Variety (Dec 1934)

YARIETV FILM REVIEW'S Tuesday* December 25, 1934 r Anne of Green Gables '. RKO Baaio production and release. Fea- tures Anne Shirley. Directed by Qeorge NlchollB. Jr., from L. M. Montgomeryls book; adapted by Sam Mlntz. Cnmern, Luolen Andrlot; musical, Max Stelncr. At Roxy, N. Y., week Deo. 21. Running time, 80 mlns. Anno Shirley.. Anne Shirley Gilbert BIythe, i..i.......Tom Brown Matthew Cuthbert O. P. HeSBlo Marina Cuthbert. Helen Westley Mrs. Barry. Sara Haden Mr. Phillips Murray Klnnell Diana Qertfrude MeaalnKcr Mrs. Belewett's Dnughter... .June Preston Dr.- Tetum Charley Grapewln Mrs. Blowctt. i Hilda VaUBhn 'Anne of the Green Gables' l3 the answer to a prayer so far as clean plx are concerned. It's wholesome, sympathetic; romantic and dra- matic, packing many a heart-tug and tear-jerk, and bound to prove satisfying for all types of audi- ences despite the obvious lacic of marquee strength. " . . Anne Shirley, Tom Brown, O. P. Heggle and Helen Westley in the capitalized billing mean, little out- side the thfeatre, but will mean more Inside. It will do much to establish Anne Shirley, who has taken her professional nom-de-ssrcen from the 'Anne Shirley' character In the li. M. Montgomery classic. It par- allels the profe'sslonal billing stunt done when Tom Brown ('Tom Brown of Culver') was given his marquee handle. Orphan Annie's influence on Gi'een Gables Is relieved by an adolescent garrulousness that is most natural and captivating. Her conversion of the dour sister (Helen Westley) Is a fine screen portrait, while the already basically sympa- . thetlc brother (Ou. P. Heggle) mel- lows into another excellent celluloid characterization. Tom Brown's adolescent beau likewise develops into a manly and ■matured swain as Anne outgrows • her pigtails and Into young woman- hood. Homespun setting la almost Idyl- lic in a natural, bucolic Prince Ed- ward Island (Canada) locale which clhematographer Liucien Andrlot has deftly caught in a sequence of ' fetching landSQapes, isoft shadows and the like. All of the support is of like his- trionic par, notably Sara Had^n and Gertrude Messlnger. Ahei, The Mighty Bamum Twelritleth- Century 'production and Onlted Artists release. Stars Wallace Beery and Adolpbe Menjou. Directed by "Walter Lang. Story by Gene Fowler and Bess Meredyth. Aesoclate producers, 'William Goetz and Raymond Orlflltb. At Rlvoll, N. T., for run Dec 22. Running time, 87 mlns. Phlneas T. Barnum Wallace Beery Mr. B. Walsh. « Adolphe Menjou Jenny Llnd Virginia Bruce Bllen t Rochelle Hudson Mancy Barnum Janet Beecher - Todd Tammany Toune Jolce Heath liUclUe La Verne Gen. Tom Thumb George Brasno Lavlnla Thumb Olive Braano Gilbert Richard Brasno Bearded Lady May Boley J. P. Sklft John Hyama . P. T. Parnum'3 life, the things he did and the things that were done to him up to the time of the in- Bplratlon for the circus that was to become Barnum & Bailey, proves engrossing If not sensational screen entertainment as here produced. It possesses all the elements, except an occasional lack of speed, to In- sure returns of average to good. Opening on scenes of the present- day Barnum & Bailey show, a great plug for that circus, the story turns back 100 years to the time when Barnum was operating a general Btore In New York, He had a pen- . chant_for _ cplleciing _freaks,. .soma-- thing which at an early stage caused difficulties with his New England farm wife, who, however, put up with it In the face of Barnum's disarming simplicity and clumsy gentleness. This and other earlier sequences are very meaty and compact, whereas In the second half the action slows a bit here and there In telling portions of the Btory that could have been glossed over with less detail. Picture runs 87 minutes, leaving plenty of room for further cutting^. The Jenny Liind sequences are In- clined to slow matters. Two so- prano solos are Included where one might have been enough. Virginia Bruce, as