The Film Daily (1928)

Sunday, August 12, 1928 Ire>ic Rich in "Powder My Back" Warners Length: 6186 ft. DRAGGED OUT PICTURE I BASED ON FLIMSY STORY iWHICH AT TIMES BECOMES iSILLY. IS DECIDEDLY A WEAK SISTER. Cast. . . .Irene Rich does her best to overcome unconvincing story, she misses in a vampire role; Audrey Feri ris, pretty but hasn't much to do; Andre Beranger is called upon to bolster the show with his trick mannerisms, but these become tiresome. Anders Randolph and Carroll Nve Rood. Story and Production. . . . Peeved by the act of a purity candidate for mayor in stopping her show, the star fakes injury in an accident to gain access to his home in an efTort to compromise him. Instead, she falls in love with him, abandons her plan, only to find that he loves her. There are some laughs, injected by Berang-er, who overdoes them as his task becomes more and more of a burden, but the picture just isn't there. Irene Rich tries hard to overcome the handicap of a weak story. She does her best to offset discrepancies in the script, but it's too much too ask. The picture seems to wabble on the liasis of reaction to the theme, and it's little wonder, in view of the story. Direction, Roy Del Ruth, not much to work with; Author, Jerome Kingston; Scenario, Robert Lord; Editor, Not credited; Titles, Not credited; Photography, Frank Kesson, very good. "Obey Your Husband" Anchor-S. R. Length: 5600 ft. THREADBARE STORY TOLD IN THE SAME OLD WAY. ONLY FAIR AS A PROGRAM PICTURE. Cast. .. .Dorothy Dwan sufficient as the misbehaving femme. She's beautiful. Male lead competently handled by Gaston Glass. Others Alice Lake, Henry Sedley and Robert Homans. Story and Production You've seen this yarn screened before. It's the familiar one about the neglected wife who won't obey her daddy and eventually hubby, especially in regard to the crowd she travels with. She runs up a sad bridge debt and the sleek heavy, doing an imitation of Adolph Menjou, gets naughty. His murder follows, with both the leads generously taking the blame as each susl)ects the other of having done the job. But later you learm that the heavy's girl friend jealously knocked him off. What little comedy relief is injected in the film doesn't score heavily and the titles are nothing to rave about. The direction didn't help the story much. The picture will draw best in the smaller houses and not much elsewhere. Direction, Charles J. Hunt, weak; Author, Arthur Hoerl; Scenario, Arthur Hoerl; Editor, William Holmes; Titles, Not credited; Photography, Robert E. Cline, satisfactory. Short Subject Reviews Silent "Two Tough Tars" Roach— M-G-M A Punic Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy Stan _ and Oliver — Laurel and Hardy — in one of the funniest comedies in a couple of ages. They are two toughi tars on shore leave who make up with two girls and, in a hired flivver, start out for a perfect day. Their rollicking course ends up in a traffic jam on a country road. Well, from then on, the riot begins. A traffic cop attempts to end the scrap and finally orders all the cars to follow the tars who goofily lead the procession into a railroad tunnel. The oncoming train forces all of the cars out and, after the smoke clears away, out come Laurel and Hardy, car compressed into half its normal size, but the two sailors as jaunty as ever. The gags are great, and the laughs mount until practically continuous. Worth booking anywhere. Be sure to get it. It'll knock your crowd stiff. Directed by James Parrott. "Tarzan and Mighty" Universal Usual Serial Thrills Type of production .Serial The kids will go for this. Universal seems to have injected some pretty good production values, judging from the opening episodes. The Tarzan stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs have had a wide circulation, and that is important bear in mind in figuring this serial's draw. Frank Merrill plays Tarzan; Estelle Kingston is billed as Mary Trevor; the heavy is Al Ferguson and Bobbie Nelson plays Robbie Trevor, Mary's brother. They all get by. Nobody is concerned very much with the acting in these blood and thunder affairs anyway. The hero is stalwart, the heroine, pretty, and the villain, plenty dirty looking. The story deals with an English nobleman and his wife on an exploration trip to Africa. Fever gets them and they die, leaving a baby bov who is raised by an ape and_ is later known as Tarzan. The heroine enters the picture as castaway of a wrecked ship. The villain is the descendant of a pirate crew of Iciu ago, or something like that who iS out hot after Tarzan and his tribe, the ape-people. The openers indicate that animals will be used plentifullv throughout the various chapters. It looks like a good bet for audiences mat id'l for the v rial stuff. "The Terrible People" Pathe Manufactured Thrills Type of production . serial Spencer Bennet's latest serial concoction begins with all the earmarks of high-speed, thrill entertainment. It is based on the story by Edgar Wallace, novelist, with Walter Miller and Allene Ray again co-starred and Thomas Holding contributing to the villainy. The story deals