Variety (Jul 1938)

FILM REVIEWS VARIETY MARIE ANTOINETTE Hollywood^ July 8. M-lrrt-Ooldwyn-'Muyei- relenae of Hunt ai'„.iiilianc unuluftlon. Stan Nurma Staedrcr, §-.7/.n« ?uwer; lealuies Jolin Burrymoie, w iiu'ri .Miirlcy. Aiilltt J.oulse, Joseph Sohlia- 1-,'aul G):i<l>» OfurBP, Hi'nry fa'lophcnuon. iiiM.-io'l liy W, S. Van IJyke; svreenpluy iTj cmiillnn West. DonsilU UgUcn Slewnrt . il Biiii-al VbJiIii; from Bloiy by Sietun iHUBlcal dlfei-Uon, • Ueibert Slout- h.i'l- c«meia. Wllllnin B.inlels; erteila. slivko VrtlHHplch: dunce dlrnalon, AlbiT- (iiw Uasili. I'levlewod In slurtio projcdlon r„'mo J'remleie Ht Oarlliny Circle, Holly- Cillr July It. '3". Riinnlnit time, WO inlns. Maiii AnioliieJie... .Norma Shcprer ?-,)uiit A«el <1» VVrsen... Tyi-one Vower Kliiir l.iiulD MV.,.,. ...John Unrrymore Kinl;' U.UI1. XVI Uobert Morley l*rln>*c:*'|>^ (le ],iinil>all Anita Louise U'jke n'Oi'li'ons........ .Joseph Schildkraul ^\ rii-". dii Unrry , .Gladys Ccoreo <')iii>i de MeKey......,.H-hry Stephenson • (• pmicsih' de- Noullles....Cora WlllicrsDoon I-'ri'ii's d« RoliBii.,.... .Bai-nett Porker C,,mt« d'Artula ,.ReBlnaM Gardiner 1.1 M.itK ..Henry Unnlell ■Irtulai*..'. • • .liConanl Penn CHiiLa d« Prvvaui'e Albert van ncUkcr F/Mimi'SJi .MHrlH Tlieresd...... Alma Kruger Driiuel Joseph C'alleln K.iliiunl'i re . -. • .GeorBO Meeker Siullhln .<5intly rtecketl Prlncejii Thercse Murlyn Knowlden Produced on a scale Of incompa- rable splendor and extravagance, 'Marie Antoinette' approaches real greatness as cinematic historical lit- erature. Its. popular success on this account, alone seems qssured: As "an attraction, however, it is strength- ened by the appearances of Norma Shearer, in the title part, a role de- rianding and getting superlative in- terpretation, and Tyrone Power, , co- starred, as the romantic Count Fer- Biii. In their support are carelully chosen players whose acting infuses life and realism into an engrossing slory. ■ Film begins its commercial career e.-i a road show. Its length (running time is two hours and 40 minutes) precludes continuous performances ii> its present form. With the heavy advertising which will accrue dur- ing its two-a-day showings, the film will be an established standout by the time it reaches regular release. Haised admission prices and extend- ed engagements are its unquestioned box ofrtce expet-tations. . , Finest production resources of the Metro studio make the, picture a monument of coroperative effort. Hunt Stromberg is the producer; W. S. Van Dyke. the director, and Clau- dine West;- Donald Ogden Stewart and Ernest Vajda are authors of the sci:eenplay. Herbert Stouthart^s mus- ical .score, is a dominant contribution to the ensemble. What is related on the screen is a brilliant, historic tragedy—the crushing of the French monarchy by revolution and terror. It is an im- pressive and emotional record of an €ia marked by the passing of the di- ■ .vine right ot might and the birth on the European continent of political' power ill the hands of the masses. The travail is cataclysmic in its in- tensity, the' passions, of zealots usher In a period of bloodshed and vio- lence, although the collapse of the reign of Louis 16th is but an episode la an upheaval that has left its im- press on the world' today. The French Revolution was the explosion which catapulted Napoleon