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Wax Figures (1928)
Good old fashioned nightmare fuel
I found this weird short on YouTube. Made as a "Laemmle Novelty", it shows a bunch of scary looking wax figures that are brought to life by a fairy. There is a Santa figure that tells them they must bring happiness at any cost. We then see a bunch of people with the top half not being shown, going through various things as the wax figures look on and I'm assuming they are the wax figures come to life. This is the most bizarre short I've ever seen, and believe me, there are plenty out there on YouTube. It defies explanation. It runs a little over ten minutes, but it's ten minutes of your life you'll never get back. Watch it and I know you'll agree.
His Honor, Homer Bell (1955)
Hopefully more will be found
Props to FT Depot for finding the two episodes that are on YouTube! I am a Gene Lockhart fan and had heard about this series. It appears it was shown as reruns until the 1960s until it just disappeared. Sadly, so much early TV history has been destroyed, because the TV stations saw no reason to keep old TV shows that were taking up space (think of the tragedy of Dumont TV's shows dumped in Hudson Bay.). The two episodes that were found are in decent condition. The show is about a kindly judge, his orphaned niece and their housekeeper. The judge dispenses wisdom to his niece with typical sitcom mixups. Thankfully there is no ridiculous laugh track, which makes the show more heartwarming.
The show was an NBC show and was apparently syndicated. There is not much information about the show online. The two episodes are "Homer's birthday" where Casey the niece and the housekeeper want to buy the Judge a present and a mixup what to get him abounds and Casey, Girl Tycoon where Casey starts her own business.
Like I said, I hope more episodes are found. I've seen most of Gene Lockhart's movies, it was a joy to see him in a sitcom. These episodes were found by accident, so I'm hoping more are hiding, waiting to be found.
P. S. The opening credits are cool, even though the statue in the beginning looks more like Warren G. Harding than Gene Lockhart.
Land of the Quintuplets (1942)
The Original Truman Show
It's unbelievable today to believe something like this actually happened. As the narrator states, quintuplets were one in 57 million at this time long before fertility drugs and IPV treatments. They were so rare, that they were put on display in a zoo-like compound called "Quintland", where people could watch there every move (hence, the Truman Show reference.) Apart from the annoying way James FitzPatrick kept saying "quintuplets" (like "quintellpets") the shirt is distasteful in this day. I feel bad for the hand that life dealt these girls, who were finally freed from their "zoo", they were physically abused by their siblings and parents, treated like slaves in the home their "Truman Show" built and allegedly sexually abused. When they went to their parish priest about the abuse, they were told to "wear coats to bed". Everyone made money off of these girls except them. Canada eventually paid them for placing them in Quintland, but it was too little, too late. This short makes it like it was all roses and sunshine, but it wasn't by a long shot.
Little Red Riding Hood (1950)
Very bad version of the fairy tale
A ten minute very bad version of the Grimm's fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Bad dubbing, bad acting and a nightmare inducing wolf masked human talking wolf (are there any other kind?). The story is the same. Mother sends Red to grandmother's house with a basket of goodies. Along the way she meets the talking wolf and tells her she's off to grandma. The wolf ditches her and hotfoots over to grandmas'. The old gal peers out and sees him at the door. She slips out the window and Willie takes her place. Help arrives in the form of a woodsman before the little dummy gets eaten. The Rifftrax version makes it worth watching. There seems to be a jump cut at the beginning but it doesn't deter from the sheer awfulness of the short.
Great Gobs! (1929)
Wish the Soundtrack could be found!
This is the last of the 1929 Charley Chase "talkies" recently put out by Kit-Parker films. Unseen since the beginning of the last century, there are six of them. Sadly, the soundtrack to the last two are lost: Stepping Out and this one. This one would benefit with the accompanying soundtrack because Charley (and Edgar Kennedy) both play the harmonica and there is a funny bit of business with Linda Loredo and the harmonica, plus Charley does a funny ventriloquist act with a dog making Edgar think it can really talk.
The story is easy to follow, even without sound. Edgar and Charley are sailors on shore leave. Both are vying for the attention of a pretty señorita (Loredo). Both pull tricks on the other to get her attention. I won't give away the ending. A big shoutout to Kit-Parker and Sprocket films for finding these rare gems. Hopefully, the soundtrack discs may one day be found.
