Comedy with Penguins

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Dino Everett
Associate
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:32 pm

Comedy with Penguins

Postby Dino Everett » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:49 pm

OK, so I don't show up for months and then when I do I am asking the following:

I am trying to think of a silent comedy with penguins in it...I feel like I remember one that has the comedian walking around and he is being followed by a penguin........ Are there penguins in Yukon Jake...I am at work so I can check when I get home but I thought someone might know off the top of their head.....Brent is their a penguin listing in the back index of your book : )

Richard Finegan

Re: Comedy with Penguins

Postby Richard Finegan » Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:26 am

Those attending Cinefest in Syracuse, New York next week can enjoy a comedy starring real penguins. The Paramount "Topper" series short PARDON US PENGUINS (7-25-52) is playing on Sunday, March 28. It's part of a three-short tribute to writer-producer-director-editor Justin Herman.

Here's a description of the wacky penguin antics we can expect:
"A pair of penguins get loose from a circus lot, and investigate city streets, hop in and out of traffic, go for a swim in a private swimming pool, try for goldfish from an unguarded bowl, squabble over a fish, and are finally caught." (From "The Exhibitor", August 27, 1952, page 3357). And to think, they do it all in just one reel!

Brent Walker
Capo
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:06 am

Re: Comedy with Penguins

Postby Brent Walker » Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:40 pm

Dino Everett wrote:OK, so I don't show up for months and then when I do I am asking the following:

I am trying to think of a silent comedy with penguins in it...I feel like I remember one that has the comedian walking around and he is being followed by a penguin........ Are there penguins in Yukon Jake...I am at work so I can check when I get home but I thought someone might know off the top of their head.....Brent is their a penguin listing in the back index of your book : )



Dino, I didn't include any penguins in my index, only a few specific dogs, cats, lions, elephants and horses!

I don't remember penguins in YUKON JAKE. There was a Monty Banks comedy in nitrate at UCLA which partially involves arctic locations (there is a great mask shot where he walks from a milder clime into the arctic), but I don't remember the title offhand (though it may be in my notes somewhere)--perhaps Richard does. Anyway, I don't remember whether that might have penguins. I don't think Harry Langdon's SKY BOY has penguins. I'm trying to remember any other polar comedies.

When I think of comedians and penguins, my first thought is to Bob Hope in MY FAVORITE BLONDE with his vaudeville partner Percy the roller skating penguin. Also QUICK BEFORE IT MELTS, but neither of those are silent.

Dino Everett
Associate
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:32 pm

Re: Comedy with Penguins

Postby Dino Everett » Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:46 pm

I think that Monty Banks is still unidentified, but man ....is that shot a cool one...I really love that one...

Steve Massa
Capo
Posts: 262
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 10:55 pm

Re: Comedy with Penguins

Postby Steve Massa » Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:19 pm

Hi guys
Is that the Monty Banks where he's been fighting with his neighbor Tiny Sanford and they end up camping at the same site - except where Tiny is camping on the left of the screen is warm and where Monty's tent is on the right is freezing? There's a bit where somebody throws a bucket of water and it freezes in midair as it passes the center of the frame. If it's that film MoMA has a print of it too and it's still unidentified there as well. I've looked for trade magazines items or reviews but haven't found anything with that plot.

Steve

Richard M Roberts
Godfather
Posts: 2896
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:30 pm

Re: Comedy with Penguins

Postby Richard M Roberts » Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:02 pm

Steve Massa wrote:Hi guys
Is that the Monty Banks where he's been fighting with his neighbor Tiny Sanford and they end up camping at the same site - except where Tiny is camping on the left of the screen is warm and where Monty's tent is on the right is freezing? There's a bit where somebody throws a bucket of water and it freezes in midair as it passes the center of the frame. If it's that film MoMA has a print of it too and it's still unidentified there as well. I've looked for trade magazines items or reviews but haven't found anything with that plot.

Steve


We had it narrowed down to one of the two Apollo-distributed comedies, COLD RECEPTION or A QUIET VACATION, but I don't think we ever figured out for sure which of those two it is.

RICHARD M ROBERTS


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