Variety (Dec 1929)

• :■ ■<■ \. Wedn^Bdayr December 11, |929 FILM REVIEWS VARIETY 39 SOOTii Sl^ ROSE flhlD wipi itr$ulnir with her. newly weddei akl^r husband, and . when fllie plays pofBum for an obliging doctor who treats her His. . Patrlcola has one sequence for" laughs as a cduntry hick who plays 1 uije accompaniment" to- on Im- nromptu dance by the bundle of s. a and goes nuts when she suddenly a'lilts. Charles Blckford and Ken- neth MaoKenna as the swashbuck- ling sea captain and the doctor play Batlsfactorlly. Lighting and make- up in some of the scenes not too *°Song is a lilting tune called "They Call Me South Sea Rose." Sung ■ several times by Miss Ulrlc .and plugged by other players, natives, Ship crew and a special chorus. .. OilOT, SKINNER STEPS OUT (ALL DIALOG) V TTnlveraal production and release, -.tUXhitixt Glenn Tryon. Directed by W. C. Cttft from story by Henry I. Dodge. Adapted by Matt Taylor. Dialog by Albert dcMolid and Taylor. "W. H. recording. Synchifoiil- ratlon and score by David Broetansn. Myrna Kennedy. y«yd .^«>><>ck. Buw MCr Intosh and B. 3. RadcUffe In cast. At the colony. N. T., week of Dec. 0. Running time, 70 mlns. Just a fair program film destined for the outposts. Familiar title, re- curring from previous "Skinner" stories, may create some Interest, further enhanced by Its being the first talker In the series. Author of this one has written a flock of others around the same character, originally done for the screen In silent days by Bryant Washburn and later, about , three years ago, by Reglniaild Deiiny. FJEiO did a silent sequel, titled "Sklnher's Big Idea," with Washburn. Net re- sult with Tryon is not as hilarious as some of this boy'^s other work. What laughs he evokes come from his own personality and natural an tics rather than that of the eharac tei' in the stdry. Dialog Is a bit spotty, clicking In secluded sequence, but top gabby and listless as a whole. Direction is okay, with but flv» principal characters in the picture. All of the "Skinner" yarns run along the same lines; Idea of ambitious young wife nagging white-collared hubby to do something big. Hubby starts by asking for a raise and gets air. With his last couple of dollars he buys a dress suit, spangles for wlfey, and steps out into tioclety at a charity }'aza&r. Subby does his stufr and Impresses a-big business man on the verge of a merger with the young Dean's erstwhile Arm. Skinner thinks the big b. m. is trying to bluff >ls boss into a deal, and by interfering comes near spoil- ing everything. All turns out well, wlth.Sklnnei' promoted to a big Job and wifey content. Myrna Kennedy lends good sup-, port, handling lines with clarity and persuasion. , Jlioyd Whltlock, Burr Mcintosh and E. J. RadclifCe also contribute solid performances. /Span. MISTER ANTONIO (ALL DIALOG) Tiffany production and release. Directed <by James Flood and Frank Relcher from Booth Tarklngton'B atory. Bmeat HUler. cameraman. Adaptation by Fanny Hatton. Cast: I.iw> Carrlllo, Garretb Hughes; Frank Relcher, B. Beaaerer. At Loew.'a New York, one day. Dee. 6, Running time, 71 mina. Tiffany's version of Booth Tark- ington's "Mr. Antonio" will go great with the kids, , but it's hardly a pic- ture for adults. Wliile the latter Will enjoy the performance of Leo C&rrillo they'll probably find the picture too lllogically old-fashioned, and maybe monotonous. A cultured ward of a hypocritical small town politician falling for an organ grinder may read well, but on the ' screen, and to dialog, it's hardly entertainment for the normal fan. Woodland camp, obviously a stu- dio set. Is picked as the place for a moron boy to hold up a fleeing maiden plus the grinder guardian speaking words of love, cooking macaroni, and flxing a berth for th6 girl immediately after- her first fright. Virginia; Valli lends sym pathy to the glri .Garreth Hughes, as the mind wandering' attache of the organ, plays a stupid 1 role Intelligently, Other than some of Carrillo's lingo, Hughes