Salomy Jane (1914, George E. Middleton & William Nigh) with Beatriz Michelena, House Peters, Matt Snyder & William Nigh
In 1849, in California, Clay Middleton (M. Snyder) arrives in Hangtown with his daughter Salomy Jane (B. Michelena). Clay is pursued by a man following a family feud. As for his daughter Salomy, several suitors are fighting for her attention...
This brilliant western made in 1914 by a small production company based in San Francisco shows that bigger companies didn't necessarily make better pictures in those days. The Bargain (1914, R. Barker), a Ince production, is a tremendous achievement whereas The Spoilers (1914, C. Campbell) proved a real failure in narrative and structure. Salomy Jane belongs to the top league of westerns of this year. Its complex narrative follows at least three distinct plots. And the cinematography is superlative using at its best the spectacular locations around San Francisco: the redwood forest and the rivers. The film ends with a breathless chase across a river. The hero and heroine are chased by a posse while rowing on a small boat. The acting is sometimes a trifle melodramatic, but the image composition and the thight narrative make up for it. I must mention Stephen Horne's splendid score for the film. He gives the picture a drive and an atmosphere that enhances it tremendously. Superb.
Mantrap (1926, Victor Fleming) with Clara Bow, Ernest Torrence, Percy Marmont and Eugene Pallette
The manicurist Alverna (C. Bow) accepts to marry the uncough Joe Easter (E. Torrence) who leaves in the middle of nowhere in Canada. Once there, she meets Ralph (P. Marmont) a New York lawyer who is on holidays...
This lovely comedy has en extremely simple plot. But the film is literally carried away by the tremendous acting delivered by Clara Bow. Her personality, her charisma and charm makes any criticism of the plot worthless. Her partner Ernest Torrence is most unlikely husband you can imagine for the lively Clara. But, the film tone is resolutely tongue-in-cheek. So we enjoy tremendously the going-ons of Clara with the two leading men. The cinematography by James Wong Howe is superlative on this magnificent print (a far cry from the horrible bootlegs that were circulating). Again, the pianist Stephen Horne makes superb job with the music, giving it a distinctive 20s flavour.
Womanhandled (1925, Gregory La Cava) with Esther Ralston, Richard Dix and Edmund Breese
Bill Dana (R. Dix) meets lovely Molly Martin (E. Ralston) in a New York while rescuing her nephew from a pond. She tells him how mad she is about real cow-boys and the West. Bill starts to lie about his past to make her believe he is a real westerner...
This western spoof has unfortunately survived incomplete. Only 55 min of the original 75 are extant. Nevertheless, it's easy to follow. The comedy aspect are extremely well handled by La Cava who shows us the dismay on Dix's face when he realises that his uncle's ranch is not what he expected. The cow hands are from Brooklyn and they use cars to gather the cattle. As he wants to pretend in front of Molly, he has to teach them how to ride a horse. Many gags follow. Molly's nephew is a terrible little brat who steals Dix's gun. When he fires it, all the newby cowhands fall down. This is an enjoyable comedy with Dix showing his usual professionalism in front of the lovely Esther Ralston.