Variety (Aug 1939)

18 VARIETY FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, August 2, 1939 Stanley and Livingstone Hollywood, Aug. 1. 20lh C<!n(uiy-Fox rcl«ii« o( Dnriyl F. 7i:i'nUi*k iii-uilucllon;' nysoclnlc producer. .Konncih ^IfiCKowiin. -Sinrs SprnciT Trncy. N;MiL*y K^lly. Uk'))(H\l Oi-i'one; fenturen \V:iltcr Itrenntin, chtirlPn 0>luirn, Sir Cetlrlc llnrtVwlclJo. K<*ni-y Hull and Henry Trwverfl. l>lrpi*u?it by, lloriry KHis.Serccnpljiy by Philip Dunne nnti Julk'n Jo^eplmn; >t(i)ry . outlhiV-md hr«iorlrrtl .rt'jfonroh by S:iin IIoll- lunn .nim'Ilnri.nni;; mui'lcfll illrocdon, I.nuls Kllvpr.'*: .iMlIiiir. Barbara ^Icl*enn: f;imrra, iieorKt* HurneH: loc-altnn 4llr(»rllon. , Ottft Urowei-. . Pri'vlc'wpil ■ at sluilli^ iinijcirtion iiii)ni. llunnlnf:^ time, 100 .MINS. Hoiiry >L Slan)ipy... i S'a-nrer Tr.it-y Bvij Klnfji'lf'y Xfincy K<'lly <;nrc(h Tyve.... i:icb:inl ^^ll'en(• Jrff .SIni'um \v.iln*r Ili-ei>nan l.onv 'iycc . ,.. .■ ; Dr. D;ivl(l I-U'Iii;;Monc..slr ( ' 'J.tntt <i tiardon lf<;nnelt." .Jr John Kln;;slcy Sir Jalin .t^rCHhani..., Ml-, t-rantion: • •aiMnIn Wfbi......... Kmlcrlck H(iK--(>nili,.. sir »Hlvcr Kren< h;... .^Ir ITonry l-VirVc' Irr.. Ha^Mn..' . <.*ttlnnol Grimes. Ci>mml.«!<loner's Mor<^l)CaiU .. '. J,.., 4*aratli-bacl .^-'pliator.:; , JSir I'Vanclx \aao..'... 'Unties C'uburn' :li |i' IIaiilKlo';p ...Henry Hiill llrnry 'Pi-nvers Mlli'.t Mnniler ... .Tvid 'J'arrenee :'aul Slanlon ..'l.ilnirs TT.-riv.'rt ..\l^twa:iuo Slinvv ... Km :<m Mui ' I ria=tsaa Salil I'aul II:irvey I Xus'rll III! h.1 ••••/I.-rank One Jo.ioiih C'rcban iubv'.l Mlililleiuat-a r^ra'ik Jaqiiet 'Stanley and Livingstone' holds boxoflice promise for socko biz. It's ab.<!orbing and adventurous drama, accentuated by outstanding perforni- ahccs by Spencer .Tracy and Sir Ced- ric Hardwicke in title spots respec- tively; excellent direction of dilil- cult assignment, and dctt story de- velopment building to inspiring cli- max. Picture; cinch for general audi- ence appeal, is one of topnotchers turned out by Zanuck. Foreign grosses, especially British' eniplre, loom big. Minimum dialog passages and adventurous foundation strengthen the hefty giross potentiali- ties in non-English speaking coun- tries. Fundamentally, it's lusty, pioneer- ing adventure, detailing successful attempt of Stanley (Tracy) to find , , • , u _ Livingstone (Hardwicke) in the | and reasons for quick, change heart; of Aifrica. Surmounting heavy 19* appe.nl fof audience sympathy ing the dramatic production, in Hol- lywood, with .sequences made for the picture more than year ago when di- rector Otto Brower headed an expe- dition to Africa to obtain background and atmosphere shots on the ground, is excellent. Matching is a generally 1 excellent job of high calibre. Afri- • can jaunt was reported to have cost • the .studio $250,000, with the com- plete negative cost at around : $2,s[p0,000. Results on the screen ' from entertainment .<itandpoint seem fufly worth the price, picture looms as u big profit venture tor both conipany and exhibitors. THE OLD MAID Hollywood. July 29. \V;t''m'V B.O;-. )>-:>-tn of Ilonry lUnnko in-oOiicCon. Sl:iiy liotie Diivls anil .Miriam. >lo|iMi:4. l'>Mt(-io>l Ity l-Mmuatl <MiuMlnK. ; Si-ivcnjriuy I»y '"r-^sey Ili-;»lns<in. IimwinI t.n i play i.V i^'fii.' A'cln'!', fn.m n«V4-I by Kdlth ' ■ \V)iarion: . uiuii. Tony OoUillo; (•Otior, ' (:oo.;:e Amy; n-it-l. tllr-Ttor. Jack Sullivan. I'revlr'.vi'd at Winiiovji B-^verly. July l'fi. M'J. Ilunnin;: timo. 