Variety (Jun 1935)

Wednesday, June 5, 1935 FILM E V ■ E W S VARIETY 13 Under the Pampas Moon (WITH SONGS) Fox production and rclsage. Stars War- ner Baxter, K«ttl Galllan, features Veloz and Tolanda. Directed by James TInllnR. Produced by B. G. Da Sylva. Original story, Gordon MorrIB; screen play, Krncat Pascal, Bradley Kins; additional dlalogr, Henry Johnson; camera, Cheater Liyons; music, l«w Pollock, Paul Webster, Walter CSamuels, Harry. Akst; dance director. Jack Bonohue, At the Music Hall. N. T., week May 30, '35. Runnlnc time, TB mins. Osar Catnpo Warner Baxter Yvonne LaMar KettI Galllan Dnncera .; Veloz &. Tolands Gregory Scott John Mlljan Tito ; J. Carrol Naish IMama Peplta Soledad Jimenez Bazan Jack Larue Don Bennett... Georce IrvlnR Elena Blanca VIscher Cn rmen. Rita Cannino no!<a Armldrt Mme. LaMarr Ann Codee 'Pampas Moon' la a new back- ground for the saino old glorifled "Western "Warner Ba^cter created years ago. He wears a wider belt, Is given to the use of the knife Inr stead of the six gun and he carries a bolas ln.stead of a lariat, but lie's stMl the Cisco Kid. Background helps a little, but hardly enough to make new business, so It works out that it will do about the averajje in tlip houses below the deluxer and Inol-a a bit strange in the Music H.nll. Nicely staged, and most of the outdoor photography Is notable, but the.v forgot to pet a new plot for .1 new .setting. "While some of the comedy .gets laughs, the thrill aver- Bfcc la low. Plot Is slniplc. A passenger plane makes a forced landing ,and Baxter takes them to the ranch for which he Is one of the gauchos. Thev stay over next day for the races. One of Baxter's rivals cuts his cinch, but Baxter manages to cling to the horse, discard the saddle and win the race. John Miljan, manager of Kettl Galllan. going to sing In Bue- nos Aires, seeks to buy the horse and when Baxter will not sell gets the rival to steal the nag as he Is sent from the ranch when the race trf^Tchery Is discovered. Pixter follows to Buenos Aires, seeks to reclaim the horse, but is stalled off bv Mlljan. who persuades the Judge that he bought the. ani- mal. Baxter wins heavily on the inoe. moves Into the hotel where ivfiss Galllan la ouartcred and send? fir his mother to come and en.loy the luxiir.v. This backcrrounds most of the comedy as the woman Is pi-pttied up by everything from a permanent wave to ,a shave, Spanish and Argentine donnas being some- what Inclined to the hirsute. But the real comedy comes when Baxter and his gang frisk the racing st.ables for the stolen horse. This Is capi- tally handled and Is the one really ■gora" in.oinelTr'I'iV v\^y. The en- suing confusion Is really funny. The horse has been .shinned by truck to the steamer, but Baxter gets the gee-gee and Miss Oallian and goes back to the wide open spaces. One fault In direction, which proh- ablv will not be noticed by many, I.^ the use of a Spanish accent, not only by Baxter but most of the others. Since they are supposedly speaking Spanish, It would be rea- sonable to assume they were speak- Incr without accent, except when addressing the plane passengers. Instead it's used for the native ton- gue. Baxter also refuses the baggy ti-niisers of the plains, though he does wear the wide belt. The belt I.s_about the only departure from his favorite Impersonation. He. plays with his usua! fluency and dominates most of the picture, with Jack LaRue In a couple of good spots as the heavy. Miss Galllan Is competent without Impressing, and the best femme chance goes to Sole- dad JImlnez, familiar In bits, but now given a chance to do comedy. She handles It well except for a studied deliberation In her speech. Armlda Is In for the opening se- quence and then drops out. Mlljan manages to be heavy without bear- ing down too hard, and Ann Codee, also In for a bit. has not yet caught the picture technique. "Veloz and "STolanda are set for a dance which Is elTectlvc. A couple of songs are also In.lected. but without helping any. Miss Galllan sings on© and Baxter the other. It all makes for colorful scenerv but flat ente'^aln- ment. Chic. LET »EM HAVE IT Reliance production and United Artists rele.Tse. Produced by TCdward .Small. Fea- tures Blrhard Arlen, I'lrKlnla Bruce. Alice Bradv, Bruce Cabot. Directed by Sam Wood. Story. J. M. March and Elmer Har- ris: additional dinlofr, Al Bonsberit: camera. IT. P. Marley. Robt. Plank: nira editor, Grant Wtrytork; sound, Frank Maher; aas't director, Nate Watt. At Rlvoll, K. T., commencing May 29, 'tS. Running time, 60 mlns. Mai Stevens Richard Arlen flllfenor Spencer "Virginia Bruce 'Aunt Ethel r. Alice Brady Joe Keefer r. Bruce Cabot Van Rensseler