Variety (Jun 1930)

FILM REVIEWS 19 CAIN AND ARTEM (Synchronized) (RUSSIAN-MADE) Sovkino production distributed by Amklno, rcsnectlvely the Russian Communist produc- Inc ond distributing atrencles. Directed by p" p petrov-Butov, who also- adapted the material from a story by M(ixlm Gorky. American titles supplied by Shelley Hamil- ton Photography by Nllcolal XJshaUov. Run- ning time, 80 minutes. At Cameo, New Tork, week June 0. „ „ „ Cain. Artenr:- ^ Nikolai Simono\- Woman In the Market Place.Blena Ecbrova Her Husband Georgy Uvarov A museum exhibit without com-, merclal standing of any kind. Un- adulterated Russian communist propaganda with all the trimmings;, such as vicious anti-cleric slants, anti-capltallstic sentiment and anti- what-have you, all handled with an excess of propaganda enthusiasm that steps on its own feet. Nobody with a degree of sophis- tication beyond that of, say, a * sophomore in a fresh water Ameri- can university could possibly be-as melancholy as the tone and import of this film frolic. It utterly aches with the wretchedness of merely be- ing alive. The dramatic devices the director use^ to make this motif clear are ordinary hysteria. The heroine is the unhappy wife of a fish peddler and at frequent in- tervals, when the story desires to be especially morose, the camera goes into close-ups of gasping fish on a warm day dying, encrusted with flies. Nice? If you have ever met a retail fish market in warm fly- time, you can't help being impressed. It's realistic, too. If that's art, it's for you. You take Maxim Gorky in a de- pressed mood and then work over him for the uses of passionate propagandists and you pet this kind of display, which, incidentally, is worth going to see as a grand ex- - ample of Intellectual boobery. "Cain and Artem'f is one of a scries of Russian propagandist pic- tuces that have played the Cameo, largely supported by the mob from the reported Bolshevist lower East Side of New York. House gets the pictures for' practically nothing, or less. Now comes the gag. The pic- tures make money for Radio-Keith! If they dp make money, and if they don't it's still R-K-O's house, and that's'the Radio Corporation, etc. Big business all over America, take It from the "American Mer- cury," has been pouring money into anti-Red funds and here comes big business in its theatre relation spill- ing actual blow-in-the-bottle Soviet liropaganda over the lot, and the worst kind. Of course, the wise way to kill oft Red preachments is to turn It loose and let it taik itself to death, but it comes as a surprise to see it done in America. Where it's not needed and not wanted. In the first place, the idea of put- ting a picture that deals with the ■ downtrod protelariat in a maudlin way right at 42d street and Broad- way where the public refuses to pay 16.60 at the box office of hits and insist dn paying $50 for a pair In a side street gyp place has its own in- nate humor. Or $2 or $3 for a spe- cial picture. Which suggests that a really dan- gerous propagandist or revolution- ' ary would have to have some tinc- ture of humor in his composition. Otherwise he malces himself absurd by his own -exuberance, just as the makers of this picture have done. Director has gone entirely insane on the trick of composite flash shots and the American title writer has co-operated with him to get some "marvelous effects." Comes a view of the expiring fish, ."or example, and the sub-title breaks out in the single word "Life!" There is a close-up of a mob of leering faces—and boy! what these Russians can do with the leer—and the sub-title repeats "Life!" This goes on and on. The point is niade with plenty of deter- mination that life isn't worth hav- ing. After 80 minutes of it you feel like cutting your own throat—or laughing your head off. . The anti-relligious angle is pretty vicious here, and In a trick dramatic way .shrewdly managed. There is a vivid shot of a niad mob stoning a thief when a religious procession comes along. Bloodthirsty thicf- Klllers pause from their murdcrou."! business for a moment, make their perfunctory obeisances, and then re- turn to their uglv work with the helpless wretch. Going into the atfiry would be fruitless, except that it may .shed some light on tlie general technique to relate that the heroine commits suicide off Pier IG at about what would be the middle of Act II, and 'he hero is an > jjpresspd' Jew who wears a ctope beard and looks ex- *ctly like Willie Cohan. And. oh ye.s, Xilcolal Simonov would be a ereat actor if the storv and th.