Directed by legendary James Cruze, one of his few surviving silent films, The Mating Call is a rare delight, featuring an attractive cast, a compelling script (or continuity, as it was called in the silent days), and some unforgettable precode moments. Thomas Meighan was aging a bit by 1928 but he was still a handsome hunk of a man, Evelyn Brent was extremely sexy, and Renee Adoree gives a completely marvelous and poignant performance as the immigrant wife. Her nude swimming scene must have shook up the audiences of that era, years before Hedy Lamarr did the same in Ecstasy.
To a certain extent the film has been poorly understood and characterized by other reviewers here. The Order scenes were NOT based on the KKK, there was no racism in the picture. It was a local organization made up of white male citizens of the little town who wanted to make it uncomfortable for other white male immoral types to get away with sin against their families or others. The men who were chastised were adulterers or those who didn't properly take care of their families. Now this kind of thing is best dealt with in the church, and privately, and of course without whippings. Their little town would not have been a very pleasant place to live, given the stress WW One soldiers faced upon their return to the States.
I felt the musical score was passable, but certainly not great. During a key bedroom scene, with Evelyn Brent's character coming on to Thomas Meighan's character, it sounded like carousel or kiddie music in the background, totally inappropriate to the flavor of the scene. The music should have been sexy, since the scene was sexy. Must all of Robert Israel's compiled soundtracks sound like music for Harold Lloyd comedies? This was a drama predominantly, with a few funny moments added for comic relief.
Thanks to TCM for broadcasting the film. I am glad I recorded it on DVD-R, since it is unknown at this time when the film might be released by the company that worked on it.
To a certain extent the film has been poorly understood and characterized by other reviewers here. The Order scenes were NOT based on the KKK, there was no racism in the picture. It was a local organization made up of white male citizens of the little town who wanted to make it uncomfortable for other white male immoral types to get away with sin against their families or others. The men who were chastised were adulterers or those who didn't properly take care of their families. Now this kind of thing is best dealt with in the church, and privately, and of course without whippings. Their little town would not have been a very pleasant place to live, given the stress WW One soldiers faced upon their return to the States.
I felt the musical score was passable, but certainly not great. During a key bedroom scene, with Evelyn Brent's character coming on to Thomas Meighan's character, it sounded like carousel or kiddie music in the background, totally inappropriate to the flavor of the scene. The music should have been sexy, since the scene was sexy. Must all of Robert Israel's compiled soundtracks sound like music for Harold Lloyd comedies? This was a drama predominantly, with a few funny moments added for comic relief.
Thanks to TCM for broadcasting the film. I am glad I recorded it on DVD-R, since it is unknown at this time when the film might be released by the company that worked on it.