Sophie of the Films #4

The story of two feuding Irish immigrant families living in a tenement.

William Bradberry, an absent-minded Egyptologist, turns from a henpecked husband to a dominating one who, unknown to his daughter Betty and wife, writes theatre musical comedy on the side. And saves his daughter from the unsavory millionaire, Victor Smith she almost marries before she marries the decent man Tommy Dawson. A lost film.

On a trip to a small village Mr. Jones overhears two separate men showing a picture of his wife and talking about going to see her when they go to the city. He jealously follows them to the depot and then to his house. Once there he ties them up and waits for his wife’s return. Just when everything looks to take a murderous turn in walks their maid, Belinda. Belinda admits it was she who sent pictures of her mistress fearing she herself was too plain to catch a man’s attention. Mr. & Mrs. Jones see the ludicrous side and all is forgiven.

As early as 1919, Russian Communists (then known as Bolsheviks) were convenient movie villains. This heavy-handed comedy uses the Russian revolution as an excuse for a series of slapstick set pieces.

Colonel Faraday asks his daughter, Diana, to recover some letters he wrote to Yvette, an adventuress, when she tries to blackmail him.

Neal, while sitting in his room, notices an accident in the street and kindly goes to the man's rescue with his car and takes him to the hospital. The nurse assigned to the case, Billie, makes a great hit with Neal.

A young man joins the army to impress his girlfriend. He soon finds out that his sergeant is actually an enemy spy, but before he can take any action, he and his girlfriend are kidnapped by enemy soldiers, and devise an unusual method of escape from capture.

Four wealthy young men, Larry Van Cortlandt, Castleton, "Fatty" Harriman and Payne, become intoxicated in a cabaret where munitions maker Stanhope Shelton is giving a party for his daughter Natalie. Larry is attracted to Natalie, but he is ejected with his friends before he can secure an introduction. Plainclothes detective Hogan vows to capture Larry, who seeks asylum on his yacht with his friends. After the crew quits, Larry and his friends handle the boat. The next morning Castleton and Payne place a "for hire" sign on the boat and the Sheltons engage it. Larry teaches Natalie to steer and runs into several boats in the process. Four people in the Shelton party turn out to be burglars and rob the other guests. Meanwhile two other crooks rob the Shelton mansion. Larry manages to capture all the crooks at the Shelton home, and he wins over both Natalie and her father.

A tale of English political intrigue. A certain member of Parliament, whose voice and vote would have passed an objectionable measure, is prevented from reaching the house in time by the opposition's subterfuge of a girl calling for assistance just as he passed her house. The young lady being an actress merely re-enacts a scene from the amateur theatricals she appeared in. The plan works holding him until it is too late to take part in the debate or vote upon the question and the bill did not pass.

Amy Lindel, a church choir singer, goes to the city to pursue a singing career, but finds herself only able to get cabaret gigs. She then becomes entangled in a situation involving stolen diamonds, and is saved by the "good guy" whom she later marries.

In spite of their oversupply of energy, their Pa-to-be just doted on the kids. The fascinating traveling salesman, who won away their fickle Ma, did not, but through the widow's deception, the kids won the parent of their hearts.

To be a fond and devoted parent, and to be unable to play with the heaven of your heart is indeed a cruel decree. That was the case of Papa Binks, but he outwitted Mrs. Binks and the nurse in a very effective, yet unostentatious manner, while he and the baby had the time of their lives.

"A comedy drama of New York life of a restaurant proprietor and it's a scream from start to finish." - Sheffield Observer, 03/28/1929

James Montgomery Flagg first draws his sketch of the girl, and then tearing it from its frame reveals the real girl lounging in bed with the pouting expression which is her wont. Then we are treated to an exposé of her various moods and selfish acts. For instance, she allows mother to bring breakfast to her in bed, and doesn't even greet her with a smile nor trouble to thank her. And it is nothing for father and mother to sit up until daylight to open the door for her as she returns from a dance. Finally she demands an automobile so that she will not have to bother with taxis, and in order to grant her wish, some of the household furniture has to be sold. In a tantrum she takes her car and goes to her lover, and the closing scene shows her in a home of her own, making life miserable for a husband.

Yano is a small delivery boy for his uncle, who keeps a curio shop in Chinatown. His loves are Tama, his sweetheart, and Bengi, his dog. Bengi is seized by dog catchers, but is rescued by Letty Stanford, for which Yano promises his fealty. Later Letty is kidnapped by Germans because of her war activities, and it is Yano who goes to her rescue and gets her free in spite of his diminutive size. The Little Japanese has paid his debt.

Skelley buys a seat in the orchestra and determines to get his money's worth. No use. Mrs. Van Snoozeheim refused to remove her big hat. But it came off. Skelley did it. That started something with Mrs. Van Snoozeheim's escort. Over the stage they fought, and into the Rathbone Café, and into Higgin's saloon. He took them over to his arena. There were two rounds to the finish.

Victoria, a young woman wants to study law faces pressure from her social-climbing father to marry rich, leading her to accept wealthy Bruce Schuyler, only for him to get caught in a bear trap, setting up a comedic battle of wills as she tries to maintain her independence within their engagement.

As an entomologist and all-around wimp, Orlando Winthrop gets little respect from his wealthy parents. But when business needs to be taken care at the Winthrop sheep ranches out West, Orlando is raring to go. Upon his arrival, the ranchers see Orlando as an easy mark, but it turns out they're wrong. They try to take Orlando's money in a poker game -- and wind up broke themselves.

Richard loves Helen, but her snobby mother looks down on him because his father made his money as a soap manufacturer. She arranges a trip abroad for Helen, but Helen arranges to meet Richard and have him drive her to the station. Richard’s aunt gives him his mother's wedding ring as a talisman and en route to the train a traffic backup occurs resulting in Helen missing the train and Richard winning her hand. Auntie claims that the ring is responsible; father only smiles knowing he paid one of his men to bribe streetcar motormen, truckmen, and taxicab drivers to bring about the traffic tie-up.

Bartender Billy Holliday loses his job for refusing to supply drinks to minors at the behest of his employer. In the little country town he wanders into looking for work he finds two elements, the wets and the drys. When he meets the daughter of the leader of the drys, he casts in his lot with them, and when the leader of the wet faction threatens vengeance, Billy is instantly on the job. At a meeting of prohibitionists, which the brewery element seeks to disrupt by the introduction of a number of roughnecks, Holliday takes the platform and nullifies their efforts with a fiery speech. He finally succeeds in putting the wet element out of business--and in winning the love of Edith Jason.