Early Universal Vol 1

This Blu-ray set from the Masters of Cinema series consists of three early (and restored) movies from Universal Studios – all made between 1926 and 1929. On offer we have a domestic comedy, a crime drama and – to round up the variety - a sporting comedy-drama.

First up is SKINNER’S DRESS SUIT (1926; dir. William A. Seiter) stars Laura La Plante (The Cat and the Canary, The Last Warning) as ‘domestic goddess’ Honey Skinner whose ‘big, handsome and successful husband’ Mr. Skinner (Reginald Denny) works as an office clerk for a company manufacturing nuts & bolts. Eager that her ‘big, handsome and successful husband’ (Honey constantly refers to him using precisely those irksome words) climbs up in the world she pressures him into asking his boss Mr. McLaughlin (E. J. Ratcliffe) for a pay rise, certain that he will get it… However, after arriving at work late again as per usual (probably due to the copious amount of unhealthy breakfasts which Honey serves up) and the office joker playing pranks on poor Skinner, his chance of even asking his boss diminishes to practically zero. Back home he can’t find the courage to reveal to Honey (who already has told a neighbour of the good news) that the pay rise has yet to happen and instead lies to her. Thrilled by the prospect of a larger income Honey immediately sets out to order an expensive dress suit for hubby and a new cocktail dress for herself so that they can shine at all the various social events she plans to attend. Little does she know that soon, her beloved hubby not only has been denied a pay-rise but his boss makes him redundant due to bad business! Trying to keep up with his lie as he doesn’t wish to disappoint Honey it doesn’t take long before the tailor who made the dress suit and the bank who granted the overdraft are after poor Skinner – leading to some slapstick scenarios before an unexpected twist takes the sting out of the tale and sees Skinner ending up with more money than he ever had before… The picture here is fantastically restored given the fact that the film was made in 1926 and as ever with silent films from that era, the texts on the inter-titles read rather curiously and odd by modern standards. Laura La Plante is somewhat wasted as the attractive wife whose entire life seems to hover around domestic duties and bliss – hardly an advertisement for early women’s lib! Reginald Denny is a trifle on the boring side though office secretary cum flapper girl Miss Smith (Betty Morrissey) more than makes up for it, what with her teaching her colleagues the steps for the latest dance craze, the ‘Savannah Shuffle’ instead of typing letters.

Next up is THE SHIELD OF HONOR (1927; dir. Emory Johnson). In this ultra-patriotic silent crime drama American audiences from the roaring Twenties were introduced (via the silver screen of course) to a new branch of police law enforcement, in this case the so-called Sky Cops. In the centre of the action stands police officer Jack (Neil Hamilton) the son of veteran police officer Dan MacDowell (Ralph Lewis). During a glitzy ceremony the police forces’ newest ‘weapon’ - a police airplane – is revealed, with Jack set to become the forces’ first flying officer. It is during the ceremony that Jack meets Gwen (Dorothy Gulliver), the daughter of rich jeweller Howard O’Day (Fred Esmelton). Both Gwen and Jack are attracted to one another and soon romance is in the air (no pun intended). While the glitzy ceremony is in full swing yet another big jewel robbery takes place in another part of LA, the latest in a spate of seemingly ever more daring daylight robberies. The only clue leads back to Howard O’Days’ jewellery store, however, realising that he won’t be able to solve the case on his own the old man asks Jack for help… this of course delights Gwen as it means she can spend more time with the new love of her life. With Jack initially unsuccessful in establishing any suspects the mood is further dampened when his father Dan receives the news that due to his age of 65 he needs to take mandatory retirement according to police regulations. The blow is softened when Howard offers Dan a post as a night watchman guarding the jewellery store. Meanwhile, Jack finally suspects that Howard’s business advisor Robert Chandler (Nigel Barrie) is behind the robberies but cannot prove a thing. His instincts are right though little does he know that Chandler is not only behind the thefts but is in fact the ringleader of an entire gang to which Dan Mac Dowell’s foxy stenographer Rose Fisher (Thelma Todd) and even the janitor, Red (David Kirby) also belong. When Chandler gets wind that Jack might be on to something he comes up with a devilish plan… As far as heist movies go, this little caper is nothing out of the ordinary and rather unbalanced at that – seeing how we only get some much needed action towards the final 15 minutes or so.

Last but not least we have the 1929 sporting comedy-drama THE SHAKEDOWN (dir. William Wyler) which is easily the best of these three films – pity it wasn’t a ‘talkie’. It stars the now completely forgotten James Murray who died under tragic circumstances at the age of 35. Here Murray plays a conman Dave Roberts, posing as a possible would be pugilist though in reality he is a valued member of a large gang of confidence tricksters (it would seem that about ten of them are in on the scam) who travel from town to town putting on fake exhibitions. It does, however, take a bit of time to set the whole dirty business up. At the start of the film we see Dave in a bar where it is only too obvious that he's a very popular fellah and known as a likeable if tough all rounder. Someone (a confederate) suggests Dave’s so tough that no one could knock him off a handkerchief. A planted accomplice tries and fails, then an ugly looking brute of a man standing at the bar says he’d like to have a go - he fares a little better but still can't knock Dave off the handkerchief. The man then leaves the bar following an attractive female customer and starts pestering her. Dave leaves the bar with all of the other customers in tow and flattens the swine. Lo and behold someone pipes that the swine in question is none other than the famed Booth fighter Battling Roff (George Kotsonaros). There is a fair bit of money at stake for anyone who fancies their chances of beating Battling Roff. Obviously Dave will have to take him on; after all he's already shown everyone that Roff is a pushover - twice! This is of course an old con to get everyone to put their money on him at great odds and thus a mega earner for the gang headed by the slimy and pencil-moustached 'manager' (Wheeler Oakman). He suggests they can make even more money in the next town as Dave can get a job there and establish himself as a local hero. This time things don't go quite according to plan, however, when Dave falls in love with local waitress Marjorie (Barbara Kent) and finds himself playing a surrogate father to her quick-witted son Clem (a truly bravura performance from young Jack Hanlon) who is clearly a great deal sharper than our hero. Dave is now 'smack bang' in the middle of some dilemma and he can't actually fight. Just as well canny Clem is around to save the day! Stirring stuff for the time and directed with Wyler's typical adherence to detail.

The first print run (2000 copies only) will be presented with a Limited-Edition O-card slipcase plus audio commentary tracks on all three Blu-ray features and Collector’s booklet.