Jenny Lind, In sing- ing appears to have the benefit of a dubbed-In voice It Is not explained where the money comes from to reopen the place, and stock It with animals and the like. The final sequence has enemies setting fire to the museum, Barnum losing all again, although he's happier in that i.ls wife has re- turned to him and an old friend, Bailey Walsh, who Is to rise to fame with him in clrcuedom, has also come back. W;alsh has brought back from England the Jumbo which I^Ind had purchased for him as a token of her forgiveness for the awful mess Barnum had made of a dinner In her honor. With Jumbo, and the team of Barnum and Walsh (changed to Bailey, Walsh's first name) parading down the street, Barnum hits upon the idea of playing under tent and traveling from city to city, remark- ing it will be called 'Barnum & Bailey, the Greatest Show on Earth' and that some day people may re- member us. On this the picture fades for a finish to a banner of the present-day circus of that name, together with that appellation. Adolphe Menjou, playing the re- formed druuk who Is to become Ballcy, Is capital in his assignment, with Rochelle Hudson for charming love Interest. As Beery's wife, Janet Beecher gives a commendable per- formanctj. There are many other lesser types In the cast which go to make up a picturesque back- ground for the exploits and Inci- dents that were a part of the life of the groat showman. Char. Beery's performance is the heart of the picture. . At once he is a quaint and mischievous but lovable character bent on making money out of his freaks. Despite the danger of a split with his con Beryatlvely-reared wife, Barnum ■ighs up. Jolce Heth, supposed nursemaid to George Washington, who's later exposed as a fake. Then Zorro, the hearded lady, who , double-crosses him when It Is charged she, too, Is a phoney. These setbacks fall to deter the neophyte showman and he tries again, this time becoming so suc- cessful with Tom Thumb and his little midget wife (a cute, little trick) that he brings Jenny Lind over. His romance with the singer . causes P. T. to neglect his museum of freaks as well as his wife, losing both plus the continued engagement over here of Miss Lind. This puts him back to where he began. A fantastic twist is the manner In ^hich the freaks of his museum %rlng him back- to that enterprise. HERE IS MY HEART (WITH SONGS) Paramount production and release, di- rected by Frank Tuttle. Blng Crosby and Kitty Carlisle featured. Adapted by Edwin Justus Mayer and Harlan Thompson, from Alfred Savoir's 'Grand Duchess and the Walter.' Songs by Ralph Ralnger, Leo Robin, Lewis Genslcr. Karl Struss, photog. At Paramount, N. T., week Dec. 21. Run- ning time; 75 mlns. J. Paul Jones Bing Crosby Princess Alexandra,......... Kitty Carlisle Prince Nlekolas.. .Roland Toung Countess Rostova.........Alison Sklpworth Prince Vladimir Reginald Owen James Smith., William Prawley Suzette , 4 Cecelia Parker 9'»l'"e ;..Marian Mansfield H're'ns Charles E. Amt Hotel Manager ./yklm Tamlroff Walter Arthur Housman A setup for the Crosby fans and an excellent example of niuslcal comedy picture making. 'Here Is My Heart' should have an easy time of it most anywhere. Crosby is in fine voice, the songs he was handed are honies, and the story serves nicely as something to hang the singing and the songs on. It's a wise scenario that knows Its own father, but If this one recog- nizes papa, Sherlock Holmes might Just as well go back to pounding the beat. Alfred Savoir's 'Grand Duchess and the Walter' lies some- where between the title sheet and the final fadeout. And though it seems they adapted it by running It through an electric fan, they've managed to save enough pieces to make a highly entertaining picture. The duchess is now a princess, which Is close enough, . and the waiter is now a singing waiter, which isn't even close, but okay while Bing Crosby does the singing. Kitty Carlisle being the