Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1926)

Moving Picture World "The Brown Derby" — First National C. C. Burr Presents Johnny Hines in a Fast Comedy That Holds Its Own with the Best Reviewed by Peter CC BURR and lohnny Hines tried oui \Uet* latest First National fea• turc comedy The Brown Derby " at the Rve Playhouse, Rye, N Y., last week lor the purpose of getting an audience reac tion Ihe intention, as usual in such cases, was to Cut and revise should the Rye gather ing show any signs of boredom But after watching "The Brown Derby " unwind itself before one of the most typical picture audi ences. it is possible to find, and listening to the gales ol merriment that swept the thea tre with the regularity of waves beating on the shore, it only remains to be said that instead of cutting and revising, Messrs. Burr and Hines might add to the present footage of the films and so snare even more laughs if additional length is deemed advisable "The Brown Derby" is an excellent com ec.y. It offers complete satisfaction in it^ line It can stand comparison with the best of such subjects that this season has seen and not suffer by it Incidentally when this tesi is apolied there are few superlatives that can lurther emphasize t lie merits ol tin film Hines appears as a plumber He gets a laugh right at the start by riding to work in a side-car hitched to a bicycle which his col i.n^tL ami ..i. m [ pc.tljK The side-car is an Milne tie is taken lor. the uncle of a rich and beau tiful heiress He has lens admired this self same girl fiom her photograph. Hew In saves her from marrying an unworthy suitoi (and saves her for himself) and how he con trives to act as best man to a young couple in an elopement, are lines of action which provide the picture with plenty of story in tcrest The Hines gag stuff has done itself prouc in the production of "The Brown Derby The titles, by Jack McGowan, are fine The incidental pieces of business are origina smartly introduced and at all times effective Then there are big bids for laughs, such as Johnny's pursuit of his derby when it lodges on a croquet ball and rolls about the streets. and his wild chase, part of which takes place on roller skates, to catch the steamer on winch the villain has tempted the heroine Both these chase sequences are heavily dotted with laughs Diana Kane makes a most attractive I roine for the star Ruth Dwyer and Haro| Poshay enliven the elopement episode wi a brace of spirited performances and t supporting cast is competent in every respect Brown derbies have been the cause of jokes for many years. But all these jokes, placed end to end, would fail to equal the ' ■■' '-iiriiir tha^ahflfl^JjjflfisJia^AicJtgd. nVivSY HINES sure! lively a comedy being crammec laughs throughout. -ece 1S so S% *A^^ a number which contact breezy and ^^ &lt arou, move " It p suffer a a happy-go-^ (;evby by He is wjte* Jj^vieh 1he de -lucky fortune inr, ' ... Litnte an entire page. all eigW • Hines, Diana Kane ^Flhra FincK Bradley The Cas,:Jolu^r^O^'-.U *U Foshay Edmund Breese J. Barney Barker, Standing, Bines. THEME which romance confidence ing rew Sherry, Bob Slater. Director,. Herbert Charles eading Farce-comedy w ,1 laborer es af Al t uence "■ — :., v>rown oerujrewarded wvth a br< Qy_ ROD^A^oi the bath gag motor-cycle. „os into the when It"1" "Vuode. The The bedroom $f < tic tWe, Scene attending the rea { the wi". .ONr ats]GLES> \tf& HsRs si ?.R: Suitabte one season. °} *TherSase to the boat. ,ments. T-*e_. The witty sub fc large and imely gass ifll i a hv C C Burr dKCerd ;„h Seven re, Length J" Di reels. r A 3iut notional Picture Jirrt national Pictures