Rookies (aka Red, White and Blue) is a 1927 American silentcomedy film directed by Sam Wood and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1] The film pairs the comedy teaming of Karl Dane and George K. Arthur as the stars of Rookies.[2] Because of the popularity of this film, this would be the first of several collaborations between the two actors. The comedy team of "... gangly Karl Dane and diminutive George K. Arthur... ... Clearly conceived to cash in on the success of Paramount's Wallace Beery-Raymond Hatton service comedy Behind the Front, this Dane-Arthur vehicle finds our mismatched heroes cast as a sergeant and private during WWI."[3]
While flirting with dancer Zella Fay (Louise Lorraine) at a night club, Sergeant Diggs (Karl Dane), has taken an immediate dislike to Greg Lee (George K. Arthur), a cabaret dancer and Zella's partner. He dismisses Lee as a simpering dandy. Lee arrogantly tries to get even with the sergeant, and as a result, he is arrested and sent to an Army training camp instead of jail.
With World War I raging, now drafted as a private, Lee again finds himself pitted against tough Drill Sergeant Diggs. Private Lee does everything he can to annoy Sergeant Diggs, thinking it will get him thrown out of the Army.
At camp, Private Lee's life is made miserable by the constant badgering of Diggs, but he reciprocates in kind. Both men have their sights set on the pretty Betty Wayne (Marceline Day), the judge's daughter. The rivalry between the tough sergeant and bumbling recruit goes through many mishaps and missteps until it finally gets resolved.
The Army camp has reconnaissance balloons and, by accident, Diggs and Betty find themselves adrift in a runaway balloon. Lee sees a full complement of parachutes, and sets off in an aircraft to rescue Diggs and Betty.
Lee manages to pull off an aircraft-to-balloon jump, making sure that the two stranded accidental aerialists make it safely to the ground. This heroic feat thus proves his heroism and fortitude to his rival and Betty.
According to the January 2, 1927 in Film Daily, director Sam Wood was starting production on Byron Morgan's story.[4] Under the working title of Red, White and Blue, principal photography on Rookies began on January 3, 1927.[5]
An impressive slate of crew members worked for the MGM production. The crew included: set designers Cedric Gibbons and David Townsend, Andre'-ani in costume design and Herbert I. Leeds (credited as Bert Levy) as title illustrator.[6][N 1]
Receptionedit
Despite the meagre budget in a B film, Rookies turned out to be a surprise box office hit. Film reviewer Hal Erickson, noted that Rookies, had a new comedy teaming, "After several hilarious if disjointed slapstick misadventures, the boys are set adrift in a reconnaissance balloon. There was hardly an original moment in 'Rookies', but that's not to say it wasn't funny. The film was an enormous box-office hit, spawning a series of equally well-received feature films starring Dane and Arthur."[3]
^"American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: 'Rookies'." The Library of Congress, 2019. Retrieved: July 21, 2019.
^Catalog of Holdings: The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at the Library of Congress, 1978. p. 155.
Bibliographyedit
Catalog of Holdings: The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at the Library of Congress. Los Angeles: The American Film Institute, 1978. ISBN978-0-78646-182-0.
Eames, John Douglas. The MGM Story: The Complete History Of Fifty Roaring Years. London: Octopus Books, 1975. ISBN0-904230-14-7.
Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN978-0-83062-374-7.
Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN0-933126-85-9.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rookies (film).
