Variety (Apr 1937)

14 VARIETY FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, April 21, 1937 PERSONAL PROPERTY Alflvo-i.5«l«1wyn'iMiiy<'i' i*>lc se iif: John AY. C«nsi(Un^. Jr > -j>i'.iOu<'ilim. >S(ar.s J.e;in Hmlow nnil. UoL^il. 'J'nyl.ir. Dneclea .>y "\V. S. Viih JOylif.. Scit^ei) |>Uiy,,HuKn Mills Hiul Kriit^sl Nujiiiil from the pliiy, 'Miin In •J'o«sci«(otV;''-'1«V- Jl' .••^•"••<«'J* <'Hnieiii. AVlliliirii: I.);inu-|K. MuKleiil Hi'ore hy .I'l-nnii AVaxnuin...' Kllm. filitor; Beri. ^ew's,- ,, -^^ <.'Mpilol. N. V... Avfek April. 15.. Ji. Hun<. nihjj (iine. SH mli\.s. ... i. ..leiih Hfirlo.w . Ji. Kobvrt .Tuylor .-.'. UeKlniilcl' 0>ven ...;.Una O'Connor . ll.i'nileita'Crosismiiii .. ... . fcj.: li. t-liwe .'..Cora WIlherHpiion , Miirla Shelton . .'.. •"orn>st«'i-' HaVyey ..,:... Lionel i;nih:iin arneU Parker C:r>'sial \Vf.h(-rby iiyinimd Dahni'. t'j.unle Uithnpy <;inra ....... i... Mis htibni; Ml-.. Diilin»'y ■........ Aiis. liiiriis ... T.:. Ciilhei-inft Hallirt l.oril Oat-Mlalra .... Arthur '4'i-ovclyan For the undergraduates, It makes no pretentibns to greatness, being ^ saVisfled there are enough customers who will gaze upon and listen \tO Jean Harlow, in pajamas, and Robert Taylor, in: a|. dressing gown, engage in some harmless bedroom dialog about the weather, ■ This the- ory seems correct.. . Most, of the suspehse is'.in the lobby . isplay. Actually;. • 'Personal. . Property' is just a good. tworreel farce padded rather thinly , into a feature. .It is well enough directed and .acted, contains an. idea suf- ficiently risque to be highly amusing, if the director and Writers hadn't bluished arid, pulled their punches. In consequence,: the film is .too sielf- consclous, artd situations whith might have been funny are slightly flattened out. However, the picture will draw (without being any panic), biit heithier the two stars nor the dlr^ctof .: Wv S, Van" Dyke,:will-gain .professional priestige because, of it. There is a place for a boudoir . istory on picture screens provided the proper siibtlety arid smartness-is eni- ployed in the telling. When action tirid direction becoriiie a little too ob' vious, the sparkle disappear.^; so vvhat prpriiises to be frothy and amusing turns out to b?: heavy footed and coarse. Such is the disappoint- ing ^truth about 'Personal Property," . yfhich can make no clainl for. ■ any isierious consideration as a piece of workmanship. It's aimed for the high school trade and it hits the mark right in senior year. Just why Metro shbul<J believe there Is any -entertainriient in a cloise-up of' Taylor taking, a bath is rather hard to say. He. follows this with a scerie.in which he puts a nail file to work, the intent, 6f course, is to givie the girls a thrill view 6l the young man in some caridic camera shots. The result is a bit illy and- innocuous. His role here, can be rated without credit or debit ih .the box-score, like a base oh balls or a.»sacriflce. Miss Harlow is hioydenish and coy In her dwri irilrnitttble style. She wears some striking costumes which clearly convey the ideas, which the desieiner had m mind. There is more of Miss Harlow oh display When she's all dressed up than some girls reveal in. their step-ins. If Taylor is going in for the same kind of ap- peal, he should profit by her ex-: ample and keep out of bath-tubs. Because there's a plot to 'Personal Property' there are other actoirs. in the. picture and all of them quite good, too. Reginald Owen, whose versatility is unlimited apparently, plays Taylor's brother, and looks it. Next week he riiay shoW' up aS Lionel Barrymore's father. Hen- rietta Grossman, E. E. Clive, Una O'Connor and Cora Witherspbon have small piarts. Barnett Parker does some amusing clowning, arid Forrester Harvey contributes an out- stlhding character bit. The plot? Well. Taylor gets hirh- self the job of a slierifl's officer and moves into Miss Harlow's London house as cu.stodian of her person , and her possessions. "The idea is that she resents his presence. He-stays around a couple of days—and. niehts,The picture is about what doesn't hanDen. 