I gioielli rubati

Comedy short made for charity, notable for the cast of big names. Someone has stolen Norma Shearer's jewels at the annual Screen Stars Ball. The investigation leads us through a variety of stars playing bit parts. That's pretty much the whole plot. The stars include Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Edward G. Robinson, Laurel & Hardy, the Our Gang kids, Loretta Young, Buster Keaton, Wallace Beery, Joe E. Brown, the aforementioned Norma Shearer, and many others. The purpose of the short was to raise money for the N.V.A. Tuberculosis Sanitarium. It's amusing although each star's bit is disappointingly brief. It's certainly interesting for classic film fans. But it's pretty much just empty fluff. Don't expect to laugh your socks off.

"The Stolen Jools" boasts more prominent stars than have ever appeared before in a single feature, which may be true. Dozens of stars appear, all too briefly, in an under 20-minute search for actress Norma Shearer's lost jewels. We begin on a balmy summer evening in Hollywood, as blustery police chief Wallace Beery receives notification of area crimes. A short appearance by Buster Keaton is followed quickly by Laurel and Hardy becoming involved in the fun. The camera next find Ms. Shearer at her house, with various guests. An extensive cast list follows the film, though it notably leaves out the likes of Joe E. Brown.

Sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes, this short film helped raise money to fight tuberculosis.

Eddie Kane is the main investigator. Box office pals Joan Crawford and William Haines are among the first suspects. Obviously, they didn't do it. Warner Baxter does his Oscar-winning "Cisco Kid" characterization. Small parts are played by Irene Dunne, Richard Dix, Gary Cooper, Buddy Rogers, Maurice Chevalier, Douglas Fairbanks, and Loretta Young. Richard Barthelmess and Charles Butterworth appear, but not "under the tree." Married couple Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon are seen at home, as are the alter-bound Frank Fay and Barbara Stanwyck, she reading a rather silly poem. Many others appear, with young Mitzi Green finally ending the mystery.

***** The Stolen Jools (4/4/31) William C. McGann ~ Eddie Kane, Norma Shearer, Wallace Beery, Mitzi Green

"The Slippery Pearls", also called "The Stolen Jools", is a short comedy that is worth watching for the star power alone. It's amazing how many movie greats appear in just 20 minutes, from silent film legends to some of the (at the time) youngest stars in Hollywood.

The actual story, an investigation of the theft of Norma Shearer's jewelry at a big party, is just a device to give a "detective" a reason for talking to all these celebrities. There are a fair number of decent gags, but the humor is not nearly as noteworthy as the great cast. Watch it and see how many luminaries you can spot.

20 minute short film PACKED with some of the biggest film stars of the day. The premise is that at a major Hollywood party Norma Shearer's jewels are stolen. A detective interviews all the stars who were at the party. Barbara Stanwyck, Irene Dunne, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford and best buddy William Haines, Buster Keaton....and so many more stars. The story is not too funny, and in some cases not very well acted, case in point look at Norma Shearer herself, but if you are able to find this on VHS or DVD I suggest you watch it.

Perhaps the best way to describe this short film is to label it "a star-studded 20 minutes." As a movie, it is reminiscent of the early 10-minute silent reels with goofy plots, only way less developed. Each scene is quickly abandoned in an effort to show as many well-known actors as possible. The story merely serves as an excuse to show off Hollywood's biggest stars, ranging from Joan Crawford to Laurel & Hardy. So have fun with it, and just be sure to pay attention or you'll miss a star!

THE CAST (in order of appearance): Wallace Beery, Buster Keaton, Jack Hill, J. Farrell MacDonald, Edward G. Robinson, George E. Stone, Eddie Kane, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Allen 'Farina' Hoskins, Matthew 'Stymie' Beard, Norman 'Chubby' Chaney, Mary Ann Jackson, Shirley Jean Rickert, Dorothy 'Echo' DeBorba, Bobby 'Wheezer' Hutchins, Pete the Pup, Polly Moran, Norma Shearer, Hedda Hopper, Joan Crawford, William Haines, Dorothy Lee, Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen, El Brendel, Charles Murray, George Sidney, Winnie Lightner, Fifi D'Orsay, Warner Baxter, Irene Dunne, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Richard Dix, Lowell Sherman, Claudia Dell, Eugene Palette, Stuart Erwin, 'Skeets' Gallagher, Gary Cooper, Wynne Gibson, 'Buddy' Rogers, Maurice Chevalier, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Loretta Young, Richard Barthelmess, Charles Butterworth, Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon, Frank Fay, Barbara Stanwyck, Jack Oakie, Fay Wray, Joe E. Brown, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Little Billy Rhodes, Mitzi Green.