1932-10-21 — Page 17

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1932.

OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS

CINEMA "SHOTS" AND “SEQUENCES”

GORDON HARKER SCORES AGAIN IN

POWERFUL BRITISH DRAMA

"THE FRIGHTENED LADY" DEVELOPS INTO A FINE

PICTURE AFTER POOR OPENING

TALLULAH BANKHEAD AND FRED MARCH AT KING'S

(By "CELLULOID")

acro-

"THE FRIGHTENED LADY"-Splendid drama features the British production now showing at the Queen's Theatre, and Gardon Harker gives one of hla best performances. This picture

is taken from one of the scenes.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE

CINEMA?

an assurance of good acting, since in this picture, and the sole rea- AFTER a most appalling|| both have long since won their son la because there is no acting!

opening scene-a scene

spurs in the talkies. Actually, they It is a brilliant example of how in S0 crude in acting and dominate the film, the remainder of effectun) can be the camera

weak. capturing colour and realism and direction as to leave one the cast being somewhat half minded as to whether My Sin" is not a new pleture, nor, transferring it without loss to the for that maiter, is the theme in screen. In your society drama, the rest will be worth while, any way original, telling of the re- your gangster mélo-drama and The Frightened Lady, the generation of a woman who had your romance-drama with

fullen very low in the social scale, nautien or something equally as British picture at the There is, in fact, a dual regenera- noisy and expensive as

U back- Queen's Theatre mergestion, since the woman fa induced to ground, everything depends on

with laughter at their own wit? It is doubtful, however, if the and "try again” by a man who had him- dialogue, ita form and its presen into strong drama

Belf become a "down-and-out." Intion. In Congerilla, the jungle Durante indulges in loud Ameri-term demand is strictly apposite works up to remarkable Frederic March is particularly good animals in their natural surround-

can humour. which is only accept-in this connexion. The general singularly submissive cliinax. I left the theatre all through, while Tallulah Bank-ings, caught by the camera close-able when it has the distinction of public is

sure of herself. Jup, provide drama and reality. being witly.

where its cinema entertainment is concerned, and though in the last quite convinced that it is hend is alwayn

There are not many highly drama- There is nothing fuked, forced or one of the best British tic moments, and the story runs phony. The scenes taken in the

analysis it pays, the piper, it has not hitherto been accustomed to screen dramas Hongkong along somewhat slowly. Neverthe pigmy village are remarkable, par-

less, the film is very well worth see-ticularly the shots of the two little TVE no use for the cinema," a call the tune. Passively acquies- ing, and is admirably produced by men endeavouring to manter the friend remarked the other cent, it has allowed the Hollywood George Abbott.

Intricacies of cigar lighting. The day. "The stuff served up la magnates to give it, not neces picture has Trader Horn well neither good art nor good enter sarily what it wants, but what the

magnutes benten in that no attempt is made

The condemnation is, Hollywood ARSENE LUPIN,

to introduce extraneous and un-

of course, too sweeping, but it is wants. Arsene Lupin at the necessary elements such as love impossible to deny that the cinema, of the him, it serves to introduce WITH

and melo-in spile of its amazing technical Gordon Harker and Norman Queen's Theatre next week, we scenes and romantic McKinnel as Scotland Yard ser are on somewhat more serious dramatic rescues of white maidens advances, has so far quite de- If only the cinema-goer would

off his lethargy, geant and chief inspector respec- critical ground, because this most by black men, and vice-versa. It finitely not fulfilled its promise as shake tively and from their entry the sprightly of detective dramas has is the finest pictorial nature study picture takes up a new tempa and been used to provide Mr. Lionel the American producers have yet continues a smooth way through Barrymore and Mr. John Barry-given us.

As a purveyor more and with that seem first rate draina,

dual roles. No of light comedy, Gordon Harker is like duel than beginning to stand on his own in doubt they give two superlative British screendom, and the ap-performances-if you like, super- pearance of his name on the pro.lative performances without any gramme is sufficient to awaken particular point. one's interest and to assure one

has seen,

•

HARKER'S CHARACTERISATION. Tis the second sequence which changes the whole possibilitica

•

more

KEATON'S MISTAKE.

