Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

502 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 12, 1927 Timely Reviews of Short Subjects Edited By C. S. Sewell “Roses and Ruses " (Fox — Two Reels) William Fox is offering a jazz version of another O. Henrystory in this two reeler. Ralph Sipperly has the leading role and his adventures show how a man can get in bad very easily by trying to help others, especially if he is a bit of a flirt, Ralph sees a couple quarreling and tells the chap to make her jealous and arranges for the lad to make love to a vamp across the hall. The lad gets into the wrong apartment and gets hold of Ralph's wife and catches him red-handed with the young girl. The vamp complicates matters but all is straightened out when the young couple make up and Ralph explains. Jess Robbins directed this amusing comedy. Leslie Fenton, a popular feature player, Marcella Daly, pictured here, Carol Lincoln and Grace Goodall are in the cast. “Hyena's Laugh " (Bray — One Reel) CARTOONIST Walter Lantz in the newest number of the Unnatural History series gives an explanation as to why the hyena is always laughing. He shows this animal as the grouchiest of beasts, nothing would please him. Strangely enough, a toothache was the cause of the change. The hippo dentist gave him laughing gas and it made him so happy that he has been using it and laughing ever since. “Present Arms " (Bray — Two Reels) tN this issue of the I McDougall Alley series of comedies, the kids are shown attending a military school, with Max Ascher as the drill manager. One of them, the frecklefaced lad, persuades his sweetheart to take his. place and pose as a boy, while he dons skirts and goes to a ball game. The boys try to flirt with him at the game, while the other kids find out that the new “boy” is a girl and begin to kid her. After several mishaps, the boy returns home just as taps is sounded, saving the girl extreme embarrassment. A moderately amusing number. Children especially will like this one and there are several laughs in the antics of the kids, although the gags and stunts are rather disconnected. “Pathe Review 5 " (Pathe — One Reel) OF ESPECIAL INTEREST to nature lovers and hunters is a special section of this Review which shows a new style of hunting wild animals, that is, with camera instead of gun, which is said to be just as exciting. There are some remarkable views of moose, bear and Rocky Mountain sheep at close range. The other two sections are views of the Huka water falls in New Zealand and Pathecolor scenes of Shrewsbury Castle and the nearby town, including a picture of the smallest house in Great Britain. “In for Life " (Universal — One Reel) Featured with Neely Edwards in this Blue Bird Comedy is Consuela Dawn. The pair appear as love birds who have an awful time getting married. The re sult is a fast-moving and amusing slapstick comedy well up to the standard of these stars’ usual efforts. Not only do Neely and Consuela meet parental opposition but they succeed in being haled to court for enough traffic violations to send them up for life. The judge, however, is so touched with Neely’s wild story of explanation that he gives them another kind of life sentence by marrying them on the spot. Neely’s account of his troubles differ widely from the real stuff and is amusing farce. “High Spirits " (Educational — One Reel) The fun in this Cameo Comedy is built around the situation of a young wife who is “nuts” over going to spiritualistic meetings much to the disgust of her hubby who is a cop. He finally follows her to one of ihe meetings, finds out the medium is not only a faker but a clever pickpocket and drags him off to jail amid great excitement. There are novel effects of the spirit type and some good gags, making this a moderately amusing slapstick and rough and tumble comedy. Ernie Shields, pictured here, appears as the medium’s assistant, with John Sinclair and Toy Gallagher as the husband and wife, respectively. “The Sporting Knack " (Pathe — One Reel) TT WOULD SEEM THAT A Grantland Rice would run out of new angles for his Sportlights, however, he still keeps handling sports from different viewpoints in each issue. This time he deals with the knack that makes champions, stressing particularly the quickness of brain and muscle and their absolute co-ordination. He illustrates with examples of experts at football, boxing, log-rolling and skating. “Meet the Husband " (Universal — One Reel) Elsie T a r r o n, pictured here, is featured with Arthur Lake in this single reel comedy, which deals with a four-sided romantic mix-up when a young wife hires the butler, played by Arthur Lake, to impersonate her husband to deceive relatives, after she has had a row with her real husband. Situations of an amusing farce comedy type in which there is much confusion resulting from the return of the husband and the jealousy of this party and the pretty cook because of the love-making of the supposed husband and wife, result in several laughs. Of course, the old couple finds the wrong couples flirting with each other, as they believe, and this adds to the hilarity. “Slippery Silks " (Fox — Two Reels) This Imperial comedy contains several situations that will amuse the slapstick fans. Lige Conley, pictured here, is the leading player and the “plot” concerns his adventures in a small town. He becomes fascinated with Caryl, but her father objects and he gets his friend, portrayed by Cliff Bowes, to dress as a girl and vamp the father. In the general mix-up that follows, a fat girl, anxious to get married, played by Babe London, complicates matters even further. The comedy moves at a good pace with both new and familiar gags. Jules White directed, and Caryl Lincoln appears as the girl. Others in the cast include Frank Coleman and John Kolb. “Smith's Customer" (Pathe — Two Reels) The newest of the series of Mack S e n n e 1 1 Comedies built around the Smith Family is based on the familiar idea of hubby kicking over the way wifey runs the home and taking her place with disastrous and amusing results. This time, wifey tries to run the office and does well until she invites a customer home to dinner. Of course, everything goes wrong and when the chap gets fresh, hubby, who is posing as the butler, resents it. It develops that wifey has pulled an awful bull, as the guest is a book agent. So they decide to change back to their old places. The baby, Mary Ann Jackson, adds to the fun and it is an amusing comedy. Ruth Hiatt, pictured here, appears as the wife; Raymond McKee is the husband, and Johnny Burke the book agent. “Mike Wins a Medal" (Educational — One Reel) MIKE’S EFFORTS to rescue little Nibbins from a burning skyscraper furnishes the idea for this Life cartoon. Nibbins sets fire to the place by accident and Mike has a time getting the fireman. Considerable cleverness is shown in the imaginative stunts that this pair indulge in. Mike climbs up to the top on a stream of water and gets Nibbins. The water is suddenly cut off, but Mike and Nibbins grab a flagpole and the faithful pup saves them from disaster. “Duck Ouf (Educational — Two Reels) In this two-reel I — — comedy in his series for Educaj'Si ’ tional, Bobby Vernon appears ■L... as a country lad who aids a magician in the “opry” house. His “dumbness” proves so amusing to the audience that he is engaged for the act, along with his pretty sweetheart, played by Frances Lee. Two crooks eventually steal a lot of watches, but Eobby follows and outwits them and gets the timepieces back and is made a constable. His first official act is to free Frances, who has been arrested. There is something doing every minute, and the result is amusing slapstick.