Although the storyline of this movie is trite, it comes across with a terrific wallop. I was crying! How does this miracle come about? Two words: Dorothy Davenport. All right, make it three words then: Mrs Wallace Reid. Same difference. This little movie is brilliantly put across by a really skillful director who has brought out magnificent performances from her players, particularly young Helen Foster, who was actually 22 years old when this film was made. Although Helen gives a totally winning portrayal here, she had only a few more starring roles (e.g. 1929's The Harvest of Hate, a Jack Perrin western, and 1932's Ghost City with Bill Cody) before the long slide down to the extra ranks in 1956's Around the World in 80 Days. Oddly, the man she way overshadows here, Warner Baxter (a nothing performance, if ever there was one) subsequently enjoyed a brilliant career and was soon to carry off Hollywood's most prestigious acting award!
The only actor who runs Helen Foster close in Linda is Noah Beery – in a rare, sympathetic part. The scene in which he – well, I won't spoil it for you! – reduced me to tears, I've rarely seen such brilliant acting on the silent screen. Connoisseurs will also be thrilled to see Bess Flowers in a role that is somewhat more than a walk-on. The uncredited Billie Brockwell is likewise superb as the heroine's mum, while Mitchell Lewis as her evil dad contrives an engrossing performance of considerable subtlety. You hate him, yet you feel sorry for him!
It's great to have this little gem of a movie now available on an excellent Grapevine DVD.
P.S. The editor of this movie was not Willis Kent. What a ridiculous suggestion! Kent was a producer and a distributor, not an editor. Edith Wakeling was under contract to Kent, and she most certainly edited this movie too – as the Press Book so describes!
The only actor who runs Helen Foster close in Linda is Noah Beery – in a rare, sympathetic part. The scene in which he – well, I won't spoil it for you! – reduced me to tears, I've rarely seen such brilliant acting on the silent screen. Connoisseurs will also be thrilled to see Bess Flowers in a role that is somewhat more than a walk-on. The uncredited Billie Brockwell is likewise superb as the heroine's mum, while Mitchell Lewis as her evil dad contrives an engrossing performance of considerable subtlety. You hate him, yet you feel sorry for him!
It's great to have this little gem of a movie now available on an excellent Grapevine DVD.
P.S. The editor of this movie was not Willis Kent. What a ridiculous suggestion! Kent was a producer and a distributor, not an editor. Edith Wakeling was under contract to Kent, and she most certainly edited this movie too – as the Press Book so describes!