Silver Screen (Feb-Oct 1935)

Reviews Tips On Pictures BABES IN TO Y LAND — Fine. Victor Herbert's tuneful melodies interspersed with some delightful mother goose nonsense, with the popular team of Laurel and Hardy playing the leads. (Charlotte Henry.) BABBITT — Fair. A film fashioned from Sinclair Lewis' famous novel of a small-town man who is supposed to be the prototype of all smug and dull American business men. (Guy Kibbee, Claire Dodd.) BEHOLD MY WIFE— Good. In which a younger son, irritated by his wealthy family's lack of democracy, marries an Indian girl just for spite. (Sylvia Sidney, Gene Raymond.) BELLA DONNA — Good. A British adaptation of Robert Hichens' dramatic story o." the beautiful adventuress who, while married to an English engineer, becomes involved with a fascinating Egyptian. (Conrad Veidt, Mary Ellis, Cedric Hardwicke. ) BEST MAN WINS— Good. The stalwart Jack Holt and dynamic Edward Lowe do their "stuff" in this film with deep sea diving as its motif. Florence Rice is the girl they emote over. BRIGHT EYES— Good. The atmosphere of Christmas hovers over this latest Shirley Temple yarn, and you'll love it. As an added gift, we have Jimmy Dunn teamed with our Shirley once again. CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS— Fine. These Charlie Chan films always promise a marvellous evening's diversion. Warner Oland, as usual, is perfect as the suave Chinese detective unravelling a murder-mystery that has the French police baffled. (Mary Brian.) CHURCH MOUSE, THE— Good. The transformation of an ugly duckling, employed as secretary to an important business man, into a raving beauty is used once more with the usual entertaining results. (Laura La Plante, Ian Hunter.) COUNTY CHAIRMAN, THE— Fine. A new Will Rogers film ought to gladden all your hearts. The scene is Wyoming, at the time when women gained their first vote, and the cast boasts Louise Dresser, Evelyn Venable and Stepin Fetchit. FATHER BROWN, DETECTIVE— Fine. A fascinating character duel takes place between a philosophical priest and a charming crook (Walter Connolly-Paul Lukas). Gertrude Michael is the heiress who weaves romance into the theme. FORSAKING ALL OTHERS — Amusing. There's a threesome in this sparkling comedy that few of us can resist — Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Bob Montgomery! Have we intrigued you? GAMBLING— Fair. George M. Cohan (remember him in "The Phantom President?") in a mystery play of his own writing which unfortunately won't add any laurels to his crown. (Wynne Gibson, Dorothy Burgess.) GRAND OLD GIRI Good. A story woven around a small-town high school with May Robson the kind-hearted principal. It's full of hokum, but you'll enjoy it nevertheless. (Mary Carlisle, Fred MacMurray. ) GREEN EYES— Fair. A mystery yarn that is rather mildly motivated. In cast Claude Gillingwater, Shirley Grey, Charles Starrett. HERE IS MY HEART— Entertaining. A charming comedy with music patterned after the delightful "Grand Duchess and the Waiter" theme and with Bing Crosby and Kitty Carlisle singing their way right into your hearts. IMITATION OF LIFE — Splendid. Fanny Tlurst wrote this story touching so feelingly on the race problem. Generous comedy situations are interwoven with the poignant dramatic incidents. (Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, Warren William.) ITS A GIFT— Fine. Here's a barrel of fun for all W. C. Fields' addicts, and their name is legion. Baby LeRoy's in this, too. So what more can you ask for if you're looking for laughs and plenty of nonsense ? LITTLE MEN — Fine. A tender little tale of boyhood, written by the famous author of "Little Women." The scene is New England in the '70's, and the cast includes Frankie Darro, Dickie Moore, Ralph Morgan. MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD, THE — Interesting. Paris during the war! With Claude Rains as a journalist who ghost-writes for his publisher, Lionel Atwill, the latter having a