The Ace of Hearts (1921)

Goldwyn Pictures
Directed by Wallace Worsley
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Bros.)

Chaney is a member of a "brotherhood" who targets a man for assassination. He does not get chosen to carry out the coveted hit, but the one who does marries the girl he loves that same night. Chaney waits outside their apartment all night in a driving rain storm on their honeymoon. The man and wife have second thoughts the next morning and Chaney suspects he won't go through with it. He does indeed back out, but for an unexpected reason. Meanwhile, Chaney makes a bargain with his wife which he is forced to carry out in the surprisingly tense ending.

The Temptress (1926)

MGM
Directed by Fred Niblo
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Bros.)

Garbo and Antonio Moreno fall in love in Paris at a masquerade ball. She turns out to be married to an old friend of his, though not happily. He returns to his dam-building project on Argentina, but guess who shows up after going broke. The laborers spend too much of time throwing siestas for Garbo, including a flamboyant gaucho, leading to an interesting fight with whips with Moreno. The plot takes a turn into disaster epic when the gaucho blows up the dam and it is up to Moreno to save it. In an epilogue years later in Paris, Garbo is an alcoholic bum who sees Jesus sitting in a cafe.

Wolfblood (1925)

Lee-Bradford Corporation
Directed by  Bruce Mitchell and Geo. Chesebro
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Competition between two Canadian logging companies leads to a fist fight. One of the men loses enough blood to require a transfusion, but with no willing donators the doctor uses a wolf instead. He survives, but after a few weeks begins to think that he is turning into a wolf himself. He follows a ghostly pack into the woods and towards a sheer cliff. There is no werewolf in this movie, only a guy duped into thinking he might change into one by his romantic rival. What's left is long, boring melodrama with more bark than bite.

The Mysterious Lady (1928)

MGM
Directed by Fred Niblo
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Bros.)

Garbo smoulders as a Russian spy who falls in love with Austrian military officer Conrad Nagel. Their whirlwind romance, from a chance meeting at an opera house to a night in her luxurious apartment, is just too good to be true. She later admits it was all planned, except for the part of falling in love. He reacts badly to her confession which causes her to commit a theft which ultimately sends him to prison. Bent on revenge, he is sent to Poland to uncover the identity of a traitor, only to discover they are still in love. Greta improvises their tricky escape from the hands of the Russians for the happy ending. Cinematographer William Daniels black and white photography once again captures the ethereal beauty of Garbo.

Flesh and the Devil (1927)

MGM
Directed by Clarence Brown
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Bros.)

Garbo and Gilbert heat up the screen in this silent classic. Gilbert is on furlough from the German army when he falls in love with the wealthy socialite Garbo at first sight. Their one night stand ends badly when her husband unexpectedly arrives home early. A duel follows, the husband is killed and Gilbert goes to Africa for awhile to let things cool down. Years pass, Garbo marries his best friend, leading to more trouble when Gilbert comes home since they can't seem to keep their hands off each other. Moodily directed by Brown and cinematographer William Daniels, it looks like an artistic European film; however, it can be overwrought at times, in particular the ending, which is more typical of an American silent.

Parisian Love (1925)

Preferred Pictures
Directed by Louis J. Gasnier
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Kino)

Clara Bow and friends fleece tourists in a seedy Parisian bar. In their off time, a robbery of a wealthy scientist goes wrong and shots are fired. Bow's lover recognizes their intended victim and saves him. The man repays him by basically adopting him: he recuperates in his mansion and then becomes a business partner. Bow feels left out and decides to marry the wealthy man for revenge and money. It all leads to the predictable happy ending. It is mainly of interest to Clara Bow fans.

The Matinee Idol (1928)

Columbia Pictures
Directed by Frank Capra
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Columbia Tri-Star)

Broadway star Johnnie Walker needs a break from his hectic life as a sex symbol, so goes to the country with his entourage. They take in an amateur play which is so bad it's funny, and invite the whole company to put it on Broadway. Walker falls in love with leading lady Bessie Love, but back in the city doesn't let her know his real identity as a star. The show is a big hit but for all the wrong reasons as far as Love and friends are concerned. In the film's best scene, Walker reveals his true identity in the rain. A good mixture of comedy, romance and even a little drama, though the ending is pat.

West of Zanzibar (1928)

MGM
Directed by Tod Browning
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Jungle melodrama with Chaney possessed with the idea of seeking revenge on the man who stole his wife 20 years earlier. He takes out his frustrations on a girl he thinks is the daughter from that illicit relationship, only to realize she is his own. He gets help from an alcoholic doctor and a tattooed bartender named "Tiny". In the end, he tries to fool a cannibal tribe with a magic trick. Good atmosphere, and Chaney is intense as usual, but also filled with stereotypes and a plot that is too predictable.

