The Moving picture world (January 1925-February 1925)

The Pep of The Program m News and reviews of ShopCT subjects and serials "Idaho" Exciting Pathe Serial of the Western Mining Camp in the Early Days Should Please Serial Fans Reviewed by C. S. Sewell As would be inferred from the title, "Idaho," Pathe's newest serial, is a story of the West. The scenes are laid in the state which bears the name, during the period when the mining camps were without law or order and peopled by all classes, with a generous sprinkling of desperadoes. The plot concerns a family which starts out to find wealth. The son is killed and later, just as the goal is near, the father is killed, leaving only his daughter, who dons her brother's clothes and vows vengeance on her father's murderer. The only one who knows her secret is a doctor, who fears to aid her, and a despatch rider who openly allies himself with her. The first three episodes shown for review reveal an interesting story filled with melodramatic action and typical serial situations the climax of which carry the suspense over. The first episode ends with the shooting of the father and burning of an important letter that shows him to be the partner of a man who has struck wealth. The second concludes with an attack of the girl and the despatch rider from ambush by one of the thugs ; while the third has as its climax a chase of the desperadoes who stampede their horses, with the girl lying wounded in their pathway. A good pace is established in the first episode and this is continually accelerated, the. third having unusually rapid action, centering around a fast-moving sequence in a saloon which ends in fighting and the escape of the desperadoes, while the despatch rider is wounded. Vivian Rich has the leading role, with Mahlon Hamilton playing opposite. Miss Rich is a good selection and does excellent work. Attractive as a girl, she shows force and sincerity in her masquerade as the boy. Hamilton with a role of lesser importance is entirely satisfactory. We believe this to be the first serial for Pathe directed by Robert F. Hill, although he has had experience elsewhere, and he has made a good job with "Idaho." The story is even more interesting and consistent than the average serial, and there is an abundance of thrills and stirring action. "Idaho" should prove a good box-office attraction. "Water Wagons" (Pathe — Comedy — Two Reels) This is a rollicking Mack Sennett subject featuring Andy Clyde, Madeline Hurlock, Sid Smith and John J. Richardson. The chief situation is a boat race and the chief boat is a truly marvelous affair — combination submarine, automobile and sailing vessel. While the picture follows the usual slapstick routine, the gags are exceptionally well chosen and well put over, and the result is a comedy of more than ordinary entertain "Shorts" Reviewed in This Issue Fisherman's Luck (Pathe) Fox Hunt, A (Pathe) Great Guns (Educational) Idaho (Pathe) Nobody's Sweetheart (Universal) Our SixLegged Friends (Educational) Pathe Review No. 8 (Pathe) Lost Chord, The (Universal) Seeing Red (Universal) Sporting Armor (Pathe) Tempest Cody's Man Hunt (Universal) Welcome Danger (Educational) Water Wagon, The (Pathe) meat. It ought to be good for at least fifty guffaws and as many giggles.. It is one of those comedies w'hich occasionally turn a projection room tilled with hard-boiled critics into a place of merriment. — S. S. "Our Six-Legged Friends" (Educational — Instructive — One Reel) The newest of the Secrets of Life series produced by Louis H. Tolhurst for Principal Pictures Corp. deals with general facts in regard to insects and brings out the point that with the exception of the spider family all insects have six legs, also that insects are vastly different in every way from all other forms of animal life, and several of these differences are pointed out. An interesting experiment shows the head of an ant holding up heavy weights, which in proportion would represent a weight of about a dozen big locomotives for a man. This number is instructive, but as it deals considerably with general facts and some little known insects, it will probably not be so interesting to the general public as some of the earlier numbers—C. S. S. 0 he KouseApfj F EATU R E T T £ S is playing the Riallo Theatre. N. Y.. this week Rith "The Magic Hour," one f»f the "Gems of the Screen" ..■iie* A tlMlm-U) original novelty 'hat can be appropriately programmed with pictures like "Peter Pan" and the "Thief of Racdad." Red Seal releases a variety of short subjects Uiat fit Into any program, in any theatre, in any location. Edwin Miles Fadman. Pres. 1600 BROADWAY NEW YORK CITY "Qreat Quns" (Educational — Comedy — Two Reels) There are a lot of good laughs in the newest Bobby Vernon Comedy distributed by Educational. Bobby appears as an artist who goes through a lot of exciting experiences. His rival ruins the picture he il painting, his tailor takes his trousers for an unpaid bill. He borrows the janitor's and is chucked out of a restaurant to which he takes his girl. Deciding to commit suicide he goes on top of the steel fraamework of a new building and comes very near falling several times, but finally finds himself back on the ground. This idea has been used before but there are some clever bits worked in here. Next he hires a gunman who uses various disguises, such as a postman, an old woman, etc., and every time Bobby sees anyone dressed like this he is in mortal fear. Finally he tries to get away and lands on a target out in the ocean used for battleship practice. In the meantime his girl doctors up the picture and sells it. Then there is a chase to get hold of him and prevent the gunmen from doing his work. Altogether it is a fast moving comedy with a connected story, that should prove a good attraction for the comedy fan. — C. S. S. "Nobody's Sweetheart (Universal — Comedy — Two Reels) One of the best of the series of Century, Comedies starring clever Wanda Wiley is I this two-reeler in which she appears as a hungry and homeless girl who inveigles a friendly cop into putting over a scheme by which she is to order a meal and he will pretend to arrest her. The plan goes wrong and another cop does arrest her. She gives him the slip by the familiar device of substituting a clothing store dummy. Seeking refuge in a detective agency, the boss uses ' her in visiting a notorious cafe to find stolen jewels. She gets a lot of cops to come on '• the scene by kicking them in the shins and breaking the station house window, and finally the boss proposes to her. The situations here have all been used before, but Miss Wiley succeeds in making them thoroughly amusing and "Nobody's Sweetheart" should prove a good comedy for the 1 majority of spectators. — C. S. S. "Welcome Danger" (Educational — Comedy — One Reel) In addition to Cliff Bowes and Virginia Vance, a newcomer, Eddie Nelson has a prominent role in this Cameo Comedy, which is built on the familiar idea of newlyweds who are visited by the wife's relatives who treat the husband with scant respect and make themselves thoroughly at home. Nelson appears as an eccentric chap. Various amusing situations are introduced, some new and some old, and in the end a severe storm wrecks the bungalow and floods the place with water. It is up to the Cameo average as a laughgetter. — C. S. S. (Additional Reviews on page 789)