Variety (Dec 1938)

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'Wednesday, December 28^ 1938 FILM REVIEWS VARIETY 1$ punchers. A cattle-rustling angle, of course, is introduced since this fur- nishes the snappy actionful climax. St. Brendan Boys Choir, cast as a group of school youngsters, lend a distinct musical touch to the outdoor opus with their vocalizing. They fit in plausibly. Lesley Selander directs according to standard. Wear,. The Girl Downstairs rmnn song) . ^Hollywood, pec. 21. Metrt'^eloaBe 6t Harry Rapf production. •Peatures Francleka Gaal, Franchot Tone, Walter Connolly. Directed by Norman Taurog. Screenplay by Harold Goldman, Vflllx Jockson and Karl Notl; from E*iort Htory by Sandor Hunyady. Song, Bob WrlKhl and Chet ForreBt; camera. Clyde •DB Vlnna; editor. Elmo Voron. Previewed at Wostwood Village Deo. 20, '38. Run- ning time. 75 mine, _ ,. Koterlna LInz Francleka Gaal Paul Wngner Franchot Tone Mr Brown Walter Connolly wlllli: .....Reginald Gardiner Rosalind Brown Rita Johnson-' rkO relea3& ot Robert Slsk production. ChnrUe Reginald Owen — - Adoll Pumpfel Franklin Pancborn Karl Robert Coote The Butler Bamett Parker Prerta * Priacljla Lnwson Rudolph James B. Carson Chnrlea Judels Garage Proprietor Billy Gilbert PACIFIC LINER Hollywood, Dec. 22. Exceptional direction and a fine cast overcome deficiencies of a rath- er incredible Cinderella yarn to make 'Girl Downstairs' mildly enter- taining fare. Due to get by for mod- erate take along the line, depending on how combo of Franciska Gaal, Franchot Tone and Walter Connolly stacks up for.'draw' ability in indi- vidual situations. In the keys, sup- port will be required. ' Story of rich playboy who courts scullery maid to gain entrance into home of girl he is romancing, with the slavey falling in love with- the boy, for a Cinderella finale, is rath- er beyond the realms of plausibility. But, despite that premise, picture is saved by some excellent perform- ances and keen direction by Norman Taurog. Tone is particularly effective in thi lead, giving plenty of sincerity to his role. It's his final one for Metro under recent contract, as he intends to confine his aictivities dur- ing the next year to the stage with the Group Theatre organization. . Characterization of Franciska Gaal as the sctillery maid is reminiscent of some of the early Pickford fea- tures prior to 1920. Several closeups further bring back memory of the Mary Pickford of that era. This is no reflection on Miss Gaal's perform- ance, as she works hard with sincer- ity, and has a screen personality that may yet break through. This is her third picture in America, and in each she is the scrubbing-brush and bucket slavey who finds a happy ending in the final reel. Connolly is thoroughly capable as the grull millionaire who attempts to save his daughter from Tone. Sup- porting cast is particularly well- balanced, with Billy Gilbert promi- nent in a brief sequence that high- lights the comedy passages. Despite the Illogical story, Taurog whips the action along at a sustained pace, and injects many human angles and situations to lift the picture above ordinary rating. Photography by Clyde De Vinna is particularly meritorious, and his lighting of Miss Gaal makes her a thing of beauty- even as a scullery maid. THE FRONTIERSMEN (WITH SONGS) Paramount release of Harry Sherman production. Features William Boyd and Georgre Hayes. Directed by Lesley Se- ^VL.fr- .Screenplay by Norman Houston; additional dialog, Harrison Jacobs; based Clarence B. Mulford series; camera, Rusaell Horlau. At Central, N. Y.. dual, week Deo. 22, '38. Running time. 71 mins. Hopalong Cassldy William Boyd George Hayes Russell Hayden i^. S.^^.® Evelyn Vonable f®*?," William Duncan Amanda Peters Clara Kimball Toung Judson Thorpe Charles (Tony) Hughes Dickie Jones S,'^""'" Roy Barcroft Miss Snook Emily Fltzroy w^fci .