'Fliii.- than has been his custom oi laie, TTe is merely one of three skeins in the story thread. He is a pilot who is none too. popular with the rest of the men in his escadrille because, he has the rep of being a jinx. Several of hiis observers and gunners have been killed and the boys, are leery othirri.-Loiiis Hay ward comes along, they strike up a quick and., real] friendship, and it.looks like the. jmx has been slain, But unknown to either they are both in love with the same woman, Miirii's wife; Eventually, of course, Hayward finds out. this leads hith-to turn on. Muni, arid iRnale is a bittier aerial dual: Hayward. is killed and Murii wpurided. Miss Hopkins nurses him, not: realizing - that- he knows, her mental torture. . This ifinish may be. fine , from the standpoint of the husband arid wife returning to each other but it's really a sort of gyp. It is made sufficiently obvious that she loves the other man. Leaving the, film, therefore, pretty much up in the . air. ^ , Many good things in the picture. Nicely paced moverrient thrOUghou,t arid plenty of: action. Some fine fly- ing, though nothing .sensational.along I this line seems to have been cut iri frbrn the French original. And extra good performances thrpughout; All three leads are very good, with Hay- ward, perhaps, getting the break be- cause of the story, .Colin Glive . is excellent ;as the ir corrinriander. Wady Christians is wasted as a re- sort galV Good bits throughout by other players, rtiostly mferi. . Anatole liitvak, who directed, also meggied the French:6riginal. It is his first assr^nriient oii ^his side arid he will sticJc around. He; has a nice touch and sense of pace. Score is the same as written oyer there, too, by a couple of Frenchmen, arid could have been improved upOri, Prqduc- tiohal end is Rood and Mary Bordeiv, in doing oV«r : the story, has handed in some splendid dialog. ' Knnf. Miniature Reyiews 'Personal Property' (M-G). Harmless boudoir farce with Jean Harlow and Robert Tay- lor. All right. fTht: Woman I Love* (RKO). "Paul Muni-Miriam IJop- ins starrer augurs spotty re- sults. ' Igh, Swine tow' (Par); Good LombardTMac- Murray comedy-drama with songs. Cinch for big grosses. 'Love From a Stirahger' (yA)i ritish-njade with Ann Hardl- ing arid Basil Riathbone, Re- deeriis itself in final two reels. -Fain ' 'When Love. Is Young' (U); Moderately diverting Cinderel- la yarh with the virtue of sOme, laughs. 'You're Ariny (G-B). Tepid recital oi Anier- ican racketeer who erili$ts in the British army; Cpriiedy with melodrartiatic finish. .Directed by Raoul Walsh. No nariies for U. S. and just a second feature. 'A Family Affair' (Metrp). . W-h P les p m.e entertainment marked . by Lionel Barryrnore's briliiant perfprm.ance. Farriily trade .and tops in- dual locationis. 'Night Key' (U). Meller about an eccentric inventor plus cops arid, robbers stuff, with Boris Karloff. For the duals. 'China Passage' <RKO. Mur- der .mystery meller of small b.p. hopes. arid-the^lm-JlnallVjtdrts to move. Although the steps brittging-him-to- the point Where the murder of his vrife is plainried are deliberate arid testing, when the buinping off time approaches the dramatics do reach herve-breaking tension; Seiqtience in which Miss Harding realizes what is planned for her is gripping. . She parries ith Rathbone, frantically tries to save herself, and pniy by making him believe he has swal- IpWed p'pispn iri cpffee dpes she .save herself. Miss Harding gives a fine perfprmance thrpughput these scenes