Variety (Jun 1928)

14 VARIETY TALKING SHORTS Wednesday, June 20, 1928 •THE FAMILY PICNIC" (4) MOVIETONE NO. 2 10 Mins. CartTieiy Circle, Los Angeles The first all-talking picture ia a Bhort, very short, but from the first to the last when Jips rrtove you hoar the words -which issue from them. "The Family IJlcnie" is not jiist what the title Indicates. It Is not e picnic for the family, but is for the house. . ■. ■ "Prom the .moment the charming^ and humming young housewife etairts to pack, the hamper with eatr abies and drinkables, up to the disas- trous ending of in imperfect day as the . fdniily silently conies back home backward on two of the four wheels on which it so grumpily started out, one hears all the sounds the family hears. ■ Daughter grudgingly runs scales . on the piano; the family' sits in on the excitement incident to getting the automobile ready for the trip and the family finally packs into It, and as the car starts, the audience overhears the razor-edged remarks hetween the parents, tired before the day be§flhs; the audience catches the whine of the daughter who ■wants another tomato, leading to'the. discovery the hamper still is in the -kitchen; hear the nagging boy cry- ing for the chu-chu, with the result the first one is very nfeai* his last— and for the fimily as well. - 'The peak Of the comedy follows a remark by the father behind thie wfieel. Mother is complaining about colng too fast—2Q miles an hour, she Insists he Is doing; father Is pretty, well fagged and gi-ouchy, and, when some passing miachine very nearly nicks him he explodes. . ' "Go on, you Sunday driver!" father yells at the car, by that time far behind him, but, the sympathetic audience rocks, with genuine laugh- ter. And so the picture runs. In theme.the comedy Is most sim- ple, yet with the accoinpanlment of voices its primitiVeness is unnoted. Tou laugh at the other fellow's troubles, as others may have laughed at yours. The illusion practically. Is perfect, at least It was to one seated down front, and iso synchronlziation also must have been or the llluislon .vpuld have cracked. Kathleen Key Is the housewife and Raymond McKee the father. Both are .excellent examples of good casting, and that praise goes for voice Vquality as well €i3 for the other elements entering Into the equation. Harry Delf, diirector, newcomer to pictures from the' stage, contributes . his full quota. One senses his crafts- manlike presence In this Fox talking short. "The Family Picnic" In 1928 may iiot be deserving of a niche in the hall of fame quite as conspicuous as that now" accorded, to the first close-tjp—or one of the flrdt close- ups—tiiat filled the screen—that of John Rice and May Irwin in "The Kiss," Then, again. It may. His tory win settle the question. The comedy should be seen for two reasons. One is on account of its revolutionary. Its historic, char acter. The other is that it is mighty good entertainment. FLORENCE MOORE VITAPHONE NO. 519 Songs and Talk; 10 Mins. Strand, New York Excellent comedy short with Florence Moore in her u.sual clown- ing form to providie contrast to. the average slow talking .talker. This comedienne's fast delivery had a Saturday night Strand audience figumtiveiy on. its toes to catch everthirig. They got it and liked It. Miss Moore Is a comic who es- pecially thrives before, a smart, audience., They may not be able to keep iip with her in HoiiokUs, N. J., But the average logo and lower floor clientele won't fall more,than a step or two behind. For Broadway, she's perfect. and that Warners passed this record up for the "Lion and the Mouse" prograrn . Is a sur- prise, ■ . Gitz-Rlce is at the piano accom- panying Miss. Moore's "And He Never Said That to Me" and her versions. 