Variety (Jul 1935)

Wednesday, July 3, 193S FILM REVIEWS VARIETY 15 { Louis-Carnera Fight Heavyweight boxing matoti between Joe X/OUls and Primo Camera ,at tire Tankce Stadium, June 23; first showing a/t Cen- tral, New Torlc, June 27. No credltH, Run- jiing time, 15 mine. No credits of any kind, but the title aays U I3 the official fight film It was apparently taken when telephoto lens. There Is little preliminary foot- tage, with no training camp clips. Jack Dempsey Is Introduced, and apparently that portion of the pic ture was' recorded on a sound track understandable because the an nouncements were made througl; loud speakers. Gene Tunney Is also heard being Introduced, but Is not seen. No shots of Braddock and Baer, who were also Introduced, but Jack Johnson Is caught. Sound recording evidently went blooey thereafter, the roar of the crowd being dubbed In, and about at the same volume throughout. Picture shows Camera doing more fighting than he was credited wlthi but It also plainly depicts the giant backing up most of the distance 2^0 closeups, and no slow motion. It is a so-so fight film. No ex planatory comment, merely a voice announcing the rounds, which are also numbered. Yet the actual con test is shown. Film only runs 15 minutes, but seeing Camera go down three times then turning to the referee, who stopped the fight, is enough, tbee. SYMPHONY OF LIVING Invincible Production and Chostcrlleld re lease. Features Evelyn Brent, Al Shean Produced b/ Maury Cohen. Directed by Frank Strayer. Screen play and dialog, Charles Spencer Belden; musical director, Lee Zahler: camera, M. A. Anderson. At Stoddard, N. Y., on double feature, June 27- , '35. Running time, 82 mine, Paula Orclg Evelyn Brent Adolph Grelg.,.. .Al Shean Bozzlnl Charles Judela BIchard Grelg John Darrow llanclnl Albert Contl Carl Rupert Lester Lee Carmen Rozzlnl Gigl Parrish Michael Rupert ichard Tucker Herb Livingston John Harrcn Mary Schultz,. Ferike Boro3 Way above average for a pro erammer. If a bit more care had been taken with this one in casting and pruning of story it would, have made an acceptable candidate for flrst-rate theatre showing. As Is, It should do extra well at nabes and eend the customers away happy. Story Is more or less wound around the news columns. It's the story of the boy violin prodigy whose parents are squabbling over poEsnsBion of blm, and who's haled to court day of his big concert. It happened In New York to two younf children a year or so ago. In adapting It to the screen, Charles Spencer Belden made It the punch for a rather lengthy but homey yarn of an old man's strug- gle with music through a lifetime Trouble is that he overdid It some- what; there are so many tangents that the main Issue Is often be clouded. And yet there's so much good heart and home appeal it wins through over and above the fluff. Al Shean is happily cast as the musician. He's drudged all his life with his music. Finally comes his big chance with the symphony to play a solo. An accident ruins his h:tnd at the last minute. His selfish son and daughter walk out*on him He's reduced to playing In the streets for coins, while his daughter, Evelyn Brent, has married a mil- lionaire and Is hitting the top spots. Her son grows up with a natural love for music. She separates from her husband and the kid is farmed out, his grandpa being his music teacher, unbeknown to either of thtm. Kid is a prodigy, and clicks through in a big way. Day of the big concert mamma drags him Into court, but the wise Judge awards the youngster to the grandfather. Sock concert success is the fadeout. Offenbach's 'Orpheus in Hades' Is the tune most prominently featured and the youngster, Lester Lee, a good choice, plays it for the finale, back of a big orch. Tune had been built up to the point where the audience at this out-of-the-way nabe applauded the tune at its close, Evelyn Brent is badly miscast as the ungracious mother, but other- wise casting is satisfactory, although far from brilliant. Laugh assign- ment Is In the hands of Charles Judela as an Italian trombonist. Production Is exceptionally lavish and good for a film of this class. Kauf. Nacht der Verwandlung ('A Night of Change') (GERMAN MADE) , ■ Berlin, June 18. Ilala-Otzoup production and Neues "eutsches Llchtsplel Syndlkat rcleaao. features OustaC Frohllch. Heinrlch Georgo, «ose Stradncr. Directed by Hans Dei)i)e. First run at Gloria Palast. (In German) Frohlieh, as a Wiley Post-lsh stratosphere flyer, goes up many inousand feet just to discover how alone he is, A night at the carnival, tne plane having