princess, nee duchess, eliminates the possi- bility of any complaints over that switch. Either through fault of the script or due to heavy cutting, the start of the picture is rather hazy. But In 10 minutes or so the tfoupe is Into the meat of the story and from then on it holds. It's nonsensical all the way, but pleasant nonsense, .and. the_wxltlng_ln_the-last-half-of- the picture is splendid. To make the character fit the man, the waiter Is now an American radio crooner. He has plenty of money, so he must be taking for plugs without telling. When the object of his affections on a Riviera Jaunt becomes the princess, he fol lows Savoir's original instructions and dons the regalia of a waiter The waiter:-princess romance, ever an amusing situation, remains so under Frank Tuttle's direction, and as rewritten for this version by Ed- win Justus Mayer and Harlan Thompson. While the romance is in the oven with Crosby's singing to heat It up, several fat comedy parts are in- dulged in by such graduate laugh grabhens—as_Roland—^oungi—^BIH- Hiniatiire Reviews 'Anne of the Qreen Qablea' (Radio). Orphan Annie classic certain to please all and estab- lish Anne Shirley for future marquee value. The Mighty Barnum (UA). Good entertainment, though alow in spots. Wallace Beery tops fine cast. 'Here vs My Heart' (Piar). Comedy with songs featuring Bing Crosby and Kitty Car- lisle, First rate entertain- ment, 'Ticket to Crime' (Beacon), Weak mixture of comedy with murder mystery. Dull enter- tainment, 'The Band Plays On'(MGM>. Football picture, slow, long and weak on cast names. 'Bachelor Bait' (Radio). A comedy that misses fire, but performance of Stuart Erwln should tickle the matrons: 'Bright Eyes' (Fox). Shirley Temple in a well-miade comr edy of general appeal. TICKET TO CRIME Produced by Max Alexander and released by Beacon. Directed by Lewis D. Collins, Adaptation by Jack Neville, from original story of Carroll John Daly; dialog, Charles A. Logue, camera, Gilbert Warrenton. At Times, N. Y., Dec. 10. In three days as half double bill. Running time, 60 mlns. Clay Holt Ralph Graves Mrs. Purdy ; Lois Wilson Peggy Cummlngs Lola Lane Detective Lieut. McGlnnls Jomce Burke Courtney Mallory... Charles Ray Mr." Purdy.I........... Edward Earle Jerry Papolas ' Hy Hoover Mr. .Davidson '.John Elliott ■'Ticket to Crime' isets out to merge, a Sergt Qulrt-Capt. Flagg cross fire with a comedy-mystery. Attempt at . whodunit a:ngle will fiabbergast the lowlest of intelli- gence quotients and the comedy runs so thin It becomes painful. The Quirt-Flagg routine rarely gets beyond 'Izat So?' and 'Sez Tou.' It's all Just a picture. Comedy byplay simmers around Ralph Graves, ex-city dick who has gone into the sleuthing business, as a • private enterprise, and James Burke, who draws his envelope^ from the local police. In all their en- counters, verbal or professional. Graves shows up his former con- frere, the stock dumb cop. In the pother that is supposed to pass for mystery and crime detection' they pair off nicely, but the material al- lows for little. Among the items Included in the plot Is a murder, a string of pearls and $60,000. Both the buildup and the unraveling take so many cir- cuitous routes there isn't a pretense of suspense in the narrative. Foi^ love Interest Graves and liola Lane, cast as the former's adoring stenog, who by the elimination of tortoise- shell glasses and a change of tog- gery transforms from an ugly duckling to a beauty, spar valiantly with the sappy dialog, Iiois Wilson and Charles Ray also are In, but like the others give facial evidence of wondering what it's all about. Odec. Frawley, Alison Sklpworth, Arthur Housman, and Reginald Owen. An- other, principal Is Marian Mansfield, playing a vague voyager on the crooner's yacht. Somewhat confus- ing that her presence is never ex- plained, although It probably won't make much difference. Ralnger-Roblh-Gensler threesome turned in a singable acore for Crosby's use. 