- di- rector gave him half a chance. He sets over a miraculous suggestion ' ^>at is the way Louis Wolhelni would be if he was a handsome man. Rven the sure-seators have aired nf 1.1 over here as a part oi the general scheme. Why R-K-O, busine.ss tliey be- siae.s represent? liush.^ IN GAY MADRID (All Dialog With Songs) Metro productloD and release. Starrinq; Tlamnn Novarro. Directed by Robert Z. liconanl. From novel. "Ja Casa de la Troya," by Alejandro Perez Lugln. Adapted by Ke.ss Mercdyth, ijallsbury Xi-i.'ld and EMwIn Justus Mayer. Music by Fred F„ Ahlert, Xavlcr Cugat and Herbert Stothart; lyrics, Roy Turk and Clirtord Grev; cam- era, Oliver Marsh; film editor. William S. Gray. Runs 78 minutes at Capitol, New York, week June 0. RIcardo... Ramon Novarro Carmlna ; Dorothy Jordan floylta Uottice Howell Marques do Ca.'jtelar Claude King Dona Generosa.... 1 Bugenia Besserer Rlvas , William V. Mong Dona Concha Beryl Mercer Jaointa NancI Price Octavlo Herbert Clark- Ernesto. . David Scott Enrique George Chandler Corpulento Bruce Coleman Carlo's Nicholas Caruso Unreal story, poor acting, ditto direction and general lack of popu- lar appeal, are among thei. many negative marks of this one. One wonders if even the Spanish mar- ket will accept the tltular-and- synchronized version of this, or even a Spanish dialog talker of the same piece, should one exist or in contemplation. Over here it needs Novarro's name and heavy exploitation. LTnlike "The Pagan," which too was weak in story, but at least had an undeniable theme song to carry it, there is nothing here melodlcally, Rictorially, histrionically or amor- ously. Much ado about a gay Madrid blade followed by a Madrid cabaret girl and complicating his genuine romance with a Spanish provincial maiden. Certainly looks like M-G-M vvas hard-up for a story for Novarro to go so far afield unless, of course —and this is quite plausible—the Spanish market, via Spanish talker of this same Spanish novel, was primarily in view. If so, it was at expense to the bulk native market. Dorothy Jordan as the sympa- thetic femme vis-a-vis has a voice that's not quite dulcet on the ear drums. Lottlce Howell, from the varieties, was cast as the Spanish cab singer because of her singing, but in spots photographs so^poorly one wonders both why the carhera- man or cutter okayed those close- ups. Theme songs are Spanish colle- giate numbers, and also a fairish serenade; none to get excited over. Only the ballyhooing of the Spanish romance aura which the title, . "In Gay Madrid," suggests, will get this one by, on top of the name. As a title. It's actually a misnomer as, after the opening cabaret scenes, it shifts to the hideaway campus town where the hero's father sent him to keep him out of mischier. -Abel. COURAGE Warner Bros, production and release. Di- rected by Archie Mayo. Belle Bennett fea- tured. Sub-featured, Marian Dixon. Leon Janney and Rex Bell. Adapted by Walter Anthony from stage play hit of same title. Dialog by Mr. Anthony (whenever differing from original play's). At Winter Garden, New York, on run starting May 22. Run- ning time, around 05 minutes. Marv Colbroolt Belle Bennett Muriel Colbrook.,.1 Marian Nixon Lynn Wlllard Rex Bell Inmes Rudlln Richard Tucker Bill Colbrook Leon Janney- Reginald Colbrook Carter de Haven, Jr. .'Vunt Caroline Blanche Frederic! Gwendolyn Colbrook ;Charlotte Henry Gladys Colbrook Dorothy Ward Richard Colbrook Byron Sage Vincent Colbrook Don Marion "Courage" had a .smash hit run on Broadway (stage) two seasons ago, mainly because of the boy in it. There's another boy in the picture, and he does equally well. The pic- ture's exploitation, however, might be held down on too much of the "mother" stuff, for there seems more latitude in going after that bunch of burn up children In this picture. "Are yoUr children like those in 'Courage?' " might be better exploit- ation. Perhaps tliat would more readily attract the flaps, also, for "Courage," as a talker, calls for s'trong exploiting. It's an extremely well made and played picture. But overly "mother" stuff might not be so good for the summer term. If this picture has not been dated for regular relca.se, it could well be held back for the fall for bettor returns, for It's a thoughtful subject, and no one wants to think when it's hot. Whvan appeal should be made for tlie voungcr set to see it is because it l)urns up all of the adults. By that token, perhaps, the flaps and flips might pa.ss It up unless their attention is pointedly directed to it. It's of an adoring mother with .seven children, .six of whom have their dead father's detestable trails, and the other, the youngest and a boy, his mother's. How the mother explains that youni;pst bo.v. his looks and his natme, is -sonicthing anyone could try to analyze, if prefc-rrlng .something besides bridg<-. It sounds as plausible as th<^ sympathy that goes out to tlie mother wlio ni.'jrned for po.sition, winding up a widow, broke, with seven kidrs and a nasty sister-in-law. But the little kM. the "hooligan" to the rest of l!"