conveniently land- ed at Nice. ,An armful of palc-pink romance, femme star.g in nazidom ^eing definitely assigned to watch- »^'siiting. A few feet of suspense ' vinclng. about a diamond necklace and some more of chivalry, protecting the be- loved from brute husband. That's t;he film. Heinrlch George as the husband Is forced to be obnoxiously brutal to justify his wife's deserting him, be- cause divorce, it is decreed, must no longer pollute German screens. Frohllch is just himself, and Rose Stradner as the unhappy wife, is merely lachrymose. Scenic designs by Fritz Maurl- schat are well above, the average. Pic gains through summer film shortage and should do well in Ger- many. Trask. DINKY Warner Bros, production and releaiie. Stars Jackie Cooper. Features Mury Astor, Roger Pryor, Henry Armetta. Directed by D. Robs Lederman and Howard Bretherton. Original story, John Fante, Frank Fenton and Samuel Gllson Brown. Screen play, Harry Sauber: camera, Arthur Edeson. At Strand. Brooklyn, as halt of double bill, week June 27, '35. Running time, OS mins. Dinky Jackie Cooper Mrs. Daniels Mary Astor Tom Maraden ; Roger Pryor The Junkman Henry Armetta Mary .Betty Jean Haney Mr, Barnes , Henry O'Neill Cadet Lane Jimmy Butler Jojo George Ernest Sally Edith Fellows Sammy Sidney Miller Jackie Shaw..., Richard Quinc Mike Frank Gernardl Gerald Standlsh Clay Clement Mrs. Shaw Florence Fair Supt. Orphanage Joseph Crehan District Attorney Addison Richards Truck Driver ..James Burke A rapidly maturing Jackie Cooper, who has outgrown the ;Sklppy' and 'Champ' aura of childish appeal, Is revealed here as lacking the strength to stand alone, though a story of more intrinsic power might give him a better chance. He is a military school cadet, son of a business woman mother who is framed into a prison term by her swindling stock racket employer. Implauslblllty of this incident, on which the entire drama rests, breaks down the story structure to such an extent that It Is barren of all sus pense and realism. When a snobbish classmate bares the disgrace of the mother (Mary Astor) to Jackie and his classmates, tho boy, of his own volition, has himself put Into an orphanage ad- joining the military school and con cocts an unbelievably clever decep tion to make his mother think he still Is a cadet, by borrowing school stationery on which to write her. This matches a similar deception of Miss Astor who, confined in a Cali- fornia prison, has her letters to the boy, a student In California, sent to Chicago and relayed back to him. Jackie does well with an Im possible rolei and his mother Is ade quately played by Miss Astor In the few scenes provided for her. The same goes for Roger Pryor as the lawyer who fights vainly to save her, then acts ah steward over the boy. Inconsistency of the story Is gre.^t- est In connection with Pryor, who, apparently a prosperous attorney, lets the boy go to -an orphanage, rather than transferring him to an- other school or otherwise providing for him. A large flock of Juve players turn in splendid performances, with George Ernest, as an orphan pal of Jackie, the standout. Other good contributions are by Jimmy Butler, Sidney Miller, Edith Fellows, Betty Jean Haney and Richard Qulne, latter the cadet heavy. Best work of the entire picture Is done by Henry Armetta, who. In an Italian junkman bit, gives It the only lift that It possesses. Other adults In the cast are Just fillers. 'Dinky' Is a weak "carbon of previous Jackie Cooper stories, with the authors forgetting that the boy grows older, and tailored strictly for child patronage. Bon. ADMIRALS ALL (BRITISH MADE) London, June 23. John Stafford production and Radio re- Ipase. Features Wynne Glbsnn and Gor- don Harker. From the play of same name by Ian Hay and Stephen-King-Hall. At the Prince Edward theatre, London, June 13, '33. Running time. 75 mIns. Gloria Gunn Wynne GIb.ion Petty Officer Dingle Gordon Horker Flag Lt. Steve Langham, Anthony Bushcll Ping ni George Curzon Prudence Stallybross Joan White Flag Captain Knox Henry Hewitt Admiral Sir Wcsterham Percy Walsh Mr. Stallybrass Hyde White Jean Stallybrass Gwynneth Lloyd Adolph Klotz Ben Wcldon yiNTAGE WINE (BRITISH MADE) London, June 21. Real Art production and Gaumont-Brltlsh release. Stars Seymour HIcks; features Claire Luce. Directed by Henry Edwards. Adapted from Alexander Engel's 'Der Ewlge Juongling,' by Seymour Hicks and Ashley Dukes; screen version, H. Fowler Mears; cameraman, Sydney BIythe. At Prince Edward theatre, London, June 20, '30. Running time, 81 mins. Charles Poplnot.... Seymour Hicks Nine Claire