•; •.i » John Beach bchooi-kids St. Brendan Boys Choir Well-constructed oats opera in the Hopalong Cassidy series, 'The Fron- tiersmen' differs chiefly from others m that there is stronger romantic in- terest developed and a group of sing- ing schoolboys figures in the prairie school epiisodes. Emphasis on school- day sequences holds back robust western action until the last 15 min- utes when it is doubly concentrated. Should take its place with other stronger vehicles in Hopalong string. Picture hints that the 'three cactus musketeers' theme may be developed and, in time, surmount featuring the smgle character of Hopalong Cassidy. Several scenes inditate that pro- ducers may have this in mind. It's a smart idea. The two characters of Windy' and 'Lucky' have been built slowly but surely in recent months until both in time might better the draw if put on equal footing with Hopalong. George Hayes, as Windy, repre- sentmg the old-timer and humorous angle, and Russell Hayden, as Lucky, typifymg the younger generation of •cowboys, have become identified with the Hopalong prairie plots. This IS seen in the easy manner in which they work together v^ith Bill Boyd JHopalong) in this prtoduction. Even i2 exaggeralied' love scenes, tne three hold close to character and lend credibility to the romantic de- velopments. New tale depicts the struggles of a western family and their cowhand assistants to place th6 town school on a workable basis. A pert school- marm from Boston does the trick by winning over the family's incorrig- JDle (Dickie Jones) fend gaining the oacicmg of the rough-and-ready cow- Features Victor. McLaglen and Chester Morris. Directed by Lew Landers. Screen- play by John T>vlst from story by Anthony Coldewey and Henry Roberts Symonds; camera, Nicholas Musuraca: editor, Harry Marker; asst. director, Sam Ruman. Pre- viewed at Pantagcs Dec. 21, '88. Running time, 75 mins. Crusher McKay Victor McLaglen Doctor Craig ' Chester Morris Ann Groyson ..Wendy Barrie*' Gallagher. .Alan Hale Britches Barry Flt^.geraid Bllson Allan. Lane Captain Mathews Halliwell Hobbes Deadeyps Cyrus W. Kendall Wlshart .Paul Gullfoyle Metcalfe John Wray Olaf Emory Farnell Silvio Adia Kuznetzoft Kovac.., John Bleifer A decidedly weak offering that un- successfully attempts to squeeze drama from an outbreak of cholera aboard a ship bound from Shanghai to San Francisco, 'Pacific Liner' will find its level as a filler in the duals. Victor McLaglen, Chester Morris and Wendy Barrie may" at- tract some, but audiences as a whole will be dissatisfied with the subject matter. Unwise production guidance must take the blame for this one. Experi- ence shows that previous stories with diseases such as Asiatic cholera or leprosy are not peQatable to pic- ture audiences. The cholera epi- demic below decks in the stokehole and engine rooms gives a too vivid disi>lay of the ravages of the disease —-men suddenly keeling over and dying off, with the corpses being burned in the ship furnaces. It's a rather drab setting which neither cast nor direction can over- come. Picture moves at a slow pace that becomes increasingly boresome, and tapers off with an unconvincing finish. Practically all of the action is confined to the quarantined engine room and stokers*^ quarters, to fur- ther dull interest; and no attention is given to comedy passages to lighten it up. McLaglen is the rough and tough chief engineer who drives his men with an iron fist. Chinese stowa- way in the engine room dies of cholera, and remainder of the script depicts efforts of the ship doctor (Morris) to save lives of the crew, with Miss Barrie assisting as nurse, until the boat docks. Mimature Reviews 'The Girl Downstairs^ (M-G). Keen direction and fine per- formances highlight moderate programmer. 'The Frontiersman' (Par), mu- sic featured in one of better Hopalong Cassidy'westerns. 