Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

1008 Motion Picture N e w s "Reel Life" (Univei-sal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by George J. Reddyt ANOTHER offering of Universal's "Keeping Up With The Janeses" series ; nothing in the way of hilarious comedy may be found in this number. The usual domestic trials and tribulations of Pa and Ma McGinis are once again pictured, furnishing what the writer believes, enough laughs of a more or less slapsticknature to satisfy audiences not too critical. Pa McGinis causes a general disturbance when forced by the domineering Ma to dress up for the stylish Jones' house party. However, Ma is more than satisfied with the sensation that she and Pa create on their arrival at the affair, not knowing that it is a stray balloon holding her skirt above her head and drawing the attention. Moving pictures of the guests are made by a cameraman, who is a "practical joker," and later thrown on the screen. They prove very disconcerting to Ma, when Pa is shown in active flirtation with one of the beautiful guests in the garden. Ma puts the showout of business and gives Pa a sound drubbing "Holy Mackeral" (Paramount — Two Reels) ( Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) JIMMIE ADAMS works industriously as the starring player of this Christie comedy for Paramount release. There is not what you would call a whale of fun in its scenes and probably it can all be summarized as just about fair comedy potion. Harold Beaudine directed Adams. Jimmie is told his uncle is sending him a few gifts and as the uncle is extremely wealthy he does not put up a kick when an elephant and a few trained seals arrive at the house. Most of the fun contributed by Adams consists in his efforts to hoodwink his landlord that there are no animals about the place. To do this he must carry on like a nut and his antics may succeed in getting a few laughs loosed. A fairly amusing comedy. "Felix the Cat in Arabiantics" (Educational — One Reel) AN atmosphere of the Arabian Nights cloaks this new cartoon creation from the Pat Sullivan Studios. In it Felix, as usual, is an entertaining performer. The gags and story with which the cat has been provided make, along with his inimitable pantomime, a good cartoon to enliven any program in need of the light, fantastic touch. Felix buys a rug on which he intends to get a nap, but he does not know that he has been lucky enough to buy a flying carpet. He goes to Arabia, via the carpet, and trades the rug for a bag of jewels. They are stolen by a thief, who has as confederates an army of wily mice. Felix has to put up a stout defense and offense to reclaim and keep his jewels. — RAYMOND GANLY. "The Gloom Chaser" (Educational — Two Reels) {Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) ANEW "Big Boy" number that is a topnotcher as a comedy. The team of Charles Lamont and the boy star is again responsible for an entertaining subject. One of the best comedies of the "Big Boy" series. Little Lorraine Rivero, Monty Collins, Wallace Lupino and Eva Thatcher support the little boy, who more than lives up to the Educational motto, "the spice of the program." Though he has grown taller, "Big Boy" is still the likable little performer with a talent for acting far beyond his years. He and little Lorraine have several scenes in the new comedy which are appealing as well as funny. An orphan child, he is adopted by a sniffy lady, who did the kind act because she did not want Lorraine, her niece, to miss him. The fun starts in earnest when the boy is brought to his future home. He smashes several things, causes consternation among fussy lady guests of Lorraine's aunt ; and annoys considerably Lupino and the cook. "Big Boy" has a fine interlude with a baby in the orphanage. He is cleaning the mite and the manner in which he does it will go over with audiences everywhere. It is generously laden with good, wholesome fun. "Her Haunted Heritage" (Universal — One Reel) BEN HALL and his comedy teammates, bring about many laughs in this Universal one-reeler, which has for its setting a haunted house. A story of this type, carrying the "spook" atmosphere, if not too widely burlesqued, always proves good comedy entertainment, as in this case where Director Doran Cox has spun a web of uncanny situations, that are all the more humorous because of their reality. Ben Hall, as Harold the cub reporter on the Clarion, learns that Annie, general handy girl around the office has fallen heir to some property. The newspaper staff decide to share Annie"s good fortune, and set out for the estate, where, upon their arrival at dusk, they learn the house is haunted. None too happy, they are forced to spend the night there. It is at this point that the fun of the piece commences, continuing at an uproarious pace to the end. — GEORGE J. REDDY. "Just for Art's Sake" (Educational — One Reel) THERE is some very interesting matter incorporated into