The Film Daily (1920)

(V A vJO uHo-o Short Reels "Edgar, the Explorer"— Goldwyn Type of Production 2 reel comedy Mason N. Litson directed this Booth Tarkington two reeler which is an acceptable offering but does not measure up to the standard of the best issues of the series. For over a reel they depict the manner in which Johnny Jones, who as usual, plays the lead, visualizes some African adventures of which lie is reading. Some of the material is fairly humorous, but most of it is not funny enough to provoke genuine mirth. Most of the big laughs come at the finish, when Jones, together with Buddy Messenger and Lucile Ricksen, as well as other unnamed children, go through with some of the incidents of the story at play. That part of it together with the footage that follows, has been handled more than well, and there is much there that will meet with approval. That this will get over is due mainly to the concluding portion. (he men, the manner in which they perform some of their work and the school where the younger generation is taught modern ways nd inoculated with the germ of civilization. Of more than passing interest is a device for pressing cane, the primitive and ingenious machine being shown nicely. The piece has been titled and photographed well and is quite up to the desired standard. "The Quaint Isle of Marken" — Educational Type of production 1 reel travelogue No more attractive feminity than that seen on this strange Dutch isle is to be found anywhere in the world. The girls and women, of all types and ages, garbed in their costumes which are the height of simplicity and prettiness, are seen throughout the reel which is replete with genuine local color and as entertaining as such an offering can possibly be. Some views of the harbor where numerous fishing vessels with myriad masts clustered together are offered, as well as views of some of the men. A shot that will get a laugh is one in which a self-conscious bride and groom, the latter in a costume that looks weird hurry by. The children in their white caps are picturesque, while the closing shots possess rare scenic beauty and create a splendid impression. Bray Pictograph, No. 465 — Goldwyn Type of production 1 reel magazine Simple exercises for developing the muscles of the back, sides, arms and chest are dealt with in the initial portion of this Bray production. Like most other such systems for attaining some approach to physical perfection, they will probably hold the attention of the spectator in fair style while he is in the theater, after which they will be forgotten. The Sting Ray, a denizen of the water and alluded to in the rhymed titles as the Cla*n Cracker, follows. Marguerite Gove is responsible for the bits of verse which are undoubtedly superior to most of the poetry offered on the silver sheet, although not as explicit as they might be. The "Out of the Inkwell Cartoon" at the culmination is more actual ction than cartoon, but reasonably humorous. Generally, an acceptable offering of its type. "Mad Hatters" — Chester — Educational I >i" of production 1 reel travelogue Hats as a rule differ with the locale and the tourist finds cranium coverings of various designs as he travels. There are, however, no head coverings stranger than those worn by tin women of the Battan Islands, not far from the Phillipines and populated by people of similar characteristics. These consist of closely woven straw or some such substance, hanging low in the rear. This travel production also shows some of "The Noisy Still"— Fox— Sunshine Type of production 2 reel comedy Several novel and very clever bits of comedy business have been built about a very scant plot, if it may be called such. Combined with some of the more usual tricks, without which few knockabout productions are complete, are numerous bits of unusual footage, almost all of which register nicely. The dropping of the mattress by the principal comedian, and his tumble on the hard pavement as the landlady removes the shock-absorber, the efforts of one of the performers to fish with a vacum cleaner, the discovery of the flivver, the use of the giant roller and the manner in which it flattens one of the performers against the pavement all register nicely. On the other hand, the way the waiter reckons up a bill by examining the remnants of the meal on the person of the consumer and one or two other scenes are not essentially new. The original stuff in this, however, is of such a quality as to make up for the lack of a theme and enables it to score. Wid's Daily $ Binders 3.00 Invaluable for reference purposes.