Variety (Feb 1938)

14 VARIETY BK; BRQADCiVSt ^3$ ., : ^ .. •lldnySvdbd-. Feb, -.8; '. P:irnni<iiiiit i-t-lonf^'i' of- Ifnrlnii' TlVoinpsbn l>milii(-lli)H/ . Sl:;ii» ;\Vi' V. F/i^Uls, . J-'iuiluri's lilnrtha J<;.yo, >;tiri'li-y Hos-S, D' Ij JTdPP, UufQ Di>vis,. •- CKifO-, liri)illf:>j^; K)i>:t> n-..Klii(iHUul. Jjj.-o;hv. liaMio'iri!, lUVp HUie,• l.yiiti" "OvPr-r. jiri'n. :M :. I'lrl'.viui. ■ :'l"iio; •• Cnlz-ir,'' Shc?iv Kiolils. Jlli'ocn'Ml i(,v ailli-iu'll I-OIkoiv. jSyfPcn. jil.iv'. ';'l.o,; •Di'l.'oil. J^iiiiu'ls' Mrtitlii ■..mil 'Ken: UnKliih'l; ntl.ifVt;itioiiV >l<)W,.ir<)..I;liVl.s;i,y Biid ItUSKi li rivus(', ri-(>ov.!i(«r.v liy Frp<lfvlel; • JluzUlt: iJrchiViji; A'-i'isi;iiit :olrfi.'tor-, K<I){i>l' Anil.T.soiv: in-l, • ■^^(lll^' Pivioi- . nnU. linisl >Y'Vt(>; r.:VmPi-ii.-.,1Tii,r< y- 'J^'f<lf.>''''K:- >0"'K'i.' Lfip ilDbln!- l«;ilnl) JiittnK<M-- !vjiil. JiK-'ii Jl-H'.k.: -A'; •J':'i-.-iimuini. 1... A.. J•^•l'.^ ' '^8. . Kunnlnff lllllp. >M HH»K. ■ ■ " ■■ " ■ - •r. l-^-o hlni;in -luO!«>>•.« I >lai-lh?i IJpllow?. Dbi'othy W,\;ml ii.iiif. f Ipo . Flelilinfr/. SrooiV; Ali.'PhiVil- . . lUV?// '"roIdirHi,. . Jlike,.'. ,-.T;-.; . ■ ■ B -I)- Jiayrs.-.; ..... ..., Ciinco- l''lpi(linK... Turnkey. \~...;.. . Vi. Ki, Field's ,... .Mal tha IVnyo -IJibrolhy I^ivnioOr Shirley' UOs^i .; . ... ...iiynne ;Overinhh .;'..■ .;......... .'llob Hopp , ..,.'. i i. • •.... Tien .Uluc .,., .., i: ... fMt. Krlksdn . , ., - Ora'co Bradley .'...;:.,.r .S ' • .'Kuie Davis Tilo. (JuT'i.ir . •■ . . ' .;:. :v;TJonel P.ipe . ;. aioi-othy. Howe ;..RUsscll Hicks .Tr.ednl<l Kln.skVy .Pa tridn Wilder I'.ord. :,Dr<)o.py, .loan Fleldlnit <'nptaln\Sliifior(1.. Ivan....;.., ..: Hoiiey,, < 'h ile.....; ,t , - .- . ■ Shcj> JCi"1ils mid . his Rippling nhythm iirohestra. . . ■ ■ TCIrsiV.rt-.KJjiliittnd of.lhe ■' .■ jrcli-dnbllfan: Opera C.onipnny.: ■ Wiliri ud-reilellpr, Cohduqcor . yrUh rpjiiyppated w: C.- Fie lds at his ; inimita^Jle biest . Jn, a strearor lihed- prodlictibri ■ whiich , .icomb'ines spectacle,, melody, arid dance; -Big Broadcart of 1938' is a stirhuliarit for late winter box offices. It sboUndis with the kind of,tunes, that At everir. radio rfeceivi^iig set. ' It is pictoriainy original and alluring; upholding the showmanships traditions of Pfrra.- mount's ..annual ..parade;;df radio; .and '-screen-talentl.^..^I„L.:oi^'v_i_ ■:. ■ • The outstanding moment of the film, however; is, a conttibutioh by Kirsteni Fiagstad,: of the Metropolitan opera company, Svhbse sihgihg of an aria from *Die Valkyrie' is. the sea- son's high mark in screen isong. Microphone: and camera capture the' prinia-rdonna .in . rhemotible few minutes of .thriilih^. artistry, ." ' Surrounding Fiields.and thfe divia .is il. company of players who; keep alive interest in a better than visual libret- to and* at the sarnie tiine, turn in a. full V quota of . laughs- arid.. musical numb(Dr5; Mjirthia Bdye.; Dorothy Lamourjl Shirley Ross., Lyftrie Over-: miari, Bob Hope, Ben Blue, Leif Erik^ $6n^ Rufe Davis arid Grace Bradley are clicks.'.Specialtiejs also ':(;i5nle froni Tito Guizair arid Patdciia Wilder. Shep Fieilds and his orchestra Sppiear iri^^ a cattoon novelty., ■.'. . Thiire are hailf' a dozeri good riiusi-- cjal; nuriiberg by Ralph Rainetei" and" l eo Robm, of which .'You 'Tobk the WordsRiiTht Gut of r My ■ He^irt.^ '.Thsirks. • for • the" „ Menriory,'' arid. •Mama,. That .Moon Is Here , Again,' i-iniMiayJarp nn thp rnhst plav e'd H.StiS. The smash prodiictifin .riumber/:is 'The Waltz Lives Onii'rwhich .is-a fanciflil- bit <jf terp, and &on^' thatjcafries.-the; waltz strain throu'th :the past . lOQ- .year.s; "Stap.ed by XeRoy ; Prinz. and f e^ttf^^l^r■'Sh^fl^Eyt^RoFs. arid Bob-Hope it is. the high spot pt MichelliliC'isen's direction^ : ' v^-*;:'- ; Screenplay ha.? a Ion? .tfedjgree, starting with Frederick Hazlitt Bren- ran's\pripirial. stbry. ah adaptatipri by ' Howard Lindsay and": RuSSel , Grouse; arid .