..- chilUron, saved the familv and I's fortunp.s, because he was "nice to an old spinster next door. vShe haled everyone in the town more than they hated her, ex- cept that boy. He calli-d on her, Miniahire Reviews "Cam and Artem" (Amklno), Typical Soviet propaganda .stuft. "In Gay Madrid" (Metro). Novarro feature, depending on star and exploitation for b.o. pull. "Courage" (WB), good enter- tainment. "Numbered Men" (FN) Mel- ler of the old school, putting prison on a par with a play- ground, but containing the kind of action neighborhood audiences approve. Not for an indefinite run, "Born Reckless" (Fox)—Un- even and loosely knit crook chronicle. No , love appeal. Ought to be bolstered with strong stage support or shorts, "Not Damaged" (Fox) Good program picture dealing with the shop girl and a roue who turns out to be unusually moralistic. Should have wide appeal. "Shadow of the Law" (Par) Unusually well made melo- drama, high in entertainment value. Good for the box office. "Ov«rland Bound" (Bell). Flop western. played with her, probably told her the only truths she had ever heard, and the spinster left htm her for tune of $500,000. ■ And then the mother of seven children went to Sioux City, the worst show town in America, after Syracuse, to marry the youngster of her school days, the man her young- est son resembled, so much so, the boy's father, before passing out, grew dirty about it. . "Courage" goes in the class of fine pictures. It's so well made, played and directed. Little action of any account, but a bit of comedy relief through the kid and-'his manner- isms, although there's some attrac- tion in the hope of every one that they could takis the rest of those brats who are pulling against their mother and bang their empty heads against every wall in the house. The picture and~ story are held up by Belle Bennett and Leon Janney. the boy. Miss Bennett is a lovely mother, in poise, speech and her idolatry for her children. She does Numbered Men (AH Dialog) First National production and rplo.i.se. Dl- n'ctod b.v Mervyn I.e Roy. In ra.-ii: Bcmlcv> riiilre. Raymond TlackeU. Tully Marshall, William Holden, Conrad Xagol. Ralph Ince. At Winter Garden. Now V->rU. June 7, on run. Running time. ((3 minutes. A highly fictional treatise on penal life about as accurate as the average theme dealing with colleges. Melo- drama of the old school, spotted with seedy dialog, yet '•Xumbcrcd Men" has action and undercurrent of continuity which should please all of the neighborhoods. It does not shape up as ■ a production which should be Considered for an indefi- nite run. Ralph Ince easily gives the out- standing performance as the kind of convict who has as little regard for his fellow crooks as most of them haye for the law. Other thaA-a prison riot and two killings, which require but a few minutes, the convicts are either playing cards, listening to the radio or eating cookies at a near-by farm- house. The knitting of the theme is large- ly dependent upon Bornice Claire. As the sweetheart of a convict who has been framed. Miss Claire passes out doughnuts and wards off a double- crosser until the lad, Raymond Hackett, is freed by Conrad Nagel taking the rap, when the two men who have the evidence are bumped oft. Ince, as the heaviest of the heavies, is responsible for the riot, and after the warden has deputized trusties and armed them, Ralph gets Mary alone in the house and does a lot of the things that comprised the meat of old -westerns. But Ince handles himself with silch sincerity the average audience will be on edge until he. is potted by another con- vict. While the script -would have honor above everything else in jail, things •are made so easy for the boys that prison life through this version Is far more accommodating than that led by many an honorable citizen. Hackett and Miss Claire are able to have weekly necking parties, and the gatherings around the farm- house lacked only a a theme song. So trustworthy Is everything con- nected with this prison that guards are the smallest bits. Walif. Muni. It's quite possible that the script got kicked around the lot a la "(llorlfyln.g the American Girl" with the result It finally came out as hoof stew. It's iin open question' If Edmund r.owe i.sn't ml.'