'Pacific Liner' (RKO). Drab melodrama with little interest to hold attention 'Torchy in Chinatown' (WB). Fails to hit standard of recent Torchy series. Okay, for dualers. 'The Gang' (Syn). Flimsy tale of British Boy Scouts staging a musical. Deadweight even for dualrng. director WilUam Beaudine lightened things up with numerous gags and situations of the slapstick variety, and over-all kept things moving at a rapid pace, despite obvious story handicaps. IN EARLY ARIZONA Columbia production and release. Stars Bill Elliott; features Dorothy Gulliver, Harry Woods. Directed by Joseph Lever- ing. Screenplay, Nate Gatzert; camera, James S. Brown, Jr.; odltor, Dwlght Cald- well. At Colonial, Lincoln, dual. Run- ning time, S5 mina. Gordon Bill Elliott Alice Dorothy Gulliver Bull « Harry Woods Marshall Jack Ingram Spike.; Franklin Farnum Ben ........Frank Ellis Art Art Davis Kalntuck Chnrlea Kin;? Weldon Ed Cassidy Sheriff,.................. Charles Whittakcr KREUTZER SONATA (FBENCH-MADE) (WITH MUSIC) Foreign Cinema Arts release of Forrestier- Pardnt production. Features Gaby Morlay, Jean Yonnel, Pierre Renoir and Edmonde Guy. Directed by Charles Guicliard. From the Leo Tolstoy novel; scenario, H. Andre Legrand; music, Adolph Borchard. At World, N. v., week Dec. 10, '28. Running time, 85 mins. Helene Gaby Morlay Pozdnychefr.....' Jean Yonnel Toukhatchevsky Jacques Erwin BorowsUy Pierre Renoir Sonia... Edmonde Guy Katia Annie Rozanne Petrovitch Andre Bervil Mother of Pozdnycheff Darcey Roche Director >sox Vassia J. P. Thiss Florist Gisele Glre GANG BULLETS Monogram release of E. B. Derr produc- tion. Features Robert Kent and Anne Nagel. Directed by Lambert Hillyear. Screenplay. Jom T, Neville; editor. Rusa Schoengarth; camera, Arthur Martlnelll. At Colonial, Lincoln, dual. Running time, 62 mins. Patricia Anne Nagel Carter Robert Kent Wayne Charles Trowbridge Anderson 7, Morgan Wallace Reardon J. Farrell MacDonald Meade John T. Murray Wallace Arthur Loft Bed John Merton Armstrong Donald Kerr Newell Carleton Toung Mrs. Jones iBabell LaMalle Billy Benny Bartlett Only entrancing- thing about this for the patron is the title. Certainly its quota of bullets, or shooting, is very light, as is the action, which for the most part occupies the time with discussion in the district attor- ney's office, his home, and in the courtroom. There are no chases, and the climax, which finds the chains of the law descending in plenty on the transgressors, is very lukewarm. 'Featured are Anne Nagel, daugh- ter of Charles Trowbridge, as the D.A., and Robert Kent, who is Trow- bridge's assistant prosecutor and his prospective son-in-law. Nobody gets excited, or emotional, or particularly worried throughout John T. Neville's original screenplay, so dramatics are out, and every part is played in well oiled precision, if not too interest- ingly. Situation finds Morgan Wallace, a racket baron, being loaded on a train and shipped out of a town where he's caused trouble. Gets off in another and takes over, running immediately into trouble with Trowbridge's office. Since previous D.A.'s have had trou- ble trying to pin anything on the wily criminal, Trowbridge and Kent trick him into playing their hand and catch him up on it. Involves some secretive by-play, which makes it rough going on Kent's romancing. Miss Nagel is not taken into either man's confidence. Wallace has a pretty crew of henchmen for his crc ■>king, such fa- miliar child scarers as John Merton, John T. Murray, Carleton Young and Roger Williams. Cast gives Ar- thur Loft credit for appearance in the film, but he fails to show. Wil- liams, not billed, is in, however. As a short stayer, and taking ad- vantage of the natural title for sen- sationalism on the marquee, 'Bullets' will get by in the action play. Crowd will catch up with it soon on the longer stays. Definitely for dualling in any case. (In French with English Titles) For a French production incorp- orating so little action, this picture holds audience attention fairly well until closing passages. It just misses being substantial entertainment of draw possibilities because of failure to cash in on the latent Russian tri- angle plot. Instead, the French pro- ducers have the wronged family man go berserk and shoot his rival and his wife. There's an attempt to temper the conclusion by having his mate recover, thus enabling him to duck a heavy sentence. In toto, the obvious strong points have been lost in the shuffle. 