FIGHTING GRIME IN THE WEST

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22050, 25 March 1937, Page 7

FIGHTING GRIME IN THE WEST

"HOPALONG CASSIDY

RETURNS"

CONTEST WITH WOMAN BAJsDIT

LEADER

Hopalong Cassidy returns to a life of adventure as a two-gun peacemaker —forced to match wits with a woman—in the Paramount film, "Hopalong Cassidy Returns," which is the chief feature of the Easter double programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Cassidy is the marshal of a lawless Western town in the picture, and he finds that most of the cummunity's crime stems from one source—Evelyn Brent, proprietress of the Crystal Slipper Bar. William Boyd, as "Hoppy," has a new partner in this film. This is William Tanney, jun., who appears as Cassidy's younger brother, fresh from an Eastern jchooJ, yet having the real stuff of the Old West in his make-up. In the story he meets and falls in love with Gail Sheridan, daughter of the town's newspaper publisher. Once entrusted with the job of cleaning up the town, Boyd refuses to let anything stop him until he has broken up the entire Crystal Slipper gang and solved two killings for which the gang was responsible. Miss Brent, the hardboiled and mysterious crime queen of the Crystal Slipper, discovers too late how strongly she feels for Cassidy. A Romance Develops

The picture is the first of the stirring Harry Sherman productions in which Cassidy himself is involved in a semi-romantic situation. Like all the Cassidy series, it is based on a story by Clarence E. Mulford and produced by Sherman for Paramount. It was directed by Nate Watt. Members of the supporting cast include the old favourite, George Hayes, Irving Bacon. Stephen Morris, and Grant Richards. The, roles of both Boyd and Miss Brent in the newest "Hoppy" film recall many actual characters in the history of the Old West. Incidents in the lives of Wild Bill Hickock, Bat Materson, Calamity Jane, and others are reflected in events of the picture plot. A motorised blacksmith shop, complete with anvil, bellows, forge, tools—and blacksmith—was devised by Harry Sherman, the film producer, for use of the-crew which went "on location" in the Sierras to film "Hopalong Cassidy Returns," Before the shop was contrived, one of the company's big problems was keeping the herd of horses used in Hopalong pictures properly shod. "Career Woman" Second Feature Packed with powerful dramatic situations and crammed with fast moving action and suspense, "Career Woman," the second feature of the programme, is an unusual film. With notable acting by Claire Trevor, Michael Whalen, Isabel Jewell, Eric Linden, Virginia Field, and Gene Lockhart, the picture tells a gripping story of murder, mystery, love, and laughter.

Set in the wild backwoods country, the story sketches in powerful terms the struggle of a gentle, sensitive girl. Isabel Jewell, to free herself from the domination of her tyrannical father, who. forbids her to see a boy she loves, Eric Linden. Into this drama-laden situation comes Claire Trevor, an idealistic young girl attorney just embarked on her career. Claire befriends the poor girl and gives her a dress so that she will be attractive when she meets Eric at a planned picnic. Isabel's father finds his daughter with Eric, drags her home, and gives her a terrible beating. During the melee he is accidentally killed. The town is up in arms and demands that Isabel be tried for murder. Decisive Court Battle Claire, her only friend, undertakes the defence, but her battle to overcome the ignorance and prejudices of the villagers is hopeless, even when aided by Michael Whalen, a brilliant and successful criminal lawyer, who has romantically followed Claire from the big city. Finally Whalen plays a trick on the opposition by staging a "fake" lynching, which so infuriates Claire that she rallies with, an impassioned defence of her" unhappy little client, wins over the jury and public, and gets her off—exactly as Whalen had planned. In an unforgettable romantic cli|max, Isabel and Eric are reunited and Claire and Michael decide to form a t partnership, both professionally and matrimonially.

"A Bridge in the Sky," purchased some weeks ago by RKO, has been announced as a vehicle for Katharine Hepburn. Now on the road with "Jane Eyre," she will return to the studio after the play ends its forthcoming Broadway engagement. "A Bridge in the Sky" gives Miss Hepburn three stories for production in the summer, the other two being "Stage Door" and "Violette." A romantic comedy by Grace Norton about the love of a girl for two men with whom she has been reared, it is being prepared for the screen by Dorothy Yost. * * *

Sonja Henie's new film will be "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates."