Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1924)

November 8, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 175 “Radio Riot” (Fox — Comedy — Two Reels) This Fox Imperial Comedy, as its name implies is built around radio, a sequence has also been introduced showing cannibals who come to a small town and built a fire in a room of the hotel and proceed to prepare to cook the negro porter. The clerk comes to his assistance, but after a lot of rough-andtumble stuff and slapstick, the porter subdues the savage and appropriates his club and grass costume. All of this commotion is heard over the radio and causes consternation in a family including the sheriff who is listening in. To cap the climax the radio catches on fire and the house burns up. The comedy is of the obvious, familiar type, no originality has been shown in building up the situations and the gags have been used many times before. As a whole, while it will probably afford amusement to dyed-in-the-wool slapstick fans, it is not up to the standard of the series. — C. S. S. ‘The Girl and the Gangster’ (Pathe — Drama — Two Reels) This is the second of the “True Detective Stories” series produced by the Sholes Hazard Corporation for Pathe and directed by William Preston Burt from narratives by Major Ross D. Whytock, war correspondent. It details the frame-up of a policeman by gangsters and how, with the aid of a girl and a dictaphone, the chief crook unwittingly incriminates himself and fellow criminals. Nellie Burt, Ed Roseman and Leslie Austin have the principal parts and present strong characterizations. The subject has human interest and succeeds in developing satisfactory suspense. It should satisfy the average audience. — S. S. Pathe Review No. 45 (Pathe — Magazine — One Reel) This magazine reel contains three interesting subjects, excellent contrasting views of ancient and modern fashions, scenes of seal hunters in the Arctic and a picturesque assortment of views of Buffalo. Naturally the delineation of styles will appeal most to women. This is well done, showing how present-day fashions are the outgrowth of “old stuff.” On the other hand, men will prefer the hunting of seals, which also is hugely interesting. So it can be seen that the reel offers well balanced entertainment. — S. S. “Accidental Accidents” (Pathe — Comedy — One Reel) In this Hal Roach comedy Charley Chase appears as an umbrella maker sadly in need of work. His attempts to obtain the wherewithal for sustenance, always fraught with disaster, constitute the action. There is a good burlesque of an accident when a girl in an auto runs over Chase. The victim is left underneath a rear wheel of the car to enable a reporter to get photos, and the usual crowd gathers and tries to figure in the picture. Supporting Chase are Ena Gregory, Martin Wolfkeil, Earl Mohan, Billy Engle and Joe Forte. — -.S. S. “Border Justice” (Continued from page 173) characterized with the vigorous action and melodramatic villainy of the usual Western, belongs in the class of stories in which the plot hinges around the romance of a border ranger, whose rival is engaged in smuggling contraband. A brother against brother and love versus duty angle has been injected when the ranger is sent out to arrest his blaclcsheep brother for murder, and the story is further complicated by the fact that the girl’s father is under moral obligation to the villain as he has advanced money for her education. The manner in which this plot is worked out affords opportunities for action of the usual western type, with hard riding and considerable fighting. A somewhat gruesome angle is introduced when the brother accused of murder falls and is not killed but rendered insane with only one idea that of vengeance on the ranger, and is kept in a dark place by the villain. This situation together with the fact that during the fight at the climax there is the ever-present peril of the explosion of a huge charge of dynamite on a cliff above the hut, adds an unusually melodramatic character to the story. Breezy Reeves Eason has satisfactorily directed this picture, playing up the villainy, heroism and melodrama and it should prove of average entertainment value with patrons to whom this type of productions appeal. There are the usual improbabilities but this is offset by the action and punch scenes, the explosion which destroys the cabin providing a good thrill. Bill Cody satisfactorily handles the role of the hero and the supporting cast which is composed largely of unfamiliar players, is satisfactory. Cast Joseph Welland Bill Cody Phillip Gerard John Gooch Robert Maitland Bob Homan Angus Bland