NOW PLAYING (100 YEARS AGO)

[laffite]

The reviewer of that execrably scathing review of Miss Forrest ought to be named for posterity. She might be as bad as all that but she nevertheless needs a name so that her ancestors can have a target for retribution or even revenge. On the other hand, the wordage is one of the most brilliant and entertaining take downs in the literature of criticism. : - )))

The reviewer was named H.E. Shumlin. It is possible this is Herbert Elliot Shumlin, who later directed Watch on the Rhine.

Here is a sample of what he wrote about the screenwriter for The Satin Girl:

A real nice fella. I wonder if he hated his mother.

[laffite]

The Estate of Mable Forrest is reportedly ecstatic that the movie has been labelled "presumed lost" for obvious reasons and some have sued to have it changed to "totally lost" status though an insider note has suggested that they are having second thoughts about that.

There is a picture of Mable on IMDB where she is looking up and smiling, as if in some rollicking comedy. She was actually in "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" but alas as an un-credited newspaper reporter. She is "known for" a 1959 episode of the Twilight Zone and she lived until 1967 and lived to be 74.

RIP Mabel, we love you anyway.

[scsu1975]

Torment, directed by Maurice Tourneur, starred Owen Moore as Jimmy Hansen*, Bessie Love as Marie, and Jean Hersholt as Count Boris Romanoff. The film was released in February of 1924 at six reels, and is presumed lost.

*The synopsis in the Library of Congress lists this character as Jimmy Burke, but all contemporaneous reviews list him as Hansen

Plot: Count Boris Romanoff is a Russian noble who has escaped during the Russian Revolution. In exile, he carries the Russian crown jewels. He has plans to sell them, with the proceeds being distributed to the suffering people in Russia. When he arrives in America, a gang of crooks attempt to steal the jewels aboard the train. They are thwarted when they discover the bag they steal contains only a few trinkets. Meanwhile, the real jewels have been entrusted to the Count’s valet, who is in Japan. Boris negotiates for the sale of the jewels with Jules Carstock, who ostensibly is a wealthy society man. In reality, Carstock is the head of the gang of crooks who attempted to rob Boris. Boris and Carstock travel by yacht to Japan, along with two of Carstock’s men, Hansen and Fogerty. Carstock passes the two men off as cooks. The plan is to rob Boris before the sale can be consummated and sell them to millionaire Flint. En route for Japan, Hansen falls for Marie, Flint’s maid.



Upon arrival in Yokohama, Hansen tries to go straight, because of Marie.



But he is forced to take part in the scheme.





While Boris and Carstock are negotiating the sale at a bank with Flint and his wife, Hansen and Fogerty rob the vault underneath. Marie rushes in to tell Boris of the plot. The robbery is completed, when disaster strikes. The building is leveled by an earthquake, and everyone is trapped in the vault.





Fogerty attempts to monopolize the meager water supply, and gets Hansen in on a scheme to keep themselves alive and share the jewels after the others are dead. Boris’ religious talks lead the crooks to confess their real identities and pledge to reform. Boris’ attitude converts Hansen to the right side, and Hansen returns the jewels. Fogerty fights for the jewels. When he attempts to shoot Hansen, Boris steps in the way and is mortally wounded. Before dying, Boris asks Hansen to fulfill the sale of the jewels and the distribution of the proceeds to the poor in Russia. A rescue party arrives, and Hansen and Marie plan to be married.

The two stills below show Maurice Tourneur and Maude George (who played Mrs. Flint) between takes. The slippers that George is wearing were bejeweled and cost $200:





On September 1, 1923, a major earthquake struck Japan, and devastated Tokyo and Yokohama, among other cities. Director Tourneur used some of the actual earthquake footage in this film.

Motion Picture News wrote “Maurice Tourneur has planted a punch in the latter reels through the use of the Japanese earthquake. He has succeeded in getting much realism into the crumbling of the sets. … The story has suspense and a climax that at least is off the beaten path.” Exhibitor’s Trade Review wrote “Owen Moore is at his best in the portrayal of Hansen, a part he plays with plenty of reserve power, avoiding the temptation to overact which a role of this kind usually presents, and giving a convincing, well-balanced performance. … Jean Hersholt never appeared to better advantage than as the human, self-sacrificing Boris. The camera offers a profusion of beautiful scenic shots by sea and land, besides the realistic quake views, and perfect lighting prevails.” Exhibitor’s Herald called the film a “crook story with big punch,” adding “it is another regeneration story, with crooks outwitting crooks, and serves to pass an agreeable hour’s time.”

[laffite]

Is that Bessie Love in the top two stills? None of the critics you cite mentioned her. I think a critic should have said, "Bessie Love's acting was not noticed because she is so cute."

note: i didn't quote you, Rich, all that bandwidth ...

[scsu1975]

Is that Bessie Love in the top two stills? None of the critics you cite mentioned her. I think a critic should have said, "Bessie Love's acting was not noticed because she is so cute."

Yes. that is Bessie, and yes, she was certainly cute.

[scsu1975]

Coming in May:

After The Ball, with Gaston Glass and Miriam Cooper

Let Not Man Put Asunder, with Pauline Frederick and Lou Tellegen

The Love Bandit, with Doris Kenyon and Victor Sutherland

The Rendezvous, with Conrad Nagel and Lucille Ricksen