William Orlamond Movies
Wizened character actor William Orlamond delivered at least two standout performances in the latter part of the silent era, that of Uncle Kutowski, who strenuously attempts to organize a welcome home parade for John Gilbert and Lars Hanson in The Flesh and the Devil (1925), and as Sourdough, comically fighting with Hanson over Lillian Gish in The Wind (1928). He was also in the riotous comedies Up in Mabel's Room (1926) and Getting Gertie's Garter (1927) and along with countryman Karl Dane and Louise Fazenda constituted a rather unconventional love triangle in Marion Davies' The Red Mill (1927). Hailing from a well-known Danish family of touring actors, Orlamond (born William Andersen Orlamundt) came to America in the latter part of the 19th century and by 1912 was playing comedy roles onscreen for the Lubin Mfg. Company in Philadelphia. He became associated with Metro in the late 1910s and remained with the company when it became MGM, his reputation as a reliable scene-stealer steadily growing. Sound proved no hindrance to Orlamond's screen activity and he earned good roles in such films as The Way of All Men (1930), Are These Our Children? (1931), and Roar of the Dragon (1932). By then, however, Orlamond had become quite elderly and he retired from the screen in 1937. A brother, Fritz Orlamond, and a sister, Ruth Orlamond, also appeared in American silent films, as did Mrs. Orlamond, the former Madge Bertrand (1861-1947) of St. Charles, MN. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1921
It is said that every actor wants to play Shakespeare. Will Rogers would seem a likely exception to that rule, but here he is in this silent, taking a stab (albeit comic) at Romeo. Slim (Rogers), of course, begins as a cowpuncher but his boss switches from cattle to sheep, throwing him out of work. In addition his sweetheart, Lulu (Sylvia Breamer), says he should learn to be a real lover, like Douglas Fairbanks. So Slim decides to go work in motion pictures to discover how film folk make love. After he doubles for villains and heroes alike, Lulu changes her mind -- now she thinks Romeo and Juliet is the yardstick by which all lovers should be measured. So Slim obligingly gets his hands on a copy of the play and tries to read it. Naturally he falls asleep, but he dreams the story with himself and his girl in the title roles. When he awakes, however, he throws all technique out the window, grabs Lulu away from his rival (Raymond Hatton) and drags her off to the preache r. His show of force is what she wanted after all and the film ends happily. This was the final picture of Rogers' contract with the Goldwyn Studios. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Rogers, Sylvia Breamer, (more)
- 1921
Fancy Charlie (Tom Moore) breaks into an apartment, but finds a cabinet full of burglar tools. This is a clear indication that he is robbing one of his own, and he is caught by the apartment's owner (DeWitt C. Jennings). The owner admits to his profession, but allows Charlie to leave if he will take a thousand dollars with him and prove himself to be an honest citizen in a small town -- that way, the whole town can be fleeced at a later date. Charlie agrees, but once he gets there he decides to go straight for real. He returns a wallet full of money to Jules Fanchette (Tom Ricketts), who is the keeper of the "Clean Air Fund," and becomes a partner in his store. He falls in love with Nellie Brown (Hazel Daly) and becomes one of the town's most popular residents. Ultimately he is nominated for mayor. Then the man who sent him to the town in the first place shows up. He threatens to expose Charlie, but he bravely tells him to go right ahead. Then the truth comes out: Charlie's associate is not a crook at all, but G.B. Lawson, a U.S. senator who plays around with criminology on the side. Lawson had been using Charlie as part of an experiment, and now that he has proven to be an honest man, he backs him in his new political endeavors. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Moore, Hazel Daly, (more)
- 1921