Luce Joseptilne Poplnot Eva Moore Blanche Poplnot Judy Gunn Henry Poplnot Miles Malleson Benedict Poplnot Kynoston Reeve Plerrex romley Davenport Richard Emsloy Michael Shepley (Not for U. B. Release ly G-B) This Is one of the best shows Sir, Seymour Hicks has done in his en- the career, stage or screen. It fol- lows closely the English stage adaptation, excepting the reveal- ment almost at the beginning that he is married to the young girl In Rome and not, as In the play, lead- ing the' audience to believe he has a mistress. This may be % sop to present-day purity Ideas or film technique. Story Is, of a "young man' of 62 who marries a girl In Rome and tells her he Is 45, a widower with two sons at school In Paris. In due course his wife presents him with a child and he is radiantly happy until the two sons by his first wife start interfering in what they be- lieve to be art Illicit affair. They arc over 40, one with long whiskers, and take themselves seriously. Hicks plays his role with consid- erably more sincerity than Is his wont, but on occasion could not re- s.i,st the temptation to resort to low, broad farce. Two sons are played more as caricatures than characters and are foils for Hicks' wisecracks. Most of the others adhere to legiti- mate methods, notably Claire Luce, who has numerous oppoi'tunities, to cut loose, but conscientiously re- frains. A couple ,of beatitlful Interiors prove very effective and the tech- nical work is adequate, but not brilliant. Same goes for the direc- tion. Play had a lengthy run in London and Hicks Is reviving It once more. His name and the play's success here should make the film excellent box office here and It should also be worth while in the States on its merits, despite Its defects. JoJo. Motive for Revenge Majestic production and release. Fea- tures Donald Cook and Irene Hervey. Di- rected by Burt Lynwood. Producer, Larry Darmour. Screen play by Stuart Anthony. Camera," Herbert Klrkpatrlck. At Sym- phony, N. y., on double feature June 27-28, '.IB. Running time, 02 mIns. Barry Webster Donald Cook Muriel Webster Irene Hervey Mrs. Fleming Doris Lloyd William King Edwin Maxwell M"«>y Wm. L. Mlllman McAllister Russell Simpson Larkln John Kelley Jted Edwin Argus gay Billy West Doane ; Wheeler Oakman Warden..; Frank LaRue This farce enjoyed a modicum of success in the West End when it featured Clive Currie and Laura La Plante, former as an irascible ■British admiral, and latter as a tem- peramental film star. Miss Gibson has the film role and fhe admiral part has been subordinated in order to build up the character of Petty Officer Dingle, In the hands of Gor- don Harker. Both these players are excellent in their respective performances; the supporting cast is adequate; production is effective but unpre- tentious, and technical work reaches a fair standard. But to those who didn't see the stage version the plot Is extremely vague In its picturlzing. Harker is his usual funny cockney. Miss Gibson plays her part as a straight lead, but the story Is too indefinite and ambiguous to be at all r,nn- JoJo. Title only distantly hinges on the story, but It might serve as a tip- off for patrons who see it. At the nabe caught, it was the lesser half of a dual and there were some sibilant noises from scattered parts of the house at the final fadeout. It's an Indle that not only looks ex- tremely cheap, but Is wholly defici- ent In every department, Donald Cook and Irene Hervey play the romantic leads unroman- tlcally. They go through scenes which the author probably felt were loaded with pathos with pans that seem dead-set for a rib. The story doesn't give them the opportunity to unllmber, nor can the direction be termed inspiring. Pointless plot entails a bank teller (Cook) who is caught in the act of absconding with the institution's funds so that his wife can have the luxuries his mother-in-law thinks she should have. The battle-axe mother-in-law Is played by Doris Lloyd, who gives the only convincing performance in tho film. Rest of the supporting cast arc only on for bits. There are a few prison scenes In the picture, but they were evidently culled from one of the blg-housc products released by the majors a couple of years ago. Would've been okay if the rest of the production didn't ' destroy the effect With cheapness. Bcho, ENDSTATION (GERMAN MADE) Berlin, June 18. Algefa-Rota production and rclcaHC. Cast Includes Paul Horblger, Maria Anderga.it and Hans Moscr. Directed by E. W. Emo. First run at Capitol, (In German) Horblger breaking In as a megger stimulated expectation, but