I had been looking for this film for some two years with no luck. Finally, thanks to my good friend Jorge, after all this time, I got to see the picture on Thursday evening.
In what was probably John Gilbert's last major feature of the Silent Era, THE COSSACKS is a near Epic scale production ranking with Gilbert's finest works. The monster cast. Includes Renee Adoree, Ernest Torrence, Nils Asther, Dale Fuller, and Mary Alden. Plus two big name Directors in George Roy Hill, and Clarence Brown. And continuity by the revered Francis Marion. Possibly MGM's most expensive and ambitious feature of 1928, with the exception of maybe Clarence Brown's THE TRAIL OF '98 with Delores Del Rio?
Set in an un-certain time frame, Gilbert plays "Lucashka" an outcast to his own village tribesmen. The majority of which can not read or write. Lucashka though is different, as He was sent away and well schooled in Moscow. Upon returning home He has no desire to fight the Turks as a Cossack! This is what all the men do after-all! He sees the constant Warring as futile, and senseless. Besides Lucashka is a lover not a fighter! He would much rather woo his childhood sweetheart the lovely Maryana! (Adoree). Can't say that I blame him. Ivan his burly brutish father, and the leader of The Cossacks, and his merry army regard Lucaska only as a ridiculous fop! They make jokes about his not wanting to fight, doing Woman's work, and picking wild flowers. Even so, Gilbert is at his most handsome and dashing from the very start in this picture.
The ladies job is tending to the land, and other decidedly rough labors. Meanwhile, their men fight, drink Vodka, wrestle, and chase brazen gypsy girls about! Such is life in the simple Village of Yernak! "And Over All Is GOD!" The entire group pauses to reflect, and kneel whenever the bells ring out each day. Once this brief interlude is over, it's back to business as usual! More fighting, drinking and carousing around! Kinda the way it is now!
Lucaska is skilled at handling his prize Stallion. He attempts to impress Maryana with his daring riding skills while she toils in the fields. But she resists him! The girl has grown weary of his idling ways! He leaps off his horse, and lands atop the Hay wagon where Maryana is raking. After some brief banter, Lucashka grabs and kisses her none to gently! She becomes agitated! "I spit on you and your tricks!" Lucashka, responds slyly "You Love Me, And My Tricks"! And despite his general roughness toward her, indeed She does! As He rides away mounted backwards and waves to her, a coy yet unmistakable smile comes over Maryana in parting.
The "Ataman" of Yernak returns to find his son helping his Mother by hauling around heavy timber's! More Woman's work! He is filled with Shame and disgust! As evening falls, Lucashka makes another play for Maryana's affection. She explains that things can never be as they were between them! He is not a Cossack, but a Cowslip! Again taking liberties with Marynana, Lucashka, is cornered by a group of Cossacks! Since He will not fight, Lucasksa will pound the grapes for Wine as the Woman do! "What I fine Grape Wench He shall make!" They place a flower-wreath on his head, tie him to a post, and pelt him with grapes! Even the woman! Lucaska shows concern for Maryana, she is goaded "What do you think of your Sweetheart now? Maryana responds "He is not my Sweetheart! I Hate him!" Grasping a handful of Grapes she assaults him as well! The words hurt Lucaska deeply!
Humiliated, He is untied. His Father is enraged over the public spectacle! He takes down his trusty Horsewhip to punish his son! Beating him with the whip suddenly Lucaska is a flurry of anger dives at him and retaliates! He swipes the Whip away and starts to give his Father a dose of his own Medicine! The young son overwhelms the old man and thoroughly defeats him! Just than several Turkish prisoners having strangled the guards escape! Lucaska runs to see what the excitement is about? The father bludgeoned by his son looks in the mirror at his wounds, and laughs his heart swells with pride! His Lucaska does indeed have the fighting heart of a Cossack!