Although by no means the definitive version of the Alexander Dumas story -- scenarist June Mathis modernizes it and the overall tone is rather cool for such a group of supposedly hot-blooded characters -- this picturization is notable for a number of reasons. To play Camille's lover, Armand Duval, film star Alla Nazimova hired a handsome young up-and-comer named Rudolph Valentino. Valentino's friend Mathis was primarily responsible for this -- although he had already been in a few films, the just-completed Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would not be released until a few days before Camille began shooting. So the silent screen's biggest heartthrob was still a virtual unknown, as far as Nazimova was concerned. But as Armand he nearly steals the show because he seems so much more natural than Nazimova's stagey Camille -- not to mention the fact that by the film came out, Four Horsemen had already made him a star. The art direction shows the stylized hand of Natacha Rambova, and it was on this production that she and Valentino met and became lovers. The plot to Nazimova's picture stays close to the book at first -- the glamorous demi-monde gives up her lifestyle for young Armand, then gives him up at the behest of his father (William Orlamond) -- but then the ending strikes a sour note. In every other version of Camille ever filmed, the tuberculosis-stricken courtesan dies in Armand's arms. Here she dies with only Gaston (Rex Cherryman) and Nichette (Patsy Ruth Miller) in attendance -- no Armand! In spite of this huge disappointment, the picture still made money for its releasing studio, Metro. Nevertheless, this was Nazimova's last picture for the company. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alla Nazimova, Rudolph Valentino, (more)
- 1922
This character study was adapted from Henning Berger's play, Synafloden, which was known as The Deluge in its English translation. Stratton's Cafe is located in the town of Cottonia, near the banks of the Mississippi River. Since it is below river level, Stratton (Will Walling) has water-tight doors installed. One day the flood alarm sounds and Stratton locks up his cafe. Inside are Billy Bear, a young broker (Richard Dix), Poppy, the chorus girl he once loved (Helene Chadwick), and a number of other people, including a tramp, an alcoholic street preacher, a shyster lawyer, two cotton traders who are enemies, and an out-of-work actor. When they all realize they will probably die of suffocation, they undergo a shift in consciousness. Everyone reforms and forgives their fellowmen in the spirit of brotherly love. Finally they decide to face the flood head on and fling open the doors. To their surprise, the water has receded and all is well. Not surprisingly, everyone immediately reverts to their old, wicked selves -- at least that's the way it was in the play. In the film version, Billy Bear and Poppy hang onto their ideals and head off to get a marriage license. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1922
Eastern boy Malcolm McGregor takes a job in a Western lumber camp to improve his manliness. In his job as overseer, he meets and falls for lovely Colleen Moore, a young woman abused by her husband Ernest Torrence. In the ensuing fight over Moore, a bridge is demolished and the villain is finally killed in a drawn-out fight which the trade-paper Variety pronounced "preposterous." Winifred Kimball was rumored to have won a $30, 000 prize from the New York Daily News for penning this none too original story. " "If this is 'de truth' it's a soft racket!" Variety commented. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malcolm McGregor, Colleen Moore, (more)
- 1923
This tale of the high seas -- based on the novel by Ben Ames Williams -- is as much character study as it is adventure. It involves the rivalry between the two Shore brothers, Mark (Lon Chaney) and Joel (Malcolm McGregor). Mark is the captain of a whaling ship and he looks down on Joel, who has never gone to sea. But when Mark's ship arrives in port sans its captain, Joel takes over the command. His new bride, Priscilla (Billie Dove), insists on coming along and they head for the South Seas, where Mark was last seen. Because he's so green, the crew ridicule Joel, but he eventually proves he is a capable and manly seaman. He finds Mark not far from where he was lost, but after seeing how well his younger brother has done he becomes jealous. He starts a mutiny when Joel refuses to change his course to search for some treasure. But brotherly love wins out when Joel's life is threatened, and Mark sacrifices his own life to save him. This picture was released only a few months before Lon Chaney achieved superstardom with his role as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billie Dove, Lon Chaney, (more)
