Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1929)

1646 Motion Picture News "Oft In The Silly Night" (Christie-Paramount — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Waiter R. Greene) ALL the comedy and humor of Birmingham's colored folk, described in the stories by Octavus Roy Cohen, is retained in this, the third of the series produced by Christie. The story unfolds the love of a chauffeur for the daughter of his employer. The girl is leader of tthe colored social set, and a'so secretly in love with her servant. Through an auto accident, each learns of the other's love, and climax things by gaining consent of the girl's father to their marriage. There is more than a thread of story to the picture, and plenty of laughs. Avrid Gilstrom directed, and turned in a thoroughly enjoyable piece of work. Action is not allowed to' lag, and interest is retained throughout. The dialogue and sound via Movietone is particularly clear. "Oft In A Silly Night" rates as a fine attraction for key theatres and those houses whose audiences appreciate clean comedy without custard pies and slapstick. "Playing False" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) BOB GURWOOD stars in a miniature western, with all the familiar habiliments that go with this type of film entertainment. It can be classified as an average release, redeemed by fast action shots. The direction was done by Walter Fabian The hero is settling an account with the villain of the piece, who has something on his friend. Officiating as the clerk of the town s leading lawyer, the villain has had many an opportunity to steal his master's funds. His guilt is discovered by Bob, but the latter is forced to make a getaway when the villain accuses him of would-be robbery. In his flight, Bob meets the girl of the story, the lawyer's daughter, and is aided by her to escape. Upon learn. ng this and the fact that his treachery is known to his boss, the villain abducts the girl, is pursued and overpowered by Bob in a rather weak fist fight. Of course, Bob wins the girl, the villain confessing all and clearing his friend. Rather thin story material. "Don't Get Jealous" (Pathe-Sennett — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) IN this Mack Sennett comedy for Pathe, Vernon Dent again plays the husband fearfully jealous of his wife's affections. The slick Billy Bevan and Carmelita Geraghty are the other two sections of the triangle. Carmelita being Dent's wife. Billy is a lady-killer who takes Carmelita out to a night club, just to show Dent that there's nothing to be jealous about. Dent follows him there after having been tricked by Bevan. Disguised as a waiter, he sees his wife enjoying Be van's attentions. The two boys get banged up considerably when the complications of the plot get agoing, and Dent is a sadder but wiser man at the finish. A gay, prattling air infests this Sennett effort and it is successful in its endeavors to stir the laugh pulse. Directed by Phil Whitman, who did his job under J. A. Waldron's supervision, it is good comedy fare. "Young Hopefuls" (Pathe Sportlight — One Reel) THE name of Grandland Rice immediately identifies a short as holding forth an entertaining ten minutes during its screening. This one is no exception. Its contents deals with the younger — the youngster — generation in the field of sport. Such attractive youngsters as Baby Stribling are seen doing some of their feats in their naturally winning manner. Their work and the good editing, photoplay and the general high calibre of the reel give it the ratine; of an excellent short.— RAYMOND GANLY. "Chaperones" (Universal-Stern — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) MIKE and Ike have just a wee bit better line of fun than is generally the case with their comedies. They seldom have a gag that can claim originality and in this effort, although they have a snappv tempo, their humor consists of things done in slapstick. Still, "'Chaperones" is an improvement over some of their others. On the average non-discriminating fans should find it agreeable. Mike and Ike, bringing their girls home, discover that the latters' chaperone has stayed up the night through in order to give the night owls a clouting. In endeavoring to make a quiet entrance, the garden hose is accidently turned on, the surrounding houses are sprayed with water, the chaperone awakens, pies are thrown and everything is in a slapstick disorder. Dismissed, the boys later met their girls at a private jazz party where they are tracked by the chaperone. One of them secures her as his partner for an exhibition of Apache dancing. The dame gets tusseled up but she seems to enjoy it until she penetrates the disguises of Mike and Ike and then she parades off the scene with the girls. Samuel Newfield directed. The use of a new set wouldn't hurt these Stern comedies in the least. "On Guard" (Universal Movietone — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) rpHIS talking "Collegians" comedy, while not 1 up to the measure of its two immediate predecessors, is good fan fare. It pursues further the adventures of Ed Benson and Don Trent, but in this case the lines given the characters are quite juvenile and the whole piece does not smack of the savory collegiate flavor which the other two releases had. All the story