'Jt MINS. Clinrlultc I.ov.ll..; ; Hi-tie Davis l^r.ll.i, I-fivolI Mirlitin Kopklnf* , <*lrm Spl'n.l. I- ,t;oi)rKe llrcnt . J»r. l.ansU.ll OoaHl.l 'f Inn Iunc Pryan . l)nr;i t.4jitl£« Ki\'<:on'tn | Jim It.Tls'i.r..Jaini's Stcijlicii.von j Jne Hnlsion . ..Jerome <^owa.n | T/nnnlnK ^Inlsey Witllnm LunOlcan | Cinn.lmothor I.ovfll i.VcIlla lioriuti [ JIni. ..Hand Brnnks ; ppc .T:ini>t Shaw | Jcihii ;.lK\Volf KupiiCl- ; Mioiature Reviews Film, version of the Pulitzer prize play of several years back sticks pretty close to the original playscript in development and dialog. Therein lies a handicap to success of the piece on the screen. It's stagey, .sombre and generally copfuping fare for the film audiences. Its jirime arpeal is to femme audience.'." Picture has been given quality pro. 'Stanley and LIvlnestone' (20th). Socko b.o. adventure film with Tracy, Hardwicke ex- cellent in title role."!. 'The Old Maid' tWB). Bettc Davis and Miriam Hopkins in. mid-Victorian drama Must aim for femme trade chiefly. 'HoUI lor Women' t20th). Syn- thi tic Cinderella , story embel- lished with elaborate display of fcptin'ine oulchritude. •Mr. Wortff In Chinatown,' (Mono). Mystery meller who- dunit; with Boris Kairloj. as a super-sleuth. Needs e-xploitation.' ■Our Leading CItUen' iPar), Boo Burns .handicapped by bur- densome • story. Program sup- porter. ■Hidden Power' (Col). Weak dualer about a medico's search for a secret formula. Jack Holt as the scientist. . 'Cdlprado Snnsel' (Rep). Gene Aii.'.-y must.inser that should fare weiJ. •Van From Ttxas' (Mono). Best of the Tex Hitters, should satisfy urestern fans. 'Three Texas Steers' (Rep). Out-of-the-groove western with circus background. Satisfactory comedy acUoner for duals. 'Wings Over Africa* (Merit). British try on an adventure film that makes weak American B pictures look grade A. sympathetic as tlie family doctor; and display of sterling performances, and displays painstaking direction. But it fails to clearly define motiva handicaps in a new and refreshing background, picture equals the best efforts of earlier films depicting pioneering in the western United States. Story combines iflctional and; factual blending, of Stanley- Livingstone event; Switch- is pro- vided in the opening when Spencer Tracy, reporter for James Gordon Bennett, Jr., of the New York Herald, emerges from the show- bound Comanche country with an exclusive interview with a ram- paging Indian chief. Back in New York, accompanied by Indian Scout Walter Brennan, who got him through to the tribal leader, Bennett impresses Tracy with importance of finding -Livingstone in mid-Africa, the. biggest news story of the world. A-ccepting, Tracy journeys to Zan- 2ibar. accompanied by Brennan. Meets and falls in love with Nancy Kelly, which provides further inspi- ration to find Livingstone. Assembling native safari, Tracy pushes west- ward. Hardships and adventures of caravan are highlighted over year period, with Tracy finally fever- stricken. First trail of Livingstone imparted by native savages at this point, with Tracy pushing, ahead for IS days despite illness. . Tracy discovers Livingstone happy <n a native village, practicing as a doctor to natives and doing yoeman missionary work, preaching the gos- pel. Doctor explains he is neither lost nor hiding—work has to be done and figures Tracy came to help. Newshound Tracy gradually becomes a disciple of Livingstone during his extended stay and agrees with the doctor that the curtains hiding cen- tral Africa must be opened. Living- stone explains his previous explor- ing expeditions, and - discloses maps made. Tracy accompanies Living- .stone on an exploration when the Doctor is stricken with a recurrent lever attack. With his story, Tracy returns to Zanzibar, creating a world sensation in the Herald, with the dis- closure Livingstone is alive- in the heart of Africa. But British Geog- raphers Society refuses to accept proofs offered by Stanley, when word reaches London that Livingstone died of fever and had left a message, sent to Zanzibar, asking Tracy to carry on the work he started. "Tracy tosses his Herald job to return to Africa and continue Livingstone's task, fol- lowing in footsteps of the man he came to love and respect. Tracy gives .a convincing gnd, per- suasive portrayal as tht-'fe^orte'.