Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1926 - Feb 1927)

The Screen in Review 59 She plays the early scenes with fine disregard for appearances, leaving no doubt that she is what she asks us to believe her — a woman careless of how she looks, absorbed in work but quietly eager to be of service to the man who needs her help and protection. It is when the rich woman virtually forces him to accompany her to Florida, ostensibly on a professional mission, that Pola suggests he take a girl along who is willing to pose as his fiancee and thus make the jaunt safe for the proprieties. And it is Pola, the Cinderella of the establishment, who goes arrayed like unto Sheba's queen, figuratively speaking, and who further complicates matters by flirting with every man in sight and showing up the rich woman as a nincompoop. All of which has a familiar ring in the telling but also has freshness and novelty and charm, to say nothing of jolly good fun, on the screen. The tale sparkles with a hundred unexpectedly bright moments, nicely pointed off by means of St. Clair's direction, adroit acting by the entire cast and perfect titles by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. "Good and Naughty," in case you are deciding whether to go and see it or stay at home and do cross-word puzzles, is a treat that should not be missed by those who enjoy high comedy on the screen. It has some nice low moments, too. Why Comedians Go Wrong Harry Langdon's familiar role of a sap, which was all very well in the short comedies of Mack S'ennett, is not strong or interesting enough to sustain "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," his first picture of feature length. In consequence it is pretty thin in spots although six good men and true are credited with the story and the gags that embellish it. All, including Langdon, have worked hard to make a showing but it seems to me that Langdon has short changed the bunch for while they have gagged for dear life he has given us his accustomed characterization of a simpleton and let it go at that. The story is novel enough, too, having to do with a half-witted son of a shoe dealer in financial difficulties. Harry sets about to relieve father of his burden by entering a transcontinental walking race for a prize of $25,000. Various accidents and delays occur on the way but Harry, needless to say, outdistances his competitors, wins the money and a lovely, intelligent girl, too. She is Joan Crawford at that, which makes her choice of a husband the only foolish thing she does. "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" isn't exactly dull but it is only mildly amusing when it should have been much more to warrant Langdon's debut in features. He shines in the shorts but grows monotonous for an hour at a stretch. Girly Girly If "Why Girls Go Back Home" were as informative as its title the picture would answer a question which, presumably, perplexes many. But it tells us nothing except the story of a small-town girl who becomes a Broadway star and brings her husband home to meet the folks. Of course there's a great deal of shilly-shallying before this comes about, and the success of the heroine may be an incentive to numerous other girls who want to leave home but have doubts of being able to bring back the bacon. Patsy Ruth Miller is the enterprising female in the case. Her active career begins when she flirts with an actor playing in her city. Somewhere in the course of the proceedings her heart is broken on discovering that he is not the paragon of nobility she thought ; whereupon Miss Miller somewhat abruptly becomes far more of an ornament to Broadway drama than the actor ever achieved in the "sticks" and eventually shows the man where he gets off. In fact, she slaps his face. But this turns out to be only a skirmish, a gesture, for they decide they're in love and — all's well that ends well. Clive Brook is the man. All that happens in the picture is unexpected. This is a sure way to entertain, say those in the know. So This Is Paris ! Edmund Goulding's story and direction of "Paris" combine the good and evil of the rather well-known city by the Seine, popular with tourists and becoming more popular every day with motionContinued on page 93 Rolling Home" Say It Again"