Evening star., 1935-02-09
ARE
FEATURE OF
EARLE SHOW
But, of Course, Cagney
Gets Star Position in
Story of Devil Dogs.

Jimmy Cagney and Pat O'Brien, as
a pair of flyin' fool Marines in Devil
Dogs of the Air" on the Earle screen,
and those II past masters of melody
and rhythm, the Mel-O-Dears, led by
Ina Ray Hutton on the stage, make
a dynamic combination to concen-
trate in any one place without some
very definite result. The result in
this case is plenty Of entertainment.
Devil Dogs" Of course. has under
lying it one of those ordinary stories
about two fellows in love with the
same girl, one losing while the other
wins, but it has also a swift, vital
pace. much excitement, the Marines
studying aviation and playing war
games, and scads of airplanes of all
description.
The staccato pace is provided by
wise-cracking, art-aleck M. Gag
ney, who is even worse heel in this
than he has been in the past, which,
however, does not mean the film is
not good. Jimmy being worse" in
his cocky egotism means merely that
he is playing a true Cagney role to
the hilt. You may want to take a
crack at the overly self-confident red
head, but you will like his perform
ance. You may not approve when
he comes along and risks number
of lives by stunting his plane dan
gerously over a very prim Marine
inspection. but you will get a great
kick out of watching him do it.
Again. you may not approve, and
certainly should not, when Jimmy
starts to do a little poaching on a
pals territory by making play for
Margaret Lindsay. who at the time
happens to be Pat OBrien's one and
only. but friend Jimmy ceases to be
a cad in the end. You probably will
feel the same way his bored flying
companions do when the antagonistic
young man boasts, II can fly the
crates they come in" but after a
couple Of his more thrilling exploits
you will agree that maybe it is mcre
than a boast
Pat O'Brien provides both Cagney's S
competition and guiding star. playing
Lieut.. Bill Brannigan. f1ving in
structor and erstwhile pal of Jimmy
who eventually tones him down and
makes Of him an officer. and a gentle
man. Frank McHugh iriects comedy
as a downtrodden ambulance driver
on search for a stretcher case and
Margaret Lindsay plays the ingenue
role the way an ingenue plays an in
genue role, having nothing to do and
doing 1t well.
The Marines themselves. however,
are the real stars of Devil Dogs of
the Air" showing off hordes of their
craft in all sorts of military maneu-
vers. They perform in tight wees and
echelonS. they lay smoke screens. thev
drop bombs with surprising ease ana
accuracy and, in general, they turn
in a double handful of powerful fly
ing in those war game operations.
Ina Ray Hutton and the II Mel-O-
Dears occupy the Earle stage for what
seems to be an all too short period.
Their style wakes from blue. which
is a mixture of Ellington swing and
moan and Galloway blare. to sweet.
which is no mixture at ALL but just
mellow Mel-O-Dear melody The
Hutton lass sings gaily, dances and
makes some half-dozen stunning
gown changes.
Also in the Mel-O-Dear company
are blond Dorothy Crooker, one of
the most adept control dancers; the
Frazee Sisters. who sing superbly,
and young lady from the orchestra
who steps down to chant very charm
ingly.
The Earle stage bill also has trio
known as the Three Swifts. who are
no end clever at tossing Indian clubs
about the stage, and duo known as
the Trainor Brothers, who do eccen-
trio dancing. H. M.