Just Pals (1920)

Fox Film
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Fox)

Terrific early Ford feature that exposes the corrupt underbelly of small town mid America. Our hero is "Bim" (Buck Jones), a non-conformist loafer who spends his time watching other people work while lazing in the hay loft. He unexpectedly adopts a young hobo kid who drops into town by train and idolizes him. Meanwhile, the town schoolteacher, whom Bim has a crush on, unwisely lends money to her no-good boyfriend, a banker. When the money comes due, the banker doesn't have the money so steals it from the safe then collaborates with a gang to cover it up. Bim is unjustly accused of the crime and the small town elders leave their Sunday church service to become a lynch mob. The town doctor and his wife have a scheme to make money by claiming a reward for the kid. The sheriff is an ineffective old coot who flashes his badge instead of donating to the church collection plate. It all works out for a happy ending, but this is no Americana nostalgia trip.

Hangman's House (1928)

Fox Film
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Fox)

Irish lovers June Collyer and Larry Kent are thwarted by her dying father, who forces her to marry scoundrel Earle Foxe for money and position. He's a hard drinker with a shady past, which catches up with him in the form of Victor McLaglen, out to get revenge for the death of his sister. Set in a large Irish castle which gives it an almost Gothic feeling at times, it may be the closest Ford ever got to a horror film.

Straight Shooting (1917)

Universal Film Manufacturing
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Ford's earliest feature film is the stereotypical story of a range war between ranchers and farmers in the American west. The innocent farmers are threatened and harassed until eventually one of them is shot in the back by a member of the rancher's gang. Harry Carey is "Cheyenne Harry", a character he would play in many of Ford's earliest films, an outlaw bandit on the side of the ranchers, until he realizes it's the wrong side and decides to change his ways. He has a memorable shoot out on a dusty street, where he walks straight at the camera for an extreme close up of his permanent scowl. Later, he joins the farmers for their final stand against the ranchers, winning the hand of the girl in the process.

Four Sons (1928)

Fox Film
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Fox)

Ford's story of a Bavarian family torn apart by war is one of the best of his silent period. An elderly mother and her four sons live a simple life in the "old country" where everyone is happy, except for the arrogant, spoiled military officers that mingle among them. War breaks out and two sons are drafted, a third stays home to help with the farm, but luckily the fourth had emigrated to America earlier. Time passes and the ravages of war take their toll. When America is dragged in, the fourth son joins up, leading to a moving scene in a fog shrouded wheat field of Europe. Only the final sequence, with grandma coming to America, dealing with immigration and getting lost in New York, comes across as contrived. Director Ford and cinematographers Charles Clarke and George Schneiderman make extensive use of fluid camera movement, most unusual in American silents. Just watch the opening scene as the camera follows the postman through the village. They also utilize light and shadows for artistic touches, with many memorably framed scenes. Ford's silent western epics usually get all of the attention, but this is better than any of them.

3 Bad Men (1926)

Fox Film
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Fox)

Three outlaws become protectors of a young woman they almost killed while stealing her horses. She manages to tame their wild ways, but also catches the eye of an Irish immigrant cowboy. Gold is discovered in the Dakotas, and they join the masses in the ensuing land rush. The outlaws make questionable self-sacrifices in order to defeat a crooked sheriff and allow the young couple to find happiness. The spectacular outdoor locations, in particular the land rush scene, are perfectly balanced by just the right amount of romance and action. Olive Borden shines as the young girl Lee.

The Scarlet Car (1917)

Universal Film Manufacturing
Directed by Joseph De Grasse
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Chaney, a descendant of Paul Revere, is a bank teller who discovers his superiors have altered the books to cover up their larceny. A confrontation leads to his being knocked unconscious and believed dead. However, he is really living in an isolated mountain cabin where he believes the Civil War is still being fought. In order to gain a key piece of evidence, friends must convince him that Paul Revere has arrived. Mainly a showcase for Chaney in heavy makeup and his wild portrayal of the bank teller turned crazy man, although his character does disappear for a long stretch of the film.

Four Around the Woman (1921)

Decla-Bioscop (Germany)
Directed by Fritz Lang
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Kino Lorber)

Thoroughly confusing story of a woman who is devoted to her husband, but is suspected of having a tryst on the day of their engagement. The man from her past is now a jewel thief who is part of an underground diamond trading ring operating out of a local bar. He has a twin brother who is mistaken for him for no apparent reason other than to confuse the viewer. There is also a man trying to blackmail her for money. So, if you count the husband, there are actually five around the woman.