outcome is meagre, with Horblger unnamed on the credit sheet. No reason why Vienna of today, from the bird's-eye-vlcvv of a .streetcar conductor, shouldn't yield sufficient comedy material for an evening's entertainment. But the scrlptor and director only squeezed out some easy fun, of which the major share falls to the choleric Ilan.s Mo.ser, whose Au.strlan antics titillate—.and he can do bettfr, Horblger's 100% Vienna dialect, plus swanky uniform, accelerate the pulse, and Maria Andergast, well on since her film debut In Luis Trenker's 'Prodigal Son,' is the mute and pale hatmaker whose, fate runs along the-trolley lines. Pleasurable summer refreshment and should do well here. Trask. BLACK SHEEP Fox Film production and release. Fea- tures Edmund Lowe, Claire Trevor. Pro- duced by Sol Wurtzol. Direction, story and screen play by Allan Dwan. Music, Oscar Levant; lyrics, Sidney Clare; camera, Arthur Miller. At the Fox, Brooklyn, week beginning June 23, '35. Running time, 70 «.nlnutes. John Dugan Edmund Lowe Janotte Poster Claire Trevor Fred Curtis Tom Drown Col. Upton C. Belcher Eugene Pallette Mrs. ;Mllllccnt Bath Adrlennc Ames Mather Ford Sterling Oscar , Herbert Mundin Orvllle Schmelling Jed Prouty Capt. Savage David Torrence There Isn't much dramatic ten- sion to this shipboard story about a high-class gambler who runs across a forgotten son on a transat- lantic liner. Technically, the film Is all right and the cast as a whole. Is okay and well known enough to help out at the b.o., but the picture will need plenty sup- port just the same. It doesn't rate as a solo performer. On the boat, Edmund Lowe, the gambler. Is taken in tow by a per- sistent night club gal. The two form a'poker team to make some ntioney for themselves and at the same'time to pull a youngster aboard ship out of a Jam. The lad turns out to be the gambler's forgotten son. The kid also Is mixed up with an adventur- ess who holds the boy's notes for large sums of money. It's easy to guess that Lowe will Jimmy his way into ,the adventuress' cabin for the incriminating evidence against the boy. Edmund Lowe looks older, but Js suave as ever. Claire Trevor car- ries most of the acting burden and does a good job, helping on the comedy also with Jed Prouty and Eugene Pallette. In the familiar manner of such stories a pesty drunk is among the character list. Herbert Muhdln takes apt care of this role. Snatches of a pop tune are heard fore and aft in the nlm, but the mu- sical end is Incidental. Bhan, Wunder des Fliegens (Tbe Flying Wonders') (GERMAN MADE) Berlin, June 17. Udet production and Terra, release. Under auspices of Minister of the Military, Her- mann Wllhelm Goring. Features ErnSt Udet, and Jurgen Ohisen, First run at Ufa Palast am Zoo. (In German) This Is Udet's first chance at closeups. Other-pics, like 'SOS Ice- berg,' mainly used telo-objectlves to get his flying stunts. There is an eyeful of that here, too, for this Is the premiere of Udet on a motor- less plane, doing all the panicky tricks, this time without propelling power. Between the few easy closeups of the sympathetic ace In his flat, filled with trinkets and trophies (good for cutbacks to his Greenland and Afri- can flights) and the long-winded alrshots, not much thought burdens the action. Young Jurgen is the son of Udet's war comrade, who was shot down. Udet's Interest In the boy boosts him against odds to be- come a flyer. He gets lost In the Alps and it Is Udet who rescues him. Boy's dream of his first flight makes Udet show blood-curdling acrobatics. A snowstorm flight, marginal scraping along rocky precipices and scooping down into black crannies, and plane skiing on snow fields 15,000 feet high are just a few. Hans Schneeberger's camerawork is first-class, though the lens moves too easily. If halved picture deserves to get beyond the Germ.in- Amerlcan populace for Its flying and camera merits. Trask. Life of Peter Vinogardov (RUSSIAN MADE) Sovkino production and Amicino rele.ise. Stars B. Livanov. Directed by A. Macherct. Story, Leo Slavln; camera, E. Slaunskl. At Caineo, N. Y., week June 27, "30. Running time, 7S mIns. (In Russian) This one f»om the Soviet seeks to teacli Russians and any others who are interested that industry and work are very nice, but that greedi- ness Is- bad, even when It *omes to women friends. Like all pictures coming from the Government-con- trolled studios of Russia, it makes a story incidental to the Communistic message that is never forgotten. According to the story, everyone is happy, everyone is industrious' and the world in which Russians are living is a paradise or near to it. Picture holds little appeal for tho.se who aren't Communistlcally-minded.