Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1927)

Al^ril S, 19 27 1_'73 The Outlaw Dog C.onipmt Comcdy-Melo; Middle ('.hiss l)r<nr (K<'vi<>ur<l by Harold Kla^iiij Tlir; iMlcllitrt'iit pcrloriiiaiicc oi' KniijiiT, tlic (l()y:->tiir ol tin])i'u(liu'ti()ii, a well-balanced bleiidiiifj: of (■(iiiiedy and iiieiti dniiiiatic incidents juid the pleasinjr personality of tile male and I'eniale leads combine to make of this railroad story a pleasant hour's entertainment. The story teaches no ^reat moral lesson, it isn't filled with motives, humanities, tempo, rhythm, jiroduetion values or anytiiinji: of that sort — just a ])icture produced for entertainment j)urposes and it achieves the purpose for which it was created. The only criticism has to do with eastinfj— two of the most kindly-visaijfed, eiisajjins; chaps were selected as the villains. Raiifrer. accused of bitiufj his master, runs away and is pursued by detectives and jiosters offerino; a reward for his death or cai>ture. He rides a freifjlit ti'ain, ijets off at a small station where he is befiiended by station-master. Two hoboes attem])t theft of station-master's payroll and Kan<rer succors new-found fi-iend. Hoboes later plan lidld-up of Limited, which they intend to blow up, but again Ranker saves the day and the train. There is a romance between the station-master and a jjirl occui)yino: a similar position at the ne.xt railroad sto]). Tt t raii-pires that dojr was wi-onjjfully accused by master. Cast: Ranger (dog-star), Helen Foster, Rex Lease, Alfred Allen, Harrx TenBrook, Bruce Gordon, Sf^encer Bell, Vic Allen. Directed by J. P. McGcnvan and photographed b\ Joe Walker. THEME: Railroad melodrama. Outlaw dog, befriended by railroad station-master, shows his gratitude by fighting off hoboes who would rob payroU and derail train. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: Performance of Ran ger, the direction of the story and the capable human cast. EXPLOITATION ANGLES: Everybody likes dog pictures — play up the star of this one. DRAWING POWER: Good attraction for whole family. Middle-class houses. Length. 4,721 feet. Released April, 1927. Produced and distributed by Film Booking Offices.. Camera highlights jroni "Kirning Clothes" a Paramount production Long Pants Langdon Has a Roliuking ISumher Here (Reviewed by Laurence Reidj AS droll and hilarious a comedy as has been captured in a season or two is broufjlit to lifjht in "Long Pants." Here is a typical Langdon title adorning a typical Langdon film — which means that it's full-grown, charjred with bri-rht and effervescent gags and humor and continuously funny. It may be a little lengthy and re])ctitious, but there's no denying its appeal as a rib-tickler. The comedian dons his bajjgy costume to bat around on a bicycle — and certainly plays his trumps. Which is another way of saying that he doesn't forget to apply his pathos to temper the comedy. His is an individual art — and he has certainly cai)italized it to a fare-you-well. He jogs along on his "bike" and is captured by the beauty of a girl seated in the tonneau of a dashing car (yes, the RollsRoyce is all of that). As he spies her he forgets all about the villaiie belle. He even goes so far as to forget his impendintr marriage to rescue the vamp from jail, for, to be truthful, the girl is something of a bandit. When he discovers what a jam he is in he returns to the sweetheart — and is forgiven. In telling this one cannot account for all the play of comic incident. Let it be said that it packs one hilarious episode after another — and the entire series of gags are well timed. The Cast: Harry Langdon, Gladys Brocktcell, Al Roscoe, Alma Bennett, Frankic Darro, Priscilla Bonner. Director, Irank Capra. THEME: Comedy of rustic youth who falls hard for a vamp and forgets his village sweetheart. He returns to her when he learns a thing or two. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: The bicycle gags. The episode with the dummy policeman. The gag showing effort to shoot the belle. The titles. EXPLOITATION ANGLES: Bill as Langdon 's best. Feature the gags. Play up the pathos which always marks star's comedies. DRAWING POWER : Should break records. For any type of house. Indiun narjare is depicted graphically in these stills from "Winners of the n ilderness," a Metro-Goldxcyn-Mayer attraction Produced and distributed by First Xativnai Length, six reels. Released March, 1927.