Stephen Roberts

A dancer disappears from a theather and then William Powell and society beauty Ginger Rogers solve the murder. (imdb)

Wealthy John Glidden wants to give his money away to strangers rather than have his relatives fight over it. We see the effect the gifts have on many different sorts of individuals. (imdb)

An ex-married couple investigate a murder in the 'Thin Man' manner. (imdb)

Hugo and Biff were friends until they met Virginia. Biff could think of no one but Virginia, but she would never be happy with a big slow bully. So she married Hugo and Biff married Amy just because his Virginia got married. Amy loves Biff, but Biff constantly thinks of Virginia even after Hugo takes his job and has him put into prison for two years. (imdb)

A wealthy but neurotic Southern belle finds herself trapped in the hideout of a gang of vicious bootleggers. The gang's leader lusts after her, and is determined not to let anything stand in the way of his having her. (imdb)

Ginger Rogers and her kid brother (Jimmy Butler) "adopt" Francis Lederer, a Czech immigrant who then becomes a taxi driver. (imdb)

Fresh young boxer Buzz Kinney is just out of college. He's able to knock out Stag Bailey when the veteran becomes over confident. Later Buzz is a worn out wreck with a broken nose and cauliflower ear. (imdb)

Barnstorming pilots Speed Condon, Bill Adams, and Eddie Smith travel the country with their manager, Alec Dugan, performing at fairs and air shows and hawking rides for the locals. But when Speed's rambunctious flying results in tragedy, he gives up flying in despair and guilt. Alec tracks him down and hopes to get him back on his feet and back in the air. (imdb)

In Mexico, a former bandit settles down and picks out a beautiful young dancer to be his wife. His younger brother also comes home after having spent years in the U.S., and falls in love with his brother's intended fiancé. Rather than cause problems, the younger brother goes to Mexico City to become a matador. While there, he gets word that the police, who have been hunting his brother, have finally captured him. (imdb)

The plot of this film really isn't that important. Instead, the sight gags and chase scenes are paramount--with some of the most impressive chase footage you'll ever see. All the near-misses with the speeding train were amazing and the scene where the car gets smashed by the truck are absolutely priceless. (imdb)

Al St. John starring in "Hot or Cold (1928)", a Mermaid Comedies. (youtube.com)

A Educational short where Robert Graves plays Thelma Todd's jealous husband. (imdb)

Russian prince goes to Monte Carlo just after World War I with money supplied him by Parisian Russians. He wins but the casino operators want him honor the tradition of returning to the tables. (imdb)

CHEER UP - starring Cliff Bowes, with Virginia Vance, Eddie Boland, and Frank Alexander. Cliff vies for Virginia's affections with Eddie, but ultimately she chooses Cliff to be her groom. The newlyweds move in to their new home, but the spurned rival makes a shambles out of the house in retaliation.

Nominally about attempts to steal a gold mine, the movie starts out with the air of a realistic comedy, then immediately descends into a series of perfectly timed gags which made me goggle at their improbability -- not the sort of thing you normally think of in a slapstick comedy. Very quickly the unerring ability of ropes to loop themselves around tree roots, stopping Al from plummeting to his death or an explosion to drop him on a bull came to make me goggle again.

THE LOST LAUGH - starring Wallace Lupino, with Lucille Hutton and Monte Collins. After a rough start with their rise and shine, a couple's breakfast is interrupted by a washing machine salesman's visit. Purchased and installed, the washer proves troublesome and after several attempts at laundering, the salesman returns only to be ejected...along with his appliance.

Western Slapstick. A good chance to see Al St. John moving into the western comedy sidekick that would be his bread and butter role for the next twenty years. Also, it's a rare screen opportunity for Addie McPhail, Roscoe Arbuckle's wife and therefore Al's aunt.

Civilized wife (Anne Talbot) doesn't protest when husband (Dr. Talbot) runs off with uncivilized professional golfer pretending to be civilized (Gerry). Is he sorry! (imdb)

Elna Curry develops an unfounded jealousy of neighbor, Trudie Morrow. Elna who suffers from neurasthenia, believes that Trudie is having an affair with her husband, John, and vows revenge on Trudie. John explains to Trudie Elna's condition and plan. Trudie, being good-hearted tells John that she'll move. One evening, John returns late from work to discover Elna dead. John burns Elna's suicide note to protect Trudie. This results in John being charged for murder and put on trial.

Life and activity at a hotel. Slapstick-style.

Our comic hero gets involved with comic dogs before he gets to the hotel, where the owner of another pooch (the animals are well trained) proves to be the father of fetching Hutton. Al finds himself competing with the great white hunter and preventing his chum tumbling down a cliff in the leaf house strapped to the real elephant's back.

A homeowner takes delivery of his new radio. The crate is so big that the front door needs to be widened by about a yard. No problem when you've got a saw! In spite of the size of the crate, the radio turns out to be regular tabletop size. Further installation requires punching a big hole in the roof. That's when the downpour starts, filling the bungalow with water. Finally, the radio is working in spite of the torrent falling from the ceiling.

At a small hotel, Judith Barrett and Norman Peck are eloping; John Litel and Addie MacPhail are quarreling because of his constant jealousy; and Eva Thacher and Al Thompson are tracking down their eloping daughter. It's a constant barrage of slamming doors and such trapping of the stage farce.

The setting is a posh party at some mansion. Mr. Saunders wants time with his girlfriend so he can propose to her, but her bratty younger sister is always getting in the way. When a bond salesman arrives, Saunders convinces him to woo the sister. If he agrees and keeps her away, Saunders promises to buy a fortune in bonds.

Only the first reel is known to survive. Bill and Jennie marry over his aunt's objections. As the couple leaves on their honeymoon, his aunt shows up to chaperon. A luggage mix-up causes jealousy and suspicion.

This Educational Mermaid Talking Comedy features a wrestling/trombone-playing Pert Kelton.