this Curiosities release from the studios of Walter Futter. Interesting is the word — interesting to the fan and to any concerned in the film industry. For the film deals with Hollywood and its environs. There are sights to be seen in the movie city, but you do not have to travel there to see them at firsthand. The camera here brings before your eyes some of the eye-catching stores and places of commerce of which Hollywood boasts quite a few. The proprietors of these shops have gone in for creating an elaborate atmosphere and some of their places are a blending of business and art. Among the places seen by the Curiosities camera are the Japanese Gardens, the Brown Derby, the Jail Cafe, a Spanish restaurant, a French bungalow, a Turkish house, the Egyptian and Chinese theatres of Sid Grauman. These are real Curiosities.— RAYMOND GANLY. "Limberlegs" (Pathe— One Reel) GRANTLAND RICE'S newest "Sportlight" release is especially appropriate for showing during the late Spring and Summer, as it centers around popular outdoor sports of this season. The film presents a highly entertaining study, of the important part limberness of legmuscles and sure-footedness play in attaining sneed in sports, among both man and beast. Producer John L. Hawkinson, has corralled for the human demonstration of this fact, such cinder-path celebreties as Ross Nichols, Pacific Coast hurdle champion, and John Lawritizen, the famous "sprinter." Speed kings of the race-track, both horse and greyhound, supply a splendid animal exhibition. — GEORGE J. REDDY. "Pathe Review No. 24" (Pathe— One Reel) ISSUE Number 24 of Pathe Review is on a par with average release of this educational reel and presents as its highlights: "Picturesque Devon,'' a colorful pictorial of views taken along the English Coast of Devonshire ; "Exterior Decoration," a novelty offering, showing the newest fad of female decoration ; and another installment of "Sahara, The Mystic," a weekly film record of the adventures of Horace D. Ashton, explorer in Africa, this time at El Qued, the "City of the Ant Men."— GEORGE J. REDDY. "Newlyweds' False Alarm" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by George J. Reddy) THIS two-reel Stern Brothers' comedy starring "Snookums," surpasses any previous effort of the child comedian that the writer has witnessed. Director Francis Corby, on this occasion has secured for the mischievous "Snookums" a story that lends itself admirably to the type of "gags" and childish pranks the youngster is able to get over most convincingly. "Snookums" attaches his affections to the little girl next door, and takes her for a ride in his toy automobile. Very much in love, he fails to notice a dozen or more pedestrians in his path, whom he knocks sky-high, bringing down their wrath upon his father, who, of course, is forced to pay damages. "Snookums" and his girl friend accompany their parents to a hotel opening, and it is here that the kid ci >mic gets across a goodly portion of the fun. He locks the chef in a refrigerator, whip-creams his father's hat, and rides on a dish conveyor, to be frantically snatched off by his despairing parent, who, in doing so, falls into the washing vat. The climax to the film is an unusually funny one, making this subject in all, good entertainment. Production Progressing on Paramount Shorts "Walls Have Ears" and "The Home Girl," the second and third of the Great Actors and Authors series of short subjects, have been completed and the fourth, "Prancing Prune," is now in production. The productions are being made at the Cosmopolitan studio in New York City under the direction of Edwin Lawrence, stage and screen director. They will be released through Paramount. In "Walls Have Ears" are Madge Kennedy, Efrim Zimbalist, Hale Hamilton, Roland Young, Gladys Hanson, Louis John Bartels, William Kent and Ann Shoemaker. The story is an original by Irvin Cobb. "The Home Girl," by Edna Ferber, includes in the cast Margalo Gilmore, Otto Kruger, Sylvia Fields, Miriam Hopkins, Alexander, Jr., and Vincent Lopez and orchestra. The cast of "Prancing Prune" includes Helen Hayes, Ada May, Hal Skelly, Jefferson De Angeles, Dallas Welford, Humphrey Bogart, Harry Beresford, George Le Guerre, Charles Eaton, Elizabeth Patterson and Josephine Drake. 7 New Pathe Shorts for June 10 Release "Limberlegs," a new Grantland Rice Sportlight, Pathe Review No. 24, second chapter of "The Yellow Cameo," Topics of the Day No. 24, "Puppy Love," an Aesop cartoon, and Pathe NeAvs Nos. 50 and 51 are the program of short subjects scheduled for release by Pathe during the week of June 10. In the Review issue are: "Picturesque Devon," "Exterior Decoration," "Sahara the Mystic" and "City of the Ant Men." A Correction A review of "The Devil's Skipper," which apeared in last week's issue of the News credited First National as being its distributor and producer. This was an error as Tiffany-Stahl produced and is distributing the picture.