Louise Brooks — Rolled Stockings (1927) 🇺🇸

Rolled Stockings

It’s wonderful how painless modern education can be

They Roll Their Own

This picture is a great ad for the co-ed college.

Richard Arlen, James Hall, Louise Brooks and David Torrence.

Don’t think you’ll see a stocking show, or even a shocking show. There’s not a single shot of a pretty girl rolling her own, socks or ciggies. Instead, “Rolled Stockings” is a corking college story, the best that’s ever been filmed — about the rah-rah boys and their little girl friends As a title says, it’s wonderful how painless modern education can be. Look at Louise Brooks.

Yes, this picture is a great ad for the co-ed college. Since it’s never too late to barn, most movie fans will form in line now for next term. Louise, James Hall, and Richard Arlen are a trio who’ll teach you some things you never learned at your school. Dear old Colfax has more handsome boys and pretty girls than a professor can shake a stick at. They don’t go around waving pennants all the time, either. They know how to have their ponies and ride ‘em, too. It’s a great life. Live and learn.

Hall and Arlen play brothers — as different as night from day, or as freshman from senior. Richard makes the crew, while James merely makes all the co-eds — makes them happy for a while and then dashes away to keep a new date. The gay, irresponsible brother makes love while Richard shines (with good, honest perspiration, as stroke oar of the crew.) Louise is the price. Never did a heroine have such a choice to make. All around me, when Louise was spurning first one and then the other brother, girls were moaning: “If you don’t want him, I want him.”

It’s the boys’ picture — a toss-up between Jimmy and Dick. I think Jobyna Ralston’s husband wins by a stroke. Look at the inspiration he gets at home! This young Mr. Arlen resembles a statue of a young Pan; he behaves in a natural, rugged way. Yes — he’ll roll right to fame with “Rolled Hose.”

Source: Screenland, October 1927