'June ih January,' 'Love Is Just Around the Corner,' and "With Every Breath I Take,' are selling tunes already, particu- larly 'January.' Crosby gets a music cue every few feet, and always, answers,. but never tires.' He can make a eonga- log into a feature picture because he gives the vocalizing something more than Just a voice, , To change the pace the director haig him sing- ing while doing everything" but hanging from a chandelier. One well planned departure has Crosby In a duet with himself with a phonograph for a teammate. Wg9. THE BAND PLAYS ON M-G-M production and release. Features Robert Young, Stuart Erwln, I^eo CarrlUo, Betty" FurneBHrTed-Heii;iy,-"Prearo'n"Foarei' and Russell Hardle, Directed by Russell Mack. Based oq story, 'Baoklleld,' by Byron Morgan and J, Robert Bren, and upon story, The Gravy Game,' by Harry Stubldreher and W. Thornton Martin. Adaptation by Bernard Schubert, Ralph Spence and Harvey Gates. Photography by Leonard Smith, Film editor, WllUam Levanway, At Capitol, N. Y., for four days starting Friday, Dec< 21, Running time, 87 min. Tony Robert Young StuKy Stuart Erwln Angelo Leo Carrlllo KItty....,i« ; Betty B^irness Joe.. : Ted Healy Howdy i. ; Preston Foster Mike Russell Hardle Rosy William Tannen Bob Stone Robert Livingston Stuffy as a child Norman Phillips, Jr. Tony aa a child David Durand Rosy as a child Sidney Miller Mike as a child......i..BeaudIne Anderson Kitty as a child Betty Jean Graham Mr. Thnmns Joseph Sauera. two yarns used into screen enter- tainment which falls to rise above ii mild state. Picture starts out on a nov^ pre- mise with the arrest of four tough young street kids for running off with someone's Ford as a prank. They are committed by a benign Judge to an organized playground which is under the direction of a football coach In off season. He turns the kids Into football players, building the quartet Into a back- field that eventually makes 'em the college pride of old Pacific. When the coach's best Interests In their behalf are mistaken for self- ishness, one lad gets Injured and. the other throe walk out. on the team, leaving it a season of bitter defeats. Boys soften and come back tho next year with their talis figuratively between their legs and the, coach, while taking them on, gives them the bitter pill by keep- ing 'em on the bench most of the first big game. After sufficient punl ment they go in and although holding thpir adversaries to a tie- one surprise for the screen—all is forgiven and Robert Toung clasps necks with the girl for a happy fin- ish. Considerable newsreel footage on games and crowds has been spliced in, together with playing and prac- tice staged for the picture. In fact, there is too niuch of it but not much that's very exciting. The whole cast does satisfactorily with- out wlflning any laurels. Preston Foster makes a good coach type. Carrlllo, as a campus wop with the familiar Carrlllo dialect, and Healy aa a side street mugg working rack- ets try hard to provide comedy but their efforts neVer get very far. Char. BACHELOR BAIT Radio production and release. Directed by George Stevens. Screen play. Glenn IVrpn, from story by Edwnrd and Victor Halperln. Camera, David Abel. At Tlvoll, N.-Y,, as half double bill, Dec, 18. Running time, 80 mlns. Wilbur Pess Stuart Erwln Linda ..Rochelle Hudson AlUe Summers ;..,, Pert Kelton Vnn Dusen Skeeta GHllngher Biff Barney Berton Churchill Don Belden Grady Sutton District Attorney.". ...Clarence Wilson Narrative is tangled up with un- essentlals, but the theme' and Stuart Erwln should get this one by in the naborhoods. Particularly, If It- balances the other side of a double bill. Erwln overcomes the story with a human and sympathy-snaring performance. .He plays his stock character for all the meekness and sweetness there Is In it, and matronly fans will forgive the pic- ture's long and frequent stretches of dullness for the ending that finds