Marceline-Day-and-George-Arthur-and-Carl-Dane-in-Rookies-poster

    A nice poster for the film starring Marceline Day

 

Directed by              Sam Wood
Written by               Joe Farnham, Bryan Morgan
Starring                    Karl Dane, George K. Arthur, Marceline Day
Cinematography      Ira H. Morgan
Distributed by          Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date              April 30, 1927
Running time           70 minutes
Country                     United States
Language                   Silent, English intertitles

 

"Rookies" is a classic comedy.  We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star Marceline Day.

 

Warner Bros. keeps a copy of the film locked in their vaults.  They do not plan to release it on DVD.  They have also refused our multiple requests to make a copy of the film available to Silent Hall of Fame, so we can show it to the public.  Until and if that happens, we have to rely on newspaper articles about the film from the 1920ies.


Here are just a few of the reviews for this film:

Much pertinent humor and several sequences that turned out riotously funny judging from the capitol audience.  (Film Daily)
 
The super comedy-drama of the year, "Rookies," featuring the screen idols Karl Dane, George K. Arthur, with Marceline Day.  The story tells of the doings at a citizens military training camp, and centers  round the adventures of a raw trainee and a very tough sergeant, who tread on each other's corns at every possible moment in their endeavours to "get square"' with each other.  It is crammed full of screamingly funny incidents, a particularly good thrill.  Betty Wayne, a piquant little sundae shopkeeper, is largely responsible for the unsoldierly antagonism.  Marceline Day is in the role of the girl, whom all the boys adore. (Cairns Post)

"Rookies" is a genuine comedy. The action moves smoothly, for "Rookies" is not an assembly of "gags," but a coherent story. 
 
There is nothing sentimental or finicky about "Rookies".  The humor is that of the boys in the tents, and the horseplay, bullying and fun which goes on is all shown with startling realism.  Mr. Dane and Mr. George K. Arthur present a remarkable contrast as a comedy team, both in appearance and method, and Miss Marceline Day is the nice girl of the story who has a sense of humor. (The Advertiser)

 
If you want to treat yourself to an hour's side-splitting laughter, and incidentally to see the oddest pair of comedians ever filmed, make a special point of seeing "Rookies," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's contribution to the classics of film comedy.  It is crammed full of screamingly funny incidents, a particularly good thrill being provided by a balloon ascent wherein the raw rookie proves that the heroes are sometimes wrapped up in small and funny parcels. (Northern Argus)
 
Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, aided by Marceline Day, were responsible for many an aching side, when they took the big parts in that intensely funny screen comedy, "Rookies," the big audience - the hall was full in every part - being kept in roars of laughter right through the long film, every foot of which was a foot of humour.  The adventures of the irresistible pair of soldier boys was a regular scream, and it is quite safe to say that not for many years has such continuous laughter been heard for a solid hour as that which accompanied the showing of "Rookies". (Southern Argus)
 
The little hero calls into play a circus trick, and manages to save the party, win the girl, and crushingly humiliate the bullying sergeant.  Each player in "Rookies'' has performed well, and the general judgment of the comedy cannot be other than eulogistic. (The Register)


Click to enlarge:

 

 Marceline-Day-and-George-Arthur-in-Rookies-2

    Marceline Day with George K. Arthur