YANKEE DOODLE IN BERLIN
starring Bothwell Browne, Ford Sterling, Mal St. Clair and Marie
Prevost
VARIETY
March 14, 1919
Bothwell Browne is starred in this five-part Mack Sennett film comedy, "Yankee Doodle in Berlin" which had its initial presentation at the Tivoli, San Francisco, last week. The title infers a war plot. While this is true to an extent, it does not prevail throughout the laughable scenes of the picture.
The entire film deals with the Germans in a comedy vein. Mr. Browne as an American aviator is sent to Germany with instructions to obtain valuable war maps the Kaiser personally possessed.
Browne dons the attire of a woman and proceeds to "vamp"
his way into the entire German home of the Hohenzollerns. The
scenes showing the rivalry between the Kaiser, Crown Prince and
Hindy to win the affection of the female impersonator are sure
fire.
The clever satire on the Germans' idea of conducting the war runs
throughout the story.
The cast is excellent and well chosen for types. Ford Sterling
stands out, and another outstanding feature is "Hindy's"
personal body guard, whose brutal comedy is a scream.
The war's ending has little effect on this picture, as the major
portion of it was apparently filmed after the signing of the armistice.
The captions and titles are humorous and clever and good for many laughs. As an added attraction six of Sennett's bathing girls appeared in an offering consisting of poses, dances and song.
After the picture was shown, the curtain rose on an oriental setting in which Browne appeared in person and did some of the dances he performed in the picture. Mr. Browne was assisted by the Sennett girls in this.
The picture is full of action and laughs and played to capacity the entire week here at the Tivoli. The appearance of the Sennett bathing girls and Bothwell Browne I person proved a big help in the record business.