6f how a chorus girl, etc., would sing "Tou'U Be Sorry That You Made Me, Cry." Otherwise he does a silent straight. Miss Moore addressing all 'her .side remarks in his direction^ Fast and, well recorded and photographed. Strong enough to close any series of talking shorts but used as an opener here, pos- sibly to catch the immediate inter-^ est of a house which Is .only in its second week of talking. Miss Moore looks good and delivers, as always, in her flip, entertainirig inanher. ■ . ." Sid. ROGER WOLFE KAHN andORCH. VITAPHONE No. 469 12 Mins. Park Plaza, N. Y. Assisted by Henri Gordon and the TVilllams Sisters, both doing their epcclalties, Kah'n's orchestra Inter ests on the articulate screen through excellent music< Gordon's contribution was a tenor solo while the. Williams Sisters did a double Bong and dance which'landed nicely.- Kahn; in addition to leading his (Orchestra, announced the turns and mentioned the night club which he was evidently running when the record was made. At this iiouse Kahn was. bliled outside in lights •with a vaudeville turn, which was on the stage bill, beneath him. Kothlng on the marquee would in- form' that - Kahn wasn't preseent in , the flesh; Orchestra, registers well Witji the set resembling. .Kahn's torrrier night club and a few tables In focus. Con. •MN A MUSIC 8HOPPE" MOVIETONE NO. 16 14 Mins. Monroe, Chicago Remindful. of Charles Dlokenn, this talker hais to do with a colonial music shop. Story completely Ulmed in the ihain room of tlie Betty Brown Music Shop, cleverly and accurately reproduced from the architecture of the Colonies. Writ- ten and; directed by James A. Fltz- patrlck. . Ma-l* f**"^®^ ^ clothing of 'the period, entere music shop. They are welcomed by the demure arid young Mlss" Brown, seated, at an old family organ, playing; They ANNA CASE VITAPHONE NO. 294 "La Fiesta" 1.0 Mins. Clinton, New York Serial number and general tech- nique suggests this Is one . of the earlier Vita recordliig.s, It' is not up to the. standard of its latier efforts. Two many people In front of the camera. Miss Case In-sing- ing her aria Is directly In front of several supemunieraries who find it difflcuit to hide their self-ctonscloua- ness. ■ This inability to ' handle the background Is one of the chleiC faults of most of the early sing old time melodies and Jest yitaphone directors. The disc also with the reserved jovIaJity of young fails to get heel taps of the Spanish colonial squli-es. dance by the. Cansinos, who jprecede A cross old woman, enters to buy jjligg Qaaels entrance, sheet music. The boys poke fun at | The .Metropolitan opera; star reg- SANTA BARBARA MISSION MOVIETONE NO. 2 2 Mins. Carthay Circle, Los Angeles Interesting panoramic picture of the niissiOn and grounds, withi priests and novitiates taking part. One of the incidents which brought applause/was that shoeing a priest in each of four towers ringing the mission bells. : Views of the priests and students going into the old church and iom- Injg frorn it. In the latter case the members of the procession are chanting as they walk. One of the'notable bits is the sing- ing of birds hidden in the trees, but the notes are clear and distinct, arousing audience comment The subject is one especially de sirable for Sunday showings, but by no means limited In Its appeal to any day or house. her. This Is the only angle ovei-- done, too much of a razz« Punch of. pathos and sob-stuff In- jected when a Bhabby. chap comes in and watches the gaiety, after having: first stood.. outside In the rain looking through the •wrindow panfii. A* the crowd leaves,. he Isters with plenty of sock. In ad- dition to a fine high-ranged sopano she makes an attractive appearance, Land.: "KENTUCKY JUBILEE SINGERS" MOVlETOjME MAGAZINE turns to Miss Brown androffers her I I^^Jg circle, Los Angeles .v,^ ™o«„o„Hrtt «f « anr,,. for T,o«. I QroCip Of ncgrocs Standing in farm the mamiscript of a song for pos stble purchase. She learns he is Stephen Collins t'oster and the song id "My Old Kentucky Home." She requests him to play and sing the number at the organ. This he does, and nicely. After playing the number he says he cannot Efell the: song, but that he will give It to hier. He departs.. The next