Jumpin' for Joby: Jobyna Ralston Watch-fest

[BettyLouSpence]

Here's film number three: Special Delivery (1927), a comedy where Jobyna is Eddie Cantor's leading lady in his second film (and final silent).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qB0v4AqNHZY

Since this upload has no score, open a new window for this link to Eddie Cantor's other silent film, Kid Boots (1926), and play it while watching Special Delivery; the score actually matches up with this pretty decently.

The visual quality is also, uh... not the best, to put it gently. But, beggars can't be choosers (as us silent film fans know all too well...).

[Kitty]

I watched The Three Must-Get-Theres. I tried to watch it weeks ago, but I was so tired that I kept falling asleep. I also didn't know anything about the film, including that it was a parody of The Three Musketeers until I saw that his name was Dart-In-Again. Then it hit me what the name of the film was all about. The first time I started it, I had no idea what was going on most of the time. This time it was a lot easier to watch.
Call me dumb, but I didn't catch any of the modern-day things that BettyLou pointed out, such as the phone bit and the sedan part. Maybe I forgot about it taking place in the past, so it didn't phase me. Not sure.

I, like Donnie, also didn't understand much of the plot. I think the missing title cards probably added much to the film. I also suspect that some footage is missing.

I was repulsed by the stroking of the bald man's head, the creepy face he made as the hand would go back, and the nasty hair plucking. Even thinking about it affects my gag reflex.

The parts with Joby are cute. I especially liked the shot from his angle where they are blowing kisses off the balcony.

I definitely saw some Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin in his acting (or, to correct myself, I see Max Linder in them). There were a lot of cute jokes in this, and that includes the sassy horse. I thought it was cute how sad the horse and cow were to part. (but what was the morphine thing? It went into slow motion for a moment, but did I miss something?) I liked his trickery in how he got into the castle. Was that a double, or the real Linder doing all of those stunts?

Not sure if this is true, but in the comments someone said they used the same sets as the Doug Fairbanks film. I can't seem to find any info on that in a simple Google search, though.

It was enjoyable, but I'm not sure I'd watch it again any time soon.
I guess some of the film would be more understandable if we watched the Fairbanks film it is parodying. A contemporary review said that it is a blow by blow parody of the film. It also pointed out that it lacked subtlety, which solidifies the thoughts that it was definitely a bold and purposefully outlandish farce.

[BettyLouSpence]

I was repulsed by the stroking of the bald man's head, the creepy face he made as the hand would go back, and the nasty hair plucking. Even thinking about it affects my gag reflex.

Oh, I definitely get you there. The hair plucking part especially nearly triggered my gag reflex like you said. I actually don't know why I didn't mention it in my first post; maybe I just didn't want to think about it again, lol.

The parts with Joby are cute. I especially liked the shot from his angle where they are blowing kisses off the balcony.

Yes! Loved that part.

It was enjoyable, but I'm not sure I'd watch it again any time soon.

That's something we seem to all agree on about this film. There's a lot about it that I admire (the anachronisms, especially... oddly enough they reminded me of Blazing Saddles), but not something I would re-watch often.

[donnie]

My favorite anachronism was that one of the musicians was playing a saxophone.

[Kitty]

My favorite anachronism was that one of the musicians was playing a saxophone.

The musicians parts were pretty funny.

[donnie]

Just finished Special Delivery. I enjoyed this one! It’s really an Eddie Cantor vehicle, and after seeing it, I can understand why he was so popular. Jobyna was very good in it, too. And thanks for the score suggestion!

► Show Spoiler

First, the droll titles reminded me a lot of the Sennett late 20’s comedies. “It was four o”clock all over town except at Woolworth’s—where it was still five to ten.”

I did not understand the “postal secret service” thing at all. Huh? Was he an ordinary mailman (he seemed to be during most of the picture), or was he somehow a secret service agent posing as a mailman (unlikely), or did the postal service have a secret service within it at that time (also unlikely). And what was the role of his father exactly in all this?

A lot of the early going consisted of a series of gags for the very young Cantor. And did Cantor remind anyone else of Keaton sometimes? Physically and in terms of movements and style, I thought there was a strong resemblance at times (only at times). I liked especially the part with the baby and the hotdogs (that baby was one darn good actor!) and especially the part with the full size doll at the dance and the black bottom contest. I got a real kick out of that.

