It (1927)
Summary: A shopgirl sets her romantic sights on her boss. But once she finally snags him, an incident with her roommate and the choice she makes puts her newfound relationship in danger.
Stars: Clara Bow, Antonio Moreno, William Austin, Priscilla Bonner
Director: Clarence G. Badger
Viewed Via: DVD/Netflix
Current Commercial Availability: It (R1 - Milestone/Image); It - Plus "Clara Bow: Discovering the 'It' Girl" documentary (R1 - Kino)
1) The movie could not stop defining "it". Literally. The first five or so minutes involves the two main male characters reading the definition from Elinor Glyn's story and one of them judging them both (and, eventually, all the shopgirls) to see if they possess "it". And then Glyn has a cameo in which she, just for emphasis, recites the definition again. Overkill!
2) Clara Bow is certainly a lot of fun: engaging, impulsive, silly, and cute as a button. And she's super aggressive, if not all that subtle, in her pursuit of her boss. While the character is marked by an aggressive sexuality, she's not bound by it and is unfailingly independent. Waltham's offer to keep her as his mistress once he founds out about her (but in actuality, her friend's) baby results in a torrent of anger and tears. She's in the relationship for love and not money/security. She can take care of herself. And you believe her.
3) Antonio Moreno warms into his role as Bow's object of affection, though he may be abit too distant at first. He was a bit too good at ignoring her moves for attention. At the same time, he certainly seemed at home in both his rarefied, rich man atmosphere and with Bow as they moved their way through the amusement park.
4) Why do silent film amusement parks look like so much fun? Every single one of them makes you wish that you were there.
5) The situation with the roommate doesn't make much sense to the contemporary mind. The roommate is sick and and is seemingly always on the verge of losing her baby because of said sickness. That said, the roommate isn't living out on the street letting her baby crawl through dumpsters. They obviously have a home with someone who can pay the bills. There are no signs that the baby is malnourished or neglected. Much less, this is an illness that the roommate is nearly recovered from, meaning that she will be going to go back into the workforce at some point. But because there was no manly breadwinner involved, social services is trying to knock down the door. Relying on a willing friend during times of need just didn't factor in.
6) The supporting cast is winning. The stand out is William Austin as Waltham's spastic friend Monty. Jacqueline Gadsdon is a bit depressing as Waltham's former flame. At once she looks so angry at him for getting taken up with Bow, but that anger slowly withers into the permanently sad look. I felt bad for her.
7) I watched this with the boyfriend and he had infinite issues with the yacht. It looked way too small to have as much space as the movie inferred it had.
For all the beginning frustrations, It turns into a wonderful romantic comedy and is very much recommended.
Stars: Clara Bow, Antonio Moreno, William Austin, Priscilla Bonner
Director: Clarence G. Badger
Viewed Via: DVD/Netflix
Current Commercial Availability: It (R1 - Milestone/Image); It - Plus "Clara Bow: Discovering the 'It' Girl" documentary (R1 - Kino)
1) The movie could not stop defining "it". Literally. The first five or so minutes involves the two main male characters reading the definition from Elinor Glyn's story and one of them judging them both (and, eventually, all the shopgirls) to see if they possess "it". And then Glyn has a cameo in which she, just for emphasis, recites the definition again. Overkill!
2) Clara Bow is certainly a lot of fun: engaging, impulsive, silly, and cute as a button. And she's super aggressive, if not all that subtle, in her pursuit of her boss. While the character is marked by an aggressive sexuality, she's not bound by it and is unfailingly independent. Waltham's offer to keep her as his mistress once he founds out about her (but in actuality, her friend's) baby results in a torrent of anger and tears. She's in the relationship for love and not money/security. She can take care of herself. And you believe her.
3) Antonio Moreno warms into his role as Bow's object of affection, though he may be abit too distant at first. He was a bit too good at ignoring her moves for attention. At the same time, he certainly seemed at home in both his rarefied, rich man atmosphere and with Bow as they moved their way through the amusement park.
4) Why do silent film amusement parks look like so much fun? Every single one of them makes you wish that you were there.
5) The situation with the roommate doesn't make much sense to the contemporary mind. The roommate is sick and and is seemingly always on the verge of losing her baby because of said sickness. That said, the roommate isn't living out on the street letting her baby crawl through dumpsters. They obviously have a home with someone who can pay the bills. There are no signs that the baby is malnourished or neglected. Much less, this is an illness that the roommate is nearly recovered from, meaning that she will be going to go back into the workforce at some point. But because there was no manly breadwinner involved, social services is trying to knock down the door. Relying on a willing friend during times of need just didn't factor in.
6) The supporting cast is winning. The stand out is William Austin as Waltham's spastic friend Monty. Jacqueline Gadsdon is a bit depressing as Waltham's former flame. At once she looks so angry at him for getting taken up with Bow, but that anger slowly withers into the permanently sad look. I felt bad for her.
7) I watched this with the boyfriend and he had infinite issues with the yacht. It looked way too small to have as much space as the movie inferred it had.
For all the beginning frustrations, It turns into a wonderful romantic comedy and is very much recommended.