Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1928)

2VH, Motion Picture N e zv s Lonesome A Slight Story Deftly Handled (Reviewed by Ray Murray) ALL Avhose individual efforts contributed to the finished production of "Lonesome," share in a collective achievement, for the picture is well directed, splendidly photographed and delightfully played. The lonesome ones are a girl named Mary and a boy named Jim. Mary is a telephone operator and regardless of the flock of "hello girls" she knows — she is lonesome. Jim runs a punch press in a large mill and is acquainted with a lot of fellows — but he is lonesome, too. Each live in a furnished room and neither of them know of the existence of the other — and with the coming of a half holiday, Saturday afternoon, neither of them have anything better to do than to return to their respective rooms. A passing band wagon with a jazz band going full tilt attracts Jim's attention. The ballyhoo announces a gala day at an amusement park. The wagon also plays outside Mary's window*, and she, too, becomes inspired to go somewhere. Ultimately, each lonely one arrives at the beach. By chance they become acquainted. The afternoon is spent on the sands and in the water and evening finds them still together enjoying rides and numerous amusement park concessions. On one of the rides they become separated in a seething crowd. Jim tries desperately to find Mary, and Mary searches for Jim. Both go back to their rooms — desolate — lonely — sorrowful — for neither of them know the other's full name or address. However, before the night is over, they are reunited and the delightful way in which this happens serves as a clever surprise twist. Glenn Tryon scores heavily as Jim and Barhara Kent in the role of Mary is refreshing. The entire production, supervised by Carl Laemmle, Jr., is worthy of favorable comment and Gilbert Warrenton's camera work is outstanding. The titles are in keeping. Tom Reed wrote them and Edward T. Lowe is responsible for the very human document known as the story. Drawing Power: Apt to meet with favor in any theatre. THEME: The agony of loneliness. Produced and Distributed by Universal. Released, 1928. Length, 6,193 feet. The Cast: Glenn Tryon, Barbara Kent, Pay Holderness, Eddie Phillips, Gustav Tartos, Fred Esmelton. Directed by Paul Fejos. Story and Continuity by Edward T. Lowe. Photography by Gilbert Warrenton. "Ladies Preferred" (Educational — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) ONE of the zippiest and peppiest comedies to rear its head in a long time is this one, starring Jerry Drew. This dapper comedian, cut out in sartorial splendor, with the polite manners and individual technique, is mighty effective. He is a comer, beyond a doubt, and he gives every assurance that his new series, the Ideal Comedies, will swing the laugh pendulum vigorously. In "Ladies Preferred," he has been given a fine shove forward. Given the proper material he ought to glide rapidly toward the winning goal. His only rival in this matter of polite comedy is Charlie Chase. Jerry is straining at the leash right now ; give him a chance and he will be making a race of it with Chase. Yes sir, your enthusiasm is aroused with this one. A neat and trim number, it tells of Jerry, a would-be Lothario, and his adventures with the ladies. Speaking of these latter individuals, Lucille Hutton and Estelle Bradley, they are provocatively pretty and talented in the bargain. They supply all the lure and charm that would drive any poor male after them. Jerry succumbs, and a triangle or quadrangle is the result. To make the story short, Jerry is quite a flop as the gallant wooer. The breezy direction can be credited to Charles Lamont. The support consists of Robert Burns and Stanley Blystone. "The Gold Claim" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by George J. Reddv) THIS Universal subject does not vary much from the usual mediocre type of Western story, and depends mostly for its appeal, on a goodly amount of action. The offering is brightened by a colorful mountainous background, and will prove fair entertainment. John Sparks, a "framed" fugitive from justice, works a gold claim in the back hills with his pretty daughter, Jean, who does not know of her father's past. Jim Warde, a neighboring rancher in love with the girl, wins the enmity of Mel Sinclaire. an objectionable character, when he forcibly defends the girl against his attentions. Jean's father is threatened with exposure by the infuriated Sinclaire, who is withholding a confession that would exonerate Parks from guilt in the murder of a former partner. The manner in which the rancher tracks down Sinclaire's gang, secures the stolen document, and wins the hand of the girl, supplies the real action of the story. "The Mouse's Bride" (Pathe— One Reel) PAUL TERRY in this release adds another corking good animated to his already large list of successes. The