Harrison's Reports (1928-1928)

August 4, 1928 HARRISON’S REPORTS 122 “Lost in the Arctic” (Fox, release date not yet set; 5,474 ft.; 63 to 78 min.) This is not a drama ; it is a travelogue. It is, in fact, an expedition sent to the arctic to ascertain the fate of eight persons, who were separated from the main expedition, conducted by Vilhjalmur Stefansson in 1913. Mr. Stefansson commanded six ships at that time. One of them, the Karluk, was crushed in the ice and eight men set out to reach land. But they disappeared and for ten years they left a doubt as to their fate. This expedition cleared the mystery bv discovering their remains and other evidence of their fate on Herald Island, which lies within the arctic zone. The expedition ship is shown making its start and the picture shows the hardships the explorers went through before they reached Herald Island and found the evidence of the perishing of the lost explorers. On their way to Herald Island they are shown passing near an island inhabited by millions of Cormorants, later another island inhabited by millions of seals, and still later another island inhabited by walrus ; it shows them capturing a walrus, and later a polar bear. While the party was on Herald Island and examining the evidence of the perishings of the lost explorers, the water is seen freezing and the ship sounding the danger signal recalling the party so that they might sail away before their ship were frozen in the ice. The picture on the whole is interesting. Some parts of it are even thrilling. The capture of the huge walrus, for example, is one such situation. The chase and capture of a polar bear is another incident that is thrilling. But the chase and capture of a huge whale is the most thrilling incident of them all. Cultured picture-goers should enjoy ‘‘Lost in the Arctic." Even the picture-goers of the rank and file should enjoy such a picture for a change. But any attempt to show it at increased prices of admission will undoubtedly result in failure. The picture is timely on account of the fate of the Nobile Expedition. This incident could, in fact, be exploited to good advantage. But in order for exhibitors to profit by it. the picture must be released immediately. Delay in the release may prove fatal to the exhibitors as well as to Fox Film Corporation. “Skirts” — with Sydney Chaplin (Metro-Goldwyn (British), May 12; 5,813 ft.; 67 to 83 m.) This picture is a two-reel slapstick comedy stretched out to six reels. There is no story to speak of. it being made up of a series of situations supposed to be funny. Its story is the thread-bare plot dealing with a newlywed husband of two weeks who has the usual mother-in-law trouble. Syd Chaplin is the newlywed husband and Betty Balfour is the chorus girl, who keeps him away from the mission he is supposed to attend while his wife and her mother go away for a visit. There are the usual running in and out of room scenes caused by the complications of a mistaken identity when the hero tried to give the necklace, which the chorus girl had given to him to prevent her prize-fight lover from getting it back after his mother-in-law had found it ; he had to give it to his wife, pretending he had bought it for her. In the cabaret where he had gone he gets mixed up with the chorus, climbs balconies, breaks up the party and escapes into his friend’s apartment. At home his friend pretends to be a burglar and the prize-fighter, also disguised as a burglar, attempts to get the necklace. This causes most of the comedy laughs. The picture brought a few laughs, but it boasts of no original ideas. It was directed by Tess Robbins and Wheeler Drydon from the stage play “A Little Bit of Fluff,’’ by Walter W. Ellis. Because of Mr. Chaplin it is worth booking. “Beau Broadway” — with Lew Cody, Sue Carol, and Aileen Pringle (Metro-Goldzvyn, rel. in October; 6,037 ft.) The main idea of this story is the efforts of the hero, a ladies’ man, to convince his ward, willed him by his dead friend, that he is a respectable church-going person, when the girl at the same time was disappointed because of the fact that he showed a total lack of romantic disposition. The story ends with the disclosure that each loved the other, with the result that they marry. There isn't much to the story, and the spectator’s interest is aroused only fairly tense. The picture is supposed to be a comedy-drama, but the laughs are not very numerous. And these, not of the strong sort. The redeeming feature about it is the good acting of Mr. Cody, who takes the part of the hero, and of Sue Carol, who takes the part of the heroine. Miss Pringle, too, does good work ; she takes the part of one of the hero’s women, whom the hero had to give up because of the heroine, and who kept after him. In the end she, of course, gives him up because she realized that he loved the heroine, but not until after she had taught the young heroine to wear beautiful clothes, making the hero pay for them along with the beautiful clothes she had selected for herself. The plot has been founded on a story by F. Hugh Herbert. The picture has been directed by Malcolm St. Clair. “Making the Varsity” — with Rex Lease (Excellent-Regional, July 10; 6,400 ft.; 74 to 91 min.) Just another college story winding up with the hero winning the football game, which his wild young brother tried to throw. Rex Lease is pleasing enough as the captain (hero) of the football team ; he had promised his mother on her deathbed to look after his young brother, who had a gift for getting mixed up in all kinds of trouble. The young brother at least is human, whereas the hero is almost toq^good to be human. The young man, having flirted with the sister of a gambler, who ran a tavern, forges his brother’s name to checks in order to meet his debts. And because he had something on him, the gambler induces him to throw the game. The hero learns of this through a fellow-student who dogged the steps of the young brother and tried to keep him out of the game. When another man was needed, the coach put him on and his team started to lose. To keep the knowledge of his brother’s treachery from others, the hero kicks his brother below the belt and knocks him out so that he is sent to the hospital where he eventually recovers. The hero kicks the ball successfully and saves the day for his team. There is a love story between the hero and a coed. Arthur Rankin is good as the bad boy. Others in the cast are Gladys Hulette, Florence Dudley and Carl Miller. The picture was directed by Cliff Wheeler from a story by Elsie Werner and Bennett Southard. It should please audiences that like their college pictures.