Silent Film of the Month: Get Your Man (1927)

Run Time: 63 minutes. Studio: Paramount. Director: Dorothy Arzner. Writers: Agnes Brand Leahy, Hope Loring. Titles: George Marion Jr.. Producers: Jesse L. Lasky, Adolph Zukor. Main Cast: Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy Rogers, Josef Sickward, Josephine Dunn. Cinematographer: Alfred Gilks. Editor: Louis D. Lighton.

When one thinks of silent comedy their minds often go to the broad Keystone like slapstick. However these were not the only comedy films made during the silent era. Get Your Man is a rather lighthearted romantic comedy that wins you over with its quiet but unmistakable charm. This is not to say there is no slapstick here at all as one of the movie’s highlights is a slapstick affair at a wax museum. However this is not the focus of the film which mostly hangs on romantic misunderstandings and flirtations for is comedy.

The story is a very simple affair that anyone who knows romantic comedies will fully recognize. Nancy (Clara Bow) falls for Robert (Charles "Buddy" Rogers). However Robert is a nobleman and is promised to marry another.

This simple plot is lifted by the sheer charisma of our two main stars. Clara Bow has the ability to automatically capture an audience's attention whenever she is on screen. All these years later whenever a silent film fan watches one of her movies, his/her eyes are immediately fixated on her. That is especially true here as she plays the main role with an effortless but inescapable charm that no one else had. Charles "Buddy" Rogers proves to be the perfect acting partner for her (the two also worked together in the much better known, Wings (1927). He some how not only manages to hold his own with her but also to complement her performance perfectly. The two make a simply charming screen couple that is perfect for a romantic comedy like this. Also helping this movie is the direction of Dorothy Arzner (who is often known today for being a rare woman director in Hollywood's studio era, but she is a fantastic director whose films deserve to be better remembered as well), who gives the film a fast, fresh and breezy feel.

Exhibitors Herald, 1927

An exhibitors review from Exhibitors Herald stated "Pretty good little picture and got me some extra business." Another stated, "Fair picture but terrible business. Next to our westerns, Clara Bow is our worst box office attraction." Yet another stated "Not up to Clara's standard but pleased just the same. Set new house record on account of holidays which means it was going some, because our house record was broken three times during the same week. Thanks Clara and hurry up with the red hair."

This film can be found on YouTube.

-Michael J. Ruhland