Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1928)

,1/ // / / ft 2 8 H')7 "Love's Spriiiij^liine" (Educiilioiial— I'wo Ri'cls) (.Rcri<'ivc(l by Hiiymond Ganly) BI'.^'ONl) a doubt tluTc's class to this pm (hictioii doiK' ill Ti'diiiicolor. Technical liii ish is written all over it^in the color, in the costuiniiiK, in the sets. Lovely Hope IIanii)tiiji wears the heaiitifnl gowns of the old France prior to the Kevohitioii. She, caparisoned in ex(|iiisite silks of delicate sheens and subtle fdiin. is a powerful attraction all by herself. I'lcilh men and woineii will enjoy her chariiiinn presence so strongly enhanced by the beautiful sartorial creations she wears. The story of "Love's Si)riiigtinie" is slight and skimpy. Uriefly, it tells of a spirited Krencli girl of noble blood who weds a mar(|uis in whom apparently she has not the slightest interest. She is extremely jealous, however, of any other female eyes scanning him. When she learns be has a rendezvous with a charmer she contrives to take the latter's place. So it is that her reserve is broken down and her heart is rexealed to her husband. Not much story, but what is has been handsomely mounted. Made in France it is strictly atmospheric, such famed scenes as the palace of Versailles lending it authenticity. The nobility of the day went in for fine clothes, so you have the martinis painted as a fop and dandy. This chap, Jacques Catalaine, is quite effeminate, which fact is a deterrent to the picture to a certain extent. Leonce Perrett is credited with the direction. Titles by Harry Cbandlce. Photography by Howard Green. Is it pretty to watch? We'll say so. An exhibitor ought to run pictures of this type occasionally. They add prestige to his house, and are excellent novelties. "That's That" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Chester J. Smith) BUSTER, Tige and Mary Jane play a lot of havoc in this comedy of the Buster Brown series, but for once their antics bring about some good results for themselves and more particularly for Buster's father. There is much of the usual variety of slapstick comedy that characterizes all of the pictures of this series. It's a somewhat disconnected story but stories don't seem to have much bearing where this incorrigible trio are concerned. Buster's father is the inventor of a new bombing plane which he is about to demonstrate to an all-important committee. He starts for his destination wi.th the trio secreted beneath the rumble seat. All goes well with the demonstration of this radio-controlled plane until Buster loads it up with TNT. Its antics then put the committee to rout and Brown senior is threatened with disaster, until, through a trick of fate and a great break for all hands concerned the life of the chairman of the committee is saved when the plane keeps him from being precipitated over a high clitT. He signs a contract on the spot for all the planes the Brown company can deliver. Buster, Mary and Tige are given full credit for their participation. "The Kiss Doctor" (FoxVan Bibber — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Chester J. Smith) THESE Van Bibber comedies never lack for action and they are more elaborately staged than most of the two reelers. This one is no exception. It presents Tyler Brooke in the role of Reginald Van Bibber and Duane Thompson as the girl. They will undoubtedly get a number of laughs from most audiences, though Brooke's playing of the shrinking violet who is so frightened of females is too silly to be very humorous. He exaggerates the weakness out of all proportion. The bashful Van Bibber just can't seem to keep away from girls, though he makes every effort to do so. As a young doctor he joins a male specialist, only to find after he has the job that it is a female specialist and a very busy office at that. There is a roomful of beauteous damsels v\ailiii(; exaiiiiiiatiun inv all sorts of complaints and among Ihein the fair Uuanc Tliomps(ni who has been in love with him since tiny weri' children. Van can't stand all the embarassmeiit and thr()ws up the job. In an endeavor to cscai)c the ladies Van decides to .seek the rest cure at a sanitarium. He is admitted, though it is a sanitarium for woiiien. .