cartoonist has injected into this number, a character in the person of a duck, whose antics bring about much merriment. Old Farmer Al has considerable trouble in runing his household : the goldfish squawks for a drink, the cat wants his back scrubbed, and the mouse maid, who should, but doesn't attend to these duties, must be watched. The maid is the apple of little Milton's eye, and when he calls on her, Danny Duck the butler, by means of many trick doors about the house manages to catch the pair in more or less compromising situations, for which he collects quite a lot of tips. Danny becomes too inquisitive and gets an eye-full of seltzer through the keyhole. The duck tells Farmer Al, who enlists the aid of the cat to chase the loving mice. Milt and the maid run to the edge of a stream, where Al and the cat fall into the water, as the lovers sail away on the back of a friendlv cod. — GEORGE J. REDDY. "Wild Wool"— "Night Clouds" (Educational— One Reel) ROBERT C. BRUCE has netted a great deal of beauty, unusual photography and an achievement — some splendid shots of mountain sheep in this new subject of his Outdoor Sketches series. The shots of the sheep are really fine besides being unusual to a degree. To film these wary creatures who will bound away at the slightest disturbance, Bruce has employed the telescope which enables him to annihilate space and view his subject close up. This close range scrutiny of mountain sheep aloft in their rocky haunts is one of the most unusual things you will encounter in a long and arduous film journey. In "Night Clouds" you have a typical study of a gloriously tinted sky by a camera artist. Work of this high standard is the despair of the amateur and is but rarely met with in the best turned out by the greater lights of the A. S. C— RAYMOND GANLY. "Yukon Gold" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by George J. Reddy) IT seems to be the popular opinion among producers of Western short subjects, that action is what the public wants regardless of the story. This being the case, these featurettes in the Universal-Jack Perrin series are sure to please. As in previous releases this latest offering is plentifully sprinkled with outdoor action, consisting of fast riding and hard fighting. Bob McKenzie (Jack Perrin), of the Royal Mounted, in an effort to protect a girl, Lora Dene, from pursuing outlaws, is knocked unconscious and the girl is captured. Klondike Larsen, leader of the gang, is also holding Lora's father captive in order to make him divulge the location of his gold mine. The "Mountie" in the meantime recovers from the blow and appears on the scene. A lengthy rough-and-tumble battle follows, during which the girl escapes and rides to the post for help. In the nick of time, aid comes to the out-numbered Bob, and the bandits are finally apprehended. The old man offers Bob a partnership in the mine, and Lora accepts him as a partner for life. "Good Scout Buster" (Universal — Two Reels) (Revieived by George J. Reddy) THIS effort of the Buster Brown trio, deserves a little higher rating than other recent releases in this series. Some good comedy situations, nicely put across by the kid players and the talented canine Tige, will make this two-reeler popular with the adult audiences as well as the children. Fed up on the mischief making of Buster, the youngster's father sends him off to a summer scout camp, to learn discipline. Of course, the dog, Tige, trails along, and at the camp they find Mary Jane, and the rest of the neighborhood gang. It does not take the kids long to cook up plenty of trouble, and throw the whole camp into a scene of uproar and confusion. A wind machine and a trained monkey play important parts in the creating of fun in this piece, and considerable credit also goes to the dog, who performs some good business. "Sleigh Bells" (Universal — One Reel) AVERY funny and cleverly cartooned release, this newest Walter Disney comic, shows Oswald the lucky bunny as a "big time" sportsman at an exclusive mountain winter resort. Disney's unlimited store of originality and humor enables him to give a new slant to his penning of the rabbit in animated toboggan, snow-fight and fancy skating scenes. Oswald also manages to get mixed up in a hockey game and a scrap, and then attempts to teach a fascinating damsel to ice skate. A balloon attached to the lady, to give her balance, proves unreliable, and she soars skyward. Of course, the ingenious Oswald finds a method to bring the fair maid back to earth. — GEORGE J. REDDY. Title Changes "The Gangster" (Columbia) to "The Wav of the Strong." "Sex Appeal" (Universal) to "You Can't Buy Love." "Partners for the Night" (Universal) to "Clear the Decks." "Fresh Every Hour" (Universal) to "How to Handle Women." "The Perfumed Trap" (Paramount) to "Forgotten Faces." "Love at Midnight" (First National) to "His Wife's Affair." "Varsity" (Paramount) to "Sophomore. ' '