- 1923
This comedy-melodrama, based on the novel by Rupert Hughes (who also directed), blends fiction and reality to tell the story of a young woman's rise in Hollywood; the film uses real stars and productions (even Charles Chaplin filming A Woman of Paris) as its backdrop. Eleanor Boardman plays Remember Steddon, better known as Mem. Mem is a small-town girl who marries slick bad guy Owen Scudder (Lew Cody); Owen insures his brides and then murders them for the money. After the wedding, Mem starts to have her doubts about him and runs away while their train is chugging through the desert. She happens on a film crew and gets work as an extra, later becoming a famous dramatic actress in Hollywood with the help of director Frank Claymore (Richard Dix). Scudder finally tracks her down during a shoot involving a circus tent; when a storm sets the tent on fire, Scudder loses his life saving Mem from a wind machine's propeller. Freed from her marriage, Mem is able to choose between Claymore and her leading man. Boardman, whose first starring role finds her surrounded by a long and impressive supporting cast, wound up at the Goldwyn studios through a "New Faces" contest. Her co-winner, future star William Haines, also had a bit part as the company's assistant director. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eleanor Boardman, Mae Busch, (more)
- 1923
Writer/director Marshall Neilan once more makes lemonade from a lemon in The Eternal Three. Hobart Bosworth plays Frank R. Walters, an elderly doctor who takes for himself a young bride, portrayed by Claire Windsor. Feeling neglected, the new wife starts up an affair with Walter's adopted son Bob (George Cooper), who has a terrible reputation with the ladies. In ways both large and small, both lovers pay for their sins, and the doctor is made to realize how his neglect of his wife caused the whole imbroglio. Raymond Griffith deftly steals the film with his perfectly timed and paced comedy relief. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hobart Bosworth, Claire Windsor, (more)
- 1923
This tale of the Canadian North starred Dorothy Phillips, the wife of director Alan Holubar (actually, Rosemary Theby in a supporting role is a far more interesting actor than Phillips ever was). When Monsieur Redoux (Robert Schable) chases after Yvonne Desmarest (Phillips), his wife (Theby) believes she is "the other woman." In a jealous rage, Madam Redoux murders her husband, but she is acquitted with the implication that Yvonne was Redoux's lover. The girl's reputation is ruined, and she denounces the judge, Monsieur Duroacher (Lewis Dayton), in his courtroom. To escape the gossip and scorn, Yvonne goes to her father's estate in Hudson Bay. Duroacher discovers that Yvonne was completely innocent, and he tracks her down to help right the wrong he did her. At first Yvonne refuses to have anything to do with him, but she falls in love with him when she realizes he is sincerely sorry for the trouble he has caused her. Duroacher winds up having to fight for his own reputation before he is able to save Yvonne's. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Phillips, Lewis Dayton, (more)
- 1923
Early silent screen matinee idol James Kirkwood starred in this romantic Western, which also offered a good role for veteran D. W. Griffith actress Mary Alden. Miss Alden plays a bossy female rancher who hires a war veteran (Kirkwood) as a ranch hand. She falls in love with him, of course, but he has eyes only for the woman's pretty niece (Elinor Fair). Enraged, Alden forces Kirkwood and Fair off her land but reconsiders her rash decision once the outcasts vanish in a blinding blizzard. Mary Alden is known in film history, not for this quickly forgotten Western, but as the mulatto housekeeper in Griffith's masterpiece The Birth of a Nation (1915). A smooth leading man type of the early 1910s, Kirkwood was the father to James Kirkwood, Jr., the songwriter-creator of the Broadway hit A Chorus Line. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Alden, James Kirkwood, (more)
- 1924