while Rathbpne is alsp excellent. Bruce Setpn . dojes well iri ' a small part ' and r 'shpws distinct screen prbriiise,. Very little comedy is atr teinpted in the. script. Others- from HPllywppd have had l^.and in this British-made in- cluding Rpwiand V.. ■:Lee, directpr; Frances Marion; scenarist, and Harry E. Edingtpn, credited as associate producer. Latter was Greta Girbp's business manager and agent for years. Char. When Love Is Ybung (WITH SONGS) T'nlversBl. release ot Ilobert -PreRnell prp- ductlVin. Features- Virginia Bruce, .Kent Tay.ior, Walter Brfehnan, ■Uirec'ted by .i-lal; Mo.hr. Adapted by .Eve Greene and Joseph Vields. From story, 'Class Prophecy,'■ by' Rleanore GrifCh. '. Cairieiia,. Jerome A^sh. Special Hongs by Jlmihy McHuifh and Harold .Adamsori, At Rbxy, N. Y., week .\prU Ifi, .'3T; Running: tlnie, 75 mlhs. Swing High, Swing Low (WITH SONGS) ■ Paramount release ot Arthur Horhblow production. Stfra Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. Features Charles But- terwbrth, Jean Dlxoh, Dqrothy Laniour, Harvey .<;tepbens. Directed by Mitchell VelBin, Screen play, Virginia Van .Upp and .Oscar Hammerstpln II, from play ('Burlesque') by: GeorRe Mahker Walters and Arthur Hopkins; j3ong;s,. Keijph: Railn- ger l-eo Robin, Sam Cosipw; Al SlegeJ, Burton Ilane.. Ralph Freed, Charley KlBCO,; Miislcar direction, Boris Moi:rofl: camera; Ted Tetzloft; special photographic :eftects, Farclot . -Edouart;' ajrrangemehts, Victor Young*, Phil-Boutelje; vocal arrangements A\ Slegel; film editor, .Eda Warren. At Paramount, N.. Y.. .week April IS, '37 Running time, 02 ihlns. THE WOMAN I LOVE .. Tif^O-lUidlo releoHe'of Albert-'.r.ewlK prD- cliictlon; ' .Stai:.M .I'aul Miinl: and iMIrlam HopklnH. Features Txiulrt Hayward; Iri'cLcd by AhHtolo i.ltvak,. Scraen . play,.. Macy KordBn;^ from .French fllin,- 'L'Equipage,' and noveV-'ot siinve name by Jo.sflph kesscl; Bi.;or*i, Arlliur .Konneger, MHdrlce „'rhlrle1 ;■ ■camerai. .<'harle)< Ro.Mhft'r: sneclal - effects, ■Vernon Walker; lin e'dllofi Henri .RuMt.-At Radio ciiy Mu.sli; Hiill., N. Yii week April .la '.H7; H'linnlng-.tririif. .8.1 luhiM,' Maury ..,-, ....'..',......-.. .T'aul.-Munl Denlse ^ ^llrl(lln Hopklnk Jean . ..riOiilH Hayward riipliiln ... ....,,..,.,.; ...Collti Olive peac^hninp.s > ;. '.. .Allnor. WatHOn ;.. 11 za bet h ■. R Isdhn ...........; I'aul Gullfole ..; ..Wally Albright ady Chrl.Hllans ..... Alec (Jralg .Oxvf n I)H v)a, Jr. ........,.. Sterling . riiilloway ... ..i,.. VInee Barnett Maggie King,..,... Skid Johnson.- Harry.. ;. ;.; Ella,,..,.....,,...,. Anita.' Alvarez...... Harvey -. Howell.. .'i. Toiiy.;'.....'..,.. Murphy .,... Georgle. '.... Henri ........,.. Panamanian JDait... Chief of Police...... Interpreter.... ;,, .. Judge.; Cai-ole Lombard .... Fred" MacMurray .diaries'. Butterworth . i'..'..... '.-.lean Plxoii- ;.... Dorothy Lamou'r .-...Harvey Stephens , i.,. ■ .^Oharles Judela ...Cecil Cunnlnghatn .'.; . .Charles AriU . Fran k ly n Pangborn .......Anthony Quliin ,. '. ... . Harry - Semels ..... ..Rlciirdo ilandla ,...Enrique de Rosas Mother Vei'lhlei- . G.eortfcK ... Florence Doctiti- ... Me'/.xloreis IIII pro/. ;. athleu . inal notion for distributing this remalte of 'rEquipage.' a French, fil was to call it lEsca- drilie.' Switch to The Woman I Love' should helja on the marqiiee; artd this picture-heeds all the mar- quee help it can get. Spotty buslnesi indicated With the Hopkihs-Murii names seeing it through most of the tough, spots. A thrill air picture plus a down- to-earth love story. But the-love angle is too typically French to con- vince the average American femme. Latter is likely to And the yarn hard to believe despite being sympathetic. On top of that, picture has one of those unsatisfactory endings which may annoy the girls no end. Paul Muni has a