The Film Daily (1921)

Short Reels "His Unlucky Job"— Sunshine-Fox Type of production 2 reel comedy There are a number of big laughs in this Sunshine number, and the greater portion of it is good stuff. Some kids in a school room contribute largely to the fun of the first part, and this is further abetted by trick photography and some good gags in the form of a big wind storm, which blows things around in a ridiculous manner. The second part also has a funny idea and several bits where the laughs are certain, when the citizens of the toughest town in the West force the office of sheriff upon an unsuspecting tenderfoot. This part is speedy and full of falls and slapstick. It gets over well. The biggest criticism of the picture is that there is entirely too much suggestive business. It is very broad in places, and while this stuff appeals to certain types in every audience, the greater number of picture patrons don't enjoy it and don't want it. Aside from these scenes it's a pretty good comedy, with some sure laughs for everybody. next, with some more close-ups of Dutch types. The reel closes with a beautiful sunset shot, in which the sun forms a background for the masts and sails of thousands of boats. It is a high class, and thoroughly enjoyable travel picture. "Hearts And Flour"— Universal Type of production 1 reel comedy Dorothea Wolpert is the featured comedienne in this reel, which is very shy on material. The laughs are few, and the whole idea of the comedy doesn't register much fun. The little kid who has worked with Miss Wolpert in other numbers, furnishes some amusement in his looks and several bits of business, and the featured lady may get a couple of chuckles on her appearance. Aside from this there isn't anything amusing in the reel. Miss Wolpert is the kitchen mechanic in a home where there is a fair daughter. On receiving word from an old friend that the friend's son is coming to marry her daughter, the mother substitutes the maid for the daughter. Then comes some business with the maid entertaining the young man at tea. It turns out that he isn't the friend's son, but the gas man, and Dorothea goes back to the ice man. It is a poor number. "Gypsy Scientists" — Goldwyn-Bray Type of production 1 reel pictorial This Bray Pictograph takes the form of a pack train trip through the Cascade range of mountains in the state of Washington. It has been exceptionally well photographed by William and Irene Finley, and results in some beautiful shots of the mountainous regions, with its tremendous rocky crags and placid lakes. Views of the Skagit River are given, showing its deep gorges and a frail bridge spanning it at a great height. With a telephoto lense some very clear shots have been obtained of the wild animals of the region. Deer, Elk, a whole family of woodchucks, and a short shot of some wary mountain sheep, are presented. These animal views are interesting from the fact that they appear to be close-ups of the animals, offering a study which is rather unique. The reel concludes with the departure of the campers for home, over a broad expanse of snow on the mountain top. It contains enough of beauty and interest to rank it as a high grade offering of the type. "In Dutch — Educational Type of production 1 reel travelogue This number is of the World Wandering series, and. as its title implies, takes the spectator on a short tour of Holland. The cameraman has made a very good selection of scenes, and has secured some excellent Dutch types, which makes the reel highly enjoyable from start to finish. The pleasure of the picture is increased by some really humorous titles with clever art creations accompanying them. It starts off with some views of the Dykes, the immense sea walls which keep the country in existence. Then come scenes in the quaint towns along picturesque canals, with many close-ups of inhabitants of every age. Next is shown the market place in one of the larger cities, with thousands of Edam cheese awaiting shipment. A shot shows the loading of these cheese an canal boats, by rolling them down long shoots with the speed of a juggler. Other shots in the market place show two Dutchman bargaining in a peculiar manner over the sale of some goats. A short glimpse of the Dutch militia on parade comes "Hides— And Go Seek"— Educational Type of production 1 reel Travelogue This is one of the Hudson's Bay Travel Series, and forms a reel of "cold" but enjoyable scenes in the daily life of a trapper in the far North. It starts off with a colored shot of a picturesque bit of northern scenery, and then the Hudson's Bay trading station at Fort Chipewyan is shown. The trappers, headed by a French Canadian guide, leave the fort with dog teams, and they are then seen traveling through some heavy snow country. On reaching the chosen camp site, the tent is pitched and preparations made for the night. Then the picture shows the various forms of traps and snares prepared for catching fur bearing animals. The setting of dead-falls, beaver traps, lynx snares, and musk-rat traps in the ice, forms an interesting bit of footage. After showing that it is possible to keep warm through an arctic night, by packing the beds with fir boughs, the trappers make the rounds of their traps, and the result is seen in the skins of Ermine, beaver, muskrat, skunk, and martin. Nearly all of the reel is entertaining. It's a first rate number. "The Instructor"— Reelcraft Type of production 1 reel comedy This is one of a series known as Paragon Comedies, featuring George Clark. Clark has a funny make-up and puts his stuff over pretty well. This number doesn't afford him an awful lot of opportunity, but he gets several laughs out of pure foolishness. A dwarf with a heavy weight lady skating partner also affords some amusement. Clark is very much in need of work and when he sees an ad for a roller skating instructor he applies, after a couple of narrow escapes from the park cops for flirting. He gets the job, but he can't skate, and some fairly good business developes with Clark doing a lot of flops on the floor. Several gags are used which fail to register because of their age, but it's fast, and gets over as an average comedy reel. " Pussyfoot" — Reelcraft Type of production 1 reel comedy A Paragon Comedy featuring George Clark, and containing a number of good bits. Some new comedy stunts are registered and Clark gets them over well. It starts off with a laugh when Clark has his clothes stolen off his back while studying a book on how to be a detective. He then gets into a woman's room in his beeveedees, and some old time chase stuff developes which is good for a few laughs in spite of its age. Clark gets into a lot of trouble on the street, due to his scanty attire, and his several escapes from the cops make a fair amount of fun. There is a big laugh when he slides out of his dressing gown which the cops are holding, only to walk right into it again around the corner. He finally rescues the kidnapped daughter of a millionaire, and at the same time the kidnappers unwittingly walk into the jail. It's a little better than average one reel offering. "Fatherly Love"— Goldwyn Type of production 1 reel animated cartoon The laughs aren't as numerous in this Happy Hooligan cartoon as some preceding numbers. Happy and Gloomy Gus are aiding and abetting the approaching demise of their ancient father, by chilling him when he is cold and roasting him when he is warm. The elder Hooligan kicks the bucket and then Happy and Gus, after selling his clothes, look for the fortune. His will says that the key to the buried treasure is in one of his old shoes. Happy has sold the shoes, and to get them back he plays cat on several fences, collecting several pairs. The paper is found and the two dig up a trunk. When opened it contains 400 pair of shoes. There isn't a great deal of amusement, and the reel is below the average Hooligan cartoon.