I saw another double role movie this week for the first time very early on TCM:
Lady of the Night (1926, Monta Bell):
Norma Shearer plays a spit-curled dance hall girl with that proverbial heart of gold, as well as an oh-so-sweet society lass who both fall in love with a square-jawed inventor, (a rather dull
Malcolm McGregor), who invents--get this!--a machine that can open any safe! Dang, who needs
Jimmy Valentine when you have this contraption? The two separate but not so socially equal ladies meet briefly but no one ever seems to notice their resemblance, though there is an element of poignancy to their scenes and the double-exposure special effect is really neat, (with one sisterly hug between the two inside a car that is technically exceptional for that period).
While nimbly played, the plot is pretty creaky. However,
Shearer's not-so-bad but realistic hustler is played with a great deal of genuine sympathy for her plight and respect for her strength of character and moxie. There are also, thankfully, some unexpectedly comic and yet sensual moments, such as one when
Norma, as the smitten good time gal assuages her longing for the hunk while waiting for his return to his apartment. Sitting on the inventor's bed and musing on her hopeless desire, she distractedly starts eating crackers while sitting on the sheets, which she caresses idly. We later see our clueless hero unwittingly waking up in the middle of the night alone in bed, sweeping the irritating crumbs from his sheets.
There are a few nicely poetic touches here too. When a working class suitor (a character played by
George K. Arthur and named "Chunky" for no obvious reason) for the lower class
Norma feels that she is slipping out of his reach, the director conveys this notion by having him touch a beam of sunlight that comes through a hole in a shade landing on a table. It doesn't sound particularly important, but it is such a gentle touch that made me stay with this movie.
Norma Shearer--for those who may not like her--yes, Judith--is again very winning in a silent role. I hope that this is on again soon.
Norma as the "bad" girl, looking like a candidate for "What Not to Wear"
Our SSO former visiting guest,
Mick LaSalle wrote very highly of this movie in his book, "Complicated Women" and you can see an article about the movie's considerable backstory
here on the TCM site.