lesser role here 'Swing High, Swing LoW' has al ready proved itself in some of.the key . cities as strong boxoffice... With Carole Lombard and Fred MacMur- ray topping a strong cast, plUs the basic entertainment ingredients, no reason , to believe that: 'Swing High' will not jam, 'em at the gate. It's a cin^h for the. younger trade, and will satisfy general audience stand ards. Film is a switch, not even press book heralded. On the old George Manker Watters - Arthur Hopkins play, •Burlesque,* Instead of the burlesque comic. Skid Johnson, of the piitty-nose, whom thie late Hal Skelfy glorified in the Broadway original, and in the first Par film- izatipn (called 'Danc6 Of Life'), the switch to a Panama honky-tonk and a class N. Y, caie is as' ultra-mOdern as the sweet-hot trumpeting which is the keynpte. of MacM^rray's ex- pert perfbrmahce. As an ex-Canal Zone soldier. Who can toot a mean hOrji, \yhieh car ries him from .Mamg. Murphy's Pan ama jOir^t to the Hollywood ;versiori of ah El Morocco type Of class place, MacMuri-ay, ably foiled by Miss Lombard, 'does much to sustain a. stpry,. which, in spots, Ipoms as a bit dated. Saigas abput kings pf the. nite cliibs: whp, when they start tP skid, gO down fastv have becorne. a bit famil- iar,, as has also. the..basic triangle. Situation When Skid ; goes the whoopee route and Mjiss Lornbard ultimately comes ■ back to resurrect him -from the sloughs. .However, expert trouping by. both -more than sustains thie story requirements. Producer Arthur HornblpW and Director Mitch Leisen have endowed the sum total with all the niceties. If MacMurray is such a bear on the horn, they jlist don't leave it tp .this alumnus pf the Califprnia Cpllegians (band) to give a suggestion of it-T- they go the whole way and have two; not j list one, to stand in for the whammo trumpet virtuosoing, Mac- Murray's off-screen hot lips ai'e two boys .from Victor Youn.g'. band, Frank Zihziv and William CJaridreva, and their triple-tongue and. other horn intricacies are somethin'! In- cidentally, Yoinig with Phil Boutelje, of the Par musical corps, has done an. expert job on the arrangements. The illusioh Of the Panama Canal locks' flirtation; the counterpart of Mamie Kelly's C. Z. honky (called Murphy's here); the ensuing N. Y. nitery atmosphere; the vamping by Dorothy Lamour, etc., constitute a succession of screen pictures which arrestingly background the strong basic romahcie. Butterworth's hypo chrbiidriacal comedy assignment, serves as a gppd springboard for his chacteristically-dry. manner pf work- ing, and Jeaii Dixon is an adeguate, it not particularly distinguished, skeptical girl friend.. Dorothy La- mour, one of Par's newcomers, is effective as the light menace, a per- sonality lookier who also registers with her 'Panamania' song. Cecil Cunningham^ , legit, vet, ' makes her griiff. but not^-tooHough • 'Mama Murphy stand, up and but, does Charlie Judels^ bit as. a ialectic iBoniface, There are five songs:' *I Hear a Call to Arms' and 'Panamania' (COs- Ipw-Siegel); 'Spring Is ill the Air' (Ralph Freed - Charley KiscO); 'Swing Hiigb, Swinjg Low' (Freed- Lane), and Then It Isn't Love' (Robin-rRainger). .'Arms' is the thematic but none is, butstanding save the title song, which is but in cidental in the film but is currently getting a dance plug around the country. In this instance it's almost advantageous that the tUnes dont subjugate the plot rnotivation, mak- ing it a' story with incidental but necessary song embellishments. Boris Morros has synced the sum total well and Al Siigel's deftness with the vocal arrangements are superbly manifestied despite the limited opportunities, This is Miss Lombard's first attempt at Warbling iri public, The sound boys are kind to ner parlor voice. '■, Camera and general technique click throughout, including some brief but punchy montage by. FiSr- Ciot Edouart, who has so skillfully blended his special camera effects— the booming nOtes from the trumpet, the champagne bubbles, etc;—that it's almost part of the plot. The increasing usages, bf late,, of unob- trusive but well-fitting montage to interpret dramatic screen moods,' incidentally points the way to a new and finer film art. Abel. . Ypu're in the Army Now (BRITIISBt MADE) . aumount'Brl'tlsh productloln ninl rcj(.