Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1922)

3388 Motion Picture News Opinions on Current Short Subjects 44 Xmas ” (Mr. and Mrs. Carter DeHaven Comedy — Two Reels — Films Booking Offices of America) A TIMELY comedy is this new DeHaven offering, which is all about Santa Clauses and Christmas trees. It is clean-cut, fastmoving action and it does not need to be shown during the holiday season to be enjoyed. Carter is a newlywed who entertains his inlaws over Christmas. These in-laws include a couple of youngsters, their mother and a bearded grandfather. The trouble begins when Carter tries to get a Christmas tree with the aid of an axe. He brings it home on the running board of a taxi and its branches pick up all sorts of decorations on the ride. There is a lot of fun when the family starts to dress the tree. A goat, a Christmas present to the cook’s little boy, adds to the merriment. Then there is a Santa Claus sequence. Carter decides to give the kids a surprise. So does grandfather and several other men in the same apartment. Then a second story man, disguised as Santa, starts to operate, and there is no end of confusion. You can play “Xmas” during the holidays or anytime. It is sure to make them happy. — LAURENCE REID. 44 The Educator ” Educational — Two Reels HERE’S a good one. It is full of action, goes after laughs and is pretty sure to get them, and at the same time keeps just enough above the usual type of low comedy to make it safe to show to mixed audiences. In a western town named Angelville, public sympathy is not with teachers who have endeavored to educate the populace. In consequence, professors who preceded the new teacher (Lloyd Hamilton) have met with many ostacles in trying to “ teach ” grown up students the proper respect for “teacher.” When the new teacher puts in an appearance, he starts out to win against long odds, and after a difficult time of it, interspersed with a bit of romance, he scores heavily and is made the most popular man of the town. This is the best work we have seen Lloyd Hamilton do, which may be explained in that he has some funny situations and laugh provoking material to assist in turning out a worth while comedy.— LILLIAN GALE. 44 A Quiet Street ” Pathe — Two Reels EVERY one of “ Our Gang,” who have won popularity as juvenile players in the “Our Gang” Series are given opportunities to carry scenes on their very own in this comedy. “A Quiet Street ” describes the opposite, but does tell the story of happenings on what might be a quiet street if it weren’t for “ Our Gang.” “ Red Mike,” a desperate character, robs a passer-by. Previously, the children have been indulging in pranks that have aroused the interest of the police, and when “ Mike ” makes a get-away, it looks black for the “kids,” who are responsible for several noisy capers, and appear to blame for “ Mike’s ” rough work. There is more activity expressed in this picture than usual, and the pranks of the children A scene from “ In Dutch,” the Christie comedy distributed by Educational. are just as entertaining and amusing, so much so that grown-ups who come to bring the children for a laugh, will find themselves getting considerable “kick” out of the situations themselves. In addition, an intelligent bull-dog shares honors for commendable assistance in keeping the fun on high. — LILLIAN GALE. 44 The Just a Little Bit Late Club ” Second National — One Reel THIS is apt to meet with a great deal of popularity, despite the fact that the subject “ steps on the toes ” of many who are in the habit of procastinating at the inconvenience of others. It shows Bruce Barton, writer of pointed paragraphs, at his typewriter, conceiving the idea of an editorial upon the habit of being late. It has a marked element of amusement, contains a commendable moral and is decidedly well compiled. A safe “ filler ” for any kind of audienc t.— LILLI AN GALE. — 44 Fire the Fireman ” Pathe — One Reel IN this Paul Parrott assumes the role of a newcomer to the Fire Department. His enlistment does nothing worse than get the regular members of the department in precarious and amusing situations, of “ slap-stick ” variety. The substance hinges upon a hotel landlord being willing to have his hotel burned down in order to collect insurance money with which to pay income tax. By this time the one-man Fire Department is thoroughly schooled as to how to extinguish a fire, especially when a fire is desired. There are a few laughs — now and then. — LILLIAN GALE. Take Off the Blinders— Open Your Eyes Be fair to yourself and your business. Why gamble with fly-by-nights. You’ll be wise by reading A Real Investment CHICAGO, ILL. 44 Once Over ” Educational — Two Reels THE introductory title describes the hero 7" comedian. It reads : “ A lover with a brain like new— he never uses it.” Which fades into the appearance of Jimmie Adams, who illustrates the lack of mental qualities by indulging in some would-be funny horse play, the horse evidencing considerable intelligence. It would seem the girl after the comedian’s heart is empjgyed as a manicurist in a barber shop. She is entirely too pretty and too clevt. to be buried in such tiresome attempts at humor as the vehicle otherwise affords. Following a deal of slap-stick wherein Adams gets thrown out of the barber shop in divers ways, he returns as a barber. There are a number of rough customers waiting attention. A few unfortunates get it, and while there may be some humor in the treatment they receive, it was not visible. A boot-black, described by a title as “ a polished gentleman,” arrives clad in a fur coat, carrying a stick and leaving his motor and chauffeur outside while he shines a pair of shoes, then returns to his conveyance and is driven off. The best we can say for this so-called comedy is that there is a wealth of action wasted sparring for humor that is never achieved. — LILLIAN GALE. 44 A Good Scout ” Educational — Two Reels T NTERRUPTING the marital troubles of a man whose wife’s cooking was not conducive to longevity, comes Jimmie Adams in the role of a book agent. His call is unwelcome and the housewife first calls the poodle dog, then the bull dog. The latter puts the book agent on the run. Two policemen take up the chase and all scamper through a field where straw is heaped in piles and the pursued endeavors to hide, without much success. There is considerable action without humor in the first reel. The second has something to do with the title, since it takes place in a “ scout ” camp and ends in a sw’amp, where there are splashes of action, again without humor. If this subject merits the description of comedy, it also earns the description, slap-stick of a degree headed for zero. — LILLIAN GALE. Pathe Review No. 188 Pathe — One Reel IN this review is a little bit of everything. The introductory footage is likely to please those sentimentally inclined, since it delineates the scenic background which illustrates Longfellow’s poc-m, “ The Brook and the Wave.” It is most appealing. Follows a description of how artificial birds for use in millinery are made. These finally appear most life-like and the fact that substitutes for real birds are possible, will ease the consciences of women who have employed the genuine for trimming purposes, while incurring sharp censure from bird lovers. The concluding footage is devoted to a chemical experiment called the “fire snake,” an analysis of toe dancing, and ends with fashions in Pathe color. — LILLIAN GALE.