Judge — October 26, 1929 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

ovix. producers and critics perennially fall ill M with a sort of jaundice and break down and admit the truth out of sheer desperation. Personally, I respect the movies because they are powerful and because every time I get hollow-eved and despairing they produce a “Hallelujah” and— like the jackass reaching for the hay ever-dangled out of his reach—I plod hopefully forward, ex- pecting a great future. “Why Bring That Up?” was just good enough to inject me with a dull, anemic rage. I may be too ‘ous, but [ feel sure that Mr. ky, Mr. Salz- Mr. Wanger, and the gentlemen of the com- saw the world premier of “Why Bring "had no illusions that they were witnessing a good piece of work. Not drama, art, or rebellion all I wanted was a good comedy. They had Charles Mack, one of the most gracious and ples dians of the sta Few Broadway veterans ever gave as polished a performance as he turned in for his first movie. They had George Abbott, one of the most ingenious carpenters hammering drama together tods “Why Bring That Up?” then, is not movie. It is merely cheap. I may be wrong Mack hasn't the mannerisms or the record of a che: man. Neither has Abbott. It must be the producers. I let down and decided to allow the old > to run its course, I tried to class the pro- vs 1, trying to get my hat from under rmined first-nighter’s number six slipper, “Mr. Hearst doesn’t consider his man Brisbane a great thinker. The editor of Jeper probably has no idea that Iam the American Croce, although, of course, he may be wrong. It's the old game of ‘pleasing the public.’ Yet I still resent the cheap and long-outworn conclusion to an amusing movie: “Why Bring That Up?” I resent the lack of skill in “Hollywood Revue.” the enor- mous vulgarity of “The Cock-Eyed World.” nd not because the movie audience is too good for it, nor because I think the owners are too dumb to do better. They aren't. I resent their cheap tricks because they are sing come- ducers with their equals. “After all, bh “Bulldog Drummond” —See it, by all “Fast Company” —In this issue. eara, “The Hottentat”— cet Eyed Werld”—Cheap, vulgar Pleasing, with Ewart vad repetitious. “Hungarian Rhapsody” —\ pleasing German production rett Horton. tempt of the talkies. “Paris Bourd” —Smart and amuving. lent and JUDGE The Movie Guide lashionsd and “Halletwjah”—The one superb at- pikers. After all, when a man holds a full house and is a thousand dollars ah of the game, a ten cent raise ‘is a cheap gesture. The movie producer — | has his theatres sewed up in big chains, he can hire the best men in the world, he can get a good movie audience no matter how audacious he is. And yet he is afraid, and he takes pleasing and hard-working men like Mack and Abbott, or Barrymore and Jan- s, and makes them do a trained-se: it has always been a good idea, » beeanse voice of Mack make “Why Bring That Up?” a | good show during most of its li A fleeting shot of two lady-like chorus boys, a stage rehearsal carried | on behind a dialogue—these showed a hand of skill. Hil But there was no story after the first five minutes. Merely that familiar Broadway ne~ drink-broken-heart scene that has been doi week in the movies since the play in a small fortune. And, God, I'm sick of Bre | heart dramas. | { | j casual spirit of the direction and the grand | uaracter will out, even in th n yawn through the first few n oners” you'll find that you were all wrong. story concerns a Viennese dancer who dec straight and falls in love above her station in life. But just when you think you are getting stale ginger ale, it turns out to be a good stiff aperitif. It | | suddenly takes itself lightly, and all beeause it was | written by playwright Molnar. The director didn’t find that out at first, but when he does “Prisoners” becomes a charming comedy. Corinne Griffith has 1} | | movies. If you | nutes of “Pris- | True, the \] ned to act a little as well as group her ad- | mirable anatomy in pleasing postures, and docs a | good piece of work. “Prisoners” is entertaining. | | Molnar is the reason. | Aitrovan you know how it all will end. Ring | Hh Lardner dialogue and the steady work of Jack | 1 \| | at Oakie make “Fast Company” a mild but pleasing comedy of baseball. Lardner lon; (Continued on page go explored the | | 2) “Piceadilly”—The best thine the “Weman-Trap"—Arothererook movie | Brit have done to date Silent. with 8 good cast, “Prisevers™—In thir issue “The Lady Lies"—A superb cast and “Street Girf”—Nothing to feht over, 8 600d story, Worth while, bat an amiable and well-knit show. Brieg That Ui “The Great Gadbo”—Very dull ime, —In this comicbooks.com