morning she reads : In . the . paper .. of -Foster's death at the county iiospltal. He was destitute. . This talker did well here, leavlhg lumps in their throats. On prodilc- tlon it Is a tribute to the director, performers and scenic artist. Good for any size theatre in large and small towns. Voices igood, both in ring arid dialog, with song predom- Inatirig. Jjoop. building backgrounds and singing, 'Shout all over God's heaven.". Melody good,, time lively, and music altogether catchy. Good in any house, nOrth or south. "AMATEUR NIGHT" VITAPHONE NO. 2130 6 Mins. Clinton, New York Custard pie apijlied to the talkers. Honkey-tonk theatre represented with a, hawker selling the customers assorted soft vegetables before the amateurs come on. Idea is credited to Murray Itoth, .directed^ by Bryon Foy. Talker has William Demarest, former vaudevillian, as the theatre manager who Introduces the talent and has to duck the flying tomatoes. It's the stuff they used to laugh at in the old Keystone days and they laughed plenty at this one down on the east side.. The talent consists of a horrible off-key eopirano who ducks the hook from both sides oi the, stage only to She is hoisted "A MAN OF PEACE" (3) VITAPHONE NO. 2233 11 Mins.V Dramatic Sketch Strand, New York Feattirlng Hobart: Bosxvbrth, tills melodrainatic ^hort directed by Byraii Foy, wljl currently hold atv tentlon on its novelty. Six months I get it fi-om overhead or a year from now It may bepome uji and, off, a chaser, but at present the sound j A willy boy, very prohounced. Is thing is new enough and the script next, reciting "Boots," He is hooted BufBciently Interesting to okay Its and kidded off. Hoofers meet a splicing into a Vita reel. similar fate. End""has angry am Studio set is a.-mountain cabin, ateurs pulling trap door on man MYERS and HANFORD VITAPHONE NO. 2593 8 Mins.' Comedy Warners, New York ' Veteran vaude team who have turned out a meaningless record Suijject is technically good, enough, but the singing of "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree'? (on the level, too) is enough to queei' any chance the boys might otherwise have had. Team do their familiar ruije char- acters employing a bare foot tap dance by one of the men as the best Item. Set is a studio exterior, of fa. farm yard. Pace is slow, empha- sized by the rendering of the unin- teresting ballad and the. bowing of a saw, Drew no applause here and only possible appeal is where the tajkers with the dialog between Ann Mac- Cay and Bosworth developing the th<eme of Trigger-Eye having shot Bosworth'a brother in the back, the ager. Land. "THE MOVIE MAN" VITAPHONE NO. 2550 girl remonstrating with the man for 1 Comedy .Sketch; 9 Mins. having nio desire to avenge the | Granada, Chicago deed. Driven tr?^ntlc at Bosworth's pious preaching to turn the other cheek, she haying been ahbut to marry the murdered inan, the girl Man ... Gin .... Director Clerk. ,. 'This comedy ,... .,eharl«s Hogers .;... . Violet Palmer .....Walter Hogere .. .Natalie Warneld sketch. Starring MOVIETONE NEWSREEL Week of June 16, '28 11 Mins. Strand, New York Among the best reels this Fo^ service has turned out, with 11 min- utes never allowing an eye to leave the screen, Tlnaely subjects which hold spectacle- and comedy make this issue strong enough, to cause word-of-mouth. Starts off smartly with views of Republican Convention in Kansas City, showing Senator Moses ac- cepting the chairmanship and later catching him ,for an exterior shot and a short campaign speech, wind- ing up with "we don't care if the opposing party names, a . man by , the nanie of Jones, Brown; Robert- son Or Smith." Plenty of japplaiise here and some hisses. . > .. Next into the graduating exer- ciises at Anapotis and West; Point; the latter holding a smile in the captain of the honor- company forced. to kiss the girl presenting the Colors becauise it's an old Point custom. England's Empire Day had . a. big public gathering: massed -for singing. Reel finishes with the wedding of . Governor: Smith's daughter at A1-. hany. Including a few . shots of Smith himself, undoubtedly. to' . square off the previous Republican footage. Finale is a shot of the bridal party, with Smith in the cen-. ter urging his young grandson to say "hello," and the tot finally ac- ceding, for a wholesome laugh on his first putilic speech. Sid. HOWARD BROS. (3) VITAPHONE NO. 572 , Comedy Talk and Song ■. 