The Film Daily (1921)

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Sunday, June 19, 1921 TsiijA DAILY 13 Quite a Disappointment After Sennett's Last Two Comedy Features Mack Sennett's "HOME TALENT" Associated Producers, Inc. DIRECTOR Not credited AUTHOR Not credited SCENARIO BY Not credited CAMERAMAN Fred Jackman and Perry Evans DIRECTOR and PHOTOGRAPHER of ROMAN EPISODE James E. Abbe AS A WHOLE Big sets "and plenty of comedy effort, also good display of famous Sennett girls STORY Not a genuine laugh in the whole five reels ; Roman episode done on a lavish scale DIRECTION All right but somehow or other the humorous business does not get over PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS Good CAMERA WORK Very good PLAYERS Nearly all the well known Sennett players are used, but even Ben Turpin fails to make you laugh EXTERIORS Few INTERIORS Some lavish sets DETAIL Satisfactory CHARACTER OF STORY Vaudeville team out of work plans Roman play which is shown bit by bit as they read the script LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 5,000 feet All of Mack Sennett's best comedians, the appearance of the bathing girls in attractive costumes, and some lavish sets, do not make "Home Talent" the sort of comedy entertainment which is usually provided by and expected of this producer. Somehow or other this latest five reel comedy feature misses fire, and it seems hard to locate the reason for its failure to produce laughs. At any rate it doesn't. And the Roman episode, which consists of several lavish sets and is fairly spectacular, fails in its burlesque of the Roman slave market. In this sequence James E. Abbe, a. well known portrait artist, is given credit for the direction and photography. The settings are attractive and a large company is well handled. The scenes rather resemble some of those used in "A Small Town Idol." Ben Turipn, Charlie Murray, Eddie Gribbon, James Finlayson and Kalla Pasha handle the comedy stunts, while Phyllis Haver has the feminine lead. The Sennet girls include Harriet Hammond, Mildred June and Kathryn McGuire. The best bit of amusement presented is in the Roman episode which gives a burlesque of an ancient Roman slave market. It would seem that the idea held forth better opportunities for comedy than have been secured. At any rate the laughs don't come spontaneously even in this sequence and the titles aren't up to the Sennett standard. Murray plays the part of a landlord who cannot collect from a stranded vaudeville troupe. Other than to remind them of their rent, Murray hasn't much to do in "Home Talent." The title suggests a lot of fun in the way of amateur theatricals of the "Main St." variety, and that is all the more reason why "Home Talent" is apt to prove disappointing to the majority. The picture opens with two vaudeville teams, out of work, deciding to combine their efforts in a play dealing with the ancient Roman slave market. They hold an impromtu rehearsal and then the actual play is visualized. These scenes done by James Abbe are attractive, and the composition is quite effective. In fact, the artistic quite overcomes the comedy element. Will Show Up Better If Cut Considerably Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor After the laughs provided by "Love, Honor and Behave" and "A Small Town Idol," you cannot help but be disappointed with "Home Talent." Perhaps a final decision cannot be given from a showing given for reviewing purposes, but certainly everyone is human enough to want to laugh if they have something to laugh at, and you just can't laugh at "Home Talent." It would be well for both Associated and Mack Sennett if the picture were cut to a two or three reeler, eliminating much of the obvious padding which has been inserted to make it a feature. It hasn't feature possibilities, and especially coming after Sennett's last two, which were very much better, it's a big disappointment. You had better use your own judgment with "Home Talent" because even one like this is apt to make it hard for you to convince them that you have a good one next time you announce a Sennett comedy. If, however, Associated cuts it to short reel length you need not hesitate, and the best of the burlesque sequence will likely please them.