quiet_curiosity (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
quiet_curiosity) wrote2010-12-03 06:53 pm
quiet_curiosity) wrote2010-12-03 06:53 pm
Entry tags:
Scaramouche (1923)
Summary: A law student becomes an outlaw French revolutionary when he decides to avenge the unjust killing of his friend (swiped from the IMDB write-up).
Starring: Ramon Novarro, Alice Terry, Lewis Stone, Julia Swayne Gordon, Lloyd Ingraham, William Humphrey, Otto Matieson, George Siegmann, James A. Marcus, Edith Allen
Directed by: Rex Ingram
Viewed Via: TCM/DVR
Current Commercial Availability: Warner Archive DVD-R Program
1) I have such a love-hate relationship with Novarro. When I like him, I love him (The Student Prince in Old Heidelburg). When I dislike him, I feel nothing but loathing (The Red Lily, Mata Hari). With this movie, I'm feeling the love again. He's dashing, commanding, and sensitive as the young man who wants to avenge his friend. You really don't take your eyes off of him when he's on-screen. This is one of the films that made Novarro and you really understand why after viewing it.
2) Alice Terry is just sort of there as the love interest. It's unfortunate that she was so under-utilized as I know she was a very good performer {which I would have discussed had my DVR not ate THE MAGICIAN before I had finished it - I'M NOT BITTER). But she and Novarro have good chemistry here.
3) Lewis Stone (frequent Garbo co-star and Andy Hardy's father) is quite good here as the villan. He's properly contemptuous of others and just really cruel to all who get in his way. But his attempts to romance Terry's character are discomforting and squicky. I wasn't feeling the woo - it was all sliminess.
4) The film looks amazing. The scenery is finely detailed and Ingram shoots it lovingly. The Paris here feels very lived in. There are a ton of extras, all of whom look very period and class appropriate. In fact, it was interesting to compare Ingram's French Revolution against Griffith's from Orphans of the Storm. Griffith's highly choreographed fall from grace really pales in comparison to Ingram's throngs of angry, heads-on-pikes carrying masses. It's really a sight to behold.
5) The truth about Moreau's parents seems very cliché. And I don't really buy de la Tour's change of heart at the end. That said, his charge out onto the streets is quite good. Once again, Ingram puts his masses of people to good use.
6) The end? I'm glad they get out of Paris but it seemed kind of strange that the people let them go. The "HOLD UP PEOPLE! It's Moreau so we should stop the storming and make a coherent decision" moment almost made me laugh. That said, I appreciate how the last thing we see is the group as the march through Paris. The movie is about Moreau but the time period is bigger than him.
Overall, I really loved it. It looked good and it was well acted.
Starring: Ramon Novarro, Alice Terry, Lewis Stone, Julia Swayne Gordon, Lloyd Ingraham, William Humphrey, Otto Matieson, George Siegmann, James A. Marcus, Edith Allen
Directed by: Rex Ingram
Viewed Via: TCM/DVR
Current Commercial Availability: Warner Archive DVD-R Program
1) I have such a love-hate relationship with Novarro. When I like him, I love him (The Student Prince in Old Heidelburg). When I dislike him, I feel nothing but loathing (The Red Lily, Mata Hari). With this movie, I'm feeling the love again. He's dashing, commanding, and sensitive as the young man who wants to avenge his friend. You really don't take your eyes off of him when he's on-screen. This is one of the films that made Novarro and you really understand why after viewing it.
2) Alice Terry is just sort of there as the love interest. It's unfortunate that she was so under-utilized as I know she was a very good performer {which I would have discussed had my DVR not ate THE MAGICIAN before I had finished it - I'M NOT BITTER). But she and Novarro have good chemistry here.
3) Lewis Stone (frequent Garbo co-star and Andy Hardy's father) is quite good here as the villan. He's properly contemptuous of others and just really cruel to all who get in his way. But his attempts to romance Terry's character are discomforting and squicky. I wasn't feeling the woo - it was all sliminess.
4) The film looks amazing. The scenery is finely detailed and Ingram shoots it lovingly. The Paris here feels very lived in. There are a ton of extras, all of whom look very period and class appropriate. In fact, it was interesting to compare Ingram's French Revolution against Griffith's from Orphans of the Storm. Griffith's highly choreographed fall from grace really pales in comparison to Ingram's throngs of angry, heads-on-pikes carrying masses. It's really a sight to behold.
5) The truth about Moreau's parents seems very cliché. And I don't really buy de la Tour's change of heart at the end. That said, his charge out onto the streets is quite good. Once again, Ingram puts his masses of people to good use.
6) The end? I'm glad they get out of Paris but it seemed kind of strange that the people let them go. The "HOLD UP PEOPLE! It's Moreau so we should stop the storming and make a coherent decision" moment almost made me laugh. That said, I appreciate how the last thing we see is the group as the march through Paris. The movie is about Moreau but the time period is bigger than him.
Overall, I really loved it. It looked good and it was well acted.