- It has production quality and good, photography, but being light in story value and dragging in so much that is of - a propagandlc nature, it becomes a tiresome 78 minutes to sit, through. Russia's leading star, B. Livanov, turns in a very good per- formance. Among other things, he has the unusual faculty of being en- tirely natural, something rare among foreign artists. Also screens well. The others, including K. Gradapolov, V. TslshevskI and N. ArdI offer little in the way of screen ability or' personality. Film is In Russian, but carries superimposed titles and In siifflcient abundance to tell the whole story. Titles are fairly well written. They and the action tell the story of three young men from the country who go to Moscow to achieve great things- in Industry. Two of the boys are in love with the same girl from the hinterland. Livanov cuts the other boy out and has asked the girl to come'to llye with him in Moscow. Meantime, he falls for the local darling of the third lad of the trium- virate and steals her away, this giv- ing him two girl friends and leaving both the others with none. In point- ing its obvious moral against greed, Livanov Is left at the end Without either, the two other boys getting their women back and marrying them. ■ 'Char. BURKE REPLACES TUCKE AT FILM FAME EXHIBIT Hollywood, July 2. Issuing a blanket denial of fric- tion In operation of the motion pic- ture Hall of Fame at San Diego expo, the Screen Actors' Guild an- nounced today tha.t Warren Burko has been appointed to replace Rich- ard Tucker In the director post at the exhibit. Tucker resigned two weeks ago under Are. Annual election and general mem-' bership meeting of the Guild are set for July 21. Administration ticket, headed by Robert Mont- gomery, expected to have no oppo- sition.- Selig Back as Indie Producer with Sextet CAPTAIN HURRICANE Radio production and release, Features JaiiicB Barton, Helen Wostlcy, Helen Mack, Gene I,.ockhart. Directed by John Robert- son. AsROciato producer, Frank O'Heron.' Screen Play. Josephine Lovctt, from novel by Sara Ware IJasHctt; Camera, Luclon Andriot. At Tivoll,' N. Y., one day Juno 27, '.I.-), on double feature, Ilunning time, 72 mlnrt. Zcnas Henry James Barton Abble Helen Westlcy Matle Helen Mack Capt. Jeremiah CSeno Lockhart Jimmy Douglas Walton Cnptuin Ilcn , Henry Trnvorit .Silas Collin Otto Hoflfman Hollywood, July 2. Reentering the Independent field, William N. Sellg will make six features for the state right market for the 1935-36 program. Fir.st is scheduled to be ready in Septem- ber. Lined up for this year are 'I Am the Law,' from the play by David Belasco and Edward Eisner; 'The Dragnet,' Wlllard Mack play; 'Irl.sh Eyes' and 'Going Straight,' from tho Edward Rose stage playsr 'Yosemlte,' play by Charles A, Taylor and 'Bachelors Must Marry,' by Dorothy Doyle. In 'Captain Hurricane' the tal- ents of .such two able performers as James Barton and Hole- Westley are wasted. No outstanding film names in the cunt to attract and the picture's be.st chances lie with a non-oxactlng type of clientele. Zena.s Henry (Hurr.'cane) and his two pais, Capt. Jeremiah and Capt. Bon, hang out together, until Abble (Helen Westley) comes to be house- keeper for Capt. Hurricane. Seems Henry has been asking Abble to marry 1.1m for 15 years and so they compromised. There comes a storm and a nice looking girl Is washed ashore or sa-. ed. Henry adopts her. The Kirl fall.s for a city lad. When everything dopresses, the blonde boy from Boston comes to the fln,ine'l;i1 rescue of ,all, and everythinii winds up ol<n,y. ■ Blian. U Using 1,000 wad Mustangs in 'Stormy* Hollywood, July 2. Navajo Indian wranglers have been for the past week rounding up approximately 1,000 wild mustangs from Arizona mesas which Univer- sal will use In its horse yarn, 'Stormy,' which started production yesterday (Mon.) at Tuba City loca- tion. Louis Frledlander directs, under Henry MacRac's supervision, and Rex; the horse, is featured. Carl Lacmmlc, .Sr., and Sam Von Ronkel plan to .spend several days on location this week. WB Adds Collier, Yearsley C. L. Yearsley and Bob Collier are latest Warner Bros. Jftfltie office ad- ditions In the pub and ad dept. Year.sley was the original advertis- ing director of First National and Collfr wa.<5 last with Lord & Thomas agencies In New York. Cojllcr, now en route from tha Const, whore he huddled with Charles IHinfeld of WB, is motorlnff hack to N. Y. to take up his ns'.r duties.