I really really loved this one. What's memorable for me is how natural the acting feels and how palpable the chemistry is between the leads. It made the story so intriguing and believable despite..as others have mentioned, a slightly botched ending by today's standards...but it was 1929 and as whole, it stands its own as a great film.
I cannot believe this is not on SilentEra's top 300! What an oversight!!
A beautiful, moving film. But after setting up a polarity between the immoral man of material promises and the moral man of the life of the spirit, the ending
-- in which Farrell rises and walks to rescue Gaynor out of sheer determination-- certainly seems to undermine the film's courage of its own convictions. It is an insult to handicapped people everywhere, at least it is very dangerously flippant in this regard. However, if the ending is seen as being akin to the ending of Ordet, i.e., as a moment of faith that transcends the boundaries of realism and leaps into the realm of allegory, it remains moving.
Great performances. Great movie. Somewhat unrealistic and disappointing ending, however. If sheer willpower and determination could make anyone walk, we'd have a lot less people in wheelchairs.
I suspect this isn't on the Silent Era Top 300 list because it wasn't widely available at the time the list was made - if they ever update it, this will probably be added. A strong melodrama for the era, though the ending is a bit much, and Janet Gaynor is engaging as always. 7.5/10
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dpka
https://archive.org/details/BillSpragueCollection1929LuckyStarSpanisTitlesPrinceJax
I really really loved this one. What's memorable for me is how natural the acting feels and how palpable the chemistry is between the leads. It made the story so intriguing and believable despite..as others have mentioned, a slightly botched ending by today's standards...but it was 1929 and as whole, it stands its own as a great film.3eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I33ZN3fRx30samvern37
Gran’!fricken
I competly agree with Local Hero, most films i´ve seen on the Silent Era top 300 were not as good as this one!Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
I cannot believe this is not on SilentEra's top 300! What an oversight!!A beautiful, moving film. But after setting up a polarity between the immoral man of material promises and the moral man of the life of the spirit, the ending
ClassicLady
Great performances. Great movie. Somewhat unrealistic and disappointing ending, however. If sheer willpower and determination could make anyone walk, we'd have a lot less people in wheelchairs.TheMajor
The perfect couple, as in Street Angel and 7th heaven.Ray Anselmo
I suspect this isn't on the Silent Era Top 300 list because it wasn't widely available at the time the list was made - if they ever update it, this will probably be added. A strong melodrama for the era, though the ending is a bit much, and Janet Gaynor is engaging as always. 7.5/10