AST week I wrote that whilst Buster Kenton keeps his Tips closed he is one of the funniest The gay adventures of the thief pantomimists in the world. who defied the police of Paris are second visit to see The Passionate

Free advanced, or distorted sense

A

con-

of

the

tainment.

DOCILE PUBLIC.

think

Across

1 A besetting weakness of politi

clana on the other side. 8. Illenzi. ◊ Tan.

II A school still of note and tone. 12 Ancient fly-trap. 18 Depend upon it. 10 When things are this we have 17 The solgan "Eat more fruit"

them 4 as a preliminary,

began with this.

18 Our Vicar's "one word moro"

often leads to these.

21 Taking nothing from him ren- dors this soldier' more formid- ablo.

it

23 Built.

and

a cultural force. The function of demand good cinema, he would entertainment is, obviously, to get. Alternatively, if only there entertain, and any conscious and were sufficient directors, British deliberate attempt to graft "up-for preference, imbued with lift" on to the cinema would faith and courage enough to surely meet with the fate it would cater for a higher level of tasto deserve. But there is no reason and Intelligence than the publle is. in the world why a film, in order generally credited with, then the to amuse, should be an insult to same results would be achieved. the intelligence or an offence to One feels that such faith would good taste, as some admittedly are.not be misplaced, nor such courage or at best compounded of anc-go unrewarded. In different charine sentiment and unlikely sphere, the B.B.C. has shown what situation, as are no very many

and

of entertainment from at least one

oo well known to need recital in Plumber, left me even more quarter. In The Frightened Lady,

*his place. In any case, to give vinced about this. Keaton has he is the cockney who has raised way the plot of such a picture is not the right "comedian voice." himself from an ordinary London to do filmgoers a disservice. fle puts over a wise-crack like n streets heat to a responsible posi

Llong Barrymore, in my opi-bank manager refusing an over others. Too seldom does the film can be done in the way of educat of first-cinas ди Appreciation tion in Scotland Yard. But apart nion, gives us a

watered-down draft, and one has to enjoy a very story of to-day ring true to life, ing public taste, and of cultivating and arouse genuine emotion by the music amongst listeners whose ex- from his qualities as 11 detector version of his work' in A of crime and criminals, Soul, and I am really tired of see-humour to see anything funny in portrayal of authentic men

women reacting to circumstances perience had previously extended holds the "blue riband of the whites of John Barrymore that! If Keaton would follow

not utterly devoid of probability, no further than jazz and drawing-

room ballads. the darting world", and proudly svou used to exuress what I be- Chaplin's footsteps and remember

Ju 属 recent interview, Reno displnya his medals 011 hiseve is intended for satire.

that whilst speech is silver, ailence This criticism naturally does not apply to films whose purpose is watch chain in true Silvertown In spite of such faults, there is is golden, he would turn out pic frankly to create laughter. One Clair, the eminent young French have with

reported to producer, is style. He spends most of his time great deal in this picture to at-tures worthy to rank

would as soon dream of obiecting characterised the French public in this picture mimicing membersract the intelligent Almgoer.world's grealest screen com-

to a fairy tale or a Wodehouse

in the of an aristocratie family with an Anart from ita "edges" and median. Keaton understands and

as "probably the worst world." Like many another pro- Oxford accent, and being well suptches," it is in, every material can interpret pantomime and slap novel as of taking exception to a plied with witty lines gives one ofdet, a highly polished work. stick and through it can translate Ralph Lynn-Tom Walls farce on

ehle Tully Marahall and John emotions and monds.

the ground that it is utterly reducer, Rene Clair complains of Any exeur- his best performances to date.

being bound by the trammels of mote from reality! Mitigan are two notable suportinion into the realms of dialogue

public taste, and it appears that OTHER PLAYERS.

hie latest picture, "A Nous In lavers, and Karen Morley shows leaves nothing else but disillusion-

