The Films of the Twenties

My first thought in glancing through this book was that there were not as many films discussed as in the 2 other books I have of Jerry Vermilye ("Films of the 30s" and "More Films of the 30s" each have 10 films listed for each year) but then I realised some years had more listings than others - silly me!!! Jerry Vermilye has a wonderful knowledge of films and his articles appeal to the ordinary movie lover as well as the film historian. The films he discusses range from the "classics" - Mary Pickford's "Pollyanna", D.W. Griffith's "Way Down East", "Orphans of the Storm" and "Isn't Life Wonderful", Clara Bow's "It" and the magnificent "The Crowd". The intriuging - Mary Miles Minter's next to last film "Drums of Fate" with the unusual (for MMM films) adult subject of bigamy. "Miss Lulu Bett" directed by William C. DeMille, who tackled more intimate and sensitive film themes than his brother. "Anna Christie" - the original version with Blanche Sweet, which Eugene O'Neill, apparently, liked much more than the famous Greta Garbo version and "The Trial of Mary Dugan", the film that paved the way for court room dramas and proved that Norma Shearer had a beautiful voice for the talkies. Some films I have never heard of - "Too Wise Wives" with a very young Louis Calhern and Claire Windsor, "Flaming Passion" - Irene Rich was the star but Norma Shearer the one the movie goers remembered and "West of the Water Tower" with Glenn Hunter and May McAvoy. There is lots of gossip on the stars - Glenn Hunter's sexuality, that Mary Pickford didn't like "Pollyanna" and an article on "Lights of New York" - the first all talking movie - it featured that immortal line "Let's take him for a ride". Each film is lavishly illustrated with beautiful photos. There is a gorgeous photo of Nancy Carroll in the Introduction and a couple featuring Josephine Dunn in "The Singing Fool" to show you how beautiful she once was.