Harvey Stephens Buddy Spencer,..,ri. Erio Linden Tox r>« Gordon Jones Mr, KeoCer .Vi..J, Farrell McDonald Department Chief,., Paul .'itnnton Ki-Senotor Rollly Hale Hamilton Lola , Dorothy Appleby Mlllv ,,,,<..Barbara Spencer Tliomp.'fon .', .Matthew Botz BiK Bill Harry Woods More cops and robbers and all right, especially for the men. "Doesn't figure to smash but should have no trouble proving'satisfactory. Main point Is that It's action and an i'arly starter In the new phase of gangster films which hold the re- verse twist of glorifying the law. In this case it's the Department of Jus- tice to whom the picture is dedi- cated. There's too much of It (9C minutes, meaning 1.0 or 15 over- board) but most audiences wont mind. Yet It would have been a better film if Sam "Wood, the direc- tor, had done some more shearing. Story unfolds nothing unusual, and even possible that many pat- rons will be a reel or two ahead of It on plot. But the Inherent action, plus a good cast, keeps it interest- ing. The surplus footage merely in- crea.ses the burden on the player. That the lineup is so competent Is what really saves this release from being just another picture. Obvious that the cast, rather than the .story, holds this feature to- gether although the dialog Is also Important. Not a matter of con- spicuous writing but rather that the characters speak logically and in only one or two Instances does the wordage become melodramatic. No straining for underworld jargon and the film Is not without laughs. Main kick Is a facial operation on the gangster leader. Joe Keeler (Cabot). The doctor Is forced to perform. Is then bumped oft, and nine days later, when they take the bandages off, Keeler finds he has been branded with his own initials. Definite effort to give this unveiling a sock, but the net result seems to be that the horror pictures will have softened the desired wallop. Before and after this sequence come the bank sttckups, shootln.gs. jail delivery and finally the roundup of the mob that reduces down to a hand-to-hand tussle between Keefer and Stevens (Arlen), latter the main Federal man in the script. Tarn concerns the wealthy Miss Spencer (Miss Bruce) who's trusted chauffeur (Cabot) is a wrong guy. forma his own mob and eventually kills her kid brother (Linden) after the latter joins the Department. Stevens Is wise to Keefer all the way, and when the brother goes. It clinches his being In bad with the girl until the finish. All of whleh isn't as important In the actual un- winding as Stevens' two co-working pals, Ytin Rensseler (Stephens) and Tex (Jones), with the former also stuck on the lady. Both Stephens and Jones give extremely valuable performances In sympathetic parts, particularly Stephens. Then there is Dorothy Appleby who makes her- self a saucy and attractive trollop as Keefcr's girl friend, while Harry "Woods and Matthew Betz are to the front as mobsters. Paul Stanton makes his Department chief Impres- ive but Eric Linden Is rather out of true aa the hero worshiping kid brother. Arlen and Cabot shoulder most of the weight and each Is believable. Any time either of them Is on the screen it's okay. Cabot, possessing one of the best speaking \-olce3 In pictures, should find that this pic- ture will do him a lot of good. That's not to say that he steals It from Ar- len, but Cabot has been on the edge for some time, needing but a slight push to send him along Importantly, .and this may be It. At the same time he probably can top this ef- fort. None of the women, other than Miss Appleby, really register. Alice Brady appears In for name value only, though having one or two giggles, and "Virginia Bruce never connects as the "Washington society belle. Maybe that's because of her costuming. Certainly ono flimsy gown stands a chance of becoming as famous as the dress Jean Harlow wore In 'Hell's Angels* when also playing a class damsel. If they're wearing 'em that way In "Washing- ton the town doesn't have to worry, there'll be plenty of visitors. The sidelight matter, on how the Department of Justice builds up clues Is intriguing and there's enough strength In 'Let 'Em Have It' to make It smooth sailing. Sid. THE FLAME WITHIN Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production and re- lease. Stars Ann Harding and Herbert Marshall. Directed and written by E.U. mund Gouldlng. Cameraman, Jam'es Wong Howe. Music, Jerome Kern. At Capitol, N. T., week May 31, lOM. Run- ning time, 72 mIns. Mary Wblte Ann Harding Gordon Phillips Herbert Marshall Lillian Belton Maureen Sullivan Jack Kerry tiouls Hayward Jock Frazler Henry Stephenson This Is the second of the psychiatric cycle. First was 