Variety (Sep 1935)

42 PICT ^^^esdayv September . 25, 1935 Film Reviews Hoosier Schoolmaster (Continued from page 12) Wo" ait-6'Cfi»18il"^iJtor""HD'wever." • he's still a bit ^tilted and often rather colorless In handling dialog. Char- lotte- Henry looks better than In re- cent appearances and seems headed for better stuff. Sarah Padden Is superb In a secondary role while 'oils Hariah, " WUilaifn Mong and Russell Simpson are capable aa the town politicians. Picture not without production value, both Trem Carr and Paul Ma'A- er r^^Octng credited ' as «<j»wau«- '>rs. But slim chance for this to get "■^6yoKff~doaleT!s: — fWear-.—- PECHEUR D'iSLANDE (Mceland Fisherman') (FRENCH MADE) Pierre Ouerlols production and DuWorlt^ release. Stars Marguerite Welnterbereer. Directed by Pierre Ooerlate. Adapted from novel o( same name by Pierre Lotl; camerBi Roger Hubert. At Westminster, N. T., week Sept. 20, 1036, Jiunning; time 70 mlns. _ . Qrandmother Moan... .Tvette Quilbert Tann Gaos..............v .Tbomy Bourdellc Gaud Mevel......Marguerite Welntenberger Mms. Gaoa....i Blanche Beaume Mme. Treasoleur .........Yvonne Tma SVlvestre....................Roger Maximc Monsieur Gaoa ....Louis Rouyer Captain Quermeur..Gaston. Mauger Monsieur Mevel ....Rene Otorvals Commissioner of Marine. Gouge (7n French} Just another French picture. Hard to understand just why anyone bothered paying transportation and duty on It; it isn't likely to return even that much. Story is taken from a famous novel by one of Prance's ace writers, Pierre LK>tl. In adapting it to the screen, producers have followed the story but dropped every semblance of spirit, life or beauty. It results in being merely a long and dull recital of the sad life of fishermen and their mates. Thomy Bourdelle scowls his way through the lead, male role and /izaiarguerlte Welnterberger, stafred, stops doing some very bad acting every once in a while to strike what she and the director may have thought woiild be interesting poses in closeups. Acting is bad, direction Is slow and uninspired, camera work Is in- excusable and sound is even worse. Kauf. STREAMLINE EXPRESS Republic production and release. Fea- tures Victor Jory and E^velyn Venable. Di- rected by L«oti«rd Fields Story by Oeor^e Vohalem; screenplar by Fields, Dftve SII- vei'steln, Olive Cooper. At Fox, Brooklj-n, week Sept, 20, '3S. Banning time, 69 mlns. Patricia Wells...i....^ Svelyn Venable ■TImy Hart Victor Jory -.^illalno Vinson....,.,. .GIsttier Ralston Fred Arnold .Rali>h Forbes Gllbet-t Landon , Sldne/ Blackmer Mrs. Forbes..... .Brln O'Brien-Moore John Forbes ; Clay Clement Larry Houston, .Lee Moran Jones Vince 'Bamett Republic has given a novel set- ting to a familiar theme with a BILLY AND BEVERLY BEMIS Now piayins— FOX THEATRE DETROIT, MICH I Starting Friday— COLONIAL THEATRE DAYtON, OHIO Starting October 12th— EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOR AN EXTENDED^ ENGAGEMENT UmaaiceineDt MILES IN6ALLS ^CURTIS A ALLEN OFFICE RUO Ratidia*. Rorkefeller Center New r»rli City. N. T, serle.i of 'Grand. Hotel'..sltaatlons aboard a fantastically conceived, monorail, streamline train. The action, of courue, is limited tb the 'int6rS6r~'dr" mis ATntiauaity • -ftrtrp modious contraption, soon after the picture gets under way. Moderate- ly amuclnj, this-farce is thus forti- fied by the noyi^lty background and .should make an excellent support- ing film. It Is pretty well played and directed. Kvelyn Venable, as the actress, agrees to marry Ralph Forbes, although she loves Vlctrtr Jory^.the producer: Esther Ralston, an ad- venturess, -is elopin.3»-wlth .Clay