Life, 1928-10-19 · page 16 of 40
Life — October 19, 1928 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews two films: "Excess Baggage" and "The Fleet's In." The main illustration depicts a chaotic scene labeled "The Synchronized Handwriting on the Movie Producer's Wall"—a visual pun referencing the Biblical "writing on the wall" (prophecy of doom). The image shows multiple men in business attire crowding around, examining documents, appearing agitated or concerned. The satire critiques the film industry's tumultuous state, likely commenting on production chaos, financial instability, or internal disputes among producers and executives. The "synchronized handwriting" suggests ironic harmony masking underlying conflict—a commentary on Hollywood's dysfunction during this early sound-film era. The reviews themselves offer film criticism rather than political commentary, focusing on narrative and performance quality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE “Excess Baggage” not dulled his sensitiveness. He is better against the cushions and snicker jg derision. Picture, if you can, a first-class signalman who is unable to spell one. syllable words correctly. Maybe in the Siberian Navy this would be possible, bu not in your Uncle Samuel's... . . The in Hollywood should get wise to the fat that it takes more than marcelled hair and a winning smile to get the old am decorated with a bird. “Then there is the Exec who pleads with the hero to take liberty. Hey, hey, i {in this than he has been since his unfor- ; es y by Waite “Excess Baggage’ | settable appearance in that heart-rending pats a fot, One: * Again, woes 1s litle £ R. E. rout be listed as a_good file picture called “Memory Lane.” pata istancing, \down, On, kad dock ia picture, and one decidedly Frisco waiting for the bluejackets to com cre Sherwood to be seen, I can't help “The Fleet’s In” ashore. When they do, one sea-going ; feeling that it could have ¢ Fleet's In Santa Claus presents her with a white for Co been and should have been much better. | THeERe is a great deal of naval matter in| fur from Manila. We waited tensely, bea It is an excellent story, of the back-stage|Clara Bow’s new offering, “The Fleet's] expecting the next bozo to hand her a tioe variety, with living characters and gen-|In,” and as I know little about the Navy, beach coat from Point Barrow, but the Mr uinely strong situations; but many of the|I hardly feel qualified to write an authori-| scenario writer overlooked this realistic Br points that it might legitimately make are | tative criticism. However, Rear Admiral | little touch.” ve missed through carelessness and sloppi-]Cluverius has been good enough to send} I must confess that these defects escaped BP the ness. It almost seems that the director and | me a copy of The Mountaineer, published | my untrained eye; but even though 1B rec the scenario writers weren't half trying. | by the men of the U. S. S. “West Vir-| never joined the Navy, I think I know: This sad indifference to opportunity | ginia,” containing an expert review of] hot baby when I see one, and Clara Bow ix did not afflict the principal players in] “The Fleet’s In.” is all of that. It also seems to me that the BP pct “Excess Baggage.” William Haines, as a] “It is an interesting picture in many | title, “The Fleet's In,” is one of the bes ie vaudeville acrobat, and Josephine Dunn, | respects,” says the “West Virginia's” | that have ever been applied. but as his movie-star wife, are both superb. | anonymous critic, “and gives Clara plenty h Mr. Haines’ performance is altogether | of opportunity to display the famous Bow ; righ ratifying, because it indicates that his} legs, but some boners have crept in that] 4 Confidential Guide to current moving Bd long experience in smart-aleck réles has | cause an honest-to-gosh sailor to lean back pictures will be found on page 24. IL of 1 We Ue In | off | bers up and File wits bein A the “cat song and Mr, ma} nig! of “ Tue gets prais of N the off ible adve mint it ha Tue SyNcHRoNizen HANoWRITING ON THE Movie Prooucer’s WALL comicbooks.com