'Pri- vate "Worlds' which peeked Into the tangled mentalities of neurotic peo- ple. In this case Ann Harding Is the beauteous practloneer who sees and understands all but gets mildly jammed up herself - with love and frustration. Although the physchla- try revealed and practiced In 'The Flame "Within" Is naturally A.B.C. stuff, the film ranks a notch or two above average and may accordingly be liked by the more literate and discriminating patronage. For gen- eral run of fans there may be some hesitancy of endorsement. Love Ifl underlined throughout and womep past the flapper state should like It. It has an adult qual- ity and a certain mellownesa. Story and th« peopla ar4 beltevabla. Miniature Reviews 'Under the Pampas oon' (Fox). The Cisco Kid south of the Equator, but still the kid. Novelty of background hardly enough to argue better than average. 'Let 'Em Hava It' (UA). Good gangster, and action, pic- ture with the prescribed twist. Richard Arlen, Bruce Cabot and cast above the story, 'The Flame Within' (M-G). Ann Harding in psychiatry theme involving lady doctor with neurotic male patient. Well directed and intelligent, but may not appe 1 to all audi- ences. 'Cowboy Millionaire' (Fox). Above the usual type of George O'Brien horse opera. Has laughs and a punch. 'Loves of a Dictator' (G-B). Starring Cllve Brook and Madeleln Carroll In a too-la(e costume cycler. 'Murder in the Fleet' (MG). Entertaining murder mystery with a U. S. Navy cruiser as locale. 'ChinatDwn Squad' (U). Us- ual murder story helped a little by Chinatown background. Best If backed up. Woman doctor becomes ultimately enmeshed with the male patient whom she cures of chronic 'alco- holism. This cure is undertaken incidental to the more serious cor- rection of the girl who tries suicide twice for hopeless love of the drunk. Thereby hangs the plot. The drunk and the girl are married but love wont stay in the charted channel. It would be untrue to say that Louis Hayward, new film recruit from legit, steals the picture but he will probably get most of the writ- ten comment because of his new- ness and his excellent performance. He plays the drunk with plenty of conviction. Not particularly hand- some but a good, serious type and the camera and mike both do Well by him. And Edmund Goulding has generously allotted him a multiplic- ity of close-ups. Miss Harding combining looks with a doctor-like penetration, holds the pivot position within the story and makes far-fetched possibility seem to have' an afllriity"'wlth every day realism. Maureen O'Sulllvan docs some splendid treuping as the girl who loves too well. Marshall's role Is a trifle stiff.since he Is called upon to impersonate a passive pil- lar of moral strength upon whose shoulder the confused lady doctor may at last rest. Standard as to production and a bit slow on action. Land. TALKING SHORTS MIMI (BRITISH MADE) (With Songs) British International and Alliance Films, r.td. production. No IT. 3. release set yet. Features Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; and Ger- trude Lawrence. Directed by Paul Eteln. Based on Burger's 'Vie de-Boheme': adap- tation, Paul Manbach, Cllftord Grey, Jack Davles, Jr., Denis Waldock; camera. Jack Cox: music, O. H. Clutsam. At Chanln Auditorium, trade showing, one night June 3, '3S. Running time, 08 mlns. MIml Gertrude Lawrence Kodolphe Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. SIdonle Diana Napier Marcel. Harold Warrender Musette Carol Goodner Colllne Richard Bird Schaunard Martin Walker Lemotte Austin Trevor Dnrbemouche I^awrenoe Hanray Ourand Paul Graetz This picture Is built around a lib- eral translation of the 'La Boheme' opera theme, produced In this coun- try by Metro nine years ago with Lillian Glsh playing Mlml and John Gilbert the romantic Rodolphe. The Puccini music la used sparingly In this British-made, effort having been to turn out a romantic film In lavish settings with Gertrude Law- rence and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in the chief roles. Result la an overly-long romantic drama, the beauty and tenderness of which as a story Is burled in too much pro- duction. Mild entertainment, sug- gesting mild box office. Miss Lawrence Is hardly the type to play MimI, a wistful young char- acter, while Fairbanks falls to give much. Surrounded by a lot of production and scenes employing groups of people, 'Mlml' somehow falls to really take hold. Besides which, with the running time 98 minutes, It wadea through a great deal more detail than necessary. So far as backgrounds, large scenes and-color-are concerned,--the picture Is moderately successful. An artists' ball Is cleverly