Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October 11. 1930 M o t i o n P i c I it r e N e w s 57 Opinions on Pictures Discontented Cowboys (Universal ) Gets Laughs CHARLIE MURRAY and George Sidney, taking a vacation on a "dude" ranch, are forced to perform all sorts of menial tasks in line with the owner's decision to make men out of them. While this short possesses no story there is a continuous succession of gags, most of which garner chuckles with a number of good laughs thrown in. The most amusing sequence shows Sidney falling asleep while detailed to count sheep passing through a gate. The trick worked that time. Will be enjoyed by all types of audiences. Directed by Albert Ray. Running time. 18 minutes. // yon need comedy on a bill book this one. Voice of Hollywood, No. 20 (Tiffany) Some Good Gags JAMES HALL is the m.c. in this number of the Voice of Hollywood series and surprises by a song which was written especially for the series and is titled "The Voice of Hollywood." It seems that a certain song writer had been pursuing him for days trying to get in with his composition. Finally, he comes through a skylight and Merna Kennedy gives him an introduction to Hall, who sings the song. Jackie Coogan tries vainly to tee off on a miniature golf course, which furnishes a few laughs. Where short novelty fits. Knockout (Universal) Okay THIS is No. 3 in the Leatherpusher series, and it stacks up better than its predecessors. With Kane Richmond as the clean-cut pugilist and Sally Blane, Xora Lane and Joan Marsh contributing the romance, and Sam Hardy the laughs, this short is highly interesting throughout, although we are pained to inform you that the hero is the one who gets the knockout. This series is being made in an extremely intelligent manner and with production values, and rates bookings in the best of theatres. Directed by Albert Kelley. Running time, 20 minutes. A great tonic for a weak shozu. The Village Barber (M-G-M) A Dandy THE laughs are generously sprinkled in this fine sound cartoon, being further adventures of Flip the Frog. Except for an element of sameness common to most cartoons, it clicks nicely. The ending is a wow, showing the basso of the quartette crashing through the floor to go down after the last low note — and coming up with it. It received a generous hand at the New York Capitol. Running time, 7 minutes. For any kind of bill. Swing, You Sinners (Paramount) Diverting THE clever cartoon pen of Max Fleischer again demonstrates itself in this Talkartoon. An offstage chorus sings the lyrics to the rhythm of the action and the result is usually diverting. The cartoon hero is this time taken into a grave-yard with the absurd results that you might well imagine. Worth a play. Running time, 9 minutes. O.K. for heavy feature. Short Subjects Strange As It Seems, No. 2 (Universal ) Excellent IF this series can keep up the pace it has set, particularly with this issue, it will prove a draw even in the best theatres. Not only are the subjects pictured decidedly unusual, but the use of Multicolor throughout adds greatly to the appeal. A synchronized lecture describes the scenes. The first unit shows a man building an ark in Olympia, Wash., in the belief that there will be another flood in 1932. He's going to be Noah the Second. After an effective shot of Crater Lake, its beauty enhanced by color, there are scenes showing the unique sport of hunting Goe-Ducks on Puget Sound. They are huge clams, their bodies resembling ducks, although encased in shells, and with long, sausage-Hke appendages. They bury themselves quickly and squirt juices at their pursuers. The most unique feature shows an East Indian swallowing goldfish, giving them a swim in his stomach, and ejecting thejn. Later he drinks the entire contents of the fish bowl, adds a chaser of kerosene and sprays the mixture upon a brassier, creating huge flames, whereupon he ejects the gallon or so of water and extinguishes the fire. It's all done by muscular control of the organs. The feature is based on John Hix's newspaper cartoons. Running time, 10 minutes. Reserve & spot on vow program for this series. It will create talk and interest everyone. "We, We, Marie" (Universal) A Wow IF your audiences don't shake the house with their roars as they view No. 2 of the Slim Summcrville series you might as well go out of business. This is one of the funniest tworeelers we have ever seen. While Summer ville, particularly, and Eddie Gribbon and Pauline Garon do great trouping, it's the large number of fresh gags and the excellent direction of Albert Ray that make it outstanding. After all, it's the material that counts. This short has enough story for a feature, and it is impossible to outline it in this space. The climax comes when Gribbon, the hard-boiled sergeant, finds Bugler Slim wearing the brassiere he had presented to his French sweetie. The laughs in this are practically continuous. The picture is filmed in the new Magnachrome style for wide screen, improving it greatly. Running time, 21 minutes. Give your audiences a treat — and plug it. Won By A Neck (Educational) Okay FOR those who find Lloyd Hamilton's stuff entertaining, there are plenty of light laughs in his latest. It features Lloyd as a newly made detective who suddenly and accidentally finds himself "elected" to get "One Shot Louie." This is done, of course, unconsciously, and the hero is acclaimed by the entire department (of six coppers). With the crime wave prevalent, it presents a timely topic in a fairly amusing manner. Running time, 18 minutes. Run with a dramatic short and a comedydrama feature. The Detective ( Universal) Good THAT producers of shorts are waking up to the fact that the public is tired of the repetitiousness of cartoons is further demonstrated by this Oswald comedy. Believe it or not, it packs a plot and it's filled with laughs. The rabbit, wrongfully accused of the murder of a robin with a bow and arrow, goes to trial for his life. But Oswald, using his weapon first as a violin and then as a 'cello, wins the hearts of the jury with his harmony and is set free. Chuckful of humor. Running time, 7 minutes. Give it a play in any kind of house. Tin Types ( Vitaphone I 'arieties i Pleasing CHICK YORKE and Rose King do an oldfashioned rural comedy skit which is extremely diverting. Both are capable performers and their songs and dances provide no end of mirth. Old time comedy songs form the basis for most of the performance and these are expertly delivered. One reel. Good on any hill. Racqueteers (Pat he) Okay GRANTLAND RICE invades the field of "rackets" in this Sportlight, with Bill Tilden giving a little spiel on tennis, together with a demonstration; Lou Magnolia telling all about the game of Jai-a-lai, with action illustrations of the speedy Spanish game, and winding up with a few shots of lacrosse being played at West Point. Rice gives an introductory talk. This will interest all types of patrons. Running time, 11 minutes. A welcome novelty on any screen. Don't Give Up (Educational) Amusing BUSTER WEST, "pop*; Keith vaude headliner, makes his bow in pictures. It only registers in a so-so manner, with material given West of a pretty weak nature. His unique twisting and Iight-footedness plays a large part in building up laugh angles. Will get by with most audiences. Running time, 19 minutes. Spot this one with a strong feature. Irish Stew (Educational) Entertaining \\T HILE the greater portion of this one fol* * lows the lines of average cartoons, a few sequences are sufficiently favorable to bring it out of the class of cut-and-dried pen and ink screenfare. The musical accompaniment is good, with a haunted castle episode giving the big kick. Running time, 7 minutes. Okay to lighten a bill featuring a dramatic subject. Audio Review, No. 41 (Pathe) Lukewarm NOTHING to write home about. The units consist of pictures of the Pacific Ocean washing the beach in California, an Egyptian boy climbing a pyramid, a view of "Broadway's last farm," with two lads hoeing a garden in a vacant lot, and four Welsh miners singing something or other. Running time, 7 minutes. Spot it into a strong program.