THE MEDICINE MAN (1930) and WARNER BROTHER'S SILVER JUBILEE (1930)

THE MEDICINE MAN starring Jack Benny: In 1930 Jack Benny had not yet found his niche in the entertainment field although he had appeared on the stage and had been the master of ceremonies in one of the top early movie extravaganzas. His comedy routines and mannerisms had not yet been developed and honed to the degree that we find with his advent to the field of television. Despite this, Benny is highly entertaining in this very early 1930 Tiffany production playing a medicine man in a traveling tent show aided and abetted by con men Georgie Stone and Tommy Dugan. After meeting Betty Bronson (best know as the star of Paramount's silent PETER PAN) and her mean and evil father, played to the hilt by E. Allyn Warren, Benny reforms (we think) and at the end of the film marries little Betty, taking her away after the father is "accidentally" shot by one of the workers in the father's store. All of the action takes place in one of the delightful little rural towns that we rarely see in movies today. WARNER BROTHERS SILVER JUBILEE directed by John Adolfi. All of the stars of Warners as well as the top musical composers of the day appeared in this unusual film which was made in celebration of the studio's 25th anniversary as well as a vehicle to promote the upcoming films of it's stars including John Barrymore and George Arliss.