Clement; Erin 0*Brien-Mo6ri6, as -Glement's—wifei twlng -to save-her marriage; Sidney Blackmer, adven- turer, mixed up with Ralston; and among others, Vince Barnett,.. as bird who must get his wife to Cali- fornia in. time, to have a bdby born on the Coast in order to inherit :$10,00d; also a.constant druTik. While the action doesn't always move with the desired speed, never- theless paces well enough to regis- ter satisfactorily. Jory. bears the acting burden well enough. Not as. much can be said for Miss Venable. Shan, a waste of time. . Cast, with one or two exceptions, is intelligently se- lected. Frank Cellier, one of the soundest stage actors here, enacts a pompous role easily. Beatrix Leh mam,.in a carefully chastened ver slop of the painted lady, Is smartly intelligent but not always convinc- ing. Sara Allgood and Mary Clare 'aTir'WeTl'cirosefftoT-TjhaTactcT-Trtrt-tS^^^ Rene Ray, In the role of the slavey. Is an outstanding hit. Drawing power of the booki the play, the picturizatloh and the stor should, on form, be invincible. A Dog of Flanders RKO Radio release o(' Wllllnm Slstrom .^iroauftlnn. Fcatu.re.-v JFrankle Thpmns. O. P. HeBglc and Helen Parrlsh. Dlr<«le<l by EdwarJ Slonian; From novel of aame naSio ' by' ''OViTdit'r ■S'jai5tattDTr, --AlTisw-arth Morg.in. At Tivoll, N. Y., halt double bill, one day, Sept. 19, '36. Runnlii time, 7-.mlns. ^cllo.. .Frankle Thomas M.irl.l .Helen Parrlsb .lelian. .0. P. HeSBle Pleter............... i Richard Quine Hans.. 1 Christian Rub Cogcz .....Dawltt Jennings Frau CogeK... ........Ann Shoemaker OLD MAN RHYTHM (MUSICAL) Radio production and rel^se. Features, Buddy Rogers. Directed by Edward Lud- iflg. Associate produciar, Zioh Myers, '■ Story, Lewis Gensler, SIg Herzlg, Din Hartroan; adaptation, Slg Herzlg, Ernest .Pagana: additional dialog, . H.' W. Hane- mann; raualc, Lewis Gensler; lyrics. Johnny Mercer; songs staged by Sam White: din'-es staged by Hernies Pan; camera, Nick Mu-. Buraca. At RKO Colonial, N. .T., week Sept. 21, 'Vi, as bait double bill. Running time, 74 mlns. Johnny Roberts..... .Charles Buddy Rogers John Roberta, Sr...GeoriTB Barbler EdIUi Warreh' . .Barbara Kent Marion- Beecher.............Grace' Bradley Sylvia' Betty Grable Phillips ..Eric Blore Frank Rochet.;.. Erik Rhodes Pinky Parker jt,.jj,. John Arledgc Colonel .Johnny Mercer Paul Parker .Donald Meek Andy .Q.nve. Chasen Aside from some well. , staged tunes and a few juicy comedy mo- ments, 'Old Man Rhythm' stacks up as Incdnsequential fare. Old Slwash gets another fantastic going-over, with the frail story counteracted by the smooth pacing and breeziness of the direction. In those nabes, where they take their Illusions less crltr Ically this hodge-podge of co-ed ro- mancing and katzenjammer may prove diverting, but left to stand on Its own it won't pull 'em through the stiles. Plctiire brings Buddy Rogers, back to the marquees, but the part doesn't impose, too much upon his energies. He rounds out the roman- tic corners nicely, though appearing somewhat off key as a youth whose campus philandering threatens to ruin his college career. As Rogers' father, who enrolls as a freshman to. save the boy, George Barbler car- ries the burden of the comedy and frequently accounts for laughs that are more to his credit as farceur than to the Ingenuity of the script. Eric Blore gives strong aid to the dialog phases, coming through with niftiest bit of light patter in the film which he Intrudes on a discus- sion upon fleas to expatiate on the curious. affects that this insect has on the dog. Center of femme In- terest Is shared by Barbara Kent and