Moving Picture World (Sep-Oct 1925)

The Pep of The Program News and reviews of Short subjects and serials 1 ‘Moonlight and N oses” (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) This is the first of a series of Clyde Cook comedies to be produced by Hal Roach for Pathe. It is the finest sort of burlesque and should find a universal, hearty welcome. It offers more laughs per reel than many feature comedies. Cook is an eccentric comedian of the first water and he is ably supported by Fay Wray, Tyler Brooke and Jimmie Finlayson. Stan Laurel directed. The story has to do with a professor who wants a body for experimental purposes. Cook is beguiled into getting it from the cemetery but gets a live man instead. There is no suggestion of sacrilege and nothing gruesome. One great scene is where the “corpse’s” legs break through the bag as Cook is carrying him on his back. The “corpse” falls into step with Cook, who keeps turning around and complaining that he hears footsteps. Then there is a bit of the spectacular where Cook, clad in armor, wrestles on a roof with the professor, who is cleverly played by Finlayson. Another bit of fun sure to score a hit is where the professor struggles to operate on Cook, who has put on the armor. People who don’t split their sides at this comedy ought to have their sanity tested. — S. S. “Cupid’s Victory’’ (Universal — Comedy — Two Reels) Wanda Wiley, the Century Comedy star, appears as a plain-jane office girl who manages to mess things up generally. The boss tries to kiss her and she wrecks his office; then in seeking to capture a frog she manages to break up nearly everything in the outer office. After hours she meets a sheik and it is love at first sight. Inviting him home she tries to make him jealous by inviting a lot of fellows. He retaliates by luring them to the window disguised as a vamp and pitching them out and then surrounding himself with chorus girls. Wanda then jumps off a building in despair but lands on a flag pole that breaks and sticks in the ground. She next tries driving an auto blindfolded, runs into the hero’s car and in the smash both are thrown on a balcony where they make-up and pull the Romeo and Juliet stuff. It is out-and-out rough and tumble knockabout slapstick that while having little plot moves at a good pace. While many of the gags are of a familiar variety, they will amuse the slapstick fans, and the falls and thrill stuff are not only effective but introduce some new stunts. — C. S. S. a Felix the Cat Trips Through Toyland” (Educational — Cartoon — One Reel) This Pat Sullivan cartoon shows Felix the cat on a tour of Toyland. He finds that even in Toyland are there villains. A clown steals away the pretty girl who is Felix’s escort, but he manages to rescue her. The subject is well drawn and interesting. — S. S. “Shorts” Reviewed In This Issue By The Sea (Universal) Cupid’s Victory (Universal) Felix’s Trip Through Toyland (Educational) In Deep (Educational) Lion and the Monkey, The (Pathe) Misfit Sailor, A (Educational) Moonlight and Noses (Pathe) On The Go (Fox) Outings for All (Pathe) “By the Sea” (Universal — Comedy — One Reel) This Charles Puffy comedy shows Universal’s fat comedian in the role of a seaside sheik who is really a hot-dog salesman. Of course there is a pretty girl and a rival and trouble between Puffy and the rival. Finally the girl dives into the ocean and Puffy after her. Lifesavers start hoisting them out with a crane but let them fall back when a vamp attracts them. At last Puffy and the girl drop into a passing speed boat and are saved. The situations are of a familiar sort and not as clever or as numerous as in some of the earlier issues, but this reel should prove of average amusement for the “Puffy” fans. — C. S. S. “In Deep” (Educational — Comedy — One Reel) This Cameo Comedy presents Cliff Bowes, George Davis, Blanche Payson and Helen Foster. The plot is based on a wife’s departure on vacation, leaving Hubby to enjoy himself, and on her unexpected return when coincidences indicate Hubby’s unfaithfulness. Hubby and male friend go joy-riding and are arrested. Hubby pleads haste to bring a doctor to his sick wife and child. The cop demands to see the ill ones. The friend poses, first as wife, then as doctor. A monkey masquerades as baby. Then a girl friend is pressed into service as wife, just as wifie returns. It is good fun. — S. S. What Others Think 4. MAX BALABAN: “I wish to advise you that your Ko-Ko Inkwell Cartoons are giving excellent satisfaction to our Chicago Theatre audiences.” Edwin Miles Fadman, Pres. “A Misfit Sailor” (Educational — Comedly — Two Reels) Billy Dooley and Vera Steadman have the leads in this Christie Comedy, with Eddie Baker figuring largely in the fun. The two men are sailors competing for the attention of a fair maiden, and Baker succeeds in convincing Vera and her friends that Dooley is insane. Whenever he gets “violent” they throw a bucket of water over him. Dooley gets most violent when Baker ornaments a bit of French pastry with shaving paste and Dooley eats it. The subject ends in somewhat spectacular fashion with a chase by cops in autos after Dooley, who is driving a car within a garage and taking the garage along with him. Dooley has a good part and acts quite satisfactorily stupid. Audiences ought to roar at the burlesque. — S. S. “On the Qo” (Fox — Comedy1 — Two Reels) Sid Smith, who has the lead in the Fox Imperial Comedy, appears in the role of a mail carrier who after trudging many weary miles over city streets and up and down long stairways, reaches home determined to spend his vacation in sleeping. Wifey, however, has other plans and starts him on a hike to mother’s and they then start on a trip to the mountains. Sid, with a canoe, falls out of the auto and has not only to walk but to carry the canoe. Then they make him do all the work. Finally during an awful rain he gets in a bath tub, the only dry place in the house. A flood carried this' down a stream and he is rescued at the brink of the falls. The doctor pulls the familiar wheeze and recommends long walks for him. It is an amusing comedy and please the majority. — C. S. S. “Outings for All ” (Pathe — Sportlight — One Reel) This Grantland Rice Sportlight shows the endless variety of outings enjoyed by people of all ages and tastes, from the hunter to the city dweller spending a Sunday in the country. There are fine shots of mountain and shore scenery and much human interest stuff in views of swimmers in an outdoor pool at Banff, Canada, and cjiildren; in the “ole swimming hole,” at Danbury, Conn. The subject ought to please theatregoers. — S. S. “The Lion and the Monkey” (Pathe — Cartoon — One Reel) It’s getting increasing^ embarrasing, this consistent praising of Paul Terry’s Aesop’s Fables, but it can’t be helped. The latest release is another corker, one of the best of wifie returns. It is good fun and well done, the year, due to Terry’s clever gags and some exceptionally fine sketching that shows in the expressions on the faces of the animals. The farmer goes hunting and the animals kid him. — S. S.