C.B. DeMille Silents
Posted: April 25th, 2009, 4:38 am
We are having a full C.B. DeMille retrospective at the moment. I took advantage to catch some rare silents as well as some famous films on nice 35 mm prints from GEH. Here are some notes about the films I have seen so far.
Rose of the Rancho (1914) with Bessie Barriscale, Jane Darwell, Dick la Reno & Jack W. Johnston
California has just become part of the United States. Some crooks take advantage of the fact that Ranchers have to register their land to take possession of them. A governement agent, Kearney (J.W. Johnson) is sent there to protect them. He meets the very proud and capricious Juanita Castro (B. Barriscale)...
This very early DeMille was shot on locations. But, alas, the acting is still very stagey. It's an adaptation of a play by Belasco and allt he actors seemed to be performing on stage rather than for the camera. Alvin Wyckoff, DeMille's cinematographer, creates some nice effects with dapple shade under the trees. If the acting is disappointing, the narrative is equally laboured. It's amusing to recognise a young Jane Darwell, already playing a mother.
The Warrens of Virginia (1915) with Blanche Sweet, House Peters, James Neill & Dick La Reno
Agatha Warren (B. Sweet) is suddenly separated fromt he man she loves (H. Peters) by the Civil War. her Father, General Warren is with the South while he joins the North. They will meet again in tragic circumstances as the fate of the South will be in the balance...
What a contrast with the previous film! Only one year apart, but the acting is now understated and modern. Blanche Sweet, Griffith's actress is superb. And the best scenes of the film show her with House Peters. The story offers an intricate deception as Peters carries a fake dispatch to fool the South. He tries desperately to keep it away as he knows that it means the end of the South and because of his love for Blanche. There are a few white actors in 'black face' like we can see in Griffith's films of the time, though, here, the problem of slavery is not even discussed. The film has the perfect balance between battle scenes and intimate ones. The original play was the work of CB's brother, William C. de Mille.
What's His Name? (1914) with Max Figman & Lolita Robertson
Nellie (L. Robertson), the baker's daughter marries Harvey (M. Figman) the local soda jerk in Blakeville. She gives birth to a daughter. Their quiet life changes when Nellie becomes a Music Hall star. Her husband is left alone with the child to care for...
This proves to be a charming 'backstage' comedy where the wife has become a terribly vain creature who spends all her time with millionaires. The acting was very good. Some scenes were very funny as when the husband decides to commit suicide. He opens the gas and lies on his bed. Alas, unbeknown to him, it has been switched off by the gas board!
Kindling (1915) with Charlotte Walker, Thomas Meighan & Raymond Hatton
Maggie et Heine Schultz (C. Walker et T. Meighan) live in the slums of Hell's Kitchen. Maggie is terrified when she discovers she's pregnant. She doesn't want to give birth in such a place. She decides to help a burglar (R. Hatton) to get hold of the $100 needed to go West...
A brilliant social drama showing the sordid living conditions of the slums of Hell's Kitchen. The opening scenes show some young kids stealing, eating in rubbish bins or drinking hard liquor. The print was gorgeous and showed A. Wyckoff's work at his best. The film highlights the contrast between the super rich of the time where the landlady spends vast sums on her dog while renting slums for a lot of money. Hatton is very good as the bad guy, so are Meighan and Walker. Certainly one of the best DeMille pictures I have ever seen.
The Golden Chance (1915) with Cleo Ridgely, Wallace Reid and Raymond Hatton
Mary Denby (C. Ridgely) married to violent drunk, accepts a job as seamstress for the Hillarys. The Hillary couple are trying to get a millionaire Roger Manning (W. Reid) to sign a contract. To do so, they hire Mary to appear at dinner...
This is one of my favourite DeMille. It's available on DVD from Image Entertainment, but alas the print is nowhere as good as it should be. I saw a very nice 35 mm from GEH. On a big screen, Cleo Ridgely shines even more; her performance as Mary is truly superb. She is moving and understated. Wally Reid has a lot of charisma as well. The whole film is superbly built and never relent. Again the cinematography is absolutely paramount in this film with its shadows (many years before expressionism) and its glorious close-ups. Fabulous picture!
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1916) with Thomas Meighan & Charlotte Walker
A Tax Agent (T. Meighan) is sent to Virginia to curb the alcohol traffic among the moonshiners. He falls into a trap and becomes prisoner of the Tolliver clan. June Tolliver (C. Walker) has to look after the prisoner and soon falls for him...
Walker and Meighan are paired again after Kindling in this film. It's shot on locations and offers some breathtaking view of forests and mountains. Thomas Meighan is excellent, but Walker tends to overact. Still, the film has some fascinating scenes like when she has to spoonfeed the prisoner as his hand are attached. The murder of one of the Tolliver clan is also startling. The film has a great feel of authenticity about it. The print was nicely contrasted and very good quality.
A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) with Mary Pickford, Elliot Dexter and Tully Marshall
Jenny Lawrence (M. Pickford) moves to California to meet her uncle. Alas, he has been killed by Indians and an outlaw, Black Brown (E. Dexter) stole his indentity. Jenny ends up in his cabin, terrified, though her feelings for the outlaw will change slowly...
It was wonderful to see this film on a big screen after watching a rather ugly looking DVD. Pickford is really a wonderful actress. She brings to her Jenny, determination, stamina and humour. Her best scenes with Dexter brought the house down. Even the harden Cinémathèque goers had to admit that she was after all a really good actress (it just shows the amount of prejudice she is still suffering from!). The whole film is wonderfully built with humour and action in equal measure. A real winner!
