Word: arliss
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Although George Arliss is essentially a character actor, he possesses that rare ability to inspire in his audiences the "will to believe" which is so essential to all great flction, and which is so lacking in contemporary drama. His popularity rests in his ability to idealize, not convincingly to render the personality of whatever part he may be acting, but the film currently at the University seemed to make it unmistakable that the producers are quite oblivious of the true value of Arliss' work...
...plot of "A Successful Calamity" concerns the attempts of Arliss as an aged but active captain of finance to keep his family at home for dinner. The action in the picture comes as a result of the butler's advice to Arliss that "the poor don't get to go out much." Feigned ruin on the part of the successful financier follows in short order, and the true storing qualities of his family are brought out when his son tries to got a job, and his daughter runs off to marry a boy whom she dislikes, in order that...
...film shows an obvious attempt on the part of the producers to provide Arliss with a vehicle, however crude, in which to display his often repeated and admittedly delightful mannerisms. The whole performance was rendered so obvious by overacting on the part of the supporting cast, and lack of imagination on the part of the author that Arliss' already overworked portrayal of a twinkling gentleman of leisure failed utterly to produce the desired effect...
...Successful Calamity (Warner Bros.), cinematized for George Arliss, is neatly based on Clare Kummer's demoded "situation'' play of misunderstandings, tricks, plots and counterplots. George Arliss is a famed Wall Street broker, important enough to be congratulated by the President of the U. S. (shown anonymously from behind). Lonely for his wife (Mary Astor), son and daughter, he learns from his butler (Grant Mitchell) that ''the poor don't get to go much." He interrupts his family's frivolings with polo and pianists by pretending that he is ruined. They stay home with him and have a lovely time...
...each. Except Scarf ace, completed early in the year, there were almost none which cost more than $300,000; none, like Trader Horn, which cost $1,000,000 or more. All producers cut office salaries; most producers tried to cut the salaries of employes under contract. George Arliss and Richard Barthelmess reduced their own salaries. James Cagney last week quit Hollywood because his pay was not increased (see p. 26). Also last week Ina Claire retired from the cinema to return to the stage. Her reason: "I didn't have my say. I took the movies too seriously...