Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

May 1 9 . 1928 1705 himself, while the villain resorts to all sorts of trickery to win the race. Through Tom's ingenuity the girl's father is successful, but not until many a bitter fight has been waged and many a heroic act completed. Mix, as usual, leaves nothing undone in the staging of his thrills and his work is particularly effective in this picture. In Caryl Lincoln he has a sweet and winsome leading lady who does very well through the scries of thrills. Martin Faust is the handsome, though leering villain who will stop at nothing to accomplish his ends. Al St. John furnishes the comedy element, of which the less said the better. Drawing Power: Should do as well as any of the usual run of Mix pictures. His following is sure to like it. Exploitation Angles: The Mix name will probably be sufficient to draw them in. THEME: Rival interests are striving to complete the first telephone line between Rawhide and Cheyenne. The father of the girl Tom loves faces ruin unless he can win and his rival will stop at nothing to defeat him. Through the heroic actions of Tom the girl's father wins. Produced and distributed by Fox Films Corporation. Released, May 13, 1928. Length, 4,51S feet. The Cast: Tom Mix, Caryl Lincoln, Jack Baston, Joseph Girard, Al St. John, Martin Faust, William Caress. A Gene Forde production. Story by Harry Sinclair Drago. Scenario by Fred Myton. The Upland Rider A Dazzling Western (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) /^)XE of the best western vehicles seen in a long time is this open-range story starring Ken Maynard. It is a perfectly proportioned bit of cowboy story. All the requisites of the western can be called its own. What action and swift plot development it has — and it boasts much of these — has been effectively brought to the fore through the sure and deft direction of Al Rogell. With rhythmic surety, this western will gallop into the hearts of western fans. Ken Maynard is improving constantly in his hero roles. There is now a greater ease and naturalness in his acting. Of course, he is the same impeccable rider, the best the screen has at the present time. The main event in the story is a race between breeders of bronc and thoroughbred horses. This sequence serves Maynard and his horse, Tar/an, as an opportunity to exhibit their wonderful coordination. Maynard rides as if he were glued to the saddle, and Tarzan gallops with all the majesty of a king of horses. You can bet we recommend this western, as it undeniably has all the winning qualifications; action, a good story, competent portrayals, humor, expert direction, and a haekgorund that has been beautifully photographed. Drawing Power: Wherever they like westerns they'll like this one. Exploitation Angles: Cutouts of Maynard and Tarzan. Start a Ken Maynard club. Begin a drawing contest, the object to be drawn being Tarzan. THEME: Western drama. Breeder of broncs is fast coming into the power of unscrupulous thoroughbred owner. His only chance to win out is to win the relay horse racing contest, the winner of which is promised a contract with the government. The thoroughbred owner plans to win the race with the aid of treachery. Young cowboy riding the bronc entry successfully evades this treachery, however, and brings the horse to victory, having ridden him all the way. He proves the superiority of the broncs over the thoroughbreds and wins the daughter of his boss. Produced by Charles R. Rogers. Distributed by First National. Released, June 3, 1928. Length, 5 reels. The Cast: Ken Maynard, Marion Douglas, Lare McKee, Sidney Jarvis, Robert Walker, Bobby Dunn, David Kirby, Robert Milash. Story by Marion Jackson. Director, Al Rogell. Under the Black Eagle Good Story Lacks Wide Appeal (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) HAVING in mind American audiences, primarily, the writer does not believe that this story of a German soldier and his part in the World War will hold the undivided attention. The best point of view is to gauge this film as being appropriate for universal showings. It does not glorify war, rather it shows its cruelness to man and beast. Furthermore, it does not place one side over the other. But still the fan, we believe, will hold back some of his sympathies. Really, films of this type ought to be encouraged as they make for amity between nations. The picture serves to introduce "Flash," M-G-M's dog star. The screen, nearly cluttered up with various hounds, can readily make room for the new arrival for he is a good actor, well trained and apt with varied expressions. The dog is the pe't of Ralph Forbes, a poetic sort of chap, and the enemy of