TALKING PICTURES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 183, 18 May 1939, Page 8

TALKING PICTURES

“A Slight Case of Murder.” Comedy of Prohibition and Repeal

Curiously, the star of this farce is the same man who first established the gangster-racketeer as a familiar screen figure Edward G. .Robinson. There are shootings in ‘‘A Slight Case of Murder,” of course. In fact, four gangsters of various degrees of wickedness kite the dust. J3ut the killings are so ludicrous that they bring laughs instead of gasps. Eddie Robinson plays a beer baron of dry days in the U.S.A., who, when prohibiting repeal conies along, turns “legitimate’’ brewer. His rumrunning, hi-jacking henchmen become his salesmen. They have to lay aside their guns, .wear clean shirts and go in for the daily shave, lint the course of hOnest business doesn’t run smoothly. Eddie, teetotaller himself-, doesn’t know that his beer is very! bad stuff. His gunless salesmen can’t force it upon the tavern keepers. And nobody dares tell him the truth. He loses money and is clown to his last half-million when a rival gang fries to lli-jack this. They shoot-each other up in the process, and Eddie saves up his money. Then be learns about bis beer, changes the formula and goes forward .successfully. Throughout all this nonsense runs a pretty romance between the beer baron’s daughter, Jane Bryan, and a wealthy young suitor, Willard Parker.

“London by Night.” Metro-Goklwyn-Mayer’s “London by Night,” is a rattling good murder mystery, in which everyone is completely befogged and mystified. Locale is London by night and in a' pea-soup fog which adds to the gri-.iness and eeriness of the entire theme and its evolution. Virginia Field, a pretty blonde barmaid, strongly cockney in accent, takes off from her duties to do a little smooging with Eddie Quillan, on a park bench, and here passes them a man with an umbrella and enters a house across the street. Quarrelling is heard, a man exits hurriedly and runs away through the fog. The girl and youth are startled and run back to the pub, and yell for police. That starts it, and hereafter there are ghostly goings-on round the neighbourhood. “The Umbrella Man” is on everyone’s lips, there are supposed murders but no bodies found. Geofgc Murphy is a news reporter who spends most of his time at Scotland Yard and with George Zucco or Inspector Jefferson, as they try to unravel the mystery. Then a policeman is found murdered, and after that the poor pretty barmaid, and before the end Eddie Quillan. Murphy becomes acquainted \Cith Sir Arthur Hetrick, very nicely presented by Montagu Love as the lather of Pat Herrick. The reporter has a ;dog called “Jones,” who eventually runs down the killer.

“The Gold Diggers in Paris.” A diverting musical liberally interspersed with some specialty acts which have become more and more a feature of the musical and comedy show in recent years, some tuneful songs and many spectacular settings, “The Gold Diggers in Paris” emerges as one of the brighter ones. Songs are nicely rendered by Rudy Valeo and Rosemary Lane, while some really good comedy is injected by Hugh Herbert, Allen Jenkins and Edward Bropliy. The plot lias the French Government send an envoy to America to engage the American Ballet for appearance at the Paris Exposition. In New York the envoy F accidentally taken to the wrong theatre and signs a company on its last logs. They are, of course, astounded at the wonderful offer coming from Herbert, but though they feel he must he mistaking them for the ballet company, thev< think they will take a chance on it and accept the offer, especially as Herbert is quite pleased with what he sees at the Club. Rosemary Lane and nor ballet master are engaged by Vallee to train bis girls, and Vallee makes a start. The ramifications of the story make enjoyable fare. The Gold Diggers themselves are gorgeous girls, • and make fine showing, with the Sehniekelfritz Band with novelty tricks and good music. Fritz Feld, Melville Cooper. Mabel Todd with her dog that “talks” all add to the humour, and the brightness and gaiety of the whole will please everybody. Rudy Vallee discloses genuine talent as an actor, and his songs arc all good. “I Wanna Go Back To Bali.” especially so. The- ballots, too. are very interesting and those put on at the Exposition novel and arresting.