isucceeds in copping what laughs this audience could find. Carrlllo has previously saved the small town mayor from disgrace in a Manhattan night club. And when lieo, gypsy enough to drive his In- strument and donkey all the way to the mayor's town, gets Jailed and then is out again, he knows that the mayor, up for re-election, fears the talk of someone on the Inside. So, even though the Mayor succeeds in Impressing the brpran grinder that another is Interested In the maiden, said maiden hitches on to the donkey cart and is there to asstire the grinder that he comes before all others. WaVy. ROSES OF PICARDY (BRITISH MAod) '\ (Synchronized) ' Produced by Oaumont .Co., X.td., and re* leased by First Dlvlalon. Directed by Mau- rice SHvey from the adaptation of R. H, Mottrmm'B novel, "The Spanish Farm." All Britlah caat featuring VlUan Hall Da- VlA John 3tuart:and Humbertsome Wright. At I/oew'e New York, one day, Deo, 8. Running time, 08 mlns. ■ • J More than 18 months ago Variety reviewed this supposedly English war epic when it was first released in Canada. Tlien It was given an all around panninjg, especially for the lengthy running time, two hours, it has been cut practically In half for American consumption. Picture remains just as bad. Only change Is that It's over sooner. What there was of a plot when first released must have been cut out. Adding of sound is just a gesture. For the sure-seaters, and not sure there. goes out and unites the loving couple. Well, well. Picture promises to finish jiow and then In the last reels, butjkeeps letting the audience down. Doesn't end until after th* girl has been shot singing high opera, her; voice badly duped in the sound track. No. dialog. Okay as quota footago this ?Ide, but won't fit anywhere in . the States. PANDORA'S BOX (GERMAN MADE) (Silent) K"oro-FHm production, releasing through Moviegrapha. Directed by G: W. Pabst from theme claimed to be based on combo of Wedekind dramas. At the 55th St., N. Y.. beginning Nov. 80. Running time, about 85 minutes. _ . _ , liulu 4., Loulae Brooke. Dr. Schoen.........^... Frlta Kortner Alva Schoon ,... .Franx Lederer Countess G.. ..Alice Roherte Schlgolch ..Carl Goetz Rodriffo Quast.....Kraftt-Raschig Caatl-Plani , M. von NewUnaky Doctor's Bride ..i Daley D Ora THE FEATHER (BRITISH MADE) (Synchronized) Produced by the Strand Film Co. for United Artiata* quota. Directed by Leslie JHiacott. Cast; Jameson Thomaa, Vera Florey, Randle Ayrton, Charlea Paton. Censor's Certificate "A." Reviewed at London Pavilion Nov. 15. Running time 100 minute*. Just another quota picture and 'way too long. Apart from being told in a series of jerky fiashbacks, with the heroine singing a badly duped song against a gray back- cloth, interlaced with scenes of the same girl perfectly silent in long shots in front of a<n orchestra, tfaeh production's pretty hot. Directed by Leslie Hiscott, who might have done better if he'd cut 4,000- feet but of it. It gives Jamie- son Thomas the chance to forget his characterization every five min- utes, with the result he's a short sighted insurance agent, very re- spectable and rather shy, one min- ute, and a bright young lover with a taste in blondes the" next. Story, told to Illustrate a con vlcfs downfall as though read by an old professor who popjs in and out of the 'action every now ah^ then, opens by showing the heroine rejoicing at the death of her hus- band. Snter the Insurance man, all sympathy and rosebuds. The girl sings Jazz to a "great master;" and Is signed as his pupil, the agent ■raising the money by lifting the safe. On emerging from prison he tella the old professor who promptly she provides tliem with dough. Soiiiething has to happen, so the cops come in^ anyway. Then Lulu, the doctor's son, and the aged danc- ing master row'across the English channel in a flat-bottom boat. Finis In one of those artificial LlmehQuse attics. Management at this house blames the N. Y. censor for having to end everything with