The Film Daily (1926)

THE !'i mm DAILY Sunday, Novembsr 14, 1?; Short Subjects i Key" "The House Without a Pathe Serial Gripping and Colorful Type of production Serial in ten episodes Three chapters of this ten-episodc serial pretty well suffice to assure that here is something made to order for tlie type of patronage that hkcs its screen faro in instalhnents. It has all the elements that go to make up a good serial — a complete trcatmcn; of a central idea in each episode, the play of love interest and mystery ever in the foreground of the story and— most essential to the success of all serials — the proper tang of suspense and a climactic close to each chapter for whetting the appetites of the spectators to go on with the story. In the cast of players, Allcne Ray is unfailingh' a lure of sweet feminine appeal, while Walter Miller, in the opposite leading role has that sufficiency of masculine attractiveness and camera presence which should make the hearts of his screen admirers go pitter-patter. The production settings arc in the finest of taste and all well calculated to augment the interest of the action, of which there is aplenty. The background, starting on board a Pacific ocean steamer, is laid chiefly in Hawaii, where the tropical atmosphere of sinister native intrigues weaves a foreboding sense fluctuating between disaster and romance into the plot. Summed up. here is very promising fodder for the platter of serial lovers. "The Diver"— Bray St:rs tke Imagination Type of production....! reel nature special. One can readily see, as the picture means to convey, that courage, stamina and resourcefulness are the essential qualifications of the deep-sea diver. This picture gives an excellent close-up of the weird water world he discovers when he enters the submarine domains. The hand of man could never infuse the realism one finds here in identification of the background — a mackerel slips by, a whole school of fish makes the water swirl with their graceful, almost motionless movements, and one is graphicallv initiated into the law of survival as curiosity gets the better of a fish noticing a lobster, and the latter presses its clamps around the finny member. The baleful octopus, too, gets into the limelight of the camera, and its tentacles are a menacing promise to all intruders. All told, this vivid insight into a strange world is quite calculated to stir the imagination of even the most blase fan. It is immeasurably interesting and instructive. the effectiveness and the comedy which the gag suggests the laughs aren't as numerous as they might be. This time Allan Forrest appears in the role of Warren while Kathryn Perry remains the Mrs. Warren of the aft'air. Mickey McBan is their mischievous young nephew and Sonny Day is the midget. Warren adopts I baby according to his wife's request but to cure her of tlie idea, the "baby" that Warren brings home is I midget dressed in child's clothes. He has instructions to be as rough .!s necessary in order to cure Mrs. Warren's adoption craze. There ensues the usual comedy complications. Eventually Mrs. Warren discovers her husband's trick when a detective arrives to claim the "baby" who is the pal of a notorious crook. "Not To B? Trusted"— Fox The Midyct. Idea Again Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy The latest comedy issue based on the stories of M.ibel Herbert Urner, "The Married Life of Helen and Warren," uses a midget for its chief | laugh i)iiller. The idea has been used several times before, so in spite of ' "Raggedy Rose" Roach— Pathe Mabel Normand's Comeback Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy Aside from the various elements contributing to the entertainment quality of this well-made two-recler, the appearance of Mabel Normand in her return to the screen, naturally heightens the interest. The prolonged absence has by no means dimmed the ingratiating mannerisms by which this able comedienne once earned recognition, yet there is a difference which might be laid either to the inevitable effect of time's frosty fingers, or to the hardships of trying to reclaim a deferred position at one fell swoop. This doesn't mean that Miss Normand fails to get over. She rises easily above everything else in the picture, — story, cast, comedy treatment, etc. Undoubtedly, she will make a very definite appeal, but in a character that has not caught the individuality of the past. Summed up. the picture has a sufficiency of action and occasional humor to satisfy the average audience. "A Merry-Go-Rcund of Travel" Howe's Hodge Podge — Educational Mexico to Siveden Type of production....! reel travelogue. An an'mated merry-go-round introduces this Iptest Lyman Howe Hodge Podge which includes scenes of varied interest in America and abroad. The first shot is that of Mexico City with the natives selling I'ome made pottery on the streets. The next stop is in Sweden, where the Crown Pr'nce of Siam is pictured on a visit. A trin down a picturesque Swedish canal offers some fine scenes. Jap?n is the next ston over and the reel concludes with views of a beautiful Venezuelan waterfalls. "Thru Thick and Thin," Fable No. 282 Pathe Not Up to Snuff Type of production...! reel cartoon The story of Niggar the Pup's undying allegiance to Al, Jr., is in its essence explained bv part of the title — in other words, it's just a little too thin in both narrative quality and the gags without which a Paul Terry cartoon is almost unrecognizable. Action there is aplenty, with a fight staged between a kidnaping gypsy and the rescuing pup, on a cake of 'ice nearing the