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The Crimson Moviegoer

"Wedding Present" is a Far Better Than Average Show While its Companion Reaches a New Low Level

In "Wedding Present" Cary Grant and Joan Bennett again prove that they are a good team. It is a highly-recommended picture. The action revolves about two star reporters trying to scoop each other. Paramount drags in the stock Hollywood conception of a newspaper: there is the hard-boiled city editor, played by George Bancroft and there is the constant occurrence of three alarm fires and murders attended by cynical, wise-cracking reporters. What distinguishes the movie is the sure, smart acting of Bennett and Grant.

There are two highly funny scenes. One is the entertainment given by his fellow newshawks to Grant when he changes from a lazy reporter into an over serious city editor. They paint up the office, hire an impertinent copy boy and import a German band. Grant becomes very angry, and fires Bennett, who is the leading tease. She goes to New York and becomes engaged to the stuffed-shirt author of a book on How to be a Success.

Grant flies after her, but, despite the violent efforts of a friendly gangster, finds Bennett adamant. Disheartened and drunk he ponders what to give her as a wedding present until he remembers her love of fire-engines and thrills. Forthwith he summons to the place of marriage the firemen, the police, the riot squad, an ambulance from every hospital, an undertaker, and various electricians, street repair men, and maintenance trucks. The ensuing riot not only convinces Bennett that Grant is the right man for her, but greatly amused the critic and the rest of the audience. Grant is a superb drunk, Conrad Nagel plays perfectly the pompous writer, and another stand-out performance comes from William Demarest, the sympathetic gangster.

The redeeming feature of the second movie, "Accusing Finger" is that it can be avoided. It is a death house drama involving the reform of a cold-blooded public prosecutor. Those who go to see "Wedding Present" should plan carefully to miss this dull affair.

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