Variety (Apr 1935)

iredneadaj, April 3, 1935 LM REVIEWS VARIETY 17 PRIVATE WORLDS PaiamDunt production and release. Stare 5|aud«tt«. Colbert; features Cbarles Boyer, oan Bennett Directed by Gregory La- C«.vs< Producer, Walter Wanepr. Baaed on novel by Phyllle Bottome; screen Play And adaptation, Ljnnn Starling; camera, Leon Shaniroy. At Paramount, N. T., week March 27, '8S. Running time, 80 mins. Jane Everest Claudette Colbert Charles Moneti.'. Charles Boyer 'Alex UacGregor Joel Mc(>en Sally MacGregor., Joan Bennett Claire Helen Vinson Matron Esther Dale Dr. Arnold Sam Hinds Carrie Jean Rpuvcrol Dr. Harding Theodore von Eltz Dr. Barnes , Stanley Andrewx Jerry -• Big Boy Williams Arab Nick Shald If Walter Wanger can taHe a heretofore tabu subject and make It palatable for Alms; If he can present a clinical-psychiatrical sub- ject and sugar-coat it with laughs and romance; it he, his director and cast are capable of. hurdling hereto- fore admitted barriers for the box offlce and combine all the negative elements Into a favorable composite, then by all standards 'Private Worlds' more than offsets the nega- tive elements. Fortified by a potent marquee draw in Claudette Colbert, Charles Boyer, Joan Bennett, Helen Vinson and Joel McCrea, the film should get 'em In and once In it'll hold 'em. It's av&lass flick, but with a femme appeal that should Insure fair b.o. Set against a morbid background, that of a mental hospital, it tekirts the clinical and the laboratory as- pects, emphasizes the romanticism and the melodramatlcs, and only utilizes the Institution's inmates for the more virile moments. Director LaCava has done a high- ly sensitized transmutation of Phyl- lis Bottome's last year's best seller of the same name, and Lynn Star- ling rates a bouquet for the equally careful adaptation. Both have grasped the best ele- ments of Miss Bottome's thesis and broadly, yet delicately, Interpreted them, into celluloid. Save for the first 15 lethargic minutes, the ex- position of the theme of 'Private Worlds' is painted in broad dra- matic strokes. The idea that all in- dividuals live in their own private worlds is merely dwelt upon In the introductory title, otherwise all the academic inferences are out. The sanatorium where psychi-" atrlsts Colbert, Boy^r and McCrea are thrown together is kept In a sufficiently country-clubby atmos- phere without becoming unfaithful to authenticity. The mental maelstroms which some of the patients must meet, perforce, are introduced solely for allegorical purpose, ao the In- stance where Dr. Jane Everest (Miss Colbert) copes with Big Boy Williams, playing a burly inmate in an ugly mood. This is done to 11- - lustrate the advantages of gentle understanding between patient and medico, as opposed to the old-school 'solitary' and other forms of pun- ishment. Miss . Colbert's performance Is among h^r tops. She manifests her usual restralnst-and- Intelligently gets across the spirit of her own little 'private world'—that of nur- turing a romance with a shadow of the past, a boy who lost his life In the war. Charles Boyer's private world has been the shielding of his murderess- sister (capably played by Helen Vinson) who, although acquitted, is seemingly guilty of the 'fall' which took the life of his best friend, her husband. Joel McCrea's private world as co-\Corker with Dr. Everest (Col- bert) and his unintentional neglect of his domestic life—further com- plicated by the advent of the siren whom Miss Vinson personates so competently—Is similarly depicted in intelligent vein. Joan Bennett as his wife is at her dramatic best in that assignment. There ' are other" tiptop castings. Esther Dale as the vacillating matron, Sam Hinds' kindly Dr. Arnold, Jean . Rouverol as the demented Carrie Flynn are among those who stand up and out in the histrionics. It's a woman's picture essentially, which of course, means they'll drag in the mem For general appeal there's enough intelligent light and -Shade, -expert—delineation—of char- acter and generally fine production values to satisfy. It's perhaps a bit too fine for anything but a fair grosser, while In class spots it should do better than that. A.leh Traveling Saleslady First Natloni^l production and release. Stars Joan Blondell. Glenda Farrell. Di- rector, Ray Enrlght. Story. Frank Howard Clark: adaptation, HuRh Herbert, Manuel Soft, Benny Rubin; dialog director, Gene Lewis; film editor, Owen Marks; camera, George Barnes. At Strand, N. T., week March 57, '35. Running time, 75 mIns. Angela TwItcheH.,., .ijoan Blondell Claudette Glenda Farrell Pat O'Connor William Gargan Elmer • Hugh Herbert Rurus IC Tv>;ltchell.... Grant Mitchell Schmidt , Al Shean Mllllcent.,., , .Ruth Donnelly Mnlton.,-. Johnny Arthur Harry Bert Roach Snappy ^comedy with plenty of laughs In the dialog and a light plot played for full value by the Warner stock cast. Latter hah, In turn, re- J'elvcd excellent dlueetlon and flat- tering photogi^iJBy. Carried bjr itM trimmings, 'Traveling Saleslady' will please and should do all right at the wicket. Plot doesn't strive to make much sense—and fortunately it isn't taken too seriously in the treatment—but it does serve, and very well, to set the stage for frequent laughs, at the same time giving the troupe's sev- eral comedians a lot of room in which to comede. Briefly,. It provides free wheeling for a resourceful pro- duction crew. Joan Blondell plays the lietme role, and a few such hot numbers on commercial sales staffs probably wouldn't do industry any harm at alL As a saleslady. Miss Blondell is out principally to teach her stern father a lesson. Father Is a con- servative toothpaste manufacturer who won't even advertise on the air, let alone give, his own daughter a crack at selling. So the daughter, connects with a rival concern and mops up to the extent that her father's grosses look like Holy Week in Boston. Chief. side Issue for comedy Is a nutty Inventor played by Hugh Her- bert, who also wrote-Thc role, and didn't do himself any injury. Her- bert on his own gets more laughs than are to be found in the average picture, besides which 'Traveling Saleslady' gets some additional comedy results from Johnny Ar- thur, Bert Roach, and Miss Blondell herself. The only one overlooked in the comedy department Is Ruth Donnelly, who is wasted oh a few flashes in a mother role. William Gargan, Grant Mitchell, Al Shean and Glenda Farrell also deliver, although Miss Farrell might be expected to have more to do In view of her co-star billing with Miss Blondell. A- new type camera, developed by Warners, is understood to have been wielded by George Barnes in pho- tographing this one. The result is unusual definition of the players against the background and a sense of more depth all around. Most noticeable Improvement In a photo- graphic way has to do with Mrs. Barnes (Miss Blondell), who looks better than ever. Understood War- ners will use these new cameras on all future pictures. Bige. Man Who Knew Too Much Gaumont-Brltlsh production and release. Stars Edna Best and Leslie Banks. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Story, Charles Bennett and D. B. Wyndham Lewis; scenario, Edwin Greenwood and A. R. Rawllnson; additional dialog, Emlyn Williams; camera. Curt Courant. At May- fair, N, T., week. March 21, '86. Run- ning time 74 mlns. Bob Lawrence .f .LesIle Banks Jill Lawrence...; Edna Best. Betty Ijawrence .....Nova PUbeam Abbott .Peter Lorre Olive Hugh Wakefleld Louis Bernard..; Pierre Fresnay Gibson George Curzon Ramon.. .Frank- Vosper Nurse Agnes Cicely Gates Blnstead D. A. Clarke-Smith An action film from E'ngland Is unusual. This one has enough exr cltement and production value to jstack'tfp.! It's not big' time, largely because of paucity of names for the U. S., but it ought to please any audience that can be coaxed in and should do okay by Itself in nabes, and a cinch for double bills. An unusually fine dramatic story