Motion Picture News (Jan - Mar 1928)

964 .1/ o t i 0 II P i c i II r c X Adventures in Pygmy Land All About the Little Men (Reviewed by Ravmond Ganly) AVKKY fjood travelogue is this film record of Dr. :\ratthew W. Stirling's expedition into the land of tiie pygmies. Besides being interesting and different, it is educational. The jungle background, the strange life and simplicity of the dwarfed ebony-skinned folk, their amazfiiucnt at the magic of the white mc>n — all provide novelty not found in the usual Hollywood product. Accompanying the expedition from its .starting point to its camp in pygmy land the spectator watching this pictorial record of a most intei-esting adventure is jilaced right in the midst of the hustle and bustle of prej)aration, the painstaking navigation of unknown streams, the heartrending struggle through impeding jungle growth and the final reward the scientists sought — the pygmies. This venture into the unknown is vividly portrayed. With the scientists the spectator can, so to speak, y>lace the childlike pygmy under the micro,scoj)e and beconu' fully acquainted with his sujjerstitions, his humor, his wisdom, and his everyday life. . The film is much like a huge Ufa Oddities or a Fox Varieties. It has been ably edited, well titled and has many interesting highlights. Drawing Power: Poor, when taken by itself, r.iit if you link it with another film you can build up an iiitcrcstinu and widely diversified program. Exploitation Angles: Play it u]) as a jungle film and authentic record of life of little known pygmies. Stress fact film had backing of Smithsonian Institute and Dutch authorities. THEME: An expedition into the pygmycountry of Dutch New Guinea. Produced by Dr. Matthew Stirling. Distributed by \V. W. llodkinson. Length, 6,800 feet. Cameraman, Richard K. Peck. A Horseman of the Plains One of the Best of the Mix Thrillers (Reviewcil hv Chester J. Smith) TO.\I MIX has made an exccijtionally g(M)d picture in this, one of his last for Fox. It contains all of the usual Mix heroics and an abundance of suspense that will give a real thi-ill to those who appreciate this western tyj)e. There is an ol)stacle nu-v, t(» which the mortgage on the girl's farm is H|)|>cnded, that will rouse even the most languid to a state of enthusiasnv. 'I'oin is the sheriff of the adjoining town called in to round up a band of sharpers wh<) are fleecing visitors at town fairs. On the way he saves the life of a colored man who becomes his inseparal)le companion, said colored man t>eing Heine C^onklin, who docs some excellent woi-k in the role. On the wav Tom also attempts to save the life of DaWn O'Day (Sally Blane), his leading lady, for which he is i)romptly called down. Dawn is not in danger, but merely taking a wild ride on her favorite horse. She is the boss of the much-moi-tgaged ranch and the daughk-r of an invalid fatlier. Tom's arrival is noted by the crooks, headed by Rutherford Gates, a leading citizen, who secretly holds the mortgages on the O'Day ranch. (Jates has agreed to provide a driver for Miss O'Day in the big $10,000 sweepstakes. Tom d(H-ides tlmt he will do the driving himself, but he is waylaid arnl nijide a j>risoner by Oates' agents. He makes his escape just as the race is to start and ai-rives a moment late at the starting gat^-, but, lassoing the crook driver provided for Dawn by Gates, he takes the reins himself. And what a race that is. There has rarely been a better one staged in pictures. It includes footracing, horseback, automobile and hay trucks and every effort is made to wreck Tom on the course, but, of course, he is the eventual winner and the farm is saved. Drawing Power: Should be immensely pleasing to the Mix fans and to others who are not his fans. Exploitation Angles: You can promise them more thrills than usual in this one. THEME: Western in which Tom overcomes every obstacle in the grand sweepstakes obstacle race, saves the heavily mortgaged ranch of the giri and then wins her for his wife. Produced and distributed bv Fox. Length, 4..H9f) feet. Released, March llth, 1928. The Cast: Tom Mix, Sally Blane, Heine Conklin, Charles Byers, Lew Harvey, Grace Marvin, William Ryno. Story by Harry Sinclair. Director, Benjamin Stoloff. Scenario bv Fred Mvton. The Golden Clown Tale of Punchinello (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) THE tale of the clown who hides his sorrow beneath a mask of meiTiment, this story in a tragic vein has been artistically presented and acted by Gosta Ekinan and his leading lady, Karina Bell. It is a much better Swedisli importation than "Discord;" there's a sincerity about its scenes, especially those dealing with the clown's grief, his vain pursuit for lost hajipiness. An obscure clown who leapt into fame overnight, he loses his wife while at the height of his success. For some reason not