The Film Daily (1921)

1 Some Short Reels 'Flaming Ice" — National Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures "Golf"— Cinal-Educational Type of production 1 reel adventure scenic Type of production 1 reel sport "Flaming Ice" is a scientific scenic that presents an element of danger. The camera in this is turned upon a glacier, and there _are many beautiful and descriptive shots that illustrate in detail the giant mass of ice and its crushing downward movement.' The explorers are well fitted for the adventure, and take some chances when they lower themselves down a crevice to get specimens and the photographs. There are some very lovely night scenes lit by torches whose flames are reflected in the ice. The negative is very skillfully dyed and as a whole presents a very realistic effect. It could, however, be greatly improved by judicious cutting. "The High Rollers"— Pathe Type of production 1 reel comedy Most of the .fun in this comedy is obtained in a skating rink and from two boys dressed to resemble gorillas, who frighten the skaters. The comedy as a whole presents little that is really new in the field of screen humor, but it nevertheless moves about in a breezy fashion. The pair of monkeys arrive on a boat and make their escape. They steal two pair of roller skates and skate into the rink. The rest is easy to imagine. The action of this reel is swift, and it is certain to get several good laughs though as a whole it is not far above an average comedy. "Movie Chats"— No 56— Kineto Co. Type of production 1 reel magazine This number of Charles Urban's Movie Chats contains some interesting shots and is well balanced. It opens with some views of Strassberg. the capital of Alsace-Loraine, and turns the camera on the streets, squares, and canal of this quaint city. Gutenberg place and the manument to the inventor of movable type are both shown in the first part of this magazine. Girls in overalls are next shown picking fruit in California, "the vineyard of the world." The nature section of this magazine is devoted to large birds. There are some beautiful shots of cranes, falcons, hawks and eagles. The birds are shown eating their prey. In the last part of this reel the camera is turned upon the Royal family of Spain attending the official enrolment of the Crown Prince in the army. The little Prince himself is shown kissing the flag and sword. The army is then reviewed from the royal box in the field. The entire reel is well photographed and full of interest. "The City of Algiers"— Burton Holmes-Paramount Type of production 1 reel travel This reel combines scenic and travel. The city of Algiers, where the East and West meet, is shown in all its sunlight and splendor. Burton Holmes arrives at the harbor of this African city which was taken over by the French in 1830 and held ever since. Fishermen, harbormen and life about the docks are all shown. The graded streets that lead to the freight docks are photographed before the camera is turned on the town itself. There is a French aspect to the streets of Algiers and a continental appearance to the cafes. The Grand Mosque and the whitewashed Mosque of the Fishermen are both brought into focus. The lower city with its European buildings is contrasted against the upper city with its narrow streets and general Eastern aspect. There are one or two splendid bits of photography in this section of the reel. The picture closes with several shots of the veiled women of Algiers going about their various tasks through the winding streets and arches of this interesting town. If your folks have any sporting blood in their veins they will enjoy this slow motion analysis of the strokes of the game. The ball is struck first as the naked eye would see it, and then the speed is reduced and every detail of the stroke caught by the ultra-speed camera. The twist of the wrists is illustrated in performing a long drive. A short drive, a bunker stroke and many other tricks of the game are clearly shown. When the speed of the ball is greatly reduced it can be seen as it leaves the club at the moment of compact. For a long time some golf experts held that the club follows the ball for six or eight inches after the ball is struck. But slow motion photography has now proved this to be an error. The ball leaves the club at the moment of impact and this is clearly shown in the above film. The golf fans in your audience would enjoy and appreciate this sport picture and would be sorry to miss it if you overlooked it. "Your Own Home"— Pollard— Pathe Type of production 1 reel comedy The joys of suburban life and the inconveniences of a modern bungalow are all shown in this comedy. Leaky roofs, paper walls, quarrelsome neighbors, and house pets that can become pests all go to make up the fun in this slapstick comedy. Wind and .rain effects are very well photographed and a good deal of the humor is obtained by allowing the roof to cave in and pouring streams of water on to the beds and furniture of the rooms. In the end the home owners decide to go out and spend the night in the garden for fear they will catch cold in the house. Although this comedy presents nothing that is very new it nevertheless will get several good laughs and for that reason would make a good program filler. The sets are well done and a good deal of attention has been paid to detail. Some trick photography too is effectively used to make the house shimmy when the fat woman dances. "Annette Kellerman in High Diving"— Cinal-Educational Type of production 1 reel slow motion Annette Kellerman does some fancy diving before the camera which is reduced to slow motion and every detail and grace clearly shown. Besides the ordinary and fancy dives Miss Kellerman does some under water swimming which is also reduced in speed and makes a lovely effect. Unfortunately the camera is turned against the light and in many places the shots appear not very clear. As a slow motion picture this reel is not up to the average either in interest or photography. A good deal of footage in this reel is wasted in an introduction and an epilogue which has little or nothing to do with the subject of diving. Pathe Review No. 109 Type of production i reel magazine The greater part of this magazine is devoted to showinghow radium is extracted from its ore. The various chemical processes are illustrated and the final product shown in its tiny glass container. Some remarks regarding the extraction of this most precious element and its uses are included. The camera is next turned upon the screen. This section of the magazine is called "The Door That Has No Lock." The remainder is devoted to color illustrations of Japanese lillies, and a slow motion dance called "Swish swish.""