- a screehscript by ' Wailt^r D6 ' Lepri, .Francis .Martiip and-Ken Enp- . lund.v. Plot has somethinR> to' do with tran.satlantic steamship racev be- tweeri' two preyhburids' of the. deeP. one ; Pf which "is owned- -by Fields. Specialties are int roduced - as .the 6ri-. tprtainment .<!upi>Jied thn piasseng^rs. Sh;Ds proceed, at 100 -miles an hour, blit, the shoSV -is faster, than that. Fields, does sieyer."!- very funriy rOUr tines. st?riin)< wi(h a golf gahie in \vhich he rides a scoot'"r frpm tee to greeni to .save time. Then he. pliay.'^ a frame of pocket biliia»'ds on board ship and winds jiip with fancy siea Jriariship as he . steers a .great Jiner th'"^u.fh'a' riiaize of i'"?b6rgsi Prnductibri ipieinerally i.s. sriiart' anc* iastefuliy ' mount<ed, Gp'sturriing ir extrava.'tfirit. and laffre cprifinariy. pf femrne ,T>layers is sele.cted for pood :lool'.s;. Film rates as- the. best .which . HrTlan Thoriiosori has produced- arid reflect.s firie. efprts ; from all studio departments. Miniatures and photo-: . praphv''^ pffect."! are\iinu.suhlly reali^ tic. • Pictv^e: Fhould nt'ove. satisfac- vaiu.ei. But iV.s a curiously beguiling littlie hodge-po.dser chielly. bticauSe. of ai few.-hutnaii. to.udi.q.s and thc .pic^jr ence of sdversil appe.ali'ng;'play Tiierc .iappiears tc> ^iav.e been 'some corif ijsiori- -gniipng studio c-xcesl.\vHrIe the filih was in jn'bdiie.Ubri,..- B.'i.'>ic- aliy; \thi!2^-.'stbry^ ^ia-'\hbOTGy .'-3;^iirri abd.ut .a. humdrii'irt sniaJl ' tawn and .the Avagging'ttfnguC;.s th^ .«pjh. li Web of • slqtiderpus. gp.ssip: ab6u.t VMi.e in-, nocent :behavip.r. of a' n.ewly. arviv girl.: When- the.plpt: ha;s mea.ndered through -m^ph -. of., its . . course, how-- eVei','.the-•.. stbr.y ■. ■•suddenly .'- goes .stridently - and;'.'.iMbgicaUy melo -dramatic". - There's & ,miirdei; and 'idJe gossip iri)mediately' .bciGprries .liirid, .riialicioiis ,scaridai.. Yani reyer.ls ' to 'aniiaible siriaU town conncdy-tor the .wiridup;::;. '/-v ; .--vy:; \ - '^T- . Althbu^h -he's billed Jh ,front Lew Ayres "has an abbreviiated pail; 'A.s: the .juv.e lead, he opens the. pic with LbiiiM .Campbell, but spbn :ej^ ■ reapip^iir only, for a bit iriidway arid agaih 'briefly at -the cloise. ' Film is chiefly concerned with.; the - gently amusing-dping at the neighbbrhppd bridge. :pai"tyy^ the^ mopFiet, da.licihl! cls^ss, with; ..its. highfalutih; 'recital,? thie children's squabbles, the piippy love :: mUuhderstandin'^s ; arid:- ' t he varibus riiiaisculine strivings' itb im- press; th,e;:;n'ew::girl.y -'^I'y. "^'iirosir^rbits: 'haVe —a- reminisced charrii^and they're .Warmlyarid clb^ queritly .played. Buti in preparation for the later outburst, of . viblerice,-^ number bf obvious clues are planted. When the yarn-suddenly lurches: iritb; melbdramai the. change;, is neither Ipgical nor. pleasant;.. And the solti- tiohj 'based ; once 'more; on tireless cpfriclderice, is neither .cliear no.r.cbn- vincirig.. . Even..the-, good . huriior-ed ending.".'can't erase. ■ such rclumsy. scripting,/. .{^^ ;:.'■•..-■■'."■ .' . Jafhes: Hbgan'is direction eriilveris the low-keyed pbrtions bf. the story. Thrbugh the :lori^ middle stretch the picture is believable' and ingratiate irigk retairiing./prbper. tenipb .and: :an,- appreciaticn bf human, values. . ; , ' :: Althbuih; his part is abbreviated, Ayt"es,makes -the juve role a worth- while; jobi Miss Campbell is handir capped.- by . her thin. \*bice, but is thbrbughly- likable. Ro.scbe .Karns, Porter Hall, Cecil Cunningham arid Elizabeth Pattersbri . tutn " ; their usual. capable perfbrmalice^, ^ .While Virginia Weidlbr adds notably ta the filnri's apiieal by her genuine iniV pishriesis,;' •. •- ■'--■' ■■;. Despite, its • ira.ws, '•Scandal'. Street' is a pleasant little opus that should easily earn, back its^ light prbdubtibri cost. ; y Kobe. Caisfe of ^urder . . H blly wood,. Feb. .8. \VarH6r'Bros. t6l6AS6 of P nlH HHjt l i.i ri :■< |i i 6- (Juctlon* Stars Edwiird G. Robln.