Variety (Feb 1938)

•Wednesday, February 2, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 27 Film Reviews THE DYBBUK (Continued from page 17) groom. Thwarted in love, Channoh makes efforts to sell out to Satan; but as this procedure is going on/ he dies in the synagogue. Leah refuses to go through with the wedding; ceremony atid the soul of her dead lover enters her body so that she. becomes a 'Dybbuk.' which might easily be interpreted by nibdiernS' as a form of insanity. To be cured of this,' she is taken to the wonder rabbi, .whose incantiatibns rid her of the evil spirit, but she dies. ' ■ Picture is very tedious in parts^ There are 5ome brighter folk danc- ing scenes but it's all lost in the rather absurd presentation of. the main story.. . This traditional Hebrew folk story has been performed around the world on. stage,; and ailso filmed, most recently in: France with Harry Baur. VOICE OF INDIA ■ J. H^'.• HTyflierpf reieaiie oit ' Paul T..- Hi>«»ner' procluutlon. Directed by WoUnce .■\Voralpy. '. Story, J.. -G. Hawes; cainerfl. P'nUI Hoefler Rnd H.- O. Carleton. At .Cri- terion, Is'. ■ Y.. for .•week of . Jnn. • 27, •'is. Iluhnlng. tliiie, 30 min.s. Released as a featurette, 'India' does, hot measure up as an adequate travelog- When caught, it had been cLit to "30- miniutes frorh original 7.4; .Ringing phoney throughout,;unjustly glorified and; still too long, short is for the duail bills as an added-give- ■. away. . Several of India's nobility are given screen credit for cobperatihgi Voice of India turns, but to be noth- ing more than the Voice of a sup- posed native, rendering . a flimsy; running- comment and inclusion of couple of incidehts fbr story effect. Staged elephant battle, feeding of royal alligiators, points of : interest in several Indian states are laugh-getr ters, reverse of. intention. English- speaking natives in the 'interior* and two patently phoney thrills of tiger attacks on humans and rescue of a child from a cobra are also included. Gatherer Hoefler,. remembered lor .his 'Africa Speaks,' has turned but this film, minus the exploitable points of the forerunner. Original got . by, but created imfavorable re-, action for successbrs. 'India' ought to supply. the finishing touches for this type. Hurl. STORMY TRAILS Colony rclca.se of Max .and Arthur Ales- anitoi-.proiluctjon. . Strirs Rex J^ell. featuroH -I*t»>>-H«rfpfear -IvtoM—Wilder- -Laiie -GlimvtHo^iv Kiii-I Bwlre. Directed by Snm Newllold. *>ti>ry, K, U.' Mann; .screenpUy, Phil i>un- liMin;. editor, Chiirlcs Henltel; sound, O. .li>w.-lt. At Vnrslty, Lincoln, dual. Ruii- iiiiiB- time, .CO ,inlns. . Tom Storm...— ;.■ Hex 'TtoII .J?illy ..... ....V...i............H(,li Ho<l^'Of^ «'•>!!ni ,... J.ois . Wildo. ■ .1)111111 ...>..,.,, ..Hine Clmndler -A-ri"tck•;.. .........,.....k....... Mnv\ l>wjre .... .y........ r.,l()y(.l Iniji-iihani ......i.'.. .ICnvi lliickolt .....'..... ,..I'^irl Uow< . i,. . Jfurdork. McQunrrie ..... .ItoKPr AViUl:im.>) ■ • '.i'. . Jioi.my A".lu-.i»v. <'jirlew ., I>uraiit(» -, Tliurnian SluM-iff .. D.init>l<» . ;S.lu s c.s ... Carelessly made, 'Stormy Trails' turns out very run of the mill. Salvation will be up to the persi.st- ence of the fans who hope some day to see Rex Bell in a good western pic, which hasn't been his fate lately. Even then, biz .will be ordinary or less; ^ Bell, eldest of two sons trying to hold a range of doubtful value above the water of mortgage, interest, land promoters, and hesters, is the leading figure in this story taken from the E. .B. Mann tale called 'Stampede.' He's given a job of almost single- handed effort to salvage his property ^since even his own brother ap- parently is roped with the outlaw.s. Most natural of all the performer.s is