let Them Guide You to the Good Films