This Maurice Tourneur production was a tour de force for mid-'20s era vamp Barbara LaMarr. When a girl (LaMarr) tries to drown herself in the Seine, she is rescued by dancer Gonzalo Montrez (Charles de Roche). She then becomes a famous dancer known as the White Moth. Douglas Vantine (Ben Lyon), a wealthy young man, falls prey to the White Moth's charms, but his fiancée, Gwen (Edna Murphy) clings stubbornly to him. Douglas' older brother, Robert (Conway Tearle), steps in and courts the White Moth, only to save his brother. He wins her and they travel to America where they are married. But then Robert reveals his motivation for the wedding and walks out on her in spite of her protests that she really loves him. He finally realizes that he loves her too and returns just as Montrez has reentered her life. Before he can cause too much trouble, Montrez is killed by Ninon (Josie Sedgwick), a jealous chorus girl. All this time, the White Moth has remained true to Robert, and they are reconciled. This film was based on a magazine story by Izola Forrester. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara La Marr, Conway Tearle, (more)
- 1924
This famous old stage melodrama by Owen Davis is directed with a lot of spirit by Emmett J. Flynn and features a first rate cast. The overworked Robert Horton (Hobart Bosworth) convinces his friend Thomas Lipton (also played by Bosworth) to take his place for a year. Mrs. Horton (Dorothy Cummings) goes on vacation and her five-year-old daughter, Allyn (Betsy Ann Hisle), is left in Lipton's care. Horton comes back and, in an argument, tries to shoot Lipton. Lipton runs off, taking the child along with him, who he raises as Nellie. When she reaches young womanhood, Lipton falls ill and Nellie (now played by Claire Windsor) finds a job as a cloak model with the help of her friend, Polly Joy (Mae Busch). The shop where Nellie works is run by Walter Peck (Lew Cody), her mother's cousin. He will receive her fortune if her lost daughter is never found. When he discovers that Nellie is the missing girl, he kidnaps her and hires two thugs to tie her to the tracks of an elevated train. That same day, Horton dies, and Lipton urges Mrs. Horton to come for her long lost daughter. Coincidentally, she and Polly are travelling on the very train that is headed for Nellie's unconscious body. But Nellie is saved in the nick of time and is happily reunited with her mother. The surprise ending reveals that the whole film was actually a play being performed in a theater. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claire Windsor, Betsy Ann Hisle, (more)
- 1924
John Gilbert was on the brink of superstardom when he appeared in this routine domestic drama -- his fame would explode within a year, when he starred in The Merry Widow and The Big Pararde back-to-back. Even though The Wife of the Centaur (based on the novel by Cyril Hume) wasn't a brilliant film, director King Vidor gave it his usual thought-provoking touch. Jeffrey Dwyer (Gilbert) is a writer and a poet who wrestles with the conflicts between his idealism and his passion. The two sides of his nature are personified in the women he loves: the sweetly innocent Joan Converse (Eleanor Boardman), and the sexy, charismatic Inez Martin (Aileen Pringle). Inez eventually dumps Dwyer in favor of Harry Todd (Philo McCullough), but her marriage to him fails. After burying his unhappiness in a round of wild parties, Dwyer marries Joan and they go to a mountain lodge. Inez rents a nearby house and once again Dwyer begins falling for her. He fights his emotions until he can take it no longer, and, after leaving a note for Joan, he goes to Inez. But his better nature ultimately takes over and he returns to his forgiving wife. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eleanor Boardman, John Gilbert, (more)
- 1924
Centering a story on the dilemmas of a "modern business woman" seemed like a fine idea in 1924, so Rupert Hughes (whose nephew was a teenager named Howard R. Hughes) wrote and directed this drama for MGM. Aileen Pringle stars as the businesswoman in question, Eva Boutelle, whose husband, Harry (Norman Kerry), is out of town on business. Frank Parry (Huntly Gordon) arrives in New York and is handed over to Eva to work out a business deal. Although Parry is middle-aged, he's hung onto his youthful liveliness and his wife back home (Cleo Madison) is having trouble keeping up with him. Naturally, he finds Eva attractive and convinces her to go out with him. He delays returning home and finally insists that he and Eva should divorce their spouses and marry each other. Eva is tempted, but in the end she realizes that it would be better if they stuck with their mates. There are two notable up-and-comers in the cast: Eleanor Boardman as Parry's daughter, Ethel, and William Haines as Gilbert Morse. Both would become MGM stars. Another notable in the cast is 36-year-old Raymond Hatton playing a great-grandfather. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aileen Pringle, Huntly Gordon, (more)