veteran Earl Dwire, who plays in more westerns than he misses. As the one lawyer in the burg, he ap- pears to be the McCoy where obvious force is apparient-in the work of the others. Bell, with the lion's Share; is but moderate, most of the work plodding and slow. LpiS Wilde, the femnie,\6hly renriembered in thriee or four instances throughout the opus lived up to the little expected of hen ; Most Striking evidence of careless- ness is a high nbort shot which places Bell's and his horse's shadow on the grpuiid as he looks for footprints. The mike crane to pick iip the sdund is also plainly^ visible in shadow over him. A nickel-and-dime budgeter for the.same class of trade, and the weakie of the dual. Barn: Naples All Baiser De Feu ('Naples Under the Kiss of Fire') (FRENCH MADE) Paris, Jan. 25. T»iirl.K Kllin rHi':is.. of . .M. M.' Hakiin pro-- dui-iion, .'^i.'ir.s 'I'lnto itoy.^i. .Directed l>) Aiiirusrto tSepin*. Story, Aiigu.st BhUIv; ..Hila-iijitlnri. nnit: dlaloprue...■ Herln Jeitil.'ibrr; rnii.sip. VIncont ■ Ki-otto; camera, Ilobcrf Ic J'Vvrp. Al . OlyinDlii, Parla, Ruoni'itg titne; . inliiM. ■>'ii''i'> .\■■■ .. .T(no ■Rfiw-I Assuhlft ............. .Mlrielle' Hallin J..i>lil!i. i................. . VIviatic ■ RmiiMnt'c ^'k'lu'l.... J-. .'. .Michel .^imi(i) , Naples au Baiser de Feu* is; un- doubtedly the best thing Tiho Ro.ssi has ever d-eine;-but-that is due-more to the support hc is given than bc- Qause of any advancement in his own acting abilities. It is sure b.o. in" this country, but the story would have to undergo some reforms and the scissors used freely; 'before it could make; the rounds in America. Story concerns: a cafe singer with a way and a past with the women. He decides he wants to forget the bast and settle down with the daugh- ter of the cafe owner, It appears he will; until his pal beifriends a young wonian arid Installs, her in their apartment.. ' Stilt wants to. rnarry the cafe owner's daughter there, but he can't resist the iad- vances of the newcomer and runs nwny with her the day his marriage is scheduled. His friends locates them, however, and brings the sing- er back to the cafe, the girl and the straight and narrow.. - Rossi, as the singer, Shows little of the artist except, by his singing. His 'TiUtar strummin.c; is stilt obviously failed. : Mirietle Baltin.' as the sweet but not too sjimple daughter of the cafe owner.; makes less than, cbuld be accomplished with her part. Vi- vt:in8 Romance,, as the.girl from the streets with a will for what she wants, is the center of' attention . in .every scene ; in which she abpears. Hers is the most outstantiing per- fjrmfince in the entire film, and es- necially does she carry her scenes wiih Ro.ssi. Michel Sinion. as the musician fvi.snd and fixer , of the broken rp- p^o.ncb: ii as ' convincing as ever ;(with a mu'i that is still as ugly as ever). Dalio. cornes in to furnish .".bme gbod; ii.eht corhed.y. . Dialogue is suffic'etit. Photography is on the bet^'»? side, with sonie . exceedingly flood shots of Naple, the port and the liayl II Conte Di Brechard (^lie Count of Brecharid'). (rrALlAN MADE) . Rome, Jan. 20. rri.iiiii-fil. and distributed by 'Amato- ■|'j.l..