\gaiii he is completely surrounded 1)> the fair ones and is called upon the render them professional service. As he becomes exhausted be has a dream in which he sees himself as a caveman, showering attentions and caresses upon the fair sex. He likes it and when he awakes rushes back to his old job. There he encounters Dorothy, embraces her in he-man style and declares he has wanted her all his life. "A Son of the Frontier" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Chester J. Smith) NLWTON HOUSE is the bold, dashing young hero of this western featurettc, whose story is so slim that it takes an extra allotment of wild riding to pad it out to the full two reels in length. The riding is by no means objectionable, but it would be more thrilling if there was a little more incident to the story. Young House is given little credit in the community for his various accomplishments because of his tender age, but he leads them all a merry chase before its over. It seems there is a road agent molesting the community and therefore very much sought. The posse takes after the desperado but he eludes them, only to be cornered by the clever youngster. \Mien the youth rides down the bandit he is much distressed to find it is his own uncle, but everything is all right between them when uncle explains that he has been falsely accused. Meantime Dan Carson of the pony express, who loves Billy's sister, has been at the head of the posse tracking the bandit. Billy dons the attire of the road agent and attracts the fire of the posse to himself. He makes his getaway and takes the falsely accused uncle back to the fireside, where Dan is explaining to sister his own heroic actions of the day. There is no solution to the story offered and uncle apparently, for no reason at all, is not longer under suspicion. "Lost in the Lurch" (Bray — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) THERE'S not much humor lurking in this short. The gags are very weak and so is their execution. Perry Murdock is the young man who tries to be funny, Nita Cavalier the girl in the opposite corner, Edna Hall and Charlie Accardo the others. Comedy is attempted in scenes showing Perry as butler, cook and general servant in his friend's home when guests are being entertained. If audiences will laugh at shots of a party trying to devour a whisp broom served as shredded wheat or will guffaw at views of a skunk brought out to the guests as a roast chicken — well, then, this comedy will have succeeded where, to this reviewer, it does not seem possible. For the most part its comedy is nil. Craig Hutchinson directed. "Cutting Up" (Bray — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) THE McDougall Alley Kids are featured in this new comedy produced by the Bray studios and directed by R. B. Wilcox. The comedy cannot be described as a humdinger or a whale of a laugh maker, but tame and just so-so. On the assumption that audiences will feel indulgent towards the efforts of a bunch of youngsters to cavort and frolic in their attempts to squeeze some humor from unresponsive situations, this reviewer believes that the comedy will prove about fair. The kids are shown plying active hands at building a house. How they get confused and mixed in their purjiose is tlie source of the corned v. "Mariird |{arlMh)rB" (Universal Iwo Iteels) (Rrvii-wod by Chester J. Smith j THIS is a typical (Jliarks Puffy comedy of the series by Oclavus Roy Colien. Like the others that have grine l>eforc, the story is prol)ably fair enough in its original form, but it rocs out of all proportion l)y the to<> strenuous efforts to inject much slapstick and knockabout comedy. As a matter of fact the story becomes almost completely Irjst with its enmeshing in silly gags and ridiculously created situations. Puffy is the tired business man who frames with two friends to overcome the objections of his wife to a fishing excursion. One of the friends poses as a doctf>r and orders the trip. They take Puffy away in an ambulance, which they convert into a touring car when they are safely on their way. The trio arrive at Hfxjk Line Lfxigc, where the feminine attractions exceed the fishing prospects. They are doing nicely when Puffy's stenographer tips off the treachery of the trio to their wives, who immediately set out for the Imlge. There is then the wildest bedlam at the IfKlgc when the three men attempt to conceal their beauteous companions. The girls are dashed from room to room as the outraged wives take up the chase in ernest. It is typically wild farce and a trifle too prolonged to get the continued laughs hoped for. "Special Edition" (Universal — One Reel) THE trials and tribulations of a small town newspaper publisher are revealed in this one of the Harold Highbrow series featuring Ben Hall and Lydia Titus Yeamans. The editor of the Clarion has just seen his extra come off the press exposing the graft of Boss Weaver, when it is discovered that Weaver has stolen the incriminating proof from the newspaper owner. The distribution of the extra is ordered stopped, but the office monkey circulates enough copies so that one gets into the hands of Weaver and he is all set for a libel suit. The monkey, however, enters Weaver's office and unknown to the grafter steals the letter back. Weaver descends upon the Clarion owner with all sorts of threats as the monkey slips the incriminating document to Harold Highbrow, star reporter. Harold dramatically saves the day when he flashes the letter in the face of the grafter. This series seems to be improving latelv. There are a few laughs in this one.— CHESTER J. SMITH. I yen Funnier hhan The ,^ Bi'own Derby JOHNNY I IN Chinatown Charlie A Tirftt national Picture