Crazy Feet (1929)
Soundtrack found but watch out!
I ordered this from Amazon. This includes all six talking films that Charley Chase made in 1929. Sadly, the last two, Stepping out and Great Gobs are missing the soundtrack. This one (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) is not.
The story begins with Thelma Todd fighting with her drunk husband, who wants her to give him money for booze. They begin fighting in her car. Charley, ever the chivalrous gentleman sees this and steps in, getting a punch in the nose twice for this. He then gets in the car and a hilarious tangle ensues. Charley gets Thelma's purse back as her husband hi tails it. Kennedy the cop sees the commotion and accuses Charley of stealing the purse. He then runs away and stands in what is a men's chorus line. As the manager is picking out men for the chorus, Thelma asks the manager to give Charley a break and pick him, which he does. This is where the "unfortunately" part comes in. The manager asks the the chorus if they know the "n" word run. (I guess that was really a dance back then, but I had to rewind it twice to make sure I heard it right.). It consists of some sashaying high kicking. There is some gay humor as well, as the guy on Charley's left has eyes for no one but him. As they mince off the stage, he says to Charley in an affected tone "I don't think you've had a day of experience in you life and he minces away.
Other than this "for it's time" humor, the short is not bad, with Charley, taking Thelma's husband's place and getting whirled around on a wire. The husband comes back and Charley gives him his comeuppance, much to the ire of Thelma.
Uptown New York (1932)
Jack Oakie shines in a rare drama
I found this hidden gem on a streaming movie channel. I knew I was in for some great pre-code fun when the beginning started with a lady holding two large globes to her chest! The movie starts with Pat (a very underrated Shirley Grey) and Max Silver (Leon Ames, then known as Leon Waycoff) professioning their love for each other. Pat then says good night and goes to her apartment. Max later comes up, claiming he wants to call a cab. He calls the cab, but didn't go back downstairs. You know what happens next.
Cut to Max's parents home, where his parents congratulate him on finally becoming a doctor and his residency in Vienna. They are also Orthodox Jewish and have picked out the woman he will marry. It's not Pat.
Pat finds out from the newspaper she has been dumped. Life goes on. She goes to Luna Park in Coney Island and somehow gets stuck in the ladies room in a restaurant. The owner (Henry Armetta) asks Eddie (Jack Oakie) who is eating there, to help get her out without breaking down his door. He and Eddie get her out by a window but rip her dress in the process. Pat asks Eddie to escort her home because of her ripped dress. He does and he asks her out. After some hemming and hawing she does.
Eddie's job is collecting coins in gum machines. He's a working class, two fisted guy and very likeable. Max is not. He comes back and thinks he can pick up where he left off. Pat, who is now dating Eddie, keeps telling him no, which he doesn't take for an answer.
She and Eddie get engaged, but she skips her engagement party to be with Max. Nevertheless she marries Eddie on the rebound. On their wedding night, she tells him about her involvement with Max and it would be okay if he left, knowing this. He stays.
Fast forward, the slip into a happy married life until a accident lands her in the hospital.", needing a delicate spinal surgery. Knowing Max is a renowned doctor, he begs for his help. The surgery is a success, but Eddie feels that Pat still has feelings for Max. He sells his business to pay the doctor bill, even though Max did it for free. Eddie then leaves. Max sees this as an opening and gives Pat a boat ticket for Vienna (separate cabinets for show, Max says). Will she leave with Max? I won't tell the end, but it all works out.
I usually like Leon Ames. He's the loving father in Meet Me in St. Louis and the boisterous Colonel Kirkwood in Mr. Ed. His behavior in this movie was so selfish and mean, I was rooting for Eddie to beat the crap out of him.
Anyway, if you have a smart TV and are looking for great pre-code entertainment see this movie.
Man Hunt (1933)
So Many Unlikable Characters
This movie was recently on TCM. Being a pre-code fan, I looked forward to seeing it. After I was finished watching it, I decided that the only characters I liked were Josie (Charlotte Henry), Mrs. Scott (Dorothy Davenport a/k/a Mrs. Wallace Reid), and Abraham Jones (Carl Gross). The other characters were just mean or plain stupid. I cringed when Junior called the African American kid "stupid" and made him cry. Then I cringed some more when he said that he wasn't crying because Junior called him stupid, but because he WAS stupid and not smart like Junior, who proves to be the stupidest character in the movie. Constantly getting fired from jobs, believing the criminal Wilke's story that he was from the treasury department makes him one dumb cluck in my book. Then law enforcement allowing him to question Josie for hours made the sheriff dumb and clueless until he redeems himself in the end.