into mili- tary and administrative power. It was the overture of the amazing 19th century. Thrilling and exciting events cen- tering in Versailles and Paris in 1770, when an Austrian princess was mar- ried to the Dauphin of France as a guarantee for the preservation of paace in Europe, and ending 23 years later when she and her consort, Louis 10th, wi»re put to death and the continent was an armed camp, have challenged the historian, dram- atist and novelist. Keener appre- ciation of the causes of the revolu- tion, its devastation and signiflcancie is more likely to.be derived from the film, 'Marie Antoinette,' than may be o!)t/i;ncd from any other medium. The reason for this is because the story, a.^ unreeled oh the screen, is interoreled visually in terms of hu- man beings. It is they who are shown sliaoing the course of events, which in turn entangled, enrheshed and Anally destroyed the leaders of O|)pojing tactions. And in all the Ion-' list ot persons whose names are synonymous with the revolution— Louis, Due d'Orieans. Voltaire. Mira- beau. de Rohan. Mme. du Barry. Robespierre and the crazed Hcbert— none played so grand a part nor so traijic a role as the unfortunate queen, who reigned for a brief mag- niflcent'time and who died under the guillotine. . Stefan Zweig's biography of Marie Anloinette is the source from which the screen writers have drawn most of their material. It is an inmagi- Jiative tale, quite at variance with some authorities, but none the less etTective and ab.sorbing. Zweig por- trays the queen as an ordinary wom- an, capricious, extravagant, selfish and incapable of grasping the im- porl.mce of the thought trend ot her time. But in the hour of trial and triliulation. deserted by. friends, and liald captive by enemies, she rises to J'eal heights and. is magnificent In . her dire humiliation. There Is his- torical basis for the romantic part .which Count Forsen played in the royal tragedy. The screenplay, cen- ters interest IhrOughoiit in the queen and tha nanorama is unfolded with h.'r as the main foreground char- First Dart. 1.1 concerned with the Vicious iiitricue.s of the Vorsailles CHtrl and the power exerted by Mme. du Barry and the traitorous Orleans. The settings, designed by Cedric Gibbons, are magnificent, and the ensembles, arranged by Alber- tina Ra.sch. suggest beautiful paint- ings. Second portion opens with the expo.se of the fraudulent sale of the diamond necklace, which precipitated the arrest and trial of de Rohan and the subsequent enmity of the nobil- ity. With an aroused nation and the queen as the point of attack, the action moves swiftly to the pillage of the castle, the royal arrest, the unsuccessful escape to the border, the trials and execution of the rulers. Miss Shearer returns to the screen for her first part since she played Juliet two years ago. Her perform- ance is lifted by skillful portrayal of physical and mental transitions through the period of a score of years. Gayety and frivolity are fol- lowed by impressive - fortitude towards the end of the film, when she. stands with her back to .the wall fighting for the lives of her children. Her moments of ardor with Fersori iPower) are tender and believable. Despite handicaps Of the artificiali- ties of costumes, she maintains Char-, acter. In every respect Miss Shearer shows progress