\.. cllrin-li'd . by Mai-lo ^{onn'in.l. Aiia"li;l fi-om tlie piny by; (Jloacchino Vor- 7.:iiiii: .'si-enario. lioiinard, Perilll (»nd C.as- i,-ll:i-;''.i: dlaliiKUi"..' Porzano; niuslc. Cliii.Ilo r.iiiiivird: si'lx and coatumcs,. Vlri;lllo M-. rclii; <-rtMiera', Vaclav VIch; li'raju'e«-<> Amedeo Nnzzarl Maria •-. ..Louisa T'erlda l-'cr.'xmi ■. . V ; .; ; . .I'-pa Ocscri Murio '.AmoliitfH*'.;Tina . f.altanzi tiraiiue .Armando MiK'inri (In Italian) . Forzano'S. stage play, 'The Count of Brechard' was very popular and the film contains all the dramatic Tnd melodramatic elements of the legit play, plus touches that can be added only on the screen. Best parts are those.. _roQre._j;ijLeniLalograph,ic ones—the scenes of the French revo- lution and of its local effects in the province where the Count of Brech- ard has his (estates. Count has dismissed Perault, a small functionary on his estate. Comes the RevOliition and Perault fit^ds himsflf in a. positim-t-ft-dictate to- the Count. He brders. him to marry a plebian girl. . Thfe aristo- cratic count is furious, decides to get even with iPerault by chosing the tat- ter's own daughter, Maria. As soon Maria has moved into the castle,- the Count publicly denounces her and her father Of course Perault sees to it that Count Francesco is immediately .arrested. But when he is taken away to prison. Maria sud- denly proves to be not an accom- plice of her father's, but a young wife in love with her husband. She insists on going with Francesco to his dungeon. They have plenty of time to get to know each other and love each other in their dark prison, until a general amnesty releases aristocratic prisoners and all ends happily. : , Set-^i, cPstumes. photography and music are effective; plot probably, too melodramatic for American taste. But the director makes no pretense at subleties. producing a popular romantic film. Amedeo Nazzari. while not always . a , good actor, is one of, few young Italian actors who have force, good looks and sex appeal. Luisa. Ferida, while often awkward, is always hunian and preferable to the well-made-Up mannequin, type of heroine that other Italian films have featured. They make a good couple. ;Hclm.: Advetse Balance ;(Conllhued from page 13) import ban on foreign film.s and will ;.<;hprtly be able to ..prove their stand by bringing iii certain subjects, supr poscdly due to ari-ivie this week. Stand-patter.«! feel that while it may be possible to sidestep .the im- port bah in sbrne manner, it wouldn't be a ^ood thing to do in face of the gbvernmcht. power to retaliate by slapping oil further drastic meas^ ure.'!. .. Although hp ihfprmatibn has leaked out as to just, how .the bah to;bc evaded, apparently it is;of such.nature tha*^ it can.be einploycd bv. all As.sh. mciTihers,. if Uicy de- sire, S tme mciTibe.r.s pf the fy^m., feel; lli'il if nil di.-^lrib.f will keep their .sivii-h-(H-v- the -.Japanese- ex-hibs- will- in time bring enough pressure, to bear on the government to effect an improvement of the situas.h. They fear that any high-handed action by the Americans, at this time,/may re- act to their detriment when and if the exhibs get into aictipp. -That the exhibs are th6rou.ghly satisfied that something must be done is indicaited by the almost constant huddles which are being Seld on the subject. Most. infiuential exhibs are producers. ;as well, and therefore know that they are not in position t> turn out' the high standard, of product fequirec' to take the place of foreign flickers, in the event that a famine bccurs. The> also know: thai even,if the standard of Jap films can be considerably raised, their big money comes from the fan who de- mands foreign pictures as regular: fare. As rhatters stand now. all foreign picts nov/ in the country will have been released by April. .With reis- sues and a: few subjects heretofore considered unsuitable for the:rnai*lcet, the. keys may possibly continue to shown foreign flickers until June. Witii this situash facing them it's a Cinch the exhibs can be -iepended upon .to do something soon., possibly-, right-after. the- current- Diet session, which convene' in two W30k.