JohnHowardReid The Boob (1926), a 10/10 Warner Archive release, is mostly of interest to really devoted Joan Crawford fans who won't mind the facts that her role is small and that's she's poorly costumed, made up, and photographed. In addition to this disservice to Joan Crawford, the movie is slackly directed by a heavy-handed William Wellman. In fact both both director Wellman and the script heavily favor the "comic" antics of Charlie Murray, George K. Arthur and soon-to-be-wed (to M-G-M director Robert Z. Leonard) Gertrude Olmstead. True, the movie does have its fun moments (the uplifting chorus costumes), but basically it runs out of puff well before its actual conclusion.It could be said that at least "The Boob" obviously cost M-G-M a little bit of money. Not much. The unlikely speakeasy set, for example, is a left-over from "Ben Hur".

Ron Oliver A naive country boy desperately tries to rescue his silly sweetheart from the affections of a shyster lawyer.Unseen for decades, THE BOOB is a wonderful surprise, a delightful silent comedy Western, full of the right mixture of good humor & pathos. At barely an hour in length and with the support of an excellent new piano score by Arthur Barrow, it will inevitably invite favorable comparison with Harold Lloyd's masterpiece, THE KID BROTHER (1927).Scots actor George K. Arthur, a popular MGM comic star at the end of the silent era, wins immediate sympathy with his sad face and diminutive stature. All decked out in cowboy duds he looks ridiculous, and the audience instinctively knows he'll have to endure much humiliation before the final fade-out.Character actor Charles Murray is hilarious as the boozy bowlegged old buckaroo who grubstakes Arthur - just watching his droll facial expressions is a joy. Special mention should be made of the uncredited African American lad playing the part of Ham Bunn, who, with his trusty mutt Benzine, faithfully shadows Arthur to keep him out of trouble.Pretty Gertrude Olmstead plays Arthur's fickle girlfriend; Antonio D'Algy is all hair oil and suavity as the sinister lawyer. A very young Joan Crawford is rather incongruously cast as the undercover leader of a team of agents tracking dangerous bootleggers. Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited Edythe Chapman as the impoverished old lady befriended by Arthur.In a very funny sequence that has little connection with the rest of the film, soda jerk Hank Mann receives tips on etiquette from his enormous sweetheart, an unbilled Babe London, while dining at a swanky speakeasy.The film enjoys all the customary MGM spit & polish.

John Seal The Boob is one of those ancient films rescued from perpetual obscurity by Turner Classic Movies, and while it may not be on a par with Keaton or Lloyd, it's still an entertaining and quite funny film. George K. Arthur is the Keatonesque milquetoast on the trail of bootleggers, and while he lacks Buster's acrobatic skills and doesn't really connect emotionally, he's alright. Charles Murray has some of the film's funniest moments as the perpetually soused cowboy Cactus Jim, but the film really stands out during some terrific fantasy sequences, including a flying bed scene and a Frederick Remington painting come to life. A genuine discovery for fans of silent comedy.

nickandrew This movie just aired the other night for the first time on Turner Classic Movies. Although I missed the first few minutes, it is a lousy slapstick comedy with George K. Arthur in the lead as a dumb farm boy trying to help the law capture some bootleggers. Joan Crawford is the high point here, in one of her first films. She has a small supporting role as Jane, and Crawford herself also hated this movie. She thought she was being punished by MGM for getting this part. Earns *1/2 stars out of four.