as an artist and re- veals cartain capabilities heretofore kept fron> view. Power plays a role whjch demands sincerity and a certain forthright loy- alty to hi.s royal mistress. He is ex- cellent, properly audacious in the perilous moments; and a. convincing lover. ■ Outstanding in the acting, how- ever, is Robert Morley, who plays the vacillating King Louis ICth. New-, comet: to. the Hollywood .scene, hav- ing been imported from London for the production, he immediately steps into front ranks as a .supporting player, creating sympathy and un- derstanding for the kingly character, a dullard and human misfit. John Barrymore as the aged Louis loth. has done few finer things in films, and although he oasscs from the action during the first part he leaves . a deep impress. Joseph Schildkratit is the conniving. Due d'Orieans and scOres as a fastidious and scheming menace. Gladys George makes much from a few op- portunities as Mme. du Barry.- Equally cfTecfive are Henry Steph- enson, as de . Mercy, the . Austrian ambassador; Reginald Gardiner and Albert , van Dekker, as the King's brothers, and Anita Louise as the Princess de Lamballe. A solendid bit is furnished by Joseph Calleia as DrOu6t, the captor of the royal fam- ily. When illness prevented Sidney Franklin, from assuming the direc- tion ot the -film after arduous prep- aration. Van Dyke was assigned the task. That he is able to concentrate interest throughout in a small group of characters, desoile the numerous large ensembles which the action de- mands, is a directorial achievement. In all the recurrent mob .scenes and military groupings. Van Dyke pre- serves his story. Pace is maintained by occasional montage, lapses are bridged with surprising clarity. He has done a fine job. To the showman 'Marie Antoinette, notwithstanding its excellence in Dioduction. acting and skilled per- fection of workmanshio, presents an audience problem. It is a tragic, stark story at the end of which Us hci'oine is beheaded. Some final mes- sage epitomizing that the sacrifice was the nrehide to a major awaken- ing ot hunian thought and liberty might lessen the depressing thud of the guillotine. The exit is on the emotional down- beat, -fin. SHOPWORN ANGEL (WITH SOKCS) 7ll.>lr.) r.'|.'i.i* <•( J.M-pli Mioiklewlra iii-...lii--ll.)ii. .SliiK .MiMX'iU'l SlllUlvaii, Jiiiiii's .si-w.iii- ronliir.-M Wiill.T IMUueon. Dlivc-l- I'll'liy II. »'. I'MlliT. S.-i.'eiilil-.iy liy NVulilo Sill fi'iiH Kliiiv liy ) II Ituniol; muali-Kl w-oi-.i l-Mwiii.l W inl; ilMii.-H MAKKi I'y viU itHHi.i: i-o .i.HiMili Itiiii. nii^iK: innniaBe (-ir-T^s. SLivko \ .iil..ii>l'li: llliii "illuir- W- Diiiin .VI IVil'il"!- N'. Ju'y 7. :|s. niiniiinu liiti". S.'i nitii.-i U.-iis.- IUmiIi Kill I'.Mli.-li S:iiM K:iil-.v M ii-lh-l. . .. . ■I;if--" "Iiilii i.iri.H'. ■1.—r' SiU.v .\li.i.:',iil;l-. .Miirnnrct .«liillavan * Ihiii-'m Sl,!w;ii't W.-iIler l»idm'i»n IliiUi.; .Mi-llunll-l V.-nilli^Kin . ..Mnii ('lull!! ; Sum l."vi..no |.:l-;nnor I*ynn i'li:irlfS D. Bi-uwn Modftralely favorable b. o. prOs pect. Rep of- the original ' o.;clii.';e should give il a start, while the senti- menlal story has popular appeal: Pic i<t skillfullv dircclcd and played, and the Margaret Sullavan-James Stew- art names are einergiiig as hypos for the marquee. . Original ot 'Shooworn Angel first appeared about 20 years ago as a Satevcposl story by Dana Burnet. Paraniouiil filmed it 1 partly in sound) in 1929, with Nancy Carroll. Gary Cooper and Paul Lukas. Latter pair had their firsl sirong parts in the production and il establi.shcd their rei)s as wall a.s cleaned up financially. In gniiEial. this remake follows the original story with reasonable failh- fuliie.