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This restoration was gorgeous. Props to EYE Filmmuseum. I had high hopes for the tinting in this film, and I wasn't disappointed (as you can probably tell from past reviews, I really like tinting ). I was especially delighted to spot yellow toning during the night time garden scenes!
The score I chose worked surprisingly well in quite a few parts, but not so much in a few others. The audience clapping a third of the way through certainly didn't help. I really liked the film as is, but with a specially tailored score? What a dream that would be.
Norma Talmadge... It's one thing to see her in a still photograph, but another entirely to see her in motion. This isn't my first time seeing Norma act; that was years back in Kiki (1926) - a comedy, funnily enough, considering Norma is best remembered for her work in dramas. One of my favorite scenes is when Monica is talking with that one guy at the dance, but she isn't as into him as he is with her, and is making some funny faces to Kenneth. Some things just don't change.
Anyway, I was really taken with Norma's performance, and as the film went on I was more and more charmed. She was really talented in pantomime: her face is capable of conveying so much emotion while still giving a feeling of restraint.
The only iffy bit was when Monica collapsed after getting shot, but death scenes in silents often tend to be very theatrical. Concerning the ill-fated wedding section, I could tell this was going to end badly. The combination of jealous, obsessed ex(?), Owen inviting Jerry to the house to speak with Monica one last time (why???), Monica not getting away from Jerry, and the foreshadowing with John and Monica declaring that they will never be separated... yeah, someone's gonna die.
Also... everyone just stood around watching Monica painfully bleed out? I mean, fair enough, this is the 1860s (judging by the crinolines), not like you could call 911 and send for an ambulance, but...
Oh, and I want Monica's wedding dress. I swear, one of these days I'm going to teach myself how to sew and make myself an exact replica!
I was also a bit confused in the beginning, trying to make sense of who was who and the time jump and the attic-ghosts, but the pieces all fell together very soon.
"I can't wait for us to get married! By the way, the reason Uncle John hated you was because your Uncle Jerry shot and killed the woman my uncle was going to marry during the ceremony."
"..."
"...Ken?"
The score I chose worked surprisingly well in quite a few parts, but not so much in a few others. The audience clapping a third of the way through certainly didn't help. I really liked the film as is, but with a specially tailored score? What a dream that would be.
Norma Talmadge... It's one thing to see her in a still photograph, but another entirely to see her in motion. This isn't my first time seeing Norma act; that was years back in Kiki (1926) - a comedy, funnily enough, considering Norma is best remembered for her work in dramas. One of my favorite scenes is when Monica is talking with that one guy at the dance, but she isn't as into him as he is with her, and is making some funny faces to Kenneth. Some things just don't change.
Anyway, I was really taken with Norma's performance, and as the film went on I was more and more charmed. She was really talented in pantomime: her face is capable of conveying so much emotion while still giving a feeling of restraint.
The only iffy bit was when Monica collapsed after getting shot, but death scenes in silents often tend to be very theatrical. Concerning the ill-fated wedding section, I could tell this was going to end badly. The combination of jealous, obsessed ex(?), Owen inviting Jerry to the house to speak with Monica one last time (why???), Monica not getting away from Jerry, and the foreshadowing with John and Monica declaring that they will never be separated... yeah, someone's gonna die.
Also... everyone just stood around watching Monica painfully bleed out? I mean, fair enough, this is the 1860s (judging by the crinolines), not like you could call 911 and send for an ambulance, but...
Oh, and I want Monica's wedding dress. I swear, one of these days I'm going to teach myself how to sew and make myself an exact replica!
I was also a bit confused in the beginning, trying to make sense of who was who and the time jump and the attic-ghosts, but the pieces all fell together very soon.
Assuming he ever knew, did he ever find out on-screen, after all that? Does Kathleen just casually drop that bombshell while discussing wedding plans inside? (and her uncle having just died of an aneurysm or something out in the garden...)
"I can't wait for us to get married! By the way, the reason Uncle John hated you was because your Uncle Jerry shot and killed the woman my uncle was going to marry during the ceremony."
"..."
"...Ken?"