142 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Volume 17, No. 6

FILM ESTIMATES Recognizing that one man's meat may be another's poison, the National Committee on Current Theatrical Films gives three ratings; A, for discriminating adults; Y, for youth; and C, for children. These estimates are printed by special arrangement with The Educational Screen, Chicago. Boulder Dam (Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis) (Warner) Simple, vigorous and generally im- pressive story with mighty background of Boul- General Entertainment der Dam. Painfully unpleasant hero gradually transformed by potent influence of great engineer- ing achievement and love of a girl. S-26-36 (A) Rather good (Y) (C) Good One Rainy Afternoon (Lederer, Lupino, Rol- China Clipper (Pat O'Brien, Beverly Roberts) and Young) (UA) Light farce-comedy of en- (1st Nat.) Notably well-acted human-interest gaging young actor who mistakenly kisses the thriller. War-ace flyer, married, obsessed over wrong girl in darkened movie and becomes great aviation's future, kills love and peace of mind stage idol in consequence. Spots are merely silly, until his Clipper's first trans-Pacific flight solves but it is mostly amusing as a complete whimsy. all. History theatricalized into good entertain- 5-19-36 ment. 8-25-36 (A) (Y) Fairly good (C) Little interest (A Y) Fine of kind (C) Exciting but good Plow that Broke the Plains (by Resettle- Ex-Mrs. Bradford (Wm. Powell, Jean Arthur) ment Administration, Washington) One of finest (RKO) Delightfully amusing detective-raurder- educationals ever made. Full, dynamic presenta- mystery with deft comedy dominant over thrills. tion of big, vitally important subjects—dust-storm Ex-wife, an engaging mystery addict, merrily tragedy of the West. Notable handling of back- helps and hinders her amateur-detective medical ground music, narrative voice, and tensely dram- ex-husband to final solution and happy remarriage. atic. 6-23-36 5-5-36 (A) Notable (Y) Excellent (C) Beyond them San Francisco (Clark Gable, J. MacDonald) (A) Very good (Y) Excellent (C) Prob. good (MGM) Strong, vivid, well-acted film notable Fury (Spencer Tracy, Sylvia Sidney) (MGM) for glorious singing. Fair restraint in scenes_ of Tense, grim film fails as strong indictment of Barbary Coast. Romantic conflict fairly convinc- lynching by weakness of cause for mob violence. ing; grim earthquake scenes as climax in which Innocent, tortured hero, miraculously escapes gambler-hero learns that power and money are death at frenzied mob's hands; embittered, plans not all. 6-30-36 vengeance on all participants, but relents and for- (A) Fine of kind (Y) Prob. good gives in time. 6-16-36 (C) Not for them (A) Strong (Y) Too strong (C) No The Princess Comes Across (Lombard, Mac- Girls' Dormitory (Simone Simon, Herbert Murray (Para) Multiple murder mystery on Marshall) (Fox). Finely done, interesting little Atlantic liner, involving pseudo-princess, breezy study of school-girl life and susceptibility, of band-leader, five famous detectives, _ with wise- faculty understanding and intolerance, of love- crack comedy largely dominant. Deliberate false blindness in intellectual adults—and unfortunately trails. Merrily played and fairly convincing, an unlikely and disappointing ending. Simon 5-26-36 wonderful. 8-11-36 (A) Excellent (Y) (C) Doubtful value and effect (A) Good of kind (Y) Amusing (C) Hardly Three Women (USSR production, ample Eng- My American Wife (Francis Lederer, Ann lish titles) (Amkino) Exceptional Russian film Sothern) (Para.) Light, amusing comedy. Hero of strong human appeal, notably acted, free from engaging as penniless Austrian count, truly in usual propaganda. Three girls rise from slum love with wealthy American bride. Many laughs squalor and benightedness to war heroism. Merits as he balks parents' efforts to make him mere outweigh slow tempo and overdone close-ups, show-piece. He wants to be a real,, working 5-5-36 American. Saloon episodes harmless. 8-25-36 (A) Amusing (Y) Amusing (C) Doubtful int. (A) Notable (Y) (C) Little interest My Man Godfrey (Wm. Powell, Carole Lom- To Mary—with Love (Baxter, Loy, Ian Hun- bard) (Univ.) Hilarious satire, gayly absurd, ter) (Fox) Well acted, human and appealing with Powell in deft role of Harvard man who story of real married love, seriously threatened becomes butler to slightly mad, spoiled-with- by husband's weakness under misfortune, saved wealth family, teaches them some values before by wife's devotion, and finally adjusted by loyal leaving. Lombard's romance-struck heroine friend (notably played by Hunter). Regrettable somewhat overdone. but minor flaws. x? (A) Amusing (Y) Amusing (C) Doubtful int. (A) Very good (Y) Very mature (C) No Mystic Mountain (French-Swiss production, Unguarded Hour (Franchot Tone, L. Young, English titles) Artistically done, finely photo- R, Young) (MGM) Excellent handling by dis- graphed picture of humble life in Alpine hinter- tinguished cast of involved, not always ^logical lands, central theme a gripping, tragic romance. English murder mystery. Roland Young's per- Strong picture, but slow tempo, weird camera formance notable. Dialog fresh and swift-mov- angles and much symbolism prevent genwa' P0P; ing, interest and suspense well maintained, de- ularity 8-25-jo nouement very surprising. —N xr (A) Notable (Y) Little interest (C) No (A) Excellent (Y) Good (C) No interest September, 1936] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 143