here and handled excellently from a production standpoint. It's results here may disappoint Britain some- what because its obviously geared for major playing. The discrepancy is in the names.. If this film had. one, or two, American names of fair strength It would romp. Edna Best and Leslie Banks are starred. In Britain that's undoubt- edly correct, but in New. York what? Peter Lorre and Nova Pilbeam are not even featured in the billing. Lorre's Is the best name In the U. S. of the lot, he being at the moment on the Coast waiting for Columbia to find a script, and hav- ing caused a stir through his work in 'M,' German talker. Miss Pil- beam starred In 'Little Friend,' a G-B pic earlier this season,- and was nicely received. Rest of the cast holds Hush. Wakefield, George Curzon and Frank Vosper, all mean- ing something in London but not over here. Pierre Fresnay, French -star-wJio-has-wor-ked-up-a-bit-of-a- New Yor4c-r-epr-i3-bui=^Ied-l«-aMvalk- on assignment. For the .same coin the producers could probably have gotten one or twa cast names from Hollywood. Then they'd have had no worries. Another item is the dialog. A cop walks on and says, 'I'd rather be on point duty.' That's all right in Lon- don, but who In New York knows that what he's trying to say is, 'I'd rather be-a trafflc cop'? Despite these thlngpS film is gripping, speaking much • for Its basic merit. Built along gangster lines, but from an international crook standpoint, with a- lot of melodramatic suspense added. ' Starts at a party Jn St. Moritz. A man Js shot during a dance. He whispers to a friend that there's a message In a brush in his bathroom. Friend realizes the dying, man was in the secret service aiid gets the message. - Befor^he-€an-e<Mftmu-ftl' cats with the police he Is handed a note saying his daughter .hag breri kidnapped and will be killed If he talks. Back to London and the cop9 oem't tnak* tb* man or hla wife Miniature Reviews 'Private Worlds' (Par). Fine but not too artistic production which Is aided by the Col- bert-Boyer-Bennett marquee strength, Woman's picture of fair b.o. potentialities; 'Traveling Saleslady' (WB). Good comedy. that should get results. Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell co-starred. 'Man Who Krtew Too Much' (G-B). British action pic re- stricted by. marquee. weakness, but will hold 'em once they're In. 'I'll Love You Always' (Col). Sombre and mediocre script given fair production but es- sentially dubious entertainment. •The Ghott Walks' (Chester- field).- - Ai>eye average- - indie mystery film. 'Rocky Mountain Mystery' (Par). Zane Grey western with a different background, lias comedy, mystery and action. Good entertalnrnent of kind. Randolph Scott heads cast. "The Port of Lost Dreams' (Chesterfield). Above average indie of gangster flavor. Bill Boyd and Lola Lane on top. 'Texas Terror* (Mono). An- other in the. John Wayne : series, and as fast, furious and rlpsnortin'. Oliay for the nabes and duals. 'Burn ^Em Up Barnes' (Mas- cot). A 12-chapter serial slapped together as a feature. Just footage. say anything. Finally man traces a telephone call and, after some ad- ventures on his own, locates the gang's meeting place. Discovers that an attempt will be made to Idll a famous International states- man at Albert Hall that night and manages to communicate that news to his wife, although he Is held prisoner. Wife goes to the Hall to listen to the concert and manages to foil the shooting, which leads to a raid on th^ gang headquarters, slaughter of the gang and rescue of the man and the child. Scene at Albert Hall, taken either In the Hall Itself or a replica, is highly exciting and beautifully handled. Raid on the gang head- quarters may strike Americans as tame. It is tame, compared to America. But it is authentic for England, where riot cars and ma- chine guns for cops are myths. Acting is splendid most all of the way. Banks Is a fine actor, al- though the assignment is a bit heavy