'Kreutzer Sonata' is for arty thC' atres but the title and its music may hinder its progress. Film is based oh the Leo Tolstoy novel and also Bee- thoven's 'Opus .47 in A Major for Violin and Piano.' There are" few scenes in which Russian peasant cos- tumes are worn and few episodes suggesting the rustic background. Soldiers wear Russ garb but they do not figure prominently. Result is that basic theme has French trim mings, flavor and even action so that the Tolstoy original is deeply sub' ordinated. 'Opus 47' figures in musi cal score and so does a piano-violin concert. Director Charles Guichard has in- corporated much suspense into routine "story. Picture is well staged, contains skillful music background ing and a few well-arranged concert sequences. Gaby Morlay, as the wife, gives a well-shaded portrayal However, top acting honors go to Jean Yonnel, of the Comedie Fran^ b '<ie, as the party-loving bachelor wiiv seemingly finds happiness in quiet X arried life. Pierrb Renoir, veteran French screen villain, gets little chance since he's a suicide early in the picture Edmonde Guy, as his wife, figures in a tow'd love scene and then is lost in thl shuffle. Jacques Erwin, as the conc^ t violinist; Annie Rozanne, J. Py .Tiiss and Gisele Gire head the supW rt Wear. Torchy in Chinatown Hollywood, Dec. 24. Warner Bros, release of Brj-an Foy pro duction. Features Ulenda Furreil, Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Palric Knowles, Henry O'Neill. Directed by William Beau- dine. Screenplay by George Brlcker, based on characters created by Frederick Nebel dialog director, Hariy b'eymour; asst. di- rector, Arthur Leuker; camera. Warren Lyj)cb; editor, Frederick Richards. Pre viewed at La Reina, Dec. 23. '38. Run ning time, S8 mins. Torchy Blane Glenda Farrell Steve McBride Barton MacLane Uahagan Tom Kei^psiy Condon Pntric Knowles Baldwin Henry O'Neill Mansfield James Stephensun Janet Jnnet Shaw Fit2hugh..., Anderson Lawlor McTavlflh........ V Frank Shannon Sergeant George Uuhl Staunton Kicbard Bond Bam. A lightweight in the Torchy serieS; not up to standard of recent prede cessors. Rather elemental murder mystery, with audience way ahead of Barton MacLane in tabbing the solu- tion. For bottom dualers. Title is misleading, only China town background being stock shots for opening. Yarn deals with trio of con men who attempt an extortion payoff through series of Chinese notes and two phoney murders Torchy speeds up solution of the mystery to secure scoop for her sheet, while MacLane fiounders around long enough to pile up foot- age for an hour's unfolding. Glenda Farrell, MacLane and Tom Kennedy carry on the three leads as in previous pictt^res of the series THE GANG (BRITISH-MADE) (WITH MUSIC) Syndicate Pictures release of Herbert Wilcox production. Features Ralph Reader. Directed by Alfred Goulding. Story, musla and lyrics by Ralph Reader. At Central, N. T.. week Dec. 22, '38, dual. Runntnc time, M mins. Skipper Ralph Reader Marie..... .Gina Mala Raydon..,. Stuart Robertson Whipple.. Rlctiard AInley Len , Leonard SneiUnff Syd Syd Palmer Gordon Elliott now comes to thie screen as 'Bill' Elliott apparently be- cause Columbia starred him as Wild Bill Hickok in a recent serial. One- time general biz actor among the majors, he has gone the way of many others and become representative of the west that was. Foiuidat^ion of 'In