Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1924)

Page 42 Exhibitors Trade Review Lost Dog Pathe 2 reels Mr. and Mrs. Spat and brother Ambrose, decide to try hotel life for a while. They have a dog which they want to smuggle into the hotel though there is a strict rule against dogs. They evade the house detective for a while but later he seems to sense the presence of the dog and seeks to put it out. The dog is lost. Later a lion, let loose, frightens the whole hotel, roaming at will. The picture ends with the little dog seemingly chasing the lion away. This is another one of the Spat family productions, and while the action is continuous, the theme is not necessarily a happy vehicle for this aggregation. We have seen them far funnier than they appear in "Lost Dog." However, just as every silver lining has a cloud — or the reverse — so this picture has some outstanding highlights that cover up its general lack of brilliance. Perhaps one of the funniest seconds in any comedy is that where the house detective of the hotel tries to shoo off the loose lion, by conspicuously displaying his authority as vested in him and his badge. The fade-out too is sufficiently ridiculous to be funny — when the little white poodle dog barks and chases the maneating lion away from the hotel. There are many who have followed the various forerunners among the Spat comedies and have liked them sufficiently well to like anything they offer in a picture. Children are observed to enjoy the slapstick quarrels between the Mr. and Mrs., yet, by itself, we wouldn't say that this particular two reeler has very much to offer the exhibitor. * * * Wandering Waistlines Pathe 2 reels The hand of a beautiful young miss is sought by two deadly rivals, who enter into a tug of war for her favor. One nearly proves successful, but instead goes over the edge of a cliff. They continue however, and train for a regular fight sn the squared ring. During a scrimmage in canoes for the girl, one of them falls overboard, and is rescued by the grizzled sea captain, Captain Bacardi. He elects himself Billy's trainer. At the last moment, they change their plans and the captain is to meet both as opponents. They both lose. Billy Bevan and Sid Smith have an excellent comedy in "Wandering Waistlines" and indeed make as much with it as they can. Many laughs punctuate the picturethroughout, for there is an element of simple stupidity about Billy Bevan that invites the laughter. Madeline Hurlock is in the cast and proves, as usual, highly decorative for the lady is remarkably attractive and fits the role of vamp excellently. There are many scenes in the comedy that provoke more than an ordinary chuckle. When Sid Smith falls off the cliff, his umbrella parachute saves him an awful bump; the prize fight scene, too, lends a lot of action and comedy. Then there is the moment when a bear chases Sid into the steam room of Billy's quarters. When he first arrives he's a normal good sized bear. Later after a treatment in the steam bath, he comes out a shrunken little bundle of fur very much like a cub. There is worth-while booking incentive in this comedy, and with the various exploitation possibilities should prove good judgment in booking. The trio of names in the cast alone will bring the audiences down. * * * Rip Van Winkle Universal 2 Reels Rip, constantly tired, and lazy, quarrels with his wife, and with his dog and gun goes off to the mountains. There he helps a dwarf roll a keg up hill, and partakes in their game of bowls later. He drinks some of their beer and goes to sleep. He awakes twenty years later and on his return to his home finds his children all grown adults — though his wife has retained her youth. This two reeler is another of the Hysterical History series, and brings to the screen some of the popular legends about the mythical character, Rip. Though greatly exaggerated and burlesqued most of the elements of the common belief in the myth are retained, and Charles Dudley, playing the title role does it rather well considering. The surprise of the dwarfs disappearing suddenly into the nowhere is a good bit — but the funniest moment is just before the fade-out when he again meets his children and finds how they have grown. These Hysterical Histories are as they run rather fair comedy, and should be safe booking for the average house. * * * The Trouble Fixer Century-Universal 2 Reels The newly married pair travel off to California to build a home on a lot they received for a present. Temporarily, they live in a tent and meet many difficulties. Later they have their house completed and are living next door to an old friend of the groom's. The friend's father arrives and thinking him to be married wishes to meet the wife. The bride next door aids the joke and poses as the wife. Later her husband's uncle arrives and asks to see the baby. They "borrow" a baby from a nearby carriage — only to find it a dusky infant. In the ensuing difficulties many alibis are given. Even to the passing herself off as twins, does the little bride stick manfully to the task, until all ends serenely. "The Trouble Fixer" has a great many complications that seem to tax the follower to the utmost. Yet it does this: It gives Wanda Wiley a real opportunity to act funny. Her embarrassment at being found out that she is one — and not twins — is a nicely repressed bit. While as an acrobat she hurdles the fence between the homes with the speed and precision of an experienced athlete. There is a funny mix-up when the baby is asked for and can't possibly be delivered — until Wanda takes one from a nearby baby carriage. Of course it had to be a colored baby that she took to show the uncle. For a feminine comedian we believe Wanda Wiley will soon rank high, though right now, she rather is trying herself out on the screen but finding the poise and needed self-confidence, her comedies ought to prove popular with the adults and children both. "Should Landlord's Live" — is a question well studied and only Arthur Stone, the Pathecomedy star knows the correct answer. Here he is trying to collect the rent from the flapper though dad seems ready to kill cn sight the intruder.