^Kjn: 'feiitiire.s Janp Bryan;; Alljsn av'nklh.s, Kiilh Donnelly; \yilK^rd Parker. Dliecleil :by. Lloyd 'Bneon. Kidm play by Dnmori- liunyori- itiid- Jhwviird Lliidsay;. screenplay ;b'y Earl. KLird\vin::and Joseph. Sch'nynk.canicVaV 'Sid ■. Illrkox i- jirl nirreror, Max"Tarkc^nT!Wfr^ .•xnd j;-ick Scho.ll; tllii) edlloi:. Dainp.t<..(vilibon; a»t. ■.iaiv^c'lor;-, Dick--Mayh'eiT.v;' irnj.ejrar di- rector. I.ei> : F.-.' Ko^-b.ste.in. '■ I'roA'iewed «t ■VVarn^il's Hollywood tlieklie', rcb..- i>. '3S.I nunnlnpr t]me,.'6.'> inlh;<:. liertiy Marco..;;.:......Bd.w'nrd G. Robinson -Mory ' Marcov v.».....:... v .,. Jiane ■.■JJi'\'iin Mike.,.;........ .v.:;; . ;,.•;;. a llen .IcHlilriK Nora .Marco......;.. Itiilh t>ohnellv. Dlck- AVhlte^Yood;.;,....... ..Wlllaid l'aij<er PostV. ..i.............. v.....■.;.l<ilih: ■[.llel Lefty............ .,•.■.; 1.;..',, .KiUvaril - ilrophv (lulseppe........ . V...... Ilarnid ■HuhVr ruitter...-.;.:........,-.;.. ;;;. .:;;:.i4i-ie •^'siiitilev Mr. While wood....,,;;.-. ,v,.,. Ifiiiil liaivey Pqiiglas Fairbanks ISosciiblooip..-.....:... '■ ' ;.■ >Jiiil)1jy ^;J<ll•vl!irl. Intio'cenee.. . ;. .•;.'joe T)o\vnrn(; : M rs; Ca.gle,. ................ >l a r'u'i i ret. H am 111 on Kirk.'. . i,. ^Ci'oi Kij -15; ■ Stbiie Sad am.,,;,, ■ :.,.;...;,:.; . It>ii t ::i1iihlnn -Jlemy'a .Secretary ..leyn. r.enpdiet .rhc Singer......;H.-ii i v ."^evnvini- T-o.ret,ta. ..:;........,,.v.. ..... rieit.v"'(•oriip.'jon f.Nw-Xope Pohi'n.. Jor. I'.'illr-? ril.ttle .Duteh.. .....; ... i.-; -. ...Cei.rKP. .Mo'Vd .Bl.ackhat: GallUKliei'-. . .vi...... .'jrolin' llnnon Ohnnip.... ...;.;,.;,.: .'.Diikp Voi-J< .Pete n.v.TTi — v. ..■.;..;...'. . , .;r:it r>au- The .stranger, /. . .v ;;,.... Hai ry. TenbrdciU tory fbr all type?- of audience.": FUn. -■p;irn")ioiint' T)rn;lii.'^tlon,;'an'ji Toleh.'se.' ~ Fea-- ti've.s. Lew- ■A.vi'r\< i.oiilse. (Viriipbell,. Ho.«ie6e: . K.T fiip./-■ I'.orier- Ha 11,' Mi^iir 'Kehpedy,- -.ICll zn - belh il'afle.plMii.ii, .\*li.;iinl;i; W;eldler;.. 1>lVec.lcvl liy ■ .lan'ie}) '.lIliKan. - ','^i;vrennlay,- : Rerthnn ■ M lllltniir'^er.' ..iiri'l IMdJ-".: "VVelrii, ..b.i'pp.V -oh. .s(;fIry iiy \'r,i;;i /''a k| 'avy; ■ i\ <i<;I«.'(a n t.. '1 l.recf or^ Pink TpmpJelon'; --siiiYnd;; AV:(lIl;ini~ F()x;r :.fllni ■ «"'iri<)r.' - '.i:a Mi.n.s . ; J-^tiiilli; - - raniera, ■ . tTeiiry ,«!Vi;ir|iV'.. At -(••'rlte')\;.ip. "V/. VM-fk F<i). Jl. '•.'!.«;. -<lii;i'r.-Ki II. .-U-iinlirnif.'ti uPi'tri liilns.: J e-.:M;-.rvMl"ht ■ Nojiii .!,ti litid'in";,..-. Ail-'fli ?■ Mrnwn. J.nne.s \ViI.<-r(i.>i VllhVa V'ui'-hy.; ;Mi'ylie!i<?;.-Siiniiby Panjel •\V^•^).^K.-l' .Siiillll ■ Ad;i S'li'ilhy....: ■ A'ei-a Veazey J'r<i,' .^ii\i(ii.-. •M.iilUv'n.'.SMiilli;': .J,e:ronie'- M'livi.ifiy Viiy.'tk . I.ii.yiw' ii-.'.;, It-li'r'i'.L- J'>iini(iri, :<"iii.i;ic(v. ij'\'tini.c.-.,dvliiiki(n .LiMV. - A.^'re.*' ,■; 1 iui liye: <.'a ni |d)Pl I. ''. ;....; Ooiioi'ia Knrns' ;:;\.';7v,i,I'lVj-ier tiaii .■...Vlr:.;lnt:i' XVefilier .,(.;■ V'il • :ru.n»i inKh.nni i,'. .i-:dc;ar Jvtlin'i'd'.v' Vvlilizaliei ii' pn tter.snii ,.; ,;.T,an l')i!i,'Kan: .■.:-,.', I.nijilii(f; ifolinsdii .; ..:Tif>i';<»-' Kent- '(tC'diK'i! f>i'f' Viiif nV. 'Jr. ., -."iCkI her ■ IIo wai-!l - ; ..v.i/ii'i-if^ii. ivii(ienei-i ', ; l.oulvc . i'.ea.vers ; .-. J'.V'.Carl ijwil.zer ' .'Ssandal. .Streb.l'. js' fo.r.. the;, dualsi: wh..ar.'6'/..it. khhu I'd '.prbye •.apcfeptablP. It's- manifestly a nriGdcxt-budget, ef- .l.oi^ti rnadif vyiib a' miiiiriium of; trrrie ayd <;.ii.rc.. lt'i.:a'l.sb. li^jht':oil: riiarqucc :;.Npthing funniet;. ithan;; ?A' Slight Case jOf .O^iurder' ha.? beejii ^produced by. Hblly.wpptl in a, Ibng t irnie. War-. :ners; wa^; first, to/capitalize the m^^^ dramaitic angles; .pf gahpsterism': 'the; same, studio is put in frbrit./with. a ;farce.; which ' Ppkes f uri, .is t.: gangster character* .and,riiethQd,<!; The -'result isf