Early Arizona' is the famed out- la>wry of Tombstone, but for once the film version is quiet in compari- son to the story as told by Walter Noble Burns in his book. Suggestion is made in the fore- word that none of the characters in the picture is supposed to represent people living or dead, but that the shadow of sucK men as Doc Halli- day, the Earps, Clantons, McLow- erys. etc., can't help being suggested in part. Of thertx all, Doc Halliday actually seems to live in character, and Elliott plays a man thihliy dis- guised from Wyatt Earp, who out- shot the outlaws and guided the ter- ritory to statehood. Tombstone's story has been told^ln pieces in many wtjterns, never well, and 'In Early Arizona' doesnt con- tribute much either, other than be- ing a western which will iget along fairly well." With Tombstone as the avowed subje(it, it falls away short, hdwever. * ' \ - - Full quota of riding, shooting, a little brawling, practically no ro- mance,, and a, string of. expected se- quences which shorten all suspense possibility, tells the story. Elliott comes into Tombstone at the request of his friend and town marshall, Jack Ingram, but he really wants to settle down after cleaning out Dodge City and some of the other western sink- holes. Is badged immediately and sets out to gimpowder outlawry out of existence. Real performance is by Harry Woods, who is the Arizona roughie; Others so^go.-- Bom. FATHER O'FLYNN (miSH-MADE) (WITH MUSIC) HofCberg release of Butchers Film produ- tion. Stars Tom Burke; features Jean Adrlenne and Denis O'Nell. Directed by Wilfred Noy. At Squire, N. T., week Dec. 25, 38. Running time, M mins. Father O'Flynn Tom Burke Macusbia Jean Adrlenne Nigel Robert Chisholm Westmacott Henry Oscar Fawcett Ralph ' Tnimnn Flarnagan... Denis O'Nell Cassidy Dbrothy Vernon This is the type of British produc- tion that fully a'osolves American exhibitors from not wanting English pictures. Herbert Wilcox is credit- ed as producer, one of his weakest and probably an oldie. It seems an English Boy Scout captain thinks it would be smart to turn musical comedy producer in- stead of returning to his measly job after some sort of Scout jamboree andV encampment. That is the cause of all that follows, and most of it is ill-conceived and inanely executed. Part of the music is fairish; that's. alL . .. Ralph Reader Is billed as the lead- ing player of the production. He is every plate th&t a camera manipu- lator ato^s his lenses. He taps fairly well. His singing and acting, how- ever, are thin. Gina Malo, possibly the only ex-American player faintly recognizable in the cast, proves that she hasn't become an actress. Miss Malo does add a few genumely sprightly moments and survives some faulty makeup and crude camera angles. > Remainder of cast is mediocre. Reader also takes the rap for the story, songs and is also the leading man. His score is the best chore; Alfred Goulding directed, but it is doubtful if anybody could have made much with the people and material at hand. Wear. FIGHT TO THE LAST Garrison release of Chinese Film Co, un- der supervision of the Political Department of the Chinese Government Military Com- mission. Directed by T. C. Cheng. Photon' graphed by W, L. Woo. Music by C. R, Sheng. At Roosevelt theatre, N. 1„ Dec 21, '38. Running time, CI mins. Brig..Gen. Tsefang Kao Chan-Fe! Tsefang's wife.... .Lily I^eft Siplng, Tsefang's sister Tch Pinff Son of Tsefang *, C. Jen Father of Tsefang L, Tu' Japanese Commander F. K. Ho Man Servant.. ...P. Wonff Chinese Traitor ....F. Linff Jo panose paptain T. S. Ho Producers have spent considerable in creating suitable backgroimd for this tuneful melodrama of present- day Ireland. Cast boasts Tom Burke, who made a cinema rep witii another Irish production, 'Kathleen,' in the title role. Picture is a better film of the type turned out by producers of Old Erin, but it still is miles behind