convincingly brought out in the film she runs off' with another man. The tragic note is introduced when the young wife ends her life. The memiories of what could have been, of the brief span of happiness lie knew with his wife, drive the clown to drink. When he sees among his audience the man who caused his unhappiness he subtly threatens his life and the man dies of heartfailure. Searching the man's pockets he discovers the existence of a child — his child and his dead wife's. So there is some refuge from his unforgetful past and recompense for the i"uture. The theme of Punchinello and his sorrowing heart hidden 'rieath a guise of laughter makes a fine foundation on which to build a tale of human feelings ami deep emotion. Dii-ector A. W. Saiidbei-g did a good job l)y it here. Drawing Power: Poor. The little highl)row ciiicmjis can jday it but other houses should have a stroiii; couijjanion attraction to offer with it. Exploitation Angles: Use a clown sandwichman to ballyhoo the film. Feature Ekman as the Faust of Ufa's pro(lui'tion already seen \n this country. THEME: Heart drama. A successful clown loses his wife, who commits suicide. The clown cannot forget his sorrows, but he later finds that she had left him a child, the image of herself. He finds balm for his sadness in caring for the child. Produced in Sweden by Xordisk Films Co. Distributed licic by Pathe. Released, December, 1027. Length', 8 reels. The Cast: Gosta ]<;km:in, Karina Bell, Maurice Dc P^'raudy, Fdmonde Guy, R^obert Schmidt, Fric I'rrtiicr, Kate I'^abiaii. Spoilers of the West A ISew McCoy Western (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) "IV/f -G-M'S Irish star is an army lieutenant ■'• •* ordered to drive out obstinate trappers who have encroached on the Indian's lands. Punctuated by some fine action shots on the open plains, the picture has a strong fiavor of buckskin and war paint. The threatening attitude of the redskins actuates a near massacre, which is narrowly averted by the hero, who, in true western fashion, rides out to meet the advancing Indian army with a bullet hole through his shoulder. Besides the masculine McCoy there is also William Fairbanks in the role of the pseudo villain. These tAvo put up a tremendous scrap when they first meet. But as Fairbanks is the heroine's brother he could not very well be a genuine villain; in the last reel, therefore, you see them fast friends and McCoy the proud possessor of the girl, Marjorie Daw. In this western are Generals Sherman and Custer, who are shown trying to nesfotiate a treaty with the Indians. It does not carry the punch and adventurous spirit of the star's previous vehicle, "Winners of the Wilderness," but it is good western fare, nevertheless. Drawing Power: McCoy is not so well known as some of the other cowboy stars as yet, but sitill his pictures are strong enough to please the majority of western fans. Suitable for neiu:hborlu)od houses. Exploitation Angles: Play up the historical angle and the Indian fiavor. The garb of the red men is an attractor. You can get the school children to write an essay on the Indian. THEME: Army lieutenant during the frontier days is delegated to drive from Indian land all white men who are staying there in violation of the government's treaty with the red men. He receives opposition from a young girl boss of a settlement but narrowly averts a massacre when the Indians threaten an attack and are prevailed to wait until the following day. The girl realizes the foolishness of spite, moves from the lands and later weds the lieutenant, whom she has come to love. Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Released, December, 1927. Length, 4,784 feet. The Cast: Tim McCoy, AVilliam Fairbanks, Marjoi'ie Daw, Charles Thurston, Chief Big Tree. Story by J. T. Neville. Scenario by Madeleine Ruthven aiul Ross B. Wills. Titles t)y Joe Farnham. Director, W. S.Van Dyke. "Dog Heaven" (M-G-M-Roach— Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) QUITE, different and superior from the average two-reel comedy is this "Our Gang" opus in which Pete, the dog, has the most prominent role. The novel idea of having: the flog relate a tale of woe is humorously bandied. The gang is in the background most of the time, except for Fatty, the dog's master, who plays a very important part in the recountal of a dog's sorrow. Pete does some remarkable facial work in the many closcups that he is subjected to. What a s.id, melancholy hang-dog look he wears I They must have ap])lieci make-up to bis features in these scenes in which he looks so woebegone, but even then it is remarkable bow much of pathos can be extracted from the expressions of this canine. The scenes in which he goes to the dogs, as it were, and in which be frequents a dog speakeasy are well done. And this can be said for the entire coniedv.