Then there is animal abuse when Wilke throws Junior's dog into a wall, which made me as angry as calling the one of few likable characters "stupid". \
I know the movie was a product of its time, but give me a break. I can't picture anyone who saw this movie in the 30's rooting for Junior. Plus the story seemed a bit contrived and dragged in spots.
If you enjoy abuse of people of color, animal abuse and truly stupid characters who think they're the smartest person in the room. This movie is for you.
The Courtship of Myles Standish (1923)
This is a lost film!!!!
The previous reviewer must have done some time travel to review this film as it no longer exists in any format except for some still pictures. I'd love for the previous reviewer to let us in on he saw a film that clearly states in the trivia section that no elements exist. I hate when people post reviews on films that are nonexistent.
Not So Dumb (1930)
I Can't Believe No One Mentioned the Racial Slur
I usually like Marion Davies. She was an underrated comedienne and if William Randolph Hearst hadn't been so ham handed and controlling with her career, she'd be better remembered today for her talent rather than as the Susan Alexander caricature in Citizen Kane.
At any rate, this is not one of her better films. She comes off as beyond stupid and annoying. You wish that you could reach into the TV and slap her when she refuses to shut up.
This is a brief synopsis of the movie: Gordy (Elliot Nugent) wants to sell part of his business to stuffy Mr. Forbes. (William Holden. NO, NOT THAT WILLIAM HOLDEN. This is the original one.) Anyway, Mr. Forbes and his family for some reason are spending a weekend with Dulcy (Marion Davies), her brother a butler who is on parole and other questionable people that Dulcy has found along the way.
The scene that I am talking about with the racial slur is when Mr. Forbes, Dulcy's brother Willie and Gordy retire to the billiard room. However, they can't find the billiard balls. Dulcy comes in and finds them, one being used as a darning egg. She then says that it would be "in a woodpile with a n****r." My jaw dropped to the floor and I had to rewind the DVR just to make sure I heard it correctly. I am shocked that TCM would allow such a word in a movie they show, even if it is a pre-code.
After getting over the shock, we learn that Mr. Forbes daughter wants to elope with one of Dulcy's guests, a screenwriter named Leach, played by Franklin Pangborn, who in the beginning of the film where he's introduced, gives Gordy a limp wristed handshake, which makes one wonder why she is determined to run off with him. Before the "billiard scene" Dulcy makes a remark to him to the effect of all of the men are in the billiard room, alluding to the fact that Mr. Leach may not be a real man.
Well by the end of the film, when you think Dulcy has made a mess of everything, all works out well. Mr. Forbes daughter marries her real love, Willie, and Gordy gets to sell his business at a higher price, thanks to Dulcy.
This might have been a decent film if 1) If they had better camera work. (The camera stays on the character's faces way too long.) 2) Better editing (hence, the camera staying on everyone way after the reaction has ended.) 3) A less silly character for Ms. Davies. A fine comedienne in her own right, there is no need for her shrill and yappy performance. She could have(and had done in the past) done this character a lot more subdued and gotten the point across.4) That racial slur. There was no need for it in the movie. also, I was shocked when Mr. Forbes says "damn" in the beginning of the movie and that got pass the censors.
Therefore, based on the above, I give it a 4/10.
Love, Honor and Oh! Baby (1929)
Not a bad comedy
The film starts out with milquetoast Melvin being bossed around by his shrewish wife. They're getting ready for their niece's wedding. She's about to be married to a guy that's the male equivalent of her Aunt. He's lazy and orders her around as well. At the wedding, the aunt even takes the vows for her niece. The ensuing story shows the lazy husband eating a load of pancakes made for the whole family and the wife yelling at her husband for making a mess. The husband finally grows a spine and starts being assertive, as does his niece with the bum of a husband and the shrew wife taking on the subservient roles. I was hoping that they would both haul off and hit these two unlikable and miserable people, but the ending was good enough. (Although the movie does end abruptly.) A "lost" Pathe short that really isn't so bad.
