Silver Screen (May-Oct 1934)

ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES — Fair. (Fox) The war separates Helen Twelvetrees and Hugh Williams — but years later they meet again and the sparks of their romance flair into flames once more. BEYOND BENGAL— Interesting. (Showmen) We're in the jungles of Malay once more — with pythons _ and crocodiles and monkeys for companionship. Also a tiger or two. This has its thrilling as well as its harrowing moments. CAT AND THE FIDDLE — Charming. (MGM) A tuneful operetta with Jeanette MacDonald and Ramon Novarro singing and starving together picturesquely. And, just to bring us to earth, Frank Morgan's here, too ! CITY LIMITS — Fair (Monogram) The nimble-witted reporter-man again outwits big businessi interests in order to get his story. This version of that well-known plot has amusing moments. (Frank Craven, Ray Walker, Sally Blane). COME ON MARINES— Amusing. (Par) A racy peace-time comedy, with the marine base as a target for laughs. Dick Arlen as a lighthearted sergeant who mixes with trouble-makers like Ida Lupino and Grace Bradley. CRIME DOCTOR, THE— Fine (RKO) Otto Kruger as_ the^ intellectual detective whose jealousy of his wife (Karen Morley) leads him to perfect an ingenious crime. (Nils Asther, Judith Wood). FIGHTING RANGER, THE— Good (Col) The title gives this Western away — no use to tell you the plot. Suffice it to say that Buck Jones rides to Victory in the finale. Boys under twelve eat this heroic stuff up. FINISHING SCHOOL — Fine (RKO) A rather bitter commentary on the private school systems in this country — a kind of American "Maedchen in Uniform." (Frances Dee, Ginger Rogers, Bruce Cabot). GLAMOUR— Good (U) The story of an actress— Constance Cummings — who runs the gamut of emotions in her own hectic life. (Paul Lukas, Philip Reed). GOODBYE LOVE— Fair (RKO) That ole davil "alimony'' is dragged right out in the open in this and tries hard to be amusing. Chas. Ruggles, Sidney Blackmer, Veree Teasdale). HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD— Superb. (UA) The most colorful family in financial history brought to the screen _ in a vivid, engrossingromance. Fine cast includes George Arliss, Loretta Young, Robert Young. I HATE WOMEN— Fair (Goldsmith) Another newspaper yarn, fairly exciting, and with the title tieing up with the plot for a brief moment. (Wallace Ford, June Clyde, Alexander Carr.) I'LL TELL THE WORLD— Good (U) Lee Tracy with us again as the peppy newspaper reporter assigned to a mythical kingdom, from which he carries off the beautiful princess — Gloria Stuart. Pert Kelton's new bathing suit has a little up there, some down here, and nothing between the two but lunch. JOURNAL OF A CRIME— Interesting (WB) Ruth Chatterton exhibits a pretty guilty conscience in this pathological story which is patterned after the style of French films. Adolphe Menjou plays opposite her. LOOKING FOR TROUBLE — Fair (UA) Spencer Tracy & Jack Oakie, as telephone line fixers, get all tangled up in a web of melodramatic happenings. A bit "rough" at times. (Constance Cummings, Arline Judge). MELODY IN SPRING— Good (Par) Lanny Ross sings divinely in this. The story is just fair, but you mustn't miss the comic antics of Mary Boland & Chas. Ruggles. Ann Sothern proves to be a charming eye-full. MODERN HERO, A— Fair. (WB) Louis Bromfield wrote this story of a circus performer (Dick Barthelmess) who becomes one of America's most powerful financiers, leaving much wreckage on the road behind him. (Veree Teasdale). MEN IN WHITE— Fine. (MGM) Our earnest young doctor has difficulty choosing between love, and a career. See which conquers! Beautiful production, with Clark Gable, Eliz. Allen, Myrna Loy, Jean Hersholt. NO GREATER GLORY — (Col) An unusual film, portraying a conflict between two rival gangs of boys. Molnar wrote this stirring drama told with such utter simplicity. (Frankie Darrow, Jimmie Butler, Lois Wilson.) NOW I'LL TELL— Good (Fox) A story woven out of some of the more effective incidents in the life of Arnold Rothstein — the famous gambler and gangster. (Spencer Tracy, Helen Twelvetrees, Alice Faye). HAPPY ANDY— Excellent (Fox) Will Rogers in one of his best ! In this he has to retire from business to please his flighty wife, Peggy Wood, and the result is an hilarious round of exciting incidents. ORDERS IS ORDERS — Fair (B-G) An English film which tries to kid Hollywood methods— but does not succeed in being funny in spite of the combined efforts of our own Jimmy Gleason & Charlotte Greenwood. PARTY'S OVER, THE— Fair (Col) Stu Erwin has his in-laws imposing upon his hospitality until he