<;. (Continued from page.12) - "iokyo Bir Terrific Tokyo, Jan. 17. in spite of the fact that Tokyo greeted the l>^ew Year more quietly than for many years, all amusements reppirt . capacity biz. This is espe- eially; true of the pic spots which; turned 'em away by the thoiisands. Tphb's Nippon CSekijo, with; a Jap subject and Western style stage -showi-smashed-all knbwh Tr-eeords-in: British Quota .(Continued from-page 13/) is scheduled to meet Thursday (3) on. the date that parliament again .resumes, sessions. ; indications were that lib comtnittee meeting wbuld be held until next Tuesday J8) . Com- mittee sessions, are held only bri Tuesdays and Thursdays.. When WiU It lin4? One high industry official is quoted as saying that the quota law hearings yirill: be finished in three committee sessions, which would mean that parliament would get the measure about the middle of this mbnth. Few here think that possible.. though the Cinematograph Ex- hibitors Association, British organ- ization of exhibs, and the Kinemalo- graph Renters'. Society (distributors) is in important session here today (1), little vital is expected to come out of the peace parley. All groups still are squabbling, each seeking its individual, gains in the quota legislar tion. . , ' Only combination to hold together with any consistency is that of pro- pdu€er^-and-labor-groap;H;-<trmerTe»l'^ izing that association with laborites is to be' desired because of; political iwwer carried by laboring aggrega- tion. .. Distributor; representalives of American companies now believe that-a-hea^lthy-quotia-alnTOst-enti-t'el-y- for exhibitors, would go far toward rhaking an industry. .'They can't .see how one for distributors is going to develbp British trade because the exhib is the one' Avho inusi; .show J films. Some. U. S. distributor' officials here picture the presently proposed British qtaota as forcing American companies to secure quickies, pro- duced, at a higher cast, btit still cheap pictures. Stipulation in the new law probably will make muii- mum labor costs $7,500 per feature. This situatipn doubtlessly will; ap- pease producers in some 10 or 12 studios in England., but . won't aid British industry as iiitcnded. ■With the old English quota expir- ing on March 31 for distributor.s, pic- ture companies in New York are watching developments in discus- sions of the proposed new measure. If the measure goes through as fun- damentally ponstituted now; it. is doubtful if Americah companies will materially alter their plans for pro- dijct|0n in England. Unless sbnVe pro- viso is . included IP pertTiit higher quota credits for large expenditure features,, it is. doubtfiil if U. S, cotn- paniies wilt shift from the!r. prcseiit method of bbtaihing the bulk of quota credits via purcha:<e of quick- ies.' . ':. Though the divorced or .separate .quota : (for exhibilor.s atid ,distrib.i) idea .apparently has beer di.scarcled. it cari be reviye.d or bi-cjiighl tip 'in parliament before the nVL'a.surt; is finally -pa.ss e d. As. in the p;isl, how- :eVer, Ui S. distributors, will bitterly contest any such proposition 1VB Trjie.'j New Camera Hollywood. Feb, .1. First of new proces.s Mitchell cameras, which wci>;lJ.-> only 140 pounds and cmphasizcv^; silciit opera- tion, is; being tried".out in the film- ing-of WSrncrs 'AH .Rights Reserved,' under the . supervision oi' Mike 'Mc Great, hoarl of Bin'b:)fik lot'.-; .lc'n.