yen for Joan Bennett, Rains' wife. MARINES ARE COMING, THE— Fair. William Haines, the popular wise-cracker, is with us again in one of his typical roles. Conrad Nagle plays his superior officer and Esther Ralston is the girl they both love. MEN OF THE NIGHT— Fair. A melodramatic crook story that will satisfy you on a double-header program. Judith Allen and Bruce Cabot head the cast. MIGHTY BARNUM, THE— Fine. With Wallace Beery playing magnificently some of the more interesting incidents in the life of America's greatest circus manager, you're bound to be entertained. (Adolphe Menjou, Virginia Bruce.) MILLION DOLLAR BABY— Fair. There are some amusing sequences in this screen story of a Hollywood studio's search for a second Shirley Temple. (Arline Judge, Ray Walker.) MURDER IN THE CLOUDS— Fine. All airminded youngsters will eat this up, and who isn't an "air-minded youngster" these days? It has thrills, mystery, romance. Lyle Talbot and Ann Dvorak have the leading roles. MYSTERY WOMAN — Entertaining. A dramatic film based on an espionage idea that holds the interest consistently. (Rod La Rocque, John Halliday, Mona Barrie and Gilbert Roland.) NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS — Slightly goofy. You have the makings of an hilarious if somewhat nutty plot when an eccentric inventor turns stone statues into human beings and human beings into stone ! (Alan Mowbray, Florine McKinney.) ONE EXCITING ADVENTURE— Good. A breezy little yarn about a night club entertainer (Binnie Barnes) who, in her spare time, gets mixed up with jewel robberies, romance, etc. (Neil Hamilton, Paul Cavanaugh.) ONE HOUR LATE — Amusing. One of those frothy little comedies that will keep a smile on your lips all the way through with Joe Morrison. Helen Twelvetrees and Conrad Nagle in the cast. Maxine Doyle reviews Hollywood itself. Looking west on Hollywood Boulevard. PAINTED VEIL, THE— Interesting. The glamorous Garbo is involved in one of those inevitable triangle affairs — with the setting China, and with such charmers as Herb. Marshall and Geo. Brent capturing her heart — and ours, too. PRESIDENT VANISHES, THE— Unusual. This film dares to be different. At the same time it tells a story of political intrigue that is absorbing and romantic. (Arthur Byron, Ed. Arnold, Peggy Conklin.) PRIVATE LIFE OF DON JUAN— Good. Douglas Fairbanks returns to us in a British film featuring the romantic exploits of a Don Juan ■ grown considerably older and somewhat wiser. The feminine eye-fulls are Merle Oberon, Ber.ita Hume, Binnie Barnes, etc. ROMANCE IN MANHATTAN— Fine. Francis Lederer in a naive little tale of a foreigner who has difficulty making the grade in America — but who finally achieves happiness through the aid of a chorine — Ginger Rogers. SECRET BRIDE, THE— Good. A mystery story having a political background, with a generous mixture of suspense and romance. (Barbara Stanwyck, Warren William, Grant Mitchell, Glenda Farrell.) SEQUOIA— Fine. All lovers of animals will be fascinated by this film depicting the romance between a deer and a puma. Jean Parker is the little lady who adopted these two in their infancy. SWEET ADELINE— Colorful musical. The Gay 90's once more ! This time with Irene Dunne emoting and singing divinely in the title role. (Louis Calhern, Hugh Herbert.) THUNDER IN THE EAST— Excellent. A compelling and romantic drama, concerning an English and a Japanese naval officer, which will stir your profound interest as well as your emotions. (Merle Oberon, John Loder, Charles Boyer.) WHITE LIES— Fair. A melodrama involving a glorified "cop," a publisher, the publisher's pretty daughter, and a murder of course. In cast, Victor Jory, Walter Connolly, Fay Wray and Leslie Fenton. WICKED WOMAN, THE— Fair. Mady Christians, the glamorous Viennese actress, cast, oddly enough, as a Texas swamp lady who kills her brutal husband and spends years preparing to pay for her crime. (Jean Parker, Chas. Bickford.) 6 Silver Screen