Screenland (May-Oct 1934)

56 SCREENLAND Screenlands Critic Really Sees the Pictures! Murder At The Vanities Paramount It's gay and it glitters! It has girls, gags, Jack Oakie, Victor McLaglen, and two murders! Whether the girls really are, as billed by producer Earl Carroll, "the most beautiful girls in the world;" whether the gags are this year's or last year's or even the year's before that; whether two murders are too modest a number— you'll have to decide for yourself. All I can promise you is a big, handsome show with some suspense, some fun, some good tunes, and the aforementioned Mr. Oakie whose one-man show I personally prefer to most eight-star revues. All right; that's settled— you'll see it! So you'll welcome Kitty Carlisle, season's brightest recruit from Broadway; Dorothy Stickney, clever comedienne; the Carroll cuties; and Mr. McLaglen, who has the congenial task of investigating the back-stage doings at a Vanities Broadway opening with Murder as an unbilled, extra-added attraction. Gertrude Michael and Gail Patrick are the decorative victims. (No, I won't tell who did it.) This picture marks the American screen debut of Carl Brisson, European matinee idol. M. Brisson has curly hair, dimples, and a nice voice. Twentieth Century Columbia A field-day for John Barrymore and for his audience! If you are with me in preferring Mr. Barrymore the Harlequin to Mr. Barrymore the Svengali, you'll enjoy every minute of this picture. The Great John has been waiting for years for this chance to lampoon certain stage producers, to satirize actresses of the chalk-marks school, to tear to shreds the sacred Broadway traditions. As Oscar Jaffe he has the time of his life. He makes 'em, he breaks 'em: he turns a dumb blonde into a great stage star, only to have her leave him for the golden films. They meet again on the 20th Century Limited, and Lily Garland, the actress, now a cinema celebrity, will have none of her former boss, until — but if you haven't yet seen this show it will spoil the fun to tell you more. Just watch for Walter Connolly as Jaffe's harassed business manager; for Roscoe Karns as the humorous press-agent; and for Etienne Girardot as the big sticker-andlabel man. And now for Carole Lombard — surprise, surprise! Inspired by Barrymore, this gorgeous blonde suddenly becomes an expert actress, a clever comedienne, a potent personality. Oh, Mr. Barrymore! How about training some of our other young players? REVIEWS of the Best Pictures ' U SEAL OF) \ Little Miss Marker Paramount The new wonder-star, Shirley Temple, in her latest smash hit! The Garbo-Dietrich-Hepburn-Gaynor of 1934 is better, though not bigger, than ever in her most sympathetic role to date. "Little Miss Marker" might have been written for her. Damon Runyon, author of "Lady for a Day," has turned out another success, this time the story of a child who becomes the ward of a hard-boiled gambler, and thus starts the funniest reformation that Broadway ever saw. Farfetched? It may sound so, but actually it is the most refreshing, as well as the most wholesome picture of the month. Imagine Menjou— this time the "Front Page" Menjou rather than the elegant Adolphe — as a bookmaker with a baby on his hands! Incidentally, although this film may appeal mostly to the women of the family, the husbands, brothers, and boy-friends need not fear boredom, for the race-track types, the robust background, and the general good humor will amuse them mightily. Dorothy Dell, the torch-singing eye-filler, makes the most of her role. Charles Bickford is good, too. Here is the best current answer to the prayer for clean pictures that are also good entertainment. See it! You Can Count on these Criticisms