Word: trite
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...second feature is built around the most threadbare of trite plots, the Cinderella story, but it at times reaches a brilliance of satirical comedy that is beyond most second features. Based on life at a Princeton week-end (Princeton is called Kingsford), the picture gives a fair conception of a gay time in those ivy-covered walls and takes high society for a bitter ride. Outside of that it also introduces an excellent portrayal by Lana Turner of an all too, too naive taxi-dance girl...
...Victorian age and the realism of today will appeal to the philosophers in the audience. The way in which certain characters, like the trainer (Humphrey Bogart), are used to symbolize broad social facts reminds one somewhat of "The Shining Hour." At times the dialogue lags and verges on the trite, but the general importance of the main theme successfully carries the moviegoer over the rough spots...
Surprisingly similar to "Mayerling" in mood and pace, "Orage"--now at the Fine Arts--attains dramatic excellence through masterful use of simple, intrinsically unprepossessing material. In the hands of Warner Brother and Kay Francis--perish the thought!--it would probably have been trite and dull, for the plot concerns merely the tragic love of a marries man (Mr. Boyer) and a tempestuous, delicate, passionate femme du monde (Michele Morgan). But the vehicle is unimportant; around the character of Francoise--portrayed by Miss Morgan with an almost psychological profundity amazing for her seventeen years--the interest is centered. Not beautiful except...
...Midnight" takes her from moonlight romance to a light-hearted Paris where she can romp with royalty but feel more at home with taxi-drivers. It is a sprightly picture, never convulsing the audience with laughter, but leaving it happy and satisfied. It has faults, to be sure, a trite plot and some forced situations, but Miss Colbert sweeps it along to victory. Right by her side is John Barrymore perfect as ever and clearly the hero in his rare moments of appearance. Mr. Barrymore should not be subdued that way; but unfortunately the spotlight demands a younger triangle...
...often that Hollywood can put as many as five interesting people together in a single movie. This is the accomplishment of "The Shining Hour," now at the University, and even better, these interesting characters rise above the limitations of a trite triangle plot and become real, credible characters. They are Joan Crawford, nightclub dancer, who marries Melvyn Douglas, a member of the rich, aristocratic family of Lindens. Robert Young, in the process of trying to prevent the marriage, falls in love with Miss Crawford himself, much to the distress of his wife, Margaret Sullavan, and his sister, Fay Bainter. Outstanding...