As to Jobyna, I thought she was quite good in this and made an impression, especially in the part at the dance. At the end, though, after seeing her fiancé exposed, she seemed strangely lacking in reaction. (And her willingness to be engaged to her new boss so quickly was also a little puzzling. Oh, by the way, I'm marrying my boss on board a ship to South America tomorrow. Hope you don't mind. Hmmm...)

I was a little surprised to see William Powell in this one, did not realize he was in silents.

I also did not expect the Harold Lloyd-style wild chase at the end. The firetruck ladder shenanigans also reminded me a lot of Sennett comedies.

All in all, I give this one a thumbs up—a pleasant way to spend an hour.

[Kitty]

I just watched Power of the Press. That was a really exciting movie! Here are my comments on all of your comments and other thoughts, as well.

► Show Spoiler

It seemed to be very well-directed, and I did notice at times some interesting sophisticated camera movement —consisting mostly of rather sudden zoom ins and outs that were effective, but that I noticed only occasionally.

I wrote a small paragraph before I started commening on comments, and this was in it. There were two shots especially that I noticed. I love when films have long uncut shots and follow the subject around as if we are really experiencing this in real time. It gives me this warm homey feeling, like I am having a profound experience.

Acting-wise, I was quite impressed with both Jobyna and Doug, Jr. .... I thought he and Joby were a pretty good pair.

It took me almost half the film for my brain to register that this was Doug Jr. When I am not very familiar with someone's acting, I sometimes have a hard time putting my senses onto which actor is playing which character. As an aside, I like Jr.'s look way better than Sr.'s. I think that both actresses did fantastic in their roles, as well, and I'd love to see more of the actress who played Marie. It's interesting to see the film making of the later 20s against the film making of the early years of cinema, as there was a real sophistication toward the end.

Another thing I liked about the film: I always had kind of a fascination with the newspaper business and how it works, so it was really interesting to me to see a large city newsroom of the 1920's and the inner workings of the printing operations. The first part almost could serve as a documentary to show how a large newspaper was put together at that time. This was obviously filmed on the premises of a major paper, using some actual employees. I wonder what paper it was.

This was in my original write-up, as well. I think that we are very lucky that this part was so long and detailed. Movies very often have scenes where we see the papers rolling through the press, but I'm pretty sure this type of scene is rare.

One question: I could not identify the object shown in the closeup at 101:47.

I think that what we are seeing (which looked to me like a slithering a snake at first) is a unfortunately confusing close-up of his effort of releasing himself from the necktie they used to bind his hands.

And whoever covered up portions of that final scene: a pox upon you, Sir or Madam!

I really hate youtube sometimes. This shouldn't even be an ad option when people go to post their videos.

a blonde gold digger (who for sure speaks in that stereotypical flapper baby-talk)

It was actually kind of creepy when she called him "daddy" and toward the end where she tells him he's welcome, even if he's a burglar. That can be construed a couple differering ways. but I'm sure she's just saying that because Clem is cute.

I liked the part where she confronts Clem at the press and calmly tells him, "If I were a man, I'd punch your nose." I like how Joby played that scene: it's obvious that she is seething with anger but is still as dignified as ever. And besides, I find calm rage to be somehow scarier than violent fury

He was a push-over there. She cried, so she must be telling the truth! But I agree, that an intelligent woman in a calm rage can be more frightening than Freddy Krueger if done correctly.

I'm guessing that music cuts out to ward off any copyright takedown attempts.

That was exactly my thought. I'm just glad that they were smart enough to do this. If the copyright Po-Po came, they'd take down just the music which would leave a really annoying bubbling noise under the film. I hate that.

One glaring problem in my eyes, though, is regarding the room that Marie is locked in. That door opened in so that means the hinges were inside the room. This also means that she'd have been able to sneak out at any point by taking the hinges off. I only noticed this toward the end when one of them shot the doorknob off to get out of the room after she'd locked them in.

