CINEMA
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1933.
SHOTS
Indictment Films
"MADISON SQ GARDEN" LACKS COLOUR
FOX FAITHFULLY FOLLOW CLIFT'S NOVEL
AN IDEAL SCENARIO FOR BEVERLEY HILLS
By "CELLULOID"
rather
CRITICS are still puzzling as CROWDED out by an assembly of to why Hollywood displays screen stars and sporting stars, such an avid desire to produce Zasu Pitts is afforded small scope, pictures which constitute an in- but she stamps her work with the dictment of America's national al of hall-mark. Lew Cody and institutions, code of morals, parts, namely rather unintelligent, William Boyd are given typical laws, social life, business life and.ahouting racketeers, and the many other characteristics more interesting is the personal which form part and parcel of appearance of such famous sports- the life of the United States, men us Jack Johnson, Tom Shar- They are divided in opinion as to Tom Kennedy, Mike Donlin, Tam- key, Stanslinus Zbyszko, Tod Sloan,. whether it is merely a gesture many Young, Spike Robinson, Billy on the part of Americans that Papke an da string of others. they are not afraid to show the True, their work world how they live and
is pretty well fall confined to stepping before the short of the accepted tenets and camera and being introduced, but ideals; whether it is a genuine to see them given one rather display of satire, or something thrill.
calling for a depper psycholo-
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&
to the
AND "SEQUENCES
Hollywood's Latest
Clashes of temperament have wrecked the romance of Jaust Gaynor, portrayer of romantic movie roles. She and her husband, Lydell Peck, film producer, have separated. The couple, shown above, have becen married three yeart.
Holding permit
•
the
ittle
Exploit
YOU CAN SEE THESE TO-DAY
99
"Man About Town" King's. "Madison Square Garden"
Queen's. "Men of Chance" Central. "American Madness" .Star. "Girl of the Rio" Majestic. "Suicide Flect" ..Oriental.
AND THESE ON SUNDAY
"Batchelor's Affairs" King's. "Men Must Fight" Queen's. "Sky Devil"
"'Svengali"
"The Viking'
Majestic.
.Star. World.
passing of one great chain of theatres. into a receivership, consolidations and transfors of other chains, and the dropping of many houses that have been losing money. Dividends have, been passed, to the dismay of
many small stockholders, and a general ques tion has arisen as to the payment of bonused to executives in addition to their admittedly large salarien; leav ing little or nothing for investors. WHATEVER the outcome of the investigation, it can do only a lasting good to the alm industry if as a result a reorganization is com pleted on a basia appropriate to con ditions to-day, eliminating practices that linger from the boom period of 1029. By sheer necessity the film producers and distributors have been squeezing out the water of uneconomic methods for the last year. Probably they will not again undertake pro- gramme of theatres acquirement, such as those that have recently collapsed. of their own weight, but the proposed investigation should result in a noun- dor code of procedure throughout the whole industry, a code that will come closer than ever before to protecting the Interests of the public.
Or
...
gical research. What fact does THE Fox Filen Company aro remain, however, is that Beverly back in connexion with their pro- deserving of at least pat on the Hills is, and has been, busily pro- duction of Man About Town. They ducing pictures which exploit in have adhered faithfully a manner no other medium of essential details of Deninson Clift's publicity could, the deficiencies novel, and thankfully, have omitted of America's vast systems. the more sensuous lyrica and situn. tions. The bonic, In fact, has been ΑΝ
AND in some measure Madison reduced to a normal picture, boust Square Garden, which started ing of no outstanding features, yet a run at the Queen's Theatre yes. Withal entertainment of the aver- terday, comen within this type of "ge type to be expected from such THREE new films come to the gination rightly to run
IT is only fair to record that in his Alm. It starts as an indictment of first rate scenario; this is proved mise good entertainment. Especi- of satisfaction.
a theme. Clift's novel provided a Colony on Sunday, and all pro- wild, and the general result is one the producere not to be too complacent annual roport Mr. Hays warned American sportsmanship and finishes with a glowing vindication by the fact that little or no sitera- ally so is the King's offering.
about this reduction in unfit films. of the sporting integrity of the tiona
"Public opinion is in a highly critical were made in the story. Butchelor's Afairs, featuring the THE Four Brothers, screen and was related. "It is looking great Madison Square Garden. In Beyond that the picture offers lit- suave Adolphe Menjou, and sup- stage comedians have received on finance, on industry
with appraising eyes on governments, other words it is a combat between
ported by a real good cast the baser elements which occasional-
Herbert
of Incorporation. "The coarseness
It resenta Mundin,
Marx Brothers, Inc."
vulgarity ly invade sports and the real white IT all boils down to a question of
on the favourite cockney
authorised screen." impersonator, to issue 100 shares of its 1,000 men of the game.
