"ROOKIES."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19166, 24 November 1927, Page 6

"ROOKIES."

FUN IN A TRAINING CAMP. From what one hoars,.a training camp is no abode of the Comic Muse. The ritual, or order paper, or whatever it is that is the bane of military existence, is not drawn up by a facetious hand, neither is it conducive to delighted mirth upon reading it. From which it should be gathered that the man who can fool successfully in a training camp is no ordinary man. Such a man is George K. Arthur ably seconded by Karl Dane, who disport themselves in amiable vein throughout the length of "Rookies," the headliner at the Liberty Theatre next week. Now, as Jlr Arthur and Mr Dane arc unusual men, 60 also is "Rookies" an unusual picture. There are more laughs and chortles to the square inch in "Rookies" than to the square mile in other really good comedies. For one thing, there is such capital material to work on—a training camp, where blustering old soldiers and peevish cooks and wondering recruits fill the day with agony or complaints or. threats to tell mother when they get back home; a training camp, where a good laugh is frowned upon as high treason, and a practical joke spells deprivation of civil rights. So when one, Greg Lee, who, before his term of imprisonment in the camp, was a lady-like little fancy dancer in a cabaret, when Mr Lee then challenges the sergeant to a duel lasting three weeks, and the. length of the picture, and oil over a pretty girl, the hilarity, the dry humour, the snappy slapstick, is something to rhapsodise over. Old soldiers never die, but Rookies drive them mad, and when it is explained that a Rookie is a raw recruit, the strong language is permissible. The story is brightly witty, perilously thrilling, and has a romantic vein running through it that, while not precisely a burlesque on the gentle passion, does not emanate from the pen of Lord Byron. In the story there figure largely a judge, a colonel, and a sergeant, and these three join forccß to make the camp life of the fancy dancer one long martyrdom, a martyrdom that is always hugely funny from the audience's point of view. As the sergeant, Karl Dane walks off with the honours from the trio, though Gcorgo K. Arthur, as the erstwhile dancer, provides the most and the best of the fun. Marceline Day is the lady in tho case, and she it is who causes all the trouble, for the sergeant made eyes at her, the dancer was resentful, and vowing to take full vengeance' on tho Bergeant. he broke up a parade and, doing three weeks in camp, became a Rookie. And. thus "Rookies" came into being—and prominence. The box plans are now open at The Bristol Piano Company, where seatifmaj bo reserved.