The Wandering Shadow (1920)

UFA (Germany)
Directed by Fritz Lang
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Kino Lorber)

A recently widowed woman is pursued by the brother of her dead husband. He chases her into the remote mountains where she seeks shelter with a hermit monk. An avalanche buries them in his hut, where it is revealed he is her long lost husband. Through flashbacks, we learn that he faked his suicide because society would not accept his idea of "free love" and their unconventional relationship. She then has a flashback detailing her struggles after his death dealing with his will, his aggressive brother and a cousin after his fortune. They are eventually dug out of the buried shack, but he refuses to return to the real world until a statue of the Virgin Mary walks, which it eventually does. Despite the unusual plot, this is not an entirely successful melding of melodrama and philosophy, though it does have its moments. The surviving version is not complete, with several missing reels, which may hinder full plot development.

The Iron Horse (1924)

Fox Film
Directed by John Ford
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Fox)

John Ford's western epic chronicles the building of the transcontinental railroad through the eyes of a boy, the son of an engineer who first thought it was possible. The two travel west to pursue his dream, but when the father is killed by an Indian it is up to the boy to carry on. As a young man, he escapes Indians while riding for the Pony Express and takes up with one of the teams building the railroad. He falls in love with his childhood sweetheart who just happens to be there, but she is already engaged to a corrupt engineer. The railroad must be built, despite their personal problems. The plot is dramatically obvious: our hero will fight the bad guys who stole his girl and murdered his father, the railroad will be completed and he will reunite with the girl. The enjoyment is getting to those points, with enough action for several movies, and amusing subplots, such as the combination saloon-court room, to keep it interesting.

Harakiri (1919)

Decla (Germany)
Directed by Fritz Lang
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Kino Lorber)

Fritz Lang's adaptation of Madame Butterfly establishes themes he would revisit many times over his careeer: the exotic Japanese setting, a forbidden love affair, the tragic ending. It starts off well, with a Japanese girl on the verge of being forced into becoming a slave by a sinister Buddhist priest. She is "saved" by a foreign sailor when they fall in love, rather unconvincingly, at first sight, and get married. The sailor is nothing more than your typical scoundrel, soon heading home to Europe, leaving his wife, and soon to be born child, behind. Years pass, the girl remains faithful to her absent husband despite overtures from a wealthy prince. She runs out of money and is once more nearly abducted by the priest into his service. The sailor returns, but it is no surprise he wants nothing to do with her, leading to the tragic ending. The main problem with the film is the poorly developed central relationship between the sailor and the girl, and without any emotional investment we really don't care much what happens to either of them.

The Spoilers (1914)

Selig Polyscope Co.
Directed by Colin Campbell
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Crooked Washington politicians travel to Alaska to steal gold mines from unsuspecting miners. Some of them, however, decide to fight back, with the help of one of their sisters and a saloon hall girl. Ironically, this silent film has too much dialogue: endless scenes of back room bargains, sinister plans, crooked card games and proclamations of love, I really could not keep track of exactly who was in love, or were pretending to be in love or who were somehow related. Finally, towards the end, there is some action: a mining operation is dynamited and there is a long fight that more closely resembles a wrestling match. Good luck making it that far.

Way Down East (1920)

United Artists
Directed by D.W. Griffith
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Kino)

Naive Lillian Gish travels from her poor country home to the big city to ask for money from rich relatives. Scoundrel Lowell Sherman sets his eyes on her at a party, then arranges a fake marriage, all in order to get her in bed. He convinces her to keep the "marriage" secret, which works until she reveals that she is pregnant, then abandons her and the baby. More heartache follows, and she finds herself walking lonely country roads in search of work. A simple, religious farming family takes her in as help, and for awhile it looks like her past will be forgotten. However, when a gossipy relative reveals it, she is thrown out of the house by the "Christian" father. Somehow she finds herself stranded on an ice floe and headed for certain death over a waterfall in the serial-inspired ending.