acting. Warner Baxtor is as Minna Gombell, who is not so well share
known
capitalisation, usual polished and well, able
in Hongkong and Joan having no par value. Recently the to Marah. N some respects the picture falla handle the rather simple part given ticated comedy, with all the situ- the Paramount studio in Hollywood the film producers to provide it. The stock MILLIONS desiring decent enter- IN
This is a brilliant sophis brothers severed connexions with operate with every sincere effort of tainment will welcome and CO. short. At least it failed to him. Karen Morley come up to quits what I expected. but the best work comes from Con- laughed at and wisecracked about. and announced that they would be one offerings will bring back a vast is adequate, tions treated on their merits, as the outcome of salary differences latter may find that clean and whole- Practically no effort is made
to way Tearle. Lawrence Grant, capture the tense exciting atmos. Alan Mowbray and Leni Syengel, all Batchelor's Affaire la going to give come independent producera, absentee publle that all the schemes phere which pervades the wonderful fit admirably into the picture, the Colony a good chuckie. sporting arena, and if anything, the Upon seeing the acknowledgement closing fight, by which clean sports titles, among which figures the prophetic filras with is vindicated and the crooks de- name of James Howe Wong, one vision thrown forward to ten years House of Representatives, calling for Tthe Queen's is another of those SWEEPING are the provisions of a resolution approved by the Cont one's mittee on Rules of the United States might pardonably look forward to hence. The piece de resistance is an an investigation of the some unusual photography. If one aerial bombardment of New York, industry. Authority is provided for motion picture wise direction is efficient without of the picture, is strong drama, which is to be enabled does, one is disappointed. Like fen fust Fight, which is the title the appointment by the Speaker of presenting anything new or strain cleverly conceived and brilliantly in the United States in pursuance of the House of a committee of seven ing the intellect.
to sit anywhere photographed. headed by Diana Wynward of tion, distribution and leasing of films, A powerful cast is its inquiry into methods of produc ONCE again the turf has been Calvacade achievement, support into matters affecting the fasuance of
roped in to provide the back. ed by Lewis Stone. Philip Holmes securities, into bankruptcy ground for the film which holds and Ruth Selwyn.
and re- ceivership conditions and away at the Central Theatre to-day
intercom- and to-morrow. Men of Chaner, JNIVERSAL have gone
pany agreements of all sorts, and to the into "the dissipation of assets through As is customary with the mingling sea for the atmosphere and the payment of unmerited salarica
executives and ployers.
ADOLPHE MENJOU, starring in "Batchelor's Affairs", the forth. coming King's Theatre attraction.
fented, ia rather more of a burle sque than anything clac. A couple of flashes of a bicycle race and an ice hockey match give a better impression, but the glamour of Madison Square Garden has to play second fiddle to Hollywood's in- satiable hunger for studio-con- coived drama and action.
$0.
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THERE is some splendid acting, and there is also acting not splendid. William Collier. senior, acems to have taken a new leash of cinema life and stages a "come-back" in a most successful manner. There is something gonuine about Collier as the pro- vincial boxing manager who dreams about managing Madison
Square Garden and realises it. Even In naob scene with Thomas Meighan, in which normally two schoolboys would be ashamed to participate, la given a realism by Collier. Tho same cannot be said for the re- malader of the enst: Thomas Molghan, still as shy and wistful is ever, docs not seem really tangible, but he holds a certain amount of attraction. Warron Hymer plays a part-his usual dumb parb-but I have yet to be convinced that he is suited to the type. Jack Onkio, who for some unknown reason, does not oven appear in the programmo, is bola- teroua, but contributes little real acting,
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of men, sport and women, there are action of Destination Unknown, a and other forms of compensation" to reels of fast netion, dark deeds, Central Theatre attraction on Sun- amorous sequences and a happy day. It provides good entertain.
of free prizes and lower price ad-
JACK OAKIE, malo lead in
ending. But the picture is well ment of its type, with a long cast may be taken as an effort to dis- THE introduction of this resolution produced and photography, particu. of prominent screen favourites, in- larly of the racing, la very worthy. 'cluding Pat O'Brien, Ralph Bel. cover to what degree the public la "Madison Square Garden", showing Mary Astor, Richardo Cortez and Inmy, Alan Hale, Betty Compson, the film industry has recently been concerned in the reorganization that John Halliday take leading parts Tom Brown and others.
at the Queen's and, handle them with distinction. situations and a remarkable clim- banking interests taking active part offices. And when all parents shall
Tense undergoing
This has resulted. In missions may fall to lure to the box Much worse films than this have ax add colour to a picture in wdich in the management of some studios be as vigilant about the quality of been seen in Hongkong.
the director has allowed his ima- in an effort to protect heavy loans, the the movies as they are about the
NEW COMBINATION~The British Dominion Films have brought togaihir Harbert Marshall and Jeanette MacDonald to play in an. Elstree production., Picture shows the two screen stars with Mr. H. Wilcox, the producer toasting success to the new venture. Jeanette, who is a tastetaller, drank the toast In tar.
morning's milk, the knell of the un clean picture will be sounded.
WHAT a jolt the world would get if
its dairy industry should admit that rather more than 13 per cent of Its product was unfit for consumption! Front pages of newspapers would fairly shrick the news, and gloom and forebodings would descend upon millions of breakfast tables. When it comes to the pabulum served up to the daily patrons of America'a cinema productions, however, public concern seems legs acute. In fact, tho admission of Bir. Will I. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Pro- ducers and Distributors of America, that during 1932 soven national organizations rejected "only sixty- three of 470 pictures as unsuitable for family, adult or child entertain- ment, is heralded as showing a "big. iniprovement in tone of movies!!
HE inferenco
in conßning its presentation of immoral or mertrielous Mims to one out of ap proximately each eight pictures a vast Industry views Its record and finds it passing good. It may be noted that of the 418 Alms accepted, soma wora listed as suitable "for adults," which may cover multitude of franknesses hardly to be recommended for child OF familly entertainment.
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that's
brighter alde of the pleture, however, is not by any means to be ignored. There is some evidence that the pro- ducers are releasing fower objection able pictures and more of the kind that interests that growing class which wants its entertainment both, Intelligent and decent. That there is still much room for progress should not prevent admission that much pro gress has already been made.
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