ai mirthful and; h iiaribus wh imsyi -with -'iEldWardr Robm sbn tatred';: Which Is eritertalriing enbiigh to. take th(! :briertime 'big' gangster aiiidience for a;bbxroffice ride:'iri Tevier.se gear. .. The liriderWprld' i.s • turned iriKide put and ;scenes.;wKi(:h ..oiice chilled .the spectatbrs ■ W.ilh : hoi ior ai d the occasion.; here, for ' hearty -la(ightc^; ■Stbi-y.' is. Cleverly, Written by ' iEarl Baldwin - andv.Tpseph Schra'jik. who hatj. theirunspiratipii from a play^^^^^ Panfibn Huhyon and -Harold .LiridVay. As. a guaraptce thotVribrib of. the fiJii would.; be lp.st» Lloyd Bacon diibcl.':. \yith; a:.fine.'.<cn.se, of .Humbr^ a:^.^^ pace arid the convicfiori that (iii'riKr pters. can'be made to appear com'iciij ;as. We'll'as tovigh, :■ . . It starts With an. amiisinq pi-omi.>='c; .Robinson,. crslWhlie ^gar).ustcr> caUs. tp.yethift'r^his.hdhchrr.'dri -arid- ex- plains : - that..-- prbh'iljrl'io.ri;■..'.•-h;iv/i />, Wiped piit: their; vocatibris ' a.«- boot-- Itjggcp^ and h'i.iaQkcrf;, ma.kcy.it -nbt'- ;pflsary \for thorn .- to jpntcr. loniliiri.'Vrr.: business. '■ lie 'anrimii>c('',»!. - he h.;i-' bou;c;ht. ; b'rcwory.=..ari.f|. hr;. ;;ipo'bir)1s hi.s . various- .11 utonjinl,-?. to be tif-rVfi rI-. merit he;a(l.<!. jEfn.tl ■ ,t-nlo.<!rnrri.-.; l.tav-in;' riiade/a .<;urcc.<--«;' in. th'C'ir. f/i|-(rirr ftcrfi of shady-, dealing, lie ::a.s.stjr<':;' ihcin Miniature Reviews .'';;■'. 'BIcBroadcast ;'.'38'-, :;(P^t ).:,■ Gbbd musical with nat]ri.es ;ga-/ -': Ipj-e'.; \vUl;..st.irii.iilate . late, wlntqr • -biz.: : WVG.. Fields :M^ ' Kifstea -Fiagsta'd, Dbrothy . ..-Lamour top" cast. : ^Scandal Streets .(Pair), '.Mild ; agreeable, t h o u g h; ijlogical cbmedyTmelodrama aboutsriiall- .tpWri - fipssip. For. the duals. ' ■ ; ; 'A, Sli(fi»t Case ^Wurder": :(WB). Edward; G.: Rpbinsbri, ;StaiTed< :.a . very; funriy; .film.; ; abput gangsters "Who straight ; Strong 'feribugh ■■ i6t the top of . .■ dualsiapy^Arhere.,:.;- v^'Harieiii'.;'the;''-^'Prairie'-;: v(Assbc). Novelty. cpIbred W^.st- ■ ', ''mop-lip. fpi"/^ : theatres 'and .V^prthy' ias an' pioitation'diiaier.: ' -. 'City Girl' (20th). • 'B' melleir that .should db f aii". asr^ the :No. 2 feature bn duals. ; -:^^;.'Tlii6-Black I»olI'.-(U)v; Miirder' vmysteryv tjiat is vigreatly- bener - '■. fited ; b.y .comedy,. ; 'iRates. above- "ayeragCi- "'..■."■•''-';: ' .■. " -■-•'.' ; ..';*t)f.:,^uffliab; Viiesirte' -msy—: ■ Stbry bf. m other sactiiice ^. hand- . : sbrijeiy' ;produeed. by Clarence ; BroWrii. . Fair bbxbflEice. •Blir;. Broadcast'...^ir.; (Pai-)/:^' GoQtl. 'musical, with nai^^^ ; lore, will/stimulate, late wiliter - rbi -v'•■;;■.;--.:■':.•:;':.':; :. - •• - v-..^.:;:; ■ titheff arid honor;will be easily won in: a' business, run on ;the level.. '■: Audiehce quickly recognizes and erijpys .,; .the'. .liidicrous.- . situations' Whereih Ro.binsoh. :antf" his: cohorts; are colrii)eIledi under , presisure of be-r cbmirig : implicated ih :the. murders; tp ..cppoerate with the pblide, heretbi- fbre tKeir ; natural ; fpes. ' Sevejral minor tlireads -bf'plot .also, carry out the satiric quality. Robinson's daugh- ter, tvhb has returned frorii schbpl in Paris; is ■engaged tb a wealthy ybiith Who lately has joined ; the .state trbbper.Si : arid/much; fun Is. obtairied fi*om' his: tiriiidity.... All the familiar gangster-film .situations :are devbl- bped^ . but; the side: of law and order and miuch .to the chagrin bf the; characters :Whose. flniger^^.Uch f or the chance; tb :take; matters into their bwn'handsJ.'■ -v;-^ .-.•'••- kV --- ,y ' '~ . Good casting in addition to., smart directipn; makes the film;; Rbbihsbn .leads Vbff with , a - performance . that registers -the :comedy angles bf . his rbl;e'. - Ruth Dbniielly .plays his 'Wiifei arid gets riiariy .laughs iri her attempts at- • drawirig-rborn . etiquette; .Mane Same:i;beR: for. Williari). Sjiencer, jr;^ bs the iriedicine ..