Fairways and Foul (1929)
Okay if you like Golf
Pretty dull comedy feature the team of James and Lucille Gleason (husband and wife in this film and in real life). The premise is that two couples are competing to win a golf tournament. They are confounded by traps, noise, a barn and other silliness. The husband in the other couple has a bad stutter, which is very annoying and not politically correct today.
The ending comes out in the Gleasons' favor, but you'll have to watch to find out why. The print was in pretty bad shape and the synchronization was kind of off. It's a curio as best or if you enjoy golf films. I like James Gleason because like me he is from NY and has a NY accent (like me.)
Sixteen Sweeties (1930)
So tasteless and unfunny
Long, drawn out and with unfunny jokes. The thing that makes the jokes even worse is that they do death jokes. The backstory behind this short as the previous poster wrote is that a fire broke out in the studio and killed numerous people, including four of the dancers seen in the short. When the short reconvened to finish filming numerous "death jokes" were added in. Nice finishing touch. Really respectful to the poor people who lost their lives. Even if there hadn't been lives lost, this short would still be unfunny. There's a scene where one of the actors dresses up as Jesse James and does several tasteless gay jokes. Thelma White (of Reefer Madness fame) does a dancing number which is palatable. Avoid this one at all costs.
Two Fresh Eggs (1930)
Rotten Eggs
Another "lost Pathe" "classic". In this stinker, two idiots (James Aubery and the usually funny Al St. John) are hungry. They're peering into a deli window when a worker comes out with a turkey. They konk the worker on the head and steal the bird. A passing cop sees them and a chase ensues. While running from the cop, they happen to run into a restaurant where the whole staff is going on strike. The only funny scene is the fat cook pushing everyone with his stomach. It goes downhill from there. The two idiots spy the waiter's and the cook's outfits on the floor and dress in them to disguise themselves from the cop and feast on the stolen bird. The cop, being as dumb as them fails to recognize them. They think they can now eat their stolen booty in peace when the owner comes in, mistaking them as the replacements from the employment agency. They never get to eat the turkey, which gets thrown on the floor constantly (YUCK!) There is a bunch of bad dancing and songs in between the (un)funny business. They finally get found out when the real staff from the employment agency shows up. Then the chase is back on by the cop. Not very entertaining, but not as bad as the other "lost classics" on the DVD.
A Perfect Match (1930)
Perfectly Unfunny
Typical "ethnic" comedy of the time, which is unacceptable today. A stereotypical Jewish wedding with a bunch of unfunny people telling unfunny jokes. I can't even tell you what this short was about except that the couple got married (she's 37, as they keep reminding us) and the wife left the next day because he doesn't want to work (Uh, isn't that something you would discuss before the wedding, Miss 37 year old???) It ends (or the real ending was chopped off) rather oddly with the groom's friends pointing at him and him doing a soft shoe. Another annoying thing was the random people that kept walking in and out in the background. Were they part of the cast or were they filming this is some banquet hall and they were guests at a real wedding? Just too much confusion here. Another "lost Pathe" film that should have stayed lost.
Traffic Tangle (1930)
Not very funny
Yet another "lost Pathe comedy" from Alpha video. This one is about a man (Nat Carr) with a decidedly Yiddish accent, who buys a new car. After getting across the street to the dealership with a dog dressed as a baby (don't ask)he gets into an accident, only to find that the dealer didn't sign him up for insurance. Nat's troubles are only beginning. He then brings the car home and decides to take his wife and two bratty sons on a camping trip. Hilarity ensues when he gets in trouble with not, one, but THREE cops. (BTW, he never makes it to that camping trip.) Unfunny and dull, the film claims to have Bud Jamison (of Three Stooges fame) in it. Well, if he was in it, I sure didn't see him and I was not going to torture myself again watching this horrible comedy. However, I think the guy playing the first cop was Nat Pendelton, but the cast list is sketchy at best, so we'll never know.I now understand why these shorts were "lost".
