The Moving picture world (November 1924-December 1924)

The Pep of The Program News and reviews of Shopo* Subjects and serials "The Rubber Neck" ' (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) The Spat family scores good entertainment in "The Rubber Neck.." The first reel is full of laughs and the second boasts as many thrills. The Spats are visitors in Hollywood. They join a throng in a sight-seeing bus. The female of the party has a cat which she wishes upon the male members. They keep shifting the pussy around until the others are in an uproar. One of the Hal Roach "Our Gang" youngsters sets off a string of firecrackers and in the turmoil which follows the Spats find themselves alone on the road. It happens that, they are near an aeronautical school. They take an unexpected ride in a balloon when the ground rope breaks. From here on are some real thrills. The huge bag careens in an altitude far above a city. The anchor is cast over the side and catches an automobile, carrying it well up into the air before the machine breaks loose. The anchor is cast again. This time it catches in the root of a tree. The Spats are halfway down the rope when it slips and they all descend into a sand pile.— T. W. "Bull and Sand" (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) This Mack Sennett comedy, "Bull and Sand" is one of the funniest which that producer has turned out in quite some time. It contains a lot of humorous angles and some good inspirations for thrills. The cast includes: Sid Smith, Madeline Hurlock, Vernon Dent, Andy Clyde, John J. Richardson and Tiny Ward. The comedy is more or less a burlesque on bulls, bull fighters and bull throwers. In some places there is a lot of bull and in others not so much. How a chauffeur wins the heart of his employer, a princess, is achieved principally in his being able to throw an "actual" bull over a fence. But after doing this the mechanic engenders the ill grace of her Royal Majesty and is ordered to be shot. A bull breaks down his cell and he and another condemned man appropriate an extra bull's hide and proceed to play bull. The would-be bull jumps on the back of a horse and the princess jumps on the back of the would-be bull and all ride away to happiness. — T. W. "Present Arms" (Universal — Comedy — Two Reels) This is a clever bit about a housemaid in love with her mistress's son, an aviator. Wanda Wiley has the lead. He falls out of a plane and through the chimney into the house. She fails to vamp him and he goes off with an auto full of beauties. This is about to fall over a cliff when Wanda, on horseback, rescues him. The next day while on duty at the fort he learns that his mother is ill. Wanda substitutes in uniform for him on guard duty. When a spy steals radio plans she pursues on a motorcycle and regains them. The boy gets the credit and realizes the girl's worth. She accepts his suit. This is a peppy comedy with good situations and acting. Particularly good are the scenes where Wanda in uniform does picket duty. — S. S. "SHORTS" REVIEWED IN THIS ISSUE Bull and Sand (Pathe) Down on the Farm (Pathe) Heebie Jeebie, The (F. B. O.) Invaders, The (Pathe) Lovemania (Educational) Mad Rush, The (Educational) Monsieur Don't Care (F. B. O.) Pathe Review No. 52 (Pathe) Present Arms (Universal) Rubber Neck, The (Pathe) Zoo's Who's Who (Red Seal) "The Invaders" (Pathe— "Sportlight"— One Reel) For "The Invaders" Grantland Rice has put together scenes from the recent international contests in polo, yachting, horse racing and tennis. This also includes several good "shots" of American battleships. As depicted by the titling the idea is to show that during times of peace we are still "friendly enemies," with our brethren from overseas coming to American soil to compete for a dominating position in the world of sports. The thought is a good one and the pictures as presented are entertaining. — T. W. "Zoo's Who's Who" (Red Seal — Magazine — One Reel) This "Gem of the Screen" shows various animals familiar to visitors to zoological parks in this country, and has them do their stunts to the accompaniment of interesting subtitles. These subtitles purport to interpret the animals' opinions of human folks and add greatly to the picturesqueness of the magazine. The rhinoceros remarks that beauty is only skin-deep, swans comment on the awkwardness of man and the tigress bares her teeth while expressing a great desire to meet man at close quarters. The protography is excellent and the subject well edited.— S. S. 3fie HouseAofj. F EATU R ET T£ S Week of Dec. 21st Missouri. St. Louis, Plays "Thru Three Reigns" (two reel novelty specialty). Fox. Philadelphia. Plays "Animated Hair Cartoon," Subject KK. Newman. Kansas City. Plays "Animated Hair Cartoon," Subject T. 120 First Run Novelties 1924-192S ■Jwln MUe» Fadmtn. Pres. 1600 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY "Lovemania" (Educational — Comedy — Two Reels) Al St. John wrote and stars in this Tuxedo Comedy and it is thoroughly entertaining from the word go. Married to Doris Deane, he gets a letter from his uncle saying that he will inherit a million dollars if he is still single. Instead of simply posing as unmarried, St. John and John Sinclair, his best man, decide to win George Davis' (Uncle George) sympathy for marriage. St. John poses as insane, his wife becomes his nurse, a friend is the keeper and the best man is the doctor. Uncle George is told that St. John's inability to marry because of the coming inheritance has driven him mad. Each time that love is mentioned St. John raises the roof. Then Uncle George capitulates and is told St. John has been married. The million dollar check is handed over. A stranger appears and takes "Uncle George" away, revealing the fact that he isn't Uncle George, bui a lunatic escaped from a nearby asylum. There is a lot of good fun in this subject and it ought to please most audiences. It is lively and well acted and the story has surprises. — S. S. "Heebie Jeebies" (F. B. O— Comedy— Two Reels) Jimmy Aubrey is starred in this Joe Rock Production directed by Percy Pembroke. It opens with the hero trying to find a place to sleep and narrowly escaping being eaten by a lion. He finally uses a parachute for bed covering and it rises with him and takes him to a cannibal island. His only chance to escape becoming cannibal steak is to wed the princess. She is pictorially displeasing and he has already fallen in love with the chieftain's favorite. By good luck rather than ingenuity he escapes an untimely end, assumes leadership of the tribe and weds the cannibal maiden he loves. Years later we see him as the father of an extensive family. This subject ought to please slapstick fans. — S. S. "Down on the Farm" (Pathe — Cartoon— One Reel) Cartoonist Paul Terry exploits some more novel pen manoeuvers in "Down on the Farm." He shows that Mrs. Duck carries an umbrella to catch the rain and provide a swimming pool for her young. Mr. Mouse as the insignia on Mr. Cat's car serves as a window cleaner when it rains. The ring in the pig's tail furnishes an excellent spring for Mr. Mouse to spring upon said bacon's back. These are only a few of the laugh getters in this "bird" of a cartoon. — T. W. "The Mad Rush" (Educational — Comedy — One Reel) Cliff Bowes and Virginia Vance appear in this Cameo Comedy directed by Albert Ray and photographed by Dwight Warren. It opens with scenes of a slumberer being awakened by a trick alarm clock and taking his bath. Then our hero goes to the Automat for breakfast, and the rest of the comedy deals with his effort to get food and then obtain a chair. Miss Vance has little to do, Bowes being in the limelight most of the time. — S. S.