-..de- termined to get his story and in- spired by love of Miss Kelly—with both overshadowed by the personal- ity of Livingstone later. Nancy Kelly is a most adequate romantic inter- est; Walter Brennan excellent as the Indian scout transposed to African glains. Charles Coburn makes a very ritisher-sort as publisher Lord "Tyce who tries to discredit Tracy's achiev- ment. Richard Greene is in for minor spot, while Henry Travers is best of the long supporting cast. Primarily carrying heavy appeal to men, picture holds strong interest to women in the outright exposition of an historical event of major in- terest during the past 75 years. Deli- cately handled, but forcefiil, is the detailing of Livingstone's missionary achievements among the natives and teaching hymns for Sunday services. Latter is a cinch to focus attention of the cKflfch Hements on the pic- ture alone. Picture is given 'epic' production values in all departments. Interweav- ductibn investiture, is impressive in | jgne Biryan is effervcscently capable daughter. Louise Fazenda .stands out ais the family maid to Miss Davis down through the. years. Bal- ance of cast has been neatly selected. Direction is delil)erate, accentuat- ing the dramatic values of the script at hand. It's hard to get over to au- diences of today the straight-laced and narrow conventions of the mid- Victdrian period, but Edmund Gould- ing has done exceedingly well with the story at hand. Picture is prbductionally fine in all technical departments, and has been given rather lavish investiture throughout. Camera work is of high standard. from one character to another. As result, audicnce;5 will becamie puzzled at the meandcrings of the piece, which sometimes tend towards out-, right boredom, and does not entirely' clear up the. confusion generated. •The Old Maid- will need plenty of exploitation to catch attention from the women fans. It has a good chance with the handkerchief-wielders, and femmes Viho relish a good cry will get it and perhaps overlook general shortcomings of the story itixU. Men will find the piece dated, slow and uninteresting. Starring combo of Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins will get the picture away to nominal start in the top keys, with rep of the play likely as- sisting in the metropolitan centers. Otherwise, it will have to battle to nab more than passing b.b. attention. Story opens during the Civil War days. Miriam Hopkins loves George Brent, but when he fails to return after two years, prepares to marry rich James Stephenson. Brent ar- rives on the wedding day and is comforted by Bette Davis, younger cousin of Aliss Hopkins. Brent gbes to war - and is killed, leaving Miss Davis with a child. She opens a children's home in the stable to be near her offspring, but when con- fronted with marriage to Stephen- son's brother, confesses her mother- hood to Miss Hopkins. Latter calls fitf the marriage and takes the mother and child into her home with her own children after her hus- band dies. Skipping over 15 years, household is presented in complex antagonism between the two cotisins, now matron- ly. Miss Hopkins is motherly, kind and considerate of the children ap- proaching