Moving Picture World (Nov-Dec 1926)

December 25, 1926 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 587 Timely Reviews of Short Subject Productions By C. 5. Sewell "Fortydive Minutes from Hollywood” (Pathe — Two Reels) This Hal Roach Comedy featuring Glenn Tryon, pictured here has for its plot the experiences of a family of “rubes” who find it necessary to go to Hollywood on .business and get mixed up in a bank robbery under the impression that it is all a part of a moving picture. Glenn gets buffeted about and has an experience with a vamp and an exciting time generally. There are several amusing situations in these two reels which were directed by Fred L. Guiol. It should satisfy the average audience. The cast includes Rube Clifford, Sue O’Neill and Charlotte Mineau. "The Fighting Spirit” (Universal — Two Reels) Universal’s “The Collegians” series still keeps up the T~ pep and punch of LvyL v ‘ 1 the ear'ier num .jfc'L ’ bers, making ex SiSSir#' i' cellertt entertain ment for the majority of patrons. This time the villain of the series framed the hero, George Lewis, pictured here, and forces him into a fight as there is a college rule demanding expulsion for fighting. The proctor learns of the scheme, waives the rule, makes the villain Trent fight his own battle with Lewis and the result is a snappy, lively ring scrap that should please the fans. The excellent college spirit is again evident and there is a pleasing romantic angle with Dorothy Gulliver as the girl. Eddie Phillips is again the villain. Anyone who has gone through college will enjoy this series. "Pathe Review 51” (Pathe — One Reel) The first section of this screen magazine pictures the lumber industry in Russia, showing that it is handled the same way as in this country. There is a Pathecolor section of the city of Fez in the heart of Morocco. The final section shows a modern alligator farm with the owner fearlessly moving about among his pets and tackling them while he is clad in a bathing suit with no protection from their ferocious jaws. An interesting reel. "Buster’s Picnic” (Universal — Two Reels) Here’s a genuine laughing proposition to start off Laugh Month, for this offering has a January 3 release date. Arthur Trimble, shown here, retains all his skill as “Buster,” with Doreen Turner co-featured with him, as is customary. The children take Tige to a picnic, and Tige, after eating the whipped cream off some cake intended for another party, presents the appearance of a mad dog. There is a wild pursuit, in which Tige upsets a hornet’s nest. The insects go for Tige, and the dog grabs a corner of a table cloth, and with Buster and Doreen clinging to it, a wind carries it into the air and the picknickers go sailing through space. The children land on a cliff, but Tige is rescued from the ocean after a good ducking. "Much Mystery” (Educational — Two Reels) Aptly titled is this Mermaid Comedy featuring George Davis for the story concerns a Chinese horror ship which is willed to a young woman. With her two rattle-brained lawyers she visits the ship and the villainous manager conspires with the crew' to make use of various devices, trap doors, moving walls, dummies, torture instruments, etc., to scare the visitors away. The result is a thoroughly amusing series of situations of a knockabout slapstick type involving uncanny oriental mystery. Estelle Bradley is the girl. “Even Up” (Bray — Two Reels) A virile a n d pleasing college atmosphere has been injected into this number of the Fistical Culture series featuring Lev/ Sargent who is seen as the star player of the football team. The action follows along the usual lines of this type with Sargent lured away by members of the opposing team and managing to escape and after a "One Sunday Morning” (Educational — Two Reels) What happened to the owner of a new flivver who one Sunday morning decides to take his family on a picnic, fur nishcs the idea for this Lloyd Hamilton comedy. An amusing lot of gags has been worked into these two reels, some familiar and some new. Of course the thing won’t start ,then some of the parts become disconnected, there is a row with a neighbor and eventually a pouring rain with Lloyd unable to get the top up. At last he gives up in disgust and as his wife has already taken the kids to church has a picnic on the lawn all by himself. Not as fast a comedy as some of the other Hamilton, it should however prove generally amusing for there is considerable meat for the auto owner though of course the situations have been exaggerated for comedy effect. "Motor Boat Demon” (Fox — Two Reels) Here is another of the Van Bibber series, suggested by stories by the late Richard Harding Davis. Earle Foxe pictured here, is again seen as Van and as usual he gets into a situation where he has to attempt something that he knows nothing about, and a kind fate comes to his rescue and he wins out. This time he falls into a radio-controlled motorboat and makes a hit and has to drive it in a big race, but the villain steals the radio. After demolishing nearly everything in sight. Van still manages to cross the finish line first. A fast and amusing comedy well up to the standard of the series. The same supporting' cast appears, including Florence Gilbert and Frank Beal. Ralph Sipperly is cast as the radio fiend. wild ride reach the grounds in time to win for his college. The subject has been handled with pep with the college enthusiasts well worked up and plentiful touches of comedy and it should prove a popular offering e_specially with the growing generation. Wanda Wiley is excellent. "Parisian Inspirations in Colors” (Educational — One Reel) In con n ection with McCall Fashion News, Educational is offering .another of the series of newest Parisian fashions in colour, displayed by Hope Hampton, pictured here. Made by the Koda-Chrome process, the color effects are beautiful and striking and the women of course will enthuse over the models displayed, while the men will enjoy their beauty. Among the Parisian couturiers represented are Chanel, Jenny, Paul Poiret, Anne, Lanvin, Martial et Armand, Charlotte and Boue Soeurs. "A Sport Calendar” (Bray — One Reel) DON CARLOS ELLIS in this issue of the Bray Novelty Magazine prepared a calendar of sports, showing outdoor pleasures indulged in during each month of the year with skiing, skating, sleighing for the winter months in the North while the South enjoys water sports. For the other months there are yachting, swimming, baseball, football, fishing and other outdoor activities. Should appeal especially to the sport lovers. “COLOR CLASSIC” are going to help make this a prosper?ous New Year for their Exhibitor Friends by offering a series of short subjects entirely in natural color by the Technicolor Process. COLORART PICTURES, Inc. National Distribution