The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

November 20, 1926 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 155 Timely Reviews of Short Subject Productions "Bad Breaks" (Educational — One Reel) A general mixup involving the theft of valuable liquid platinum by a professi onal thief with the maid's sweetheart suspected, is the motivation of this Cameo Comedy. There is plenty of slapstick and typical comedy confusion and mistakes, and a wild ride down a mountain-side with a runaway truck adding to the excitement of the chase, and a ^hriil where a taxi goes over a cliff. William Bailey, a feature Tjlayer, pictured here, is cast as the thief with Toy Gallagher as the maid, George Davis playing the comedy lead as the suspect and Jack Lloyd as the man who has been robbed. Well up to the slapstick standard of the seTies. — C. S. Sewell. **Better Luck" (Universal — Two Reels) Andy Gump, Sidney Smith's famous cartoon char acter, port rayed by Joe Murphy, gets dragooned into a mountain climbing contest in this issue and in •endeavoring to get away from a competitor with whom he has a row, he finds himself at the top and wins the prize. A sapling that catapults him a great distance and a log that he falls on, which starts sliding down the •hill, aids him. There are also •other laughable gags, including jumping pancakes into which 'Chester, portrayed by Jackie Morgan, pictured here, has put popcorn. — C. S. Sewell. "Maryland, My Maryland" (Fox— 750 Feet) IN ADDITION TO presenting a number of typical and attractive views of various sections of Maryland, including its various industries, this Fox Variety brings out the historical importance of this state, one of the original thirteen. This includes scenes of Frederick and Barbara Fritchie's home, and notable places in Baltimore, including the fort which served as the inspiration for "The Star Spangled Banner." An interesting reel. — C. S. Sewell. "Felix Hunts the Hunter" (Educational — One Reel) THIS FELIX CARTOON gets a little way from the usual as for several sequences Felix does not appear, a number of jungle animals holding the stage. Felix helps a big game hunter who gets lost. The animals trap the hunter, take his ammunition and clothes and have a great time generally. Felix finally finds him, and in the meantime the whole landscape is covered with animals that have been shot. There are several amusing moments. — C. S. Sev-ell. "The Fighting Strain" (Universal-Two Reels) Curley Witzel's newest starring vehicle shows him m the role of a two-fisted fighter w h o, returning from the East, rather than get mixed up in a senseless feud poses as a studious bespectacled "sis." In the meantime he surreptitiously resumes his real identity and becomes known as the "fighting deputy" but is not recognized. Eventually he discloses his identity, rescues the girl from the crooked foreman and wins her hand, ending the feud. Witzel is good in both roles and adds additional interest to the rather familiar line of typical western material. — C. S. Sewell. Mounted "Martin of the Mounted" (Universal — Two Reels) Universal's nev/ star, Fred Gilman, who has p r e V i o u sly appeared in Western roles, is n:w cast as a member of the Canad'an Police engaged in rounding up a gang of fur thieves. The story follows one of the familiar formulas of this type, including an attempt by the villain to kidnap the heroine, but is made more interesting by a ruse of the star, who appears to fall for the gang's plan to sidestep him, but returns in time to catch them red-handed. There is plenty of action and Fred is a chap who strikes out straight from the shoulder, making his fights very realistic. Marie Torpic appears as the heroine. — C S. Sewell. "Thens and Nows" (Educational — One Reel) AMONG THE unique "Nows" in this issue of Walter Futter's Curiosities is a balloon tire suit for duck hunting, an odd Asiatic animal the caraboa, a trained house fly, a chicken figiit in a regular ring and trick photographs of New York. The "thens," showing the army draft of 1917 which decided the destiny of millions of boys, and the manner in which the armistice was received in the world capitols.— C. S. Sewell. "Not to Be Trusted" (Fox — Two Reels) Allan Forrest, pictured here, unHH|H prominent leading ja^^EB man in feature tf' /Jl' product ions, v** C^K Tiakes his en^_ \ jl trance into two reel comedies and is cast as Warren in this issue of the "Married Life of Helen and Warren" series. Helen desires to adopt a child and Warren as judge of a baby contest picks out a midget masquerading as a kiddie. The midget is . a crook and with his pal they seek to rob the house but are caught. Helen, however, is cured of her adoption idea. Forrest is excellent in the role, and Sonny Day is clever as the midget. Arthur Housman, Grace Goodall and little Mickey McBan as the sponging "in-laws" add to the merriment in their usual manner. Should prove a pop\ilar attraction.— C. S. Sewell. "Hook or Crook" (Universal — One Reel) This Blue Bird Comedy starring Charles Puffy is a peppy little farce with enough of a plot to serve for much gr.-ater footage, consequently it is a fast-moving and decidedly merry little offering, and one of the very best of the series. Puffy, clubman, loses an election bet and has to masquerade as a woman. His friends doll him up to resemble an escaped crook, the police ":et after him, he seeks refuge by taking a job as a cook and finds he is in the winner's home. • A recount of votes makes him winner and he has the laugh on his triend. The gags and slapstick are all good. Dorothy Gulliver, pictured here, appears as Puffy's sweetheart.— C. S. Sewell. "Smith's Uncle" (Pathe— Two Reels) C a r m e 1 i t a Geraghty, a prominent feature player, who is pictured here, makes her debut in short subjects in this Mack Sennett Comedy, an issue of the Jimmy Smith series. As a vamp her specialty is kidding along old men and throwing them over after she has worked them for expensive presents. She sets her cap for Smith's uncle who falls in this class and comes very near succeeding, but a little matter of a diamond bracelet that her brother pockets, shows her up in her true light and everything turns out O. K. Miss Geraghty is excellent and alluring in this role and dominates the picture easily. Andy Clyde is cast as the uncle and Raymond McKee, Rufh Hiatt and little Mary Ann Jackson, as usual, constitute the Smith family, which also inincludes their enormous dog, that adds to the merriment. A good comedy that should please generally. — C. S. Sewell. ^'Hooks and Holidays" (Pathe— One Reel) THE LURE OF FISHING, which so many men consider to be the ideal way to spend a holiday, furnishes the idea for this Grantland Rice Sportlight, which is devoted entirely to this fascinating sport. The scenes include the catching of trout, tarpon and various other species of fish with illustrations of the difference in technique required. Altogether it is an interesting number. — C. S. Sewell. "In Vaudeville" (Pathe— One Reel) A VAUDEVILLE show with the performers and audience composed entirely of cartoon animals is the newest of Paul Terry's modernized .'Xescp's Fables. There is a romance between the star performer and one of the other characters, 'lut the chief angle of interest and amusement is in the clever and laughable stunts of tl'e vaudeville players themselves and the utterly impossible things t'ley are made to do. Well 'ip to the standard of the series. — C. S. Sewell.