«;hpWmaiii,: Herbert Jeff]ri.es i$ an oliay . yjgilarite .hero, ridihg^ his handsome White . hprse Well. /(That, white, .hbr.'ie ideritiflcar: libr^ i.sa. smart idea - to; help ; dis' iinguish.'de.lawVfrom Wolf Cain, de viHyuri.) . ■■■ -" • .FloiiriieAi? % . .Mmer,-;ibi^mei'ly: -of Mjller. arid Lyles, j,s a standard cblr ored conie'diari. both best knbW'ri fpr iheir. 'Shuffle Alppg' authprship .arid ,east . partitipatiPii'.. ' With " Maritah Morelarid, . .the; teaiti. pf Milier .arid Mantan .are as capable as-ever, doing a::yariatipri ot\Whb:'s-a-ske(ered. rou- tine i ri the dark caye where. the gold /is cached'.-.-..'.'''/V. .•-;■''.-:•,....; Foiir .Tbneis. and 'the Four Black- birds are -good :harmprii.zing quartetsv .and the . sbrig material,, .chiefly, by :Mary. Schaeft'eir arid. Lew. Porter, an ofay: a.s are Jed Buell, et al., of the jjrbductiori corps., is by far the best creative contribution: The title sbng arid -Rphiance; in - the- Raiii' are! the butstarider-Sv in,,which Herb Jeflfiries,: the singing cowboy :hero^arid a per- sonable juvenile,, too—distinguishes himself vocally as well, as itiariffuUy. The dialog is brutal and directlDh of 'Great Train' Robbery* vintage, but the / sound,. sbngs arid nbveity rtipi-e Jlhan bftset;, ;//; : ; ! ? Abel; , Biryah -is the dauglTter and Willard Parker the "'trbpeer-flahce., In the groub of mbbsters, now're- forrinied, are,^Allen .^Jenkins, - EdWard Brophy / and ; Harold .Huber.. ,.Jbe/ DowninP does-it-straight as'the-hu^^^^^ ed ^ miirderer.;. Bibbby . Jordan, of the original ^ 'Deaid- Erid' bbyis, plays, the toughest tougH . kid - since the.. early <;arigster pictures; One of . the amus-; irig scenes; \shbws Barry. :Seyriipur .singing a ballad over the: telephone; to a; sick pal iri a San Diego hbspitaL Pal pa.«ses out on the riumbter. .- 'A Slieht.-Case- bf Murder' is toWdy arid funny. .■■:'';'.:'■ ■■ Flin; ; - HARLEM dN PRAIRIE ■ ■-: (Atl-' COtblCEb' .^CAST) ■•/..-■:■■'■ '-. .(WITH.-^SbNGS);'-:-' //.A5so.->'atej (Indie) rel«!ase ;of jied; HiieVl T>rodUi-tIon; ' Dlre'ctea .. by ; Sam' ' Ne.wtleUI;. -Stbrvi Fred Mytbn; atjd.e-d.dfalop, Flrturriey /R; ■MMlfi';, ■fionRS -toy Mary /Schrteffer .and : new-:t»orteri: I.iylp;~'\Vbniack, .Str.vker and Lnnse. pon. Swander, J-un.e/:Hcr.shey, • Ira' .llar Vin-. ; Cam'ern, Wllljam- Hyer; ;nfiineliil'e. produeej-s,,.- finlilii',. Carr, ' Bert-'.'S'ternbai'll '•npervlgoi', ' .Maeeo- :;n.-: .SlieffleM ; • ■niiisloal; /dlree'tor'./ ■I..e\v Porter* fllivi ..editor.- lio^e'ri .TaCm.9.; At -RIalto, N.; Y;, d>nl, :weck Feb:, /l.-f'a,**. Uiinhlrif; time.-.'i+.-mlns; . : fr.st: .'. T^erhcrt: ..Tefrried, '■■ F16ttr^ey -.E. -.MlU'er. . Mnntan: More.lahd ■(.Mlller-.and' M in.^ iariV. :.r6nhle . H'arrl.1,, Marco- n, ,'<tiej'.rield.. ■\VIII!*tn-i ; : ,'ipenc.rr, .' Zt.'j '. OeorKC :r.Trid-lill;: XathHn^.Oiirry. .■tHc:-4-.Tbne>i (I.u(il«.i''l-!r-nni.-!>, . llUdoIph. .Hlintef, -I>oh •nuek:,::lra . irnrdiii). ''Owartl Br.ihdbri, James .DavLs;"4 .iJl.ick.- .birds.'.;' -'•■■..-'- "---^j / 'Harlem 'brt / the ; Prairie.'-, title- switched/at' this first-riin-Broad Way •starid; as 'Bad iAan of Harlerii.' i.s a 'novelt.v iri; that it's ■the; fif.st Nc'^ro mu£ical_w-estejm_.;_^Gas^^^ col- pred, , ahd; .itS;/54 ,:hiinute's''"r -tirrie.- besbeaki ; bf miich.-bbxoffipe promise from. s.everia.i. angles,; As /a novelty, for the colpred thcatre.s, it's surefire.' A^ a novelty'tbr the- ofay house.s It likewise has its cxplp^la•^.■ ■ti•pn''■aopeal;■';/.';;• ' .- :-,..:--'-;-'-^ -; ;•'' . played with : all - the soloriinity nf: ^ Eiick. - Jones -Westcrii. • thi.s- ihdiio' miickie,:' which :.;! ] chiefly- butdbori arid probably/ had . riloritv. chari"'' f-oniirig. out of a-. $20,000 hill,: could be'/rriade '.Very amusing .fpi-- '.siibhc- .fiiicnt... bopkihi^s •;in : major !hou.sc.s. rafter .the. prbducor has/ rxhaustcd its; Icritimate" market; ' Qhc idea .wpuld; be' tT .r)are.:th.e- .^4 . mins, riiri- •niri'; tirhe -down to half,. 