for him. Miss Best looks well but is not convincing in some of the toughest passages. Lorre's work stands out. again. -He's the. gaYig chief. . His makeup is not what it should be but he Impresses never- theless. Nothing wrong with any of the other parts from a playing standpoint. Picture could have stood more comedy by Hugh Wake- field and some of the minor char- acters. Latter not unknown in New York through appearing in stage revue. Film is down to normal running time and that's a help. Katif, I'll Love You Always Columbia production and release. Fea- tures Nancy Carroll and George Murphy. Directed by Leo Bulgakov. Story by iJaw- rence Hazard, adapted by Vera Caspary and Sidney Buchman; camera, Joseph Au- gust. At Roxy, N. Y., week March 29, '35. Running time, 75 mlns. Nora ...Nancy Carroll Carl George Murphy Charlie Raymond Walbum Mac ; .Jean Dixon Jcrgen ......i Arthur Hohl Sandstone Paul Harvey Old Actor Harry Bercstord A depressing picture proving nothing and simply stretching out 75 . odd m'Inu.tes .to show that it's hard to get a job nowadays. It's 4>ub&t-a-nt-iaily-thc-same-plot as a re- cent -First-National opus, 'Gentle- men Are Born.' Doesn't go far enough in reall.sm to be serious or significant drama. And isn't clever' enough in its various tear-behlnd- thc-laugh sentime-ntalltles to stand out. Verdict will be negative if asked to soco. Fair for double bills. . Picture has a bright and breezy opening sequence and here and there, notably a diaper-changing scene, some bit.s lift it out of the average due to the-rather tasty and sincere direction of Leo Bplgakov. But as entertainment it's a trite and In- ferior reiteration of thlng.s that have been said before and, for the average film-goer, presumably pack.>< little cngros.sment and no glamour. A young engineer (Ocorgo Mur- phy) is too cocksure for his. own good and when the honi^ymoon In over hia loving bride, a, former ac- trma (Nanny Carroll) finds him not ■too- good a- sport In taking the blctivs. Culminates after a serios of quarrels with the hu.yband going to Jail for larceny while the wife thinks- him In Russia on an en- gineering job. fibo, meanwhilo, hasn't said anything about the ex- pectant baby. ^Pretty hard to And much sym- pathy for the boy. He turns down or loses several jobs and then steals for an essentially frivolous purpose, squandering part of the stolen money in Atlantic City. An Incred - ibly genteel detective (Arthur Hohl) let's the felon finish his last grand- stand play and later the head of ah engineering firm who has known the boy only casually not only tut-tuts the theft of the money but becomes Santa Claus. Nancy Carroll gives an intelligent and believable performance. Mur- phy Is hard to figure. .Would, ap- pear the lighter' passages are' his natural level. Facially he's a bit immobile for soul agony. Jean Dixon does nicely . with the only other part which isn't a bit. Land. OH DADDY! (BRITISH-MADE) London, March 14. Gainsborough production, released through Gaumont-Brltlslr. Directed by Graham Cutts. In cast, Leslie Henson, Franccb Day, Robertson Hare. Adapted by Austin MeUord, from original by Franz Arnold and Ernst BaOh. Running time, 73 mlns. Prevlewed^Tlvoll theatre, London, March 13. Story Is one of tliose surefire things that cannot fail, if .done with any degree of competency. With Henson in the principal role, sup- ported by Robertson Hare, it is ever surer, Then there is Frances Day, a diminutive comedienne who has evidently been having her voice cultivated and shows every sign of improvement as a vocalist. . Lord Pye (Henson) is the big noise in a little English village. He is married to a widow who has a daughter whom he has never seen. She is supposed to be living in Can- ada but is In reality a cabaret dancer in London. This Is unknown to his lordship, who Is a hypocritical member of the local Purity League dominated by his .uncle. Lord Pye leaves the village to go to Birming- ham to attend a