Variety (Sep 1933)

Tuesday, September 12, 1933 FILM REVIEWS VARIETY 17 Talking Shorts CLAUDE HOPKINS ORCH With Orlando Roberson, 4 Step Bros. 12 Mins. Strand, N. Y. Vitaphone 8002 Novelty band short £eaturlngr the tip-top colored combo maestroed by Claude Hopkins from his piano perch. Orlando Roberson, sub-fea- tured, is probably that corking top tenor whose rendition o£ ''Trees' alone recommends him Cor mike at-^ tention, or it might toe that ole pappy player, although the singer rates the billing. The Four Step Bros., also sub-mentioned, aren't difficult to identify, of course. 'Barber Shop Blues' title is de- rived from the shambles tonsorlal parlor which is transformed into a rilz environment, with Jazz band ac- companiment and the hoofing (Step Bros.) bootblacks, from the winnings of the sweepstakes lucky number. This TOmiits the Hopldns jazzists to do ttfeir stuff in an attractive en- vironment and they do it plenty oke. Joseph Henabery directed, this" novelty version of a jazz tband pres- entation. Abet. ANDY CLYDE 20 Mrns. Mayfair, N. Y. Educational f Some gags in this that provide a few laughs, but only excuse for story is girl who Invents, sinkers that stay on top. School orchestra broadcasting the Invention and Andy Clyde facial work occupy most of running time. There are some cute youngsters In the band. 'Waly. Charles JUDELS and Cieorge GIVOT 'Gobs of Fun' 22 Mins. Strand, N. Y. Vitaphone 1603 One of those syuvhctic slapstick- ers with Judels doing French di- alect and Givot his fantastic Greek brogue. Olive Borden, prominenL in lilms in the past, and still look- ing very oke, registering plenty on the personality, is in support along with Tony Hughes. A couple of other bit players also. Starts with the dialectic gobu swabbing the decks but going A. W. O. Li. on shore-leave impersonating naval' officers, complications with Lulu, the sailors' sweetheart (Miss Borden) and a hoosegow finale. Jack Hanley admits to the script idea; Ray McCarey, director. Just a light snicker filler. AheU *SALT WATER TAFFY' Comedy 21 Mins. Strand, N. Y. Vitaphone Nos. 1561-62 Entertaining, fast-moving com- edy wltti plenty of laughs. •Salt Water Taffy* burlesques rooky gobs in a slightly different manner. Couple of pickpockets in escaping with a heavy captain's watch find themselves in a recruit-, ins station. Simulation of defective hearing and sight is detected by hard-boiled petty officer. After that it is a series of errors ori the part of the new Inen. That some thought went into thei writing end of this is plainly •evidenced.. Woly. LADY FOR A DAY Columbia production and reloase. War- ren Williams. U&y Robson. Quy Klbbee underscored. Directed br Frank Capra. Story hy Damon Runyon, adapted by Rob- ert Rlskln. Cameraman. Joseph -Walker. Sound. K. !<. Bernds. Film editor. Gene HavUck. At Music Hall. New York, week Sept. 7, Running time, SSi mins. Dave the Dude Warren William Apple Annie ....May Robson Judge Blake Ouy Kibbe Missouri Martin.. lenda Farrell Happy Ned Sparks lioulse , Jean Parker Count Romero Walter Connolly Shakespeare Nat Pendleton Inspector .Robert O'Connor Commissioner ..Wallla Clark Governor Hobart Bosworth Columbia has slipped a large tor- pedo through the target with this laughter - amidst - sentiment story that lulled the Music HalV audience into a condition of ready surrender to skillfully dished Cinderella ho- kum. If it doesn't make a lot of money and a lot of friends then there's no logic left in a crazy show world. 'Lady for a Day* asks the spec- tator to believe in the improbable. It's Hans Christian Anderson stuif written by a hard-boiled journalist and transferred to the screen by trick-wise HoUywoodites. While not stinting a full measure of credit to director Frank Capra, it seems, as if the spotlight of recognition ought to play rather strongly on Robert Riskin. For a more adroit scenario development of an essen- tially incredible situation would be hajrd to match. In addition there are some bright Jewels in the form of perfectly placed and exquisitely appropriate nifties. In the absence of other credits it is assumed Ris- kin is the father of these bright remarks that go so far toward mak- ing the film smadco ent«rt.atQjpaent;v On the performance end May Robson will probably do a walk- away in most people's estimation. She dominates the first reel but Is thereafter rather subordinated as the story gets into the comedy side- plots. Even with this partial eclipse in the later footage Miss Robson is the personality-in-chief of the film. It's a prize role and