Film Follies (Jun 1922 - Jan 1924)

Gag Men Added to Christie Staff To furnish plenty of laughs for new Christie Comedies now in the making, the writing and “gag” staff has been recently increased by the addition of Archie Mayo, well-known as both a comedy director and gag man, and also Earl Rodney, the latter being well-known as an actor but whose talents as a comedy gag man have never been hitherto generally known. These men will co-operate with Conklin, Graham and Hall of the scenario staff and with directors A1 Christie, Scott Sidney and Harold Beaudine in the preparation of new stories. Navy Blues An uproarious Christie Comedy, is another number on the program worthy of particular mention. It is filled with good-humored action and has a number of interesting scenes taken aboard the U. S. S. California. — Seattle Post-Intelligencer. ‘“Kidding Katie is not slapstick, but nevertheless, in no degree is enjoyment less keen. Nothing is farther from the truth in imagining that its action or interest move slowly or drop at any point in its entire length. One is well entertained from beginning to end, by both plot and cleverly written titles.” Dorothy Devore and Jimmie Harrison kid the kids in ‘‘Kidding Katie’ Mid-Winter Release Will be Funny Soldier Comedy “Out of the trenches by Christmas,” was the popular slogan around the Christie Comedy studio during the month of December, when A1 Christie was filming a comedy story of the efforts of three ex-soldiers to raise money with a novel collection agency. The comedy, in which Neal Burns will star, depicts the funny angles of soldiering, and a huge trench set harbored a lot of uniformed boys from the American Legion post at Hollywood. They “dug in” with speed and ginger in order to be finished by the holiday season. The comedy will probably be called “Busy Buddies,” and is from an original story by K. Austin Beck. Call the Wagon Christie Comedies are favorably represented in this one. It has a clever idea and is done with plenty of speed and pep. It is two reels of interesting entertainment. — M. P. World. Neal Burns and Charlotte Merrim about to “Call the Wagon” in the picture by that name to get rid of the excess baggage Los Angeles Preview7 Gives Boost to New Christie Comedy, “Kidding Katie.’’ The review of Dorothy Devore’s new Christie Comedy, “Kidding Katie” as printed in the Preview (Los Angeles) follows, in part: “A farcical wooing predicament is always welcomed — and always will be, until a jaded public forsakes the movie houses and turns to what else they will. One who has attended pictures at all, not to mention the well known ‘movie fan’, can recall at will any number of such situations on the screen, yet does he sink down in his seat in silent, or otherwise, despair when he realizes that the comedy deals with the ludicrous in courtship? He does not — if he is normal or has the least semblance of normalcy. And especially if the comedy is a Christie, starring either Dorothy Devore or Bobby Vernon, or Jimmie Adams or Neal Burns, the inevitable quartet. “Kidding Katie, with Miss Devore in the lead, is pleasingly typical of the sort of comedy the Christie Studios produce. “The events leading up to this grand finale are wholesomely fast and humorous. Miss Devore as Katie is as usual her own pleasing self and is especially delightful in rompers and bare knees. Ably supporting her, Jimmie Harrison takes the part of Dick, the handsome young suitor; Babe London shines as Queenie, and Eugenie Ford presides as the mother. In truth, everyone in the cast performs well. Navy Blues The comedy offering is one of the best laugh makers ever produced— Christie’s Navy Blues, starring Dorothy Devore. High class, wholesome fun, this. — Washington, D. C. Times. Dorothy Devore makes a little sister out of a big one in “Kidding Katie”