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Rookies aka Red White and Blue is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Sam Wood and released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer 1 The film pairs the comedy teaming of Karl Dane and George K Arthur as the stars of Rookies 2 Because of the popularity of this film this would be the first of several collaborations between the two actors The comedy team of gangly Karl Dane and diminutive George K Arthur Clearly conceived to cash in on the success of Paramount s Wallace Beery Raymond Hatton service comedy Behind the Front this Dane Arthur vehicle finds our mismatched heroes cast as a sergeant and private during WWI 3 RookiesLobby cardDirected bySam WoodWritten byJoe FarnhamBryan Morgan screenplay StarringKarl DaneGeorge K ArthurCinematographyIra H MorganEdited byConrad A NervigProductioncompanyMetro Goldwyn Mayer PicturesDistributed byMetro Goldwyn MayerRelease dateApril 30 1927 1927 04 30 Running time70 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent English intertitles Still with Karl Dane and chorus girls Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 Preservation 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Citations 6 3 Bibliography 7 External linksPlot editWhile flirting with dancer Zella Fay Louise Lorraine at a night club Sergeant Diggs Karl Dane has taken an immediate dislike to Greg Lee George K Arthur a cabaret dancer and Zella s partner He dismisses Lee as a simpering dandy Lee arrogantly tries to get even with the sergeant and as a result he is arrested and sent to an Army training camp instead of jail With World War I raging now drafted as a private Lee again finds himself pitted against tough Drill Sergeant Diggs Private Lee does everything he can to annoy Sergeant Diggs thinking it will get him thrown out of the Army At camp Private Lee s life is made miserable by the constant badgering of Diggs but he reciprocates in kind Both men have their sights set on the pretty Betty Wayne Marceline Day the judge s daughter The rivalry between the tough sergeant and bumbling recruit goes through many mishaps and missteps until it finally gets resolved The Army camp has reconnaissance balloons and by accident Diggs and Betty find themselves adrift in a runaway balloon Lee sees a full complement of parachutes and sets off in an aircraft to rescue Diggs and Betty Lee manages to pull off an aircraft to balloon jump making sure that the two stranded accidental aerialists make it safely to the ground This heroic feat thus proves his heroism and fortitude to his rival and Betty Cast editKarl Dane as Sergeant Diggs George K Arthur as Greg Lee Marceline Day as Betty Wayne Louise Lorraine as Zella Fay Frank Currier as The Judge E H Calvert as The Colonel Tom O Brien as Sgt O Brien Charles Sullivan as Cpl Sullivan Lincoln Stedman as Sleepy Gene Stone as SmartyProduction editAccording to the January 2 1927 in Film Daily director Sam Wood was starting production on Byron Morgan s story 4 Under the working title of Red White and Blue principal photography on Rookies began on January 3 1927 5 An impressive slate of crew members worked for the MGM production The crew included set designers Cedric Gibbons and David Townsend Andre ani in costume design and Herbert I Leeds credited as Bert Levy as title illustrator 6 N 1 Reception editDespite the meagre budget in a B film Rookies turned out to be a surprise box office hit Film reviewer Hal Erickson noted that Rookies had a new comedy teaming After several hilarious if disjointed slapstick misadventures the boys are set adrift in a reconnaissance balloon There was hardly an original moment in Rookies but that s not to say it wasn t funny The film was an enormous box office hit spawning a series of equally well received feature films starring Dane and Arthur 3 Preservation editA copy of Rookies is preserved by MGM 8 and a trailer is held by the Library of Congress Government of the United States 9 References editNotes edit The one spectacular aerial stunt in Rookies was an aircraft to balloon transfer 7 Citations edit Eames 1985 p 41 Progressive silent film list Rookies silentera com 2019 Retrieved July 21 2019 a b Erickson Hal Review Rookies 1927 allmovie com 2019 Retrieved July 21 2019 Wynne 1987 p 174 Catalog Rookies 1927 The American Film Institute 2019 Retrieved July 21 2019 Full cat amp crew Rookies 1927 IMDb 2019 Retrieved July 21 2019 Farmer 1984 p 325 American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog Rookies The Library of Congress 2019 Retrieved July 21 2019 Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at the Library of Congress 1978 p 155 Bibliography edit Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at the Library of Congress Los Angeles The American Film Institute 1978 ISBN 978 0 78646 182 0 Eames John Douglas The MGM Story The Complete History Of Fifty Roaring Years London Octopus Books 1975 ISBN 0 904230 14 7 Farmer James H Celluloid Wings The Impact of Movies on Aviation Blue Ridge Summit Pennsylvania Tab Books Inc 1984 ISBN 978 0 83062 374 7 Wynne H Hugh The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood s Classic Aviation Movies Missoula Montana Pictorial Histories Publishing Co 1987 ISBN 0 933126 85 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rookies film Rookies at IMDb nbsp Synopsis at AllMovie Lobby poster Stills at silentfilmstillarchive com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rookies 1927 film amp oldid 1190984036, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