will do a lot for her. An easy temptation is to predict that she might easily win a place for herself comparable to Marie Dressier if given a few op- portunities like this and, of course, considering Miss Robson's long stretch of years in the legit. Actually in a well-balanced, smartly-directed cast like this it's hard to split the posies. Even in a small role as a nite club hostess Glenda Farrell looks great. There are half a dozen bits, including a superbly ironic English butler (un- programed) that ought really to get a shoulder pat. Warren William is the superstitious gambler for whom Apple Annie Is a good luck omen. It is he who stage manages the gi- gantic make-believe whereby the shoddy peddler of apples becomes a lady for a day,' to preserve her finely-reared daughter's illusions that her mother is a society some- body, ,1 Ned Sparks of the loud voice, frozen pan and clipped speech is handed a good many of the nifties. His timing is to the split-second. Ouy Klbbee vitalizes an elderly pool hall shark with a pompous manner and a professor's vocabulary. These two weave In and out" with com- ment on the developments that servos a double purpose of provid- ing laughs and persuading the au- dience it really could happen. Use of realistic wisecracks to punctu- ate and divert attention from im- probable plot twists ia an effective device. 'JLady for a Day' is a good mo- tion talker because it represents ace competence, applied to all de partments of production. Land. PENTHOUSE Cosmopolitan production for - M-G-U re- lease. Featuring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke. Hunt Strombere, associate producer. Adaptation by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett from the Arthur Somers Roche novel pub- lished serially In 'Cosmopolitan' magazine. Cameramen. Iiuden J^ndrlot and Harold Rodson. At Capitol. New York, week Sept. 8. Runnlns time, 00 mins. Jackson Durant Warner Baxter Gertie Waxted.. Myrna Loy Liayton Charles Butterworth MIml Montagne Mae Clarke Tom Slddell i Phillips Holmes Jim CrelUman C. Henry Gordon Sue Leonard Martha Steeper Tony Gazottl Nat Pendleton Murtoch George K. Stone Stevens Robert Emmett O'Connor Bodyguard Raymond Hatton Bodyguard Arthur Belasco First class entertainment for everybody embodied in a brightly written story, played in the best manner and framed iij^ a production of the best modern grade. Names of Warner Baxter and Myrna Ijoy have box office sigrnificance and the title is provocative in its interfer- ence of sprightly doings amid lux- urious surroundings. Picture doesn't quite bear out the spice angle, but it has so much of other fascinating qualities that lapse won't be noticed. Ought to better general house aver- agres and get solid approbation. It's a . suEpar-coated gang story, but worked out indirectly, the un- Miniatmre Re¥iews 'Lady For a Day' (Col). Ex- ceptionally adroit direction and scenario development of elderly Cinderella theme. Sell It with plenty of adjectivess as It will please everybody. Heart tug stuff cleverly mixed with belly laughs. 'Penthtfuse' (M-G-M). Gang story against romantic back- ground, with many elements of novelty. Well sustained crime solution with smashing climax and arresting title. Warner Baxter and Myrna ' Lioy In first rate subject that ought to spell good box office. 'Bureau of Missing Persons' (FN). t'airly entertaining flicker with average cast names but holds above av- erage selling possibilities. 'Easy Millions' (Freuler). Familiar story with chances muffed by scenarist, but part- ly saved by a good cast .Fa:ii; indie. M Have Lived' (Chesterfield). "Poor, jumbled backfstage stuff and possible filler on double feature program, tn lesser grinds^ raggedness on converted novels. In terest is splendidly centered aiid never gets out of focus as it fre- quently does in arranging scattered book material into screen form. Baxter turns in one o£ his usual workmanlike performances, while Miss liOy reveals new skill in the fnanagement of light scenes—light on the surface but with the infer ence of . tenseness in the back ground. This'actress has progressed in command of technique with each picture she has done until she now stands as one of the most service able femme leads in the Hollywood lists, one who has escaped from a limited type to a broad range of leading roles. An excellent group of standard people makes t}p the rest of the cast. Butterworth does one of his amusing butler roles, and George Stone contributes a. good bit of hec tic acting to bolster up the climac tic punch. Bush. MISSING PERSONS First National production and release of Bureau of MIsslner Persons' (full title). HEADS WE GO (BRITISH MADE) British International l>icturc, roleased Monty Banks. In cast: Constance Cum- minss, li'rank Lawton and others. IjCngrtU 7,700 feet, approx. Reviewed Empire, London. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. Screen play through Wardour films. IM^ei-tod by by Robert Prcsenell from 'MIssinK Men i ' ^ _ . _ .. novel by Capt. John H. Ayres and Carol Bird; camera, Barney McGlll. .At Strand, New Tork, commencing SopC 7. Running time. 76 mins. _ , Norma Betto Davis Captain Webb.. ^^if^.^X-ln?^ I British International has gone a Bene*'.^."."??y!::::::::.\\\\\Gir^^a'p^r«^^ step up the ladder with this picture, Joe Musik Alien Jenkins which is obviously also intended for Pete ^'^'u.'^^^""^"? the American market. Slade Hugh Herbert Therme Roberts Alan DInehnrt Caesar Paul ,..,.Tad Alexander Kingman Clay Clement Mr. Arnov Henry Kolker Homer ; George Chandler ondafy to - a nMinaintTc tale, iwo rather sure fire elements teamed in a rather shrewd treatment Develop- opment has capital comedy incident and some of the most likable char- acters of recent underworld pic- ttires. Story accomplishes a happy twist in criminal fiction. There's nothing to glorify the thug and no.preach- ment against him. He's just func- tioning vividly in his picturesque pursuits and the story doesn't atti- tudinize about him as a public menace. Action revolves around three characters: A rich lawyer with a taste for crlmdnal cases; the gangs- ter he saves from the chair, and the girl who appears to help him clear a society friend, framed in a kUllhg by a rival gaxig chief. Fin- ish is elaborately prepared. Hero is in one apartment house sky- scraper third-degreeing a witness from gangdom, while the heroine is in the den of the vicious racketeer in an adjoining building. Then fiashbacks from one situation to the other as the climax approaches. Hero's predicament is cleared up, leaving the heroine In peril nearby. A burst of machine £un fire off screen tightens up the suspense. Arriving on rescue bent the enemy gangster's pehthbli§e apaftment la found wrecked with the friendly gangster grinning benevolently in the midst of havoc, until he topples over, killed in the rescue battle he and his lieutenants had fought on behalf of his lawyer .friend. A neatly turned finish to an absorb- ing tale of melodramatic holce. The adaptation has been' well done. It has none of the u.sual MAN WHO DARED Fox production and release. Directed by Hamilton McFadden. Preston Foster and Zita Johann featured. Original story by Dudley Nichols and I>amar Trottl. Arthur Miller, phctoe. At Roxy. New York, week Sept. 8. Rnnnlns time, 72 minutes. Jan Novak..... Preston Foster Teena Paveltc. Zlta Johann Joan............................Joan Mnrwh Teieza Novak Irene BlUer Dick CUtford Jones Barbara..! Jtme Vlasek ToseC Novak Uaon Waycoft Dan Foley Douglas .Cosgrove Judge Collier Doaglaa DnmbrlUe Senator UcGunnesa Frank Sheridan Billing, which calls this 'an Imagi- native biography,* is the squarer for any possible discrepancies in the telling of the life story of the late Mayor Cermak of Chicago. There can be no complaints from the late Mayor's family or friends, for this is the most flattering account ever written of any man's life, excepting the autobiogs which some people write for themselves. Mayor Cermak, as mirrored by his character prototype—Jan Novak In this picture—was the 100% per- form the char acter is too good, too pure, too con- foundedly angelic. Instead of gain- ing, it loses its power as it goes on, and the result is an uninteresting piece of far-fetched fiction. Necessity of covering 60 years or so of Cermak's life, from babyhood to the grave, resulted in an episodic script. It takes some long leaps, some of them too long. It hurts the story and It dampens the interest. At the birth of their first child, Jan at his wife's beside, says, 'Never again.' Roxy audience howled at that line. Next sc^e shows the Novak family some years later, with two more children present. Another howl. Most and best of all, the technical department captured the spirit of the mauve decade to an engrossing degree. Progress of machines and men Is symbolized by the passing of time on a Chicago street corner, where the horse and bugg^y is re- placed by the automobile, etc. Tan- dem bikes and bustles provide com- edy relief. For every interesting bit the pic- ture contains two drawbacks. It's slow and loses its punch before