the spreader of sunshine rewarded with a fast one over th6 politician and the girl. The girl Is Rochelle Hudson and the politician, Berton Churchill, Both fill in nicely. ■ Idea of the yarn suggests a wealth of' comedy possibilities, but instead of drawing on these possibilities thp film elects to keep the heart interest between Erwln and Miss Hudson at a boll. Occasionally the picture blossoms o\it with some snap dialog, practically all these moments go- ing to Skeets Gallagher and Pert Kelton. Cast as an ex-married couple, who have their picks and shovels out for the gold mine that Erwln's matrimonial bureau offers,- they do well by their material. Fired from his Job as a clerk in the marriage license bureau, Erwln -becomes-cnprd'FTittle helper "by or- ganizing his own match-making agency. It prospers, and when \'- reaches the level of big-tlme busi- ness the town's political boss in- sists on being permitted to buy in Top situation comes from the boomeranglng of a frame hatchcC between the politician and his Dup- pet district attorney. Qdec. DIRTY WORK (BRITISH MADE) _ London, Dec. 11. r.r;!»/"5"l"^'i"'''^ production end release Directed by Tom Walls. In cast: Ralnh Lynn Gordon Harker, RoberUon Hare time 72 mlns.' ProvlewSd Prince Edward theatre, London, Dec. 6 Profesaor Hackett,, .Henry Kolker This is a football picture and as such it's a little late in reaching, re- lease for best seasonal results. It is long and tiresome, too detailed in many of Its se.4uences, and at the box office augurs no better than mild results. There are no names to offset the natural weaknesses of the picture for public consumption. Robert Young, Stuart Erwln, Russell Hardle and William 'Tan- nen as a crack backfield quartet, with Betty Furness for love interest and the Leo CarriUo-Ted Healy team for light comedy, Is what's of- fered. Two stories were used for the production of 'The Band Plays On,' one called 'Backfield' (an original), the other 'The Gravy Game,' which was published in the Saturday Eve- ning Post. A third story would be needed to put the film over for a touchdown, plus perhaps a fourth writer on the adaptation. Three are credited with tidying to whip the ^'or the past 10 years there have been produced at the Aldwych a series of farces In which Tom "Walls and Ralph Lynn were starred and Robertson Hare featured. This one was not as successful as some of the others, having run only five months. With Tom Walls as director, and Lynn and Hare featured, it would be reasonable to expect the fllmlza- tlon would draw. Add to this the popular Gordon Harker, following a scries of Walter Hackett stage pro- ductions, and, on form, the whole thing looks like a good bet. It prob- ably Is—for England, Trio of players aforo-mentloned depict a fine set of Imbeciles. At the trade-show the audience rocked with laughter almost continuously, de.tplte the fact there was hot even a modicum of plausibility In the plot.. Reactions of an American audi- ence jto this piotute ihould be oulte Vtitt opposite. /olOi SPLENDID FELLOWS (AUSTRALIAN-MADE) Sydney, Nov, 10, J, C, WIUIamaon-Beaumont Smith pro- duction, Relooacd through British Empire. Directed by Beaumont Smith, In caati Brio Colman, Frank Lclghton, Leo Frank- lyn, IsaboUo Mahon, Frank Bradley, Charles Zoll. Story by Beaumont Smltht dialog directed by Ken Dram])ti)n; plio- tosriMPhy, George Malcolm. Re\-lowcd at Lyceum, Sydney. Running time, as mine. Main b.o. Interest lies In fact that Ronald Colman's brother, Erio Colman, plays the lead. Publicity boys are playing up this angle more than the pic Itself, Young Colman has a nice speaking voice and that'a about all. Ronald can rest easy; his brother will not steal much of his thunder either here or abroad. This Is the first local pic to break away entirely from the bush type excepting 'Dean Maltland.' Pio will get a lot of money here. Should make an Impression in England, but is unsulted for America because of slbw- tempo and very weak dialog. Pic carries no sex appeal, and very little comedy. Cast mostly re- cruited from Williamson legit. Femme lead Is dreadfully weak and a drawback to film's possibilities abroad. 