The Film Daily (1920)

28 DAILY Sunday, July 11, 1920 Short Reels "Foam Fantasies" — C. L. Chester Scenes of waves and breakers lashing a rocky shore comprise this issue of the Chester Screenics. Throughout, the photography and technical end of it generally hold up splendidly. The water stuff is excellent throughout, and while the spectacle is not a novel one, as far as scenics are concerned, it has been filmed so well that the production holds the eye throughout. "Lunatics in Politics" — Reelcraft When woman suffrage was generally regarded as a source of good humor, stuff of the type seen in this two reeler, starring Alice Howell, was used quite frequently. Of late, burlesquing the masculine woman is something that appears to have gone out of fashion. However, Reelcraft has come back with just such a production and the result is a creditable comedy— creditable because its good qualities outnumber its bad ones. Considerable fault could be found with the technical end of the production, for the lightings and photography are rather below par in a number of places. From the beginning of the picture until it is well under way, it keeps the laughs coming at a rapid rate, and although the very finish is not quite as good as what precedes, it holds up acceptably. This shows Alice Howell, who incidentally is a capable comedienne, as the candidate for chief of police with the broadproportioned Rose Burkhardt as the opposition. Dick Smith and Tommy Flynn, the former the director, are also seen in it. There are several clever bits of business in the shaving scene and the campaign portion, in which the rival candidates endeavor to secure the attention of the audience. The latter part is the big gun in the piece, and it certainly produces the desired result. "Play Hookey" — Reelcraft Material concerning the efforts of the stellar performer, Billy Franey, as a fisherman, occupies most of the footage in this single reel production which is made up almost entirely of slapstick comedy stunts, several of which should register quite well. The principal fault of this is that it is not sufficiently "dressed up," that the impression it makes upon the eye is not a very good one. The photography is open to criticism in more than one place and the film does not end anywhere in particular. George Jeske is credited with directing again, and the offering should get over nicely where other Franey comedies have been well received. "The Electric Heart"— Baumer Storage batteries are alluded to as electric hearts in this single reeler which explains quite conclusively by coupling scenes at a factory with diagrams, the manner in which they are made. The Pres-to-lite company's output receives a bit of mention towards the finsh, but otherwise, this is free from excessive advertising; matter and is a highly satisfactory industrial production. In explaining the manner in which these batteries are made, it makes matters clear and the technical end of it has been taken care of in satisfactory style. "A Bungalow Bungle" — Reelcraft Millnini Moranti appears to be specializing in the handling or henpecked-husband roles, for in this two reeler he again essays the part of a spouse who is ruled by a strong-minded wife. The story concerns the efforts of a group of his friends to assist in his liberation and, needless to say, their schemes work out successfully. Bathing girls are introduced in the production after it has gone along for a while and they help it considerably. The biggest laugh in the piece is the beating Moranti receives at the hands of Raye Hampton after she has found him together with the vamp, played by a lady who bears the name of Wanda Waldrip. Ordinarily, the spectacle of a man receiving a pummeling at the hands of his spouse would not occasion very much surprise or laughter, but the manner in which they have filmed it this time makes it a genuine scream. Miss Hampton goes to the task of administering the thrashing with a nonchalant air that makes it really amusing, her delivery of the stiff-armed blows being mirth-provoking. A comedy that can fit into more than one show. "Getting His Goat"— Reelcraft Grafting of glands has been much used as the basis of more than one comedy, but has not been overworked and may still be expected to get smiles. Billy Franey is starred in this single reeler, in which Charles Haefeli and Charles Post are also prominent. It opens with a scene at the deathbed of an old man, who subsequently arises from the wheel chair in which he is taken out to be drowned, secured some goat glands and proceeds to cut capers. The beginning, in which the relatives eagerly await the aged gentleman's death hoping that they may share the inheritance more quickly is funny and the picture holds up splendidly throughout, this being one of the best if not the best of the series. "A Trip to Coney Island" — Hy Mayer Travelaugh Whether or not Hy Mayer's "Travelaughs" will be released generally is not certain, these productions having been presented at the Capitol exclusively thus far. Their nature is such, however, as to make them suitable for showing elsewhere, and if they are put on the release schedule of some distributing organization, they should receive a considerable amount of booking. Coney Island, haven of summer pleasureseekers, has been selected by the artist as the subject for his newest offering and by combining actual shots of the resort with drawings, he has secured much laughable material. That the reel can be made into a distinct novelty was amply demonstrated at its first showing, when all of the familiar sounds of the scene of action were cleverly rendered by the orchestra and others. Even without the effects, however, this is very unusual. Mayer has made drawings of some of the characters which are cleverly faded into actual pictures of the people, while in other cases he has used either the drawings or other footage alone. The technical end of it is practically flawless, the photography and camera work of fine quality and the result is worth while entertainment.