handled. "What the picture lacks Is strong de- velopment of . the love Interest and the pathos which carries the story of 'I,a Bobem^' to a touching and atlrrlngr finish M th* herolnd, falling 'MARCH OF Tl 22 Mins. Capitol, N. Y. FiK^ Division l«<CGshment in news treatment as oxempmi^ by 'March of Time' springs frSm the novelty of the ap- proach, the penetration of the ed- iting, and the fact that a group of persons trained outside show busi- ness are practicing with consider- able vigor and originality a nifty brand of showmanship. Number four of the series offers further examples of how to make hash seem like fresh roast beef. Only three items treated. Russia is toured clnematlcally from Stalin in Moscow to raindeers In Lapland. Militalry stuff least original. That's a reflection, no doubt, of Soviet cen- sorship, which dwells on mass dis- plays of strength, but seems never to reveal the Russian army outside Lenin square. What the individual Russian soldier Is like is not dis- closed. War machine is made to seem sufliclently formidable, but .some new camera angles and de- tail might be good showmanship on the Soviet's part. Human interest stuff on how the mail In the street looks and acts, the peasants sightseeing in the for- mer imperial palace and similar touches made the Russian sequence engrossing. Even the American Communists who are attacking 'March of Time' as bourgeosip, in choice of subject and treatment thereof, could scarcely charge that Russia failed to receive ample recognition of its ac- complishments and a generous neg- lect of its failures at the hands of Time's editors. Thesis adopted anent the Russian army was whether it was to be used to evang- elize Communism or was committed to peace. This emphasis took no account of the now widely understood fact that Stalin policy freezes Commun- ism within a national mould to the weakening of former world-wide ambitions. Using the Pulitzer prize award to Arthur Krock of the New York Times as a springboard, 'March' re- veals the Washington news brigade In action. This is fair-to-mlddling. Hopping around the seat of gov- ernment, the cameras pickup nu- merous legislators and administra- tors, and most of them are poor photographic material. Some o£ them speak a line or two. Can't get away from the stage directions atmosphere. Politicians are poor muggers and worse relaxers. Third item makes the Pacific fleet maneouvers now in progress some- what less vague. Crowning effort 1 n~ th Is subjcct-is-a- -clp^ap-.-t>f-Ja-i>- ancse Ambassador Salto, a- keen gent, telephoning Secretary of "War Swanson to thu effect that Japan 'understands' and will shortly have Its own Pacific maneouvers. Says the Ambassador, 'navies will be na- vie.';.' Land. ROSS-McLARNIN FIGHT 36 Mins. Academy, N. Y. Oliver Sticking strictly to the buslnesa of battling, with all trimmings and hokum eliminated, this film gives a seemingly complete record of the 15 rounds and, to unbiased observers, offers visual confirmation of th» rjghtness of the judges In unani- mously awarding the welterweight title to Barney Ross. Barney Is the aggressor in prac- tically cvcrj' minute of the going and has things under control at all times. McLarnln appears uncer- tain, doesn't move with his usual fiery menace and carries his dyna- rnlte right cocked for action, but letting it loose for Indefinite resultii only about four times during the war. In the 12th or 13th he is shown with Barney momentarily trapped in a corner, but does not follow up and Ross gets out to fight Jimmy across the ring to the ropes. Best part of the fight Is in the last five rounds, with the boys mix- ing it toe-to-toe in each of these sessions. Ross slugs away, flat- footed, McLarnln is more on liis toes. Jimmy play.s for the body, mostly, but Barnej' shoots at him from all angles, landing plenty on the physlog and a full quota on the torso. At no time does Ross appear in danger and the same goes Cor Jimmy, although he Is receiving most of the time. Both boys seem weary in the latter j-ounds, though they come out for the finale with plenty of zip. McLarnln tags with his -trademarkcd handspring, and Ross Is still fresh enough to romp Into the center for his coronation a.i champ. Producers of the films have done a good job. pictures being clear and sharp at all times. Rounds are sep- arated by a dial on which a hand moves Id about a second. All bally- hoo has been eliminated and the rounda average about 2 1/3 minutes of fighting. As shown at the Palace, N. Y., the reel fan 20 mlns.. rounds 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 1,1, 14 being dropped out. Cutting Is an Improvement for audi- ence tempo. No slow motion In .any -of It to highlight any of the set-tos which attests to the general diiU- ness. Jton. HERE'S THE GANG Comedy and vaudeville 18 Mins. Mayfair, N. Y. Univer One of the Mentone scries with _flve —)*toege» working ..ilu-Qugli_thft. usual run of vau'dcvlllc .acts.