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Entertaining John Gilbert, Renee Adoree, Lionel Barrymore 1927 Silent
posted by genplant29STAFFMOD on February 3, 2018 at 8:47 PM
This certainly isn't high art, but is well made, very watchable and entertaining, and is opportunity to see a quirky Tod Browning directed and produced late-Silent MGM feature from when a very fit John Gilbert was in his prime regarding both talent and looks, lovely Renee Adoree was going strong as a compelling screen presence, and youngish (48 years old) Lionel Barrymore wasn't yet looking at all like an old guy; in this he portrays a character who's a decidedly nasty piece of work. The movie further includes a giant lizard, a human-spider woman, a literal half-woman (she has no lower body), and a mermaid queen.
John Gilbert is fun to watch as a shameless total jerk womanizer, whose looks, charisma (if one can call it that), and powers of persuasiveness get him through life via rampantly using women.
The film has a good surprise revelation that comes near the end. It adds a touching unexpected extra layer to things.
I rate this a solid 7/10.
Please check out the following list of titles and celebrities I've created TMDb threads for: https://www.themoviedb.org/list/118052
Reply by barrymost
on September 16, 2019 at 8:14 PM
Well, I finally got around to watching this tonight. (Thanks to your recommendation!) I must say, I was impressed! I enjoyed it a lot, especially seeing Lionel Barrymore looking younger than I have ever seen him in any movie. In fact, I don't think I've seen him in anything before 1931 until now.
I admit, for some reason I was laughing hysterically during the scene where The Greek confronts Robin for the first time. He pulls out that giant switchblade and grins so evilly and then Robin just ambles over and takes an even bigger knife (little sword?). That was great. The way The Greek just keeps smirking that way through the whole movie is a hoot!
I agree with your rating and gave it the same: 7/10.
I haven't really watched a silent film since becoming a classic films fan, except for Chaplin's magnificent City Lights but I would really like to, after seeing this. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention!
Reply by genplant29
on September 17, 2019 at 4:26 PM
I'm so glad you checked this movie out, barry, and that you enjoyed it!
If now, having seen it, you're perhaps feeling open to broadening your Silent Films horizons some, while meanwhile sticking to seeing more of two of the stars (John Gilbert and Renee Adoree) of this film, give the major Silent classic The Big Parade a look. That's considered - deservedly - one of the all-time great Silents. While its first approx. 1/2 hour is good but no big deal, beyond that point is exceptional, and includes performances and scenes that you'll never forget, they're so very powerful and intense.
Here are two of that movie's tremendously famous scenes:
Goodbye
Reunion
Those outstandingly acted and filmed scenes get me every time.
I'm a major John Gilbert fan (he and the great Ramon Novarro are my two fave male Silent stars), and so far have the DVDs of five of his movies. Gilbert is one of those "sure thing" Silent stars, who any movie he's in, you can count on it being really good. I'm also a definite Adoree fan, though haven't seen as many of her movies, but have seen a number, and very much liked all that I've seen.
In The Show, Lionel certainly is a thoroughly nasty piece of work, with absolutely no redeeming qualities, huh? lol. His The Greek certainly puts the vil(e) in villain! Brings the song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" to mind! (It's like that was written about The Greek!)
Reply by barrymost
on September 18, 2019 at 4:26 PM
Will definitely look into The Big Parade. It certainly sounds good, and it would be interesting to see more of Gilbert's and Adoree's work.
And you're right: no redeeming qualities come to mind concerning The Greek! (Love your pun, by the way). But...he got his comeuppance...
Reply by genplant29
on September 20, 2019 at 2:03 AM
Some of my other favourite Gilbert films, each which I can highly recommend, are:
Two additional Adoree movies that I believe you'd like are:
Sadly, Renee Adoree died in 1933, and John Gilbert in 1936, so each had their life cut short much too young, while still only in their thirties.
Reply by barrymost
on September 20, 2019 at 4:54 PM
Thanks! I checked them out; they all sound rather interesting. I had forgotten, though I was just reminded looking at these, that Greta Garbo and John Gilbert had been romantically involved. I've seen Garbo's Anna Karenina (the version with Basil Rathbone), but didn't realize she had played the role in Love as well.
And that is sad. It's such a shame when someone (especially someone with a lot of talent) wrecks their life early and ends up dying young.
Reply by genplant29
on September 20, 2019 at 5:42 PM
It's sad how so many still-young actors/actresses of the late-Silents / early-talkies era died when only in their 20s, 30s, or 40s. Especially frequently people back then (1920s and early 1930s) were dying from tuberculosis or influenza, that today would be successfully treatable, but in those times typically was a death sentence. There were also a number of actor/actress deaths from severe addiction (either alcohol or drugs) or from suicide. (It was during the Great Depression.) Also many cancer deaths. It's surprising how many times I've checked the credits of a 1920s or early '30s film, to find out more about this or that person I liked (and who I wondered why I hadn't seen much, if anything, later from) and discover that they, and often various other cast members, died, much too young, early on.
Gilbert died from a combination of severe alcoholism and resultant general poor health and heart disease. Adoree died from tuberculosis.
No one would ever have guessed, back when The Show, or any of the other mentioned films, came out, that either Gilbert or Adoree were not much longer of this world.