Grace Bradley, the former as the demure miss whom Barbler wants his son to marry, and the latter as the siren. Cast is topheavy with lookers, while the dancing Interludes leave little wanting. Tunes and book by Lewis Gensler, long active and well known in legit circles. Odec. Passing of Third Floor Back (BRITISH MADE) London, Sept. 12. Gaumont-Brltlsh production and release. .Stars Ccnrad Veldt. Features Anna Lee, Rene Ray, Frank Ccllier. Directed by Berthold VIertel. From story by Jerome K. Jerome: screen play, Michael Hogan, Almn Revllle; camera, C.. Courant. At AdolphI theatre, London, Sept. 11, '35. Running time, 90 mlns. .Stranger Conrad Veldt 'Stasia , ,, Rene Ray WrlKht .... rank Celller Vivian Anna Lee Major Tompkins ..John Turnbull Mrs. Tompkin ...Cathleen Nesbitt Chris Penny .Ronald Wdrd Miss Kite..... ..Beatrix Leh'mahn Larkcom .....Jack LIvesey Mrs. do Hooley .Sora Allgood Mrs. Sharpc , ;Mary Clare Cook '....Barbara Everest Gramophone Man. . .Alexander' Samer Conrad Veldt's acceht is now barely noticeable and only percep- tible to one who watches for Jt. His voice is soft and almost limpid, but It is the spiritual expressions on his facf. that make the character gen- uinely moving. Despite the fact Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson made a fortune out of the play. It was. always a string of cheap sentiment. Talking nimization Is even cheaper, and her.ce more appealing to the masses; therefore it is perfectly, safe to pre- clioi boxofllce success.' . To comment on technlcnl flaws In thU: screen version would be merely 'A Dog of Flanders,' sounds like it might be a war story, ' but it isii'ti It is one of the slowest pic- tures on record. Opens lazily, strolls along without getting up any gumpjtlon and slides to its end, and in no hurry to ever get there* Won't mean much at the boxoflice. William Sistrom produced. The story being slender In plot arid drama, It was necessary to try and Inject spirit and sympathetic in- terest into situations. of an unim- portant nature. It's a young boy's afEectibn for his dog, his romance (beset with parental setbacks) which blossoms with a little girl, and the youth's efforts to win a drawing contest. Though every endeavor has been made to build into soknething touch- ing, the result has been largely un- successful. .Picture, also, is without much adult appeal but may be liked by the type of Juvenile audience (if any) which doesn't demand westerns and daredevil action. Story is reminiscent of a picture made in the silent era with Jackie Coogan. This locale ii Belgium of the days before the war. Frankle Thomas plays the boy and C, P.' Heggie is his kindly grandfather who passes on before the end. Char. Hermine -und die 7 Aufrechten (Hermine and 7 Righteo'js en) (GERMAN MADE) Terra production and Casino release. Features Karln. Hardt, HelnricK George, Paul Henckels. Directed by Frank AVysbar. Based on novel by Gottfried. Keller. At 8U(h St. Casino, N. T:, week Sept. 20, '35.. Running, time 105. mlns. Fryman....* Helnrlch George Hermlne Karln Hardt Hedlgcr... - ..Paul Henckels His Wife , Lotte Splra Karl ,. Albert Lleven Ruckstuhl '.Karl Stepanek Spoerrl. .Hans Hennlnger Aklln Rledrlch Attel His wife Maria Krahn BuergI Alfred F>ctalageter His wite.,.;,.. Koethe Haack Syfrlk... Dr. Max Holzboer His Wife... Annemarle Stelnsleck Martha ; ...Carsta Iioeck (In Oerman) Another long-winded, though ami- able fllm from the Reich. There Is very little story and It takes close to two hours to tell It. In its favor, however, is the fact that It has no propagandistlc tendency and a healthy outlook. Story is of