The Film Daily (1923)

Short Stuff "Three Gun Men"— Fox Sunshine Comedy Type of production 2 reel comedy An ordinary variety of slap-stick is this latest Sunshine comedy and quite lacking in real humor. An over corpulent and seldom successful comedian tries hard enough to register intended comedy bits, but his efforts fail perceptibly. "Three Gun Men" deals with the efforts of extras, all of them imitating Chaplin, to secure jobs in the movies. The fat one finally lands the job and screens his first picture for a "hard" audience which throws the proverbial bad _ eggs at the conclusion of the showing. The offering isn't a good comedy number. "Don't Flirt"— Dippy Doo— Pathe Type of production 1 reel animal comedy , This is the first of the new Hal Roach one reel animal comedies called "Dippy Doo Dads." which are directed by Len Powers. This one is an exceedingly cute number with all the parts played by geese, ducks, chickens, and monkeys. Dressed up in tiny clothes they enact a comic drama. A goose and her sweetheart go swimming together which causes the "old hens" to talk. They go to the paternal gander who in turn gets the law, in the shape of Mr. Monkey, on the young blade who is properly chastized, and driven from town. An extremely novel and entertaining short reel. "Small Change" — Cameo — Educational Type of production 1 reel comedy This one reel comedy derives its laughs from the situations existing in the ultra-expensive cafe where a not over-wealthy young man takes his best girl for a little supper. The constant tipping of waiters, check-boys, etc., and the enormously high cost of the smallest bit of food are among the gags used and though of course the conditions are exaggerated they will bring many a sympathetic smile to faces in the audience. Fred Hibbard has directed and the girl and boy are Virginia Vance and Billy Eugene. It is a pleasant-enough one reel comedy and will, in all probability, prove sufficiently amusing to the average audience. " Roll Along"— Christie — Educational Type of production 2 reel comedy Although Jimmie Adams is the star of this Christie comedy, the work of the entire cast is so good that it is hard to say that one player is better than another. Aside from this the entire idea is novel and entertaining to a degree. Al Christie, the director, has all the players in black-face make up, with the action taking place "away down south in Dixie." Jimmie Adams and Sam Irving work on rival river boats, the "Smoky City" and the "Dusky Belle," but both boys are in love with Natalie Joyce, a swift-stepping darktown strutter. Her fat sister, played by Babe London, is the best cook on the plantation but she can't seem to get a beau. Her mammy tells the boys that the first one to get back from Smith's landing, down the river, with a preacher can marry Natalie, and the last one back has to marry Babe. The race of the two old river-boats, which have struggled for years to beat each other's record lends plenty of excitement to this portion of the film, and there is a big laugh when Jimmie triumphantly comes up with what he thinks is a preacher only to find he is an undertaker. This is a first-rate number that gets far away from the average. The Pill Pounder"— C. C. Burr— Hodkinson Type of production 2 reel comedy This is, on the whole, a regulation slap-stick comedy with Charles Murray as the. featured player. There are however, some really funny sequences that keep things from getting slow. One of these is the poker game bit with the players switching cards with Murray whenever he leaves the table. The result is that they give him a winning hand, much to their chagrin. Another good bit is the slow-motion stuff inserted after Murray gives Jimmie an over-dose of bromo-seltzer and we see him slowly sailing out of the door. This should have no trouble getting over, especially where Murray is liked, although some of the humor is a trifle broad. "Curbing the Dope Evil"— Hoey Lawlor— State Rights Type of production 1 reel drama This is the sort of short reel that may find favor in small towns or in second-rate theaters where they like a lot of running around and hit-or-miss action regardless of continuity. The title can be relied on to draw, if you don't care whether they are pleased or not. It was originally made for a tworeeler and has been cut without regard for smoothness of continuity. The story deals with John Jackson's efforts to locate a missing package of drugs, and his adventures in a tea room that has been given over to the sale of "hop." "The Crystal Ascension" — Kiser — Pathe Type of production 1 reel Oregon Trail Series "The Crystal Ascension," Kiser Artfilm directed by Broderick O'Farrell pictures the experiences of a group of tourists ascending Mount Hood of the Oregon Cascade Range. Each step of the ascension is carefully pictured and the wonderful backgrounds of snow and ice, clouds and chasms are exceedingly beautiful. This reel should prove an excellent addition to a hot-weather program. The photography is fine, the subject matter interesting and the scenic effects remarkably beautiful. The title doesn't give a very clear idea of what the reel is about, so it would be well to let your folk know something about it. "So This is Hamlet"— C. C. Burr — Hodkinson Type of production 2 reel comedy There is a fairly new idea in the plot of this C. C. Burr comedy which features Charles Murray and a cast including Felix Adler, Charles Hines, Dorothy Allen and Dot Walters, and it will probably be liked very much where burlesque comedy goes well. Charlie and his partner are in the fur business and the firm of Fein and Klein is doing well until it takes a flier in the picture producing game. They start by producing "Hamlet" with variations, and the finished picture is finally thrown on the screen of their "rejection" room. The rest of the footage shows the picture as produced by them, with occasional cut-backs to Fein and Klein watching the critics' faces at the first showing. The titles are good and there is some funny stuff built around some of the well-known lines. For instance, when the King finds a bottle of hootch labeled "Yorick" buried in a grave the title "Alas pure Yorick, I knew you well," is inserted. The comedy would have been better as a whole if they had not let the burlesque run so long. T. to 's al id St /e abtf ie id .Is at A. ie r sa :d ie ie ie st n of in st • e* :r3d st en he itsi 1*3 n ;t ig ve to