Judge — May 4, 1929 — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tovart it is based upon the, by now, ancient movie scenario of gang war, inaugurated by Ben Heeht’s machine gun epic “Underworld, and even though it is endorsed by a dull epistle from the offi f Police Commissioner Czar Whalen, “Alibi” is the best directed talking movie to date, and excellent entertainment. This crook movie, based upon a mediocre play called “Nightstick.” is the first talking movie that shows a restraining hand, and Director West used the technique of the silent movie to eliminate speech except where it was absolutely necessa’ Besides that, the dialogue, when employed. was effective, and a young man named Chester Morris did a superb job as the crook who couldn't win, The movie suffered from an occasional revers: to the play's theme that “the co; and from the illogical inclusion ¢ sketch long employed by Robert V wherein a killer faints when he is shot with a blank bullet by a cop. Outside of these two things, “Alil was solid excitement, The treatment of a third-degree scene marks the best direction of the season. Trick cam era effects, talking machinery, lighting effects, are all timed to such perfection that Director West ere- ated a startling sinister and hypnotic effect, height ened by the fact that it was all realized with admir- able restraint. Specifically, a gangster is intimidated by two cops into squealing on a murderer; his fear of sudden death is offset by his certainty of future doom. While the camera displays his despair, the voices of the two cops drone in your cars with the soporifie mono- tone of two surgeons administering ether, until pushed to the borderline of consciousness the victim confesses. le the movie ended with a Whalen victory for nd order, our sympathy was with the croc not a little of which was caused by the faultless pe formance of Mr. Morris. “Alibi” has a routine movie love-story, but there is alwa is enough shooting and suspense to successfully elimi- By PARE LORENTZ JUDGE nate it. The director took all the short cuts ing his story, and he made the m than the original pl nso long passing the we [scores Ehave a movie called who is worth Hearts in) Dixie’ has ng many blocks te see. ough, Stepan Fetchit, and being a superior actor he is funnier than of Inwood cartoons, Moran and Mack, W. € and Calvin Coolidge put together, named, absurdly If that isn’t enough to arouse you, I also that this all-negro talking movie has some and dancing that puts to shame any Broadwa ever produced. There is a feeble effort at with a ham negro actor as the Uncle Tom and there is a voodoo scene that is Voodo West Indian re stn is practised by Afro-Americans outside of Louisiana ind Harlem, but these weaknesses are cert ed by the unspoiled charm of Mr. I t dancer, humorist and, above all of lethargy, [have yet to sce Mr. Fetchit’s s [Ue Bast time T praised two movies myn so crowded with sneers even Miss Smith beg: to condescend to me with the attitude of “Well, h was a good fellow when he had it.” Conse it is with some relief that I can assure you honestly that “Synco) can be. Barbara Bennett is awkward, the d believably crude, and the plot is are old friend “Broadw the o backst life that rs deification, ash This movie was produced by Radio-Keith-O the electrical industry's contribution to the It only accentuated the humble admiration long held for our major busine progress. s sport, e Tne Movie Guide “Case of Lena Smith” +h Women of Attes”—< of "Uaderworkd” serves a fling easily through Michael Ari “Coquette” —Mary tat well-cultivated acest The director ther ace ch do with a ‘Alles Smeny Volentioa”—A g0c “End of St Petersburg” —The frst th time the Russians have telligent. i comedy well dose. “Hearts in Dizie”—In “Broadway Melety*—Dos't believe “Lucky Bey"—But not 90 locky the notices —it's lousy, audience. rm and hammer ane. “My Man"—\ non-stop reconi of the “The River" —Fxeellent theme rong. povel jan tn The tren Mask” —With the iron bady, Fairbanks al pactures: “Shadows of Fear”—The first goo! French movie to reach these shores ‘Outeast”—Very enterta “Spite Marriage” —H ute bis best movies. “The Singing Foot” — “The Resewe"—Even Coorad might making Warner Brow. a g: have liked the pictures “The Well Seng” —Dict a better show a negro nly « symbolism ation” is just about as lousy as movies logue is un melodrama of | i to its) movie “Syncopation’’ —In this ise. “The Patriot” —The test of the silent “Trial of Mary Dugan’ — in tell- ord, but ides allery Vields mention singing ay show a plot, of the entirely on little ch uperior. nail was n quently rpheum, movies. T have leetrical job of comicbooks.com