their 20's. while Miss Davis is dour, snappy and sullen, especial ly towards her own child. It's a conflict between the two women for the love and affection of the child both loved. The girl considers Miss Hopkins her mother; while the real mother, Bette Davis, is hated for her meddling and intolerance towards her daughter. When the girl has a chance to marry. Miss Hopkins adopts her le gaily to provide a name and station in life, and on the wedding night Miss Davis insists on disclosing her real identity. But she cannot bring herself to the crucial point and is content to stand in the background with her motherhood forever hidden Lacking clear definition of its pur- pose, story gets rather jumbled in its attempt to follow a straight and con- cise line. It also swings, or attempts to swing audience sympathy back and forth from one cousin to the other, seeking to justify individual motives that, on the surface, are based on continual undercurrent of conflict between the pair. Story itself is dramatic narrative of jealousies and bitter attitudes—with little lightness to brighten up the piece. Miss Davis provides a strong por trayal in the title role. She's con- vincingly .self-sacrificing in atlertipts to conceal her maternal identity, and still morose in carrying her under- cover hatred for the cousin whom she figures has ruined her happiness. Miss Hopkins, on the other hand provides a strong contrast as lh< motherly matron—lovable and un derstanding of the children under her care, and disputing the attitude of her maidenly cousin In support, George Brent is okay as the original lover, but killed off early. Donald Crisp is kindly and HOTEL FOR WOMEN Hollywood, July 28. ao'th Century-Pox release of Hnyniond. Gririllh proUucllon. Peatureg Ann Sulliern, ninda Darnell. r<ynn Barl, .June <iaie, .loyee Compton. ^Isa Maxwell. Directed by CirCK- ory ftalolT. Sereenplay by Katbryn Si-ola anO D.i'rrell Ware; based, w atoi-y by Kls.1 Maxwell and Knthryn Si'OIh ; ramera, Tev- erell M;irley: editor, I^auIa- Ijoefrter. Tre- lewed at Wei-twood vllluBe, July -", aO. liunninK tlm;. HI MINS. Eileen Connelly.... Ann 5kithern Marcln lironiley Llii-la l>arnell JcfC Buchnnan J.nnes l-Mllson Nancy Prepcott Jean JloRCrs Barbara Hunter I.ynn llarl Joan ^fltchell June Uale EmclJne Thonina Joyce Compton KIsa Maxwell Uerj<elf John Cials' ..Jobn llnlllday Mellnda Crate Katharine Aldrldge Stephen Uaies Alan Dinehnrt :McNell .... ;siiloey ma<kini-r Ben UUeUre- Chick CJiandloi^ Pernando Manfi-edl CrCKory lUaye Albert Charlea Wilson Butch Herbert Ashley OaldoM Ivan r.'bcdeff MlM Collins Helen Erlrsno .MiM WlUnn ...T)nrothy Dearini; Photographer Harnett Tarkcr heralding her as a 'discovery.' She has charm, ability and youthful freshness, and di.splays sufficient screen personality to justify chance at a buildup. As it is, in this case, girl is lost in the shuffle of too much femininity in the cast to spotlight her sufficiently. Cinderella (Miss Darnell) checks into the women's hotel expecting to rharry childhood sweetheart, James Ellison. Latter came to the city a year before to enter an architect's firm, and is playing the deb daugh- ter of the boss. Getting a quick brushoff from the former boy friend, Mi.ss Darnell is skyrocketed into sud- den fame as a top artist's model. Inv mediately she is offered yachts, cars, furs,.apartments by the conveniently spotted biz tycoons . who swarm around' her like flies. Also too-con- veniently, Ellison's boss, John Halli- day, goes on the make to provide necessary driamatic flavor. But when Halliday is shot by a former gal- friend, Lynn Bari, disillusioned Cin- derella and Ellison fall into each other's