Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1929)

1262 Motion Picture News Opinions On Picture -Two "Hot Lemonade" ( Paramount-Christie Talkie Reels) REALLY successful is this Christie talkie farce, cleverly gagged and handled with skill in its direction and acting talent. Speaking of the latter, a casting director would have to search a long time before he would come across a better pair of farceurs than Louise Fazenda and Johnny Arthur, who performed so well in "The Desert Song" and who here do justice to a little marital skit about a naughty husband and a wife who leave their respective better halves to board a steamer for the South Seas and love and romance. They are actually on their way and both find that reality is not what they at all expected, for Arthur gets seasick and Louise very much afraid when they discover her husband aboard. The latter, played by Walter Heirs, finally manipulates things so that Louise is glad to give Arthur the razz and return, chastened, to home and hubby. Yes, it goes over with a wave of laughs. Miss Fazenda scores the most with her quivering laugh and gurgles. Arthur is right there also with his comedy. And Heirs does all that's required of his role. — Raymond Ganly. "Down In Jungle Town" (Biophone Screen Song — One Reel) SEEN on the same bill with "My Old Kentucky Home," "Jingle Bells" and "Summer Harmonies," Biophone screen songs, this subject struck this reviewer as being the best of the lot. Its cartoon work is quite humorous, the air of "Down in Jungle Town" is pleasing and general good points are discernible throughout. Recording has been nicely done. Pinky the Pup, the character used by Cartoonist S. Roy Luby, goes through a few tricks as a prelude to the song, which, when started, has the usual bouncing ball to keep strict time. The first rendition over, the bouncing ball is replaced by a group of monkeys who grab plenty of laughs with their antics. The monkeys hold full sway until the end and are very effective in supporting the lyrics. The Roxy Quartet are also effective in rendering the song. Excellent novelty that will jazz up a program immensely. — Raymond Ganly. Hard-Boiled Admiral Talks For Pathe AFTER dodging newspapers and other news sources for several years. Admiral Hilary Jones recently* consented to grant an interview to Pathe Sound News, on account of which Pathe claims a real scoop. The feat was engineered by Ray L. Hall and Terry Ramsaye, editors of the reel, and Marvin H. Mclntyre, Pathe's Washington contact man. New York papers printed the interview and gave credit to Pathe. Frozen Justice {Continued from page 1261) ballyhooed. Spectacular effects like shipwreck, ice break should be concentrated on for popular interest Star well known in some places. Produced and released by Fox Film Corporation. Story from novel by Ejnar Mikkelscn. Scenario by Sonya Levien. Dialogue by Owen Davis. Director, Allan Dwan. Chief photographer, Harold Rosson. Length, 7.2Si> feet. .Running time, mi. hour and 20 minutes. Release date, Nov. 7, L929. THE CAST Tain Lenore Ulric Lanak Robert Frazer Duke Louis Wolheim Capt. Jones Ullrich Haupt Douglamana Laska Winter Swede El Bremlel Dancer Tom Patricola Little Casino Alice Lake Moosehide Kate Gertrude Astor Boston School Ma'am Adele Windsor Yukon Lucy Neyneen Farrell Bartender Waren Heymer Proprietor Lou Morrison French Sailor Charles Judels Jewish Character Joe Rochay Harmony Duo Meyers Sisters Singer George Macfarlane "Ace Of Scotland Yard" (Universal Serial — Chapter 5) CHAPTER five of this Universal serial is titled "The Menace of the Mummy." The first three episodes having been reviewed several weeks ago by some one else this writer is somewhat at a loss as to storv, so will only touch upon production highlights. And there are some. This serial has a distinct tone lacking in nther serials made in the past. It moves along at a nice pace, the musical setting is particularly noteworthy, it's finely photographed and is, all in all, a high-grade production. The big punch in this chapter arrives when a room filled with diners is plunged into darkness and one of those present docs a vanishing act. Here, sound plays an important part. Ka> Taylor directed — E. G. Johnston. Madge Bellamy as "Jean Eldredge," the fcmin> ine lead in the neio ' niversal aU-talker special directed by Harry Polhird and adapted from the stupe play by Owen DavU, It is Miss HeU Inmys initial screen appearance since "Mother Knows Ilcst" "Pilgrim Papas" (Universal — Two Reel Talkie) 1 JENNY RUBIN, whose voice was first -J heard over radio programs in short Mill Grossian dialogue, here embarks on one of his tic dialect yarns of the same nature. History and its characters are strongly at odds but Benny bravely tells the schoolmaster his version of how Thanksgiving Day came to In named. The landing of the Mayflower, the Pilgrims' difficulties with the Redskins, Capt Miles Standi sh and Pocahontas, Paul Revere and his horse, are all startlingly pictured. A "kosher" turkey is also introduced. Kay Tavlor directed. It's funny. E. G Johnston. "After Seben" (Paramount Talkie — Two Reels) JAMES BARTON, one of the vaudeville stage's best, stars successfully in this well stocked laugh maker. The comedian appears in blackface and has the support of colored actors. It really could be placed in the same class with "St. Louis Blues," except that its story is not very strong and it has not the motivating power of a famous song to increase its appeal. "After Seben" is a high class piece of goods, nevertheless, and Barton and the negro support put over their stuff exceptionally well. There are some dancing scenes in which negro energy just overflows. Several couples swing into typical "nigger dances" and Barton himself does a characteristic step. The story, quite episodic, deals with a shiftless negro. This one is good for first run showings and then all away down the line. It may be that it hasn't been "dumbed" duwn enough for the stick audiences. Then again some of the negro dancing is liable to offend some, for it is a fact that one of the dances bordered for a few seconds on the obscene. Aside from that, the flaws in "After Seben" are negligible. — Raymond Ganly. "Music Fiends" (Fox Talkie — Two Reels) CLARKE and McCULLOUGH have a funny vehicle in this one. Replete with laughs, particularly in the last half, it should easily breeze by. The boys spend the last of their jack in an auction room, emerging with a fiddle and a few other trifles. While they're wondering where their next meal is coming from, they are mistaken by the butler of a wealthy dame for the musicians she is momentarily expecting at her party. The boys jump at the chance to grab some easy coin and have the nerve to pass themselves off as famous musicians. The assembled society gathering politely listen to their violin-piano concert, but not for long because the boys have a tendency to break everything. With the elapse of a few minutes they have made a wreck of the room and have caused the guests to flee. Not lean by any means; on the contrary it is well supplied with the laugh fat. — Raymond Ganly. Playing the principal role in "The GoUl Diggers of Broadway" the new Warner Bros, all color I itnphone special, is Nancy Wclford, seen above. There are several other stage stars in the production, including Winnie tAghtner and Ann Pennington