Judge — February 14, 1931 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

Snes oo ere saw four mo perfectly willing to admit that any critic who deliberately limits himself to the surveillance of any one manifestation of the creative impulse is liable to bias—to say nothing of liver, kidney, and auricular trouble— but I have attempted at the end of my labor this weck to identify any exist- ing group of people who logic: could have enjoyed the pictures which I saw, and I admit defeat argument. “Resurrection” is the title of a novel written decades ago when Continental Judge Lindseys were wor- ried about the legal and economic status of women. Tolstoy happened to employ no little skill as a novelist to dramatize the misfortune of a ser- vant girl in the Romanoff era. This tale has been adapted at least twice for the benefit of the movie public. It represented, several years ago, a per- fect movie plot, as far as any novel ever has furnished an outline for a picture. A girl is betrayed by a man —he serves on a jury some years later that judges her. He goes to her with his love—she rejects him, and each thereby achieves salvation; a typical cock-eyed Russian idea of fun. I" happens that just such a dramatic situation was popular in our folk- lore long before Edison started fool- ing around with celluloid, and it is not fair to condemn a good novelist simply because he outlined a plot that hap- pened to suit peculiarly the mawkish ideas of movie audiences. As Robert Sherwood remarked, any American movie might be titled “Her Sacrifice, and “Resurrection” is only one of the many plots that can be shooed down that dramatic alley. There is no rea- son why the producers should insist on re-filming this novel, except that Russia has taken a place with Negro art, backgammon, bootlegging, and gambling on the Stock Exchange as national divertissements. Hollywood has been sorrier for the Romanoffs than any other section of the world, and I see no reason why “Resurrec- tion” should not be re-filmed every JUDGE deeply the disgrace of the Russian stocracy than our movie baron: Certainly no country has bought more phoney Russian jewelry, lace, mem- ois, and diplomacy than ours. What I don't understand is why the bo should have used John Boles, a tyy cal horsey and self-satisfied musical comedy tenor, and Lupe Velez, h erto promoted as the Latin high- strung Bow, for the principals of this fine old Russian drama. “Tautixa Caravans” is, figurative- ly speaking, another re-take of an old picture. Of course the boys are too honest actually to pull an old movie out of the files and foist it off on the publie as a new show. Never- theless, I cannot see why they spent thousands of dollars making a picture that has in every way been done better in the old days. “The Covered agon” was a good movie. Rather n bring out sequels, why not re- issue it every year about this time? And if that does not suffice, then there are “The Santa Fé Trail,” “The Bor- der Legion,” “The Big Trail” and five hundred other Westerns, all of which could be lumped under the general title “The Indians Are Coming.” It is amazing, when you consider the number of mechanical changes that have taken place, that the movie West- ern has not changed one war-whoop Recommended “The Blue Anget”—A sombre German show, with Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich. Long and foreordained, but worth a look. “The Criminal Code"—Fair melodrama, with some excellent acting. “The Uevil to Pay”—Ronald Colman as a successful prodigal son. “Feet First"—A Negro comic is fun- nier than Lloyd. Amusing at : “Morocco"”—The 1931 vampire, Miss Dietrich, in another Foreign nm romance that happens to be well di- rected in parts “See America Thirst"—A gorgeous satirical idea carelessly produced “Sous Les Toits de Paris”—Extremely charming in every way. ‘ “Zwel Herzen Im % Takt"—Charming German operetta, in the native tongue. OV ICY Tee SRL since the days when the cowbo; to come riding down off the and rescue the innocent school-marm from the claim jumper. “Redskin” is the only Western I can think of that had any more to it than any school child might conceive at recess. Sierras “Tue Gaxo Buster” is a careless and slipshod production of what should have been a funny movie. Jack Oakie a brash and entertaining comedian, and Edward Sutherland has in the past demonstrated a good feeling for comedy, but for some rea- son these two boys seem unable to get a scenario writer to help them out. For the third time the story almost ruins what comic possibilities Mr. Oakie has. It may be that he has enough of a following so that he doesn’t need any lines or direction, but “The Gang Buster” is neither satirical, melodramatic, nor funny. It tried to be all three. Coxtseixe my policy of offering gratuitous hints to the industry, | advise Committeeman Hays and Sec- retary Akerson that to date Mr. Hoo- ver’s appearances in the movies have been very unsatisfacto) The late Mr. Harding no particular con abilities and he did not have the talk- ing machinery whereby to utilize his very pleasing manner of speaking, but he did project a genial, hail-fellow- well-met spirit that got over to audi- ences. Mr. Coolidge, of course, re- mains the best Administration mo star, and before he left office he w next to Joe Frisco and the Marx Brothers, just about our best come- dian. Mr. Hoover is neither genial nor funny. He never looks at the camera when he poses; he looks more than a little displeased with everything in general, and his diction is atrocious. Unless they give him a fishing pole or a cowboy suit, it would be wiser to keep The Chief off the screen. It’s not the time to be scowl- ing at people. Of course, the Chief might let the famous Wickersham Com- mittee furnish comic relief for him. comicbooks.com sat