arms . for the ultimate con- clusion. Ann Sothern carries bulk of pic- ture's intere.st with her flippant, quick-witted and expected wisecracks of ? gal who has been around. Sup- porting cast includes rather elabo- rate display of feminine pulchritude, with most of the girls acceptable .in flesh or fur.S: Ellison is adequate as the romantic juve, with Halliday a suave deceiver who catches the girl.s on the first bounce into town. .Picture has. been given elaborate mounting in sets and general produc- tion. Hotel rooms of the exclusively New York feminine spot on Sixth avenue, between 58th and SBth—but otherwise not identified by..;.name— look more like elaborate penthouse quarters than layouts rating $10 a week. Camera work by Peverell Marley is of high standard through- out. 'Hotel for Women' on its own. with- out much in the way of general mar- quee values, will get by neatly as a strong program' .supporter in the duals. Where exploitation energy is exerted to hypo the Elsa Maxwell angle—if it means anything outside of the metropolitan centers—picture may carry through for nominal grosse.s. Mr. Wong in Chinatown Mnnoitram release of William T. Lackey prodtirllon. Feamrei" Borif Knrlolt. .Mar^ Joil« iteynolils, Oram Wliherj*. I'dt-r Oeoi-Ke Lvnn. Dlrei lcrt by William .\'lRh. Adapted by Scott DarlInK trnni slnry by liuRh Wiley: camera. Harry Neuinanfi: editor. Ttu.vsell .Si-hopni;arlh. At tilidje. N. V.. week July •JU. '31). Itunnlng lime. 10 .MI.NS. rns|>ecior Street (?rnnt Wliheri' Bobby l..oi;an .Mnrjorle Jleynolds t'aiitain Jaek.-«in I'etei' CeorKC I.ynn Cautnin Jaime William Itoyle Mr. Davidson lluntly (*ordnn SkI. Jerry James Flavin I'rlncew I.In llwa T.olus LohK Aued Chinese Riihnrd 1.00 Mlly May ..Beixilc l.on Willie. I .ee Took Piai Dwarf Utile Anpelo. Commissioner Ouy Usbel- 'Hotel for Women' is Elsa Max- well's alleged expose of goings-on in an exclusive femme hostelry in New York. It's a fanciful, rather than factual tale, of lovely gals mostly concerned with capturing rich hus- bands—and getting along by devi- ous means until a victim is hooked. Miss Maxwell has added nothing to the fictionally dangerous pitfalU' awaiting sweet young things on reach- ing the big town, that has not been told over and over again on the screen for. many years. Story itself is an old-fashioned and decidedly obvious Cinderella yarn of a Syracuse innocent who ar- rive^ for a quick fling at fame, but who returns unscarred to her boy- hood sweetheart before she becomes tarnished in the wicked city. Picture is'fluffed up with a gener- ous displiiy of latest fashions; some incidental comedy and smart cracks by Ann Sothern; and direction that lifts many passages far above the styript material provided. The shapely and eye-arresting beauts who domi- cile in the hotel do much running around the rooms and corridors In lingerie habiliments. Idea has been done so. many times before, even that display is only passably interesting. Elsa Maxwell appears briefly in several scenes to give out with sage advice and philosophies to the new- comer in the big and wicked city. In fact, she's Big Sister to all the gals in the hotel, and even invites them to one of her famous afternoon cock- tail parties. Latter incident- is tossed in apparently to give hinterlanders a glimpse of the Informalities of a Maxwell party. In her screen debut Miss Maxwell carries herself with relaxed ease although she does steer for a comfortable lobby lounge every time she meets one of the gals to ex- pound some practical advice based on personal observations. Picture presents Linda Darnell, newcomer, in the lead. Studio is Slow-paced whodunit, set in San Francisco's