The Jerry Builders (1930)
Truly Awlful
I bought this on an Alpha Video DVD titled "Lost Pathe Comedies". They were "lost" because they're unfunny. This one, "Neat and Tidy" is a British one. A young couple about to be married plan their dream home.. That's the best part of the short. The rest of the short deals with some very unfunny incompetent builders building that dream home. One scene has a joke with a very derogatory term for Italians; two idiots who can't get a piece of wood correctly on a sawhorse and a lot of other unfunny bits of business. The end shows the couple, now middle aged and STILL not married and STILL waiting for their dream home to be built. Avoid this clunker at all costs.
Single-Handed Sanders (1932)
Incredibly Bad....
I saw this yesterday on WHT (World Harvest Television, a Christian network that shows westerns on Saturdays). The film is only 61 minutes long, but with all the commercials WHT puts in, it seemed like 61 hours. The film starts off with two homesteaders and their son, coming to make a fresh start. The way these two present their dialogue is like something out of a high school play. They are ambushed by four meanies and the husband is killed. No more is heard of them after that. The scene turns to Matt Sanders, a good looking, but not so bright blacksmith and his trusty helper "Snowflake" (who btw is black and plays the typical stereotype of the day...slow-witted and slow talking). Snowflake's companion is his dog "Sparerib" Also inhabitants of the town are Judge Parker and his daughter Alice, whom Matt has 'a hankerin' for, but is too shy or too stupid to show it. Judge Parker is all for helping the homesteaders, which gets him a bullet, (along with Sparerib) for his trouble. In the longest dying speech ever, he tells Matt and Alice to continue fighting for the homesteaders. Matt's brother Phillip, an educated (and somewhat dickish) lawyer, comes back to town. He is immediately made Judge, now that there's a vacancy. Alice has a hankerin' for him, but Phillip has a hankerin' for power and teams up with the dishonest senator to drive the homesteaders out. There's more shooting, more long dying declarations and a horse gets shot (by Matt, after chasing after a robber, put up by the senator to steal money intended to pay the mortgage on Alice's store and pay for the goods.) To be honest, I was more upset about animals dying than I were the people. Anyway, Matt realizes that his brother is up to no good with the senator and after beating up his brother and flying through a glass window like Superman, he rounds up the homesteaders to clean up the town of all the baddies. In between all this fussin' and fightin', Phillip gets shot and makes another dying speech and "THE END" abruptly flashes on the screen. There is no resolution to the story, you don't know if the senator is tried and convicted, you don't know if Matt gets the girl or if Snowflake gets another dog. THAT'S THE ENDING! So, if you like westerns with a lot of gunplay, animal cruelty and insulting stereotypes, this is the movie for you. If not, stay away from this stinker. BTW, I still don't know what the title means. If it means "Single-Handedly Stupid", that's our hero.
Topper (1953)
Still Makes me Laugh
I bought a DVD collection of 64 Topper episodes from Nostalgia Merchant several years ago and just got around to watching it. I remember watching it as a kid some 50 (!) years ago and I still found it as funny now as I did then. However, I do have some complaints. The laugh track was so awful, more awful than usual fifties laugh tracks. It sounded like it was shown to a third grade class. The high pitched kiddie laughter made me want to scream! Then there was the quality of the videos. Some looked like they had been recorded off TV (I noted the "TV G" in the corner) and the end "throwaway" scenes were missing off of most of the episodes. The episodes were in such sorry shape. Then I wondered what happened to the missing 14 episodes. (There were 78 episodes in total.) Despite all this, it was good to see the episodes again, crappy shape, screaming kids, missing episodes and missing segments aside. I wish that someone would restore these episodes because for it's time, the writing and the situations were hilarious!
The President Vanishes (1934)
The issue of this film is pertinent today, but could have been better made.
The issue of fascism and should America go to war is the focus of this film. The subject could be taken from today's headlines instead of headlines of 80 years ago. However, this film tends to drag in parts and the story is way too convoluted and unbelievable when viewed in this millennium.