The Whispering Chorus (1918)

Artcraft Pictures
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Image Entertainment)

A lower middle class working man and husband can't afford to buy his wife a new dress. He steals cash at work and alters the books to cover it up, then blows it in a card game. Unable to face his wife, he runs away to a shack in the woods. One day he drags a body out of the nearby water, disfigures the face and writes a note that implies he was the victim of a homicide. He assumes a new identity and gets work as a manual laborer. He gets in an accident and is crippled for life. Meanwhile, his wife, thinking him dead, gets remarried, but his elderly mother still has faith he is alive. Years pass, and he returns, barely recognizable, to his mother. However, he gets arrested and is put on trial for murdering himself, of which he is convicted! His wife finally recognizes him on death row, but rather than destroy her happiness he allows himself to be put to death. Raymond Hatton is good in the lead role as the guilt-stricken man, although the complex plot stretches believability a little thin.

Judith of Bethulia (1914)

Biograph Company
Directed by D.W. Griffith
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Near ancient Jerusalem, the invading Assyrians storm the city walls of Bethulia. Their leader, Holofornes, lives a life of debauchery in his tent, torturing any soldier who does not fight. Unable to penetrate the city walls, he decides to starve the city of food and water. One of its most respected citizens, Judith, dons provocative clothing and allows herself to be captured by Holofornes. At first she pities him, even respects him, but when she sees the plight of her fellow citizens, she proceeds with her plan to kill him. Based, at least in part, on historical writings in the apocrypha, Griffith's first feature length film is surprisingly good, especially the lengthy battle scenes at the city wall, which utilizes hundreds of extras giving it a very authentic feel, far more realistic than todays CGI spectacles of similar scenes. Re-released under the title "Her Condoned Sin" after Griffith had become famous for Birth of a Nation, Intolerance and others.

The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

United Artists
Directed by Raoul Walsh
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Cohen Media Group)

Iconic role for Douglas Fairbanks as the thief who "takes whatever he wants", including the princess of Badgad. He's got competition from three other real princes of the far east, one of which has a secret plan to take over the city. The princess falls in love with Fairbanks when he sneaks onto her balcony, but must stall for time so he can become a "real" prince. She sends all of them on a quest for rare treasures, with Fairbanks ending up with a "magic chest" that helps him save the city and win the princess. Too much of the running time is taken up by palace soap opera, and even when things get more interesting in the final quests the special effects of 1924 can't quite match the story. It's still a lot of fun, just don't expect to think very much.

Old Wives for New (1918)

Artcraft Pictures
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Image Entertainment)

Oil millionaire Elliott Dexter is unhappily married to his slovenly, overweight, middle-aged wife. He requests a divorce and goes on a long hunting trip with his nearly-grown children, where he meets and falls in love with New York fashion designer Florence Vidor. Back at home, he spends a night out with his business partner and his "lady friends", leading to murder. His wife finally divorces him, but he ends up in Europe trying to shield his true love from the scandals. It's not really the expected morality lesson, since the marriage is not saved, but there is a happy ending for almost everyone nonetheless.

Home, Sweet Home (1914)

Mutual Film
Directed by D.W. Griffith
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Four "episodes" strung together for a feature, with the common theme of "home", or at least the struggle to find one. In the first and best, a songwriter heads for the big city, leaving behind his mother, girlfriend and her sister, played by the real life Gish sisters, Lillian and Dorothy. He gets a job as an actor, starts drinking and carousing, breaking his poor mother's heart. He is, however, inspired to write a song about the whole ordeal. The other episodes are more or less forgettable, little parables about trying to build a home against various obstacles. However, there is an interesting epilogue, which uses heavy symbolism to show the struggle of man to overcome his base desires, and the women that fly above him, literally, as angels.

Male and Female (1919)

Paramount-Artcraft Pictures
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Image Entertainment)

Condescending wealthy English family is stranded on a desert island with their servants. They are completely unable to perform the most basic functions of finding food and shelter without the help of their head butler, Crichton (Thomas Meighan). The tables are soon turned as Crichton becomes king of the island. Romance works its way into the story when one of the daughters (Gloria Swanson), whom Crichton has always loved, gets in trouble with some wild leopards. He has an extended fantasy sequence as the "King of Babylon" and Swanson as his Christian slave! Years pass but they are eventually rescued and assume their former roles. It's rather silly at times, and not nearly provocative enough, even Swanson's famous "rose water" bath scene is tame.

The Red Kimona (1925)

Vital Exchanges
Directed by Walter Lang
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Kino)

The story of a poor New Orleans woman duped into an abusive relationship, then abandoned. She follows him to LA, then shoots him in a jewelry store while he is buying a ring for his new wife! A trial follows, but incredibly she is found not guilty. She is "adopted" by a society lady and falls in love with her chauffeur. She has ambitions to be a nurse but is rejected because of her past. She ends up back in New Orleans, soon followed by the chauffeur, where there is a happy ending. A wraparound narrative is hosted by Dorothy Davenport, in which she directly addresses the camera about the story we are watching, which, unfortunately, is rather predictable.

