Motion Picture News (May - Jun 1926)

2262 ions on CurreT?tProductioi?5 M otion Picture News =^ "Too Many Babies" (Universal-Century — Two Reels) (Revicued by M. T. Andrews) npHAT venerable social institution, ■*■ mother-in-law, is the subject of this comedy in which Charles King and Blanche Payson are starred. Charlie and his wife are unexpectedly visited by mother-in-la\» who has been led to believe that they had two lovely children. Naturally, her iirst question after arrival was where are the youngsters hiding, whereupon Charlie volunteered with a reply that they are playing in the park. He goes out bent upon kidnapping a couple of kids in order to stave off motherin-law's ill humor, but being unable to achieve his purpose within short time, his wife goes out and steals two kiddies from neighbor's yard. Shortly after Charlie returns with two more, but the old lady, perceiving that she has been duped, proceeds to administer a drubbing to the henpecked Charlie, until a friendly policeman saves him from the strong arm. Scott Pembroke directed. Si()}uiiary — Lacks gags and ideas for a story which has been overworked in better comedies. "The Tin Ghost" ( Educational-Mermaid — Two Reels) (Revieivtd by M. T. Andreivs) A NOTHER good slapstick comedy from ■**■ Lige Conley with some dandy gags in the tin soldier episode. Some tried and true stuff like sitting on a lighted cigar, and spilling ink over a clean white vest, is introduced in the initial scenes. But just when you are ready to yawn, in comes the scientist with his marvelous invention, a tin automatic soldier that can do anything but chew tobacco and swear. The scientist holds a demonstration before a group of financiers, when a villain cuts the connecting wires by means of which the invention operates, and the automat refuses to work. Lige agrees to animate the tin skeleton, but accidentally the automat begins to operate, keeping Lige and the darky porter in a riot of stunts as they try to get out of its way. Directed by Stephen Roberts. The Cast Lige Conley, Estelle Bradley, Jack Lloyd, Otto Fries, Phil Dunham. .S'i(;/n;((;r3'— Lige, the colored porter, and the tin soldier furnish enough merriment to please the average comedy fans. "The Mad Racer" CFox — Two Reels) (Reviewed by M. T. Andrews) A NOTHER splendid comedy in which the '*^* quibbhng Van Bibber blunders himself to victory in the usual grand style. Van runs into many new complications in this one, with a result that the fans will get more than their money's worth of laughs. The hero is spending a vacation with Colonel Paddock's party at a ranch owned by the latter's friend. Now it happens that the peaceful atmosphere of this ranch is disturbed from time to time by a desperado known as the Mad Racer, the terror of the countryside. Ranch foreman hires him to dispose of Van in order that he may win the annual buggy race and possess himself of Sylvia Paddock, in whom he is infatuated. By a trick of fate, however. Van is forced in the race, and after having been dragged by a runaway vehicle, stumbles into a leading chariot in which the Mad Racer lies stunned. And so once again Van is procla'med hero of the day. Benjamin Stoloff directed. The Cast Reginald Van Bibber Earle Foxe Sylvia Paddock Florence Gilbert Bertie De Puyster Lyn Cowan Colonel Paddock Frank Beal The Heavy Lawford Davidson Mad Racer Patrick Rooney Summary — Well up to the standard of Van Bibber comedies. Has clever subtitles and many novel situations. Should please all patrons. "The Doctor" ( Cranfield & Clark — Two Reels) (Revieivid by M. T. Andrews) THIS is No. 5 of the two-reel comedy series, "Smouldering Tires," starring Alducers. Inc., under supervision of David Horsley. The picture is inspired by the famous painting bearing that name, by Sir Luke Fildes, which now hangs in Tate Gallery, London. The author has built a dramatic story around this painting, dealing with life of a young couple who have separated after their initial quarrel. He lives alone with their boy in a lonely cabin, while unknown to him she lives on the other border of the woods. The boy strays into her cottage and she becomes fond of him, but one day he gets hurt and she goes to fetch his father only to discover that he is her abandoned husband. Reconciliation follows at the boy's bedside. Summary — Quite colorful and fairly entertaining film, with a touch of human interest and beautiful photography. "Painless Pain" ( Universal-Century ^ — Two Reels) (Reviewed by M. T. Andrews) WANDA WILEY is featured in a faint vehicle in which she will have to depend on her popularity and whatever stunts she pulls in this one, to put it over. The action here centers around her sweetheart's dental parlor. His business is so poor that he admits his inability to marry her. Wanda immediately gets a trick hunch; she hires a tough guy to walk up the street knocking down the passersby to whom she distributes her sweetie's business cards. Business picks up marvelously with Wanda taking charge of the dental chair. She demonstrates some new ways of pulling teeth by means of guy ropes and a trap door. The results are highly gratifying to her customers and she collects a handsome fortune thus insuring her marriage to the boy she loves. Sinnmary — Xot very promising, unless the novel idea of pullins teeth and the hired bouncer will make them laugh. "Broken China" ( Educational-Christie — Two Reels) (Reviewed h\ M. T. Andreivs^ "DOBBY VERNON cast in a story that -*-' suits him exceedingly well, that of a timid boy in a rough and tumble affair, where speedy action and his acrobatics supply most of the comedy. Bobby attends a policemen's ball in a rented uniform, in order to be near his sweetie who is the hostess. But alack the wicked fate, he is mistaken for a real policeman and sent with a squad to raid Chinatown. There he, falls in the hands of Wun Lung, the notorious smuggler, and a battle of wits follows, our hero getting the worst of it. The episodes in Chinatown's underworld are quite spontaneous in legitimate fun, with Bobby and Bill Blaisdell pulling the lion's share of it. The Cast Bobby Vernon, Frances Lee, William Irving and Bill Blaisdell. Directed by Earle Rodney. Summary — Nothing startlingly new in this one, but it will ring the bell nevertheless. Good direction and a different background will help the picture a great deal. "Felix the Cat Uses His Head" (Educational-Cartoon — One Reel) FELIX has starvation blues and in his search for food runs into many rib-tickling situations. First he stumbles over a quarter with which he goes to the delicatessen, but a Hebrew sign tells him that the store is closed on account of St. Patrick's Day. In another store he buys a can of sardines, but after he opens the can they all hop out and leave Felix still hungry. He gets a cold chicken ne.xt which he loses in an icy pond. The climax of fun is reached when a hen and her brood tug at Felix's tail mistaking it for a huge worm. Felix frees himself at last but mourns the shape of his appendix which now is ten times its normal size. This is a snappy one-reel comedy.—M. T. ANDREWS. "Wooden Shoes" (Cranfield & Clark— One Reel) THIS is a one-reel scenic film showing the alluring beauty of Holland. It is presented in a light story form, a pair of wooden shoes abandoned at the doorw-ay takes us for a stroll through Holland's beauty spots. There are magnificent shots of the expansive quilt-patched tulip fields, the rugged cities where the streets are silver ribbons of water, the quaint windmills, the dog-carts and the picturesque costumes of Dutch people. The subject is beautifully photographed and interesting one-reel novcltv.— M. T. ANDREWS. HERFS ANOTHER " Well. Thank