edge of a boiling waterfall, but even this has hardly the salt necessary to season the offering with laughs. An ofT-hand observation by one who knows the qual' ity of the artist's enduring work, is ■■ that there seems to be nothing new in this one-reeler. And, even a fewwell-worn gags might have been preferable to the almost total absence of any, as is the case in this particular instance. The quality of the humor in the incident is of a piece with the climax in which Aesop is quoted as saying: "Good friends, like good glue, always stick". "Smith's Uncle," Sennett-Pathe Entertaining Type of production. .2 reel comedy In this episode of the "Jimmy Smith" series, the millionaire uncle of the familj' turns up. Next door lives a vamp and her brother, the latter intending to open up a jewelrv store with gifts of her pressing admirers. Uncle Dan falls for the wiles of friend vamp, to the alarm of niece and nephew. Leaving for Arizona, he leaves his captor a toy cow, in which is secreted a valuable bracelet. Sister doesn't know this, but brother does and what he sees first is nobody's business. When uncle returns, his heart's delight's memory has gone blank so far as his part in her life is concerned, but this is instantly revived when the bracelet episode is exposed. Here, the Smiths land in on the scene ready with a warm-hearted welcome and assistance after a hectic melee with brother marauder whence much furniture and some gore are spilled. Mrs. Smith emerges wearing the coveted bracelet, and all is Jake again between them and Uncle Dan. The antics of Uncle Dan. the drollery of Jimmy Smith, the mauling the badsheep brother gets, and the good looks of the female principals are more than sufficient for an assurance of diversion to the general fan mind. "Look Out Below"— Fistical Culture Series — Bray Fast and Furious Type of production 2 reel comedy drama. Boys, there's a four-fisted battle between two hard-socking he-men, stowed away in one corner of this picture, that makes everything else in it seem wan and anemic by comparison. What a fracas! Lew Wagner, in protecting Wanda from the unwelcome attentions of a rough-neck foreman of a rival lumber camp, finally has it out with the latter in true 'modern fashion — without knives, pistols, or even boxing gloves. Just bare knuckles against scowling jaws, and clutching fingers around palp'tating wind-pipes. Lew is the chivalrous knight in the case, he natu-allv wins, but not until he's been through a session that would give even a heman something to remember. The fight is the climax of the plot, leading up to which is some pretty fast riding in a wildly careening wagon, a few comical antics by the camp cook, who adequately supplies the burlesque touch, and some pretty posing by Wanda Wilev as the heroine, whose good looks are not the least 'pleasing part of the picture. $ "Pete's Party"— Bray Clever Cartooning Type of production .... 1 reel cartcplS"" novelty. The thought of Pete's birthi gives Walter Lantz an opportut for throwing a real "animated" pai Nonplussed for the want of gue Walter simply goes to a book of ^ pictures and invites the guests the simple process of cutting th out of the pages and placing them Pete's dog house. When Pete rives the party is off to a swayi measure, the result of a few dn of T. N. T. shot into the punch fr the flask of a jovial St. Bernard, the midst of festivities Alonzo, stray alley cat, sneaks into the an room and treats himself to a goodose of the loaded punch. Whoo He feels every one of his nine li come to bat as he charges the paBc" and puts it to rout. When Wal rtli peeps in to note the results of i P'' liectic revelry, he sees Pete left ale »" 1^ with Miss Peek-and-Knees, bruiii iji' but blissful. Some party! As us i[ Lantz has gotten off a cartoon Jtl'ti fering worthy of his talents, full laughable distortions and scinti.lati with the sparks of a vivid imagii tion. Klii' fai ttrs in till (i(t( ;li ti mil ti din IDSit Hiiiri "On With the Dance"— Castle Interesting Idea Well Done Type of production....! reel novel Starting with a Spanish fandani and threading its terpsichorean w; down through the very latest versi of the "Black Bottom," this fil t/aces a cycle of dances as they a (lone in various countries. Thus, o makes a swift translation from a Ru sian dance, augmented in detail I a digression of floor-strewn daggei around which pirouetting feet sk fully flash, to the Parisian Apach which is a dance as much of mo( as of form. The film suggests gre possibilities in its musical accomp niment, and undoubtedly with a pro er score as a background, much inte est and enlivening entertainmei should result. "So This Is America"— Castle Fili Fair Scenic Type of production....! reel seer ??, "See America First" is adapted the slogan of this reel which ai;, to show just cause why ocean-goi Americans should see their o country first and proceeds to show variety of "points of interest" sta ing with a picture of the Statue Liberty then includes one or V rather inadequate views of N York. The tour jumps to Niaga skips out west to Yellowstone a Arizona Canyon, with a stop o\ at Los Angeles and finally wends way back to New York harbor. T reel doesn't contain a particulai well assorted collection of views, an inducement to Americans it mig create some enthusiasm but to p foreign tourists it could be lots bi ter. America has far more thrill sights than have been included a: certainly New York deserves a betl break than a shot of a busy stre corner and one lone view of busses rolling down Fifth Aven past the Plaza Hotel. ta; lliifit ,I(!oi i t( hi