seven. old men who have vowed eternal friendship. They're Swiss and they Insist on peace. Rest of the world Is being torn bet/^een war and war talk, but they go on arguing peace. For ro- mance purposes, the daughter of one is in love 'with the son of an- other of the septet. A bit hard to understand the psy- chology of the story reasons for the old men hot wanting the match to go through. As explalnied, it's fear that Inter-iharrlage or close ■ rela- tionship might break up the friend- ship, ^^eedless to say, of course, love wins out. There're several good perform- ances, notably by Helnrlch George and Paul Henckels: Karln Hardt, as \he girl. Is sweetly blah as usuall. Albert Lleven, as the boy,, looks like having some talent, although he doesn't especially display it here, Production background shots of Switzerland are beaut;lful and help make the film acceptable. Photog- raphy, is only fair. There's a lot too much dialog, and non-Germans are likely to be lost in It. K-tuf. Joilo. 'Duchess' for Colli Hollywood, Sept. 24. Arthur GreviUe Collins has second directorial assignment at Warners on 'Meet the Duchess,' la.3t of the Dolores Del Rio iilctures for this studio. Collins was set In oii 'Duchess' when Frank McDonald, previously asigned to pic, was transferred to handle 'Freshman Love.' CALENDAR OF CURRENT RELEASES (Continued from peige .37) Soviet Journey (Russ) (Amklno). Tour pf Russi .Aug, J, ^. Soviet Russia Today (Russ.) (Amklno), Newsreel comptiatlon. Tlsse: 80 mliis. Rel. arch 1. Spiel MIt Dem Feuer (Ger) (Ufa) Ralph Arthui Roberts. 70 mina. Rel. Strosatrupp, 1917 ( Rel. Feb 1. Sunny Youth (Rugs) (Amklno). Glorifying Soviet j'outh. Koromoitserr. 76 mlns. Rel. Aug. 15. Rey. Aug. 21. Suaana Tiene un Secreto iSp.>> Marital farce. Uoalta Diaz. Perojo 70 mina Rel. Mine 1> Tango Bar tSp) (Par). Musical melodrama. Carlos Uardel, Dir; »Iohr> ,Relnhyijfc,, m.jasixis~ Rol. Jiily W-Rev. July 17.' rpngo en Broadway (Sp). (Par). Musical comedy. Carloa Qardel. iSawUePr—fia-mlns,—Rek--Deo,--l*. -r^-.--- —-— - ——. Three Gongs Atiout Lenin <Rus3lan> (Amklno). Newsreel compilation. D, Vertrov. 56 mlns Ret- Nov. 1. Thunderstorm (Russ.) (Amklno) Russian melodrama. Dir. rhins. Rel Oct 1. Rev. Oct. 2. Tierra, Amor Y Dolor (Sp). Dome.stic drama. Rbl. Aug, 1. TJocka Slakten (Swedish) ( 70 mlns Mjy 16 Topaze (Fr) (Far). Gallic satire. 15, Rev. Feb 20. Tovarlshi (Russian) (Amklrio), Ix>ve and comradeship In the Revolution. Dir. S. Timosrienko 70 mine. Rel. May 16. Tres Amorea (Spanish) (U). Heavy drama. ona Marl Dir. Moe Sachtn. 80 mlns, Rel, Nov. Tres Berretinea, Los iSpj (HofTberg). Jan. 1. Tribu (Sp.). Mexican drama. Dir. Una Semana de Fellcidad ( i>). mins. Rel. June 16. Unbekkahte,. ber. (Ger.) (Ger 60 mins Rel. .iune 1 Und Wer Kuesst Mtcit? (Ger) (General). Back-stage romantic comedy. E. W. Emo. 70 mins, Rel. Jan. 16. Una Etoile Disparialt (Fr) <Far). Murder of a fllm star. Suzy Vernon, Cor. stant Remy. Dir. Robert Vlllcrs, 60 mlns. Rel. Feb. 1. Rev. Feb. 20. Unschuld vom Lande, Die (German) (Casino/ Comedy of flgbt for stage career. Dir. Carl Boese. 80 mlns. Rel. May 1. Viktor und VIktorIa (Ger) (Ufa). Theatrical operetta. Relnhold Schuenzel. 70 mins. Rel. Jan 16 VIoletera, La (Sp). Raquel Meller. Based on an old silent, with parts reshot 60 mlns. Rel. Jan. I. Vuelo de la Muerte, El (Sp.) Mexican aviation drama. Dir. Calles. 70-mlns. Rel. April 16. Waltz Time in Vienna (Ger) (Ufa). Musical based, on Johan Strauss' lite, Renate Mueller, Willy Fritsch. Dir. Ludwlg Berger. 80 mins. Rel. Nov. 1. Rev. Nov, 20. Weiin Herzen SIch Finder /Ger). (Germania). Romantic comedy, Charlotte Ahder. DIr Erich F^ngels. 