Screenland (May-Oct 1937)

Cut to the pattern of "Cockeyed World" and such previous McLaglen films, with Preston Foster as Victor's sparring partner. There's a swell comedy start, an overstrained and muddled dramatic middle, and a very exciting finish — spectacular in showing rescues by the Coast Guard. McLaglen is the non-com in the Guard; Foster the girl-in-every-port sailor type. Ida Lupino is McLaglen's daughter. The acting is fine. Lynne Overman is finally given a break by Paramount, and he more than lives up to his opportunity. As the flatfoot who promotes himself a job solving a mystery surrounding the death of a college professor, Overman displays fine acting talents in what shapes up as a rather good part. Larry Crabbe, Astrid Allwyn, Marsha Hunt, and Roscoe Karns round out a nicely balanced cast. You'll find it pleasing. Michael Whalen and Claire Trevor again teamed (and very successfully), in an unpretentious but highly amusing story about a runaway bride who1 hitch-hikes her way into the heart of a chap driving to California in a caravan of new cars. Story lines get tangled a bit, but it's no matter ; the romance is pleasing, and this makes good entertainment. Joan Davis, Bennie Bartlett, Chick Chandler and others, good. The Man Ppllr Who '."•Mild "Wiji^ Work ' Miracles (KordaUnited Artists) Droll fantasy written for the screen by H. G. Wells, and diverting in a way very different from the usual film entertainment, and worth seeing on that account. Roland Young, supported by an all-English cast, does a capital job of acting as the retail clerk who suddenly is endowed with the power to perform miracles, and finds the power far too great for his peace of mind. Not exciting, but clever and unusual. TAGGING the TALKIES Delight Evans' Reviews on Pages 52-53 This has its moments — dramatically that is — while Gloria Stuart as an innocent suspect of murder plays tenderly and with charm. Nice, restrained, polished acting is offered by Walter Pigeon, district attorney who harbors Gloria, ignorant at first she is wanted for a crime, after she has helped save his son in a fire aboard ship. Billy Burrud is the boy, and he plays the part in his usual sure way. Routine movie fare. If you like Joe E. Brown, you'll be thoroughly satisfied with this, his newest riot of fun — incidentally his first under the RKO banner. The story, running true to the star's type, is all about Joe's extravagant adventures while working his way through an astrological college — if you can imagine ! You'll like Marian Marsh, Fred Keating, Maude Edburne, and Suzanne Karen in their parts too. Laughs here. Douglas MacLean achieves a life-long ambition — to produce the film that established him as a silent screen star — with this fairly amusing comedy of World War days among the dough-boys. It should please you if you have the average film-goer's taste for humor and romance. James Ellison sings a couple of good songs and gives a nice interpretation in the leading role. Terry Walker plays opposite him nicely. Jules Verne's thrilling fiction about the young Russian officer who braves death to defeat enemies of his Czar, retold in exciting and spectacular style. Anton Walbrook, Continental star, makes his Hollywood debut, proving an actor of skill and personal magnetism. Elizabeth Allan, Fay Bainter, Margot Grahame, Eric Blore, and particularly Akim Tamiroff as the villain, are noteworthy. See it if you like action Edward Arnold as a ruthless lumber magnate gives a truly sincere interpretation ; Francine Larrimore is brilliant in her film debut, proves a definite screen bet ; George Bancroft as Arnold's pal has his best part in a long while. But, alas, the story is not up to the measure of this fine acting, and while the film is fairly satisfactory from an audience-interest standpoint, it should have been far, far better. There seems to be a cycle of films attacking superstition and bigotry. In this entry to the field it's a doctor who suffers^ because of ignorance and erroneous viewpoint. Warren William, as the doctor, is good, as is Karen Morley in the role of enemy and sweetheart. But Lewis Stone's is the outstanding acting contribution here. John Wray, Esther Dale, Jackie Moran and others supply good support. Fair. Maybe we remember too vividly the previous telling of this story of the lady crook who sacrifices all for love of a rich nobleman. Or maybe we like Joan Crawford when she's not being so elegant. At any rate, this lacks conviction and lustre. The three-star combination of Joan, William Powell and Robert Montgomery is bound to interest, though as things go Frank Morgan and Jessie Ralph take the honors. 6