Sat 15 Feb 2014
A Movie Review by Walter Albert: THE COCK-EYED WORLD (1929).
Posted by Steve under Films: Comedy/Musicals , Reviews[6] Comments
THE COCK-EYED WORLD. Fox Film Corporation, 1929. Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe, Lily Damita, Leila Karnelly, El Brendel, Bob Burns, Stuart Erwin. Director: Raoul Walsh. Shown at Cinefest 26, Syracuse NY, March 2006.
I was not in a great mood for this reprise of performances by McLaglen and Lowe as Top Sergeant Flagg and Sergeant Harry Quirt, last seen in a 1926 success, What Price Glory?, but my grumpiness evaporated early on, beguiled by the combative charm of the leads and non-stop action orchestrated by director Walsh.
The crowded plot follows the two rascals from Siberia by way of Coney Island to Central America, with brawls and womanizing pretty much summarizing the early scenes, then shifting to a more serious engagement in Central America that has the boys fighting for country, girls and the studio’s profit margin.
This film is definitely pre-code, with girls, girls, girls in various stages of dress and undress. And oh, yes, there’s familiar comic El Brendel gracing yet another film with his ubiquitous and not always amusing presence. A lively romp that escapes the leaden ace of so many early sound films and races to a satisfying conclusion.
PS. Jim G. was particularly impressed by the beautiful Lily Damita, future wife of Errol Flynn.
February 16th, 2014 at 7:36 am
Walter,reading your reviews always swells my to-be-watched list. Thanks again?
February 16th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
Yes, that line about girls girls girls caught my eye too.
February 16th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
IMDb suggests that this was the first authentic movie sequel.
Here’s a list of all of Sgt./Capt. Flagg’s film’s appearances:
What Price Glory (1952) Played by James Cagney
Hot Pepper (1933) Played by Victor McLaglen (as Jim Flagg)
War Babies (1932) Played by Georgie Smith (as Captain Flagg)
Women of All Nations (1931) Played by Victor McLaglen (as Captain Jim Flagg)
The Stolen Jools (1931) Played by Victor McLaglen (as Sergeant Flagg)
The Cock-Eyed World (1929) Played by Victor McLaglen (as Top Sergeant Flagg)
What Price Glory (1926) Played by Victor McLaglen
February 16th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Call Out The Marines (1942) a kind of modern ‘sequel’ without reference to Flagg or Quirt but inescapable anyway, and while not well received, I have seen it and been fairly entertained.
February 19th, 2014 at 10:49 pm
Lowe is quite good in this, but it’s hard to imagine him playing anything but a detective.
This one does indeed have charm to spare.
One thing though, weren’t Flagg and Quirt in the Army and not the Marines?
February 19th, 2014 at 11:45 pm
No, they were always in the Marines, as far as I know. I’m willing to be corrected, though.