Judge — December 5, 1931 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

JUDGWG THM Saterpay ago an old Southern gentleman from the Bronx went into hysterics when a Mr. Mott, representing the University of Georgia, took a kick-off and ran the length of the field for a touchdown, “Lokat a blockink—lokat a blockink —thassa greatest’ blockink I ever seen!” the Southern boy in front of me cried. And, while I couldn't see any blocking because I was watching the man with the ball, and while I’m quite sure my fellow spectator wouldn't know a block from a clip, it is note- worthy that non-playing football fans have been taught by the sports writ- ers to think of something else besides the man carries the ball. The public is so well educated in the fun- damentals—even if they don't under- stand them—that Paramount has re- leased a picture in which (1) the old school docs not win the game, and (2 the hero does not score a touchdown in the last minute of p' “r | Yovcupown,” the new picture, was written by a who probably was reciting a ¢ tory because he knew foot Notre Dame and wrote a very good football before it the custom to dedicate everything from stadiums to nose guards to the mem- ory of Knute Rockne. In ‘Touch- down” a famous athlete is hired to coach L. and M. college. He buys talent and does everything humanly possible to beat Midwest, coached by his old coach. The young cod me who ha called a butche Later on, however, when the with Midwest comes along the coach does not play a star back be the ck has a slight concussion of the brain, He loses the game, but wins the heart of the backfield star’s sister for his hu- mane and sporting consideration. “TTovenows” is turned out well enough. Richard Arlen makes a novel became n into nd is ch sends a w big game ause JUDGE By PARE LORENTZ passable coach, Jack Oakie is fairly funny as a football buyer, and J. Far- rell MacDonald continues to talk, act and look uncannily like the late Knute Rockne, but the game appointing dis- Old library shots of big football games are spliced into the picture, making it hard on the eyes and the ination, It is difficult, I know, to both show a movie star and a real football game and get any believable action into it, but it done. It would have been done in the old, glorious Holly- wood, in the days when a director never stopped short of the Army and Navy when he want And, for the pany on the of producin, football picture, I have an idea that might birth to a really great football picture. Mayor Cermak of Chic is after Notre Dame and Northwestern to play off their tic at Soldiers’ Field ina post-season game, As it is for charity, I do not see why it wouldn't be possible for a movie all the costs of this game, providing Northwestern and Notre Dame let a take a camera on the field to get some real football shots. The game could be started along about ten in the morn- ing, thus giving the sche to sell matinée, morning tickets. Also it would rector a ch: scenes arc can be 1] atmospher benefit of any com- verge give company to share director Is a chance ind evening the di- Recommended “An American Tragedy"—Papa_Dreis- ers tome enlivened by Sylvia Sydney. “Bad done. Girt"—Simpte romance well “Monkey — S1siness”. funny, thank the Lord. Furious and “Street Scene” Sydacy Slow, but with Miss Claudet”—Helen Miss Hayes in of | Madelon Hayes in a mother epic. saves it OV [6 D P&S Ry (. re-takes. If the gate receipts to this game should fall pany could u up the deficit from the money the picture would) make. All surplus, of course, would be given to the unemployed. if, the movie cc Any surplus left after this could be changed into pen nies, heated over a slow fire and tossed out the windows of the Drake Hotel. Lacking this potential football masterpiece, “Touchdown” remains reasonable football piece, with sense and fair cnough excitement in it. tT seems Mr. Hoover is very, very mad at someone for telling news- paper men that Mrs, Hoover was test- ing her Mr. use voice for the Hoover's rage is inexplicable. bee Mrs. Hoover has every right to im- prove her movie appearances and is, furthermore, showing more sense than any Chief Executive we have had to date. I have often wondered why our great men should be photographed in cold surroundings, without benefit of movie direction, How much more im- pressive it would be if, instead of hid ing behind that high collar and a desk, we could see Mr. Hoover pre- sumably oblivious of the camera, out plowing before breakfast or yelling down for an extra cup of coffee. It would do more good than all the human-interest stories we have had ef Executive. Another election is comin nd the newsreel will be burdened with dark and bright horses. Mrs. Hoover is on the right track. One good newsreel will be worth more to a candidate than a bal- lot box full of votes. movies. pb Company” is another story starring Helen Miss Twelvetrees is far and the worst movie actress I have seen starred in a feature production since the talkies started. She has rural accent, she has bad diction, she has a poor carriage, and she scems utterly devoid of even a slight remem- brdnce of what acting might be. comicbooks.com