Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1923)

2478 Motion Picture News Opinions on Current Short Subjects 44 The Payroll Thief " (Universal — Two Reels) THE action in this two-reel melodramatic western centres about the adventures of a cowpuncher, in love with the woman who owns the ranch and who is " framed " by payroll thieves of having embezzled money to pay off the boys and substituted counterfeit bills. As far as pictures of this type go and so iar as those who like pictures of this sort " The Payroll Thief " will prove good entertainment, for it has the usual stuff that goes with the roughriding western. However, in this one the exhibitor is given an exploitation title on which to tie some exploitation that may attract customers, although it must be made plain that this two-reeler is not a crook drama, but a straight western. There is action a plenty with most of the shots exteriors that get their locale in the rough and ready country, and much good horsemanship is displayed. There is a light love interest running through the story, but most of the director's efforts were concentrated on the sensational. Robert North Bradbury directed, while Ben Kleine turned the crank. The story was written by George Pyper. Jack Mower and Eleanor Field are co-starred with the former running away with the stellar honors, however. —ROGER FERRI. " The Soilers " ( Pathe-Ro ach — Two Reels ) IN this burlesque on " The Spoilers " Stan Laurel is not seen to as good advantage as in many of his past comedies. The comedy is too far fetched, and the fight scene, while uproariously funny in spots is entirely too long dragged out. Laurel as Canister and James Finlayson as Smacknamara fight upstairs and downstairs, inside and outside until the action gets as tiresome to those watching the picture as it apparently is to the players in the dance hall scene . While the whole thing is of course a travesty and travestys are made to be ridiculous even this sort of thing can be overdone as it has been in " The Soilers." As in the fight episode, the gun play is repeated and repeated until there is little wonder the players have so little regard for the sight of a pistol. There are spots of humor in the action, but this one is hardly up to the standard of the general run of Hal Roach comedies. — CHESTER J. SMITH. 44 No Parking Aloud " (Universal — One Reel) NEELY EDWARDS scores an honor in his tramp comedy makeup and slapstick stuff in " No Parking Aloud," which deals with the adventures of our hero when he takes over a baby parking concession. However, bargains are bargains and one can neyer tell how the women folks will behave. This time informed that the big sale does not start until the following day, the wives for the time being forget their " chee — ldren " and are locked in the store by the angry proprietor whose efforts to force Jack Polio, star Los Angeles athlete, who will make a scries of pictures for Hercules Film Productions them to leave fail. Neely is mistaken for a notorious kidnapper and when the women come to they search frantically for the babes, who are wrecking our hero's home. They finally arrive on the scene, much to the joy of Neely. Just an ordinary slapstick hoakum affair. — ROGER FERRI. 44 The Dare-Devil " (Pathe— One Reel) BEN TURPIN injects an abundance of real fun in this one reeler and he receives some excellent support from Harry Gribbon as the hard-boiled movie director, Jack Richardson as leading man, and the rest of the troupe. Turpin plays the part of a movie double and they put him through enough hazardous and amusing stunts to wear him to a frazzle even in one reel. He runs the entire gamut of hardships which usually fall to the lot of the double. There is action in every foot of the reel and there's many a laugh as that action reaches its climax. Larry Gribbon as the director goes through as many trying antics as Turpin and survives them all to finish a close second to the crosseyed comedian when the laurels are being handed out. Altogether it is an enjoyable picture that will add to almost any program. — CHESTER J. SMITH. 44 Go West " (Pathe-Roach — One Reel) HERE is a real amusing single-reeler that for a novelty would be hard to beat. Hal Roach's amazing aggregation of animals show intelligence beyond that displayed in some feature pictures. In this one is enacted a travesty on life in the open spaces and these animal players submit to direction and carry out the action of the picture as expeditiously and apparently with as much knowledge of what it is all about as could so many humans. In fact the picture value is added to by the dumbness of the players. No audience could see this picture without approving it. — CHESTER J. SMITH. 44 She's a He " (Universal-Century — Two Reels) pENTURY COMEDIES furnished Buddy ^ Messenger with good comedy material and thanks to careful direction the featured player gets over meritoriously. Buddy is himself in this one. Buddy has grown into quite a lad, but he makes an acceptable light comedian in this one. It is the best comedy he has made with Century. Buddy is an assistant plumber, whose services are appropriated by a young couple who have lied to their relatives that they have a little daughter. Buddy masquerades that daughter. The relatives arrive and with their arrival the fun starts. The " business " at the table is capital and gets many laughs.— ROGER FERRI. 44 No Loafing" ( Educational-Tuxedo — Two Reels ) THIS comedy is executed to inspire shivers of suspense since it is modeled after the Lloyd numbers which featured the star as a human fly. " Poodles " Hanneford of circus fame — whose ability as a trick horseman is known wherever the big tops are pitched, is a good knockabout comedian and attired in his loose-fitting clothes, working hard to avoid work, but keeping from the local bastile by hiring out as a furniture mover, he puts over several exciting moments in guiding a grand piano to a lofty apartment. It is trick stuff— and " Poodles " is agile enough to send shivers up and down the spine in his acrobatic work. He just misses tumbling to the ground on several occasions. Once the piano is carried through the window, the slapstick enters with a vengeance. And when it is over the apartment is a wreck. We would enjoy seeing "Poodles" executing some trick riding on his big steed. He has no peer in that field. The comedy is fairly entertaining.— LA URENCE REID. 44 Hot Sparks " (Educational-Cameo — One Reel) THEY call out the fire department in this one — and you may guess that it is put over with all the hokum burlesque — such as the efforts of the brave laddies to reach the burning house. They mix it up in sliding down the pole — and half of the force miss the wagon. Once the house is reached the chief's pretty daughter must be rescued. Which introduces several laughable absurdities. It is acted by Mark Jones, Cliff Bowes, George Ovey, Phil Dunham and Virginia Vance. A good filler for the program.— LA URENCE REID.