Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

434 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 5, 1927 Timely Reviews of Short Subjects Edited By.C. S. Sewell ‘ George Runs Wild ” (Universal — Two Reels) Although built up along familiar lines this number of Stern Brothers "Let George Do It" series is one of the best of the recent issues. Sid Saylor, who is featured, is shown as a flirty husband who is continually getting in bad. Finally after invading a dancing school in which he does some thoroughly amusing clowning in abbreviated costume, he vamps a strange woman. Here there is a new angle, for this woman is iiis own wife wearing a mask. She follows him home and alternately appears as the wife and stranger, and even pretends to shoot the other woman. A policeman appears and she explains she is just breaking him of his flirting habit. A fastmoving comedy with a lot of laughs. Ethlyne Clair, pictured here, appears as the wife. “Busy Lizzie” (Educational — Two Reels) George Davis and Edna Marion are the featured players in this Mermaid Comedy made under Jack White’s supervision. As usual, this comedy is shock full of gags and amusing slapstick. Edna, after an adventure in an auto with George, a fresh salesman, gets out and takes a wild ride on a cake of ice bowling over a policeman. This starts a furious chase which leads to the gown shop where Edna works, and before you know it, there is an invasion of crooks and a general mix-up with several cleverly worked out gags involving the proprietor played by Jack Lloyd pictured here, the porter, and Edna. This should thoroughly amuse the slapstick fans. “Bray Magazine 5” (Bray-One Reel) THREE SUBJECTS are included in this Bray Magazine. Of especial interest is the complete details of the process of sculpturing from life including the manner in which the clay model is built up. Another section deals with the game of polo, pointing out that ponies are especially bred for this purpose. The final section shows the manner in which apple tree buds are grafted. “Sink or Swim” (Pathe — One Reel) PRACTICALLY EVERY animal in Paul Terry’s caitoon menagerie figures in this Aesop Fable, although Alilton Mouse and his sweetheart have the leading roles. This pair join the others in swimming, using waterwings, which a swordfish punctures. Milt goes for help, where they have more exciting experiences with the swordfish. An amusing number but not as ingenious or hilarious as some of the others. “A Hollywood Hero” (Pathe — Two Reels) Mack Sennett’s newest comedy starring Ben Turpin shows him in the role of a romantic screen idol who is a devil with the ladies. On board a train he is recognized by a fan, played by Alma Bennett, pictured here, who begins to rave over him, but her matter-of-fact hubby objects seriously. Finally when wifey invites the star to her home and hubby unexpectedly comes in, there is a full quota of excitement and amusing action with the star endeavoring to escape by posing as a waiter. There are some good gags and the situations are amusing. Bud Jamieson does good work in the role of the irate husband, and Harry Edwrards has capably directed this production. “Should Men Walk Home?” (Pathe — Two Reels) Creighton Hale, pictured here, a popular f e a t u re player, appears opposite M a b e 1 Normand, who is starred in this Hal Roach comedy. The pair appear as crooks who try to gyp each other and fail. Then they team up and invade a swell ball and almost cop the jewels, but in the end decide to go straight. The cast also includes Oliver Hardy and Eugene Pallette. There are a number of amusing twists to the action and considerable comedy suspense and rough and tumble in the manner in which the crooks juggle and hide the jewels and dart about in and out of doors in their efforts to elude the house detective. “Highlights” (Educational — One Reel) Characteristic of Waiter Futter's series of Curiosities, this one embraces a wide and interesting assortment of subjects, the strangest of which probably is a glacier in Montana in which there are multitudes of grasshoppers perfectly preserved which have lain there for centuries. Other subjects include a rocking chair church, an engineless auto, the moray, a fish that resists capture by poisoning itself, owl babies, a monkey island, etc. “An Old Flame” (Fox — Two Reels) Attempts of a sporty young chap and his ultra-flirty flapper sister to vamp Helen and Warren respectively furnish the plot of this issue of the “Married Life of Helen and Warren” series. Although neither husband or wife fall for either of the youngsters there is a lot of misunderstandings threatening to result in a divorce, but they meet at the judge’s office and decide that the best thing to do is to cut short their visits and get away from the young vamps. There are several amusing situations and considerable slapstick. Kathryn Perry, pictured here, and Allan Forest have the leading roles. Lydie Yeamans Titus, that grand old lady, displays surprising pep. James Marcus, Leslie Fenton and Marjorie Beebe complete the cast. ‘Oh, What a Kick” (Universal — One Reel) Slim Summerville and Fanny, a mule, are featured in this burlesque war comedy in which Slim is shown meeting up with his old friend of war days. He tells how the mule got him in bad by drinking up the hardboiled sergeant’s wine and then how he, Slim, captured a flock of Germans by making them chase him and having Fanny kick them as they came through a hole in the trench. There are a number of amusing rough and tumble situations in this reel, especially in the antics of the mule. The kiddies especially will like this animal. “Tenderfoot Courage” (Universal — Two Reels) Of average interest and following along familiar lines is this Mustang Western featuring Fred Gilman and Alma Rayford. Fred appears as a stranger who is instrumental in putting a posse on the track of a gang of rustlers. He incurs the enmity of the crooked foreman who '.ries to cover their trail and fins ly succeeds in capturing the gai g, rescuing the girl owner, getti lg the cattle back and winning the girl. There is a good leavening of typical action such as fights, chases, etc. “Peaceful Oscar” (Educational — Two Reels) Lloyd Hamilton plays the role of an easy-going husband who is made the goat by a hefty, domineering wife uncomplainingly until he is forced to act as maid at a reception where a number of freak celebrities perform. He rebels and goes to the beach and gets in bad when his wife follows and finds him talking to the maid she has fired. Finally his kiddies are carried away by a lot of toy balloons but rescued after considerable excitement. Several of the situations are familiar and there are not as many new gags as usual in a Hamilton Comedy. Lloyd, however, is amusing as usual and Blanche Payson adds to the merriment as the wife. The cast also includes Toy Gallagher and Henry Murdock. “The Sky Sentinel” (Fox — 784 Feet) ATRIP to the summit of Alt. Robson in the Canadian Rockies made by a lone cowpuncher who describes in his own way the points of interest along the trail, is pictured in this Fox Variety which abounds in beautiful scenery of mountains, woods and waterfalls. The most interesting sight is Tumbling Glacier, a frozen river of ice sliding down the mountain side, and there is a thrill in seeing the cowboy rowing along under the overhanging glacier, even though it is a foolhardy stunt as a piece weighing several tons is liable to break off and swamp him at any minute.