FILM ESTIMATES There is a high proportion of favorable estimates on these two pages because they reprint only the thirty best out of the hundred and fifty-odd estimates circulated by The Educational Screen since the last issue of this magazine. trayal of the great Louis' court, its ceremony, politics, intrigues and amours, with historical ac- Litekature and History curacy in sets, costumes and episodes, finely acted, with sound and background music excellent. Right tempo, much charm. 8-11-36 Gentle Julia (Jane Withers, Tom Browp) (A) Interesting (Y) (C) Little interest (Fox) The Tarkington story of small-town life Rhodes, the Diamond Master (Walter Huston and romance engagingly done, with Jane Withers, and foreign cast) (G-B) Masterpiece from Eng- in excessively precocious ten-year-old role, in the land, one of finest historical pictures ever made. limelight throughout. Her impossibly mature but Acting, direction, backgrounds superb. Will make amusing machinations save the situation most Rhodes the Empire Builder live for millions. agreeably. 7-7-36 History as it should be screened. A great film. (A) Good of kind (Y) Good (C) Good 4-28-36 Gorgeous Hussy, The (Joan Crawford, L. (A) Excellent (Y) Excellent (C) Mature but good Barrymore) (MGM) Some fine characteriza- Road to Glory (Baxter, March, L. Barrymore) tions,but more fiction than history in story of (Fox) Impressive, forceful indictment of futil- Andrew Jackson's rise to Presidency. Obscure ity of war, notably acted. Grim, realistic battle motivation weakens dramatic values. Thoroughly scenes and effective dramatic episodes. Central respectable heroine loyal to Jackson to point of figures are two contrasting French officers in love sacrifice, Photog. & settings excellent. 9-8-36 with same girl but romance minor to moving (A) Fineof kind (Y) Good (C) Doubtful int. drama of the regiment. 8-18-36 Green Pastures, The (Rex Ingram) (War- (A) Fine of kind (Y) Strong (C) No ner) Impressive screening of famous play vis- Romeo and Juliet (Brilliant cast) (MGM) ualizing Heaven and activities of "De Lawd" as Splendid screening of Shakespeare, with beauty, imagined by simple negro folk. Sincere, dignified fidelity and power, the dialog exclusively his. Sets acting, beautiful settings, lovely singing, simple and costumes nearly flawless. Acting of finest, humor and genuine underlying spiritual values. except Barrymore. Norma Shearer wonderful. 7-21-36 Further cutting desirable, but masterpiece now. (A) Notable (Y) Verygd. (C) Prob. beyond them Merits great success. 9-1-36 I Married a Doctor (Pat O'Brien) (1st Natl) (A) Excellent (Y) Excellent (C) Mature Excellent adaptation of "Main Street" with fine Showboat (Irene Dunne, Allen Jones, Robe- character values and intelligent comedy. Vain son, Winninger) (Univ) Outstanding production efforts of city wife of country doctor to bring of famous Ferber opus with excellent direction, culture to his town make very human drama and glorious singing, lavish sets, and able cast that lead to equally human conclusion. S-S-36 makes the most of every role. Musical comedy (A) Interesting (Y) Good (C) Little interest can hardly be better done. Deserves its great Last of the Mohicans (Randolph Scott) (Re- success. 5-19-36 liance) Fine picturization of classic, notable for (A) (Y) Excellent (C) Very good accuracy in story, settings, and convincing char- acters. True to times, it is appealing, thrilling and Sins of Man (Jean Hersholt) (20th Cent. Fox) terrifying by turns. Good example of how much Fine serious drama, notable for Hersholt's char- more a picture can do than even Cooper's words. acterization of modern "Job". Successive trag- 9-1-36 edies through the years rob hero of entire family, (A) Fine of kind (Y) Very good (C)Toostrong but not faith. In old age happy ending is achiev- ed. Depressing entertainment but fine drama. Mary of Scotland (Katharine Hepburn, Fred- 6-30-36 ric March) (RKO) Powerful picture of tragic (A) Fine of kind (Y) Very sad (C) Not for them life and love of Mary Stuart, done with dignity and truth, acting and direction excellent, cos- Trouble for Two (R. Montgomery, R. Russell) tumes and backgrounds notable. Meeting of (MGM) Retains much of eerie mystery and thrill Mary and Elizabeth unhistorical but tensely of Stevenson's "Suicide Club". Incognito prince, dramatic. Outstanding film. 8-11-36 pursued to London by his scorned fiancee, is test- (A) Excellent (Y) Very good (C) Mature ed by weird perils till she knows his courage. M'Liss (Ann Shirley, John Beal) (RKO) Old Finely acted, spoken and directed. 6-9-36 style melodrama. Proud little "spitfire" works as (A) Good (Y) Good (C) Little interest barmaid to keep self and drunken father. In Under Two Flags (Colman, Colbert, McLag- conflict with town's "elite", protected by crude, len) (Fox) Stirring, colorful Ouida romance kindly characters, till romance with school-teacher of French Foreign Legion and Arab revolt. Skill- hero brings happiness. Some lovely outdoor set- ed direction, beautiful desert photography, some tings. 8-4-36 grim fighting. Commendably restrained film of (A) Hardly (Y) Perhaps (C) Doubtful value humor, suspense and tragedy by outstanding cast. Private Life of Louis _XIV (German produc- 5-12-36 tion with good English titles) Convincing por- (A) (Y) Very good (C) Too exciting