does is work upon the old gaj of suspense. Ed is unable to play in the hockey game between Calford and Midvale. as the latter students have had him kidnapped. -The game goes on without him and Don is unable to carry the burden of attack with the result that Calford is far behind. June (Dorothy Gulliver) also a captive of the Midvale students, escapes and frees Ed, the two of them rushing to the game in time to brace up Don, and through his and Ed's teamwork pull the game out of the fire. It is quite an appropriate bit for the fans to consume as it has the popular coating of dialogue and a good synchronization. Nat Ross directed the old tried-and-true tale. "Television George" (Universal-Stern — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) THIS "Let George Do It" comedy contains some good fun patterned after the usual "dumb" comedy style of its star, Sid Saylor, who does effective work as a gamboling husband kissing the girlies in a television broadcasting room. His wife awaiting him at home sees his performance through her receiving set and hurries to the station to pummel her guilty better half and a rough and tumble fight is the result. As a prelude to the climax, Saylor puts over some good gags in various scenes showing him trying desperately to get away from the Missus who keeps him occupied with various jobs about the house. The number releases a high proportion of merriment. It will go over in neighborhood theatres. "Pathe Review No. 19" (Pathe — One Reel) A TOUR of Hollywood, a view of galloping horses on Montana ranges, characteristics and customs of the Kavirondos and scenes of toddling infants make up the diversified table of contents of this new Pathe Review, edited with its customary skill and presenting, once again, a well-conceived and presented screen chat of interesting and educational topics. — RAYMOND GANLY. "The Rivals" (Universal — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) JEALOUSY between two girls is the motif of this Collegian and as directed by Nat Ross and played by the cast, it is a highly successful story of young blood. June (Dorothy Gulliver) is the star of the Calford basketball team and when a blonde rival makes her appearance and bids fair to outshine her, June petulantly resigns from the game. When she is rependant and anxious to return, her uncle takes her home because of her activities in sport and it appears to the school that she would rather pass them by than play on the same team with the blonde. The boys, however, learn what's what and they steal her away from uncle. June arrives in time to play in the game and ring up a superior score, subduing her jealousy and working hand in hand with her rival. It's livened up with some good dialogue and music and Dorothy Gulliver. George Lewis and Eddie Phillips and the un mown blonde are all good. "Go Easy Doctor" (Pathe Talkie — Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) LAUGHS in bulk are to be had in this latest of the successful series of talkie shorts George LeMaire is producing for Pathe. Here they skillfully produce the giggles by means of both lines and action. Louis Simon is again seen in the role of a patient and LeMaire is again a doctor as was the case in "At the Dentist's." That piece, if you remember, didn't do any plodding along the laugh route ; as a matter of fact it skimmed along in winning style and aroused many fun wavelets. "Go Easy, Doctor" realizes its share of success and can be labeled sure-to-please comedy material for any house. LeMaire's rough house treatment upon Simon is the structure upon which the comedy hangs. Simon had ducked into his office to dodge another fellow eager to give him a thrashing and LeMaire, thinking him a patient for his osteopathism, gives him the "works." The rough and tumble highlight goes over well. "Tomato Omelette" (Pathe— Two Reels) (Reviewed by Raymond Ganly) rt'< HE usual little boy and girl capers are exI ecuted in this new "Smitty" comedy by Donald Haines, Jackie Coombs and Betty Jane Graham, the leads, and their support. The fun is standardized and all the comedy does is live up to the old pattern of juvenile comedy reels. Its movement is labored and certainly not spontaneous and its plot slackens so much tint they've had to drag in one of those splattering, untidy fights as a finale. The "Smitty" and "Micky McGuire" reels are practically identical in the type of material, that they employ. Harry Edwards directed for the Amedee J. Van Beuren outfit responsible for its production. The story tells of Smitty's army started in opposition to Vera's "swell" boy friend. Kids in general should find it entertaining. Richard Carle, the stage actor, has a small part. "Stripes And Stars" (Universal Sound Cartoon — One Reel) SOUND lifts this Oswald, just about an average cartoon, into the laugh realm and makes of it a bright reel that'll liven up programs handicapped by dcadwood features. The rabbit is a porter delegated to capture a lawbreaking bear terrorizing the police force. He gets his man and hauls him before his chief to collect the reward of a judgeship. Several really good ideas, the work of the nimblewitted cartoonists, decorate the affair and push it along to a laugh finis. Walter Lantz, billed as the director, is probablv chicflv responsible for its success.— RAYMOND GANLY.