Metropolis (1927)

UFA (Germany)
Directed by Fritz Lang
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Kino Lorber)

The privileged son of the head of a futuristic city is moved by the mysterious appearance of a strange woman surrounded by poor children. His search for her leads to the underground, where hoards of workers are sacrificed to the machines which keep the above ground city running. He switches places with one of the workers to learn more about their way of life. He follows them deeper into the underground, where they worship a saint, Maria, the same girl he saw earlier, who portends of the coming of the "Mediator" who will save them from their hellish life. Meanwhile, his father consults with a mad scientist who has invented a "machine man" in the image of his dead wife. The scientist kidnaps Maria and transfers her "heart" to the machine. Maria's double returns to the underground and incites the workers to a violent revolution. Meanwhile the real Maria is held prisoner. It is up to Freder, The Mediator, to save the girl and negotiate peace between the two sides. The new "complete version" adds 25 minutes to the running time, most of it for a subplot about the "Thin Man" and his pursuit of the worker with which Freder exchanged places. It also extends scenes here and there, none of which are particularly necessary. In fact, I found the final action sequence gets a bit too long with the extra scenes and was restless for the resolution. As a result, I actually prefer the shorter cut that has been around for the last 80 years or so. My slightly lower rating for this viewing applies to the "Complete Metropolis" version.

The Unholy Three (1925)

Metro-Goldwyn
Directed by Tod Browning
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Bizarre story of sideshow ventriloquist Chaney who forms a crime trio with the strong man and midget. They use a local bird store as a front, duping rich customers with Chaney's ventriloquist gimmick, then casing their houses when the birds don't really talk. No one suspects them since Chaney is disguised as an elderly woman and the midget acts like a baby. Things start to go wrong when the strong man murders their latest victim and a woman gets involved. Some truly unsettling scenes with the midget-baby, but also some absurd ones with a giant ape and an unconvincing court room finale.

Scaramouche (1923)

Metro Pictures
Directed by Rex Ingram
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Spirited swashbuckler set in the days of the French Revolution. Ramon Navarro is a young idealist who takes up the cause of the common people after his best friend is killed in a duel. He goes on the lam and joins a traveling minstrel show, where he finds success as their ghost writer and leading man in a new play. His old nemesis, and old love, show up at one of the performances, setting in motion both his revenge for the death of his friend and rivalry for the girl. While the peasants run amok with pitchforks, his true family heritage is revealed in dramatic fashion, leading to a last minute escape. Great fun all the way.

The Trail of '98 (1928)

MGM
Directed by Clarence Brown
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Gold fever overtakes the nation after it is discovered in Alaska. Aspiring millionaires abandon their homes and families to head west for San Francisco, where steam ships are waiting to take them to the Klondike gold fields. On board, they gamble, drink and dance, oblivious to the cold fate which awaits them, but never wavering in their enthusiasm. In Alaska, their first task is to make an arduous over land journey to the mountains in the dead of winter. Many don't make it, but those that do find the gold rush has been over hyped, with few jobs and even fewer actually finding gold. Part adventure story, part melodrama, part disaster epic, with some impressive scenes of an avalanche and a fiery fistfight for the finale.

The Red Lily (1924)

Metro-Goldwyn
Directed by Fred Niblo
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Superb story of innocent lovers in rural France, who run away to the big city after his father forbids their marriage. Arriving at the train station, Jean (Ramon Novarro) goes to look for a place to get married, leaving Marise (Enid Bennett, the director's wife) alone. He is picked up outside the station by the police, accused by his father of a theft he did not commit. Marise waits, and waits, but by the time Jean escapes from the police and returns she is gone. Years pass and the two lovers are corrupted by poverty and life in the city. Jean never gives up hope of finding her, and eventually they meet by chance. She lives in a one room apartment, drinks and picks up men, he is a professional crook, hunted by the police. She sacrifices herself for his escape and ends up in the hospital, while he ends up in prison. They meet once more, years later. Bristling with real emotion, sentimental but never melodramatic, one of those rare silents that has the power to completely draw you into its world without any dialogue. The modern soundtrack by Scott Salinas adds greatly to the power of the film.

