directed by: Clarence Brown
written by: George Marion Jr. + A. S. Puschkin (novel)
starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, Louise Dresser
seen: 6th February, 2018
Well, during my comparative excursion amongst the fabled lovers of the silent film, Douglas Fairbanks still remains on the top of my imaginary chart (and that's only if I don't include Buster Keaton, because he can top anyone). Valentino's charm doesn't work too much on me and the whole first half of the film, where he's the only attraction, seems to lack that "something something" that would make me watch and be immersed.
But that changed, though, when Vilma Banky stepped into the light. I'm not sure if the screenplay gave her a bit more stuff to act out, or whatever it was that made her more electric, lively and attractive than her male counterpart. I definitely liked the way she was written as a smarter and (relatively) more independent woman than your usual damsel in distress, which made her only the more dashing. And mainly, as soon as she entered the picture and the triangle "the antagonist-his daughter-the protagonist" could get going, the film became so interesting that I didn't know what to admire first.
All and all, Clarence Brown didn't leave too much of a good impression on me, nevertheless he deserves a thumps up for using all his aces in the second half of the film rather than wasting them in the beginning.
-"I'd rather die on my feet than ride on your horse."