1.0 Mins. Clinton, New York ' On appearance and delivery Wil- lie and Eugene Howard register al- most as well ^n film, with talking record, as in person. But comedy material Is very light and; laughs scarce. The closing vocal number,: both singing, is inappropriate. .It gives tiie boys a low rating with audi- ences to whom they are not. known that thfey do not deserve. vyiiile singing the last nunibet the audience in this house (lower east side) becomes restless, Sev- eral conversations were carried on simultaneously In the gallery in loud tones. Scene is laid in a theatrical cast- ing agency. One of the boys, in freak clothes makeup, comes in with the Intention of getting a job on the stage. Solos with a vocal number, which is fair, to prove his ability. ■ .With proper material no reason why the Howards shouldn't get over much better in talkies. If or*. have never been seen or heard. Bid. "BY THE CAMPFIRE" 1 VITAPHONE NO. 2540 9 Min6. Prpheum, Chicago A gypsy camp with a prop moon, teampfire, etc. Included In the scene Is a gypsy house-wagon, with the ^horse-=-unhaFnessed,=:=.aiii==ja.taiidin& nearby. Act consists of X. Cugat Co.i six men playing guitars and violins and girls singing and danc- ing.' As the music progresses girls solo In dances and vocal numbers, One miss does a dance featuring hippy •wiggles that's really a cooch. Out for youngsters. Average sound ROSA RAISA VITAPHONE NO. 2545 . Songs; 8 Mins. Granada, Chicago In ^:rand opera Rosa Raisa re- ceives about $3,000 a perfornjance. That's a business insight as to her quality and reputation. If a:hou6e likes serious stuff this record is a good buy. Miss Ralsa sings two numbers, "Good Bye Forever" and"Ell Ell,." Voice and diction record, well, but the photography is not favorable, although partially Overcome by the singer's perfect ease before: the camera.. . . . Probably will be. received best in metroi)olitan districts. : Loop. snatches a gun from the shelf and Charles Rogers, gets laughs both in leaves to give it to Trigger-Eye s6' vision and audition. Starts with he can finish oft the family by kill- Rogers and the girl attempting to ing BosWorth, get an assignment at a picture stu An off-stage shot announces Trig- dio. Preliminary comedy is fur ger-Eye's entrance, with Bosworth, nlshed in dialog between Rogers after- a minute or two, finally and a haughty information gal. throwing off his righteous cloak, inside, the pair are grabbed for which Jie explains as a ruse to. get a domestic fighting scene which has his brother's murderer up to his just been spoiled through violent cabin. Having figured the cowardly injuries received by the male com- kiiler would try the .gun, Bosworth batant. After some funny rehears only left one shell in the chamber, -w-lth Walter Rogers, the difec When the murderer again presses tor, Charles and iiis girl friend per- the trigger nothing happens ..but an form a meaty satire on one of those uneventful click. ' The men go to a «gjve me my chee-ild" things, hand-to-hand struegle. Bosworth Rogers is the erring husband just finally looping a rope around Trig- come home to steal the baby. ger-Eye's neck and tossing him out Comic draws laugh on appear .oif the window to hang, the same as Q^f^QQ and niaterial, while his sup- the killer had hung his brother after porj. -^porks capably. Enthusiastic shooting him^ - - :ally"received in this large' neighbor-- . Dialog Is not badly written, and | jiood house. Loop it's probably that they'll partlcu larly enjoy the heavy dramatics in I qioVANNI MARTI NELLI MORRISSEY