meeting of the Purity League, misses his train in London, and lands in the very cab- aret at which his unknown step- daughter is the star. In his absence his wife decides to visit her daughter and the fat Is in the Are. Just the usual ingredients for a conventional farce, but with such inimitable artists it ia a riot of fun that will entertain any audience speaking the English language. Whole film is fast and furious, plus having a splendid sequence of cabaret scenes. Every part Is played to a nicety by competent actors, production being more than ade- quate without being sumptuous, and the direction leaving little to be de- sired. A suitable candidate for A mciican booking. Jolo. IGLOI DIAKOK ('Students of Iglo') (HUNGARIAN MADE) (Musical) Budapest, March .14, Eco production, made nt Hunnia, Buda> post. Directed by Istran Gyorgy, adapted irom an operetto by Imre Farkus; scenario, Ivan SIklossy; photography, Laszio Schaf- rer; music, Imre Farkas and Dezso P. Hor- vath; lyrics, Dezso Keller. Cast: Marjette Gcrvay, Paul Javor, Lajos Markus, George Denes, Julius Kabos, Julius Gozon, Joseph Kurthy, Laszio Z. Molnar,' Eva SIklossy, Ilona Dajbukat, Laszio Keleti, Lajos Gar- donyl. Presented at Urania Theatre, Buda-^ pest. THE GHOST WALKS • Invincible productlon -and- Chesterfield-re'- Icase. Features John Mlljan, June Collyer. orrector, E.rank Strayer. Producer, Magry M. Cohen; Htory, Charles S, Belden; nim editor. Roland Reed; camera, M. A. An- derson. At . Criterion, N. Y., on double lilll, commencing March 29, '35. Running time, CO mlns. " ^ Pre.'icolt AmcH .Tohn Mlljan Gloria Shaw.. ..Juno Collyer Wood ..I Richard Carle The Professor Spencer Charters Ersklne Johnny Arthur Dr. Kent.. Henry Kolkcr Terry Donald KIrke Beatrice , Kvo* Southern Carroway Douglas Gerrard Jarvis Wilson Benge Head Guard.. Jack Shutta 'The Ghost Walks' Is above the average of its kind, and for the playdates for which It is Intended, It has only the fact that It's a mys- tery film to sell for box office pur- poses, but it will please nabe au- diences, and neighborhood audiences are what it should be fed. An exceptionally reasonable foun- dation for mystery stuff is laid by the early portions of the plot. In- troduction concerns the effort of a playwright to sell a producer his manuscript by inviting the latter to his home and having a. cast of pro- fcs.slonal actors work it up so that the impresario might think he Is actu ally involve^ In g m urder case . Tt progr'eMcs" nicely along lho.qc' Unos, with the audience in on the know, until about the halfway mark, when the action goes beyond the playwright's script; an apparently real murder, followed by a series of mysterious di.sappearanccs, are the developments. That the authors resorted to th<^ old slapstick dodtfo of ringing in an escaijfid lunrxllc to perpetrate the r^al crimes can be overlooked In this' Instance, because the early part of the story plants enough Interest to carry, the rest of the plcture.i!. The h)on is eventually grabbed by his keepers, and it turn.s .out_that the murder 'victlhis' vTCre only splrltf'd away. But saved just in 'time, bnoauso the nut has a surgical complfix and is ju.«!t on the. verge of operating when caught. A cast of standard picture names works the plot for all it possesseB, and more. Particularly sparkling are the performannos of Richard Carle and Spencer Charters. Action all occurs In an old man- .Hion and the settings are very good. Picture is'above the indie norm all around. Biae. {In Hungarian) This stage musical was very pop- ular In the pre-war days in Hun- gary. It Is a sort of combination of 'Student Prince' and American col- lego life atmosphere, with strong local coloring, of course. Iglo is an old-fashioned provin- cial town with a famous college. Three boys boarding with one of the professors are in love with Eve, the prof's daughter, "they indulge in the usual attributes of calf love, drink- ing, revelry, staying out of bounds, neglecting