Edin- Liberte." recently seen in Iment. Honestly I can't see any- real progress. HERE is only one weakness in

Miss Marley is an interesting thing in Jimmy Durante. A real mostly from Hollywood-whose burgh, has been a failure in Paris the cast-Belle Chrystall, who

its upuickly sentimentality and thread-lowing to She has beauty and wise-cracker does not laugh

demanding moro has a squeaky voice and overacts.character. When she was an t-roariously at his own Jokes. Can bare situations not the most skilful thought than the average Parisian On the other hand Cathleen Nesbitt,raduate at California Univer-you conceive Woosley, Wheeler acting nor the greatest measure of fan is prepared to devote to his the other famale member of the site, she ioined the Los Angeles and the Marx brothers shaking technical perfection could rescue films. cust gives a brilliant protrayal of Repertory Company is "Fata Mor- Lady Lebanon, who turns to dab-gana."

newcomer.

bling with crime in order to achieve; Chp angelied Mr. Clarence her fanatical desires to maintain | Brown, the director of many of the unbroken the majestic line of them starring Greta Garbo, and Lebanons, whose proud history outed for la-between-theatre work. dates back a thousand years. Eveny, Brown asked her to read Missi more entertaining in Emlyn Wil Garko's part in Juan'vation, for liams as the Lord Lebanon, who is which he was then seeking a lead-

at only completely dominated by ing man. his mother, but provides the thril- ling denouement to the story.

CLEVER TWIST.

N unusually clever twist has been given the plot by ita

author, the

Miss Morley rend Miss Garbo's part so expertly and her volco re-

orded so perfectly that Mr.;

Brown wave her a part in Inspira-į

Since then she has appeared

in Baybreak and Never the Twain

late Edgar Wallace. Shall Meet. Now, I think, she has

He makes very little serious effort arrived as one of the most attrac-

to hide the identity of the murtive

and most talented of the

derer, but when he finally reveals younger actresses in talking pic-

him it is as a wonderful study of tures.

a disarranged mind. It is splendid

drama, so brilliantly conceived as

to makes its presentation simple for players and director alike.

SAVED BY ACTING.

REAL DRAMA AT LAST.

N interesting commentary

on Hollywood's superficial!

drama, comedy and realiam OUR picture shows the young

obtainable from Congorilla, the African jungle film which has had

THE fact that Tallulah Bank-showings in Hongkong this week. head and Frederic March are Rarely have I seen drama present- coupled in "My Sin," wilch oneneded in auch vivid form, or emotional at the King's Theatre yesterday, is studies ao excellently portrayed as

Danish film actress, Gwili‘An- dro, who has become a sensation in Hallewood and who has had a successful debut in her Grat film, The opinion is that she surely will be a dangerous rival to

Greta Garbo.

SICKLY SENTIMENTALITY.

HIGHER POSSIBILITIES.

on

from futility and fatuity. Those goud-bad (or bad-good) girls woe, after a series of doubtful adven-)

back,

The cinema has developed un- tures, are finally received tearful and contrite, into the arms evenly. Immensely powerful

the only man who ever really the technical side, it still remains mattered, those sweet but penni-only potential as a commentary on less emigrants who smile and sob life, or an interpretation of it- by turns through several thousand certain notable films excepted. Ito !fect of vicissitude, before being depths are yet unplumbed. As an rescued from permanent heart-art. it has still to take-and is break, just in the nick of time, by eminently capable of taking-ita their handsome young millionaire, stand on an equal footing with the fade out in a fond embrace against very best "theatre," though quite the sunset background-how much distinct from it.

Lhese Will these higher possibilities longer have we to

*

Buffer

WHO IS TO BLAME?

and such as these without a mur-of the cinema be fully realised and exploited? The answer depends mur of protest?

In part on the attitude of the busi- nesa combines who own the big picture-houses, and on whether or The public blames the producer, not the best producers are going and the producer puts the onus to have the courage of their con- on the public, and it in hard to victions as to what constitutes say where the fault chiefly lies.

