The Film Daily (1921)

^3 Some Short Reels "The Saddle King"— Universal 'His Four Fathers" — Educational Type of production 2 reel Western Type of production 1 reel comedy Ed. (Hoot) Gibson is starred in this. It is a very conventional Western story, with a villianous ranch foreman, cowboy hero and plot to steal the pay roll, but it is pretty good entertainment nevertheless. Gibson does some very creditable rough riding, and the action moves along at a good clip. The story is about a roving cowboy who gets a job "bus'ing" bronchos on a ranch where lives a beautiful girl. He succeeds in riding a horse that no one else can master, thus wining the admiration of the girl. The foreman is in league with a gang of cattle rustlers, one of them confesses, and the foreman is about to steal the ranch payroll and decamp when caught by Gibson. There is nothing original in the developement, but for a short offering it is all right. The western atmosphere is good, Gibson has a pleasing personality, and it should go over where they like this type of picture. "His Day of Rest" — Universal Type of production 1 reel comedy Joe Martin, the trained Chimpanzee is the featured performer of this, and the monk gets a lot of laughs out of the reel. He pulls some remarkably human stunts and his antics are bound to be amusing to almost any audience. The picture .supposedly shows Joe enjoying a day of rest from his labors in the pictures. He escorts a couple of youngsters around Universal City, performing the duties of a first class nurse maid. There isn't much to the picture besides Joe, but he keeps it going, and makes it an entertaining reel. "Pahs And Papas" — Chester-Educational Type of production 1 reel scenic The cameraman has gone into the South sea for these views, and some very interesting glimpses of the Maori tribes, inhabitants of New Zealand, are the result. The reel starts off with a journey up one of the principal rivers of New Zealand, displaying the thick tropical vegetation of the country, and making an artistic bit of footage. Arriving several miles up the stream, the spectator finds himself outside the walls of a Maori village. The natives are then shown in all the occupations common to their everyday life. The carving of wooden images is shown, several grotesque and interesting native dances, of which the strangest is the Poi dance, executed by the women. The tribe has performed for the camera, showing their method of meeting an attack. The facial contortions which the natives go through to work themselves into a rage, are highly amusing. It is a very good reel from start to finish, and will make a first class scenic number. The titles are by William Henry Wright. "Fresh from the Country" — Universal Type of production 1 reel comedy This is a fairly funny situation comedy, featuring Dorothea Wolpert and a little curly haired kid. There are no really big laughs in it, but it gets over pretty well on continuous mild amusement. Miss Wolpert presents a sufficiently terrible appearance to make it humorous to consider her as a bride, and the little kid is cute and amusing. The plot is about a country cousin who comes to town and falls in love with a wealthy man a fond mother has selected for herMaughter. Daughter has a sweetie of her own choice, and they cook up a scheme whereby they all disguise, hold a double wedding, and everybody is happy except mother. It runs along pretty fast. This is one of the series released under the Vanity brand, featuring Neal Burns, Irene Dahon, and Laura LaPlant. A good comedy situation has been chosen for the basis of the reel and -Burns and the two young ladies do lairly goorl work in extracting the humor of it. No big laughs, but it's a little better than average amusement all the way through. The girl's father an insulting letter and the latter kicks the boy out talent. The story is about a young man who loves the daughter of his father's enemy. The boy's father sends the girl's father an insulting letter and the latter kicks the boy out until his father shall apologize. The comedy results when the girl's chum and the boy both disguise as the boy's father and come to apologise. It's a fast reel and will prove a satisfactory filler. "A Desperate Tenderfoot"— C. B. C. Film Corp. Type of production 2 reel western This is a Star Ranch brand offering without any featured performers, and presenting two reels of just fair entertainment of the typical western type. There is an air of mystery created by the question of who the tenderfoot is, that aids somewhat in keeping interest alive, but the stereotyped plot prevents considering it anything more than average. However, if your audiences are western fans you can probably get it across, as there is quite a lot of shooting, a villianous train robber, and except for a slow start, the action is speedy. The story is about a mysterious tenderfoot who comes into the town of "Pot Luck," where the heroine runs the saloon and gambling hall. He is picked on by all the "hard guys" and appears very timid, thus disgusting the girl. After getting into a poker game with the train robber gang, it turns out that he is a government detective. He catches the gang and wins the girl. "Christmas Thoughs" — Goldwyn Type of production 1 reel magazine Some very worth while Christmas thoughts are brought out in this number of the Ford series, which make it a very timely and bright reel that should find a spot on many Christmas bills. The "Good Fellows" club of any city is shown convening the night before Christmas, talking over the most enjoyable way to spend Christmas day. They arrange to meet Christmas morning at a charitable institution, and there they secure the names of numbers of poor families. The balance of the reel then shows the unlimited joy they bring to homes where Christmas day would otherwise have been empty. One of the "Good Fellows" is seen bringing a heaping basket of provisions and gifts to a starving family, and the happiness he creates is well told in the picture. It fulfills its purpose nicely, and will not be amiss on any program during the Christmas season. "Roll Your Own" — Goldwyn Type of production 1 reel animated cartoon This is the funniest Happy Hooligan reel in some time, although quite short. Happy is in Mexico painting signs, and he falls for a senorita whose father runs the bull fights. The bull dies before the performance, and Happy takes his place, disguised in a cow hide. He vanquishes the tough bull fighter and wins the senorita. There are more than the average number of laughs in this one, and it will make a good filler where a cartoon is wanted.