-'cast. Certainly he doesn't look like an Italian gang- stor-boptlo.ugcr. He does well enough but his name rather than his performance will be the chief box i^nico asset of the film. Ijowd has some popularity now and it m:iy lio usrful IC it proves itself with this one. . Conir.l-oie absence of love Interest Is another good reason for the nar- rative growing sluggishly compli- cated, with the endless doings of gangsters never very picturesque save in the case of Warren Hymer. Plenty of action but with very little relationship between one scene and the next. It's all pretty niochanicul and stiff. Land. Natalie Moorchead, "Ladies Must Play," Col. Paul Luka.s, "Better Wife," Par. Maurice Black, "Sea Guard," Par. Ian AicLaren, "Men on Call," Fox, Projection Room Comedy Variety once again wishes to bring to the attention of producers and distributors the chance taken permitting critics, dally or trade, to see pictures In a projection room for reviewing. More so now-with the talkers than ever with the silents. There is no dramatic critic living with sufficient ego to state he can justly judge a stage play in rehearsal or at a dress rehearsal with but critics present. It's wholly essential to have an audience for the proper reaction to a talking picture. Undeniably is this true with a comedy talker. For instance how is a critic, daily or trade, with personal Ideas and impressions of comedy, to recognize the entertaining value of any comedy in a projection room, along with other h.ard bolleds who may think they know more or less about anything In pictures. A New York critic recently said a certain picture possessed ter- rible comedy, if any. Inquiry revealed the opinion had been formed In a projection room showing. That picture Is now getting over solely upon its comedy. As Variety does not review in the projection room, the decision either way is of no immediate concern, but all projection room displays should be eliminated unless necesslfated by theatre con- ditions in New York. This may also apj)ly to any out of town house giving, local critics a private preview. the role quietly, although her one "Hell" is a smirch on the rest. Marlon Nixon has a vixenish and unsympathetic role, as the most outspoken traitor to her mother. But the remainder of the cast merely supply able support, and that takes in the goat, Blanche Frederlcl is a type as the stern vis- aged sister-in-law. She has done the same character on the speaking stage. Its actor-proof for the right type. Little Janney can be hold for other boyish roles. His engaging kid presence, the freshness of his play- ing in a wholly natural vein and the exuberance unrestrained in a boy of his age will carry him just as well into any other picture. Perhaps it has in others in the pa.st. Whoever coached him for "Courage" did a peach job. If It were Archie Mayo, the director, .Mayo is In line for an- othf-r pat. That boy Is an exploita- tion peg al.so. It Will start all of the parents In town arguing If their voungster couldn't have done it. Should be certain In neighbor- hoods and comljination houses and should be well s'ipporled In the de luxers. For abroad, a perfect pic- ture for a glimpse of a real Ameri- can hoy of breeding, and,the sort of a motlier who lives In evei-y nation, If there'.s not too mu'-h dialog and loo little action in Ihiti for Kuropp. BORN RECKLESS (All Dialog) Vor. production and release. Fealurlns Fdniund Lowe. Directed by. John l-'ord. Hiised on "Louis B'-rcllI" by Don Clarke. C'am<raman, Low Si^hncid''rnian. At Uoxy, Sow Vorlc, week June C. Running lime, 73 mins. LuuiH Herelll -. I-Mmund Lowo Joan Hhelflon Cathfrine !>:iW Owen ISill Ci'IJrlon I.i-o Traoy Ilfi.ia Uprclli .MarKlJ'Tl;e (,'h:i(-f"hlll ni;j Shot Warren ilymer fJoo'l New.s Uropliy Wllllum II irrlgan l-'ra.ik .Shcldoi l''rnii!t Mbertt'on Hugs KdOle Onbbon Rll-/,y It'-llly I'aul I'a«e Jo<> Ilcri;mun lien Uarl ringy MMCOvilz Mike Donttn P.a IJcrcltl I'.-iul I'orca.sl Nn-'JIe l!ci>r OroKcn J'"" IJrown Uiitrict At'.orney ('ai'Jii;aii.... Itoy .'^tpv/arl Nra U<-ii>lli l'>ril,i» lioro.- 'Mie Iiuke r.il .*<oin'-rHr>; Only fair. Story as brought to till' .sdv-cn is cjji.Modic, fra;;incnlar>', given frequently to abrui)t ond In- tf'rc.'