Judge — December 27, 1930 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

row the cautious encomiumys in and the hochs in the German, [expected to find and strange in the way of acting and direetion in “The Bluc Angel.” Ay a matter of fact it is a ving production, uneven and monotonous, with two excellent char acterizations and some tion to re to who saw the the British press something new careful di Furthermore, Emil J pictures made in this country, “The Blue Angel” is anything bat elty, Herr Ja is “The Blue Angel,” and any aw “The ommand,” “The of All Flesh” or “The Sins of the Fathers” will find Papa Jannings up to his old trick of disin with the aid of that elastic nd some excellent make-up, just as he disintegrated be- fore the cameras of Hollywood. It is 1 trick, but well used and of in- terest only to those who never have seen it. It may be that Jannings insisted on 1 sure-fire plot for those so funny Americans and it also is possible that partial to it themselves, but I see no reason why Joseph Sternberg thought it necessary to go to Germany to produce such an obvious story. ome it. ings 1 nov- rating, the German customers are He has two very great movies to his credit: “The Case of Lena Smith” and “Underworld.” As 1 have ob- served astutely in these columns be fore, Director Sternberg has a sure knowledge of his camera, he delights in legitimate movie effeets and he is not afraid te use the picture instead of the sound camera, but he has no story sense. “Street of Sin” and “The Case of Lena Smith” were episodic and far from le i) dramas. Ben Hecht, who has enough plot sense for two or three directors, wrote “Under world” and it is the best thing Stern berg ever has produced. “The Blue 4 is a character. . professor disee that his boys are panting after lesque queen. He meets the to anyone familiar with Mr. Jann JUDGE JUDGING TM \ By PARE LORENTZ From then on it is aomatter of three or four hours until he is a broken old man, friend- less, half crazy and trudging through in his old schoolroom, Miss Dietrich, al- the movie is over the snow to dic The be tered tory are a burlesque queen delightful improvement over the Hollywood tradition that bur: lesque queens must be shown in Z feld The are exceptionally two little se minor characters well and the igs sung by Miss Dietrich But, Lardner, what of it? For one hour we are expected to cast are pleasing and unpretentious, in the words of Mr. feel sorry for Mr. Jannings and there is no change of key or pace, no silver murky Wagner cloud Jannings passes ont, and entertaining to this cus- tomer, even fellow works ably and hard to make it so. Director Sternberg finally has im- pressed the boys and by his of dial “The Blue been hosann by a atimany of them: beeause he has let the picture without talking. However, if I remember correctly, even a silent movie sed to lining in’ the until Mr, that is not though the big dance has move was supy somewhere and. the tbsence of dialogue drama. “Variety It told the story of a homely trapeze rrtist whe was lured from his wife and child by a sexy girl, who even- tually betrayed him. Tt had be moving mere is no evidence of was a silent movie. action, Recommended “Holiday y Angels” flying. “Hell's Worth “Lightain’ "5 Will Koger ughter™—1 faint “Morocco"—A new actress who looks ke Garbo, if that means anything av IS and drama, With the exeep- tion of these three unimportant items, “The Blue Angel” is a good talki version of “Variety.” TT boys have decided that mu tures are not profitable." ns for such a verdict called “Viennese Nights" Lottery Bride.” Why any pays money for such tasteless hash is be- yond my comprehension and worry. good re. I' it were not so much troubl think I would enter suit vinst the producers of “Madonna of the Streets.” sister was convalescing from a severe case of typhoid fever and, during her illness, she read “The rlet Letter.” Inspired by idleness and her inflamed, cleven-year-old she wrote a little play modern scarlet woman, “Somehow that manuseript found its way to Hollywood, « as I reall, my sister's dialog better in most places than that of “Madonna of the Streets.” The producers very shrewdly east Evelyn Brent in the leading réle after diligent search, one presumes, for a worse actress. Robert Ames runs her a close second, and with their help “Madonna of the Streets’ to be far away the biggest bundle of trash sent out of Hollywood this month, “Geant ev Paces” play and it is a worse movie. It is a rewrite of “The M me X” plot ind it is remarkable only beeause Elsie Ferguson could find no better place for her charm and skill. “Dreeuer™ is another remark: piece of work. It is a re of “The 1 in Every Port,” ete. George Bancroft and William Boyd are the hairy-chested braggarts in this version and Jessie Royce Landis, who cannot sing or act, and who is far from pleasing to the eve, is the lady for whose charms they battle. Some years ago my littl brain, about a man not a ad was comicbooks.com