|iF(^ Features Wallace Ford, John Mills, Anna I.*e, Grace Bradley. Directed by.Hjitiiii Walsh, Original ptory by Leaser Snuiiii>iK, Ralph - Bettlnaoh; adaptatloti, .-Vit^Hn MV-1-'' ford, Bryan "Wallace; camera, -Roy- Kolllno. At Crltrrion, Y., week .Aprll U. •;;t, RiinniUig tlni -71 ..n>ln. - - Jlnimy. Peari. Bert DaWson; Sally Urlgga..:....: .. ... -Jean ....... -. .. v.; aergeant^MaJor'. BrlggS. American Student,-...... Sugar.'Daddy..; ,.... J Triider' . .... \.. Vlce-Cpnsul. -... G.reek ;.. .\ ...........;.. Arniy St'hoolmaister...;.; ■ .«....* Wanda Werner Andy-Ru.ssell >...;. Uncle Hugo Hanjtah Wevner Anton Werner i •>..., Nb'rmah. Crocker ",. ; . . Irene Henr.v- .. Orvllle .Kane .........; "Dotty:*. I.eonar ...... Cudgy. Wallace ...J.^jj Wlnthrop Gro.ve Liaiirle Sykes i. Virginia Bruce .;.... ...Kent Taylor .. 1 Walter Brennan ..Greta. Meyer ...;;Chrlj(tlan Rub >.,-Wllllani Tanneh Jean- JRogeris'' ...isterllng Holloway .. .NydlA Wbatman David Oliver ... .;.-.TAck' Smart. ..-. ,L«urle Douglas Love From a Stranger (BRI'FISH MADE) TT-nlted . Artists .release of Max Schnch pi'Oductloh'.-. Stars' Ann Hjii-dlhg. Fi^iuures Kasll Itallihorte. lilnnle Hhle. Hi'ii<'e.Selon, .Tean Cailell. .Directed'by -Uovvliimr V. J.pe. Kro'ih jitory by. Agatha Cllrlslle and plii.i' by ITrank Vesper: adaittul'lo . !Ki'nncp«. Marlon ; . film . editor,: Howard O'Xell; camera,, Phillip Tamkura. At RIvoU. N. Y,; Another repeat on the Cinderella situiation. Rather nicely, done and results' will pirovide . average film- goers with . ayeragely good arnuse- ment. Hal Mphr directs, with cpm- mendable zip al^d the characters' re- miain. plauisible. Plaiy-withih-aTplay idea is lightly skipped for it's the fragile bridge over which the story has to pass at about the halfway mark. Virgi ia Bruce, as a singing ihgeiiue- in .a Broadway musical - comedy (iand put there by a press agent although she has no previous experience), is pne pf those things. . . . What apparently is a Pennsylvania Dutch family has. a pretty daughter (Miss Bruce) who is pretty nicely stiiibbed by the Ipcal. cplle^e stu- dents. She returns sorhe years later, a star, and gets a Civic welcome. The stiiff of which day dreams are ihade.. Finally cured of her girlish infatu- ation fpr the conceited college hero (William Tahnen).' the star returns to Broadway to marry the amiable presragent (Kent Taylor). Quite a few laughs in the picture. •Treatment- is rather br'i*T^ and syn- thetic but that a hew director cpuld carry pff such exaggerations at all is. perhaps' a point for congratulation in itself. Pei-fOrmances are pkay with a variety of character actors behind the romantic leads. Also a pair of. nice songs included. Miss Bruce and • Kent . Taylor are- strong enough tp hold the sympathy and the story.. Jack Smart, fronri radio, suggests, the late Willard Louis and handles him- self well before the lens. Lend; . Not much, tp .get excited about. Takes off .from a fetching thieme, but that nothing much eventuates can largely be blamed on a dour and flabby script. Filrh looks to rate sec- Phd.billing fpr duals pn this side: Wallace Ford; is a liviely enough personality in. the central irole. Nar- rative ppses him as a petty Ameri- can racketeer, whp Aees to England from a threatehed rap for iiitjrder. There he turns to. the,, arhiy as ai