-is. It's slill the wartime yarn about the crafty Broadway chorine who moRis a' Texas rookie on his way to Fiance and. when he falls fi>r hf-r, -iiai rie.^ him rat'icr thaivdi.':- illusion him. Biil while the outline is rirtainnd. tin; nictuie has been trivpii several small , but significant changns --iiid is coiisequcnily altered in flav'or. Po.vsihiy il'i the Brocn indliencc. Miniatore Reviews Maria Anloinette (MG).— Norma Sheardr and Tyrone Power co-.starred in a powerful presentation of the French revolution. B.O. depression guillotined. 'Shopworn An^el* (M-G). Fairly good b.o. via Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart and Walter Pitigeon, but exceptional playing doesn't surmount script flaws in this remake: 'Professor Beware' (Par.).. Harold Lloyd in a hilarious ■ chase comedy. 'I'll Give a. Million' (20th- Fox). It isn't worth that much, '1 Married a Spy' (GN). Un- convincing spy effort fails to develop promising story.. 'Love Finds Andy Hardy* (M-G). Judge Hardy and fam- ily at their best. '.Rose of the Rio Grande' (Mono). Very ordinary horse opera, in costume. anyway, the present version seems a softer one, without, the stark edges Of the original and as a result less absorbing. Instead of the cool schemer played by Nancy Carroll, the chorine is now generous and. warm-hearted. Her shadincss is merely implied and, instead ot fall- ing for the blundering soldier, she feels a sort 61 motherly affection for him. The girl's lover is no longer the menace of the earlier vwrsion, but is now the typical Walter Pidgeon man- who-doesn't-get-lhe-girl. "The yarn includes the girl's marriage to the roOkie to 'save his failh. .The conclusion. is manufactured hoke— the chorine is starring in a nitery when she gets word of the soldier's death and she goes on singing 'Pack Up Your TroublcSi' through her tears." Although all this has likely enough b. o. possibilities, it is only occasion- all credible.screen drama. The spec- tator watching it unfold can only wonder why a stOry so compelling nearly 10 years ago now seems only artificial. . Maybe the answer is that audience have grown more sophis- ticated. More likely, though, the changes in plot and motivation have shattered the story's conviction. In a way, the brilliant direction and playing emohasize that script confusion. For the more persuasive and convincing that playing, the more imoossible the marriage be- comes. As the girl. Margaret Sul- lavan turns in a powerful perform- ance. Her playing is pliant, has dcnth and eloquence. James Stewart Is a' natiiral enough rookie and he makes the part i^ttrac- tive. But from a sure acting standr noint, there's, little characterization in his perforriiance. . It might almost be a sequel to his bewildered college professor in 'Vivacious Lady.' Walter Pidgeon plays himself. . None of the other players gets more than momentary bits. For a flrsl-ranking picture, the .settings are sloppily false. Particularly the New York parade scenes, which have about