-.iiiK staff. -. .x:a-n:w;-i:iv—i,s_tuj^j i{j.ped-*j«ijLb_ au,_adr vanced device for clo-ioiip'. ' down here. There >yas good busi- ness for several big theatres, play- ing; 'Mother-Sbhg.' .a new Gigli-ve- hicle, with. Maria Cebotari, rhade in German, and played in Tuschinski, Amsterdam, and Metropole, The Haj<ue. New picture entries arer'Vogues of 1938' (UA), 'Big City' (MG), 'Ea.sy Livih-*' (Par), ^Victoria' (RKO) and 'Kid Galahad' (WB). Passage Thca tre. The Hague, brings a re-i.ssue of 'LbVe Parade' (Par), which is doirii', good business all over the country Japari for a film house. Similar biz continued throughout the week. Asakusa Park, Tokyo's amusement center, where majority of theati-es are located, did a ftve-day . aggre- gate business estimated at $1,200,000. Mim'agers report that nearly as much more, was turned intp cafes, bars and cabarets, due. to lack of seating ca-r pacity. As-the Japs don't consider the Nevi^ Year's cetebration ais finished until the 15th,' ismash biz held until then. For . the second five-day; period Shpchiku's downtown Imperial of- fered two' French subjects, 'Le Mip'che' and ;'Ave. le Sourire,' after , ha.ving niade a killing the previous stanza with 'Wee Willie Winkie' (20th-Fox) and. 'Way .-Out West' (RKO). Nippon Gekijp continues the stage show for another week and adds 'Thie Great Barrier' (G-B), while Toho's Hibiya Gekijo. had to hold over 400 Men and a Girl' (U), in face of the torrid biz. Managers are unable to account for unexpected rush of biz as most of 'em figured the Sino-Jap scrap would put a damper oh. all show biz activities. Only explanation is prosperous condition of country, due to acceleration of munitions and other heavy, industries. Pown Under All Right Sydney, Jan. 17, Every theatre in town is showing a Yankee pic for the vacation period. Biz. is high at nights, with the heat hurting matinee trade somewhat Ifn ivers»lV--*^10&~Men —and—a—6-i i'l- opened at the weekend, tb a sma.sh and should click, up a grand take for GUT'S solo try. 'Stella Dallas' (UA) is also a. big biz puller, ahd likewise 'Souls; "at Sea'" (Par) and 'Marie Wnlewska' (MG). 'Miiytime' (MG). still ■. doing splendidly, and 'Night Must Fall' (MG) may cop a good; run. 'Wee Willie Winkle' (20th) is certain for kiddie trade, and 'Perfect Specimen' appear.s oke for Warners. Weekly trade is hold- ing up nicety, too, and 'Adventures of Tarzan' (MG) and 'Sophie Lang' (Par). Good trade is coming to the Tivoli with revue and panto, and W-T have a sure hit with 'Balalaika.' Difficult to say how the Montague revue will fare, but tips are that the .show i-s not strong enough to la.st very long. On the face of things, it would ap- pear that the b.o.'s will take a nice piece of change with .Yankee filfns. Melbourne, Jan. 17: Biz has bucked ijp here "and may continue; Current film.s include 'Thin Ice' (20th), 'Wings. of the Morning' (GB), 'Love Uhder Fire' (20th).; 'Double or Nothing' (par). 'Back in Circulation' (WB), .IMay- tinie' (MCJ):' Legit . is good with 'Tonight at a:30;- 'Okay for Sound,' arid Marcus. Tivoli is doing welt with vaucjc- revue., ■ ' ■ N. Z. Perky Auckland, N. Z.. Jan.- 17. Show bu.sine.ss has been clicking ■irHthe-Don^inion-du ring the ta^few- rhbnths and it's expected the nace will eoritinue through 1938.' Film' outlook appears bright and many legit prbduei.ioiis <irid. v;ui(ic-iv.>yue unit.s are ■aniicipatcd cVimmg from; AiistrMtia for eT"';!;t'''f Tionf-;. Also", ex pec) od that. Tivoli - Thea- tres. tjUi...v.'i1l oxlcnri iU'.vbaln here in' 19.38 to; in.^iirp n ronliiur<iii.- flow' br acU froih A-u.^^lrnlia .'liid- i.hei-<<by ihercasing the playing liiv* on offer, t.o fn'nr.ro.ivs' n'^rfornior.'j. Fiirlhcr exiocctod that with i.hn in- 4^u.)4-uc4-i4H—Tjf loc.^l n imw;i?.4nl"-- LJji!_ Willinin.-;on-T;iit outfit major innvp will take place to lift the legit field out of the rut this year, (J. S.;pic,ts have pulled the payee.>i into the b. p's,without difficulty dur- ing the last .couple of weeks, (jash circulated ,very freely,; and under a I-iabor regime the workers appear to' be qiiite Satisfied with mbnetary ^ains.' Yank films showing in Auck- land, WelDngton,; Christehurch and Dunedin include '100 Men and Girl* (U), 'Wild and Woolly' (20th). 