The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

September 8, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 193 "Secrets of Life" Highly Entertaining and Great Box Office Attraction — Released By Principal Pictures Corp. Reviewed l>> \\ • i:. Keefe The Secrets of Life, one reel subjects presented by Principal Pictures Corp., showing the lift of the ant, the spider and the bee, are just about the finest short reel subjects that could be placed on any program. Be sure to book these, for they surely hit on "all six." While the subject matter is highly scientific, it has been filmed by Louis Tolhurst in such a manner that the youngsters in the infant class get fully as much enjoyment out of them as a class of thoroughly dyed-in-the-wool biologists or a group of tired business men. In reviewing scientific pictures it may seem rather strange to say that the comedy touches are good, but in witnessing the microscopic views of the bee, the spider and the ant there is laugh after laugh at the really comical manner in which the insects act, augmented by a series of sub-titles that in themselves are real gems of wit and humor. The insects arc enlarged thosands of times by tlu inventor by the use of his special microscopic lens. The wonderful strength of the ant is shown in the scientific manner in which an army of them build their homes and move big sticks of wood. The insects arc shown as a highly organized engineering corps. How they breed, how they live and what becomes of the Queen Bee and the drones is graphically depicted. The spinning of the web by the spider, the hatching of the eggs, views of the spider walking safely through his web whereas other insects are caught in its silken meshes are shown in a highly entertaining manner. One of the biggest dramatic scenes is where a big horsefly is caught in the web, to be later overcome and crushed by a big spider. This incident is filled with suspense. There is a big laugh where one of the insects is shown being afflicted with "cooties." In making these scientific subjects highly interesting, Tolhurst, with the able assistance of Walter SHORT SUBJECTS REVIEWED IN THIS ISSUE Companions (Educational). His New Papa (Educational). His School Daze (Universal). Pathe Review 36. Secrets of Life (Principal). Skylarking (Pathe). Take the Air (Pathe). Uncle Bim's Gift (Universal). Walrus Hunters, The (Pathe). Yankee Spirit (Educational). Picture of Interest to Hikers The current Vitagraph release of Urban Popular Classics is of particular interest to hikers who are enjoying tramps through the woods during the season of Indian summer, Vitagraph states. It is called "Sagcbrushing Through Yellowstone National Park." In this great national preserve hikers who own their own camping outfit and who "go it alone" arc called "sagebrushers." The scenes recorded by two youthful sagebrushers on a recent trip show the great geysers, the Grand Canyon and the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Vitagraph Release "Lightning Love," a comedy produced by Larry Semon, is scheduled for release by Vitagraph in November. Anthony, the title editor, have done for the science of insect Wii on the motion picture screen what Dickens did for the youngsters in literature with his "Child's History of England" and what Charles and Mary Lamb did for the little folks with their tales of Shakespeare. The Secrets of Life marl: a grand, new epoch in showing what the screen can do for "Companions" Educational — Songs — One Reel In the second of the "Sing Them Again" series, the same congenial spirit of the first number is noticeable and wherever there is any sentiment in regard to the old songs, it should be appreciated. The humorous touches show originality and the number should be a pleasurable addition to your program. — M. K. "Walrus Hunters" (Pathe — Cartoon— One Reel) "The Walrus Hunters" is an Aesop's Film Fable that will not suffer by comparison with any of its predecessors, wonderfully good though many of them have been. Paul Terry, the artist, in it again shows his vivid imagination and excellent drawing abilities. It consists mostly of a chase, but, believe us, it's a chase that makes you laugh so hard you "hurt inside," as a certain boy of eight years put it. — S. S. "Pathe Review 36" (Pathe — Magazine — One Reel) Chemical reactions which reproduce striking natural phenomena are seen in Pathe Review, No. 36, called "Scenic Wonders of the Microscope." The mingling of sugar, epsom salts and alcohol produces the crater of an active volcano. Geysers, storm clouds and fireworks result from the mixture of other