'a."d- ofTcr it- ri.s .9 ..hbkOrrt' riovclt'V. - Tb"' :'Tn»,' -Will.riotrhe fliffiGtilt..crtn.sidc'ririrf ■ he/ elementary. plot; ,and. thc./rcpH.sc ■■f;h-^tos.V'; ^ ■^^ ;■/ . The colbrcd tmi ^hd.' rohbor.s -V-ol;' tip .;hps -. .Marbb /B', -.Sht-fTiold ' ri/s Ihtv •villalri. . 'H.o'.s' f<n c-x'-L-fts .A.n'?.f;lf-.s' i<^<it')' v'ho hps latterly bpori riiixed. no wUfi .r?ftnlr;>l. hvpnil*; (L, /'A/s HiirJcm-^j- nitcr'.e*'..'/. Conn-./ Harri.s; rilt''ry ■ - -'■rr(;vi.rfci-.;.\rn'.ii!:t. 'he- :.h."ltcr' ,in.^ th';'i! ''ioT':!. t>i.pfr iia n '«(}r<;i(»ri. hf;''o,;hr', 'fri'.-'T- )y. look iiig. coy..arid acting tbrri hiy'. . 2Qth Century Vox: release of 'Sot.l*, Wuft- ?,61.,-pr<idurMQn.. 'i Feuttirea.: Phyllis Brooks,- ItU'aido C<mey„..: Hobert Wllc6x, ^ Douglas' I'owley, Chick t:'hahdler. Directed by Alfred ;\y-erkrr., tstory 'iind adaptAtibn, Frances; mianu.: Rpbln Harris and J.e;tep Ztlfren; |lm ;(edlt«r.; Nonmin- iColbert; ^chotography. U.irfy^JacT<.son; : At Fnlace; X.i/Y,; ^^dual. week .FelJ; ,a,;:;39. ;Runrilnrtlnie. «0. liilns.. .•«?"•.•»•" .W«r«^-.yi,.-;,.-.-;0;. iiWfyills Brodks t,hai;lo3 Blakp;..,.. , ..... ifticardo Cbrtez Donald Sfaftfovd. r;,...Robert 'WiWox. vi\i{k • • • • • .-^^-vEfuglaeCPoivlfy b.|o_ NI<;holai , ...;. . .,tebt<»er Wuir Vivian . Lr. ...........v.;....;A<lrlenne ;Ames • " .• • • •........... i.,; V.Gebrei Lynn Dt; Abbot... .-...v..,,;;,..,...>. .Charles Xant t-haney,. v..^.....;;;.,.. .. .. ;Paul;' /S^iitbh . Tliis is/a fairly well Icriit buit cbh- ventiorial nnelbdrama w^ich seeks to coriribine the. heroics of a Thomas. E/ Dewey with the ■ weaknesses which :tran~sfor.m an. impieGuriibus Waitress into ari irredeemable gangsteir's '■ moll. It s_ another which points, the moral that ybii can't Win,' but does so/ the easiest rathet: than ;the^ hard way, thus it isn't always very -coriVincing. The cast is fairly good, the pabe sat- isfactory; and the dialog jpassable;: In the 'B' group and siijtable a^ the No: 2 feature for paired bills. RiCardb Cbrtez, Who/is. a bit wood- en .at,- times but otherwise a capable player, shares leading hbribrs vWith PhyUis Brooks,, youthful bjoride ac- tress .Xvhb ; is cprtiing .albng.'. Miss Br.pbks is forced" to; yai^y her playin"* in ;City; Girl/ first being the: durirtb waitress who; becomes, involved Wi.tji fhe wrbng; comp any, iatbr iuifriih.f? c_l_ iw, .. • |t);-% ailt.<^J for murder and jailbreak. is hot rec- ognized. becaUise of: plastic surgery resulting frpm a car wreck/ during escape. The transforriiatibn "is a bit of-^^-shpckf^biii -for-pur-pbses^of 4he- actibn it had tp be. -. . .. Mis/s /Brboks' pei^formatiees Stands out . along:: with thit of the Woman playing her mother. Who is. for sbme reason, hot billed./while Robert Wil- fox,. thou.ah satis/actoryi -is hb: more than that, arid DoiLiglas FoWley, •rahgster, fari-ish. Chick Chandler, com-edv type;; proves much.^ .'better thfm the. material a/ccorded him. . The .sets are effective, led by thiat of a terieiiierit horhe, while the ex- terior.s/are; also well. dohe. In ..the r>diting,:;Nbrmari Colbert apparently threw. out everything of a supertlu-. PUS nature, wifh: the running time clpwh to: thp rpriveriierit requirements of .dpuble-bil.lers. ' Alfred Worker's direction-'bk'ay. ./;^": Chor.-/- THE BLA^^ -..f niyorsiil- rt'lehse of Irving. Starr .pVo- diu-(.liin... Ft.uliirft}* . -N'an./. Groy; Don.ald ,VV>i()(l!J- KdRar KenneiV, Wlllliint-r.uhdiBan imrl.x liloyu .and- ('. /I-Iehry (Jordbn. D!- rei.-(e.l l.y.^^ Ol \ii c;.airet t./.:. From novel ot •.-anife ;n;i.iiie, li.v. William >;d\vani Haves- ,a(!:iji.f,-tj;ioii, '■ iKifold -Hii<:k1ey; fllirji. ed'ltor, .Vlaiiricre AVrlghl ;.:.fanie.v'a.- il.ia' .Morfran,.. At ■ .lol.c.s.N, v.. .»y.oekvFtb. rr, .'38; 'i^Run-nlhg jli.nf, .(K!. minM. . .■■/: . . ... . '.; ■ - '• : OF HUMAff HjEAR /.'