half over. Cast is excellent, Norman Foster particularly, but there are no names to offset the other bpx-oifflce bapdi- cioips. Zita Johann, whose perform- ance as the Mayor's wife is expert, was a bad makeup victim. She's one of the few unwrinkled elderly gnrandmas on r&cord. As a tribute to an outstanding personality, the picture has some value, but as a commercial talker it'.s not likely to get very far. Tn rhlrago, Cermak's home town, thoy ijidn't care for it. Bige. It is just one more version of Cin- derella. Developed with the aid of comedy and often farce. B. I. P. is apparently paying a little more atr tention to its scenarios and in this instance care has been exercised to Pretty fair entertainment. Nothing I smarten up the dialog. The set- socko but it will please and, de- tings are rich, the photography pending on the exploitation to which good, and a generally competent this thehtie lends itself so well, its company supported the stars, business may be above par, depend- The story is of a rich man's son ing on the territory and the predi- who meets a mannequin and they lections the customers have for fall in' loA-e. Humorous situations crime-adventure stuff. arise through the girl being mis- Broadway Strand's premiere ex- taken for a film star, whose press hibition dressed up the lobby with agent wants to have the 'imposter the secret service police stuff and arrested. Scenes on board the mil- lots of silhouette and masked-figure lionaire's yacht in the Medlterraji- flash, the right approximation of ean and other classy shots with what this theme can stand. money apparently spent liberally Fortunately, it's been steered clear without attempting too much osten- of overly sombreness or becoming tation. Good entertainment any- too morbid; also hyper-dramatic or | where. Jolo*- bordering on the gangster cycle. In- stead, the artificers have made it a human document of a little known adjunct to the police departments of every metropolis, that of tracing missing persons. Preface mentions the large percentage of humans who seemingly manage to drop off the fs^ce of the earth with great suc- cess and little difficulty. On the L'ORDONNANCE ('The Orderly') (WITH SONGS) (FRENCH MADE) Paris, Aug. 28. Joint Capltole Films and Films R. P. production. Story from de Maupassant. Broadway showing Charlie EInfeld I Adaptation and dlalos by Jacques Natanson for the WB home-ofllce explolteers went for the works, including a $10,000 reward for missing Judge I so'rtlum'cincma Crater. Showed the framed check | Aug. 23. in the lobby and notice said the check was good. and music by Rene Sylvlane. ' Directed by Tourjanskl. Made at Pathe-Natan Joln« vllle studio. Distributed by Pathe Con- Opened at the Marlgnan, Helene. Marcello Chantnl Colonel Jean Worms Philippe Alexandre Rlgnault Lewis Stone as the kindly captain Etienne Fernandel heading the Missing Persons Dept., is shown in sundry cross-sections on how to properly pursue his du ties without working too great a hardship on any of the principals When a playboy husband is found in his love nest he 'suggests, not bringing extra heartaches to his family but a pseudo-amnesia disap Saint-Albert ....Georges Rigaud Marie Paulette Duboao George Claude Lehmann Decidedly aupex*ior to usual run of French films. Not.only does Tour- janskl follow the main events of the original story in careful detail, but manages to transpose the de he pearancTand^irtTmatrdls^^^^ | Maupassant style to tl\e screen stead. When a violin child prodigy atmosphere of the epoch of 12 runs away from his concerts (1890) is adroitly preserved, and the symphony halls because he L Film starts with. the suicide and has the natural.boyhood yen to be £"neraj pf Helene, who has drowned a kid and not a genius, the human herself in the bathtub. Her bewU- equatlon is gotten over. Stone deft- d.erei and brief-stricken husband, a ly gets across the idea of the police colonel in the cavalry, discovers on force being retained to protect not his return home that his wife has persecute the public, etc. left »• letter for him. Her confession Against these colorful but rather la then depicted. Picture gets Its disjointed details. Scenarist Presnell name from the character, Philippe, has wisely thrown a main romance the colonel's orderly, who finds out theme involving Bette Davis and ahout Helene's liaison, with the Pat O'Brien. Just when it threatens handsotne young captain and exacts to become banal, excellent trouping a heavy price for his silence. The and some Inspired dialoglng snap I lovers have