Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1925)

208 Motion Picture News " Just in Time " Universal-Century — Two Reels (Reviewed bv Chester J. Smith) WANDA WILEY has a dandy story in this two-reel Century in which humor, action and thrills are about equally divided and serve to make a splendid vehicle for this clever comedienne. Strange as it may seem it is a good newspaper story, which is rare in any type of picture. Wanda is the feature writer on the Daily Milk and is doing a series of feature stories on a mysterious band that has haunted the city. The editor's son is finally carried off by this band and held for ransom. Wanda, after a series of thrilling episodes that would make some of the serials look tame, finds the rendezvous of the band, rescues the editor's son and delivers his captors to the editorial rooms. There is much about this picture to recommend it. There are incidents about it akin to Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last," for the heroine does not hestitate to climb water pipes on high buildings or to negotiate cornices on straight walls. She climbs to some dizzy heights that should set audiences a-gape. Drain pipes collapse with her and she hangs suspended until one wonders how she is ever going to get safely through with it all. By the simple process of waylaying a girl accomplice of the mystic band, changing clothes with her and finding a map which reveals the headquarters she gains access to the abductors' den and securing a key releases the youth held for ransom. The comedy element enters strongly into the story by the manner in which Wanda stands off her many foes. She runs them dizzy through the different chambers while the editor's son flees for police aid. The battle continues at length in the den until Wanda makes her getaway with the band at her heels. She leads them a merry chase which takes them through the side window of the newspaper shop just as the police arrive. The Cast The Girl Wanda Wiley The Hero Joe Bonner Century Comedy directed by Edward Luddy. The Story — Wanda, a feature writer on a newspaper learns that a mystic band has carried off the editor's son. She gets on the trail of the bandits, forces their female accomplice to change clothes with her and in the pocket of the dress is a map locating the bandits' den. She gains access to the den, locates a key to the chamber in which the editor's son is held prisoner and releases him. She then stands off the band, makes her escape with the bandits at her heels and leads them to the newspaper office, where they are all captured by the police. There is the usual happy ending in which Wanda accepts the proposal of the youth. Classification — A comedy replete with action and abounding in thrills. Summary — An exceptionally good story, well directed and abounding in thrills and comedy situations. Miss Wiley gives her best performance to date and the picture is one that should be appreciated by almost any type of audience. Pathe Review No. 28 (One Reel) THOUGH another installment of the "Here Comes the Bride" series, showing the wedding ceremonies and customs of different countries and races, is included in this issue of the Review, it is the color subject which romps off with feature honors. The scenic contribution shows the picturesque valley of rocks in Southern France known as the Gorges of Ardeche. The scenery is beautiful and the color seems at its best in this charming screen reproduction. The marriage customs feature shows the American Bride, first giving the ceremonies practiced by the Indians and then a modern, up-to-the-minute nuptial shindig of the most elaborate sort. "Wonders in Wax" gives an inside view of the making of the life-like dummies which reach their Paradise in the nickel museums and shop windows. — T. C. KENNEDY •r j huh B ^ Lloyd Hamilton in a scene from "Waiting," an Educational release. " The Knockout Man " Universal-Mustang — Two Reels (Reviewed by Chester J. Smith) FRED WILLIAMS wrote a fair story in this Western, but like most of them the incidents are grossly exaggerated and made fairly impossible. It is based on the doctrine of "turning the other cheek" when your enemy smites you, and as a consequence Jack Perrin, who plays the role of the hero gets himself badly smitten. In fact he is knocked about from pillow to post to such an extent as to make him appear ridiculous. Louise Lorraine and Perrin are the featured players, and the fact that Perrin, a reformed gambler falls in love with her is responsible for most of his difficulties. Miss Lorraine is the daughter of a Minister who comes to this western town to reform it and both are amazed at the lawlessness of the place. They try to teach the men to love their enemies and as each is every other one's enemy it is rather a difficult proposition. Perrin is the first the reform wave hits. He has more or less reigned supreme as the town's best fighter, but practicing the new doctrine he suffers humility at the hands of first one and then the other, until Bull ConIon insults the minister's daughter. Even