-t-slialtfrlng Iran.sitions of time and lofdie. It gets pretty tii'i-yome before it's over allhou'-jli some belly l.'iii:,'hs in tlie earlier stretches help a lot. Donald Henderson Clarke, press ogent for Metro, wrof» the luivcl from which a singularly dull and st>r.'i wliiig .<if erifjrio was made. The Sf-en.-irio writer ma.y h:ive been alr.-ilil of the book ."Jlory, wliic-h was pretty rough .'ind tough. I*'ox ot-lg- iri'iHv Intended the y.-irn fur l';iiil NOT DAMAGED (All Dialog) T-'Dx iiroOuctlon and releose. Directed by Chanill-r tiiiraguc. Based on Rlchanl (.'.Minell's story, ".Solid Gold Article." l'Va(urlng Ixjis Moran and "Wnllor Byron, In the rn.si: Robert AInies, Inez Courtney. Vt the Globe beginning Juno C, Running inne 7t minutes. "Not Damaged" is a good pro- gram picture that holds Interest throughout, despite a story ad- mixture of conventional and illogi- cal hoke. It is the kind of a theme, however, which will have wide ap- peal, since It puts a pretty shop girl through paces which have an unexpected sugary sentimental end- ing. Lois Moran-does nice work as the girl who aspires to be married in a church with all of the trimmings. Her roommate, Inez Courtney, is given to fortune telling and thus Walti?r Byron is early introduced In the music store where the girls work as the handsome man the dream book says a nightmare about walking on the street nude will bring to the dreamer. ■ The picture is well directed and capably cast and the chief criticism Is traceable to the cutting room for allowing close-ups to be bunched. These are hard to follow, since the camera swervlngs from face to face or to and from various objects In a room are distracting and difficult for the eyes. Byron is made to seem a philo- sophical philanderer until toward the very end of the picture. After MUs Moran has been disillusioned by her regular boy friend and goes to Byron's Village apartment for a party, with drinking and much whoopee, Byron Is shown gathering the shop girl up in his arms and carr.ving her Into a bedroom. When the door opens it is the next morn- ing and the couples are In negligee. Then abruptly Byron makes It clear in dialog that he has slept out- side and comes through with the proposal for matrimony. Karlier In the footage there are some amusing sequences In the stoie and at the girls' apartment. One of the mugg boy friends is a house dick of the silent kind o/id provides laughs. Byron's part In unusual, but at the same time con- slHlent, a hero typo that should In- terest modern young.women. Walv- SHADOW OF THE LAW (All Dialog) Paramount production and release. Di- rected by. I>;uIh Oasnler and barod on "The Quarry," a novel by John A. Moroso. .\d.-i pint inn ami (ll.Hoi; by Max Maccln. .'•'ronnrlo by John l-''urro*v. Photography by Charles Lang. .\t paramount. Now York, Tor week ffl-irllng Ju:ie U. Running lime, 00 mlnuttK. , .Folin N( iRon William Powell (MIth Wcnltvurih Morion Shilling Kthel lidrry .N'atalle Moorhead Tom Regis Toomcy P'-ie I>aul Hurirt (■'oi. Wi'iilwoilh George Irving .MIko Kearni»y Fredrlc Burt Warden James Durkin Krank , Richard Tucker '.iuanl L'lplaln WaltOr Jarnc* A gros.ser, irrespective of Its un- original theme and the liberties t;iken cither In adaptation or by Louis. Gasnler, the director, "The Shadow of the Law" should be a valuable summer feature. Picture ha.s been well made and cleverly directed. Production values stand out all over to lift the melodrama out of the formula class into which 11 might easily have fallen. The story deals with a clubman who through circumstances sur- rounding a fist fight-lands in the pen for life, escapes after becom- ing a trusty and a few years later establishes his Innocence. The suave William Powell plays the central role with fine restraint and T)oise. His performance in hrli;htened through playing several different di.-iracters, including club-' man, gentleman, convict and small town ljuHiness man as well, of course, as lover. He has more of the l(jvo InlPi-est here than In pre- vii>us instances and lu.'ike.s good in the roiiunitic as.Mgnnient. Throiigli a strong iind able sup- porting east, shrewdly selected, and the fine dlrecdon of Gasnler, the Par star in this (-a.se< has been bene- nteil. Marion .'^hilling proves the Ideal t.\j)p"of the daughter of the lexiile ni.-iniifaclurcr In the .small Norlli C.iiollna town where the es- r-.-i(,ed convic t finds refuge and be- (Contliiuefl iin p.Tge 28)