- 1924
This romantic drama only used half the clichés of the typical horse racing story. There's the impoverished Colonel (or in this case, a judge) and his pretty daughter, who may have to marry the bad guy who has the mortgage on the family home. At least the story draws the line at this juncture -- there are no drugged or kidnapped jockeys and the heroine doesn't put on the jockey's outfit to ride the horse to victory, which is the way most racing melodramas end. Judge Roberts (Frank Keenan) is living a life of genteel poverty, but he doesn't let his daughter, Virginia (Claire Windsor), know. He rears her in luxurious circumstances by selling off his land, bit by bit, until all that is left is the old homestead and a racehorse, who is about to have a colt. But the horse gets out of the stable during a rainstorm and dies after giving birth. The colt, Dixie, just barely survives. Johnny Sheridan (Lloyd Hughes) is down on his luck, and Judge Roberts takes him in. The young man works in the stable and when the colt, Dixie, is badly injured, he saves its life. Dexter, a trainer for a neighboring millionaire (John St. Polis), finally tells Virginia the truth about her father's circumstances. Dixie is entered in a big race and wins 50 thousand dollars, saving Virginia from marrying the man who carries the mortgage on the old homestead. It turns out that Sheridan comes from a good family, so he is able to marry Virginia. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claire Windsor, Frank Keenan, (more)
- 1925
Hoping to build their own amusement park, the Our Gang kids are disheartened to discover that their favorite vacant lot has been purchased for development. Fortunately, the developer, 60-year-old Henry Mills (Paul Weigel), is a big kid at heart. Over the protests of his hide-bound board of directors, Mr. Mills not only agrees to let the kids keep the lot, but also offers to help them build their park. Beyond the inherent pleasures in seeing the gang's elaborate homemade amusement devices, Boys Will Be Joys doesn't have much to recommend it; still, it's hard to dislike any film that opens with live-action titles showing a group of laughing youngsters. This silent, two-reel comedy was originally released on July 26, 1925. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, (more)
- 1925
Smouldering Fires is a first-rate silent "soap opera," immaculately performed by its superb cast and brilliantly directed by Clarence Brown. Pauline Frederick plays a highly efficient middle-aged business executive, whose motto is "Let No Man Be Necessary to You." She discards this edict when she falls in love with her much-younger employee Malcolm McGregor. Though McGregor sincerely loves Frederick, her younger sister Laura LaPlante assumes that the man is a fortune hunter. After Frederick and McGregor are wed, LaPlante comes to realize that her new brother-in-law is sincere. She also realizes uncomfortably that she has fallen in love with McGregor, and he with her. Out of consideration for Frederick, the younger couple keeps their mutual attraction secret, and promise each other not to act upon their feelings. But Frederick eventually figures out the situation. Magnanimously, she declares that the marriage was a mistake, and that she'll seek a divorce before anyone is hurt. The aftermath of this triangular situation is subtly hinted at by a carefully arranged medium shot of the three principals. Never stooping to cliché or wallowing in phony sentimentality, Smouldering Fires is an honest tale about realistic people with genuine emotions. Most available prints are from the American release version; the slightly longer European version is even better, with some remarkably mature (albeit non-lurid) setpieces. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pauline Frederick, Laura La Plante, (more)
- 1926