a daily rendezvous on it back Into proper gait, and thus a deserted Island, and one fateful the sum total impresses quite favor- day Philippe, having epened a letter ably despite threatening lapses. entrusted in his care which Informs Judicious pacing by Director Del I Helene that her ofilcer will be unable Ruth including not a little skillful | to keep the tryst, seizes the oppor- edltlng and cutting combine to shape tunlty to present himself In Salnt> the 'Bureati of Missing Persons' Into | Albert's place. Overpowered by the a nicely knitted flicker which will please generally. Abel, MILADY (FRENCH MADE) (With Sengs) Henri DIamont-Berger production. Qen^ , ■ m - ■ eral Film release In 17. S. Direction and I votes considerable ZOOtage to adaptation by Henri Dlamant-Berger: D. jian'^Sfr:'SSSt'5SaSS?^f«iM^S|a» the maneuvers ol^ the regiment brute force of the villainous orderly, the colonel's wife can no longer en*- dure the shame of. her position. Story ends with a flashback to the husband finishing the letter and a dramatic scene in which he shoots PhiUppe. To make a full-length feature out of this short tale, Tourjapskl de- ft number of secondary episodes such At Fltth Ave. Playhouse. N. T., tor grind I and the comedy relief love aftair be- mn Sept. 6. Ronninir time.uo mins. I tween Helene's maid, Marie, and c^a'JSSS^ ^'^*^'"*Vim;?'*2i^!l« a formier orderly to the Miu^f!^V.:V.V.::::;f!?.!!..?& MlJi colonel. These scenes, though well Duke ot Buckingham Maurice Escande I done and Supplying CQlor and va- cardinai Richiieu. . . Samson Fainsiiber riety, nevertheless need OUttingrOS Monsieur de Trevllle Harry Baur thpv slow ytn the main Action An- Anne of Autrlche Andree Lafayette \^'}?' Slow Up TOO main aciion. An Louis XIII Femand FranceU Dona Kstefana Marcelle Monttall Duchess Chevreuse Helene Ij«ra Madame de Lannols... Rence Varvllle Rbchefort Henry Baudln Monsieur Romain Planchet • Paul ^t^o;::::::::::::::::::T^^^I^ I serves thefavomwe reception which Aramis Louis Aiiibert | has already placed It as one of the new seasoxL'a successes. other fault Is a needlessly crude treatment of the bestiality of Phi- lippe in his encounters with Helene. a Jarring note in a treatment other- •L'Or- .Romain Bouquet wise marked by good taste. Conine I donnance* holds interest and de Follow-up on 'Three Musketeers,' made by the same French company with the same native cast. Too long and not as action-y as the first film, but it ought to get some fairly good grosses because of the back- ground. In the U, S. it'll do as well as French films can possibly hope for because such a fine example of really good French spoken as to make it outstanding for school purposes. That's about 60% of possible foreign film reveuue in the U. S| today. In this section of the story D'Artagnan continues his old hec- tic life, fighting, dueling, making love and getting into trouble to guard the queen, while Richelieu continues to pester him. It's slower than the first section and the pho- tography isn't quite as good. French like costume stuff. The Dumas yarn is one .they've always had a soft spot for', ma,king it pretty easy over there. Same sets as in the first film helped shear down cost con.giderably. First film im- pressed as being lavish and costly, but with overhead spread two ways It's more understandable. 'Musketeers' got a pretty nice run In French hou.ses in the TJ. S, in May and June and 'Milarlv* ourrht to repeat. Kauf. Bene Syivalne supplies two or three very tuneful songs and a mu- sical score which is pleasing throughout. Cast ia made up of capable and well-known French fa- [ vorlteia, with only one newcomer to the screen—Claude Lehmann. of the Comodle Francalse, who plays an attractive young lieutenant and need have no worry about being in demand for future film roles. I HAVE LIVED Chesterfletd productloti; Ftast DIvlHlon release. Directed by Richard Thorpe. Screen play and dialog by Winifred Dunn from otory by Lou Heintz. In cast: Alan Dlnehart, Anita Paige, Gertrude A.stor. Matthew Betz, Bddle Boland, Maude Truax. Dell HendOrson. Allen Vincent. At Mayfair beginning Sept. 7. Running time. 00 mlhs. Very spotty specimen of produc- tion that at best shapes up for dual positioning. Parts ot this wh6fe the direction is sloveply and where the situations are just ludicrous. There is a speak with such at- mosphere and dialog as to easily pass for a disorderly hou.se. Story as brought to the acvr^on is another back-stiKC effort, rtnly of odd ronKloinf-ration, Anita Paige .ind AInn Dinfh.'irt are the loads. Walj/.