Mack Wright Indian Chief Tote Dncrow His Daughter Dot Ponedel Mary Maitland Nola Luxford Story by William Lester. Photographed by Walter Griffin. Directed by “Breezy” Reeves Eason. Length, 5,432 feet. Story Phillip Gerard, a regular black sheep, in forcing his attentions on an Indian girl fights her father, who is accidentally killed. Phillip is blamed and in trying to escape is arrested by his brother Joseph, a ranger. In the fight Phillip falls over a cliff and is left for dead. Joseph falls in love with Mary Maitland, daughter of his captain. Bland, the brains of a band of border smugglers, also desires Mary and has a hold on her father as he has advanced money for her education. Joseph gets evidence against Bland, Maitland refuses to arrest him; Joseph gives up his job, goes after Bland, who has taken Mary to his shack and shows her Phillip, a hopeless maniac as the result of his fall. Joseph fights Bland, who sets off a charge of dynamite, blowing the shack to bits. Joseph and Mary are saved, but the others are killed. Joseph gets back his job and wins Mary. “Black Lightning” Thunder, Another Remarkable Police Dog, Makes Debut in Feature That Should Please MajorityReviewed by C. S. Sewell Strongheart and Rin-Tin-Tin, the wonderful canine stars, have a rival in Thunder, a German police dog decorated for valor at Verdun, which is being starred in “Black Lightning." a Lumas Film Corporation feature distributed in New York, Buffalo and Chicago territories by Renown Pictures, Inc. Thunder is a fine specimen of a highly intelligent and lovable dog, the kind you would like to own, his work registers well and although he does not have quite the same opportunities as his competitors who have been longer in the game, what he does is excellent, there is decided punch in some of the stunts and he seems to be possessed of possibilities that show the makings of a real rival to the other dog stars. Naturally the story has been built to show this clever animal to advantage and there are real thrills when he leaps at the villain and knocks a pistol out of his hand and where he comes to the rescue of the heroine. Due to the presence of Thunder, the fine work of Clara Bow and the strong human interest quality in the story, this picture should afford good entertainment for the majority of fans. It is melodramatic in nature and coincidence has been stretched to the breaking point in having the hero by chance gain possession of the very dog who saved his life in France and also in wandering to the house of the sister of his buddy “over there” at the time when she needs protection. This, however, gives opportunities for good dramatic material and pathos that will bring a lump to the throat. As already stated, Clara Bow does remarkable work and in a serious role that is as different from her flapper types as possible, as a plain little country orphan, she shows unusual versatility and scores heavily. She seems possessed of unusual sincerity and the ability to make you feel that her emotions are very real. Harold Austin, as the hero, does not appear to be quite the type. James Mason makes just about as despicable a villain as can be imagined, and Eddie Phillips gives an uncannily good portrayal of a halfwit. There seems to be a little more brutality in the villainy than is necessary, and the direction is not always smooth or entirely consistent, but there is sufficient good material here to make this an attractive offering for the program houses. Cast Martha Larned Clara Bow Roy Chambers.. Harold Austin Ez Howard Eddie Phillips Jim Howard James Mason Joe Larned Joe Biitterwrorth Doctor Mark Fenton City Doctor John Prince Frank Larned J. p. Hogan Story by Harry Davis. Scenario by Dorothy Howell. Directed by James P. Hogan. Length, 5,500 feet. Story With the murder of Frank Larned, his sister Martha and her little brother were left unprotected and the object of unwelcome attentions from Jim Howard and his halfwitted brother. Roy Chambers, gassed in France, is ordered by the doctor to go to the mountains. Chance brings him with a police dog he has picked up to the Larned home. He finds that Martha is the sister of his buddy in France, who saved his life, Thunder being the dog that came to his rescue. Learning the situation, he decides to stay awhile. Joe gets hurt and Roy rides for a doctor. Ez, the half-witted chap, shoots him. Martha sends Thunder to find him, Jim comes and tries to get into the Larned home. Ez kills him and then attacks Martha. Thunder comes to her rescue. Martha and Roy then journey to the preacher together. Now Send Reports of Your Shows to Straight from the Shoulder Department.