as much reality as an old-time vaudeville backdrop. Hobx. the rising stock market. Lloyd's formula is to start running and keep going. The only explanation Is at the box ofi"ice, where his .particular type of comedy for many'years has attracted sub.stanlial public support. Professor Beware' compares favor-, ably with the best he has dpne in sound pictures. At occasional moments, when the gasoline supply runs out or when the pursuing cops have . taken the wrong turn at the crossroads, the characters hesitate long eoou;.(h to \n',iiew iiordy..... tell what all the sprinting is about. | ,;i;iHy Lloyd is a young archcologi.st In a ' Coast museum who is arrested for lending a stranger his clothing. When there is some delay in his trial, which will detain him. from reaching New York to join ah expedition to Egypt, he grabs his valise and starts East. Before he has gone five mites h;i has. two hoboes for companions and a very attractive young woman wear- ing out good rubber tires trying, to catch up to tell him she love.s^ him. She and the pursuing police nab hiin soon after they cross the Cat.skills. Finale is played on the waterfront, with a free for all knockabout scrap and tussle which proves that Holly- wood extras must keep themselves in first class fighting trim, never knowing where the next bust on the konk is coming from. Seems; that three writers wrote the original story, two authors made the adaptation, and one .scribbler, Delm.er Daves, did the screenplay. Locale was supplied b.v oil station roadinap.s. Considering the ground covered. Lloyd appears to be doing his best to outdistance Howard Hughes. Leading woman is Phyllis Welch, who makes her first screen appear- , ance and does right well. Raymond i. Wnlburn and Lionel Stahder are the ' hoboes; Willian> Frawley provokes much amusement in early scenes; PROFESSOR BEWARE Hollywood, July 12. Paramount r-l.*:!!*!! of Harold Lloyd pro- dui.-lliin. Slurs lliirold l.liiyd. IValurea rhyllH Wololi. Itiiyinttn.l WHiliurn. l>iro,-i- •!il by Klliut .SiilC'Dt. K<;rpr>n|il:iy by Deliiior Dave.'t; ndalilalion liy Jack funiiinglmm ind IMydd IJru<-ktii:,M, Troin oriKlniil Hlo|-y by Cnimplon Harris, l-'rani-l:* M. C'V-krell :ind Marlun H. Cii'-kr«*ll: riimnro. An-hle Kloul: llltn editor. Dum-iin-Miin})ll*»lrt. I'ro- vlewH III Ah'tiindi-r. t:l"ndal<. Gal., July II, '3S. itunnitii; lliii'*, W) iitlnri. ProfOH.^or T.<»iiib»»i'l -lane V:in HiiriMi. . .Iiiil;;ii .Marsliiill -I'-rry... *Sm»i,|»" I).,Ill 111.. .. .1. .1. Villi l;>ii'>ii. Mrs. I'liifl Itriiln^^rooiii Ill-Ill-. Dr. St-lllilul/. JlMlK". .Mlisioliii .\lt- Sli-rifT .Moloivji li; 1,1.11,1 l-'.icriPdIliiin nil U'-.ilnllrai>l K-—II. 'riilil-:iil Uir"'-'."i . Ili^porl-rs...' "iKirl. IMiiilo-;rapli>-i-..... l.nivl|:Mly.; Ilnli.i Sctli U.I. .. - i -■..'.. i-,i- llHiold'V.loyd I'hylllM Weli'h IliiyiiiiMiil Waltiurn .... I.litnri SlHndMi' . .Willi nil Kriiwli'v ....'rhin.iloii llnll ''.(1 11 Willi M'.itto'iii .S;.-rUii;C Hollowiiy ..\liiry f.oii l.ciidir .. . .M'lIHllKII" l-ov .. l.;i ii'iiiio i'.iriirili.l ' 'lii-iilll:iM. Kill, ..Sii'-iii-"r fliiirl*»M* ...lltiiilii WIUIkiiih iiiid Wiii-'l llonil ... V\'i i;:lil .Krainfr lir-.li',;.. llliilib'Tt , {...luiii'l icioikey I.. Wviil'M-, .lillii'-M Dfil.lll Cli.irl-.H I.mi; lM;iiii I'.llinilli'k 'riiin ll-rbi^rl , Ilruce Kliilf When bigger and belter chase pic tiires are made. Harold Lloyd will make them. Comedian starts from Los Aiiacios in the (irsl reel of 'Protas- Rox' Beware" with two inolorcycl2 po- licemen .in niirsiiit and ends uo at Pier 19. North River. 