Wild Oranges (1924)

Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan
Directed by King Vidor
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Intriguing story of a recently widowed man sailing on the Atlantic to escape his sorrows. He sets ashore on the isolated Georgia coastline for water, only to find a lonely girl and her nervous father living in a run down mansion. A hulking wild maniac also lives nearby, who becomes dangerously jealous when the girl shows affections for the newcomer. Filmed on location instead of the usual Hollywood back lot, Vidor effectively conveys the troubled mindset of its deeply disturbed ensemble of characters: a leading man in self-imposed exile, a girl dreaming of escape from the lusty overtures of her horrific admirer, an old man crippled by fear and finally Nicholas, all lust and instinct, but also afraid of losing the girl he loves. I was reminded of some latter day horror movies, particularly The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, whose Leatherface character bears a strong resemblance to Nicholas.

The Sea Hawk (1924)

First National Pictures
Directed by Frank Lloyd
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Retired English knight Milton Sills takes the rap for a murder committed by his brother, who promptly has him kidnapped and sent to sea. He becomes an oarsman on a slave ship which is later attacked by the English. Outraged by his treatment on the ship by "Christian" brothers, he rejects his faith and escapes with a fellow Arab prisoner. He becomes a feared Muslim leader, attacking the Spanish but never the English, in the years that follow. He eventually returns to England seeking the woman he left behind, but she is now engaged to his dastardly brother, so he has them both kidnapped and taken back to Algiers where they are put up for auction as slaves. He saves the girl and exposes his brother in the predictable happy ending. Real ships were used, not models, which adds greatly to the authenticity, but the plot is heavy on melodrama.

The Blackbird (1926)

MGM
Directed by Tod Browning
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Lon Chaney is "The Blackbird", a jewel thief who falls in love with a French puppeteer at the local vaudeville drinking hall in a seedy London neighborhood. He's got competition from a well-dressed gentleman jewel thief who hangs out at the same place. They decide to go into business together, but the girl gets in the way. In a strange twist, Chaney's jewel thief has a secret alter-identity as his own crippled brother, a parson of some type that people call "The Bishop", who represents the kinder, gentler side of his persona. As the "The Blackbird", he stoops to framing his partner-in-crime for murder, but as "The Bishop" he can't bear the guilt, and eventually it gets the best of him. Chaney occasionally overdoes it in a flashy role, especially in the overwrought finale, but it's fascinating to watch him ply his craft, of which he is a master.

The New Gentlemen (1929)

Film Albatros (France)
Directed by Jacques Feyder
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Flicker Alley)

Aspiring ballet dancer Gaby Morlay allows an ardent admirer to fall in love with her, despite already being in a relationship with an older, respected politician. Her new boyfriend is an electrician and head of the local labor union. He finds himself elected to Parliament quite by accident, and eventually appointed minister of labor. His first act? To get his girlfriend a job as lead dancer at the opera, of course. However, he struggles to balance his political career with his budding relationship, and the two are soon parted. Morlay is forced to choose between her two lovers, and her decision is somewhat surprising. The film makes its point all too fast, that politics corrupts, then spends the rest of its 2 hour plus running time on tedious romance and boring politics.

Where East Is East (1929)

MGM
Directed by Tod Browning
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Chaney is in somewhat of a normal role (for him anyway) as a wild animal catcher in China. His daughter falls for the son of his business partner, but Chaney objects not because of the boy but because of his own past, which soon reappears. His ex-wife is a no-good, exotic man eater, and she sets her sights on none other than her own daughter's fiance. The young boy melts at the mere sight of her, unable to resist. They try to hide it for awhile, but when Chaney finds out he goes ballistic. "Gorillas never forget those who harmed them" becomes an important plot point, for which it receives an automatic rating deduction from me for any movie containing a man in a gorilla suit.

Tide of Empire (1929)

MGM
Directed by Allan Dwan
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Dashing 49er George Duryea (aka Tom Keene) falls in love with spitfire senorita Renee Adoree at the beginning of the California gold rush. She resists him all the way, but he just shrugs it off and keeps on trying. After he wins her father's ranch in a horse race, he thinks he can use it to win her love. First, he's got to fight off the lawless hoards taking over their town. Less romance and more action would have helped this silent with a music and effects soundtrack.

Gribiche (1926)

Films Armor (France)
Directed by Jacques Feyder
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Flicker Alley)

A Parisian waif returns a purse to a wealthy woman outside a department store. She proceeds to adopt the boy and give him a proper education. He leads a "fish out of water" life in the halls of a sprawling mansion with wacky teachers and a snoopy household. Meanwhile, his poor single mother is romanced by a blue collared foreman but can't stop thinking about her boy. There is a recurring scene where the wealthy woman retells the story of how she met the boy, each time his clothing and home get more run down and shabby, but otherwise the plot unfolds slowly and predictably.

