The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

598 MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 13, 1923 "Japanese Earthquake" (Educational — Kinogram — 750 feet) This gives a vast panoramic idea of the devastated condition of Tokyo and the earthquake zone of Japan Most of it is devoted to showing the ruins of buildings and machinery. The ending, showing the refugees cramming the interiors and tops of the railway cars, gives a compelling idea of the human suffering involved.— M. K. SHORT SUBJECTS REVIEWED IN THIS ISSUE Asleep at the Switch (Path. Japanese Earthquake (Educa Cracked Wedding Bells (Uni tional) versal) Japanese Earthquake (Univer Fool Proof (Educational) sal) Gentlemen of the West (Uni Pathe Review 41 (Pathe) versal) People of Many Climes (Ed Heavy Seas (Pathe) ucational) It's a Gift (Pathe) Three Orphans, The (F. B. Jus' Passin' Through (Pathe) O.) Jus' Passin' Through (Pathe — Comedy-Drama — Two Reels) Will Rogers makes his reappearance as a Pathe star in this, the first of a new series of tworeelers produced by Hal Roach. It presents him in a congenial role as Jubilo, a tramp, whose one idea is to get food without working for it. It is filled with typical Will Rogers touches and is a highly pleasing offering. There is a strong note of human interest and whimsical humor in the manner in which he works hard to be jailed so as to get a Thanksgiving dinner, is pardoned just as it is placed in front of him, howhe comes very near getting another dinner and in the manner in which he finally is enabled to enjoy the coveted meal. Will Rogers' legion of admirers will surely like this one and it should go well with any tvpe of audience. — C. S. S. to run it, although they know nothing about boats. Any type of audience will like this one. — C. S. S. things in the picture is the really clever stunts of two dogs, Scnnett's big Teddy and a little dog Cameo. Children particularly will like this comedy. — C. S. S. "Gentlemen of the West" (Universal — Western — Two Reels) Pete Morrison's latest has action and punch as well as a bit of human interest. The fate of the village newspaper published and edited by a frail girl, and finally the blowing up of the plant as instigated by the outlaws is good material. It is slightly different as a Western and with pretty Mary Jane Sanderson has considerable appeal. — M. K. "The Three Orphans" (F. B. O.— Series— Two Reels) Round Four of the Fighting Blood Series has a light comedy and human interest note that makes it unusually good. Gale Galen ex-champion, his trainer and manager advertise for a mother. This brings numerous and interesting applications, and one in particular that is irresistible. Gale wins another fight and thus postpones signing the movie contract. — M. K. "Japanese Earthquake" (International News No. 80 and 81) In Xo. 80 Universal is releasing a special reel with the results of the earthquake as the subject. It enables one to get a vivid idea of the disaster by including, first, some shots of Tokyo in its original beauty. Ruined homes, American buildings that withstood the shock, the relief ship with its refugees, a river clogged with victims, are among the disastrous sights included in this very complete subject. No. 81 is about four hundred feet, a prerelease of that part of the reel which pictures the earthquake. The scenes in this number were taken at the time of the fire. Spectacular fire and smoke scenes and a number of intensely human tragedies are seen here — M. K. "Cracked Wedding Bells" (Universal — Comedy — One Reel) A dark town strutter wedding is the main feature of this comedy in which Chuck Reisner is featured. He is a reporter, assigned to cover the wedding but has to put on black-face and impersonate the groom in order to continue the ceremony. The arrival of a load of chickens disperses the assembly before the binding words are spoken. The idea is one "Heavy Seas" (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) In this, the second number of the "Spat Family" series, Hal rather slight but fair as a Roach has produced an exceed reeler. — M. K. ingly clever and amusing comedy which will bring laughs from the most hard-boiled patron. The way the three members of the family keep up their "spats," each one wishing to do everything different from the other one, each "People of Many Climes" (Educational — Hodge Podge — One Reel) Interesting types from the far corners of the earth are introduced in the ingenious manner usual in Lyman H. Howe productions. The cartoon embellishments are clever and the rest of the subject is a good variety of scenic attractions and freakish photographic effects. — M. K. "It's a Gift" (Pathe — Comedy — One Reel) Snub Pollard makes his reappearance as a star of single-reel comedies in this number, which is filled with stunts and amusing material. There is as much action