their studies and seren- ading their beloved. . One of the boys, ■ whose love Eve returns. Is expelled. Years later, they all meet again In Budapest, in a somewhat melan- choly mood because the old college town, Iglo, was adjudged by the peace treaty to Czechoslrvakia arid is now out of bounds for all Hun- garians. Boy who was expelled on account of Eve has wo.i distinction In the war and lias grown Into a fine fellow, so it's all right and they marry. Picture is a great hit here, b. Jak- Ing records both in Budapest and in the provincial towns. It Is a pleas- ing film that conforms to the taste of the great public, although the photography Is not up to the mark and the fact that the college boys are all acted by full-rrrown actors, well known in adult roles, spoils the illusion. Chief aid to success lies In the publicity value of ft " fact that Marietta Gervay, just turned seven- teen; has been contracted by Metro for three years and is already In Hollywood. A career as rapid as hers is very unusual in pictures here. Miss Gervay got a contract within a few days of the talcing of her test, and was rushed to Holly- wood straight from her schoolroom, previous to the opening of her first picture. A pity that although she plays the lead In 'Students of Iglo,' her pr ' is not a big one.-. Jacobi. Rocky Mountain Mystery Paramount production and release. Features Randolph . Scott and Cherles 'Chic' Sale. Directed by Charles Barton. Producer. Harold Hurley; story, adapted from 'Golden Dream's, by Zano Grey; screen play, Edward E. Paramore, Jr.; adaptation, Ethol Dohcrty; camera. Arrhle Stout. At Strand, Brooklyn, as half double bill, week March 28, '30, Running time, 64 mlns. Larry Sutton , Randolph Scott Tex Murdock ,..Charlc« ','Chlc" finlo, Tarrs',' Boi^".,".r.Mrs. LchIIo Carter Flora.-...., Kuth'ppn Br-''o Ballard ...George Marlcn. Sr. Rita Ballard Ann Sherl':an John Borg Jamp.s <"'. T'-'.r:Wii Fritz Hov/.-ivd Wll.<'on Ling Tat Willie Fung Mrs. Ballard Florence Roberts Tendency to get away from tho conventional oats opera has broucrht forth In 'Rocky Mountain M.V3ter.y.' more of a murder mystery than .any- thing else. In spite of minor short- comings It Is good entertainment. From 'Roberta' to six-guns. Ran- dolph Scott herein proves to be Iho principal factor in solving a number of murders at a radium mine in the west. The locale enables him to get back into .almosnhere and char- acter of westerns, together with others, but cast also includes some members who are nearer the draw- ing room type. A Chinaman. In- volved In a plot to share in a will, lends further foreign touches to th© western. Chic Sale play.s his f am liar old rube as a local, deputy sheriff and gets a ■ number of laugh.H. Ho always makes It an IntcreHtlnK and comical character and Is a cinch for westerns. With some exceptions the rest of tho cast Is abovo .aver- age. Ann Sheridan Is very good od- poaltC—Scotl, Vn tMp f n H ii rkfr. In a. lesser role, al.so does nlcdy. Mrs. Leslie Carter proves very arlHicial in this atmosphere, her makeuo being exceptionally bad. Char. The Port of Lost Dreams Invlncllilo production and ChcstcrncU re- lf;ii.s(! Featurns IlIU IJoyd, Lola Lane, G';orgo Marlon, Sr. Dlroolcd by Frank Strayer. Producer, Maury M. Cohen; story, Kobcit Ellis; .idaptiitlon, Cliarles Beldcn, Norman Mark well; film eilltor, Roland Ueod; camera. M. A, An'lerscn, At Amna, N. Y., one day, April 1, on douljlo bill, r.unning time, 71 mlns. Lars Chrletemen BUI P.oy^ Molly Dcshoh...... .l^ihi Lane I'orky' , Kd G.irgan Morgan Rock ..OeorKO Marlon Louis Cnnstolos lI'iroM Ilutjor Mother M'iCJeo .Evelyn (.'avrlntjton Mcutcnant Ander.ion, Robert Elliott A throwback to the gangstct^ oycle and the gun moll who tried her best to go straight. Though oHtf^nslbly limited on a production budget and casting purse, makers of 'I'ort of Losto Dreams' succeeded In turning out ran indie of pretty r.'iir entertainment value. As th« (Continued on page 30)