“The Crowd Roars. Robert Taylor gives a fine he-man performance in Metro-Goldwyii-Mayci s storv of the boxing world, “The Crowd Roars!” bis role should satisfy the mob male psychology and emphasise the

(By “Spotlight.”)

masculine charm that is so attractive to the opposite sex. In the role of Tommy! McCoy he lights his way up from the also rails to the light heavyweight championship. Maureen O’Sullivan, teamed with Taylor, in “A Yank at Oxford,” once more proves the ideal romantic interest, with competition in the person of blonde Jane Wyman. The two add flashing charm to the picture’s lighter moments. Action and plenty of it, drama, pathos and comedy are liberally sprinkled through the course of the plot while the cast is a grand one giving many fine characterisations. From the dramatic point of view, the highlight of “The Crowd Boars,” is the performance of Frank Morgan, as the pugilist's good-for-nothing father. A ripe study of a doddering old rapscallion this. The authors have provided an unimaginative framework of text, and Mr Morgan has filled it out into a glowing. character. Edward Arnold appears as a rotund racketeer, with a sense of humour, Maureen O’Sullivan is the heroine; William Gargnn, a good-natur-ed champion of the ring; Lionel Standcr, a trainer; Jane Wyman, a fluttering, loquacious blonde; and Nat Pendleton', a muddle-headed gangster.

“Blind Alibi.” The new Richard Dix vehicle “Blind Alibi,” offers a gripping story of a man’s efforts to save his sister’s reputation in an unusual type of modern romantic adventure. The plot deals with his amateur sleuthing to recover a packet of letters that are being used to blackmail his sister. His mission takes him to America when the letters are accidentally shipped to the United States in some antique objets d’art, and another gang is commissioned bv its •foreign confreres to secure the papers on a fifty-fifty basis. By posing as a blind man, Richard Dix roams at will through a large museum where he learns the letters are hidden. The racketeers hire him to assist them in their scheme, unaware of his identity and the fact that lie is not blind. With the aid of a faithful and clever dog and the loyalty of the beautiful assistant curator of the museum, Dix saves the honour of his sister by double-crossing the blackmailers, but in so doing he runs afoul of the police, which leads to a thrilling climax. The methods by which superintelligent shepherd dogs and their blind masters are taught to work together are also interestingly disclosed in the picture. Whitney Bourne is the heroine'in “Blind Alibi,” and Eduardo Ciannelli is the chief menace. Francos Mercer, Paul. Guilfoylo, Jack Arnold and Richard Lane have important roles. “Ace, the Wonder Dog,” takes the canine role.

Universal Plans Ahead. Universal, continuing the fast pace it has set for some time past, will have several first rank productions in work during the next few months, plus six other features and two serials. The special box-office offerings are: “Youth Takes a Fling,” co-starring Joel McCrea and Andrea Leeds. “The Sun Never Sets,” a dramatic adventure story about England’s colonial outposts. “Rio,” Danielle Darrieux’s next starring vehicle. “Three Smart Girls Grow Up.,” starring Deanna Durbin. A new John M. Stahl production, the title of which will be announced soon. “Destrv Rides Again,” from Max Brand’s classic western story. “f Stole a Million,” based on the life of Bov Gardiner.

“The Storm,” will introduce Vincent Price to screen • audiences. He is the New York stage star recently engaged by Universal. Others in the cast are Charles Bickford. Barton Mao Lane, Andy Devine, Frank Jenks, Samuel S. Hinds, Nan Grey and Bay Parker. Tim six other feature pictures include “The Last Express,” “The Comet." with William Gargan, Joy Hodges, Andy Devine and Ruth Donnelly in tinleads; “Adam’s Evening,” “Exposed.” “Newsboy's Home” and “Swing 1 bat Cheer.” The serials are “Ruck Rogers’ and a boy scout film starring Jackie Cooper. Production Pars. \ M.G-.M. lias dropped Allan Jones for Dick Powell. The Alexander Korda-Merlo Oberon wedding bells will not jingle, is a Hollywood tip. The’ second appearance of Sidney Toler ns the Chinese detective will be in “Charlie Chan in Reno.” No stand-in, no tumble-in ; Madeline Carroll takes a five-mile ride on ail aquaplane behind a ijO-mile-au-hour speedboat in Para mount’s “Cafe Society.” *