Critical Moments

Charles Ruggles without Mary Boland is like a Nazi without a hate. This team of comedians which has acted in more decent, amusing and thoroughly enjoyable pictures than any other combination in Hollywood, have been separated temporarily by Warner Brothers who borrowed Mr. Ruggles from the Paramount Studios so that they could make a picturization of Elmer Davis’s novel “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” which may now be seen at the Mayfair Theatre. Having become accustomed to seeing Mr. Ruggles and Miss Boland together I thought that “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” would not be up to par but I am happy to report that this latest Ruggles effort is one of the best things that the mild-faced, meek-acting comedian has done.

Unlike so many Ruggles pictures which depend entirely on the actor’s ability to carry the story this adaptation of a readable novel is in itself exciting and plausible. The direction by Edward Ludwig is more than ordinarily skillful and the supporting cast, among whom are Ann Dvorak, Berton Churchill, Harry Tyler, William Davidson, Eugene Pallette and Dorothy Tree lend more than a mere background to the film. They are an integral part of the proceedings.

In “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” Ruggles again has a “meek” role. He is shown as a timid, cautious, even a trifle cowardly hack newspaper writer, working on a staid daily journal. His better instincts urge him to speak out and write the truth about his employer, the crooked politicians that run the town, and other social injustices but his fear of losing his job is more powerful and he remains silent. However things begin to happen when a friend of his, a rip snorting hard drinking fellow comes to town and insists that Asaph (Ruggles) join him in a drinking bout. Asaph finds courage in alcohol and after doing the town, he returns to his paper and decides that for once in his life he will speak out regardless of the consequences. Surprisingly enough, to him, he finds that instead of losing his job he is able to defeat the crooked politician, intimidate his boss and even right some of the more outrageous social wrongs under which the town has been laboring.

The popularity of Charles Ruggles is based on the old Biblical quotation “The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth.” This has been found to be an infallible formula and audiences are always delighted when the underdog wins but the picture companies are clever; they do not wait for the meek to persevere through sheer inertia and patience, instead the timid hero is shown emerging from his house of fear and successfully battling his oppressors. “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” follows this pattern closely and that is one of the reasons that this picture will delight and please. The other reason is Charles Ruggles.

NOTES FROM STAGE AND SCREEN

There are but five shows left on Broadway and even with so few theatrical attractions on the boards there are plenty of available seats … Frank Lawton, an English actor, will play the lead in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s version of Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield.” He is the same young man who played the leading role in “Cavalcade” … Jean Harlow will be seen at the Capitol commencing tomorrow in “The Girl From Missouri.”