Pandora and boy friends joining the Salvation Army, Wall/. ACQUITTED (ALL DIALOG) Columbia production and rclet^e- Direct- ed by Frank Strayer. Continuity and dialog bv Kceae Thompaonu Recording by W. 10. Cnefc: Lloyd Hughea, Margaret Livingston, Sam Hardy,. Charles Wert. George Rigas. Charlea Wilson and Otto Hoffman. At :the Circle, N. T, for two day», beginning Dec, 3. Running time, 62 mln^. Better for Louise Brooks had she contented exhibiting that supple form in two-reel comedies or liglit Paramount features. "Pandora s Box,", a rambling thing that doesn't help her, nevertheless proves that Miss Brooks is not a dramatic lead. Picture has a difficult time keeping up with itself. > Will get by . In the sure-seaters" and some of the un- wired Indies. - Story unwinds awkwardly. Miss Brooks as Lulu\hurls herself at men of all ages and even a possible Les- bian or so. There's a doctor Who has some prior rights until he de- cides to marry. • Then Lulu compro- mises him and has the ring coming her way Uitlll the siren's old dancing teacher gets a yearning, followed by a refiectloh in the prospective groom's own son. As the doctor Fritz Kortner bows out before the part gets the chance to weary witnessers, as do the others. He commands Lulu to shoot him, providing at the same time op portunity for one of those conven tional murder trials. Even the pre siding justice, scarred and gray, falls when addressing the jury. Miss Brooks, however, takes the trial, klllhig, lovers and what-nots all with the simple attitude and re- action of a diner who finds the soup Just so-so. In fact. Lulu's first move, when sohie friends spirit her away from the courtroom by sound- ing the fire gong. Is to enjoy a bath In the dead doctor's house and then to tease his son Into taking her to a Parisian gambling Joint In this locale all of her pals suddenly decide to turn her over to the cop^i unless This picture should be on double feature programs. Story is tied like a sailor's knot, tripping whatever opportunity Lloyd Hughes and Sam Hardy have. Margaret Livingston is the same as ever. Photography and recording good. All about a tough who's chock f ull of sentiment to such a deglree that he frames his girl for stretch just to remain Itt love with her. He also has a weakness for love songs. Pet parody Is "What'U I Do," and every time his gang hears the tune they drop their guns and give a bum his life bitck. Eight years later, when the gal gets but Of jail, the hardbolled one Is still playing the same tune. He's the guy who bumped off a pal and then framed the girl's prison buddy for the trick. • The bud Is a. doctor, and when the gal shoots, hardbolled just before her prison pal, released from the pen, is about to sing to the angels at the bark of the gang's guns, the doctor saves the gUnman's, life by medical treatment. He finally confesses his earlier murder and. frame, and embraces police armlets just to prove he's still fond of bal- lads. FaTorite of Schonbrunn (GERMAN MADE) (Synchronized) Berlin, Nov. 25. "Der oanatllng voo SohOnbninn," Green- baum Film, flttt ran at the Capitol, Berlin. Directed by Erich Wascbneok.. IM. Dagover and Ivan Petrovltch featured. Cameraman, Friedl Behn-Onind. Sound xeoorded oa Tobls. As i. silent thla picture to sure ot a good reception on the Continent, for it fulfills all desires ot an aver- (Continued on page 42) WESLEY ED D Y Wishes to Express His Sincere 'Appreciation to MR. LOUIS K. SIDNEY AND ASSOCIATES for Their Invaluable Assistance and Co-operation in Making His Initial New York Appearance at the CAPITOL THEATRE THIS WEEK Both Successful and Extremely Pleasant PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS 18 Months—Palace, Washington 6 Months—Regentj Detroit 3 Months—Penn, Pittsburgh 3 Months—Kings, Brooklyn Now Touring the LOEW DE LUXE THEATRES in the Startlinflr Stage Production "LTARFilM^ Address AH Commuiiications to JOHN OXONNOR, Exdasrre Personal Representathre 1697 Broadway New York Cityt N. Y.