Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

1516 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 10. Number 22. REVIEWS OF CURRENT SHORT SUBJECTS "PURE AND SIMPLE"— (Christie comedy in two reels, released by Educational). — Bobby Vernon is a riot in this picture. He borrows a funny-looking suit of an immigrant and disgraces his relatives in this country by making persistent appearances at one of their social affairs. They weren't surprised to see him looking so queer — they had fully expected that — but it was tough that the Swedish count who was about to wed their daughter (Josephine Hill) had to be so embarrassed. Bobby finally manages to expose the fake count and even brings in his wife and children to prove his (the "count's") falsity. When he changes his clothes and makes love to the pretty ingenue it seems like a pretty good ending for the hilarious short subject. "Strolling minstrels"— (Bruce Scenic released by Educational). — A lone accordeon player is seen strolling through the rugged mountain roads of Switzerland. Occasionally he sits down on the edge of a jutting embankment and plays the accordeon, whose faint notes, we are informed in a sub-title, would hardly be heard in the toy town of Zermatt, which is seen faintly in the valley, hundreds of feet below. Following the beautiful shots taken in the land of the thistle the cameraman goes to Scotland, where a typical Scot is discovered strolling through the shady roads playing the bagpipes. The closing scenes show him beside a lake, still playing, as the shadows of evening fall. KINOGRAMS— (Released by Educational October 10). — The annual parade of the Veiled Prophet held in St. Louis is filmed for the first time in the forty-two years it has been held, and the chariots, brilliantly illuminated, are seen moving through the crowded streets. Eighteenyear-old Olga Chapital is seen winning a difficult race through the waves that dash around Seal Rocks, San Francisco, and thrilling scenes were caught at automobile races at Fresno, Cal., showing Alton Soules and mechanician, who were killed during the San Joaquin automobile classic. Scenes of the terriffic fire that destroyed the Grand Magasins de Printemps in Paris with a total loss of $8,000,000 in buildings and goods, are followed by some shots showing winners of the woman's golf title at Deal, N. J. "FIFTEEN MINUTES" — (Hal Roach comedy featuring "Snub" Pollard. Scheduled for release by Pathe week of Oct. 30).— The trials of married life are pictured in a humorous way and the humor will probably appeal to the majority of audiences. "Snub" as the hubby is told by his wife to hold some bundles while she continues her shopping. During her absence, he gets into trouble with an irate husband and" is pursued through the entire city. Arriving back at his starting point fifteen minutes later, his wife appears and assures him she is glad he has enjoyed a good rest while she was gone. "THE CAT AND THE MONKEY"— ( Animated cartoon scheduled for release by Pathe week of Oct. 30).— Cartoonist Terry has succeeded in deviating from the original text but arriving at the same sequence by a more modern series of incidents. The ride of the monkey and the cat on the bumpers of a freight is a sure-fire piece of comedy. The moral, "Don't be a catspaw," is graphically illustrated throughout, and the film is a good filler on any program. "SHOULD HUSBANDS MIND BABIES?" (One reel Star comedy released by Universal. Story by Vincent Bryan. Directed by William Watson. Photography by Francis Corby). — This comedy starts off in the usual way — rich uncle comes East to visit Mr. and Mrs. Nuleewed. Promised them a good sized check if they named the first baby after him. They hustle around and get babies of every shade, ranging from the Oriental to the Negro. Of course the uncle is amazed at seeing this collection and demands an explanation. Then the owners of the various babies appear and claim their offspring. But Hubby has had forethought enough to secure one of the babies from an orphan asylum, so Uncle whips out his checkbook and presents the child with a good sized check. The film ends in a humorous fade-out. Young folks will like this one — there are lots of babies — and they're always popular on the screen. "THE DOG AND THE BONE"— (Animated cartoon of series of "Aesop's Fables Film Fables" scheduled for release by Pathe October 23).— The familiar fable, proving that a bone in the mouth is worth any number of bones in someone else's mouth, is illustrated graphically by Cartoonist Paul Terry in this screen comic. Terry has taken considerable liberty with the original text, but with happy results. A dog is shown returning to his home with a chart which shows the location of the spot where he buried a bone. A band of robber dogs learns of the buried treasure, and stealing the chart, secure the bone for themselves. The owner, however, manages again to secure his bone. But while he is crossing a bridge he looks down and sees his reflection in the water. Believing it to be another dog with a bone, he barks — and drops his own bone into the deep waters. "SEASHORE SHAPES" — (Century comedy released by Universal). — The sad sea waves are considerably enlivened by the appearance of the bathing beauty, Louise Lorraine, whose shapely shape is seen to advantage in this two-reeler. It starts off with a visit to the summer home of the heroine by two fake Counts. One of them, it develops, is an Italian organ grinder and the other a lifesaver. They all do some tall stepping when Baby Peggy is kidnapped by the Italian, but Brownie, the dog, formerly of Mack Sennett fame, rescues the child, and everybody does a damp fadeout. "THE HONOR OF THE MOUNTED"— (Universal drama in two reels. Story and scenario by George H. Plympton. Directed by Edward Kull. Two reels). — Marie McNab is in love with Jerry Burke of the N. W. Royal Mounted Police. Burke, however, does not return her love, as he believes himself in love with Clarice Horton. Marie becomes suspicious when Clarice is seen confiding to a notorious fur thief, and when her father, after aiding the thieves in getting a load of furs, starts to leave town with his daughter he is held by a member of the mounted police while Burke, who has been tipped off to the escaping thieves, catches them with Marie's help, after a hard chase. Then he realizes that Marie's love is his greatest desire. George Larkin plays the part of Burke. Josephine Hill plays the part of his sweetheart. "ZOOLOGY, AQUATIC LIFE"— (A Harry Levey production distributed by Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures). — Some intimate glimpses of inhabitants of the sea are shown in this interesting and instructive feature. It embraces the sea inhabitants known as Echinodermata, which, the sub-titles explain, are exclusively marine animals and comprise the well-known starfish, sea-urchins, sea-cucumbers, brittlestars and feather-stars. The Crustacea, comprising crabs, lobsters, shrimps, barnacles and water fleas and fish, which includes some of the more common varieties, including the Congermor, sea-eel, the seahorse, sole and plaice. This film has a place in programs as a short subject and would be valuable in the schoolroom also. "NO PLACE TO LIVE"— (Universal two-reel Star Comedy. Scenario by Scott Darling. Directed by Craig Hutchinson). — Five hundred is a lot of money to hand the landlord every month, but Bert Roach, as a poor dub tenant, does it in this picture. He finds things in poor shape in his new home and has to sneak into the bedroom of the folks across the hall and steal bedclothes. The mosquitoes are so fierce they drive him into the garden. He is hit on the head by "fruit" from the lone tree and then gets into a scuffle with the other tenant. The plumbing bursts and he is nearly drowned. But then he wakes up to find it's only a dream and that the stream of water is from a hose that his wife is playing on him. She informs him that they have found a place to live for $25 a month. "FELIX, THE GAY DOG"— (A Pat Sullivan cartoon comedy distributed by Famous Players-Lasky. About two-thirds of a reel). — Felix gets into trouble when he becomes interested in the posters advertising "Kitty, the Burlesque Queen." His wife decides to make him stay home that night, so she tells him to rock the baby to sleep. He ingenuously attaches the cradle to the pendulum of a clock and then hikes off to see the show. After the show he does a "Stage Door Johnny" and is surprised to find that Kitty is married and has three children. Hurrying home, he is greeted by wifey and the rolling pin. PARAMOUNT-BURTON HOLMES TRAVEL PICTURE— ("Nice and Cannes") — This single reel deals with life of the French Riviera in an interesting way. The gay life of this city of a quarter of a million people, which is over 2000 years old, is pictured in its varying angles, presenting views of the parks, hotels, gambling resorts "board walk" and the wonderful beach that fronts the blue Mediterranean. The Promenade des Anglais is seen thronged with fashionably dressed men and women. Shots around Cannes are equally interesting. It was here, we are told in sub-titles, that Napoleon landed on his return from Elba. Here also was a favorite retreat for King Edward. "UNCLE SAM OF FREEDOM RIDGE" — (Two-reel patriotic picture. A Harry Levey Production). — This short subject, adapted from the story by Margaret Prescott Montague, appearing originally in "Atlantic Monthly," makes a suitable filler and is especially adapted to educational purposes. The story starts just previous to the World War, the locale being Freedom Ridge, a small country town. Uncle Sam sends his adopted boy, Sam, Jr., across the seas to fight, and with Roma, his adopted daughter, helps in drives for Red Cross and Liberty Bonds. Word is received that young Sam has been killed. Following the armistice, Uncle Sam's fond hope that the treaty would be ratified is crushed and, dissapointed, he dies in his lonely cabin, on Freedom Ridge. Helen Flint pays the part of Roma, and William J. Corbett enacts the role of Uncle Sam. George McQuarrie plays Blair Rogers, the village postmaster, and Paul Kelley is young Sam. George A. Beranger directed it.