. ■ './:.; ■'"' \ :''Holly Wood,' F(c'b,'':8--^' ■ ■ ;■ Metro 'release .'rtf. John W;^ A'ohsUlliu ,■ .if ., prodii'cllpn. :' Fie'Hture.'i.. .;. Walter. Hwyx, Jamca ...Stixwart, .Beiilah.-.Bohdl,:. ^Juy. K\\'~' beo, Charles .D., C'oburn'.. John .<Vitriidln<. Directed by Clarence, livuwiri', ■ Scier'n (.laV UrAdbury. Fobte; story,, Jlonotw.- '.Mbnt/w.! Hiusl\--'il ':ni'ore; ■ .Herbert AS'.o.'liari:-. art Cod'ric vGtbbbna; "camei-a, f'ljiUt • ijeV ini.-rt edltoi'; Frank . E. rfit'li.. . .At ''ilriiufe: iii^l iitre, ;\Vest\\'bbd, ratlf.,: .Feb, '3>i X; nliitr . tlhic; ItXI iiiiln.«(; ■ - . ^^»?*"n AVllklns.... . ...,:.\Vyl(er II„sl;„^t J?«°»./^y . k.Ins.,... V v.'.^.v.-Ia'int.s^^ Mary ..^llklns,.. .;.,;. ..;„.-,... Ueulah. U.,nil:l c.^ocBe Ames....v,.,,,.,;,;;. .c>uy 'Kihiu.« Dr. : Charles .Shingle.,-.. . larlcH D../ t.-ol.n,-,, Vres dent .J.lncpln......'... . .-..ilohn . (••iw.„,lj„^ Annie Hnvyk,!;,. i. ;>;....;,.. .-.nh/.-Kiilhen'ord'' blstor Clark...^.,....;i.;;.-|.euita -Jtol.rris ' ■Kn'-'xlW-'-/''•'■-• •'- A-;i^HrrTyi«>S"?g--. Ja.spn Wl kins, (as a .eblld). .Ucne Heynorils- : .■\nnle - Hawks v.(a^: a chill). .;.. ..;:.*.'',"'.■'.. rii,,i;..';,«-.i f^eatrire'ju.v'.Vjij'beft ■ Chaunccy, AnieB;. . ,,.. ..Sterllnir VMbllmvui Chauncey Ames. (as p.' ch IUI),, oWrle?TeVk Gl;>tall."r?&'^'''--''^^"'^''^ Captain,..C.rfggs ■ >; ..;. ,^,-;y .:.. . . jpf^n /Mlljan, ' ;;. Frphtier .'life; #- 'a ^■Villas6-''bn-;-th»i: bank5:,b3£ the Ohio fiver in ihe^ay^ preceding the Civil Waryis the .iaack- groundi ^against ' Which'' iClafence Brown tells the story: of a mother's sacnflce . for the .career- pf an. grateflil spri.; It is ari: elaborate; :prb- ductipn, painstakingly ■ mad^, cbri- - lamMJg repirbducipns of architecture,- ■ costumes , and: mariners oi the peri pd it depicts. As,such,^ it.:is an inter- esting Contribution tb the' scxeeri's library , of Americana. Lorig on par- : rative and short ori / rbrifiarice; the boxpffhce reaction is iik€ly tb-dampert the enthusiasm: bf those Who /believe the film possesses' any Wide public appeal.. ■ A ;Brpwn is said to have cherished the Jdea .bf prbducing^this -/story ipn. ispme tirifie;:; Scireenplay. by Bradbui;y Fbpte. is based bn Hpripre, Morrow^a ■ Story entitled, 'Beriefits Forgot;' pub-. lished. pearly.. a score ; of years, agb. Within recent Weeks Metro conduct- ,ed a national title peeking campaign, via its air program, 'Good IsjeWsi^f 1938,' Prize: bf $5,000 Was' awarded , RayvHarris, a high school siudeht of ^ Greenville, S. C,-who suggested the mppieker, 'Of Huihari Hearts.' Pub- licity, .incidental' to the -title contest - will be helpf ul to first runs. '. It :.is a^/fllm bf starJc realism, a', c^oss-sectipri of cpmmupity life- be- reft pi those, sterlirig -qualitie«s -.of kindly neighbbrlihess and generpsity with Which traditipn has clothed the/ relations; of early settleirs. A riieaner, mpre sblfish, bigoted. and ornery grbup nevjer existed, tha n: t h e^e vi 1 * lagers,- into whose midst cbipes k'' preacher of the Gbsip'el with his wife ? .and 12-yeai;-old son. They had promised him $400 a year to be ciis^ tbdiari of their-stbuls, then cut th* : aillbwlance: to $250/ and :some cast- ! bfl clothing for his: dependent*!; Po- tatneg, Ysnm gnf^ r»'o:^1 f^^: j^^q , .Vlarliin Itoixj .Viok ■ i r;i Isleh/j Sherlft .'llr-iil.rk Ilex.;;.;, ,.Vi;.; r,.-iUra i-eiapd.. ■.Mi(Ui.'<'>i,i. ■; GUidi'igs..., •N.-iti iGrey ;.. .'Donald .-"Woods. ,- ./ibvigar .Kennedy . U'llllam Ijuhdigah .,;DbrlB. I.lby.d .,.,..; A (1 d lisbn. .nIeh'a' rd.■^Z ■.;i'; Holmes Herbert V Ted.Him Of splving an average hiur- der mystery - i.s: here / greatlyr teiieved Py t.fie^cpniedy of Edgar Kennedy as a- smaU-tp.wii -.sheriff, , Majority f»f; the.: actiori; centers/arourid efforts of Kcnncdy.and ah amateur' detective ■to .fix re.spbn.sibijity for. three- mur- ders, ;-.But.;it. isn't the:-plot, 'aroUsed ..susp.ic)ons. siisperise' pr ;thb sbhrtio'n :.that. miiltes. thi.s: ..film .a pretty gobd -bct- Z/lfs^^he laiighs'that db^it mbfe -thnri.'