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Reviews
The Nitwits (1935)
One of the funniest films of all time.
The first time I seen this film, I literally laughed myself sick! This film is many, many different types of movies rolled into one. You can call is a mystery for the who done it, science fiction for the speak truth machine, crime drama for the gangster activity, musical for the songs, thriller for the spooky scenes in the dark, love story for the scenes between Bert Wheeler & Betty Grable and of course, a comedy. The only catagory it wouldn't fall in is a western. This film has all the elements of the true classic comedy. It has the classic slap-stick which is extinct now-a-days. The scenes w/ Arthur Treacher as the poor victim always encountering the boys on the steps is this rare extinct form of comedy . I love it when they throw his tennis balls and land right in the cop's mouths. The scenes toward the end are also great. It's especially funny when these poor colored chaps try to have their crap game and end up having the bejesus scared out of them. They end up being chased by everyone else. This film is non-stop fun and unlike modern films, it is completely free of foul language & sex. Only a little bit of mild violence which I wouldn't be afraid to show even to small children. This is a film that will make time fly. It is total fun from start to finish. I would recommend this film to everyone except those of who who have a bad heart; they may laugh themselves dead!
Keystone Hotel (1935)
The very best short comedy
I actually thought this one was done in 1932, but that doesn't really matter. This has to be the best all time comedy short. We have here some of the very best actors & actresses of comedy from the silent years. Here we can finally hear them speak. I caught it about 15 years ago on TNT when it was a much better station not constantly showing that dog gone logo in the corner of the screen and managed to tape it. I have watched it 100's of times and never tire of it. Although many of the great old comedies has scenes that are politically incorrect which offends many these days w/ chips on their shoulders, but this one seems to be completely without. This one can never taken for real which seems to be the norm these days. This is total fun from start to finish. Starting out w/ some of the cool sappy dialogue leading into some great sight gags. Then we have the BEST pie fight I've ever seen and the great classic slap-stick of the Keystone Kops. It has all of the elements of the earlier Max Sennett silent comedies but w/ the sound, it ten times better. It may be only ten minutes in length, this short has more great belly laughs than any feature picture. See this one if you can. It may be available on tape or DVD; buy it if you can. It a classic & clean comedy from the days when we could laugh at something without foul language & sex as in today's films.
A Few Moments with Eddie Cantor, Star of 'Kid Boots' (1923)
a seldom recognized pioneering film
This is the earliest talking film I've ever seen. I've been a fan of Cantor for years and do indeed enjoy this film. Although a far cry from later talking pictures, it did present clear example in 1924 that talking pictures were just around the corner. Although somewhat crude, it does manage to entertain me and I'm sure much more so to the audiences 80 years ago. I think it should be presented more often today as a real pioneering film. Since he's not wearing his usual blackface, it shouldn't be too much of a problem these days to those of who who carry a chip on their shoulders about blackface acts. Other than Edison attempts of synchronizing recordings on wax cylinders to motion pictures & Max Fleischer's partnership w/ Dr. Lee DeForest presenting some talking cartoons, this has to be a first. Watch it if you can, it's real history.
Pool Sharks (1915)
Who's the co-star?
This is a great film, I've had it on tape for some 20 years. By chance, could W. C. Field's co-star be the all time great Edgar Kennedy? There's no mistaking his bald head! While watching this, there's no hint that's him until the end when his hat comes off. Anyone out there correct me if I'm wrong, I think it's him. I think Edgar Kennedy is as good as an actor if not better than W. C. He has played in far many films and different roles than Fields. I've seen him play a gangster and in dramatic roles not as a comic. This guy deserves better recognition than he appears to have today. It's a real shame he died at a rather young age of 58 years in 1948; he really could of been a real hit on television. IMDb fails to point out the fact that he was the brother of Tom Kennedy who was almost as good as him.
Le voyage dans la lune (1902)
Greatest fantasy film of it's time.
We have this film on 16mm and it's a favorite of our family and friends. Thomas Edison was credited for the first film to have a plot; The Great Train Robbery (1903). Little beknownst that this Voyage dans la lune, Le (1902) told a much better story a year earlier. Sure it's crude, but it was made 100 years ago. I'm in USA and this film is French and I don't know the language but it doesn't matter not having dialogue and has absolutely no language barrier. This film is a true art form taking all the advantages early motion picture photography had to offer. Although this film is quite a long ways from what the real trip to the moon was like but they did splash down in the ocean like our moon missions. To me, this film was by far the best up to that time and many years afterwards. I have many films and have played them for all ages but this one will always be a favorite. For pre 1915 ratings, I would rate it 10 out of 10. Back then it was considered a science fiction but today I consider it a fantasy film. I think that this film can be enjoyed today by everybody with no age limit the world over.