ordinary program featiu-es of Holly- wood origin. Hence it will have only limited appeal In scattered arty "thea- tres. Yarn, which is purportedly based on the famous song of same title, concerns the romance of Macushla, an English-looking colleen, and of the long-missing wastrel father's at- tempt to spirit her away from her sweetheart and Father O'Flynn, who has looked after her since childhood. Manner in which she is held a vol- untary prisoner by her«town: parent and a conniving friend is a severe test on the audience's credulity. And since the highlights of the dramatic fable depend strictly on this develop- ment, the entire story seems far- fetched even for a meller. There is a rousing fist fight near the conclu- sion, just when it seemed as though the picture would sing its way to a peaceful, xminspired close. Although many of songs are forci- bly and inanely- Introduced into the plot, they provide the brighter mo- ments. 'Ave Maria,' as sung by Tom Burke, is tops. Others include 'Ma- cushla,' 'Let's Fall in Love,','Father O'Flynn' and 'I Know of Two Bright Eyes.' Faulty recording spoils part of ballads, with sound emerging at wrong time and sometimes without any lip movement Most colorful sequences are inside a cabaret-gambling house at Liver- pool, where Macushla is held and forced to sing to guests. This is marred by lightweight direction and silly introduction of a sillier looking line of unattractive chorines. Tom Burke is satisfying as Father O'Flynn, and sings nicely. Jean Adrienne, in the role of Macushla, is passable while warbling, but is neither pretty nor can she act. Denis O'Neil, vet with Irish acting groups, is 9kay as Flannagah. Supporting cast is., only fair, and suffers.from direction. Wear. (In Chinese; toith English Title$) Sympathizers with the beleaguered Chinese probably will find this film interesting. Those with curiosity about what the Chinese can do in the way of making films with modern stories probably will find in it some- thing to talk about, but it's hardly commercial product for theatres in this country outside of cities where there is a sizable Chinese population* The film is frankly dedicated to the purpose of uniting the Chinese nation in its battle against Japan. The horrors inflicted uoon Chinese civilians are emphasized in much the same way they were in the early World War films in this country. AU the actioh takes place in the village of Taichan^r, or in the nearby Chi- nese and Japanese' lines. General Tsefang's home is captured by the Japanese, his family attacked and murdered; He trains the Chinese guns on his own home, when he gets news of the capture. The staged scenes in the home and in the lines are siurprisingly well done, but many of the long shots of plane battles and crashes and bomb- ings seem to have been made from duped negative; they are very grainy. Most of the newsreels have pre- sented better shots. The dialog is ih Chinese, with oc- casional snatches of French, but the English sub-titles are adequate. Thei-e is no .difficult following the story thread. Brendel^Burt, Ed LoW/0 To Essajr Vaude Dates El Brendel wlU try a vaude come- back with his wife, Flo Burt. Swede comic, solo, recently closed with a unit on the Coast. Charles Allen is also offering Ed- niund Lowe aroimd in the east. Scott with Shirley Hollywood, Dec. 27. Randolph Scott was signed for one of the top spots ih 'Susannah of tiie Mounties,' next Shirley Temple star- rer, due to roll Jan. 3 at 20th-Pox. Actor recently completed a fea- tured role in 'Jesse James.' OHIO NIXES 'MAMIOGK' 'Professor Mamlock,' Russian-made anti-Nazi feature, has been rejected by the Ohio state censorship board. No reason officially listed for its xe« jection. Film was scheduled to open at th« City, Cleveland, Jan. 6. Daily press in Cleveland has'been caustic about the alleged delay in the Ohio boarf taking action on the pictore.