hideout, (enlisting is from Canada. With Pccasiohal touches of. hiirriori picture relates his doings as a re- cruit, adding rohiance to the prb- ceedings by making Ford the third :, corner in a play , for the sergeant- major's, daughter, Ariqa Lee. His rival and a .good natured orte, is hi ' barracks Sidekick, .John MillS: . , Complications d e. v e 1 o p ' when ■ Ford's former showgirl flarne . from tbe';:States. pops up. ' His chilly at- tit|Ude miffs liei to the point where she •threatens to tip off the back home killing. . Ford .stb.Ws away on a ship and at dawniiig finds hiimself, occupying the same vessel as bis regiment bound for Chi The girl is also abpard. Picture .gpes melpdramatic fpr the final reel, giyiiig director Rapul Walsh a chance to repeat some of .his old Marine Corps - conceits. In China there is a bandit outbreak and the sergeant-majbr's' daughter' is in danger. TrOpps to the fescue, • Ford acquits himseM herpically ajid is nipped fatally by a bandit's, rifle, but npt until after he discovers that his army sidekick is the one, that the "girl really loves. Miss Lee makes a .plea.<;ant and good looking heart "potheri Mills proves a likeable and loyal; spn of Britain, While Grace, Bradley nasals aptly as the shpwgirl. Odec. The Wife of General Ling (BRITISH MADE) .LiPndpn, April 7. Premier '. Stafford -production, rele«.><ed Ihrougit Radio. Stars Griffith .Tones -and InkiJlnofT. ' Dli' led 'by Ladlslana Vajdu. John' Fenton General- Lhi Tal......... , Governor...,... See-Loii Yuan'.... ;. Tntcy. ..,..,.,, Mike...,.'.....,..;.;. Germa lne,...;;V. Xal's Maid.,;'.... lyiidj; FiucUnuii. i', Police Sergeant..; Police Comn-ils.Mld Doctor,', .Gi:l th Jones ,.. i.,-.... Inkljlnoff , ..Adrlanne Iteiin Alan .Napier . .Anthony 'Kustrcl ......Jlno .Soneya .Hiigh McDermott ..Gibson . G.owl'and ...Oabrleile Briine . .I,iOtu.M Fragr.ance ■.., Marlon- Spencer ....:Rmy Holland r .Oeoi'ire ■.Merrlt t. war-d. .. Dougjas week April 17, riilns. Carol Howarit.. Gerald Tiovell... Ka te ,Mead<)Nv.«... Ronald Bruce... Aunt'TAiii..; .... nr..'OrlbbIe. . .. . lOni.ni.v.... .....-., Hobsii ... .' . ... -. Mn- ;. Running llm 87 -... .-r.. ..-"inn ' Hiirillng .:.. .;... Hasll rtMliilxihe Innle. ale .,. . . I Jriice .SeKin ... ,,', ..lonn ■(Tndi'll .., i... ..i|i'.\'Hn JWnSMcy . i-",.r6iin HIckson . .IJonald Callllrop . i,.,.,. ISugene lA'ahy , A powerful sequence, in a country : home/ involving a murder maniac and a woman Who nearly goes maid in a successful effort to save herself from; him, gives 'Love From a Stranger' a couple of. feels of dramatic. dyna- mite.. But the rest is inconsequen- tial. Cast names will help, this pic- ture tp make its Way over here.-but chances for real money are dubious. Character study of the ..suave; mentally deranged man Who has married and killed three wpinen was Originally a short story. Later it was - done as a play under the Same title as this picture. It ran ,rust a morith in New York last fall. The late Frank Vosper, its author, starred in it on Broadway, Ann Harding is the. girl who wins, a lottery and weds Basil Rathbone, the murderer. This is when things start to happen. Up to this stage nothing is suspected of Rathbone's past. After the honeymoon, the business .of building Rathbone into his sinister character gets under way An obvious,, but Well-done, picture of the rnachinations, of a- notoribiis bandit in China whp, despite the efforts pf the Governor; of British territory, manages to get large ship^. .ments Of Ehjglish arms and amniuhi- tion. Barring some unnecessary in-, consistencies Of story; the producr tiOn, as a whole, is a good and interr e.stihg one for the masses, but hardly up to West Bind level. Might even be an acceptable .secondary feature' on American dual progfams. Dialog is crisply effective; there