Life, 1928-02-16 · page 13 of 38
Life — February 16, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early medical films. The left column lists absurd subtitle examples from "The Great Medical Movie," mocking how such films dramatically oversell mundane medical procedures—like surgery curing arthritis or a tonsillectomy saving someone from a "Harvard Accent." The central cartoon shows two men on a bicycle with exaggerated, theatrical poses, accompanying dialogue about a horseman injury. This illustrates how medical films present ordinary medical situations with melodramatic flair. The right section continues mocking medical movie tropes, with quotes like thanking a doctor for preventing measles complications, and ends with "Virtue Disguised"—a satirical condemnation of a Prohibition Agent, suggesting filmmakers hypocritically present destructive figures as heroes. The satire targets both the overwrought presentation style of early medical cinema and moral contradictions in how society elevated certain authorities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sub-Titles from the Great Medical Movie “Motion pictures to teach surgery and medicine have become a reality, accord- ing to an announcement made by Will H. Hays."—News Item. [Bows TurovuGuH THE Aces, Cuancetess, Immortat, Enp- tess, Hay-Fever Has Taken Its Terriste Tort or Victims. Meanwuite Firty Tuovusann Gattant Puacocytes Are Riv- ino Hevt-ror-Leatuer To Meet tur Instpious For or Inrection. [came THE Proruse Perspiration = “Goov-By, OLp Aprenpix. We've Been Great Pars, You anp I.” “Tue Sooner Tuose Tutrty- seven TeetH Come Out, Mrs. Mvreny, tHe Better It Witn Be ror Your Arturitis.” Dr. |Tuovent Dousue INTERNAL Strapismus Was tHE System or Gear Suirtinc oN THE New Forp. L Devo Was So Dumps He | “Oxty a Tonsittotomy Can Save tuat Tiny Sou, rrom a Harvarp Accent.” “From tue First Moment I Looxep Into Your Eyes, Exsie, I Knew You Were Due ror an Attack or Jaunpice.” Never Mino, Dappy, We’Li ALone Without THAT Rigut Patetia...Somenow...” “Horace! How Hanpsome You Loox 1n THAT Paster Cast!” Anp So, 1n 4 Quiet Littte Sani- tTanium Hippen Away FROM THE Micuty Bustre or tHe Bio Crry, | Harry ann Louise Were Vac- CINATED. “Mac got hurt trying to ride a horse yesterday.” “I don’t understand. Mac's an awfully good horseman.” “I know—but this horse belonged to a policeman.” Gop’s Greatest Girt to Man- kino, Raising Its MEANEST Creatures to Nositity—Per- rect Arciues! “Ler Me Ger You tue Bicar- BONATE oF Sopa, Dearest.” “Owance Juice! Won’r Tum- sopy Bwinc Me My Owance L Juice?” “Joun! Wuose X-Ray Puoto- craru Is Tis?” EEE | Wuite Otners Coutp Arrorp To Have Tuemr Faces Lirrep ror —_ Tue, Dora... “Hert anp Damnation, Dr. Broomserc, tur InterNes Have Mutiniep!” Buos- DEMIC With tue Finst Appeie soms Came a GENERAL or German Meastes. He Breatuep Deerty anv His Bosom Heaven. A Stranae, MappeninG Perrume Mape His Senses Reew. “Tuank Heaven, Genevieve! Dr. Scarsornoven Says It Is No Worse THAN a Bap Corp!” Henry William Hanemann. Virtue Disguised “you contemptible insect,” thun- dered the Prohibition Agent to the bootlegger, “you vile slayer of thoughtless youths, you peddler of poison, you maker of widows and orphans, you breaker of God's Own Laws to America, you nullifier, if you don't slip me twenty-five dollars I'll run you in.” comicbooks.com