But in the last good cinema. But as Alm-making is primarily resort the public-that in you and commercial proposition-the-must supply the answer. When second in financial importance of once the cinema-goer has decided American Industries--one can only to relinquish his present passive presume that it is governed by the role, the cinema he gets will be usuai economic laws of supply and no better and no worse than the demand.

'cinema ho deserves,

A

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS

All Set!!

24 Preliminary to drying.

25 High spot for great warmth. 28 Author.

20 The animals' tailor counts tho

elephant as this.

30 "O, raisin pentle" did you say?

(anag.).

Down

2 Thla la karmful.

3 The burden is on 'you. 4 See 16.

G Organisations.

G.For ages these have been found

in a fierce onsot.

7 The Dutch variety, is the least

admirable,

8 The Fen Torch (anag).

The Well- Deserved

Fate

of the caroless

assistant who

allowed the stora

to run out of

Pinkettes

10 Thing I angle (anag), 14 Hue of those who lack 7. 15 Score of two or more.

10 Trail on the ground-where a

truil should be.

20 A transposition of the first letter of this town tells how the river movEN.

21 Plunder, and how a darkle would

describe it.

22 How good ships treat the storm. 20 New ones from the Ironmonger,

old ones from the nurse.

27 Let it stay as it is.

Yesterday's Solution. GRAPPLE CLAMBER LEGLANG ON THE

A DOUBLEENTRY L DIETSTUDSERE P@MIM ARMIONE LEA YEOVILE AZ NAPLES EWLENNON UK: OM-F BISCAYA SHREWU ASTRICHTE TO PA BRTANIN SWEEF SUNGO 68] P§- RH CONFETTI DA BTFT EMSUBSTANTIAL R

SEVENTY DYNAST

SON. CHEMIST & DRUGGIST.

TAXATIVE

PINKETTES PERFECTION

PINKETTES

PERFEC PION.

A GENIAL THIEF-AN IMPLACABLE DETECTIVE

JOHN

LIONEL

BARRYMORE

in "ARSENE LUPIN"

LIPTON'S

CHOICEST PURE CEYLON TEA From all Compradore Stores

LIPTON

HAMST

KING CEORCEV

• Conist Park Crise la

Agents:-W. R. LOXLEY & CO.

By Blosser

SEND YOUR X'MAS PARCELS Before the big Rush.

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Will help you to select a lovely present

of

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Prices are ranging from 50 cts, upwards, WE PACK, SHIP OR POST YOUR PURCHASES,

THIS IS A RED HOT

IDEA THAT I HAVE, THIS TIME.I HAVE TO HAVE A PARTNER,

SO I'LL LET OSSIE

IN ON IT!

WELL,OSCAR, I'M GOING IN THE PUPPY PEODLIN BUSINESS, AND ALL I NEED IS

| A LOT OF PUPPIES..

WHY TALK- TO MEZ I HANENT ANY Puppies

I KNOW...BUT IVE A DOLLAR AND A HALF AN WITH THAT SE CAN MORE THAN DOUBLE

OUR MONEY...WE'LL BUY PUPS FOR, SAY A QUARTER. APIECE, AN' TURZH RIGHT AROUND AN PEDDLE THEM FOR FIFTY... FOLKS COULDHT

TURN THAT

DOWN!

WHERE DO YOU GET THAT 'WE' STUFF? WHAT HAVE I GOT TO DO WITH IT?

·AN' WHERE CAN YOU

BUY PUPPY DOGS FOR A QUARTER?

I'LL TELL YOU How? You ANALK DOWN THE STREET AHEAD OF ME, ANE MIHIN YOU SEE SOMEBODY WHO HAD A PUPPY OUT FOR A WALK, YOu do up AN' BEGIN TO TELL THEM WHAT A BUM DOG

"THEY HAVE ----

-HON IT'S MARKING IS ALL WRONÉ AN' IT ISNT THE RIGHT COLOR FOR THAT KIND OF A DOG... YOU RAZZ THE PUP UNTIL THEY

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IDEA

3

VIBEL-VIS CANT ANY

MORE THAN

"TRY!!!

Blasson