Filled with awkward transitions and situations.

"Fifty Miles from Broadway" proves that not every oldie is a goody! I blame a lot of it on when it was made. 1929 was early in the history of talking pictures and films were still a bit stagy and awkward. But even for this era, this one is appallingly awkward and looks as if the acting is being done on a Vaudeville stage. In other words, the backgrounds are obviously painted, the actors break into song and dance numbers with no real motivation, the acting style is stilted and stagy and none of it seems the least bit natural.

The short film begins with Mary meeting her old boyfriend. She'd run off to Broadway to make it big and he misses her and wants her to come home for a visit. Once she returns, however, you can see why she left home--her father and uncle spend all their time arguing...just like a stage act. How does she respond? Well, she dons a peacock feather headdress and flowing gown and begins singing and dancing...all while stiffly facing the camera. After Mary and her boyfriend get fed up, the two old fools bury the hatchet and beg for them to return...promising they'll stop being buttheads.

Apart from film historians and masochists, I cannot imagine anyone wanting to see this movie. I give it a 2....it nearly earned a 1 but I was charitable since it was such an early talkie.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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A dancer on Broadway and her boyfriend take a trip back home only to find that their fathers are in the middle of an angry feud.

Harry Watson, Reginald Merville, and Olga Woods in Fifty Miles from Broadway (1929)

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Fifty Miles from Broadway

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