The Late Mathias Pascal (1926)

Film Albatros (France)
Directed by Marcel L'Herbier
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Flicker Alley)

Long but absorbing drama of an Italian man, the great Ivan Mosjoukine, whose search for "freedom" leads him to fake his death. The first half of the film chronicles his unhappy marriage in a small town. He has a mother-in-law who makes his life miserable. He has a terrible job as an assistant in a run-down, ramshackle library. It all comes to a head when his baby becomes deathly ill. He decides to get away from it all and runs away to Monte Carlo, where he has a winning streak and becomes independently wealthy. On the return trip, a newspaper article mistakenly claims he has died in an accident. He retreats to Rome under an assumed name, where he begins a new relationship with the pretty Lois Moran. The second half of the film chronicles their sometimes funny life with her kooky father, who believes in spiritualism and seances. However, his lack of an identity soon causes him problems. He is robbed of his money and cannot report it to the police. He is unable to marry Moran. He returns to his former wife, where he is believed dead, but she has since remarried. So, back to Rome, where there is a happy ending.

Kean (1924)

Film Albatros (France)
Directed by Alexandre Volkoff
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Flicker Alley)

Ivan Mosjoukine is a celebrated Shakespearean actor in his native England. Off the stage, he leads a life filled with drinking in taverns and flirting with his fervent female admirers. He falls in love with a wealthy, married Danish princess, and she with him, leading to a long, unfulfilled love affair. It eventually drives him to the brink of insanity and he breaks down in the middle of a performance of Hamlet with the princess and her husband in attendance. The ending is one of the longest "death bed" scenes I can recall, milked for every emotional ounce. Mosjoukine is excellent in the lead, the sets show attention to period detail and even that last scene manages to evoke sympathy despite its length.

The Burning Crucible (1923)

Film Albatros (France)
Directed by Ivan Mosjoukine
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Flicker Alley)

An opening nightmare sequence that goes on for nearly 15 minutes is the highlight of this French Impressionist silent, directed by and starring Ivan Mosjoukine, a Russian film star transplanted to France. Poor Nathalie Lissenko wakes up only to realize that the detective in the pulp book she is reading was the man haunting her dreams. In real life Paris, her wealthy husband wants to move home to South America, but when she resists he hires a private detective to find out why. It turns out to be none other than the Detective Z of his wife's nightmare! Z soon discovers that it is her love of Paris, not another man, that is holding her back, so he takes her out to a cabaret and hosts a feverish dance contest, reenacting a scene in her nightmare. However, instead of hating Paris she ends up falling in love with Z. The husband acquiesces a little too easily in a contrived ending.

Whirlpool of Fate (1925)

Directed by Jean Renoir
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Lionsgate)

Renoir's first film as solo director is the story of a poor woman nearly raped by her uncle one day on their boat. She runs away and takes up with some friendly gypsies, only to fall victim to a mob who sets fire to their caravan. On the run again, she ends up destitute and living as a wild woman in the woods until a local boy brings her food and eventually love. Renoir incorporates fast cuts, extreme close-ups, slow motion and other effects utilized by the French Impressionists of the 1920s, especially in a long, feverish dream sequence. However, these effects call too much attention to themselves rather than the story, which itself is episodic.

Nana (1926)

Les Établissements Braunberger-Richebé (France)
Directed by Jean Renoir
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Lionsgate)

Nana is a conniving, narcissistic, aspiring actress whose only success on stage is achieved by her provocative dancing. Inexplicably, men worship her, sacrificing their fortunes, their wives and ultimately even their lives to be with her. Nana could care less. Her character elicits no sympathy and is one-dimensional. Catherine Hessling, the director's wife, does what she can with such a thankless role. The numerous subplots revolve around the pathetic men in her life, and after awhile get tiresome. However, there is a beautifully rendered ending, if you can make it that far.

The Hoodlum (1919)

First National Exhibitors' Circuit
Directed by Sidney A. Franklin
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Milestone)

Spoiled rich kid Mary Pickford moves to the slums to live with her father, who is writing a book. At first she is disgusted, but soon becomes one of the gang living on a busy street. She falls in love with an artist across the alley, sharing a laundry line. An elderly stranger moves in next door, who turns out to be her ultra wealthy grandfather in disguise spying on her. His cold heart is warmed by the struggles of the poor. Despite the subject matter, this is as much a comedy as a drama. Pickford displays a genuine talent for slapstick, although she might be criticized for stealing just a little from Charlie Chaplin's tramp character. Nonetheless, there are several memorable scenes: the umbrella in the rain, the coal chute, dancing with the local slum kids, just to name a few.