'Splendid Fellows' is right up to the minute in news, dealing with the Centenary air race. Most of this was culled from newsreels. Story is weak and tells of an Englishman banished from home by his father and sent to Australia, together with his valet. English- man falls in love with an Australian lass soon after arrival. Later meets an air-minded padre and he and his valet assist In building a plane to compete in the big race. Eng- lishman and valet fly back to Eng- . land in time to start in the air trek back. Meanwhile padre and a blind prospector crash while flying over desert coimtry. Englishman and valet lead in race to Australia. Radio gives out news that padre Is missing and the leaders decide to forego winning the race and set off to find the lost padre. Beaumont Smith direction is not of the best, but film holds Interest because of the recent result of the air race from England to Australia. In a few weeks or so the interest will' not be so hot and b.o. will suf- fer as a result. Nevertheless, 'Splendid Fellow^ is one of the best locals produced. Rick. BRIGHT EYES Fox production and release. Stara Shirley Temple. Features James Dunn. PrnduceA by Sol Wurtzel. Directed by David Biltler. Story, Butler, William Counsolman and Edwin Burk(>. Cameraman, Arthur Miller. At Radio City Music Hall, N, Y., week Dec. 20. Running time, 64 mlns. Shirley Blake Shirley Tempi* Loop Merrltt Jamea Duna Mrs. Hlgglns Jane Darwell Adele Martin Judith Alien Mary Blake Lois Wilson Uncle Nod Smith...........;Charlea 6ellon Thomas TValter Johnson Joy Sniythe Jane Wither* J, Wellington Smythe... .Theodor von Elt« Anita Smythe Dorothy Christy Hlgglns Brandon Hurst Judge Thompson Geor.i^e Irvlnf No reason to doubt that 'Bright Byes' is a boxoffice picture, Shirley Temple dra.ws and this picture has been tailored to her . measure. It seems a cinch to please generally, the family and sentimental strata in particular. Setting out to write an original story to reveal the kldlet in her most attractive manner, Butler, who Als.o—^directed,. . Counsclman—and- Burke have done a swell script for the purposes intended. There's mor* than a few throat-lumping scenes, lota of giggles and a group of char- acters easy to like On the pro-Shir- ley side and easy tq dislike on the anti-Temple side. Especially clever is the. Inclusion of , another little girl, somewhat older than the Temple tot and the opposite to her. Whereas the star Is winsome, gay, unselfish and lovable, the rich kid, played with attention- commanding conviction by Jane Withers, is a brat who is full of spleen, meanness, snobbery and guile. Her parents, Theodore von Eltz and Dorothy Christy, are a snooty pair with small humanity and much affectation. —A melodrn.matlc—sectuenee—has— James Dunn balling out from a huge passenger a.eroplane and carrying Shirley on the parachute Jump. That's the least believable part of a story that is otherwise reasonable.. There is a note of tragedy wheo Shirley's housemaid-mother (Lois Wilson) is killed in an automobile accident, and during a Christmas party the starlet sings a song for the aviators at the fiylng field bar- racks. Love affair between James Dunn and Judith Allen Is a slender thread but provides the satisfactory solu- tion to the adoption dlspute'over th« child which ends the picture. Her<t marries the heroine and Uncle Ned, the chalr-rldden old millionaire whQ has fallen in love with the young- ster, moves in with them. Incident- ally, Charles Sellon, who.turns in a standout performance every now and then, rings the bell again heroj Regarded as vehicle for a child star, this is one of the moat Intelll- cent efforts in the history of a comv paratively difficult branch of plcturt making. " Jtcwd.