In all this is a fantastic film that I wish were totally complete. It's exciting throughout, has a bit of humor and drama, and even a tiny little love interest. I thought the ending was cute, how he proposed and all.

[BettyLouSpence]

i just finished watching Special Delivery. Here are my thoughts and the usual commentary replies

► Show Spoiler

This was an enjoyable comedy. For a long time it didn't seem like there was much advancement in the plot, however; the film seemed to mostly focus on mailman related shenanigans for a large chunk of the time and things didn't pick up until after the dance.

Eddie Cantor gives a great performance here. I loved the part at the dance where he unintentionally wins the Black Bottom contest The gag with the life-size doll that makes Madge jealous reminds me of a scene from Kid Boots where that exact scenario plays out (except in that instance, it isn't a life size doll). I don't want to spoil it for anyone, though!

First, the droll titles reminded me a lot of the Sennett late 20’s comedies. “It was four o”clock all over town except at Woolworth’s—where it was still five to ten.”

Cantor's previous silent Kid Boots has droll titles just like the ones here

I did not understand the “postal secret service” thing at all. Huh? Was he an ordinary mailman (he seemed to be during most of the picture), or was he somehow a secret service agent posing as a mailman (unlikely), or did the postal service have a secret service within it at that time (also unlikely). And what was the role of his father exactly in all this?

I was actually also pretty confused about this. I thought Eddie was a legitimate mailman but also had ties to the secret service through his father. I think I'll have to rewatch some portions.

...And did Cantor remind anyone else of Keaton sometimes? Physically and in terms of movements and style, I thought there was a strong resemblance at times (only at times).

I see what you mean. I actually thought silent era Eddie bore a resemblance to Keaton face wise (though that resemblance would go away whenever he smiled).

(And her willingness to be engaged to her new boss so quickly was also a little puzzling. Oh, by the way, I'm marrying my boss on board a ship to South America tomorrow. Hope you don't mind. Hmmm...)

Yeah I thought that was really weird. "I'm to be married to my new boss... I don't know what to do." Huh? I thought by then she already loved Eddie? This should be a no brainer girl!

I was a little surprised to see William Powell in this one, did not realize he was in silents.

Yep, he did some silent work. He had a major role in the lost silent drama The Runaway (1926) with Clara Bow.

[donnie]

I just watched Power of the Press. That was a really exciting movie! Here are my comments on all of your comments and other thoughts, as well.

Thought you'd like it!

► Show Spoiler

I love when films have long uncut shots and follow the subject around as if we are really experiencing this in real time. It gives me this warm homey feeling, like I am having a profound experience.

Yes, it's too bad directors don't use that more often.

When I am not very familiar with someone's acting, I sometimes have a hard time putting my senses onto which actor is playing which character.

Oh, it's not just me then.

It's interesting to see the film making of the later 20s against the film making of the early years of cinema, as there was a real sophistication toward the end.

Yes, it's really astounding how much changed in terms of the massive growth of the picture business and the level of sophistication. It's hard to believe there was that much change in that period of time.

One glaring problem in my eyes, though, is regarding the room that Marie is locked in. That door opened in so that means the hinges were inside the room. This also means that she'd have been able to sneak out at any point by taking the hinges off. I only noticed this toward the end when one of them shot the doorknob off to get out of the room after she'd locked them in.

That's an amazing observation. I'd never have noticed that if I'd seen it a hundred times.

[Kitty]

One glaring problem in my eyes, though, is regarding the room that Marie is locked in. That door opened in so that means the hinges were inside the room. This also means that she'd have been able to sneak out at any point by taking the hinges off. I only noticed this toward the end when one of them shot the doorknob off to get out of the room after she'd locked them in.

That's an amazing observation. I'd never have noticed that if I'd seen it a hundred times.

Thanks! I'm quite sure that theatergoers of the day wrote in with that complaint!

I really liked this movie. There is such a big world of silent film out there when you knock the walls down that contain the directors and actors that everyone always talks about. I'm finding this fact also true with old time radio, as well. There was so much more than Father Knows Best and Jack Benny, and while they were highly entertaining, the more obscure can be even more so. I know I'm on a tangent, so if you've read this far, congratulations.


tl;dr:
Good film, would recommend.