Run Time: 60 minutes. Studio: Constance Talmadge Film Company
. Director: David Kirkland. Writers: John Emerson, Anita Loos. Producers: John Emerson, Anita Loos. Main Cast: Constance Talmadge, John Halliday, Arnold Lucy, Natalie Talmadge, Fannie Bourke, Nellie Parker Spaulding, Marion Sitgreave. Cinematographer: Oliver T. Marsh. Assistant Director: Carl M. Leviness.
With how today the term romantic comedy has become something more associated with sweet and charming instead of laugh out loud funny, it is easy to forget that during the golden age of Hollywood (of which the 1920's are definitely a part of) there were many truly hilarious romantic comedies. The Love Expert is just one example but it is a truly wonderful one.
In this movie, young Babs (Constance Talmadge) considers herself an expert in love. Wanting to get her away from romance, her father (Arnold Lucy) sends her to live with her aunt Emily (Marion Sitgreave). When Babs learns that Aunt Emily has been engaged to Jim Winthrop (John Halliday) for six years and they still aren't married, Babs decides to use her expertise in love to help the two out.
There is no better word to describe this film than charming. This is one of those movies that I find it hard to watch without a big smile on my face. The story is quite a light-weight affair but there is nothing wrong with that. Not every film needs to be something complex or groundbreaking. Sometimes a lighthearted fun movie like this is exactly what you want to watch. What makes this movie work so well is that it doesn't try or want to be anything more than what it is. This lack of any pretention simply makes it hard to not enjoy the picture. The delightful script (by John Emerson and Anita Loos) has an easy-going charm and never once takes itself too seriously. Not only this but the funny moments are truly funny. One would not except to laugh out loud much at a cute and sweet romantic comedy like this one, but I laughed out loud a lot while watching it. This is a truly hilarious movie that truly delivers when it comes to big laughs. Because of this the film will even endear itself to those who usually don't like romantic films. Adding to the fun is a charming and charismatic performance by Constance Talmage, who is just as wonderful as always here. She brings a real charm and likability to a character, who could have easily come off as full of herself in the hands of a lesser actress. Because of this instead of feeling turned off by this part of her, we enjoy and admire the sheer self-confidence and assurance of this character. This movie also has something I love to see in silent movies. This is the use of artwork on the intertitles. This is something only a silent film can do, and I love to see these films take advantage of this. The artwork in these intertitles is simply lovely and a delight to look at.
. Director: David Kirkland. Writers: John Emerson, Anita Loos. Producers: John Emerson, Anita Loos. Main Cast: Constance Talmadge, John Halliday, Arnold Lucy, Natalie Talmadge, Fannie Bourke, Nellie Parker Spaulding, Marion Sitgreave. Cinematographer: Oliver T. Marsh. Assistant Director: Carl M. Leviness.
With how today the term romantic comedy has become something more associated with sweet and charming instead of laugh out loud funny, it is easy to forget that during the golden age of Hollywood (of which the 1920's are definitely a part of) there were many truly hilarious romantic comedies. The Love Expert is just one example but it is a truly wonderful one.
In this movie, young Babs (Constance Talmadge) considers herself an expert in love. Wanting to get her away from romance, her father (Arnold Lucy) sends her to live with her aunt Emily (Marion Sitgreave). When Babs learns that Aunt Emily has been engaged to Jim Winthrop (John Halliday) for six years and they still aren't married, Babs decides to use her expertise in love to help the two out.
There is no better word to describe this film than charming. This is one of those movies that I find it hard to watch without a big smile on my face. The story is quite a light-weight affair but there is nothing wrong with that. Not every film needs to be something complex or groundbreaking. Sometimes a lighthearted fun movie like this is exactly what you want to watch. What makes this movie work so well is that it doesn't try or want to be anything more than what it is. This lack of any pretention simply makes it hard to not enjoy the picture. The delightful script (by John Emerson and Anita Loos) has an easy-going charm and never once takes itself too seriously. Not only this but the funny moments are truly funny. One would not except to laugh out loud much at a cute and sweet romantic comedy like this one, but I laughed out loud a lot while watching it. This is a truly hilarious movie that truly delivers when it comes to big laughs. Because of this the film will even endear itself to those who usually don't like romantic films. Adding to the fun is a charming and charismatic performance by Constance Talmage, who is just as wonderful as always here. She brings a real charm and likability to a character, who could have easily come off as full of herself in the hands of a lesser actress. Because of this instead of feeling turned off by this part of her, we enjoy and admire the sheer self-confidence and assurance of this character. This movie also has something I love to see in silent movies. This is the use of artwork on the intertitles. This is something only a silent film can do, and I love to see these films take advantage of this. The artwork in these intertitles is simply lovely and a delight to look at.
Motion Picture News, 1920
David Kirkland was a perfect director for a lighthearted comedy like this, as by this time he had already had experience in comedy films. This was both as a director and an actor. As a director he directed many comedy shorts starring the likes of Ford Sterling, Mack Swain, Louise Fazenda, Dot Farley, Bobby Vernon, George Jeske, Harry Gribbon and Mae Busch. He directed these shorts for such studios as Keystone, Essany, Fox (on their Sunshine Comedies) and the L-KO Kompany. As an actor he starred in a forgotten series of comedy shorts called the Snakeville Comedies, as Dr. Dopem. As well as working in comedy, David Kirkland also worked in westerns. He had acted in multiple of the Broncho Billy Anderson short films. As a director he directed multiple western movies starring Fred Thompson. Even into the sound era he directed the B-Western Riders of the Cactus (1931) starring Hal Taliaferro. Starting his movie career in the early 1910's, Kirkland would still be having supporting roles in movies as late as the early 1940's. As well as directing The Love Expert Kirkland would also play the role of Mr. Smithers.
Actress Constance Talmadge, while not as well remembered as she should be, was a big star at this time. Though her acting years started in 1914, she did not receive a major role until she appeared in D.W. Griffith's Intolerance (1916), where she appeared as both the mountain girl and as Princess Marguerite of Valois. Along with her sisters Natalie and Norma Talmadge she was part of the infamous Talmadge sisters. Her sister Norma was known for being in tragedies, while Constance was known for being in comedies like this one. Natalie's career didn't take off, but many may know her for marring silent screen legend Buster Keaton. However Natalie did appear in some films like Yes or No (1920) and alongside Buster in Our Hospitality (1923). Constance is unfortunately one of the stars of the silent screen who didn't make the transition to talkies. Natile Talmage also appeared in this film as Dorcas Winthrop. Arnold Lucy, who played our main character's father, spent most of his career playing small and uncredited roles. He did however have a credited role in a movie that anyone reading this blog has definitely heard of and probably seen. He played Kantorek in the Best Picture Oscar winner, All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). As for Marion Sitgreave, who played Aunt Emily, this is her only known movie role. John Halliday, who played Jim Winthrop, had a career that stretched from the early 1910's through the early 1940's. He appeared in a wide range of movies but is best remembered for playing Katherine Hepburn's father in The Philadelphia Story (1940).
For anyone interested in this film, you can watch it below on YouTube.
Resources Used
A-Z of Silent Film Comedy by Glenn Mitchell
https://prod-www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/496495/the-love-expert/#overview
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment