The Film Daily (1924)

10 Sunday. August 31, 1924 Short Subjects "Flying Fists"— Ginsberg and Wilk High-Caliber Entertainment Type of production 2 reel comedy-drama After watching Benny Leonard in the first three of the "Flying Fists" series, one can well understand how the lightweight champ is able to thwart certain destruction at the hands of men far more rugged and stronger than he. Truly Benny is amazingly versatile. As young "Flying Fists," doing his stuff with the padded mitt he doesn't have to act, for who is there that can more naturally portray the character of a boxer in action! And in the parts where his histrionic talents are called upon Leonard responds with a performance that bespeaks a natural inherent ability. The boxing flashes are masterpieces of action and humor. Benny's is a grace that dazzles and mystifies. He flashes in and out of a maze of fists with a caution mixed with the highest kind of courage. "Breaking In," the first of the series, is simply great, and everybody — man, woman, or boy — should like it. "Lizzies of the Field" — Mack Sennett Pathe • Automobile Comedy Type of production. .. .2 reel comedy "Lizzies of the Field," Mack Sennett's latest comedy, has a laugh in the title. However, it is not a burlesque on "Lilies of the Field," but a comedy woven around the different types of cars and the troubles that beset the owners. Rival garage owners battle to get the business, even going so far as to stretch a machine in an effort to get it into their particular establishment. This bit is cleverly done. The car seems to stretch out to an enormous length. Most of the sub-titles use phrasing connected with automobiles and machinery, with good effect. Billy Bevan, Sid Smith, Jack Lloyd and others are in the cast. "Hitting Hard"— Ginsberg and Wilk Action Galore Type of production 2 reel comedy-drama "Hitting Hard." the title of the second of the "Flying Fists" series, adequately describes the nature of the exciting part of this two-reeler. One doesn't realize how hard, hard can be until one has seen Benny Leonard, as the "Flying Fists" kid, lambaste his opponent, "Iron Jaw" Connolly. Those who seek to see Benny showing the stuff that has won him fame and fortune will get it aplenty in this film, and those who like a coherent story theme accompanying the exciting exploits will also not be disappointed. Benny behaves well before the camera. His trainer, Tammany Young, world's champion gate crasher, is a fine foil for the serious bits contributed by the Lightweight King, affording touches of humor considerably augmented by Sam Hellman's titles. H. "Hazardous Hunting" — Lyman Howe— Educ'l Cartoons and Excitement Type of production..! reel magazine Humorous animated cartoon drawings burlesquing the radio and the far-reaching effects open this issue of Lyman H. Howe's "Hodge Podge" with quite a few smiles. There is a clever idea used also, showing what we may expect when everyone broadcasts. This subject is but an introduction, however, to the real feature of the reel which is entitled "Hazardous Hunting" and consists of some very interesting shots showing the chase and capture of a mountain lion by a mountaineer and his dogs. The snow-covered landscape is cooling and beautiful and the action quick ( and exciting. A flash of the lion behind the bars in the zoo completes the issue. "Soft Muscles"— Ginsberg-'Wilk Interesting Type of production 2 reel comedy-drama This two-reeler, the third of the "Flying Fists" series, gives more attention to the story part of the theme than the previous episodes. Besides showing the very adequate "Thespian" side of Benny, "Soft Muscles" carries an impressive moral to the youth of the land. That doesn't mean there is any dry, sermon-like quality to the film. On the contrary there is action to suit the most hectic-minded, but the kind of action and story that mixes punch with a message which will not be lost on intelligent persons, especially those who admire or aspire to clean, wholesome health. Benny takes a good many flops in this picture, but finally turns the tide of battle, effaces his opponent from the evening's entertainment, and is all "jake" with his girl. "The Pinhead"— Imperial— Fox Fair Comedy Busiyiess Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy Clyde Cook is the proprietor of a gymnasium where stout ladies try his reducing methods. Naturally the idea suggests varied and unusual opportunities for laughs but it doesn't seem that Slim Summerville, who directed the number, has taken advantage of them. Instead of bringing in a quantity of new gags, they offer a line of slap-stick that doesn't get away from the beaten track. Those who like Clyde Cook and find his line of tricks amusing, however, will probably be satisfied with "The Pinhead." Pathe Review No. 36 Up to Usual Standard Type of production..! reel magazine There are four interesting subjects in this issue. It opens with "Seed Battalions" which deals with the manner in which field flowers spread their seeds. The dandelion and the cat-tail in particular are shown in detail. Next comes an industrial subject which shows the manner in which footballs are constructed — from the raw material to the finished product, finishing with a shot showing a game in action. A glimpse of a tribal dance in Madagascar lends a foreign touch. The reel closes with Pathecolor views of the "Qi-arry Country" along the banks of the River Cher in France. The Week's Headlines Monday Famous Players' six months profit total $1,350,801. Texas faces legislative troubles. Many adverse bills looked for. No statement from Coast on reported collapse of Grand-Asber deal with directors. .Joseph M. Schenck sells interest in West Coast Theaters, Inc. Tuesday Important distributors deny block bookings prompt exhibitors to withhold fall purchases. Admit some trouble in Greater New York. Famous' profits for first half of 1924 $540,246 under same period of 1923. Consolidated Film industries. Inc., take over Standard plant, Los Angeles. Theater Owners Dist. Corp. coiitract for six Criterion Pictures. Joseph M. Schenck coming East to confer with 1st Nat'l on future releases. Reported pact among local exchanges to interchange price data denied by S. R. Kent. Fox seeks to restrain Art. Mix Prod, from using that name. Advisory board to assist E. E. Shauer on Paramount foreign sales. Wednesday Exhibitors permitted to use old admission tickets until Oct. 1. Time extension means saving in printing costs. T. O. C. C. won't grant operators demanded increase. Boston unsettled. Si.x hundred seat theater planned for 1558 Broadway, part of 15 story office building. Theater war probable in Ottawa. Thursday Operators and T. O. C. C. deadlocked over fall wage scale. St, Louis unions win ; Boston difficulties ironed out. Nat'l Bank of Commerce sees stability in industry. M. J. O'Toole extols service features of M. P, T. O. Resolutions against non-theatrical bookings and enforced extended runs, Pana, 111. gets Sunday shows after fifteen year fight. Pan-cmount plans 250 joint runs for "Peter Pan," around Christmas. Coast directors angling for release for their first, "Her Own Money." Friday A. M. P. A. votes to aid Will H. Hays in eliminating undesirable features in advertising. Strand and Warfield, San Francisco in court over "Yolanda."' Rex Ingram's difficulties with Metro-Goldwyn ironed out. Makes next picture abroad. Universal plans 14 Jewels on Spring schedule. Saturday Metro-Goldwyn may get "Romola". Inspiration suing Henry King for alleged breach of contract, Tom North and Max Cohen to make baseball two-reelers. General Vision Co. and United Cinema Service in non-theatrical exchange merger. Merrill Completes "Classmates" Howard Merrill, child prodigy and three times juvenile double for Richard Barthelmess in the latter's recent productions, has completed work in "Classmates". Sax Closes Two Deals Sam Sax has sold a series of six Gotham Prod, to Federated of Boston for New England and "Defying the Law" to Renown of Buffalo for Upper New York. Horsley to Lecture (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Los Angeles — David Horsley will depart soon on a lecture tour of the leading cities of the East. His subject will be Southern California and the lecture illustrated by a motion picture. Brand New English May Printer complete with take up. $400.00. Slightly used English May Printer complete with take up. $250.00. MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS CO., Inc. Bry. 6635 118 West 44 St., N. Y. C. U. S. and Canada Agents for Debrie CHADWICK PICTURES CORPORATION I. E. Chadwdck, President. 729 Seventh Ave. New York presents a THE TOM BOY" with MADGE BELLAMY Directed by David Kirkland Hold your dates for the Chadwick 9 Foreign Rights controlled by Simmonds-Kann Enterprises, Inc. mil 1»(9IA'' I