Chinatown. Yarn is based on Hugh Wiley's magazine de- tective, James Lee Wong, and fea- tures Boris Karloff in the name role. His treatment of the part is typed l)y now and he handles the characteriza- tion no differently than he did in other pictures in the series. Never- theless there is enough color and mystery attached to the proceedings to attract fair trade if backed by all the exploitation possibilities usually inherent to this type of film. Story concerns the murder of a Chinese princess who has set out to buy $1,000,000 worth of planes for her compatriots across the sea. "The producers, however, shunt this theme into the background and proceed to highlight the yarn as a struggle of wits between .Marjorie Reynolds, a newshound, and Grant Withers, as a slow-moving police inspector. Kar- loff stays on the sidelines, pursuing his own methodical scientific method of deduction' and steps in at the climax and denouement to pin the solution of the plot on the least sus- pected person. Beginning with the murder of the princess in Wong's apartment, action shifts to the princess' apartment, where two of her Oriental retainers are also done away with, and from there to a banker's home and a Pa- cific freighter, where most of the dramatic action takes place. The poisoned blow-dart method is used by the master criminal on all three murders. Most of the film is taken up with pursuit of a gang who are after the pnncess' money and who are work- ing at cross-purposes with the head of the bank, who is the: actual mur- derer. Karloff and Withers are al- ways a step behind ' the purported killers an4 it's only until the final sequence that Karloff is able to mar- shal enough conclusive evidence to solve the crimes. Picture lacks outward excitement for the. most part and only redeems itself in the last half. Karloff is un- duly calm and unruffled no matter what happens. His role could have stood more wallop and action. Mar- jorie Reynolds, the smirking, wise- cracking reporter, practically steals the picture by her fine work and her flair for comedy. Little Angelo, Chinese dwarf who cannot speak, adds an incongruous note to. the pro- ceedings while Peter George Lynn is outstanding as one of the heavies. OUR LEADING CITIZEN Hollywood, July 26. Paramount release of GeorKe Aribur pi,- duvilon. Features Bob Burnu. I>lrei-ie«i ly .Mfred Santell. .Scn-enulay by J.,hu c' .MoRItt; based on atory iw Irvin .s. i-„i,i,;° vamcrn, Victor Mllner; editor, lluuh iu-n- nelt; asst. director. Itu.-'sell .^^alhews. ri... viewed at I'aramount, I,. A., Jul\ ;:i| -.yj llunnlnic lime, «7 MISS. \jexn Schorteld... Judith MchoHeld. Clay Clinton.... Shei> Mulr...... Aunt Tlllle Jim >Ianhu.- Jerry I'elers. Tonlo. .Mrs. Hprker..... .Sl(»nj- -Mlsj* S\van.,..;, l>niwi-llla J. T. Tapley.... Ih'b Iiiiiim 1....Susan llaywaitl Joseph Alirn ....Charles ltirkr„rtl .Kllxabeth I'a'lli-rKi.n Clareili-e IClh I'am ISullIiivitt l'""y ll-lni ..Kathleen l.iKkhart Olirt ll„nii,„n .. ..Kalhryn .>:iii lilim Hal lie .\i,|.| IJeno l.<irlilMri Paramount is. still groping for proper story material to generate Bob Burns into a top star attraction 'Our Leading Citizen' slots Burns as a Lincolncsque type of small town lawyer, with smattering of homely philosophies and. sincere champion- ing of the common people. Combo of the characterization of the rural attorney and highlighted direction by Al Santell overshadows a confusing and burdensome script. Basically, it's a better idea for Burns than his recent pictures, and may give .studio heads a slant on the approach for the bazooker's future stories. Picture is not strong enough to garner top spots in the key runs, ex- cept