-Stooffci only fair, but the film will carry where they arc easily amu.se.J. Stooges work In and out of the acts. For finale they are paid off and Hia money collected for the damage tiiey have done. Cl>i<'. in health, finally dies. One long cut Is evident when the action jumps from Mlml, ill on a hospital bed, to some subsequent date wl.on she Is lying under a tree with her lover contemplating their future happi- ness. Miss Lawrence sings a number, 'Love Over AH,' In an effective man- ner, on two occasions. Orchestra does not get the spotlight on Puccini numbers from opera on which this Ij based but one In the artists ball sequence plays a portion of 'The Barcarolle,' a favorite from another opera. Considering the difflculty of her assignment, Miss Lawrence does well. Young Fairbanks fre- quently over-acts in the more emo- tional bits. Diana Napier plays SIdonle well, while Carol Goodner acquits herself creditably aa Mu- sette. Lesser parts in good hands are performed by Harold "Warren- der, Austin Trevor and Richard Bird. Chor, Cowboy Millionaire Projijctd by Hoi Lessor and John Zanft; released l)y Fr>x. Stars George O'Brien. Directed by Edward F. Cllne. Screen play, George W.-iggnor, Dan Jarrett: ptiotog., Frank B. Good, At Criterion, N, Y., halt o( double bill week May 31, '3S. Running time, C) mlns, Bob Walker George O'Brien Pamela Barclay Evalyn Bostock Persimmon ...Edgar Kennedy H<<<llcy Thornton .Mden Chase Henrietta Barclay Maude Allen Doyle.. Dan Jarrett Thla new George O'Brien opera ought to please his followers. Pic- ture ranks above the usual type of western comedy drama. Film packs some good laughs and enough punch to make It worthy as dual material anywhere. Begins on a dude ranch and winds up In the London underbrush. Plot is the usual story about the foreign tourist and the cowboy, only re- versed. The heroine la an English girl. O'Brien Is a guide on a dude ranch., trying to eariL. enough, coin, to work a gold mine he and his guide partner (Edgar Kennedy) own nearby. Evalyn Bostock as tho girt per- forms okay, and O'Brien Is his usual self on horseback or off. Kcnni^dy provides the fun, and ably, tihan. Loves of a Dictator (BRITISH MADE) Toeplllz production and Gaumont Brilinh release. Stars Cllve Brook and MaJa.'-in» Carroll. Directed by Victor .Savlllc. I'ro- duccr, L. Toeplltx; story, H. O. I-u«liif and M, Logan; screi-n play, Bpnn W. Levy; continuity, Huns Wllhelni and Luallg; film editor. Paul Weatherwax: camera, Frana Planer; music. Karol Ilathau.H. At P.Dxy. N. Y., week May 31, '35. Kunning time, 8;{ mlns. Dr. l''rcderlck Strucnsee Cllve Broolc Queen Caroline Mathlldc. .Madeleine Carroll King Christian VII Emiyn Wlllliim« Bmndt Alfred DrnMOn Guldberg Nicholas H.nnn-'a Queen Mother Helen H:iv» Von Kyl>cn Isabel Jo.-inn 9lr Murray Keith Frank CcIIIer Madame Hilda Ruby Mlllfr Lady of the Court Heather Thiitclier Coming at the tag end of the cos- tume cycle which had its start with 'Iltnry VIII' and ran the gamut up to 'Richelieu' and 'Lea Mlscr.a- bles,' thla Toeplltz production for Gaumont British comes up Ilka Christmas jewelry In March, In co.s- tumlng and setting. It rankH wltlt the best of them; and In court man- ners It probably la In the best oC form. But being tardy Its cour.sa won't be smooth. Devotees of tha Chambers school of light rcullns will like it. Story, which Is authenticated by" historical record more or less, is Mia formulated Intrigue at court, with, tho new order, represented by * king's adviser. In conflict with tha old-lino gang headed by a qucoa mother. This one Is built around Count Strucnsec, New Dealer of tha middle 18th century. Cllve Brook, as Struenscc, coined on the scene when summoned to attend Emlyn Wllllam.s, a soused young king of Denmark, who has fled to Hamborg for the feminine ap- preciation he cannot collect from hla .English-born qucon, Madcleina Carroll. Brook, a brusque physi- cian, cures klngy by tossing him Into a tub of water. His boldness commends him to the playboy, who presses him Into service and takes him back to Copenhagen, There tha medico quickly becomes the king's coun.selor,.. HClls the. ttueen. the. Idea of filial followshop and causes tha ruler to Institute various radical re- forms in favor of the peasants and Inimical to the noble gangsters who thorf'toforc had ruled the dlssoluta young monarch through his vlncgar- (Cunllnuod on page C4)