William Fairbanks, a soldier who places discipline above everything. These two go to Avar and the dog becomes separated from his master until he comes across him wounded in a shellhole. In the war scenes are realistic flashes of battle in which the dog is also wounded. Brought back to safety both he and the man recover. The greater portion of the picture establishes the friendship between Forbes and the dog. The initial scenes showing the military training are splendid, but what follows leading up to the battle is somewhat tedious. On the whole, an expensive and well done drama for a dog star. Drawing Power: About fair. Exploitation Angles: Exploit the new dog star and the cast of principals, particularly Fairbanks, who is first-rate as the soldier. Use a machine gun as a lobby display, also a few helmets, guns, etc. THEME : War story of the love between a man and his dog. The man goes to war leaving the dog behind and they are not united again until the dog finds his master wounded. The man feeling a horror for war witnesses the death of his comrade by a machine gun, and in a frenzy he rushes out to bomb the nest. The dog, trying to save him, is also wounded. They both recover and the boy returns to his painting and his girl. Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwvn-Maver. Released, March 31, L928. Length, "»,901 feet. The Cast: Flash, Ralph Forbes, William Fairbanks, Marceline Day, Bert Roach, Marc MacDermott. Story by Norton Houston. Continuity by Bradley Bang. Director, W. C. Van Dyke. The Canyon of Adventure Above the Average (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) WHILE the story of "The Canyon of Adventure" is not as convincing as that of "The Upland Rider," it is nevertheless above the average story that is stretched through western films. In this one, Ken is called on to do too many impossible things; if not impossible his exploits are at least too daredevilish, too allpowerful to carry that necessary degree <>!' plausibility. Anyway, the story has it portions of action, fighting and heroismenough to satisfy avid fans. The Spanish grandees of California hover in the background. Dolores, the pretty daughter of one of the proud Dons, is very much in prominence, she being the fascination that draws the young American landagent again and again to her hacienda. Around the unsuspecting heroine and her father is being woven a web of sublety by a neighboring Don. Of this latter gentleman's activities, Maynard is, of course, in the know. The plot grows tighter and tighter, the girl's father is held prisoner and she herself is about to be forced into an unwelcome marriage. But at this time Maynard disguised as a caballero, appears; by dint of slugging, duelling and other means of besting, the Spaniards are 5UDdued and Maynard wins his senorita. Drawing Power: Maynard, having built up a reputation for winning westerns, this one should go over, even though not as good as some of his others. Exploitation Angles: Ballyhoo star and Tarzan. Deck lobby and array box-office establishing a Spanish effect. THEME: Action drama of the early Californians and of the time they had to register their lands when the state became one of the Union. A scheming Spanish grandee plans to steal the lands of a neighboring Don and marry the latter 's daughter to his worthless son. The plan is foiled through the activities of an American landagent, who makes friends with a gang of semi-outlaws and with their aid raids the hacienda where the girl is about to be forced into marriage. When they do hold the wedding the American is the groom. Produced by Charles R. Rogers. Distributed bv First National. Released. April 29, 192S. 'Length, 5,800 feet. The Cast: Ken Maynard, Virginia Browne Faire, Erie Mavne, Theodore Lorch, Tyron Brereton. Hal Salter, Billy Freney, Charles Whitaker. Story bv Marion Jackson. Director, Albert Rogell. ' "Poor Papa" (Universal — One Reel) (Reviewed by George J. Reildy) THE troubles of Oswald, the cartoon rabbit, contribute some hilarious fun in this clever piece of animation by Walter Disney. A battling problem confronting the bunny is how to ward off the persistent storks who visit his home in large numbers, and fill his bumble abode with active little Oswalds. The father, becoming frantic because of the regularity of the birds* visits, arms himself with a shot gun to keep them away. Undaunted the birds dump their tender burdens in the water tank and when Oswald turns on the faucet in his home, he unwittingly introduces another endless stream of bunnies. The rapidity of the action, the cleverness of the drawings and the consternation of poor Oswald, establish this as an excellent novelty for programs.