10 feet in front of a howling mob. Both Lloyd and the audience are out of brt;alh aftsr 3.000 miles cro.ss country, but most ot the c.xh:iMslion is from lati''hihg. Comedian's latest starring vehicle sidesteps prevailing trend of films; which delve into p.-sychological anal- ysis, pal holo.^ical myslerios and.tcls- oalhic .i-Trcls. I.loyd simiily got> himself laimled up with John Law and m;il;C3 for tliJ hithwny. Before h'j finally lands in Mai'li-nl-nn. he hns lravc!"d (in all kinds and types of motor cars. r;oi.i|il traim and fire imliling aonaia'ii.-:. No onv .^l•l•lS long cnoiiuli for anv lirariiod tlis- cour.ie on modern yoliHi, pi)liticj or Love Finds Andy Hardy (WITH SONGS) Hollywood, July 12. Metro production iiiul r.-l '-i h-. l-'.-imn •« r.'ilvl!l Stone, Mickey Ki,(illi>>. July C-n niil;. recllla I'arker, Fay llolilcn. I>ii-i.i*i...i i.y (.'cut'KQ ii. iiciti'... :si-rei!iiiilay ii.v ' w i:i].|iii IjUdwl^, bANCd on Mlorlcs ' l,y \'l\ii.ii it. Ilrelherton an I clriracliM-.4 liy .\iii-atila. Iloiiverol; cnin^ra,' l.csti'r Wliiii^; .i',iu:i. - .NTiick Liordon and lluri'v i:i;vi>l.' Ko^er Kilenx; lllin editor, Ili'ii l.t-wls, rr.^vii* vy.imI 111 the Wostn-ood Villa.';!'. I...V., July U), '.IS. Itllnnlni; tlinc. UU iiiliis. JKllce Jninen IlnrJy. r, 'ivl.s Slnna .. .Mii-I. 'y Kii.'iii'y Iiiily (l-iiluii.t .. .rei'Illa I'Jirlii.r ..I'*;iy llolilfii ...Villi ItiMli-'i-rrird li'lly V.:'n-H Cl'irl.'tl ,... I.;iiia 'J'iii'iii'c .Marie lllaris I Mill Casiltt. .. .i:-*ii:i' r.e>ni.lilH ....M-'iry llow'iij : ; >!■/,.' |{i-|':iK:<l'in Kj^.iiii.ia ll.uiua' .Mirinn Hardy.. .Mis. Jl.udy I'o'ly Ut'neillcl..;. -V'int Mllly I 'yiithiu; .Vui;iistu. Iipiinls Hunt .Ilinniy MucMiii:.i.i .\ir.i. 'I'oiniikll.s... 'il-yzi * . .... rcicr Uufaii..... Best of the Judge Hardy seriegu from Metro, this one has the class for first-run sinjjla bills where It will do good . buxoil';o,i busiiies.s. In story performances and produc- tion, it rates high bracket allocation. . Newcomer to tht: Hardy group ot players, consistin." ot L'^wi,; Stone, Fay Holden, Mickiy lli):)nay and Cecilia Parker, is Judy Garland, who tops off a slick pirr.irmance by singing the three good sour;.'?. Num- bers are 'Meet the Beat ot Prty Ksart* and 'It Never Rains But ft Pours,' both by Mack Gordon and Harry Hevel, and 'In Between,' b.y Koner Edens. Based on her shov/ing, they will have to find a pennaiiniit place' for Miss Garland in V.mi future Hardys. Love affairs of Mickey RoonCy, who becomes entangled w=th two young girls over daiic2 dates, is .suf- licicnt premise ■ for an excellent comedy, which Is fast paced and loaded with laugh.s. Will r>udwig and Spentier Charters, as a back- ,„„j. „„,„o„,.i,„ <•..„ . „ .i» -; woods .sheriff, scores in a character ^^^^r^L'^rir&i^;."'" ^ "'"^"^ pail. -va,,«u- <.A,.iA..« .^..»i.i.. .... par Film is just right for audiences that lik6 action and gag comedy, which covers a large part of the population. Fliii.' I'LL GIVE A MILLION Youths serious problems are handled in highly amusing manner. George B. Seilz has directed with emphasis on the fun, and the Rooney boy has them screaming l>eforo he escapes fi'om his predicaments. Entire company gives excellent performances. . Lana Turner, Ann Rutherford, Gene Rsynolds. Ray- mond Hatton and Marie Blalce ap- Sock en* Fiin, Weslwood.. Cal., July 7. 