Rose of the Rancho (1914) with Bessie Barriscale, Jane Darwell, Dick la Reno & Jack W. Johnston
California has just become part of the United States. Some crooks take advantage of the fact that Ranchers have to register their land to take possession of them. A governement agent, Kearney (J.W. Johnson) is sent there to protect them. He meets the very proud and capricious Juanita Castro (B. Barriscale)...
This very early DeMille was shot on locations. But, alas, the acting is still very stagey. It's an adaptation of a play by Belasco and allt he actors seemed to be performing on stage rather than for the camera. Alvin Wyckoff, DeMille's cinematographer, creates some nice effects with dapple shade under the trees. If the acting is disappointing, the narrative is equally laboured. It's amusing to recognise a young Jane Darwell, already playing a mother.
The Warrens of Virginia (1915) with Blanche Sweet, House Peters, James Neill & Dick La Reno
Agatha Warren (B. Sweet) is suddenly separated fromt he man she loves (H. Peters) by the Civil War. her Father, General Warren is with the South while he joins the North. They will meet again in tragic circumstances as the fate of the South will be in the balance...
What a contrast with the previous film! Only one year apart, but the acting is now understated and modern. Blanche Sweet, Griffith's actress is superb. And the best scenes of the film show her with House Peters. The story offers an intricate deception as Peters carries a fake dispatch to fool the South. He tries desperately to keep it away as he knows that it means the end of the South and because of his love for Blanche. There are a few white actors in 'black face' like we can see in Griffith's films of the time, though, here, the problem of slavery is not even discussed. The film has the perfect balance between battle scenes and intimate ones. The original play was the work of CB's brother, William C. de Mille.
What's His Name? (1914) with Max Figman & Lolita Robertson
Nellie (L. Robertson), the baker's daughter marries Harvey (M. Figman) the local soda jerk in Blakeville. She gives birth to a daughter. Their quiet life changes when Nellie becomes a Music Hall star. Her husband is left alone with the child to care for...
This proves to be a charming 'backstage' comedy where the wife has become a terribly vain creature who spends all her time with millionaires. The acting was very good. Some scenes were very funny as when the husband decides to commit suicide. He opens the gas and lies on his bed. Alas, unbeknown to him, it has been switched off by the gas board!
Kindling (1915) with Charlotte Walker, Thomas Meighan & Raymond Hatton
Maggie et Heine Schultz (C. Walker et T. Meighan) live in the slums of Hell's Kitchen. Maggie is terrified when she discovers she's pregnant. She doesn't want to give birth in such a place. She decides to help a burglar (R. Hatton) to get hold of the $100 needed to go West...
A brilliant social drama showing the sordid living conditions of the slums of Hell's Kitchen. The opening scenes show some young kids stealing, eating in rubbish bins or drinking hard liquor. The print was gorgeous and showed A. Wyckoff's work at his best. The film highlights the contrast between the super rich of the time where the landlady spends vast sums on her dog while renting slums for a lot of money. Hatton is very good as the bad guy, so are Meighan and Walker. Certainly one of the best DeMille pictures I have ever seen.
The Golden Chance (1915) with Cleo Ridgely, Wallace Reid and Raymond Hatton
Mary Denby (C. Ridgely) married to violent drunk, accepts a job as seamstress for the Hillarys. The Hillary couple are trying to get a millionaire Roger Manning (W. Reid) to sign a contract. To do so, they hire Mary to appear at dinner...
This is one of my favourite DeMille. It's available on DVD from Image Entertainment, but alas the print is nowhere as good as it should be. I saw a very nice 35 mm from GEH. On a big screen, Cleo Ridgely shines even more; her performance as Mary is truly superb. She is moving and understated. Wally Reid has a lot of charisma as well. The whole film is superbly built and never relent. Again the cinematography is absolutely paramount in this film with its shadows (many years before expressionism) and its glorious close-ups. Fabulous picture!
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1916) with Thomas Meighan & Charlotte Walker
A Tax Agent (T. Meighan) is sent to Virginia to curb the alcohol traffic among the moonshiners. He falls into a trap and becomes prisoner of the Tolliver clan. June Tolliver (C. Walker) has to look after the prisoner and soon falls for him...
Walker and Meighan are paired again after Kindling in this film. It's shot on locations and offers some breathtaking view of forests and mountains. Thomas Meighan is excellent, but Walker tends to overact. Still, the film has some fascinating scenes like when she has to spoonfeed the prisoner as his hand are attached. The murder of one of the Tolliver clan is also startling. The film has a great feel of authenticity about it. The print was nicely contrasted and very good quality.
A Romance of the Redwoods (1917) with Mary Pickford, Elliot Dexter and Tully Marshall
Jenny Lawrence (M. Pickford) moves to California to meet her uncle. Alas, he has been killed by Indians and an outlaw, Black Brown (E. Dexter) stole his indentity. Jenny ends up in his cabin, terrified, though her feelings for the outlaw will change slowly...
It was wonderful to see this film on a big screen after watching a rather ugly looking DVD. Pickford is really a wonderful actress. She brings to her Jenny, determination, stamina and humour. Her best scenes with Dexter brought the house down. Even the harden Cinémathèque goers had to admit that she was after all a really good actress (it just shows the amount of prejudice she is still suffering from!). The whole film is wonderfully built with humour and action in equal measure. A real winner!