- anythirig eh-ie;/' '.. -:■'.'.. ■:■ ■. .'-;/.' -; -Picture has.; it; gobd::cast;;alth^ tiie boy delcciive.'.played by Dbhald WPods;; appcar.s a Mttl? too precocious' .i(>r.-hKS:yPiithrul appearance;. He top ■uncann.jly., figures :it 'all oiitr'/flis- re-' citai. ; nenr.; llie end on .ihe sblutibn Pf^ the imviKdprs/.'./ .too flong-Winded: i. iclure. olhcrWi'sa, mp''vcs alb.ig at .a %pod njirf;' ■ .- .;;■ , :';■ -;-;■ •.•/;.■.;■ ■.-■ '■ ;, Arll-i.iir. Iloyt shiisfaclbry as- the- yillfi.MO oomMci ;: Girl- is ■ NariJGrby; \V'h;j-fi .pr.f.'t.ly, and ..•jcreeh.s'-.^ well, 'but ;^;|iow,s; riplKint,' i.trip'i-o.ssive 'a.s ah' iiq- :U;t;<;s.' :T-cs!;<'i;^"rnIes ?ii:c f>kay-/iri- the- ;h.;in.d,s.., of. Willjiwn : Ltituligan,' Doris' [.Jo.wl;: Ad(I,!;(;i.i 1? i.cliai;(is arid Hplmes tlcj-nvrt;. .'"../i... \ . ,■ .:'; ::,.,;■.:■-.•,■■■ ,:fJ«!)f-ii.Sc:/i.i'dne i'li/llic 0 Gi'iin« Club r-'-v /-r..-^-^' --/;-^ '-■■■■;''./<;iiar:: ... fpr gopdVm^asutc. / ' The, preacher accepts the.':e .termi ; with humility. ; His Wife, accu.stbmed/'. ,tb hardship and privatibn;: .«fets uip /' hpusekeeping m_a sihall cptthge. Thei ■ ,SPn7~Kpwever, .rebels" agfiin£i:;'^rifi"e^ .petty, tyranriy arid selfishniess' of th*.;; neighbbrs /and has -smaii respect ior/ his-father's resignatipri' tb irisijit arid / ingraititude.;. Biblical. passages con- stantly qtibted db not soften the conl / , /teriipt which. is grbwirig: in the bpy'i heart./ -'■--■:.': /"./.'■ Another source- of 'corislarit/ irritsi- tiori betw^ien the twb is a, fi i^nd.«h]p Which;the boy: makes With a di.«:so- lute, . tipsy elderly phy.siciari -Whio lives alorie at/the /erid of the larie. - ^Xomes the day when ,thb son ' 20 and the bitter feud between birii and his father reaches: fi.cticufts. it is not ai:,pleasant, scerie, both -being . in. the, Wrong; -The boy, :somewbatr battered, determines to go 'to BaMi- mpre to study /surgery,' arid his- mpther sells, such smair:pps«esRipns' as - she; has accumulated to provide money, for. the trip..- V Letter part, of the- film reinte.s the . boy s brilliant, success a.s a. stirgedrt .. i", the Uriion irmy,/ arid his rieglebt ' fpr his-mother,; pbW Widbwed.' There : :is_one of those human interest scenes- when Presiderit Liricoln send.s for the young man and lectures hirii on: the sin;of filial ingjratitUjd.ie. At the. fin- 'shj.hipthcr and son: are reiiriitiEd.' ; Film is distinguished by fthe-ca,st- ' ing; and varibus character parts 'are abiy and'expertly, hdndled. VWalier : Hustori returns to the screen as the zealous circuit. ridirig preacher, a -manv-T)f---uricbmprbmijiing.- pri neipl^^ :B,eulah Bpridi is; the '.wile.' arid^",-: nridther . and she / shades the trari.si- . tions of age. With convincing acting., Gene Reynolds.first appears as the ' SOU;, a ■role: played by James- SleWart in the. later- scenes..-- ./': ' 'Ampng.;the villagers, are' G^iiv Kibr ' bee,, -as.;/ a ' :storekeeperj Charjey' / .G.r.apeWin,. who characterizes a .ftbrf'e • .ti;ader; Leoria Roberts arid : CI tmeh: Bevan.s.; AU .pf ^theni,:. have : urtsyhi-. ■ .• pathetic,', hard as-Signriienls, but they ;imp.r.es.s/With gpod. iDerfoi^manGes. ./'.' .. Charl.es Goburri,'frorii; legil.-'makc thc;:tipsy/old doctb'^ a ibveable, hu- •.■ man character;; His performance...' outstan.dirig,. .John Carradirie.iitipcr- : . '.spriatcs :';Liricp.l'n after. the cohverir tionalpattern./. :Minor . part.*; are'' played well by;Leatribe JoV Gilbcri; : Gcrio.'Lockh.ai't-arid Robert iW .. GJiief, cai'i.se ,' for', .d isappbihtrii.ent' ; with/.the.'filril. is . it/s sTovv:;paL'e; aria Z- the.: defeati.st- -.mobdV' Pf ■ .'the.' ijtary..'; ' BrqWri'/irt", hi.s dircctiori empha.sizt'S „ incidcrits.,,e>(trarieous. to ■ the.''-^m theme. ■..'.On the - tcohnicaV .=ide- 'of' 'Pccnciy. offbcts. arid Clyde DeVinna's, /. fine. photography,: . the :-; pr'oriticlio'ri •: lacks -pbthing.; . ■'' > .. ".E^im' ■ •'•