The Film Daily (1931)

Ill -Hot Shivers" Simple Simon Comedies Time, 20 mins. Good Comedy \ ■ >medj -kit l; uk!i for most first run houses. Simon plays the rolt of an imaginary invalid who made the "fall guy" by a k i<ld \ wife to te-t her husband's love by using his jealousy. While several of the situations verge on the risque, they arc at no time offensive and the humor is practically continuous. Simon is thoroughly at home in his role and the supporting cast is well sen. Mori Blumenstock is given credit for direction from an original Rube Welch and Wm. F, Grew Vpeing Hollywood" Tiffany Time, 20 mins. Fine Annual Comedy The Tiffany Chimp comedies are off on their second series, and this one i> well up to standard. The action takes place in Hollywood, with the lady chimp coming from the farm to break into the studio. It winds up by a farmhand sweetheart busting in on the set to wallop the villain who he thinks is really abusing her, and getting himself a job as leading man on the strength of his good acting. The accents of the different chimps are cleverly handled, and the synchronization of the human voices is well done. This one should go over strong. Radio 'Wot a Night" Time, 7 mins. Good Carton a lorn and Jerry cartoon, that follows a little different formula than the usual cartoon. It carries a storv, with the two pals getting into a haunted castle, and undergoing a seof adventures quite fantastic, and ingeniously worked out. (letting away From the usual animal characters in the cartoon is a relief, and this one ought to go over good. "The Albany Branch" Educational Time, 20 mins. Light Number A pretty weak number that develops no real humor worth talking about. Tom Dugan and Pert Kelton are featured. They are invited to a swell party, and Tom, who thinks he is a singer, messes things up generally with the ritzy crowd, and falls for a society dame, and can't understand why she does not reciprocate. It lacks the gags to carry it through the footage, and must be chalked up as just a fair comedy. AMERICA'S FIRST TRULY CONTINENTAL HOTEL THE St. Mom rz OIT THE PARK 50 Central Park South New York City Old world hospitality in the spirit of the new world; old world serviie with the newest of the new world's comforts. A cuisine that is the essence of Europe's finest, under the inspired direction of Chic Sale in "The County Seat" Radio Time, 21 mins. Plenty Funny A typical Chic Sale, with the comedian doing his famous characterization of the good natured and la/. country type. He is thrown out of the home of his brother-in-law, who is trying to put over a deal with a big auto man abcut to visit the town. Chic meets the big shot by accident, gains his friendship, and is brought into the business conference. Then the business man discovers that Chic is an old schoolmate, and declares lim in on the deal — or no deal. It is done with the Chic Sale personality constantly in evidence, and proves a good comedy number. "Nine O'Clock Folks" with Mound City Blue Blowers Vitaphone 1220 Time, 10 mins. Entertaining Novelty A hick-town background is used for some novelty musical numbers, harmony singing and dancing, all done in a very entertaining manner. The Mound City Blue Blowers, popular vaudeville entertainers, and a group of supporting performers take part in the proceedings. Okay for audiences generally. "Money-Makers of Manhattan" Educational Time, 9 mins. Entertaining A Lyman Howe Hodge Podge, which gets away from the old technique of this series, and is presented as a straight newsreel of scenes about New York. The views are very unusual and full of human interest, showing many odd characters that are part of the life of the city. Finishes with a long sequence of the Empire State building, showing the window cleaners at work on the 72nd floor. This is presented very well, with some good angle shots. "Down the Blue Danube" (E. M. Newman Travel Talk) Vitaphone 1229 Time, 9 minJ Good This belongs to the better gradl of travel shorts. In addition to thl interesting and colorful scenes alonJ the Danube from the Austrian end tl the Czechoslovakian and points EasB there is an intelligent accompanying talk, both interesting and amusingJ "The Thayer Trial" Educational Time, 11 minsl Stilted The latest of the William J. Burn! Detective Mystery series. This one! is developed in the murder trial, wifll the niece of the murdered man orJ trial. The presentation of the Iaw-I yers for the state and the defense de-l velop the unraveling of the plot.l Pretty stilted, for it moves along! rather mechanically to a disclosure! that the girl's attorney is the guilty! party, as he was a beneficiary of the | victim's will and wanted to collect.) It lacks the dramatic snap that this type of story should contain to get! it over convincingly. u^ryu&nc of Paris, London and the Riiieria. Rooms single or en suite, facing Cental Park and but a moment from the city's amusement and business sectors. Personal Direction of S. GREGORY TAYLOR "Only the Girl" Vitaphone 3880 Time, 9 mins. Neat Musical in Color A fanciful one-reel musical production in Technicolor. Title also is the name of the theme song, carrying out the idea of marriage' proposals in the old days as compared to now, with Vera Marsh and Buddy Wattles as the romantic team. The short has an elaborate background, a good chorus, and should prove a delightful item on any bill. "By the Sea" Educational Time, 8 mins. Snappy Cartoon A Paul Terry Toon that is bright and cheerful, with hero mouse getting into all sorts of difficulties with villain dog, and of course there is the usual "heart" which both of them go for in a big way. It has a funny fishing sequence with clever animation gags that brings the laughs. Primo Camera in "The Bigger They Are" Vitaphone 1246-7 Time, 12 mins. ' Amusing After a bit of sketch, showing Primo Camera and his side-kick, Little Billy, the midget, rising from a couple of tramps to the front pages and society in the space of a year, the giant of the prize-ring indulges in some shadow boxing, setting up exercises, bag-punching, rope-skipping and clowning. It is all done in a good-natured way and proves amusing aside from the interest in Camera as the fistic man-mountain. "What a Head" Educational Time, 19 mins. Pretty Weak An Al Christie comedy that relies too much on a single gag to score yery heavily. Jack Duffy is the old father with a terrible headache. Daughter sends for her beau, a rising young horse doctor whom dad dislikes, figuring this is his big chance to get in the good graces of the old man. Meanwhile dad's doctor arrives, who is also in love with daughter. The gags consist in the fact that the horse doctor has substituted a poison for the other doctor's headache powder prescription, and then he and the daughter, realizing the gravity of the situation, try frantically to keep dad from taking the powders. Each time he starts to swallow one, the girl's beau either bumps somebody into him, blows a vacuum cleaner, or some other variation. The reel is interesting mainly for the number of variations they use to keep an outworn gag wobbling through the footage.