Wid's Filmdom (1920)

Short Reels “Children of the Netherlands,” Mentor Dutch youngsters have been pictured by artists more than once, together with their scenic surroundings in Holland, and this one-reeler has several close-ups and other interesting shots of the kiddies. The manner in which the stuff has been tinted is not as good as it might be in places and mars the offering somewhat. A second portion, devoted to the wild birds of Scotland is better as far as the tinting is concerned. The close views are especially commendable, regarded from the angles of photography and coloring. “Islands of Japan,” Mentor Here is a colored reel that from beginning to end is replete with bits of beauty—an offering that has been tinted and photographed in artistic style. The second and _ principal portion shows the territory of the Japanese islands of Matsushima and Kyushu, the lakes, hills, rapids and waterfalls of the eountry, and includes a Sunset that is really remarkable. Parrots of Australia, green and yellow are dealt with in the first part and hold the eye. They look especially pretty against the background of leaves and oranges, being perched on the branches of orange trees. “Making Elsie Good,” Universal Youngsters—several of them—appear in a fairy-tale offering that will go well with the children and many of the older folks. The little girl who plays the lead—a blond— is pleasing and the others do as well as may be expected. This deals with the dream of a girl who has several undesirable traits, among them being snobbishness. While sleeping, she is placed in a position where she realizes that she has acted improperly and when she wakes up reforms. “Jits and Wits,’ Rival Film Not very long ago, a great many comedians imitated Charles. Chaplin, but the Chaplin craze has died down somewhat, and only a few do it now-a-days. The Rival Film Co., in its initial production, starring Al Joy, has a comedy built on an acceptable theme and one that has a few incidents that are funny, although much of it is not as bright as it might be. Whatever his merits may be otherwise, however, Joy’s impersonation of Chaplin leaves much to be desired, as do the imitations of most of the others who try to duplicate the wabble and Chaplin’s other characteristics. The director did not do as well as he might have done with situations and the offering lags somewhat. A few good situations will go a great way towards helping this along, but they can not make it a hit. “Informing a Nation,” Encyclopedia Americana Publishing periodicals and books is a subject that has not been touched very recently by producers of Educational pictures, and the organization which is turning out, the Encyclopedia Americana, has shown in good fashion the manner in which that publication is made ready for the purchaser. Some of the steps shown are quite familiar, but the gilding and marbling of edges as well as some other processes are not as well known to the average spectator. This sheds light on the matter and also gives publicity to the new encyclopedia, but in a careful and wise manner. “The Jay Bird,” Universal Unlike the type of pictures Hoot Gibson has been making for some time, this two-reeler is more like the modern cinema drama as far as the manner in which the story has _ been worked out and the way in which it has been produced, are concerned. It has some very good comedy relief and is thoroughly wholesome. The story is built on a much hackneyed theme, but has been screened in a satisfactory manner and will probably prove acceptable. If your crowd has been taking to the recent Hoot Gibson pictures, you will be wise to beok this. vr “Lao Kai,” Mentor Scenes photographed in Lao Kai, French Indo China, make up the earlier portion of this Mentor scenic, colored as usual.’ A great deal of the tinting is of a high standard. “Hunting a Rabbit’ is the title of the second and closing part. In certain localities, rabbits are pests and have to be eliminated, and this shows the various ways in which the task is accomplished. A fair reel. Screen Smiles, Z and No. 31, Screen Smiles, Inc. With a new finish, a neat piece of animation, instead of the old one, Screen Smiles is an improved offering. At present the stuff at the finish is drawn out in black on white but having it correspond to the rest of the reel, that is, having the figures at the finish marked in white on dark blue, will add more improvement. The remarks included refer lightly, and cleverly to profiteering, landlords, prohibition, marriage, divorce, the Bolsheviki, I. W. W.’s, the Monkey Gland theory, prohibition, ete. “Meat Again,” Ford—Goldwyn Recently there was a Ford release that pictured the cutting of meat, and this reel deals with some of the by-products of the meat. It shows the canning processes, sausage-making, what is done with hog bristles and the manufacturing of butterine. This is a fair educational subject, but not a particularly effective production to offer as entertainment. “The Nooze Weekly,” Fox Humorists have overlooked, hitherto to all appearances, the usual screen news weekly, and in this Mutt and Jeff one-reeler Fox has a novel subject. It has been handled in good fashion, and the only regret is that it is so short— that there was not enough space devoted to the ridicule of other events depicted in news reels. In producing this, they strayed somewhat from the original idea and included seyeral bits of business that might have been uséd elsewhere to better advantage, but the stuff is funny. “The Line Runners,’’ Universal Whether or not this entire production, a two-reeler, was meant to be satirical, is a matter that is open to question, for either much of it was meant as a sort of subtle comedy, or there was much amiss with the work of the east and direction. The photography and lightings in many places are excellent, in fact, the manner in which this has been sereened: is generally satisfactory. The story, however, smacks of the type of western popular some time ago, and will draw laughs from the critical members of your audience. There is one big kid towards the finish, when it is explained that a man of large proportions, wearing the broad-brimmed black slouch hat usually associated with heavies, in pictures of this type, and smoking a cigar with great vivacity, has nothing to do with the story, and is about to leave town. It’s a bit that will get a laugh. “The Heart Beneath’’—Capital Camera work, which is of high order throughout, features what is otherwise a more or less mediocre offering. Neal Hart plays the stellar role in the piece which is built around an eternal triangle story of the type that has been used frequently, and in similar form very recently by another company. From the very start, the conclusion is obvious and the average fan will probably outguess it without deep thought. It deals with a ‘“‘city feller’ who comes out to a ranch on business, but stays and leads the cow puncher’s wife astray. The husband, however, arrives in time to avoid the disruption of his family and order the villain to board the first train for home. Included in the cast are, Marie James, who plays the feminine lead; Joe Rickson, the villain and Inez Gommez. “All for the Doughbag,’’ Century—Universal J. A. Howe wrote and directed this farce which starts in fine fashion and continues well until almost the very end, when there is just a bit too much of the riotous stuff. A dog does some exceptionally fine work at the beginning and there are two male comedians who handle their work in as fine a manner as could be desired. The youthful comedienne handles her character acceptably and but for the fact that there is too much slapstick comedy towards the culmination, this is almost certain to score. There is some excellent business in the early portion, and that will more than help get this over.