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

Epoch Producing Corporation
Directed by D.W. Griffith
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Kino Lorber)

The first American epic is set during the Civil War and its immediate aftermath. In the first half, President Lincoln reluctantly declares war on the southern states after they refuse to accept his Emancipation Proclamation. A wealthy southern family sends its sons off to fight, while a northern family finds itself in a position of political power after the assassination of Lincoln. In the second half, the only surviving southern brother, who is in love with the daughter of the northern politician, becomes leader of the Ku Klux Klan after freed blacks turn into armed mobs. They hunt down and kill the black man responsible for the death of his sister. Later, black soldiers kidnap his girlfriend and he leads the KKK to her rescue. In this film, at least, the KKK are more like medieval crusaders who come to the rescue of helpless southern whites. The second half is overplotted, and the film has a self-important air to it (right from the opening credits where it declares itself on the level of Shakespeare and The Bible), but there is no denying its place in cinema history.

The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917)

Artcraft Pictures
Directed by Maurice Tourneur
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Milestone)

Mary Pickford, 26 at the time of filming, plays a 10-year-old girl. The diminutive Pickford is surrounded by tall actors and wears loose fitting dresses, but it is still a distraction. Her father is absorbed in Wall Street while her mother mingles in society circles, leaving little time for little Gwen. She tries to get their attention, and end her boredom, by getting in a series of minor escapades, such as fighting with the local gang of boys or ruining the plumbing in the bathroom. One day she is accidentally poisoned by an overdose of sleeping medicine, and has a vivid fantasy in the resulting delirium. The brush with death finally reconciles her with her parents. The dream sequences are interesting but marred by amateurish touches, such as people in animal suits, and go on for far too long. However, it's hard to dislike anything with Mary Pickford, one of my favorite silent film stars, and her personality always shines through.

The Show (1927)

MGM
Directed by Tod Browning
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

John Gilbert is a carnival barker and showman in Hungary. His magnetic personality draws the attention of every girl visitor, much to the chagrin of his ex-girlfriend who stars as Salome in one of the shows. Gilbert's latest conquest is the daughter of a sheep herder with a wad of cash that Gilbert can't resist. He dupes her of the money but spends the rest of the film trying to get out of the resulting mess. John Barrymore is a thief and murderer who has taken up with Salome, and also has his eyes on the cash. A subplot involving Salome's blind father and a brother in military prison gets a bit too much time. Watch out for the poisonous iguana!

A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Star-Film (France)
Directed by Georges Méliès
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Flicker Alley)

This legendary short film is finally available in its original color-tinted presentation, with a modern soundtrack by Air that perfectly complements it. They add yet more layers to what is already a marvelous, hypnotic story. A group of scientists, looking more like wizards in their long coats and hats, gather to plan their trip to the moon. The blackboard diagram is deceptively simple: a big gun, a dashed line, the moon. The rocket is built and the launch, accompanied by much fanfare and dancing girls, a success. The iconic man-in-the-moon face welcomes them, but the first thing they do after landing is lay down and go to sleep, dreaming of those dancing girls. A moon man appears and they go underground to escape him: a land of giant mushrooms with more moon men in skeleton costumes that disappear in smoke. They get back on their ship, land in the ocean and are welcomed by, yep, more dancing girls.

Fig Leaves (1926)

Fox Film
Directed by Howard Hawks
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

The story begins with Biblical characters living in prehistoric times among dinosaurs. Adam and Eve have a spat about clothes, and the action shifts to the 1920s where a modern-day Adam and Eve are having the same fight. Eve is moonlighting as a fashion model for a flamboyant designer, getting free clothes instead of money for her efforts. A jealous friend exposes her to Adam, who of course can't have his wife working. It's mostly an excuse to show beautiful women in extravagant evening gowns. The special effects are terrible, particularly the dinosaurs, and the attitude towards women archaic.

A Girl in Every Port (1928)

Fox Film
Directed by Howard Hawks
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)

Spike is a burly sailor who travels the world, stopping at various ports of call to look up old lovers. He notices that they all have the same memento from another sailor, an anchor and heart, who is traveling the same route ahead of him. He catches up with the man in a bar, where they have a brawl but then become best friends. The buddies continue to travel from port to port, drinking, fighting and meeting women. Spike falls in love with the magnetic Louise Brooks in Paris, the star of a high diving act. He's ready to settle down, but she is just interested in his life savings, not to mention her tattoo of an anchor and heart. An entertaining combination of comedy, romance and melodrama, if you can look beyond the machismo.