in a few isolated instances where Burns enjoys an e.spccially strong personal following. It will carry through as a strong support- ing programmer, with po.ssibililie.s of getting by nominally in the smaller comnvunities. Story becomes too involved with an industrial - strike, honest liibnr leaders, a grasping capitalist, plug- ugly strikebreakers, plea for a sit- down strike, arid inclusion of a r.idi- cal who arrives to advocate and exe- cute sabotage. It's filled with patri- otic preachment sketched in brond lines to rnaterially detract from the dramatic entertainment intended. Through it all, Burns wanders as the philosophical barrister who tries to live and preach the golden rule. Despite the theatrics of the .script. Burns overshadows the trite and in- conclusive melodrama . very accep- tably. Sidelighting the dramatic inter- ludes is the romance between Sii.snn Hayward, Burns' daughter, and Jo- seph Allen, a, newcomer. Latter is okay as Burns' young law partner, who becomes the tool of financier Gtine LockharL Fay Helm-, in spot of the radical strikebreaker, who ■ becomes disillusioned by violence of communist 'comrade.' Paul Guillbyle, provides .several outstanding dra- matic passages'Of the picture. Charles Bickford is dastardly as leader of the .strikebreaking gang, with Clarence Kolb prohiineht as the pacifist union leader. Yarn meanders through by,-paths before getting over to its obvious and ultimate conclusion. Capitalist Lock- ' hart, for no apparent reason, decrees a wage cut in his factory. When the workers strike in protest, he imports a strikebreaking gang of thugs head- ed by Bickford. Kolb tries to lead the employees peacefully to a set- tlement, when Guilfoyle arrives in town to preach radicalism and acti- vate dynamiting of the plant. Burns withdraws as attorney for Lockhart at the start of the trouble, with am- bitious Allen remaining on the side of the financier. But everything blows over when Burns jnanipulates restoration of the wage cut, and is « prime mover in jailing of trouble- makers Bickford and Guilfoyle. Burn.s is eventually nominated for .senator on the party ticket—which may or, mav not, indicate a sequel coming »'P' Burns is played without comedy lines or situations, in straight dra- matic characterization. Onl.v dialog laugh noted was his rcoly for nerd of an umbrella; 'I should .«By nol: the last fellow I read about thai c.Trncd one of;those things got in a puck ot trouble.' HIDDEN POWER Columbia production and reh-a.se. Sluw .Tark Hidt; features tJcrlrude .Mblii'el. Dickie Moore. Henry Knlker. Jl'-irls'I i^nm y. Direclcd by Lewis D. Collins, .'•■•re I-'T by Gordon Blltliy; ns.st. dire.-tor, Csil Hlecke: edllhr. Dwlttht Caldwell; <-ainira. James .S. nrown. Jr. Al Ulsll". ;-.' week July 2U, "30. Hunnltii; time, eo yttys. Dr. GnrDcld.. -I"'-^ Virginia Gcriruile Mb-luiel .•sieve ...ni.kle Mi,wr ImoKene .Mnrily Knowl.li-n .Mayton H.-Kls T.ii.niey Weston Ilemy Kolker Downey '.Menry lla.\dfn Foster Wni. n. T):'Vid«m Dr. .Morley ' Hidines llrrlint This is one of the weaker second- ary films' turned out by this com- pany. . It is a fairly good if nol strict- ly original idea that doesn't develop. Main flaw is casting Jack Holt in un inactive role, as the man of science. The direction and support is no great shakes, withal the dullest and thin- nest Holt film he's been in. for some time. Dual Sfwts only, where the warm weather may excuse it. 'Hidden Power' is the fable of a re- search medico who bends all e^f * gies to perfecting an-anti-toxin l/* severe burns. Told bluntly and witn few comedy interludes, it manages practically no original'angles and dc- (C^ntinued on page 25)