chemicals. The issue also shows in colors the wonders of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. — S. S. "His New Papa" Educational — Comedy — One Reel Domestic tragedies following a double marriage prove a medium for effective comedy in this Cameo production, featuring Cliff Bowes and Virginia Vance. Most of it is not more subtle than the main stunt of stumbling over a loose stair carpet, but it is done in a lively fashion that will get the laughs. — M. K. "Skylarking" (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) In "Skylarking," Pathe's tworeel Mack Sennett comedy, featuring Harry Gribbon, there are some hilarious bits, showing him as the inventor of a wingede automobile that defies traffic cops, but also drags in places where facial contortions predominate and action is lacking. Two of the "gags" will be in bad taste for some audiences. The remainder are clean and comical. Two children, Josephine Adair and JackieLucas, do clever work. — S. S. "Yankee Spirit" Educational — Comedy — Two Reels Here is a comedy that will add snap to any program. It is two reels of excellent entertainment with the important roles taken by children. Little Ben Alexander is an excellent actor, and a real boy. Back of the merriment there is an occasional touch of heart interest, as when his father refuses to let him enter the Boy Scout parade, and at the close a few genuine thrills when the bandits carry off the baby. Laughs are plentiful throughout and the comedy as a whole is distinctly above average. — M. K. "Take the Air" (Pathe— Comedy— One Reel) Paul Parrott is funny as the employee of a building construction company in "Take the Air," a single reel Hal Roach Comedy for Pathe. Hairbreadth escapes from falling to earth worry him not at all, probably because comrades of his suffer only headaches after the drop. The action is lively and the burlesque well done. — S. S. Theatre Advertised on Sports Page When Educational's latest Mermaid Comedy, "The Busher," which was adapted from the "You Know Me, Al," letters by Ring W. Lardner, was booked by the Coliseum Theatre, Seattle, the great popularity of the Lardner baseball stories among baseball fans and other sports lovers was taken advantage of in the Coliseum's advertising. Space was taken on the sports page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for special advertising on this comedy subject with no reference to the other items on the Film Title Changed The Sunshine Comedy, previously announced by Fox Film Corporation under the title of "Nobody Home," has been changed to "The Roaring Lion." program. An "ad" seven inches by one column was carried, with a picture of Lee Moran, featured comedian in this comedy, in one of his comical poses on the ball field. The result of this ad was that a great many readers of the sporting page were attracted to the Coliseum Theatre to see this tworeel baseball comedy regardless of the feature picture. "Uncle Bim's Gift" (Universal — Comedy — Two Reels) Sidney Smith's famous cartoon characters "The Gumps" are introduced for the first time by real impersonators in a screen comedx by Universal. Andy, Min, the boy Chester and Uncle Bim are all presented witli fair accuracy. Andy is particularly good as played by Joe Murphy. He pays five thousand dollars received from Uncle Bim to a real estate shark for a home that belongs to someone else. This comedy will be sure to get special attention and should amuse a great majority. M. K. "His School Daze" (Universal — Comedy — One Reel) A good deal of action is crowded into this one reel in which Bert Roach has the featured part. He poses as a school teacher in some riotous scenes, culminating in the accidental capture of a bandit gang. It should be fairly successful almost anywhere. — M. K. announcement from the Century Comedy studio that President Julius Stern plans to make "Yes, We Have No Pajamas" with the Century Follies Girls, and possibly Jack Cooper. A Coming Century Film Comedy Bananas affixed to the "Yes, we have no — " has not been a rare statement, and with it comes the Ask your projectionist if he is using the new Griffith Lens Chart. If he is burning carbons this chart will enable him to secure the very best screen results with the equipment he is using. See page 195. Clyde Cook Comedy Title Changed Fox Film Corporation has changed the title of the recently announced Clyde Cook special two-reeler from "Nobody's Fool" to "Wet and Weary." The feature comedy will be released in November and is said to be an excellent record of the finest mirth-making abilities in the noted comedian's repertoire.