Abstract

The Comic Touch in the Movies

If there is one thing producers of movies hold certain it is that their patrons want comedy. Not "comedies," because the great producers look down on the slapstick of the movies, but the comic touch. The light touch has been noticed in producer King Vidor's production of the movie "Proud Flesh", it is a further pleasure to record that Malcolm Saint Clair, director of "Are Parents People?", and director James Cruze in "Beggar on Horseback" both managed to keep most of the comedy issuing from the characters or the plot. "Beggar on Horseback" was a big job for any director, not that it is wrong material for the screen, for on the physical side the rapid change of scene and the dream fantasy on the spiritual side are both perfect film stuff.