20lh Pl^nlul■v.r'^^K ruMsHA nf Kt^nnt'lb , . . MMCliowuii |iroiliii-ll»n. SLnm Wiinior IluN- [pear m SUppOrtmg TOlCa. Icr; feiiiurt*!* MHrJurld WVjivfr. JVIit r.one. lertainmcnt .Tn:in Jli^iitltnlt,. J. Kdworil HruiuWcix. T'Vnn TJ«rl. Ki'liii KeM, Siiff niriiiHiiii. Ulr-cln^ by Wnllcr J^iiik: ncreonplfty, Bi>rin Injcfilor ami Miliuii i>|iei-llni(; Hlory, i'^Hiire '/.nvni- Unl iinj Ulat'I. Monrlalnl: caitif^rA, l.ii*'len Aiiilrloi: iiniHit^Ql iHirrllon. I.nuin ^ilvi^iA. Prcvcw^il Hi ihii Vlllu);e, July 7. '3d. Ituii- tuns lime, 70 inlnfl. Tuny NewIftnJer.. .■ "Warnflr RuKl»*r Jean MurJori« \Vi':i vtr IfOuii* P.'iRi-i I.«iir*» Vlcitir ; .loun ll>>iHhi>l( J<0|>i'I|)>'i- Jiilin <':ii'ru(llnu I-Mllni-. 1. KJwurJ Hi-oiiiboi-; ''■(■(•lia Lj nil llni'l M:iK INiinf>i-oK>> I'VilJ! Ki-M Analolo I*rli»>''i<).v SIk Kuiit'inn ('tinnnlNRloiciliv ',. .('hrlslhin Jt ''on'oiaii Paul ■llnr\»*y Miiyur.. f*liurl(>a llaUtui J*rorerl of l''»l|i-ti Frank Kt;l» h*ir ADicrl Frank Dawson Olhnnn flarry Ilayd<'n ('aplain dlaiility Anilr*>wd Flower (;irl. i .Mlli-tii 'Porier ItRpurhT ' Iiul.1 Allit^rni I'|-|ipi-it>lrrtSM • KnTaela OlUctno (Innrtrirni*' 'ieoixe.i npnrtvi'iil 'lV|A~rapli CItrk ....ICoire S-idiin I'roprloin.i* of J*a.<iii-y Sliup.... PMdIe Coni-JMr JLolcl Manager ^rl^and Kalix I MARRIED A SPY rirnnil Nallonnl pi'Oiltli'tl<,ii iml ii'liinM, Slui'H Noll Uamlltoii, HiIkUM llnriu;/. r>l. riir.li'a by Gdniond ClruvMli'. .\iliiiilPtl lijr JliiHll Monon, Hueh Poiiinviil .iml Kilnmnil flirvillo from '.Sflci'Ot l.lvi'i.* imvi*! Iiy I'ltiil 'Ic s.-ilhtfl Coloiiilic. C.iiiipni.'(>iio ili^llfi:; iiiiml''. Wnllpr Ciilifir; nlli.ir, U:iy fin. At ('••nlr.-il. N. T.-, July Kmiiiiir.; tiliiij, •Ml niinn. I.I. I'lrj'i'C (Ic Montin;ill«»i... .N'l'll Tl.iinill-in l.:'nii .Si'limldt. Iii'kllii- IJunii-y Mllln Man.....' ...Ivor U-inifinl 11i'ni-1 ririrlii.q ('il rmtii l''i-riiik Aliel '.l:yl,»ii IhIimiii ('liii'f. Ti'ronph Si»ri'i't SiTvii-n..I''ri*iri< T.luyl riii"f, Ofrinnn Kci'nU S"i'i*.K lyiufinil j.nvpll ' K.n-I .SrIiinliU.... i:iii,"rl rigeoii J; II .ni;ii rii-iii . ;T:iil,erl Pi»li le .l..*«H4 Pi'rrliis This starts out to be a very amus- ing idea with opportunities for farci- cal development, but the plot sags at the halfway mark and the windup is disappointing. Scarcely strong enough to qualify as a tlrst run sin- gle attraction, it will be a useful .secondary in the duals. Cast con- tains some pop'jlar players. Warner Baxter is starred over a group con- sisting of Marjorie Weaver, Peler Lorre, Jean Hersholt, J. Edward Bromberg. Lynn Pari, Fritz Feld and Sig Rumann. Baxter is introduced as a million- aire yachtsman who is ted up with life in general an<°.. the bunch ot sycophants who drink his liquor, eat his victuals and sponge off his mar- ket tips. That is why he trades places with a Iramp, whose life he .saves off the French coas'. Baxter wants to know if there is sincerity and a bit iif un.selfish human kind- ness left in the world. What he di.icovers when he-gels a ^ job wilh'a circus is that human frail- ' ily is pretty much the same in low ■ as well as high circumstances. Re- port is circulated by the re.iciiud ; panhandler, that a millionaire is loo.sc : who. will give 1.000,000 francs to • anyone who shoWs him a bit of kind- ness. Villagers lean, backward lo win the award, while hundreds of derelicts who learn ot tlie ea.iy | handouU-f swarm through the town. I At this moment I'le plot stands : Still. di>.