Flagg & Quirt Reborn In "Air Devils"

Radio Record, 12 August 1938, Page 29

Flagg & Quirt Reborn In "Air Devils"

{"Air Devils,’ Universal, directed by John Rawlings, with Larry Blake, Dick Purcell. First release: Christehurch, August 12.)]

HE cloak of our old friends, Flagg and Quirt, seems to have fallen on the shoulders of Larry Blake and Dick Purcell in "Air Devils." They’re the black sheep of a flock of American soldiers-of-fortune who are supposed to keep the peace on an unidentified Pacific island which is over-run with brigands. For most of the picture, Messrs. Blake and Purcell are more concerned with breaking the law than keeping it, what with squabpling over one of the island’s natural attractions in the person of Mama Clark, starting free fights, and getting each other into hot water with their officers. But in the end they stand practically shoulder to shoulder when the brigands swoop down in force on. &

detachment of the constabulary in the way that brigandgs have been doing since the days of "Beau. Geste." Poor Brigands! I MUST confess my sympathies were rather with the brigands, since they lacked any bombing planes in that final struggle and since, after all, they were only fighting to keep their own island for themselves instead of hav‘ing it turned into an American air base. Still, it’s a good fight while it lasts, and it makes a fitting climax to a film which is never lacking in incident of the two-fisted variety. In its boisterous way, too, it’s quite an amusing show, though there are occasions when the story goes wandering off the rails a bit and you’re not quite sure whether the producer means you to be taking it as a melodramatic comedy or as a serious epic of American heroism in a farflung outpost. Accident To Star [SA MIRANDA, Italy’s foremost movie actress, who is now in America under long-term contract to Paramount, has had a slight setback to her Hollywood debut. The New Zealand branch of Paramount has received advice from its New York office that a few weeks ago Isa Miranda was in an automobile accident, which par-

tially demolished her car, She escaped with a severe shaking; but was so determined to make good in her first American picture that she concealed the extent of her injuries. The result was that when "Zaza" began produection, she was not in a fit condition tv go through with her role. On the second day, the Italian star collapsed on the set.’ As it was impos. sible to stop production of the film because of the large amount of money in volyed, a halt of several days was called while Claudette Colbert prepared herself for the role. In Four Years [84 MIRANDA ig still in Hollywouc and will convalesce as rapidly as possible in order to be ready for her new role; which will soon be antiourtcell. Four years ago; Isa Miranda was a

stenographer in Milan; after 12 trips to Rome she got a job as an extra 1n films: two months later she had a lead ing part: in three sears she became Italy’s foremost movie star. and: has made films in Germany and France. Some foreign critics have called her "the most glamorous woman in Europe." Did Her Wrong! HILE appreciating your. appre giation of Joan. Blondel! in *‘There’s Always «a Woman,’ one remark infuriated me," writes "M.M.D.," a Christchurch reader. "And Hell hath no fury like that of a film fan whose favourite has- been: done wreng, You have the incredible naivete to say ‘Wateh that BlonJell, she’s on the up.’ To me, that remark is equivatent to saying ‘Watch that Edward Everett Horton, he has tre makings of a good comedian.’ Blondell has been up for years. Her record is one of exceptional ability plus a rare sense of comedy . I admit that some of those films with Farrell and Hugh Herhert were poor fare, but the fact that Blondell has survived such messes of footage means that she was good then, as she is now.

"If your remark means thar we will see her getting better billing, larger salary and soon, then your remark may be in order (I always cool down toward the end of a letter)." Yes, "M.M.D.", that is more or less what was meant-that Joan Blondell is beginning to get the chances she deserves and. I hope, some of the popularity. For, sad to relate, she has not been a popular actress; but now, with films like "‘There’s Always a Woman." her star should begin to rise. How China Says It (SHINESE filmgoers are not attracted by the comparatively unromantic titles given to American and British pictures, so the cinema owners frequently substitute new ones. The Shanghai correspondent of "Variety" quotes the following :- Green Hills and Red Powder ("God’s Country and the Woman’); Playful Dragon Has a Lark with a Phoenix ("The King and. the Chorus Girl’) ; Bloodstains on a Jade Palace ("Tudor Nose’); Three Stars Flatter the Mcon ("I Met Him in Paris") ; In His Right and Left Arms ("Wife, Doctor and Nurse") ; Flower Clusters in the Night ("Hx-Lady’’) ; Tears in a House of IillFame ("Marked Women").