“You coulda saved yourself the trouble an’ let me die…”
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Synopsis:
A ship stoker (George Bancroft) saves a depressed prostitute (Betty Compson) from suicide, then marries her on a drunken lark.
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Genres:
Review:
Josef von Sternberg’s whirlwind romantic fable manages to pack an enormous amount of genuine pathos into a story taking place literally overnight. Thanks to sensitive acting by all involved, we quickly grow to care for these characters — particularly the world-weary Compson — and are disappointed when the film ends after only 76 minutes. As noted in the CineScene review below, there is a refreshing “absence of… pompous moralizing”, thus affording us a much more authentic glimpse of these characters’ lives than would be possible just a few years later during the Hays Code era. Harold Rosson’s atmospheric cinematography of the New York waterfront is a wonder to behold, and adds to the film’s overall appeal.
Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
- Gorgeous black-and-white cinematography
- Betty Compson’s sensitive portrayal as the depressed prostitute (Peary nominates her for an Alternate Oscar as best actress of the year)
- George Bancroft as the well-meaning yet fiercely independent sailor (nominated by Peary for an Alternate Oscar as best actor of the year)
- Olga Baclonova as Compson’s helpful friend
Must See?
Yes. This is a rare silent film which transcends the limitations of its format, and emerges as a surprisingly effective romance. It deserves to reach a wider audience on DVD.
Categories
(Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die)
Links:
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Posted on February 6th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: Original Reviews
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