Directed by Brian Foy. Starring Cullen Landis, Wheeler Oakman, Helene Costello, Eugene Pallette, Gladys Brockwell, Robert Elliott, Mary Carr.
The first all-talking feature film, made with the Vitaphone sound system, is a six-reeler bootlegging drama that only has that historical footnote going for it. Movie itself suffers from static presentation, unrefined plotting, and amateurishly stiff acting (only Pallette survives unscathed). Landis is a young rube who doesn't realize he's running a barber shop that serves as a speakeasy front, makes moon-eyes at hometown sweetie Costello and defies prominent bootlegger Oakman. Despite its poor qualities, the picture became a big hit when it was released, and proved that talkies were the wave of the future. Best (unintentional) laugh is saved for the end: after being told by a detective he should take the train out to the country, Landis says to Costello, "Train? Honey, we'll fly"...then cuts to stock footage of rail wheels chugging along before fading to black.
26/100
The first all-talking feature film, made with the Vitaphone sound system, is a six-reeler bootlegging drama that only has that historical footnote going for it. Movie itself suffers from static presentation, unrefined plotting, and amateurishly stiff acting (only Pallette survives unscathed). Landis is a young rube who doesn't realize he's running a barber shop that serves as a speakeasy front, makes moon-eyes at hometown sweetie Costello and defies prominent bootlegger Oakman. Despite its poor qualities, the picture became a big hit when it was released, and proved that talkies were the wave of the future. Best (unintentional) laugh is saved for the end: after being told by a detective he should take the train out to the country, Landis says to Costello, "Train? Honey, we'll fly"...then cuts to stock footage of rail wheels chugging along before fading to black.
26/100