With a rush of Adrenaline, Lacashka races after the escaped Turkish prisoners! And subdues them! Almost over night He transforms from one who is scorned to admired and respected by the Cossacks! Riding away to face the Turk Maryana tries to Make amends for her offensive remarks! she is still deeply in love with him! Suddenly, Lakashka perhaps still lingering on his past betrayal by her spurns her love. And now it is His turn to treat Maryana with indifference!
After The band departs for the mountains, an unexpected coach arrives at Yernak from Moscow! It's passenger is the regale Prince Olenin (Asther), and Lo, He is hunting for a Bride! Decreed as such by his Uncle, to blend the blood of the peoples. He will Wed one of the Turnip Woman of Yernak! Scanning the crowd of female oglers with much distain, His focus finally comes to rest favorably upon Maryana! Now things get interesting as suddenly when Lakashka returns from his Triumphant tussle with the Turks, He finds himself with a rival for the first time! And Maryana is no longer all that sure if she wants to be the Wife of a Cossack anymore, or not!
In deference to his passion for Maryana, Gilbert's Lucashka is not exactly a one woman man, He has an open tryst with a flirtatious Gypsy seductress, right under Maryana's pretty little nose and even flaunts it! He is likewise rather Arrogant and conceited! A genuine pompous ***! At times this Bad Boy character isn't an easy fellow to like! At others the strong hearted, and even caring individual underneath his bravado is allowed to peer through.
At this point there is still a whole lot to come! Plenty of give and take between Lucashka, and Maryana. Some humorous Goat-getting, real romance, Spite and In-spite, and Making amends! Plus loads of fighting, and a surprise kidnapping! Father and Son Taken Prisoner, and much more! Yet Victory and Tragedy lay ahead! And lest we forget "Over All Is God!"
Though I enjoyed the picture on first viewing, I was nonetheless, somewhat under-whelmed by it. However, as I added music, the movie really started coming to life. I objected somewhat to the way that "Lukashka" treats Maryana. He kicks her around, and even punches her in a fit of rage at one point during her Pre-Marriage preparations to the Prince! Otherwise He is pretty rough with her much of the movie. But so are all the men with the Woman with the possible exception of Nils Asther's Olenin , and He's a real Lady Killer, obviously used to routinely getting exactly what He wants from the opposite sex!
Asther's character is almost an after-thought. He doesn't even appear until the film is nearly half-over. He seems to be there for the sole purpose of making Gilbert jealous? Although He attempts to make peace between the Russian's and the Turks. There is no question who is the "Star" for a moment, and who is filler! Gilbert is your Star, not Asther! A bald-headed, huge mustached Ernest Torrence, is rousing good fun as the leader of "The Cossacks".
To me, Co-Star Renee Adoree is the best thing about the movie, and she really sparkles here. Often-times she is at her most beautiful, and She is very close to being my favorite Silent Screen Actress by now. Gilbert should have forgot Garbo and Married Renee! In my opinion they had even more on-screen chemistry together as a combination!
This is at times a rather violent picture, with a fair amount of blood being spilt, and some surprisingly brutal battles. There are battered bodies dropping all over the place! In one shocking sequence Lucashka, and his Father are even mercilessly tortured by the Turks with Red Hot coals as Maryana is forced to look on in horror!
All and all, THE COSSACKS is unquestionably one of John Gilbert's best pictures. A rarely seen classic that may at long last be getting ready to resurface soon? The print from TVE is excellent. This film has been beautifully restored. Though what ever music it may have had in this presentation was removed for some reason? Hopefully, TCM will be airing it with a new score soon, or maybe the vintage Western Electric Track still exists? I don't know?
As far as I am aware the Movie has yet to debut on TCM? In any case, not meaning to boast, but it won't be easy to top the score I just dubbed in this weekend. There are a few rough patches as my software is not the best, but for the most part one might be inclined to believe that this is the original score to the film! It enhances the majority of the action on-screen almost perfectly! As I used all vintage recordings from the period, it has the feel and tone of a true Movie-Tone or Metro-tone track. To bad I couldn't get TCM to record the score anew that I compiled together! That would be fabulous! I would love for people to get to be able to hear this effort!
