Life, 1925-12-10 · page 27 of 36
Life — December 10, 1925 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a film review with advertisements and humor pieces. The main content reviews "The Big Parade," a 1925 war film, praising its battle scenes and love story while noting the film's writer, Laurence Stallings, had insulted Hollywood's intelligence in print. The review humorously notes that despite local animosity toward Stallings, the film succeeded—and argues Hollywood needs more such critical voices. A short humor piece titled "Something Must Be Done" satirizes small-town boosterism: a barber reports a bank cashier won't wear watches because repeated robberies keep destroying them during hold-ups. The town's Chamber of Commerce reportedly welcomes the crime because it makes Jonesville seem "up-to-date," despite the actual danger. The advertisements include Burberrys overcoats and Life's dog calendar. These are straightforward period advertising with no satirical intent.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ooo draw the bayonet and offer the dying Heinie a cigarette. LTHOUGH the war scenes are naturally predominant in “The Big Parade,” the picture itself is essen- tially a love story—and a supremely stirring one at that. Renée Adoree, who appears for a very short time in the early part of the story, and again at the finish, manages to impress her- self so vitally on the audience that her presence, in the dim background, is never for an instant forgotten. Both she and John Gilbert are brilliantly effective. There is great work by Tom O'Brien ind Karl Dane, as two rough and blasphemous but typical crusaders of the A. E. F.; indeed, the entire army moves forward with “The Big Parade” is recognizable and real. T is recorded that when Laurence Stallings went to Hollywood to write ‘The Big Parade,” he failed to endear himself to the denizens of that strange community, In fact, he intimated in print that the great majority of them were dim-wits. This caused all the local mentai giants to pray feverishly that Stallings’ maiden effort as a photodramatist would prove to be a flop. It seems that these embittered yearnings are not to be gratified. The movies need some more men who can insult them and, at the same time, produce pictures like “The Big Pa- rade.” R. E. Sherwood. (For review next week—“The Eagle,” The New Commandment,” “The Beautiful City,” and “Stage Struck.) Something Must Be Done UST shaved the cashier of the , Second and Third National,” said H. George Chadwick, No. 5 bar- ber in the Hotel New Trianon, Jones- ville. “He said he had just smashed his third wrist-watch against the vault while throwing up his hands, so he's decided to quit wearing one. He says that if it wasn't for keeping Jonesville on the map he'd be against bank hold- ups; but they give a town lots of pub- licit: “We don't have near as much crime here in proportion to the population as , they do in Terre Haute or Peoria and the Chamber of Commerce is afraid people will think we're not up-to-date. We're ahead on the number of filling stations and auto accidents but the people here seem a little too weak on crime to get anywhere as a town.” McC. H. ‘Ts her opinion sound?” “That's all it ever is, my dear.” am > VERCOATS de- S87 signed and tailored in London, England, by Burberrys invariably set the standard throughout the world for the correct attire of a gentleman. Their extreme light weight and great warmth set a further standard of comfort which none can approach. Dealers in every important city in the United States and Canada. For the name of your local dealer write to BURBERRYS, LTD. 14 East 38th St New York City From Towser to Balto — VERY member of the canine breed receives his just deserts in LIFE’S DOG CALENDAR a colorful tribute to the faithful with drawings by R. L. Dickey, Warren Davis, Will Rannells, and Cory Kilvert—dog specialists all. A perfect Christmas gift to all lovers of dogs (and who isn’t?). Price, Prepaid, $1.00 Order your Calendar NOW LIFE, 598 Madison Ave., New York comicbooks.com