The King of the Wild Horses (1924) Silent Film Review

Plot Summary - Hal Roach Presents - - Silent action western starring Rex the Wonder Horse as "The Black", king of the wild horses - he must fight to stay leader, and must also contend with that dreadful menace: man - his constant pursuer. In the far west, just north of the Mexican border, there's a Rancho where lives an older ill man and his two grown kids, Boyd (Charley Chase, billed as Charles Parrott) and Mary (Edna Murphy). Mary is being pursued by one Billy Blair (Leon Bary), cowboy, who seems to have something else he likes to pursue way more than Mary - he's determined to capture "The Black". Chase between man and horse, as Billy goes in relentless pursuit - trusty rope in hand - after the Black, through high-up rocky crevices and rugged crags - but our wild horse is just too smart (and nimble!). But then - a wild fire has horsie surrounded and Billy Blair helps save him - pals!! Meanwhile, back at the Rancho, the ranch foreman is a bad man who has been forcing son Boyd, who has become heavily in his debt, to steal from his own father to pay him back. Fast "Black" and Billy help save the day when bad man and Boyd head out one evening for one last "job".

Review - A pleasant little horse opera, titles by Roach Studios H.M. "Beanie" Walker. Rocky western landscape and pretty wild horses, beauties one and all, are nicely photographed - our Rex the Wonder Horse is a superstar! Some night scenes oddly look like bright daylight (!) - - a river rescue finale is well done. The DVD from Televista features a decent enough looking print (I've seen far worse!) with some deterioration here and there (and rolling in a few spots), but for the most part looked fairly good - - the music score is sort of sweet and old-fashioned, even catchy in places. Cute little silent, perhaps best if you like animal films. Rex the Wonder Horse was a 16 hands Morgan Stallion, according to the Wikipedia article on him - he's a beautiful animal. Rating - 7.5/10 stars

Three Chumps Ahead (1934) Film Review - Thelma Todd, Patsy Kelly

Plot Summary - Hal Roach/MGM Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly short. POSSIBLE SPOILERS - - Thelma is in love - with Archie, a man with millions and yachts or so says he. Invited to the girl's apartment, Thelma dresses up and attempts to entertain Archie - he wants to just stay in (tired out from nightclubs, says he). He relates stories of his world travels while Patsy, who suspects he isn't who he says he is (good to have a gal pal that's bright and looks out for you, isn't it?!), wears her slippers (much to Thelma's distress), loudly cracks nuts, then prepares sandwiches in the kitchen fully loaded up with Limburger cheese. To occupy Patsy and get her out of the way, Archie phones up his brother (home on leave from the Navy and currently gambling in a local bar) and invites him over. Soon Archie sneaks Thelma away to a tavern to try and make his move on her - Patsy is too smart and they end up there too. Then Patsy, realizing the men don't have much cash (the men have secretly agreed with each other to one beer apiece), orders up a whole mess of food hoping the guys get beat up and thrown out by the big, mean, pug-faced waiter. It backfires, and in a scene that reminded me of that "I Love Lucy" where the girls end up washing dishes when the boys won't pay (Lucy and Ethel push for "equal rights" episode) - Thelma and Patsy end up, yeah, washing the dishes!!

Review - Okay, this episode had a touch of not so funny slapstick, but did have some cute interaction between the two gals. The restaurant half of the short I found to be more amusing than the first half. The short features recognizable Hal Roach studios music in the background (same used in "Our Gang" and "Laurel and Hardy" shorts). Okay - why is there always some convenient Limburger around in thirties comedies, readily available for comic shtick (if it smells that bad, why do the people keep it around I always wonder?!) I'm not sure about the meaning behind the title of this short as it relates to the plot!! Rating - 6.5 to 7/10 stars