finally screws up courage to say the "party's over!" (Jean Muir, Ann Sothern, Cath. Doucet). PRINCE OF WALES— Good (B-G) A series of news-reel shots of the Prince, slung together in fair style, with a commentator explaining the various episodes. The Prince is even gracious enough to fall off a horse for our benefit. RIPTIDE— Fair. (MGM) Norma Shearer as the American society girl who marries an English Lord (Herb. Marshall), but when echoes of her pale pink past are heard, via Bob Montgomery, trouble begins to brew. SLEEPERS EAST— Fine (Fox) A tight political web catches the unwary blonde head of Wynne Gibson, and she has a tough time to extricate herself. (Mona Barrie, Preston Foster, Harvey Stephens). IN A FEW WELL CHOSEN WORDS IEWS SORREL AND SON— Fine. (UA) An English-made version of the famous novel done once in silent days. H. B. Warner has the lead. STAND UP AND CHEER— Fine (Fox) Hurray! The Depression is over! If you're a doubter see this and be convinced ! Good songs, good fun, good cast — inc'uding Madge Evans! Warner Baxter, John Boles. STINGAREE— Fine (RKO) Australia is the locale^Time 1874. With Richard Dix playing a romantic bandit, and Irene Dunne a world-tamous opera singer. Mary Boland & Conway Teane in splendid cast. SUCCESS AT ANY PRICE— Fitie (RKO) lhe rather pitiless story of a youth who forges his way ahead in the field of Big Business in spite . of all handicaps. Doug. Fairbanks, Jr., Colleen Moore, Gen. Tobin, Frank Morgan. TARZAN AND HIS MATE— Excellent (MGM) 'ihis follows up the original Tarzan thriller. There's not a dull moment and if you enjoy the adventure type of fiction, don't miss it. (Maureen O'Sullivan, Johnny Weissmuller.) THREE ON A HONEYMOON— Good (Fox) There are the original 57 varieties of excitement in this audacious plot — with Sally Eilers as a love-lorn lass who runs across ZaSu Pitts & Henrietta Grossman on a world cruise. TRUMPET BLOWS, THE— Fair (PAR) George Raft plays a bull-fighter in this — but we like him better as an adagio dancer. He seems more at home in that role. (Adolphe Menjou Frances Drake, Sidney Toler). 20 MILLION SWEETHEARTS— Fine (WB) An extremely merry film with a broadcasting station as a background and with songs "that are not dragged in." (Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers Pat O'Brien). TWO ALONE— Fair (RKO) Life certainly can be tough on a farm — especially for the poor little drudge from the orphanage — Jean Parker. Oh me, oh my, does she suffer! But Tom Brown comes to her aid. UNCERTAIN LADY — Fair (U) The old triangle love plot adds a character for good measure here, but by that time the film goes slightly dull. (Genevieve Tobin, Paul Cavanaugh, Edward Ev. Horton, Renee Gadd). UPPERWORLD— Fair (WB) Mary Aster's yen for high society drives Hubby Warren Williams into the fair arms of . Ginger Rogers. Follows a murder — but you'll have to see the film to learn who "bumps off" whom. VIVA VILLA— Fine (MGM) Wally Beery in an impressive film woven around exciting incidents in the life of Mexico's most colorful bandit. (Henry B. Walthall & Rudolph Schildkraut.) WE'RE NOT DRESSING— Fair {Par) Bing Crosby as the sailor lad who "takes charge of the situation" after Carole Lombard's yacht gets wrecked off a South Sea Island. Of course there's music — and Burns & Allen, too! , WHARF ANGEL— Fair (Par) The San Francisco water front is the locale of this story, which is strong on atmosphere but short on plot. Cast includes Preston Foster, Victor McLaglen. Dorothy Dell, Alison Skipworth. WHEN STRANGERS MEET— Fair (Liberty) Now we have the saga of a large apartment house, but the story is just so-so. In cast such names as Lucien Littlefield, Dick Cromwell, Arline Judge, Sarah Padden. WHIRLPOOL, THE— Good (Col) Virile Jack Holt is the hero of this melodrama which covers a good many of the vices as well as a few of the virtues of life. (Lila Lee, Jean Arthur, Allen Jenkins). WILD CARGO— Splendid (RKO) Here's another Frank Buck adventure story, filled with thrills and chills. Do you remember "Bring 'Em Back Alive?" Well, this is equally as fascinating. WILD GOLD— Just so-so (Fox) This has a 1934 Gold Rush for its theme — with a new mining town in the West developed as a result. (John Boles, Claire Trevor.) WITCHING HOUR, THE— Excellent (Par) Taken from a famous play, this film dealing with hypnotic magnetism cannot help but capture your interest. (Sir Guy Standing, Tom Brown, Judith Allen.) YOU'RE TELLING ME— Good (Par) All lovers of W. C. Fields' nutty antics will like this — even some of us who don't ! Fields is aided & abetted by Larry Crabbe, Joan Marsh, and Adrienne Ames. 6 Silver Screen