Judge — May 10, 1930 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

SIUVGING TEM KS ROPAGANDA of any kind is dull, Price? it is war, peace, naval disarmament or polar discovery. ‘The most obvious explanation is that it is humorless and without form, A British com produc movie called while it is an imaginative and inter- esting piece of work, the lack of real- ity, the solemn, humorless spirit of its hero and heroine vitiates the drama of the story, There is no reason to be- lieve that the leader of a peace armny would be any less thick-headed than a member of the War Office. It may be that p ritators in England a of a higher caliber than our own specimens, but to dramatize them as shining knights without fault is to make them more than dull and unin- teresting characters. “High Treason” has the best cam- cra picture of the world of the future since “Metropolis.” ‘The action takes place in 1940; television and aviatio have ¢ d the habits of the world. The re two great political s the “Atlantic States” and the “Fed- erated States of Europe.” The filr opens with ble con- ception in the plot, a fight between the Atlantic dF ated border guards over a rum car (the Atlantic States of course, being dry). his incident precipitates an international sis and the dramatic interest is sus- tained by a careful presentation of the ar in the future, onscripted, ison,” and they commandants to rk as soon as the the most reaso: sctual business of ‘The women cording to“ march to their take up munitions w Federated States receive mob ion orders. ‘The major units of the world irmies are and dirigible squadron: reasonable forecast. The leade: peace army, a ion, and his daughter The ter is in love with the head of ‘ederated air unit. There is a silly and unnecessary story of an in- ional munitions intrigue. It is not silly to presume that munition bombing JUDGE By manufacturers might agitate for war, but in “High Treason” they are made to act and talk like a Brisbane edi- torial. Their work is of little impor- tance. The television announcements, the meetings in New York and Lon- don have the verisimilitude of war and the scenes of the and th and realistic thinking, After a vain effort to prevent the citizens of the Federated States from obeying the mobilization order, the president of the peace army calls on the president of his country, The Federated chief is to declare for or against. war “to the world” at mid- night. The peace leader consults the president in his private office. He is told the council has decided upon w: At midnight the world tunes in its television sets. ‘The peace president steps before the instrument and an- nounces that the president of the Federated States has decided to sub- mit to arbitration, The startled Fed- erated chief shoots at the television set and the peace leader turns and ombing. squadrons munition factories enough to set are grim you Recommended “Anna Christie” T Garbo has five 8. chance to hear her Here is your inst one “The Case of Sergeant Grisch: fa new series of w and) dignitied “The Girl Said No’ Another one of those William Haines things, with some good bawdy comedy to make'it passable. comedy made from of the Kitchen.” “Journey's End" The movie ever s “Migh Treason” ulating greatest ntry. war bwn in this co -Imaginative and story of the next war. Ker"—An obnox: ious the season. “The Man From Slankley's—John Barrymore in a comedy, which should be enough for you if you remember the days. ‘ot So Dumb"—A Duley,” with De and Marion Davies. spirited version id Ogden Stewart “Seven Days’ Leave” first. time. If you missed e it by all means fr way again OVIES 6 shoots the president. He again an nounces that the war has been called off. Despite public sympathy, tl peace president is tried and convicted for murder in the English courts. The thorough technical work in “High Treason” makes it easily the best movie an English producer has ever shown in this country. ‘Ther is no petty sex theme, War is the villain, peace is the he The saintly make-up and character of the ce leader is a dull piece of busi ness, but the theme overrides its pro tugonist. Considering the usual run of movies, “High Treason” is a su perior job and well worth your time But for no reason that they will di vulge, the state censors of New York and Pennsylvania have refused to li cense “Hiigh Treason,” and will not let it be shown in any form in their states ! Either they oppose either they resent the un-American idea that an Englishman could head a army or, more reasoi istically thems: peace le, they altru nd for no filthy profit te oppose competition to Hollywood. If you are a member of either of the: reat commonwealths, perhaps you can get your senator to find the reason for this autocratic con demnation. ves I am late getting around to Laurel and Hardy. I always suspect all clichés. I have never joined the Amos-'n'-Andy school and I did not belong to the now deceased Moran and-Mack League. However, without a doubt the two-reel comedies of Lau rel and Hardy are the funniest and the best directed short movi made today. The director, James Parrott, has developed a peculiar me- thodical, simple routine for his com edy team. The last one I saw. “Blotto,” had very few gags and not much of a story. But the gags were pulled so deliberately and with such finesse, I wonder that Mr. Parrott does not establish a new school of movie direction, being comicbooks.com