80 mlns. Rel. Nov. 1. Youth of Maxim (Amklno) (Russ.). Historical drama. Dir. Gregory Kozlnt- zev, Leonid Trauberg. 80 mins. Rel. April 15. Voutn of Russia (Yiddish) (SovrAm). Religious conflict. Dir. Henry Lynn. 70 mins Rel. Nov. I. Zigeunerbtut' iGer.)i Romantic comedy with music and Alpine background.- Dir. Chas. Klein. 70 mljis^ Rel. April I. Zycle J. Pllsudaklego (I'ol.) (Metropolis). History of the life of arahal sudski. Dir. Richard Ordynski. ' 60 mins. Rel June 1. Key to Address Harold Auten, 1640 Broadway. Anikino, /23'Seventh Ave. Bavaria Film, 489 Fifth Ave. Casino, 240 E 8Gth St. Danubia, 729 Seventh Ave. European, 154 W. 65th St. Garrison Films. 72!» Seventh Ave.. General Foreign Sales. 729 7th Ave. Germania, 22-33 19th.St., Astoria. U I i. H. Hoffberg, 729 Seventh Ave, liter-Continent, 60 E. 42nd St. Klhematrade. 723 Seventh Ave. Martin Nosseck, 32fi Audubon Ave. Metropolis, 260 Fifth Ave. Scandinavian Films. 220 W. 42d. John. Taperuoux, 126 West 46th St Ufa. 729 Seventh Ave. Wampas (Continued from page 3) Its selections In the aggregate There's naany a gal romping across the country's screens attesting to the press agents' ability as pickers. Still Get Around Evelyn Brent and Laura LaPlante from thdvclass of '23 are still in the running. Frpm the 1924 selection, there's still Blanche Mehaffey and Alberta Vaughn who both manage to get into independent credit titles. List of 1927 pickers Included Martha Sleeper, Barbara Kent and the Wampas' favorite (laughter, Sally Band, who forsook celluloid for ostrich feathers, carried the faith of the press agents to far flung places. From 1928'8 group there still re- mains Sally Eilers and Lupe Velez In 1929 the boys picked and still point with pride to Jean Arthur, though she had to leave pictures following: her honors a.nd she re- turned here five years later to jus- tify their confldence. Helen Twelve- trees and Loretta Young were.-'Iso of 29's crop. For 1931, the selections fared bet ter. Out of the 13 chosen there's still plenty of fan appeal in Joan Blondel', Constance Cummlngs, Frances Pee, Rochelle Hudson, Anita Louise and Judith Wood. The 1932-33 choice produced but two sta,r3. Ginger Roigers and Gloria Stuart, but it did okiy for fea- tured players.. This list Includes Lllliao Bond, Mary Carlisle, June Clyde, Patricia Ellis, Evalyn Knapp, Boots Mallory and Dorothy Wilson. Nor can one pass up Eleanor Holm who's doing okay by the Wampas In the Bwl Ing pools of the country. Unlucky in t.ove Strange thing about Wampas honors Is that few, If any of those selected, had any luck on the mar- ital angle. Girl: received many an offer from panting males, many were accepted but their marriages with but one or two exceptions landed on the rock's. Wampas glory was assure sign of unlucky love. Now that the Wampas is about to retire as an organization and some of the members who have managed to keep up In their dues since 1922 are beginning to show signs of wear and gray hair, the boys are sitting back reminiscing about the good old days when they, were pickers. And well might they pat their feeble chests with prider-. It's not a bad list for any man, - with or without an eye for femme ability or charm. The Sophisticates of Satirical Sancinsr JA>'E MOORE AND UILI.Y REVEL, ,ParBdls«i RoKtaurnnt Indefinitely rer. JHfi. Walter Bntchelor "JUMBO" NEW YORK United Air Lines The '"NIGHT-HAWK" leaves NEW YORK at 12:30 a.m. (E.ST) arrlven Cleveland 3U2 a.m., Chicago 4:40 -^^'so new faster OVEU- NIGHT service to CAI<IPORNIA. Ticket; 08 E. 42nd St., BIU-2-7300 Hotels, Trsvel Buresuj, Telegraph Oltlc«