with a forger, leader of a gang known as as "The Terrible People," who is arrested by Miller, youthful sleuth, and in the fracas kills a man. Before going to the chair he swears vengance upon the persons responsible for his apprehension. That's what leads to the story. The gang try to bomb Detective Miller to death but he escapes and a second attempt to burn him in a houseboat, along with Allene who plays the secretary of a wealthy and crabby old lady, also goes wrong. In the meantime judge and prosecuting attorney involved in the forger's conviction have been murdered. The first three episodes seen are packed with serially-manufactured thrills and consequently make good entertainment for serial fans. "Astronomeows" Felix, the Cat— Educational Amusing Cartoonantics Type of production . . 1 reel cartoon Fehx, the Cat, in another pleasant number. The cartoon work is very good and the gags, as usual, clever. Felix, as keynoter at a national convention of "dem-o-cats" swings the crowd to a decision to live on Mars because cats lead "a dog's life" on earth. So Felix makes a tour of inspection first before bringing the crowd up to join him. His adventures are funny. This number will click — no doubt of it. "School Begins" Our Gang— M-G-M Clever, Diverting Type of production 2 reel comedy School's on. Harry hates it, frames Farina to deliver a note that his mother has broken both legs and I wants him home. Which is swell until mother walks into the classroom. Meanwhile Wheezer, Harry's brother, has been fishing and starts home. Passing a circus, two trained seals smell the fish and follow Wheezer. in his excitement, begins dropping the fish and finally waddles into the classroom, the seals close on his heels. The excitement is terrific and results in school breaking up for the day. Well gagged and very well done. Has plenty of laughs. Directed by Anthony Mack. "Hollywood or Bust" Horace in Hollywood Series Universal A Good Start Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy Arthur Lake gets away to a good start in this, the first of his new series. He's a "movie-struck" youth, determined to get to Hollywood. A letter from Hoot Gibson causes him to start out, despite his mother's l^leadings and his sweetie's tears. Father, however, prevents success of the runaway attempts. Banished to his room, Horace falls asleep, to dream of joining Hoot as a side partner. Indian fights galore make the dream some nightmare, and he is so unhappy when he awakes, that his parents promise he may start for Hollywood in a week. This series looks good, judging by the start made by Director Luddy. Pathe Review No. 34 Pathe Average Magazine Stuff Type of production 1 reel novelty Subjects in this number are: "Lumbering for Camphor in Formosa Jungles,'^ "Orphan Annie's Friend Harold Gray," showing intimate pictures of the cartoonist; "Ferocious Vegetarian"; "The Terrible Sun Bear," "America's Birthplace," relics at Jamestown, Va. ; "New York Architecture," study of the Manhattan skyline, present and future. Ordinarily entertaining stuff. "Early to Bed"— Hal Roach M-G-M A Pippin Type of production 2 reel comedy This is one of the best of the Stan Laurel-Ohver Hardy series. Hardy gets a legacy and starts out to enjoy life. He hires Stan as his butler. One night Hardy comes home pieeyed, and insists on going out to finish his spree. Stan remonstrates, and finally in tears tells Hardy that he IS resigning. Much fun follows. "Fighting Orphans " Bruce — Educational Bear Antics Type of production 1 reel scenic The antics of two cub bears disporting themselves in the woods furnish some natural laughs at their clumsy antics. They finally make a raid on a camp and clean up all the food in sight. The final shot shows them with their tummies well filled, and falling asleep all huddled up in a knot. The last part of the reel shows some unusual views of white caps and breakers careening over a rocky shore just after a storm. Well handled and nice photography. "A Cross-Country Run" Aesop Fables — Pathe Black and White Fun Type of production. . 1 reel novelty The menagerie cuts loose for a cross-country race in this number. There are plenty of illegitimate methods indulged in by the funny-looking contestants. Old Al, the farmer, comes through the winner when an ungentlemanly mule kicks him for several cartoon miles. The picture contains a few new touches and ought to please fans who like this type of material. "Canned Thrills" Grantland Rice — Pathe Seeking Entertainment Type of production...! reel novelty How the public takes its thrills at Coney Island is the topic of this member of the Sportlight series. Gives shots of amusement-seekers experimenting with the various thrillproducing devices afforded by the nation's playground. So-so. "Growing Pains" Our Gang— M-G-M Excellent, As Usual Type of production. . . .2 reel comedy We never get over our raves about the Our Gang comedies. If Hal Roach discontinues them, we, for one, intend registering the loudest squawk we can muster. In this, Mary Ann is the pest of the neighborhood. She just raises hell with (Continued on Page 12)