Silver Screen (May-Oct 1934)

Silver Screen for July 1934 53 Frank Morg Under the "The Affairs of Cellini" runs a temperature this month and takes first place. Fay Wray, Frank Morgan and Fredric March. York in record-breaking time. (If you arrive in New York via any other train than the Twentieth Century you just aren't Somebody.) Lily is returning to New York for a vacation after her Hollywood success, and with her is Ralph Forbes, her newest boy friend. Also getting on the train in Chicago are Oscar Jaffe and his two publicity boys, played by Walter Connolly and Roscoe Karns. Of course, the idea is to sign Lily up for Oscar's next play— but what havoc, what tantrums, what tearing of hair and screeching. There is one swell scene where Carole, as the temperamental Lily, starts kicking Mr. Barrymore right in the stomach. In fact, there are hilariously funny scenes throughout the picture. It's a must see. THE AFFAIRS OF CELLINI Rating: 86° Brilliant Comedy— Twentieth Century THIS picture definitely establishes Frank Morgan as the Best. Imagine walking away with a picture that has Connie Bennett, Freddie March, and Fay Wray in it— but that's exactly what Frank Morgan does. As the bewildered, hen-pecked, and slightly dopey Duke of Florence, during the sixteenth century when the de Medicis were passing around poison as gayly as we pass the olives, Mr. Morgan is simply superb. Connie Bennett, brittle and beautiful, plays the Duchess, the real ruler of Florence, and when she hears of the brawn and bravery and virile accomplishments of Benvenuto Cellini gossiped about by the court, she plans to have the Florentine's great lover in her boudoir before sunrise. Of course Freddie March plays the swaggering, enchanting Cellini, who for the nonce is completely captivated by the dumbest blonde in history, played by Fay Wray. And to add to the complication Duke Morgan's roving eye has also lit on Fay, and a rendezvous has been arranged an is also the bright spot in "Sisters Skin," with Elissa Landi and Joseph Schildkraut. at the castle that very night. It all gets very complicated and hilarious, with Cellini stealing the Duke's blonde right out of his royal bed-chamber and leaving the Duchess cold in hers. It's good old de Medici poison for Cellini after that. He decides the blonde Fay isn't worth it, so, at the brilliant banquet at which he is supposed to expire, he outwits the Duchess and tricks her into expressing her love for him. So there's a happy ending with the Duke and Duchess well pleased with their new playmates. Very smart and sophisticated comedy. SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN Rating: 48° A New High in Landi— Columbia HERE is one of those face-the-facts-oflife pictures which is as honest and dramatic and human as life itself. The picture can stand on its plot alone— but, in this case, it is far from necessary, as there are four exquisite performances, given by Elissa Landi, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut and Doris Lloyd, so flawlessly truthful that you can't keep your own emotions from getting all wrought up. And don't ever let me hear you say Elissa is the cold type again. She is as warm and pulsatingly alive as her own heart. ■The story is about a very wealthy man [Continued on page 56] SILVER SCREEN'S PICTURE THERMOMETER Degrees of Quality 'THE AFFAIRS OF CELLINI" TWENTIETH CENTURY" "BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK" "THE CIRCUS CLOWN" "SPRINGTIME FOR HENRY" 'THIRTY DAY PRINCESS" 'MANY HAPPY RETURNS" 'STRICTLY DYNAMITE" 'SISTERS UNDER THE SKIN" 'SADIE McKEE" 'SCARLET EMPRESS" 'WHERE SINNERS MEET" 'MANHATTAN MELODRAMA" 'LAUGHING BOY" 'CHEATERS" Perfect —100 — Remarkable —90 — Excellent —80 Good — Entertainment —70 — Don't Miss —60 — Meritorious —50 — Satisfying — Worth Seeing —30 — Pleasing —20 Somewhat — Disappointing —10 — Fair O Zero -Floppo