Clara Bow plays an inveterate flirt who impulsively marries much-older mountain man Ernest Torrence. When city lawyer Percy Marmont shows up on a camping trip, Bow can't help but lead the poor fellow on. He resists her advances, but finally succumbs, leading to disaster. Very typical of the silent films that catapulted jazz-baby Clara Bow to stardom in the late 1920s, Mantrap benefits immeasurably from Bow's boundless vivacity and from the breathtaking location photography by James Wong Howe. One nagging question: what does twentysomething Bow see in either of her superannuated leading men--particularly the cadaverous Percy Marmont? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernest Torrence, Clara Bow, (more)
- 1926
Originally released on January 10, 1926, Good Cheer was Our Gang's Yuletide present to the series' legions of fans. 'Tis the day before Christmas, and all through the snowy streets, the Our Gang kids are confronted not by Christmas cheer, but by the crass commercialism of the holiday. Happily, the Spirit of Christmas -- who looks a lot like Santa Claus -- pays a surprise visit to Gang members Mickey Daniels and Johnny Downs, inspiring the boys to earn enough money to buy presents for the rest of their friends. With their usual business acumen, the youngsters come up with a sure-fire moneymaking scheme -- selling heated bricks to keep the last-minute shoppers' feet warm. As a bonus, the gang captures a bunch of bootleggers, thereby earning a huge reward. The film's most memorable sequence, in which a gathering of wind-up toys dance and cavort in a department store window, is unfortunately missing from most TV prints of Good Cheer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, (more)
- 1926
Mr. and Mrs. Weedle (William Gillespie and Charlotte Mineau) are in a jam: For years, they've been receiving substantial amounts of money from their rich uncle (William A. Orlamond), who has been led to believe that the Weedles have two children to support. Now Uncle is coming to town, and the duplicitous couple must come up with a pair of babies in a hurry. Naturally, the Our Gang kids hope to get the job, but they're given a run for their money by a mischievous 27-year-old midget (Harry Earles). Meanwhile, Gang member Joe Cobb tries to curb his fighting blood, with less than successful results. Making good use of Hal Roach Studios' standing hotel sets, the silent, two-reel Our Gang comedy Baby Clothes was originally released on April 25, 1926 (an abbreviated TV version, retitled The Rich Uncle, is best avoided; without the original subtitles, the story makes virtually no sense). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Cobb, Mickey Daniels, (more)
- 1926
Likeable Douglas MacLean breezes his way through the tailor-made vehicle That's My Baby. Jilted on his wedding day, Alan Boyd (MacLean) vows never to get involved with a woman ever again. But a promise to oneself is the easiest kind to break, as Boyd discovers when he falls in love with Helen Raynor (Margaret Morris), his boss' daughter. The lion's share of the footage concerns the hero's misadventures when a baby is entrusted to his care. The tot causes no end of trouble for Boyd, culminating in a Harold Lloyd-like sequence in which our hero tries to rescue the kid from the wing of an airplane in flight. Rather than endanger a real baby in this sequence, the producers secured the services of midget-actor Harry Earles, best known for his work in Tod Browning's The Unholy Three and Freaks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas MacLean, Margaret Morris, (more)
- 1926
This first film version of Andre Picard's stage success Kiki stars Norma Talmadge in the title role. A saucy Parisian dancer, Kiki begins keeping time with theatrical manager Victor Renal (Ronald Colman). Her rival for Renal's affections is icy "legitimate" actress Paulette (Gertrude Astor), but Kiki is willing to go to any lengths to claim her man. In the original play, Renal and Paulette were married, making Kiki the interloper, but this was altered so that producer Joseph M. Schenck could cast his star (and then-wife) Norma Talmadge in a more sympathetic light. Kiki was remade in 1931, with Mary Pickford incongruously cast as the oo-la-la heroine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norma Talmadge, Ronald Colman, (more)
- 1926
