Starring: Evelyn Brent, Louise Brooks, Lawrence Gray
Directed by: Frank Tuttle
Released: March 19th, 1926
DVD Status: Released via Sunrise Silents. Click here to purchase!
My rating (out of 5 stars): 4
I made my first Silents Under the Stars tonight. It was kinda a miracle actually...see I don't venture outside Hollywood much...and this wilderness thing is quite confusing. However I'd roughly been over that way for a rock show before so I thought I'd find it no problem. Paramount Movie Ranch...how hard could it be?
Turns out hard if you use mapquest which sucks hardcore. Also even if you have an address (or use the name of the place) it will mislead you anyways. So will pretty much every other map service. So for anyone in need this is my advice (coming from LA):
*Take the 101 whichever way you need to go (from LA/the Valley: North) and go forever until
*Exit 36 Kanan Road. Go left if you came from 101 N.
*Shortly after you pass the gas station and building there will be a hidden left right before you really get into the mountains. Its called Cornell Way. Take it.
*This is where mapquest will kill you. STAY ON CORNELL until you see Paramount Movie Ranch which will be on your right. Its a small sign so you have to look for it. But I promise its there.
I literally almost gave up. I tried to go up and down the various roads for 30 minutes before I decided to go up Connel again ONE LAST TIME. Just by luck I seen it. And just by luck I parked and ran in 2 minutes before they started the feature (so I missed the shorts, BOO!)
I snapped a few pictures, grabbed a seat I wish I wouldn't have (benches are hard) and then the movie started. I wish I had been able to take a few pics of the Ranch as its very cool especially if your into Westerns. I cant wait to visit again, which will have to be for non silents as this is the last outdoor screening this year (don't worry, Evenings at the Barn will start in a few months!)
So the feature was Louise Brooks in 1926's 'Love 'Em and Leave 'Em'. Awesomeness.
Plot
This was Brook's second featured role (third film overall) and she plays second banana to Evelyn Brent. I don't even know if words can describe the awesomness of this movie. Although it started out slow it just ran to the end going for broke; and just got more and more awesome as it went.
The jist of the film is Mamie Walsh (Evelyn Brent) and her sister Janie Walsh (Louise Brooks) live together in the City where they both work at the department store with Mamie's boyfriend Bill (Lawrence Gray). Mamie is the responsible, smart one and helps her boyfriend get a promotion as a window dresser...cuz shes smart and stuff. She and Bill get serious as his career progresses, and the day before her vacation he proposes to her. However she turns him down, saying they need more money before they can marry.
Meanwhile Janie is a little slut going out with any and every guy she can bend to her will. Mamie suggests Janie help Bill while shes gone and Janie does...eventually vamping Bill to her will. They go on a date, while on her vacation Mamie decides she wants to marry Bill and takes the first train home. She arrives home and the family prepares a surprise celebration for her and Bill who 'should be back from the movies any minute'. In a horrible cringe inducing cuz its so bad its good scene Bill comes home with Janie...and his two timin is exposed, causing Mamie to dump his ass.
Janie pleads forgiveness, but Mamie ignores her. Janie gets herself into major trouble and Mamie must help her out, which she does only because she promised her parents she'd take care of Janie. Major hilarity ensues and all is well in the end with Mamie and Bill getting back together and Janie not getting into trouble (and getting another wealthy man).
Review
I must admit it started slow. But Evelyn Brent just got more amazing and her fight scene made me want to shout 'GIRL POWER'. She is the reason flappers were awesome. Louise Brooks proved why she was the final incarnation of the Vamp and honestly she was awesome. But her character was just so bad...you had to admit that if this were real life you'd wanna slap her. Literally one word comes to mind: Brat. But Louise plays it well.
I also liked the skirting of production codes here. Louise Brooks runs around in a skimpy little costume for the finale, and there is also a scene with her in a negligee (not too scandalous now, but surely was back then). Another scene between the Broker and Mamie involves a penis size joke (in the guise of drink amount) which is just awesome for the 20s. Not as great as Clara Bow and her mouthed 'Fuck' but still great.
Overall a pretty good film. I'd recommend it.
Silents Under the Stars
I must say this was a fun little event and I just wish I coulda had a little more time to enjoy it! Parking was great, the atmosphere was beautiful (especially with a full moon) and really it was just plain enjoyable. I also got to meet some Hollywood Heritage members, including Valerie Yaros which was lovely. She also introduced me to the reigning Lady in Black, Karie Bible who was also just as nice as could be. She runs a blog herself at filmradar.com so please do check it out!
They've been doing this for I believe a few decades now, so I'm glad to see it still going on. Definitely worth checking out next year, just make sure you follow MY directions, not mapquests!
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