then he hesitates to act until called upon by the minister to do so. Then he reveals his old fighting proclivities and wins his way back into the good graces of the girl he loves. There is some fairly good comedy in the picture and some rather lively fight scenes with all of the western atmosphere that characterizes these two reel westerns. Miss Lorraine makes an attractive .heroine, but unfortunately Perrin is seen at his best only in spots. It's rather a tough and impossible role for a hero to have to assume. The Cast Dick Cordon Jack Perrin "Bull" Barrett Jim Corey Parson Rhodes Charles Herzinger Molly Louise Lorraine A Mustang Picture directed by Edward Laemmle. Harry Oswald, cameraman. Story by Fred V. Williams. The Story — Dick Conlon, gambler in a western town falls in love with the daughter of a visiting minister who is preaching the doctrine of "Love Thy Enemy." Dick reforms, is beaten by a number of the town bullies whem he has previously dominated. He eventually is called upon to protect the girl from the insults of a ruffian and does so only when pleaded with by her father. The ruffian is badly beaten and Dick wins his way back into the good graces of the girl. Classification — A western comedy-drama in which there is a fair amount of action and a few episodes that offer some real comedy. Summary — This western is hardly up to the standard of some of the series that have gone before by this producing company. Many of the situations are entirely too ridiculous to be convincing. However it should go fairly well where pictures of this type are popular. " Wailing " Educational-Hamilton — Two Reels (Reviewed by Chester J. Smith) rTy HEY have mixed up another concoction of cream puff, custard pie, slapstick and hokum for Lloyd Hamilton, who assumes the role, first of dishwasher in a restaurant and then as waiter. The comedian is worthy of a little better story than this, which abounds in everything that has been seen in these comedies in the past. The picture is not without its attractiveness for those who like the short comedy. It will be productive of laughs, as these old well known stunts always are. There is the laugh that follows the waiter who falls down with the tray full, the contents of which are spilled on the head of his rival, who is entertaining the "girl" in the restaurant. There is the ever-ready cream puff that explodes in the face of the comedian. And there are a few stunts that are not so hackneyed. For instance Lloyd drives his flivver through the side door of an electric train, calmly pays fare for both the auto and himself and then as calmly disembarks through the other side door at the height of a very lofty trestle. There is an extremely ludicrous scene in which the comedian tackles his dishwashing job. In the absence of a dishwasher the dishes have been piled to the ceiling. Lloyd starts taking them one at a time from the top, then reverses the order and decided to take them from the bottom of the pile. The resultant clash scatters crockery over all parts of the washroom. When Lloyd is promoted to waiter the action speeds up and the air fairly reeks with Welsh rarebit and other edibles that apparently are prepared for anything but eating. The rarebit, a sticky conglomeration entangles a good part of the diners, and those who escape this mess are victims of other Hamilton indescretions as a waiter, with the rival the principal victim. The Cast The Waiter Lloyd Hamilton The Girl .' Ruth Hiatt The Rival Glen Cavender The Proprietor William Beaudine The Chef Otto Fries By Fred Hibbard. Directed by Stephen Roberts. Photographed by Francis Corby. Produced by Hamilton Comedies. The Story — Lloyd, broke and out of a job gets employment as a dishwasher and is promoted to waiter in a fashionable restaurant where his rival brings his best girl to dine. Lloyd, humiliated and embarrassed spills much of the edibles on the rival and eventually walks off with girl. Classification — A slapstick comedy of the custard pie variety replete with hokum, the majority of which is old, but some new. Summary — Almost entirely lacking in story, this one will be good for many laughs because of its fast action and the number of ludicrous stunts with which the two reels abound. The comedian is seen to the usual good advantage and will add to the prestige with the followers of the short comedies. "Permit Me" (Educational — One Reel) HIS is typical of the single reelers in which *■ Cliff Bowes and Virginia Vance are featured. It is fairly fast comedy which moves along at a good clip without too much time being devoted to the story. It is a series of humorous episodes, all of which go to make for laughs. Cliff decides the best thing for his bride to do following the ceremony is to go back to work in order that his taxi bills may be paid. Eventually both wind up at the same party, where Cliff is in arrears for a taxi bill. The driver descends upon the party with his gang and there is a general melee which results in the wrecking of the ball room and most of the occupants thereof.— CHESTER J. SMITH.