This first film version of the Otto Harbach-William Collison stage farce Up in Mabel's Room was released in 1926, the same year that the original play premiered on Broadway. Newlywed Garry Ainsworth (played by the "original" Harrison Ford) discovers that his ex-wife Mabel (Marie Prevost) is in an adjoining honeymoon suite with her new husband Jimmy (Harry Myers). Before long, practically the entire male population -- and at least one female, Sylvia Wells (Phyllis Haver) is "up in Mabel's room." Not content with the slapstick hijinks inherent in the original play, the screenwriters contrive to include a wild nightclub sequence, replete with undulating chorus girls. Up in Mabel's Room was remade by Allan Dwan in 1945. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Prevost, Harrison Ford, (more)
- 1926
A bulky, verbose novel by Herman Suderman was the source for the exquisitely silent Flesh and the Devil. On leave from the Austrian army, lifelong friends John Gilbert and Lars Hanson return to their loving families. At a reception in Hanson's honor, Gilbert makes the acquaintance of the hauntingly beautiful Greta Garbo, whom he'd previously glimpsed for a few fleeting seconds at the railway depot. Those few seconds were enough to thoroughly captivate Gilbert, thus paving the way for a feverish sexual liaison with Garbo. Gilbert is shocked to discover that Garbo is married to aristocrat Marc MacDermott, who challenges Gilbert to a duel--on the proviso that the "official" reason for their argument is a disagreement at cards, so that McDermott will suffer no disgrace. Gilbert kills the husband on the field of honor; as punishment for his unmilitary conduct, he is "invited" to accept a post in Africa. Honoring his promise to the late McDermott, Gilbert reveals his love of Garbo to no one, not even his dearest friend Hanson. As he departs for his five-year exile, Gilbert asks Hanson to look after the "bereaved" Garbo. Pardoned after three years, Gilbert returns home, only to discover that Garbo has remarried--to Hanson. Minister George Fawcett, evidently the only person to know of Gilbert's tryst with Garbo, advises Gilbert to give up his friendship with Hanson so as to avoid the temptation of cuckolding his best friend. But when Hanson falls seriously ill, Garbo begs Gilbert to renew the friendship. He does so, not suspecting that Garbo merely wants to trap him in her web again. Gilbert is caught in a compromising position by the distraught Hanson; he regretfully challenges Gilbert to a duel, to be fought on their favorite childhood playing site, "The Island of Friendship". As Hanson nervously aims his weapon at the repentant, unresisting Gilbert, he realizes that he can't go through with the duel. The two friends embrace, begging one another's forgiveness...while Garbo, who has belatedly headed across the frozen lake to prevent the duel, comes to an icy end. While the overly intense "male bonding" between John Gilbert and Lars Hanson tends to evoke knowing chuckles when seen today, Flesh and the Devil otherwise holds up quite well. Clarence Brown's innovative directorial touches still seem fresh after years of imitation by lesser talents. Ostensibly a John Gilbert vehicle (he receives sole over-the-title billing), Flesh is utterly dominated through sheer force of personality by the divine Garbo; in anyone else's hands, her enigmatic, impulse-driven temptress would have been just another cardboard vixen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Gilbert, Greta Garbo, (more)
- 1926
Charley Chase will do just about anything to marry his sweetheart Madge (Corliss Palmer) in this amusing two-reeler. So she promises herself to him -- providing that he play Romeo to her Juliet in the Shakespeare/variety benefit show she's holding. He agrees, though reluctantly, and once he's in costume it's easy to see why he balked -- the tights make his toothpick legs seem even skinnier. With the use of some sponges he gives his legs some shape. But when he has to pick up Madge's inebriate father (William A. Orlamond), it looks like he may never get to the show -- a cab driver (Oliver Hardy) won't let them go until he gets the forty dollars the old man owes him, and when Charley tries to sell some bootleg liquor to raise the money, he's forced to drink it. But after being chased by the driver and a cop and running through sprinklers (making his legs even more ridiculously shapely than before), Charley does arrive -- intoxicated to the point of insensibility. He proceeds to turn the show into an crazed melee -- but instead of being its ruination, he's the hit of the night. Madge is delighted with his performance and tells him, "There were times when I imagined you had really been drinking!" ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charley Chase, Corliss Palmer, (more)