President Craig (Arthur Bryon, whom I keep mistaking for Arthur Q. Bryan, the voice of Elmer Fudd) is an anti-war president. Everyone wants him to go to war. So what is he to do? He disappears. Today this would bring the country to its knees, but not in this goofy film. Edward Arnold (who gets star billing, but shows up at the 35 minute mark) is declared in charge. Now I love Edward Arnold, but I found him ridiculous in this role. He is the Secretary of War, but has by his own admission "never shot a gun". He brings in a bunch of rag tag characters and starts interrogating them like a bunch of shoplifters. He's in charge, but all he does is a lot of yelling and pacing. How they got around the Constitution and made him in charge is never explained. Also in this mess is Secret Service Agent Paul Kelly, who gives his sweetie a good sock in the jaw so she won't go blabbing to Edward Arnold that he knows about the Prez' whereabouts. (It was okay to slug your girl back then.) It seems he's in on the president's disappearance. They want people to think that these people called the "gray shirts" (a/k/a Fascist or union organizers) have kidnapped the president and that will turn the tide in the president's favor. (The beginning of the film shows the Gray Shirts going all Ferguson on the city.) Well, it works. The leader of the Gray Shirts is killed by Kelly and everyone who was in on it (Kelly, his sweetie, the dopey grocery boy, played by Andy Devine,the President's aide and the First Lady) all congratulate themselves for pulling off this chicanery, therefore avoiding war and the world is safe for democracy.
Lots of stock footage takes up about 1/4 of the film, which also made it almost unwatchable. If you like Edward Arnold and events that may have been pulled out of today's headlines, this is the movie for you. However, it may be had to find, because Paramount (Now NBC Universal) refuses to let people view their old film library and prefer to keep their gems (and non gems) locked away in a vault. I found my copy on Ebay and it wasn't the best copy in the world. How I long for the late late late show again where I could see old movies at their best (Or their worst.)
The Eddie Cantor Story (1953)
Where do I begin?
I don't know where to begin except with George Burns quote on this movie "They managed to make Eddie Cantor's life look boring". From the misconceptions (he is called Eddie at age 13 in the movie wen in fact, he didn't change his name to this until he was 21.) as well as the very bad Jimmy Durante imitation that seemed like something out of a Saturday Night Live sketch (replete with the fake putty nose that looks even faker with a big screen high def TV). I couldn't get into the movie because of Keefe Brasselle's crazy eye rolling at the most inopportune times. I finally got through the movie thinking "Here's two hours of my life that I'll never get back". Eddie Cantor had a much more interesting life than what was shown here from his work with the March of Dimes as well as his film work, which was never even mentioned!!! Hopefully someone will do a much better biography on his life one day.
The Very Idea (1929)
Really Staticy Curio
I am a big fan of pre-code films and wanted to see this as it had been made in 1929. Like the previous reviewer noted, the film is very static and at times the plot drags.
The plot is that Alan Camp (Frank Craven) has written a book on eugenics and feels that his chauffeur (Hugh Trevor) and his sister's maid (Sally Blane) would make the "perfect" baby for his sister and brother-in-law to adopt through surrogacy. Today, this is not unheard of, but at this time, it was a very controversial move and the "perfect child" concept sounded like the previous poster said, it sounds like something out of Adolph Hitler's play book.
The husband of the sister in the movie was so clueless and dumb I wished that I could have punched him. Honestly, I wanted to punch everyone except Sally Blane and Hugh Trevor, who had the sense to refuse to give up their child. The sister and her dopey husband are so self absorbed and are too good to adopt a child from an orphanage, fearing they would get an infant Charles Manson or not get a child as "perfect" as they are. I won't give away the ending, but things work out in the end for Mr. and Mrs. Self Absorbed.
Watch this if you are into pre-codes, or into early sound films, as this doesn't have much going for it other than that.
Sutter's Gold (1936)
Plays very fast and loose with the facts
This film is more fiction than fact. It depicts Johann Sutter's rise and fall from grace, dying a pauper and that is about the only true thing in the film.