AND MILLER, VITAPHONE NO. 2293 "Kit Kat Club"; 10 Mins., . Clinton, New York. Will Morrissey. and- Midsle' Miller were In an early Vitaph one subject This one is Coastmade. It contains all the typical faults of Will Mor rissey's revues. Morrissey is evi dently trying to ad lib before the mIIc^7't^ie"irerfEtKrT:~oipfim^^ of it is n. g. As an Instance, the bit where he kisses the drunken patron on the baid pate. A few mlstalces, Ic vS. of y\d gags, and some dancing that means nothing for Vitaphpne. It's all suppoaed to be one of those Tex Gulnan sort of night clubs. smaller . communities.. Diction of the three characters Is painfully precise and slow, but each voice records well and is clear. Besides which, the ' Bosworth VITAPHONE NO. 510 7 Mins.; "Va Prortouncer Ma Mort" Warner's, New York Among Vitaphone's star recorders, Martinelll's voice is always , worth name should make It a worthwhile'| jen^ing ^n ear to and of sufficient Inclusion where there aren't famil- iar'with this type, of screen sketch Bid I reputation to command applause because of "when in Rome..,.." But that doesn't lessen the. fact that this solo from the fourth ilct of "L<a I Juive" neither grips nor compares in any way with the same singer's "PagliaccK" Principal faults are that the audi VENITA GOULD VITAPHONE No. 562 9 Mins. Park Plaza, N. Y. . Miss Gould is from vaudeville and I ence cannot grasp the significance does about nine minutes from her of the brief libretto flashed, and the standard vaudeville routine of im- melody is not siifllclontly catchy to personations. She did, In order, make it worth while other than be Blossom Seeley, Grace La Rue, Ted cause It's Martlnelll Xicwls and Karyl Norman. It scorns a waste to give this Each went for heavy applause | opera star unftimlliar passages witlf^tHT^^^ CrebToT^as^ last and hcst liked. It pulled her audience rcmcmbor, or care, what It back for bows, timed perfectly. Her was. The Vltaphono boys have de- voice registers amazingly well both velopcd a habit of doing this. The in high range when doing Norman, recent record of Qigll and Talley and In lower registers when Imper- being another example sonating Lewis. Miss Gould photo- Because of the Martlnelli name graphs well and should be a neat this one will pass, but it's only a addition to a program of ehort talk- third of what it should have been in wa. dm. lvalue. gtd. "DUCKS and DEDUCTS" VITAPHONE NO..2544 Comedy Talk; .9 Mins. Orpheurn, Chicago . Bert Swor, featured, doing his "de ducks got it." He is the treasr urer of a colored country club. Finance committee calls him on the carpet to explain a shortage in the club's treasury." Five men and all in blackface. Swor, after plenty of stalling, goes about explaining the shortage in the funds. This he accomplishes by trick, figuring on a; blackboard. Carries about' four good laughs and twice as many snickers. Use of the blackboard permits a visual dem-; onstration of how Swor arrives at his impossible totals. Particularly good"fOr sman towns' aiid houses. • Loop. VAL and ERNIE i3TANT0N VITAPHONE NO. 2587 7 Mins.; Songs and Talk Warner's, New York Standard vaude team doing their familiar English-twistlnff crossfire to fair results. Set is an Interior, with , both men in tuxedos. This record was not on the opening pro- gram of "Lion and the Mouse," but was in at the first matinee. Vitaphone has developed a habit of doting upon hearing a receiver click upon a phone. Aga,in used here after Ernlo completed his long sequence over the wire. Both men register clearly, with the timing for laughs ahout as ac- curate as possible. Some conver- sation Is lost in laughs lapping over, into the following gag, but thi3==seems^impGssible-to-control^in= a studio, as soirio snickers crop MP Where unexpected. This Is also true of the Florence Moore record- ing. Ultimate solution tp this will probably be backstage or booth control. Mild comedy subject which should serve as a changje ^f pace on'a Hne- (Continued on page 27^