'SouIs at Sea' (Par), 'Riding on Air' (RKO). 'Captains ;Courageous' (MG). 'Pris- bnor of ; Zcnda' (UA), .'Ati Baba* (20lh). 'Life of Emile Zola' (WB), •Make a Wish' (RKO), and 'Music f.ir Madame'. (RKO).; ; WiltiamSort-'i'ait is rbaV'-.sh'Dwing 'Oyer She Goes' and 'Swing Along,' \yith George G6e, .Donald Burr and Valerie Worth; N. Y. Censors (Continued from page 5) able or imnioral bpotcs, etc. Picture having been admitted, appeltarit.s' at- torneys virtually ask the Regents to prove it is immoral. Gustave Schvvab applied for a per- m' to exhibit 'Nocturnp,' bn Octt- 7, ■. 19.';7. Denied Oct. '.19, objections being made by .Director Esmond to scenes in a hoUse of proslitutioh and a raid thereon. . Appeal by Schvi^ab argues :that elimination bf these sccnc.s would make the story pur- poseless. Schwab empha.sizes that the ending of tale points a moral that; would sustain inclusion of. scenes disapproved, Charles A. Brind, Jr., chief of the: division of law, represents the Edu- cation Department in. .alt film ; ap- peal.?. Pan at Pennsy Censors Philadelphia, Feb. 1. Another swing was aimed this week at the Pennsy censor board and the coin it nets each year from its leyy: of $2 on each reel viewed- Board has been under bombardment from all quarters recently^ as result of nixes from meml>ers who.didn't, like political complexions of pix. Mrs. Arthur. Goldsmith, chairman of Philly Motion Picture Preview !S.tudy.-Grouft.^ilubwQfnah- oj:g..-.bas _ called city-wide confab for tomor- row (Wednesday) to look into the matter of the profits and their use and to make recommendations tb the .'jovcrnor. 'The BPard of Cen.sprs. is a source of hu ge revenue tb Abii. statQ.'...MDV.. Goldsmith said; in callih,g ;hcr chin- fest, 'and the money should be used either for visual education in the rural districts or the Biaard should be abolished. This state reajly needs no Board of Gen.sors for Ameriiran-made films, anyway. I'm quite convinced that the Hays organization is so thor- ough and abides by so strict, a code that local cen.sorship isi no lon.'jer neces.sary.' Decrying the fact that the film in-. dustry is not only forced to .suooort: the board's staff, of 40 employes, but also provide the state with revenue, Mrs. Goldsmith . .said, 'The la.st bi- ennial payment of the board to the state was in the nct.tihborhood of- $210,000 over and above expenses. Every picture presented for censor- .ship pays $2 a reel. Most feature pictures run to 12 reels, which rep- resents $24 revenue fpr the state. In addition, many film companies have brints made, for which they niust pay additipnal fees. This money is paid by the pi-oducers. 'We cannot find but what becomes of the money.. The board is bud'^ol- . ed by the governor, but all pr')fit.<? are turned back to the state treasLify., The citizens of the s^ \ e are en.titled to Icnpw where the rnbney goels; ■ /Our group is tryirig to -do' .S')m6- .thin'i co^i.stru'cliy'; .about thi.s. The board of censors ftjnctibns; under, the Slate Departrhent of Public In-xt-uc- tlori. 7\nd in these times when, motley for education^Is, so .scarce, this o:-,I'it should ;go directly to the ..schTjls tb be used :ifor, purchas » of motron pic- , -4.ur-<»--equiprnfent-^md--fil-.^;i^^^^^ : STQRY BOYS ,;Hnl]ywf)od.,Feb. 1.. , Republic ,purchased, Hans Krniv'. yarn; 'A.s You Art.' for R;tmon N,t,)'-- vi>rrb; ;;-• ; Uiiivf^i .;irt|iiirod '.Spoci;i| A.-i- .^ignmt•^tv■ by Ted Fithian and. I^Tiiu;- virc Pivar. . r'. ■ ■, rftci- B. Kyne's 'Corncob K-lly'.* Rrni>lit'.sold" to'2f)th-F(.x.'. Uf'ptiblii' Ijou';-.!;' Alhr-rt L?viru.''.l f>rif',in;il. 'On Olfifinl l)"i.\,' -ft'l-w;! i-<-|-r^fhHt(^ .■- - .< 11 fl 1: i. ."rhei i Ti ier» W;r- Moic' Lo Universal,