Wid's Filmdom (1920)

was aT ee ee ee Some Short Reels “Modern Centaurs”—Educational Feats of horsemanship, remarkable in most cases, and where they are not remarkable, executed with unusual ease and grace, make up this Educational reel. The skilled riders perched on their lithe ponies go through a series of stunts, leaping over streams, struggling up and down inclines, being dipped in ponds and taking occasional spills in a manner that thrills. Many of the feats are repeated, and this does not improve the offering. The camera work in this is especially good, the man who manipulated the crank having filmed the cavalrymen in fine style. On the other hand, insufficient light tended to detract from the effectiveness of some of the scenes. What features the offering is the fact that it furnishes a number of thrills. It includes much that is spectacular. “Pigs and Kava’—Chester-Educational One of the South Sea Isles is the scene of a Chester travel reel which has been screened and titled in fine fashion and is quite entertaining. and other effects to be found in more or less torrid regions furnish a pleasing background and the natives, well built and clad in the usual fashion of the dweller of the little-civilized region, are imposing characters. Some of the weird dances ot the men and women, their festivities, feast and one of their unusual customs comprise the offering. More South Sea Island stuff of this sort and Martin Johnson will have to look to his laurels. Pathe Review, No. 47 Scenes taken at a race track showing the ponies going to the post, on their way, coming into the homestretch and leaping overhurdles, feature this Pathe Review which measures up to the highest standard attained in these offerings. A colored scenic opens, Burgos, Spain, furnishing the material. The cathedrals and churches are imposing structures, tinted fairly well, and combined with the shots showing some of the people and one or two taken in outlying districts make that part worth while. Another section shows how the synchronized pencil may be put to use and “The Under Side of a Bouquet” explains how galax leaves are picked. Miss Evans B. Fontaine executes what is styled the South American cabaret dance to close. That title promises something naughty, but the terpsichorean display offered thereafter will get by even the Pennsylvanian censor board. Except for-the fact that two men in the background rolling the wicked ivories and adding local color appear while the dancer smokes a cigarette, nothing resembling wickedness is seen in it. “The Fightin’ Terror”—Universal When they turned out this two reeler, they struck the proverbial nail on the head. It is an offering that should delight the western. fan, for it has action and love interest properly balanced with a copious quantity of humor. The introduction of the principal character, Hoot Gibson, sends it off to an excellent start and thereafter it continues at a capital rate of speed. A fight between the star and the representative of a rival town furnishes one of the essential incidents in the story. Of course, stuff of this sort is not new, but the manner in which they have staged it, with the timekeeper tolling off the rounds with a six shooter and the contestants entering the ring wearing their trousers and hats will interest. The essential factor in this is the amount of comedy, which is much in evidence throughout. And it is good comedy. “A Hero in Everything”—Universal With the exception of a street scene which will get a laugh or two there is scarcely an incident in this single reel slapstick comedy that will draw laughter. Almost all of it con sists of a series of knockabout bits of the old and conventional sort. The leading lady drops a pair of grips on the head of the man with whom she is to elope, the rube stumbles with a pail of milk, falls into a pump, goes to the city where he secures work as a waiter and finally is picked up by a street cleaner. On the busy corner there is also a ripple. but the rest of it will find any audience that has been initiated passive. TS The tropical adjuncts—grass hute, palms ° “Tell Us, Ouija”—Hall Room Boy Comedies Ouija Boards have become a national hobby and in turning ou a two-reeler in which the medium whereby spirits may be communed with figures prominently, this organization has indeed been wise. Ordinarily, this would be classed just a little above the general run of short comedies, consisting of a series of bits of business held together loosely by a theme that does not lead up to any particular climax. Many of the incidents are funny, the Ouija Board stuff being certain to register. One scene in which a child is seen first in a derby hat, only the sky-piece being visible at first, provokes a giggle. When, however, they employ a similar scheme showing a pair of large and well-worn shoes protruding from unde ra bed, what actually amounts to the same gag is offered again, for the youngster soon appears wearing them. The subtitle reading ‘The Spirit of 1920” is sure to make any audience smile and the boarding house material ranks with that used in the productions-made hitherto. In view of the popularity of spirit theories just at present, this should get over in good style. “Tlliterate Digest’”—Marion H. Kohn Prod. Will Rogers, author of the remarks which comprise these productions, has quite a following. His name used in conjunction with them will undoubtedly prove of value. The material is clever and the style followed one that will prove popular. Trailers showing Rogers doing some of his stunts add to the appearance of the issues, each: of which is about 400 feet long. Otherwise, they do not differ in make-up from other offerings which consist of titles satirizing current events and quips of various sorts. And there is a great supply of that stuff on the market. which is the only objection anyone can have against this. It is funny and a bit different. . “Chang and the Law”—Republic Rather confusing in placés, this issue of the William J. Flynn series in which Herbert Rawlinson is starred maintains interest most of the time. It builds to a climax which furnishes quite a thrill, but has a sort of anti-climax in the footage appended. The portion after the scene in which the tables are turned should be cut down, for it drags in its present form. There are numerous twists in the plot, which in being confined to two reels had to be kept moving rapidly. Carl Harbaugh directed and has turned out a fair detective drama. “Outlaws of the Deep”—Republic Smuggling Chinese into the United States-is an occupation which lends itself easily to the production of screen dramas, and in this William J. Flynn two-reeler they have shown the manner in which one group thus engaged was captured. There is a goodly amount of suspense in the production, which technically leaves something to be desired. White and red lights figure in the story prominently as warning signals, and the manner in which red tint has been applied in places has left blotches which do not look at all well. » Thematically, this is up to the standard maintained in the other issues of the series. J. Gordon Cooper directed and Wilson Mizner is credited with the film version of the story. “Circus Day”—Reelcraft Reelcraft has a new boy star in Matty Roubert who plays the leads in some two-reel comedy dramas. The youngster has a pleasing personality and possesses possibilities. In this offering he works zealously and well, the fault being with the story. Were Roubert given farcial stories, the results would be more gratifying. This type of short reel drama appears to have gone out of date, but beyond doubt it will secure booking in moderate size houses. The predominating spirit of youth is its feature, and there is a sufficient amount of pathos and elementary appeal to enable it to hold its own. There is a classroom scene at the start that is of value and one in which several boys stage a circus, imitating the one that comes to town. How Roubert manages to get in to see the show, after a few failures, furnishes the plot. Should you be running a comedy feature, you might find it worth while to put this in with it.