The Film Daily (1921)

H Some Short Reels "The Policeman and the Baby" — Selig-Rork-Educational Type of production 2 reel drama This two reel drama marks a departure in the short reel field. It has all the earmarks of a feature picture inasmuch as the story, cast and direction are all of feature standards, only the length is reduced. The idea behind this new SeligRork series, which is to be released through Educational, is a good one. Photoplay rights have already been secured for stories from well known authors. The list includes such names as James Oliver Curwood, Mary Roberts Rinehart, E. Phillips Oppenheim, Opie Read, Leo Tolstoi, Montague Glass, and many others. The first of this series "The Policeman and the Baby," is adapted from a story by Clarence L. Cullen and was directed by Bertram Bracken. It deals with a policeman, baby, crook and $1,000 reward. The crook returns home to find his mother dead and about to be buried in Potters Field. This prompts him to go out upon a "job" so that he may secure money to give his mother a funeral. In the meantime the policeman's wife has left their baby in a department store and the child was handed over to the cop at the closing hour. The policeman did not recognize his own baby, and while on the way to the station he ran into the robbery. The crook, however, jumped into the policeman's taxi and found the baby on the seat. A chase takes place that ends in a smashup. The crook saved the baby from the flames of the burning car, and only later does the policeman discover that it was his own child. The cast of this two reel drama includes Wm. Desmond, Elinor Fair and Wallace Berry. The direction and photography are both excellent and the action swift. There is very little padding in any of this series. This departure in the short reel field promises to fill a long felt want. There are many people who would rather see two short reel dramas with the padding left out, than a feature of an indifferent order padded into six reels. They may also be used on short reel programs and added to a feature would make a good double header. It might be well for you to look into this series for they may be what you have long been seeking. "Aesop's Fables"— Fables Pictures, Pathe Type of production 1 reel cartoons This new series of animated cartoons are all built on some moral or maxim that is universally known. The action is carried on by the animals in the fables, who are modernized and humanized in order to put over a laugh. This they certainly succeed in doing. There is a good laugh in each reel of this series. Paul Terry is the cartoonist responsible for the clever animation and the amusing drawings. The action is quite brisk and the movement of the animals well studied. A good deal of imagination and sense of humor is shown. Many of the background drawings could have been improved, and the preaching endings might well have been toned down to advantage. However, your people are certain to laugh when they see these. The first of the series is called "Mice in Council." The mice come out of their hole and fish the cheese out of the trap. Mr. Cat walks up and down policing the kitchen. The mice have a meeting and carry banners that read — "Down with the Cat," and "Freedom of the Cheese." The moral is brought down to every day life and a street agitator is shown in the concluding feet of this reel. "The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg" is another of this series. The farmer and his wife kill the goose that has laid the 18 karat egg. The parellel drawn at the conclusion of this represents labor and capital in a cartoon killing the goose that lays the profits. The third of this series which will be issued weekly deals with "The Rooster and the Eagle." The rooster and the . duck enter the ring and do a very funny fight. The defeated duck is counted out and the rooster thinks himself a hero. The eagle, however, has been watching all this from his lofty peak and swoops down upon the rooster. There are quite a few laughs in this new series. "The Northern Trail"— Selig-Rork-Educational Type of production 2 reel drama This is another of the miniature features produced by SeligRork from a story by James Oliver Curwood called "The Wilderness Mail." The cast, acting and photography are all up to feature standards. The players include Margaret Landis Walt Whitman, Lewis Stone, Ethel Grey Terry, and Wallace Berry. The story, as one can gather from the title, deals with the Canadian North and includes a good deal of dog-sled riding. A thousand dollar prize is offered to the winner of a dog race, and Jan Ducet would have used the money to doctor up his little child's bad leg if he had won. But he lost; and the winner, Otto Franke, runs away with Jan's wife. A priest takes care of the little girl while Jan gives chase and finds the regretful woman in the snow. A fight follows and Jan hurls Otto from a high cliff and returns home with his wife. The photography, lighting, and detail are all well done. The acting is good and there is no want of action in this two reel production. It would make a good program filler and your people are certain to like these high class two reel dramas. "Watering the Elephants"— Mutt and Jeff— Fox Type of production 1 reel animated cartoon Mutt and Jeff have done better than they do in this. They have gone through more amusing situations and have produced more laughs than this will ever get. Mutt and Jeff proceed to water the circus elephants, but the pail-by-pail method seems too slow for Mutt, who fits the end of a hose over an elephant's trunk and turns on the stream. The beast swells up as big as a house and when the pressure is turned off the water shoots from his trunk and washes everything away, including Mutt and Jeff. Outside of this episode there is very little that is funny in this reel. Mutt and Jeff are capable little fellows, and can certainly put over more laughs than they do in this one. "Who's Who"— Sunshine Fox Type of production 2 reel comedy There is something really new in this Sunshine comedy. It is an effect obtained by double exposure. The funny hero and his girl are being pursued in the Canadian wilds when they run into a raging storm. Suddenly they find themselves in balmy tropical lands while but a few feet away, from the ground to the sky, the blinding blizzard blows. Both sets are produced and are shown in a single frame. A good deal more could have been made out of this effect. The lovers could have stopped to pick bananas while the search party on the other side of the picture became lost in the snow storm. This part of the story, however, is only incidental to the main theme of the comedy which deals with a trial in court. The story told by the defence leads up to the North woods and satires, the Canadian melo-drama. In the end the chairman of the jury and the State's attorney turn out to be the real criminals. There is new stuff in this comedy which is certain to get quite a few laughs from your audience. "How She Lied" — Vanity Comedy, Educational Type of production 1 reel comedy This story has been done many times before in almost exactly the same situation. Mary tells her brother that she is married and the brother assumes the wrong man. She sends for a minister, marries the right fellow ajid they clinch just as the brother returns. It takes them a very long time to explain and in the end all is well. Not very much time was spent in the making of this production.