is intensive action throughout, and the photography and directional, detail comitiendabie. Motivation reVolve-s around the efforts of the hero (Griffith JpneS), British .secret service :agent, who is sent, to learn how the.se British armaments are beinc smuggled to the bandit's rneh; The .oiitlaw is .shown to be Hongkong's richest mer- chant and a. public philanthropist. The herb; against terrific odd.s. ex- poses the bandit chief and bids fare- well to China; taking with him the General's white wile after her hus- band died with his boots on fighting the British troopS; The role of the bandit in the hands pf Irikifinoff is a typical bit of re- pres.sed Chinese acting, and there are one or two other parts well por- trayed in approved high school his- trionics* Jolo. A FAMILY AFiFAIR Melro-.release of Luclen Hiablnird-Saiiiuel Marx productl6h. Features tilonel Bacry- more,. Cecilia Parker. and- Krlc .Linden. DI-- rected by.'George B. S'ellz. Screen play by Kay Yan Riper from the play. 'Skidding,' by ' Aiimnia. Rbuyeyrbl;. musical . score by David '.Snell; camera, Lester White. At Rlallo. N, Y.. week April lit, '37. Running time,-- (17 Ins. Judge . Hardy.. ... Marlgri Hardy........ Wayne.. Trent....,: Andy. Hardy ......... Frank Redmond.... Mrs.-.Hardy. .'.■ .Toan Hardy,...'.... Aunt Mllly......... Bin Martin......... f*olly .... Hbyt Wells...;-..,... Oscar Sttibbfns. ■'... . ..Lionel Barrymore '.... .Cecilia Parker ..; .Eric; Linden Mickey Roon»'y . ;Charley Grajpewln ...Spring Byhiglon .......Julie Ilaydon .... ......Sara Heden (.-.,,. .Allen Tincent ..Margaret Mar<|Uis .'. ...Selmer Jackson ... Harlan Briggs ■A Family Affair* is wholesome en- tertainment. Well done by a capable cast and superbly directed. Unfor- tunately for the front Window, Metro has left Lionel Barrymbre to shoul- der the brunt of dragging them in, with Cecilia Parker and Eric Linden as the only other names that ipean much. With pictures cast as they are tpd'ay, this prpductipn heeds tWP or more outstanding names if the resister is to ring a happy tune. Producers probably felt that it was not worth risking additional favor- ites in the cast because the story, adapted from the stage play. 'Skid- din,g,' riot only was jUst a hioderate legit isUccess, but that it was pre-.- .serited so Ibiig ago^ that it-obvipiiply had lost its possibilities along such lines. So much so, that M-G-M has shifted the title tO this drab one. There seems: little Ciuestipn about; the; film being able to attract follow- , ers in- family ;hoiises and. as a. lik- able programmer. .But. outside, of that it will probably .seek . the bulk of coin in dOuble-bill spots. Picture -is another triijmph for Lionel Barrymore; As the honest . country-town judge,.ahd arrain as the family-loving father, he is "in his ele- rnent. It is one of those meaty, roles that is Barrymore's dish; \ Cecilia, Parker and Ejric Itinden again are successfully teamed as the' youthful romaiitic interest.. it;is get- ting tON..be .a routine act with ihi.s Dair but-they' are highlv;. effective here. As is Miickey Rooney. a? Ihe kid, ■ hi;s-bun*-T' love affair with Margaret Marbiiis. Yoiing RponeyV internretation is; true boy stu :and good for the best: lauiihs. .- Haflan Briggs, in the role of Ihe iud*;{e's . carrinai'tn mana,aer. do"o,« ,sr)len.didiy.' Char.iey CiraDrwiri , rini? Byin»»tori; Sara Haden, Allen ViricOnt and Ssliner .Tackson prbvific ,«trpng support. Julie: Haydoh doe.'; <>t nhotofrrbrth so well but. gives s .sin- cere performance as- the: d;mt''.hk'r who comes close .to beirig. iiivolvod in n. .scandal. GeOrgp, B. Seitz has direfjrcl wilji skill and .sincerity, getting the rnoxi- mum temoo out of a wordy picct . Kay 'Van Riper provides honie.v in I k for. the-players but her adaptnlion i.« only a fairish job. Wcfti".