Author Archive: Retro

Rhubarb Vaselino lives in a small village. He and his friend, Sapo, enter a bullfighting contest. Sapo is killed and Rhubarb kills three bulls, becoming a local hero earning money. Two years later, in Madrid, he has become a national hero. He is then involved with Filet de Sol. His lover finds out and must fight the deadliest in Spain, in the last bullfight of the season. Eighty years old and still great.

A collection of Stan Laurel short subjects

Laurel is surprisingly low key in this one-reeler, which he made for Hal Roach’s company, Rolin. His quiet demeanor here makes him a likable hero. Penniless, Laurel suddenly stumbles upon a wallet. He believes he has struck it rich. Unfortunately, a little boy sees it too. Both struggle for it until the boy’s father, a cop, comes along. Still poor, he is lured into a cafe by a woman. He is quickly kicked out. He gets a dime from a kid and returns to the cafe for a meal. He sits next to the woman, who switches checks on him and leaves. Unable to afford her meal, the chef kicks him out, landing on the policeman.

Star-packed promotional short subject intended to raise funds for the National Variety Artists tuberculosis sanetarium, produced in association with a cigarette company! The plot involves the Los Angeles police station reporting that Norma Shear’s pearls have been stolen. A detective has been sent to the actress’s home to interrogate party guests, most of whom are famous Hollywood stars. The detective ends up chasing leads all over town, ending up at a movie studio, where he learns the truth about the slippery pearls. Nice effort, considering it was for charity.

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A must see! Involves Laurel as a laborer who spends more time flirting with a pretty girl instead of working, and constantly annoys the foreman. His character is known as Sunkist and of course works in a citrus grove. The foreman, fed up with Sunkist’s behavior, chases him into the packing plant, where much mayhem ensues. There is some funny business on a conveyer belt before Sunkist traps his antagonists and breaks for lunch.

Vaudeville monologist Hamilton starrs in this two-reeler. He plays a ham actor in a third-rate stock company, while Polly Moran steals the picture as the sweetheart of the troupe’s gangly prop man played by Summerville. Marching to the altar with Summerville, Moran is suddenly lovestruck by wedding guest Hamilton. She deserts her fiance and embarks upon a stage career. The rest of the film is a travesty of a serious stage melodrama, where everything goes wrong because of Summerville’s jealous sabotage.

At a farm near Bangville, a daughter spots strangers in a barn. She quickly rushes to the house and phones the police. The cops engage in a haphazard rush across the countryside to get there on time. Oh Beautiful Mabel!

After Conklin aka Walrus has been shot, Ambrose, played by Swain, takes him into his house. Ambrose leaves after witnessing Walrus flirting with his wife. The two lovebirds run away. The cops, along with Ambrose, are on the hunt for Walrus. There are several laughs throughout the short running time, especially scenes of Walrus revealing his affections for the wife and the climax on the bridge.