-i|)ile a lot of activity by .the police force and hair tearing by the loCol ncwspapKr editor, who will be . flis'jracnd if he does not llnd lhc mil- ' lionaii'P. Baxlfr inean.wliile has | j found a young woman who says .she ; I lovc! him for v.-hat lie is and not for ' I what he has. And lhal's all. { I Baxter is not happily cast in the part; When he should be having a , good time and gsltiiig a kick nut of i all Iho uproar he has crealcd he] mopes and .sighs over the shorlcom- ! in'!.-; of mankind. From an nrcheslra . :i'(;al il would appear thai he is got- ' tin? a lirst-cla.ss break when Mis'! Weaver says she'.s for him. Walter Lang is the director, ^\i< job woiilrl have baeri easier and tho ri^•,uIt■; Imtter if he had ir..ii^t?d ih^il the ai'.loi'S of.'ik Kngliih aii'l imi' the phoney accL-nli. FOn. While the motivation behind this film is commendable, the result falls far short of the intended elfect. ft tries to go arty in a c;)ntlneiital way, but doesn't make the grade, either in . acting, direction or photograph.v. ! Brigille Homey is a chilly looker who plays the part of the feiiiinc spy in a stor.v supnosedly ba.ssd on W/)rld War facts. Ivor Barnard, as an ubiq- uitous secret service agent, drafts the I German-born, French-raised cirl into ' tho French secret service after her p.scape from a conceiilralion camp. Her life thereafter is niclurcd as one of tragedy,- but is never realty con- vincing. At one point she is abiut lo be de- norted from Switzerland, and a mar- riace ot convenience is arranged to make her a .French citi7.cn. As part ■ of the deal, Neil Hamilton, who gives I a, heavy interpretation to the role of I the lover. Insists the marriage shall ' be annulled immediately after the : war. This is not lo Ih.: liking ot ' cither Brigitte or Hu:iiillon, as it ■ works out. ' While no SDCcial rase is made for I Ihe espionage bureaus of either the German or the French si</e. laMrtr . comes off with slight edge. No ti^.tt- nite solution, at the end of lhi« lilin, ■ impression being that no good end comes to the femmn so.y. i Po.ssiblv budget limit'itions were ; rc.soonsib'c. but oicture sa>;s and fails lo come off well. It soems h-iadart for an ob.scurc career at llio box office. Rose of the Rio Grande (WITH SON'CS) . .M.inoKram .rolijnHl* r,f li.ti iiliv iK-i-i tut* 'liii-iioii. .St.'irH ^fllvll:l. .I.iliii I'm.,11. i."...,- Iiiii-H Antonio Miirnnfi. Il.ni • .\l. .i i-ln. I.in^ l::i.«.iui>lli>. Duni'nn Iti.iiilli. Ii I l,y Willljiin Sllih. Si'l''"-ii|il iv. l:.l'.li l: ..'ii- "im; friim f'riKiniil ij'nr. ),\ .i.,!,-.."..i m..- fiill'-y: mimic illrrcMon. liu ; > I:-i. •,.".M: iiiiiwl'.. C'hiirlif Un^oir: liii. .< I-: M. . 1 'i < -■ I ii:'": I v.. tuinx. I:ii4il:i ,. !-:i fiiiio., I.ii;;n .Viiilii. ... I> Ii>i.i?. I'-lr'i 's- .iijsiliiii. I .\i>i|a,.. nrv Mi'xico. ini-r.-i. fJill \S ni l • dual, July T. ';^i. \i I'l j;.,'111111; I .'I 1 . I.t I : I .• h and hors in rosliiMi iiiiiiii' oper.i ((.lurilhiui'd oil I'iin'ili'. .'. Ilr< ill' iin I .i'l tilt is of 'I ) ;> ir- t" ; • 1 ■)