and as many laughs in this one as in a good many two-reel comedies. Snub appears as an inventor. While his household inventions to save work for himself are not along a new line, they are cleverly devised. The manner in which he gets into a miniature auto and by means of a magnet trails behind the other cars is clever and amusing. Should please the Pollard fans and go well in the average theatre. — C. S. S. Asleep at the Switch (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) Ben Turpin is the star of the Mack Sennett comedy and while it is filled with typical Sennett believing he or she is right and touches and there are a number usually all three are wrong, is in tensely human and ludicrous, and to this is added the really "dumb" stunts of the husband which of amusing situations, there really nothing distinctive or out of the ordinary about the comedy and it is not one of this producer' heighten the humor. This time best. Turpin appears as a "boob" the "Spats" win a yacht and try station agent. One of the best "Pathe Review 41" (Pathe— Magazine— One Reel) There is the usual quota of interesting items in this Pathe Review. The one which will possibly have the greatest appeal to the average fan is the section explaining the why and wherefore of lightning. Another section shows the moving of logs in Maine in the spring by floating them down to the sawmill. A color section shows the picturesque region of the Pyranees along the Spanish-French border. — c. s. s. "Fool Proof" (Educational — Comedy — Two Reels) Cabaret belles add considerably to the attractiveness of this Christie comedy which is agreeable entertainment for the majority. Neal Burns plays a loveproof youth who refuses to leave the office and business until his father pretends to have an affair with a dancer. This rouses the boy's spirit and results in his own romance. This is a snappy number, well directed and apt to appeal anywhere. — M. K. "The Wild Party" (Continued fr<ym page 58!)) not interfere with its success in the houses where it will be apt to be booked. Action keeps up fairly well and the society angle is rather effective. At times the continuity seems uncertain as the scenes shift rapidly and without much connection. But a farcical spirit prevails and the picture is obviously not to be taken seriously. Most of the action takes place in an author's country lodge where the heroine, as an amateur society reporter, makes some serious mistakes in names of society folk and scandalizes the wrong person. Gladys Walton trails her story in a careless, gum-chewing fashion without being called upon to do any very dramatic scenes. Dorothy Revier is attractive as the wife with a flair for flirtations, and the others are fairly good types. Cast Leslie Adams Gladys Walton Basil Wlngate) Robert Ellis Stuart Furth f Jack < u mm in us Freeman Wood Blanche Oartwrtgat Dorothy Revier 1'anl CarlVf rlfffcti Sydney Detirey "Scissors" Hognn Lewis Sargent Bess Fnrth Esther Ralston Mrs. Fnrth Kate l.esler Mr. Furth Joseph W. (.irard Jasper Johnston Sydney Bracey City Editor William Robert Dalj Story by Marion Orth. » Scenario by Hugh Hoffman. Direction bj Herbert Illache. Length, r>,034 feet. Mnry Leslie Adams, secretary to city editor on a newspaper, persuades him to let her cover a society aflair. Her efforts result in a libel suit against the paper and Leslie is told to prove the truth of her story or lose her job. She fails to prove that she was right but adjusts everything by falling in love with the man whom she had scandalized. Scaramouche" (Continued from page 590) Story Andre-Louis, when his friend Philippe Is killed by the Marquis of Tours in a duel, is so enraged at what he considers to be murder that he vows to carry on Philippe's fight against the arrogance of the nobility. Turning away from the love of his cousin Aline, he leaves home, soon gets into trouble with the authorities and seeks seclusion with a group of strolling players. He achieves success and becomes known as Scaramouche. Keeping up his fight he finds himself arrayed continually against the .Marquis, who is leader of the nobles and who also loves Aline, whom Scaramouche also loves. In a series of stirring events leading up to the French revolution he Is of great assistance to the cause of the people, in fact becomes one of their champions and checkmates the moves of the nobles to remove the leaders of the patriots by killing them in duels. When the revolution breaks out and the mob starts to killing the aristocrats he learns that Aline's friend, the Countess Plougastel, is really his mother and that the Marquis is his father. The two men finally make friends and in a dramatic scene at the gates of the city where Scaramouche throws himself on the mercy of the rabble, he succeeds in saving his mother and Aline while the Marquis bravely meets his death as an aristocrat.