Copyright 15 May 1934 by Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall, 10 May 1934 (ran one week). U.K. release: 8 September 1934. Australian release: 10 October 1934. New Zealand release: 29 December 1934. New Zealand length: 7,824 feet. 87 minutes. U.S. length: 6,937 feet. 77 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: After graduating from college, four friends seek fame and fortune in New York.
NOTES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences granted a miniature statuette to Shirley Temple "in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the year 1934."
DVDs of this movie are currently offered by Public Domain suppliers.
COMMENT: Although this movie was certainly released in 1934 (it ran a week in May at the Radio City Music Hall), it is extremely doubtful if the Board of Governors had this picture in mind when awarding Shirley her miniature statuette. Even though her name is prominently displayed in the film's advertising, it's nonsense to talk about her being in this movie. As a passenger in an airliner en route to New York, she's on screen for about 3 minutes! (Admittedly, I'm talking about the 77-minute USA version).
"Change of Heart" is primarily a Farrell-Gaynor vehicle — their last. The combination is stale here. Miss Gaynor looks old too (though she was reportedly only 28 at the time), being flatly photographed and rather dowdily dressed. The photographer and costumer do similar disservices to Ginger Rogers and Drue Leyton, though Barbara Barondess looks attractive in her brief appearance.
As for Charles Farrell, he is, would you believe, somewhat wooden and charmless? Farrell was handsome enough and well-spoken enough to survive the transition to sound, but he floundered, partly due to lack of talent (although this didn't deter many other people), but mostly due to sheer laziness. He simply didn't like to work for hard taskmasters like Frank Borzage or F. W. Murnau. Easy- going Johnny Blystone was definitely his favorite sort of director.
So it's no surprise to find the support players are not much better. James Dunn is always talking about his singing career, but outside of a bit of clowning around, doesn't sing a note (whereas minor player Dick Foran sings solidly for two whole minutes — and alas that two minutes is the sole extent of his on screen contribution. What a pity his part isn't larger)!
Nonetheless, Mary Carr makes the most of her one-take scene. And it's always good to see Jane Darwell, even though she is glimpsed but briefly.
Blystone's direction starts briskly at the graduation, which is nicely paced and composed, but once in New York his efforts become quite routine and undistinguished, although the deft cutting of Margaret Clancey does something to spark a bit of dramatic life into certain scenes.
Production values are moderate. Stock footage of New York is used liberally throughout. Although treating the girls somewhat harshly, Hal Mohr's lighting is rich in attractively glossy blacks. Aside from the opening graduation scenes, the sets, however, — even those supposed to be luxurious — prove disappointingly drab.
SYNOPSIS: After graduating from college, four friends seek fame and fortune in New York.
NOTES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences granted a miniature statuette to Shirley Temple "in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the year 1934."
DVDs of this movie are currently offered by Public Domain suppliers.
COMMENT: Although this movie was certainly released in 1934 (it ran a week in May at the Radio City Music Hall), it is extremely doubtful if the Board of Governors had this picture in mind when awarding Shirley her miniature statuette. Even though her name is prominently displayed in the film's advertising, it's nonsense to talk about her being in this movie. As a passenger in an airliner en route to New York, she's on screen for about 3 minutes! (Admittedly, I'm talking about the 77-minute USA version).
"Change of Heart" is primarily a Farrell-Gaynor vehicle — their last. The combination is stale here. Miss Gaynor looks old too (though she was reportedly only 28 at the time), being flatly photographed and rather dowdily dressed. The photographer and costumer do similar disservices to Ginger Rogers and Drue Leyton, though Barbara Barondess looks attractive in her brief appearance.
As for Charles Farrell, he is, would you believe, somewhat wooden and charmless? Farrell was handsome enough and well-spoken enough to survive the transition to sound, but he floundered, partly due to lack of talent (although this didn't deter many other people), but mostly due to sheer laziness. He simply didn't like to work for hard taskmasters like Frank Borzage or F. W. Murnau. Easy- going Johnny Blystone was definitely his favorite sort of director.
So it's no surprise to find the support players are not much better. James Dunn is always talking about his singing career, but outside of a bit of clowning around, doesn't sing a note (whereas minor player Dick Foran sings solidly for two whole minutes — and alas that two minutes is the sole extent of his on screen contribution. What a pity his part isn't larger)!
Nonetheless, Mary Carr makes the most of her one-take scene. And it's always good to see Jane Darwell, even though she is glimpsed but briefly.
Blystone's direction starts briskly at the graduation, which is nicely paced and composed, but once in New York his efforts become quite routine and undistinguished, although the deft cutting of Margaret Clancey does something to spark a bit of dramatic life into certain scenes.
Production values are moderate. Stock footage of New York is used liberally throughout. Although treating the girls somewhat harshly, Hal Mohr's lighting is rich in attractively glossy blacks. Aside from the opening graduation scenes, the sets, however, — even those supposed to be luxurious — prove disappointingly drab.