Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

54 Motion Picture N e iv s X or ember 1 , 19 3 0 Short Subjects The Dogway Melody {M-G-M) Grand Comedy \K7 ITH that famous and early musical as " " its model, 'The Dogway Melody" turns out to be a swell take-off on "The Broadway Melody." Instead of humans, dogs of all kinds and descriptions are used and the result is a grand comedy. These subjects are shot silent, of course, with dialogue and effects added. The "Singin' in the Rain" number, played against a set almost identical with that of the original, actually uses Cliff Edwards' warbling. That's a laugh in itself and a howl for those who can spot it. For a "sister'' trio — all composed of dogs, of course — the voices of the Bronx sisters, as per the original, are utilized. Clever, very much of a novelty and a grand comedy. Running time, 17 mins. Audio Review, No. (Pathe) Fair 42 A TOUR ol the city of Marrakech, metropolis of Morocco, supplies the spectators with picturesque views and unusual settings. The next unit is a dog style show, demonstrating what the various breeds of smart dogs are wearing these days, some of the costumes costing $200. The final unit gives the low down on the fruit once known as the alligator pear, but which took on fancy prices when it was rechristened avocado. Running time, 9 minutes. Divorced Sweethearts (Sennett-Educational) Will Get By THERE are some good laughs in this situation comedy, although Mack Sennett's tendency to get away from slapstick and toward situation comedy isn't going to help the boxoffice value of his offerings. Daphne Pollard gets over some laughs and does her usual holding-the-baby act, with the usual results. Unnecessary and becoming an unfunny joke. This has a fairly familiar plot, but it has action and laughs, thanks to Marjorie Beebe and Sennett's direction. Running time, 22 minutes. Secrets of Nature (British International) Good ANY audience will appreciate this highly diverting study of the frog. It contains some excellent shots of the frog's evolution, from the egg and through the tadpole stage. The slow motion shots of the frog and toad eating are exceptionally good and carry a laugh. Running time, 12 minutes. A Hollywood Theme Song (Educational — Sennctt) A Long Howl HERE is a two-reeler that will provide more laughs per minute than any short seen in some time. William Beaudine has directed it in capable fashion, and it is one long howl from start to finish. Harry Gribbon, Patsy O'Leary and Yola D'Avril have the leading roles and give excellent performances. It's about a soldier from a hick town who sings a theme song whenever he ventures into battles. Many funny gags are interpolated and the comedy moves at a rapid pace. This will appeal to all types and rates a plugging. Running time, 20 minutes. Cuckoo Murder Case (M-G-M) Okay FIFTEEN or more series of animated cartoons on the market at one time make the going tough for this type of short. That is, unless they're turned out with the cleverness of "Cuckoo Murder Case," one of the "Flip the Frog" subjects produced by Ub Iwerks. Here, the cartoonist takes the usual mystery slant but sends it over with loads to spare. The answer is in the treatment. Iwerks has Flip go through the most amazing contortions. This shows real thought. Running time, 7 mins. Seeing Things (Vitaphone Varieties No. 1081-82) Feeble JUST the old haunted house yarn crossed by the inheritance gag. William Demarest falls heir to an estate provided he lives in a haunted house for a year to make good his claim. Otherwise the estate reverts to other relatives. Need you be told who plays ghost? Not more than a mild giggle from the audience when caught. Maybe the kids will like it. Helping Grandma (Our Gang— M-G-M) Lots of Laughs Hal Roach's Rascals can be depended upon for laughs and this two reeler is no exception. However, unlike most of the others feauring this troupe, it depends for comedy more upon situations than upon the wild antics of the youngsters. In this, they undertake to help grandma, who owns a small town store, which is sought at low price by a chain store rival. The kids mind the store, while grandma is out, and succeed in boosting up the price to a fine figure, outwitting a scheming miser in the process. The kids' antics in the store are rilled with laughs. Running time, 21 minutes. Believe It or Not, No. 4 (Vitaphone Varieties) Weak THE fourth of the "Believe It Or Not" series lacks the novel continuity of its predecessors. Ripley is introduced as a passenger of an incoming ocean liner. Four ship reporters act as straight men for the strange things he is supposed to have seen abroad. Questions and answers comprise most of footage ending with the usual blackboard sketches. Ripley draws a Chinaman he saw who has two pupils in each eye. He also exhibits a few shots of walking fish from an amateur movie negative. The only other character who makes an appearance is a chap who can make himself seven inches taller at will. Much of the effectiveness of this is lost by not photographing a full length figure. Instead the frame cuts off just below the knee. Number four is a weak sister in the Ripley series compared to the others of its group. Not So Quiet on the Western Front (British International) Poor ASIDE from one or two good specialty turns, this hasn't much to offer. Monty Banks directed and he certainly misses fire on the comedy slants. There are but few laughs, hardly enough to compensate for 25 minutes of running time. This shows a group of British soldiers in a French cafe. A snappy chorus adds to the occasion and there are a couple of fairly good song numbers. Hardly up to the general run of, American two-reel comedies. Running time, 25 minutes. Roosevelt's Compliment "The cat's whiskers" is the way Governor Roosevelt described the fleet of sound trucks placed at his disposal in the current campaign by Sam Kaplan, president of M. P. Machine Operators' Local 306. Operators Supply 8 Sound Trucks For Roosevelt Eight trucks, equipped with sound projection apparatus, are being used in New York State in the interest of the Democratic campaign. These were built at the instigation of Sam Kaplan, president of M. P. Machine Operators Local 306, working in co-operation with officers of the union. Various equipments were tested before the trucks were equipped. Kaplan met Governor Roosevelt at the Democratic convention at Syracuse and informed him that the union was placing the trucks at the disposal of the party. Since that time, the trucks have been working day and night, manned by specially-trained operators. The trucks will be kept in commission after close of the campaign and be utilized for private showings. Nan Cochrane Gets Leon Abrams "U" Post Hollywood — Leon Abrams, former story editor at Universal studios, has been supplanted by Nan Cochrane who previously was head reader at Universal. Just what Abrams plans to do has not been announced as yet. DeMilles Coming East Hollywood — William deMille, who completed his directorial contract with M-G-M several months ago, but remained to make "Passion Flower" is en route to New York accompanied by Mrs. deMille (Clara Beranger). The trip is a vacation and he does not contemplate engaging in any work while away. Miss Beranger however, will devote herself to the production of her play which is to be produced in New York this season. Lab to Be Ready Nov. 15 Hollywood — Multicolor is to have its new $1,000,000 laboratory completed by Nov. 15, according to Howard B. Lewis, manager. It will have a capacity of 3,000,000 feet of Multicolor film per week, he says. Two hundred men will be employed. "Outward Bound" Moves With opening of "Kismet" at the Hollywood, New York, Warners have moved "Outward Bound" to the Warner, across the street. "Outward Bound" has run ten weeks at the Hollywood.