My first Richard Barthelmess movie was several years ago with Broken Blossoms. I was very very new to silent movies and really had only gotten into them because of Buster. I'm afraid I was very narrow minded and had yet to learn to appreciate what I was watching. My first viewing of this movie, well, I'm afraid I thought it was kind of silly. Overly dramatic. Which I guess it is, but now that I'm more seasoned, I see how difficult it is to convey without words or over use of intertitles. How there is real skill there in a face and movement. It's hard. I think there is a balance with intertitles. Too many or too few can ruin a film. I find too few to be the hardest for me. I don't know if it is because of my attention span or because the film can be so contextualized in the time period that I don't quite get all of it.
Anyway, I digress. Last year I opted to watch Broken Blossoms again after reading an article about the closet scene. Which is incredible. Every film fan should see this. I don't have words. Gish is amazing in this movie. I think it is her best. Other than Gish's amazing talents, Barthelmess completely captivated me. The way his face and figure could go from broken apathy to tenderness and concern. They protectiveness that he seemed to so easily convey.... He is now one of my favorite actors. You know, one of those that you will watch any movie they're in no matter how bad it is, just because they're in it? Yep. We all have them. I have several and Barthelmess is one of them.
So today, on the 51st anniversary of his death, I'm spending the day with Richard. I didn't want to rewatch any movies. So no Broken Blossoms, no The Drop Kick, no Way Down East. I'm lucky enough to be very spoiled with movies and I've amassed quite a collection. That's why I can do theme days and completely indulge my OCD. Someday I'll watch them all. ;-)
I started today with Tol'able David. I'd never gotten around to watching this one, and today was a perfect excuse! I gotta say it was a bit too cutsie for me. THE MAIL MUST BE DELIVERED! Meh. Apparently this film was very very popular. His character showed a lot of integrity which was a admired theme at the time. Sacrifice for one's duty and all. He made that wonderful "Barthelmess I'm gonna get you" face several times, so I was happy. Ernest Torrence is in this. I've liked him ever since I saw him in Steamboat Bill Jr. I don't like him as a bad guy, which I understand he played a lot. I can see why, he did it a bit too well. For some reason he always reminds me of Donald Crisp. I don't know why I always get the two of them confused. :-/ Maybe it's the beady eyes. I've chosen to always see him as Buster's dad though not as this bad guy role. It's my brain, and I can do what I want!
Next up, I chose The Enchanted Cottage. I've seen the 1945 remake. Really like Dorothy McGuire ever since I saw her in A Summer Place. Seeing the original was very different. Much more fantasy. Great costumes! Barthelmess is wonderfully physical as a disabled soldier. He conveys the pain and torment so well. And the bliss...when we get to the bliss parts, he gets that beautiful wistful look of his. May McAvoy is stunning. Even when they try and make her unattractive. It's all about the teeth here. You had to be blessed with good teeth, or else you ugly. She was actually in The Jazz Singer. Which I have yet to see. Turns out that McAvoy was a pretty tough broad. Cecil B DeMille tried to put a stop to her career because she turned down a role(bit too much nudity for her taste), so she bought out her contract and worked freelance. This movie was one of those freelance movies. Atta girl! Not so sure about how I feel about DeMille after this. I'd always liked him. Especially after knowing the way Gloria Swanson felt about him. Eh, no one is perfect all the time.
The copy I have of The Enchanted Cottage has a terrible soundtrack and I couldn't read all the intertitles or the hand written letter, but with Barthelmess and McAvoy, it was pretty easy to get past the flaws in my bad DVD. Sweet film without being too syrupy. I wonder if they're going to have an ugly baby? That really is how it ended.... ::::giggle:::: I LOVE IT!
I wrapped things up with The Stolen Jools. I wanted to wind it up with hearing his voice. Sometimes I do that on Silent Cinema Sunday. Yeah, I know "silent". Whatever. I love this short and EVERYONE is in it. Barthelmess has such a pleasant voice and he's funny. I mean he's in there for a split second, but I liked it.
One of the things I love about Barthelmess is his connection to Nazimova(who I think is just such a cool lady). She was a family friend and Barthelmess' mother actually taught her to speak English. Nazimova is the one that convinced Richard to go into acting. Thanks Nazimova! One more reason to like you!
So that was my Richard Barthelmess day! Got a little more variety and roles I haven't seen him in before. It was a good day.
Love,
Olive
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