The film begins with Edward Arnold as young Johann Sutter, itinerant flute player in Switzerland. A man is killed by some bar patrons where he is flute playing and he is blamed for that and killing the bar owner when he accidentally pushes him. Arnold heads home where he kisses his wife and young children goodbye and heads off to America. (In reality, Sutter escaped to America to avoid debts.) He winds up in New York where he is hired for $10 a day to drive a horse drawn trolley. Little does he realize that the man who hired him is a strike breaker and he and his flute wind up in the hospital where he meets the most annoying sidekick ever...a guy named Pat (played by Lee Tracy.) Together they set out to California. After a series of missteps (through Vancouver, the Sandwich Islands, a mutiny and meeting the Russians who have a fetching English Countess in tow played by Binnie Barnes); they arrive in California with some of the Sandwich Island men who had been taken as slaves. (In reality, Sutter had taken the Native Americans as slaves.) Gold is discovered on Sutter's and and sidekick Tracey, who can't keep his trap shut, announces it to world, which causes a mad rush to Sutter's land and it is ultimately stolen from him. The Countess, who only stuck by Sutter as long as he has cash leaves when she realizes he's broke. Reenter Sutter's wife and children, the children now grown. The film meanders some more with Sutter's wife dying, the daughter marrying a Mexican solider (Sutter's son in reality married a Mexican citizen and changed his name to Juan.) In another form of fiction, Johann Jr. is killed by land jumpers who think that Sutter got his land back. Over his son's dead body, Sutter makes an impassioned speech about greed and that they should give the land back so he could make it farm land (oookay...knowing what I know about Sutter, I doubt he would have done this.) Anyway, Sutter goes to Washington with sidekick Pat, hoping to see the President to get his land back. (By now, Arnold is made up to be a man in his seventies, looking like a hefty version of Colonel Sanders.) He is rudely shuffled from office to office given the brushoff when he asks who to see about his case. Disheartened, and in his General's uniform given to him on the day his son was killed, he sits on a bench with his flute, summons the the pigeons. Two newspaper boys cruelly play a trick on him, saying he got his land back. He then runs to the steps of the Capitol, where he see the paper, which says that Congress adjourned without making a decision. (Which was the one thing in this picture that WAS the truth!) Sutter collapses and dies on the steps of the Capitol, Pat saying he'll be joining him. (Unfortunately, not soon enough.) BTW, the real Sutter did die in Washington, but not on the Capitol steps. He died in a hotel.
For a work of fiction, the movie's okay, but it's nowhere a biography. Not only did Universal play fast and loose with the facts, they played fast and loose with the shareholders' money to make this picture, which lost millions for Universal and caused Carl Laemmle and his family to be shown the door.
Skirt Shy (1929)
Harry Langdon bombs in his first talkie
Harry Langdon was a big deal in silents. That is until he got too full of himself and decided he could do better without the people who made him funny. Subsequently, he bombed. The end result is a series of early talkies made with the Hal Roach studio. The first one is skirt Shy, where he plays a butler to a woman who is broke and is looking to marry a rich old codger.
The film starts with the codger wooing May Wallace and then leaving without proposing. Miss Wallace informs Harry and the maid that she is broke and was hoping that the old guy would marry her so she could keep the home. She then goes to the bank to see if she could get more time.
The codger comes back with flowers and a proposal. The maid doesn't want Miss Wallace to lose the chance to marry him, so she dresses Harry up as Miss Wallace.
I know the viewer and the old guy are suppose to have suspension of belief and think that Harry looks like Miss Wallace (considering the old guy is nearsighted), but it's a stretch of the imagination by any means. In addition, Langdon's child-like behavior makes him annoying and unfunny and one would think he's brain damaged from the way he acts and moves around. (Plus the bizarre clown white makeup on his face doesn't help either.)
In the interim, another former wealthy suitor of Miss Wallace's comes along and also thinks that Harry is Miss Wallace. The two suitors get into a fight over "Miss Wallace", and "hilarity" ensues. Miss Wallace and the old guy end up with no help from Harry.
This short was nearly unwatchable because of the antics of Langdon, who was someone who should have never gone to sound as his actions were definitely made for the silent screen.
The Head Guy (1930)
I'm sure he was better in silents....
Harry Langdon must be an acquired taste or he must have been much better in his silent efforts, because he, IMHO is flat-out awful in this short.
His character is supposed to be child-like. He comes off as whiny and annoying as a child-man who is put in charge of the railroad station while the station manager (Edgar Kennedy) leaves to attend to his wife, who just gave birth to twins. In the interim, an acting troop stops at the station. Harry's girlfriend spots Harry with one of the chorines and leaves him. He subsequently goes into a hissy fit, alternating between annoying fits of crying and eating a sandwich. This part of the film is almost unwatchable. In addition Langdon is wearing clown-white make-up which makes his look as bizarre as his character's antics.
I wish that I could see some of his silents and perhaps I could make a fairer comparison, but he is downright horrible here.