Universal Weekly (1933-1935)

May 12, 1934 — — = UNIVERSAL WEEKLY ===== GALESTIEN Praises LAEMMLE For “THE INVISIBLE MAN” J. F. GALESTIEN Mr. Galestien, who has for years run the Casino and National Theatres in Djokja, Batavia, has taken over the Alhambra and Flora theatres, which makes him the owner of all the theatres in this Dutch East Indies city. He is one of the most progressive theatre men of the East. The following letter was sent to Louis J. Lieser, Universal manager in Batavia. UNIVERSAL PICTURES CORPORATION OF JAVA Batavia-C. Dear Mr. Lieser: Upon your request, I shall make an exception and give my opinion about your picture "THE INVISIBLE MAN." To criticise the "INVISIBLE MAN" properly and effectively, it will be necessary to tell you that I am now already twenty years in the show business, and can claim a little experience in this line. In all these years, I always had a great respect and admiration for your President UNCLE CARL LAEMMLE. This great little man of the industry is really an ace showman. In all those years, he surprised us every time with something startling. I hereby wish to assist you to remember his productions: "Uncle Tom's Cabin" "Hunchback of Notre Dame" "ALL QUIET ON THE WESTern Front" "King of Jazz," etc. and now he comes forward again with something unusual, such as "THE INVISIBLE MAN," "ONLY YESTERand "BELOVED." Honestly, I was greatly surprised and tricked when looking at "THE INVISIBLE MAN." How on earth has the film been taken! It is something wonderful. How advanced the filmtechnique has become, that it can manage to show and bring into action an "INVISIBLE MAN" on the screen. I have already seen six performances of this film, and I still am excited and fooled by this marvelous production. Naturally it's again CARL LAEMMLE, who is the first to come out with such mysterious shots. I recollect one of his previous remarks regarding imitations, he said, "You can imitate everything but not my knowledge. I always leave you a half-year behind hand." Will you please send my special compliments and congratulations to UNCLE CARL regarding his film "THE INVISIBLE MAN." Every exhibitor who realizes his own interests ought to book immediately without fail this wonder of film technique, especially as we also have now a real General Manager, Mr. Lieser, who will do everything in his power to allow us exhibitors to run our shows with success. This is indeed like UNCLE CARL. With best regards, Truly yours, (w.s. J. F. Galestien + + + Film Daily Boosts “Love Birds” Film LAUGH-PACKED YARN OF REALTY GYP AND GOLD RUSH ON DESERT RANCH. This is a laugh riot for Pitts-Summerville fans and a pleasing entertainment for anybody's money. Summerville is an attendant at a chicken market whose hens get loose, fly into the classroom where ZaSu Pitts is the teacher and result in a scene that brings her dismissal. In the chickey (Continued on Page 27) =^23 “All Quiet ” Gripping As When First Made Review Excerpts From ( Milwaukee Sentinel) FOUR years ago Universal brought out a film based on Erich Maria Remarque's best seller, "All Quiet on the Western Front." Some it shocked, some it moved to tears, some it horrified with a horror that only war in the raw can provoke. On all who saw it, it left a searing impression that never has been equaled before or since by any picture. In a film notable for its sustained and impelling drama, there are certain scenes which, I don't doubt, many of us have carried with us since we first saw the picture, and which I found fully as moving when I rewitnessed them last night. The patriotic fever lighting the innocent faces of the schoolboys as they pledge to stick together and fight furiously for the fatherland, the whimpering terror of the green soldiers as they cringe in the dugout under a bombardment, Paul's awful imprisonment with the Frenchman he killed in the frenzy of battle and whose corpse remains in smiling accusation to haunt him, Paul's hand reaching out for the butterfly flitting just beyond the trench . . . these moments, among others, are ones not lightly to put out of mind. But I think that most heartrending piece in the whole picture is the utilitarian state of mind which prompts each of the lads in turn practically to grab the choice pair of boots from a dying comrad. If you missed it four years ago, don't miss it now. If you have seen it, you owe it to yourself and your outlook on world peace to repeat the experience.